The Need For Change [Beth]

[Kenren]

<sub>Cole drove and Larsa sat shotgun as the big truck from Valkyrie made its way up the drive into the well-manicured grounds of Intrepid. The mare Eclipse, purchased from In-Stride Racing, was being bred to a good sprinting stallion as her first foal for her new home. The mare was a breeze to handle, and she hadn't so much as bumped the walls of the trailer the entire trip over. If Cole didn't know better, he'd think she was sleeping back there. The man steered the truck up to park in the spot designated by Larsa's lead-up call, easing the vehicle to a stop. Both men got out, Larsa looking around to locate the barn he was taking the mare to while Cole opened the back of the trailer. After a few moments, Larsa met him at the back. "I think that's the breeding shed. If it's not, I'm going to walk her back here like an idiot and you're not going to say a word." Cole laughed, walking up the ramp with metallic clanking noises in order to put a lead on the mare. From somewhere in the pastures, the sound of a horse calling out sounded, then another - Cole winced as Lily whinnied back, the sound deafening in the small space. "Yes, yes, new friends. Not what you're here for." The man backed the mare out of the trailer, and she went like a pro, head raising alertly to look around as soon as she was out. Cole handed the lead to Larsa, who sighed as he led the mare away.

Cole turned his attention from the horse and back to the farm around him. It seemed to have pristine and clean facilities, at least from the outside, as one would expect from a big farm - Valkyrie was the same, though a little smaller. Cole reached into his pocket, putting a toothpick in his mouth as he leaned back against the truck. He could take a nap in the truck, and he still might if it took too long, but it was too nice a day and too nice a view to let it go to waste.</sub>

[Cavallo]

<sub>So much paperwork! Beth groaned as she ran a slender hand through her dark brown tresses. She had left it down today, not expecting to do a lot of barn work and Princetta had already been worked out for the week. She had a race coming up and she would be lying if she said she wasn't a bit nervous. She had taken the filly under her own wing. She had trained her, exercised her and even raced her and it looked like her investment in the Hail to Prince daughter was finally paying off and she was hoping that it was a trend that would continue. She pushed back from her desk and decided a break was in order.

Her office was located in the broodmare barn in a loft area, so as she walked out she descended the wooden stairs at a leisurely pace, arms crossed as she surveyed the barn from her aerial view. Upon hitting the bottom floor she began to walk down the aisle and patted a few searching noses for attention. She paused at Requiem's stall and the sweet grey mare extended a warm muzzle in greeting. She had slimmed down back into a fit shape from her two year break from the breeding shed. She pondered who her next date was going to be and looked down at her chart. Seeing that the mare was due for a turnout she placed the chart back and stepped away to the tack room and grabbed a lead. She returned to the mare's stall and clipped a lead onto the eager mare. She led her down the aisle and covered her eyes slightly as her eyes tried to adjust to the light.

Her vision adjusting and becoming clear again she suddenly noticed that they had company. She groaned internally, forgetting that she had had an incoming mare from Valkyrie. The stable had decided to send their mare to one of their newest additions to the stud roster. Though Nick was in charge of the stallion barn, it was going to be her job to see to the mare while she was here. She looked at the truck and saw that the trailer was empty, she breathed a sigh of relief that the Valkyrie staff had seemed to have found the breeding shed barn. The staff there would be able to get the mare settled and checked in. She continued to walk the mare over to the pasture that was parallel to the barn. She rubbed the mare's neck and the nearly white-grey mare leaned into the wanted affection. She opened the gate and walked the mare in, shutting the gate securely behind her. Patting her and unclipping the mare she sent her off to romp in the paddock with a few of the other broods. Req galloped off to join the harem and Beth smiled turning around to let herself out.

It was then that she noticed a man. She blushed at her stupidity. She had been so absorbed in her own world that she had literally walked right past the man and hadn't even been aware of it. She closed the gate and strode back over to her barn where the truck was parked in front of. She had an apologetic look on her face as she approached the man leaning ever so casually against the truck, toothpick in hand. She could tell he was a tall man, even as he leaned up against the truck. She approached him with a smile and an apology on her lips. So Sorry. I literally walked right past you and didn't see you. Just absorbed in own little world. She chuckled at her own stupidity and held out a hand to the man. I'm Beth Cavallo, Broodmare Barn Manager here. And I'm assuming your the crew that was headed here from Valkyrie? Her right eyebrow arched in curiosity. She studied the man and she felt her insides flutter a little. She ignored it. She had accepted a long-time ago that the dating life just wasn't for her. She did have to admit though, this was a fine looking gentleman.</sub>

[Kenren]

<sub>Cole rolled the toothpick in his mouth, content to just take in the sights for the moment. It was his lack of current entertainment that allowed him to notice the footsteps - and hoofsteps - approaching. He was situated on the shaded side of the trailer, so he wasn't completely surprised when the woman and horse walked by the trailer without a second look. The woman was around his age, he guessed, and he recognized the horse almost instantly - Valkyrie had a reserve on the breeding hall of fame mare, and it was a little strange to see her in such a mundane circumstance. He knew he'd seen the woman before as well, but he couldn't quite place it. He rubbed his nose a little sheepishly, knowing what his son would say - typical, for him to pay more attention to horses than people. He knew he'd seen her before, but he probably hadn't even listened when her name was mentioned, if it had been. Ah, well. She hadn't noticed him anyway, so it didn't really matter, did it?

