reserved for: Q!
comments: it's got a bit of an awkward ending... XD

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She wrinkled her nose in agitation, glaring down at the ground. She needed some form of stress relief, and perhaps the only way to do that was to go out to the barn and ride. Of course, it didn't seem logical at all that a baker would know how to ride a horse, especially when she walked everywhere she needed to go in London - and if she needed to go any where, it was never far; thus being the reason why she always traveled by foot.

But as a child, always taking a trip to Aunt Nettie's every month or so, she'd learned to ride there. Nettie was sophisticated and wealthy and, though they lived by the sea, Nettie had always made a point to have at least two or three horses because she, of course, traveled by carriage everywhere she went. The horses weren't only broken to drive, but also to ride and Nellie had been anxious to go riding as soon as she saw them on her first visit. Often when Nettie was off doing something, Nellie would sneak off and stand by the fence and feed the horses apple slices or something of the sort. Once Nettie agreed to let her learn to ride, she began her 'lessons' right away.

Her Aunt knew quite a bit, much to her surprise, and taught her enough that she knew the basic fundamentals of riding a horse. Then everytime when she found herself in the midst of a problem, she went out to the horses to relieve stress.

Lovett had sorted through the closet in the sewing room (truthfully 'dug through the closet and flung clothes in every direction until finding what she wanted' was more appropriate) and discovered a pair of jodhpurs and a riding shirt. She checked the closets and found a good pair of boots - and from that moment she decided she'd finally make her first trip to the stable. Her hair was placed in a bun at the nape of her neck. Stepping into the stable, she began passing each stall, looking into them until stopping at a particular one. The lead rope was soon in her hand and as soon as the door opened, clipped onto the halter of the blood bay gelding that resided within the stall. After leading him down the aisle, she placed him at the cross-ties and stepped toward the tack room, pulling out brushes and the such whilst humming quietly to herself.

A hoof pick was gripped firmly in her hand, and casually Lovett strode towards the animal and ran her hand down his front left leg, resting it on her knee after he lifted it, beginning to pick at the filth packed into the animal's hoof.

Lovett paused in what she was doing to look up momentarily. Had she heard something? She would've peeked over the horse's back, but she wasn't truly tall enough. It almost intimidated her how muscular and large this particular horse was.

Hm - apparently there isn't anyone in here... Her eyebrow rose and she released the animal's leg, then stood and began moving towards the back leg on the same side of the horse. She stopped again, turning around. This time she was sure she'd heard someone speak, but where in the bloody hell were they? Suspiciously she began again. She placed her hand on top of the animal's hindquarters as if letting it know she was walking behind it.

Though perhaps timing wasn't particularly on Lovett's side, because just as she was walking around behind the animal, whoever else was in the barn shouted rather loudly which, obviously, startled the animal. It's hooves were off the ground instantly, and one of the back ones collided harshly with Lovett, in her side just above her hip - and it turned her well enough that she was just in time to receiving another belt from the other hoof on the other side, this time closer to her lower abdomen.

With a yelp of pain she stumbled backwards, turning on her boot and beginning to fall forwards until her hands caught herself and she lowered body safely to her knees. Though she only remained that way for a second or two, because she then stood and began walking, her hands on her hips. Her teeth were sinking into her bottom lip as her eyes filled. Being kicked by animals like that was extroardinarily painful - let alone a larger horse like this one. Lovett paced in circles, her boots clicking slightly on the concrete floor of the barn.

Perhaps once she felt capable of walking without feeling some sort of pain in her muscles she'd hunt down the little bugger that startled the horse to begin with.

Lovett inhaled a deep breath and turned around as she heard the voice - this time matching it to the face that possessed it. She flashed a brief apologetic smile, her hands plastered to her body just above her hips.

"It.. it's fine. Really." She attempted to state with a sniffle, blinking as a few droplets ran down her cheeks.

She laughed slightly as he wiped her face with a handkerchief and when he was done she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, still laughing a bit. "I know - s'just 'at I 'aven't been kicked in quite a while so it 'urts a bit worse'n usual."

Lovett crossed her arms over her chest and listened as he introduced himself and she prepared to introduce herself as well until he cut himself off and began going on about her forgiving him. A tender smile appeared on the woman's face and she wiped her eye briefly again before dropping her hands to her sides.

"Don't worry 'bout it, really - but if it makes y'feel any better, you're forgiven. 'Sides, I don't think I'm really 'urt all 'at badly..." She paused and lifted her shirt slightly and grasped the waistband of the jodhpurs between her fingers and pulled them open slightly, wincing slightly at the sight of the bruise that was already developing into a rather deep purple. "Just some bruises at th'worst." She replaced a strand of hair behind her ear and stuck her hand out. "Pleased t'meet you, Q. I'm Nellie Lovett."