Cole watched as the mare was turned out, not realizing that it might be a little weird that he was literally watching someone from the shadows. The woman turned, and paused, looking straight at him. Well, cat's out of the bag now. Cole straightened as she walked toward him, taking the toothpick out of his mouth. The closer she got, the more he realized that she was a particularly attractive woman. Hell, now he really felt bad he didn't know her name. Wherever he'd seen her before, it must have been from a distance - he was sure he would have remembered her name if he'd been close. She gave him a smile and he gave a quick one in return. "So Sorry. I literally walked right past you and didn't see you. Just absorbed in own little world." She offered her hand and he clasped it in return. "I'm Beth Cavallo, Broodmare Barn Manager here. And I'm assuming your the crew that was headed here from Valkyrie?" Cole put the thumb of one hand in his belt, giving a small nod. "Nice to meet you, Beth. Yeah, I'm with Valkyrie - Cole Mavecci, I'm the head trainer there. Larsa Entlier is our breeding manager. He's up at the shed with the mare." Cole had to admit he was a little less than comfortable at the moment, though he didn't show it. He didn't often talk to women his own age - it seemed that most were younger than him in the industry nowadays, and he didn't have any problem with them. They weren't of any particular interest. Now that he'd noticed that Beth was pretty, though, he was having a hard time forgetting it. "And it's really not a problem. If I was working with such an accomplished horse, I'd probably be lost in thought as well." He was, of course, referring to Requiem. Cole had done well for himself, but his job at Valkyrie was his first step into the big leagues. He was used to taking nothing-horses and building them up - most of them were still in that buildup process. Not really noticing what he was doing, Cole put the toothpick back into his mouth - a habit he couldn't break, apparently. Call it his only show of anything like nervousness.</sub>

[Cavallo]

<sub>She almost didn't know how to react to the casual manner about this man, Cole, and that wasn't normal for her. She didn't get to where she was by not knowing how to read and react to people properly. In fact, she was constantly ragging on the younger kids on how to react to each other, the press and especially the competition. Everyone around Intrepid was so darn competitive that it had taken months for her, with the help of sweet Adele, to drill some common courtesy into the staff here at Intrepid. And yet, here she was almost at a loss for how to proceed with this man. For goodness sakes, Beth. He's just a man. Here on business like every other man that's come to visit from the other stables. While she tried to remind herself of this common fact, her other inner voice begged to differ, pointing out that this man was different. Cole was not some half-cocked twenty-something hooligan with a lot to prove. Cole appeared to be the complete definition of a mature man, something that she only saw around these parts in her slightly younger step-brother, Nick Landing. She couldn't deny that she was secretly intrigued by this tooth-pick chewing man.

She let her pale blue eyes discreetly study the man as she prepared to reply to his statements. As he stood up straight to meet her, her suspicion about his height had been proven right. He was about six foot if she guessed right, making her feel small for her average size of about five foot seven. He was the classic blonde hair with blue eyes and ruggedly good features. She swore he could probably cut something with that strong jaw-line of his. She released the man's hand from her own, secretly enjoying the feel of his work roughened hands on her own lightly calloused hands. It spoke of a good work ethic, though she slightly wished she'd put some lotion on her hands to soften them up a bit. Her body just didn't moisturize as well as her twenty year old body. She quickly pushed the petty though though from her mind, turning her full attention back to her visitor. Her body relaxed slightly with relief as Cole confirmed his man had found the right place for their mare. Allowing herself to truly relax, she then chuckled lightly at his forgiving comment, "And it's really not a problem. If I was working with such an accomplished horse, I'd probably be lost in thought as well." Beth cocked her right hip slightly and crossed her arms across her chest, turning briefly to look behind her at the grey mare kicking up her heels at her new found freedom. Ha, so you know our Req? She chuckled and turned back her pale blue eyes to his own, I would be lying if I said I wasn't proud of her recent accomplishments in the breeding shed. She's a winner that one.

Okay...enough about the mare...don't brag. She mentally scolded herself and quickly moved forward in the conversation; Why she wasn't returning back to her paperwork...she had no idea. She felt riveted for some reason to this man that was such a mystery to her. Her quick mind quickly found a topic that would hopefully draw more of this man out. Remind me again of which mare you're bringing to us?You're stupid. You know exactly what mare it is. It's Eclipse. She had after all confirmed all the paperwork herself. It was her job to know everything about every broodmare that set foot in her barns. He was going to see right through it. She didn't give away an inch though of her frantic thoughts, her hip still cocked in a casual way that exhibited a woman who was comfortable with much and worried by little. Well. At least most of the time. She briefly looked over to the breeding shed barn, hoping Cole's man wasn't returning yet. Things for her had just started getting interesting.</sub>

[Cavallo]

AHEM Kenren