43 Time of hallow- Part 1 (1/2)

Heidi stood not far behind Lord Nicholas, her eyes bigger and wider seeing the two horses being brought out of the stables. Hearing the hooves of the horses stop in front of them, she looked up at them, one which is brown and the other white in color. She wasn't sure of riding the horse and had tried avoiding it which was of no use. Was there no way out to it? Thought Heidi to herself. Not that she had anything against the horses but after falling down in the past and have the horses raise its leg while she and her sister were in front of it was one of the scariest thing she had experienced.

Lord Nicholas stepped forward to pick the white horse, gently stroking its mane. Turning behind he found the woman to be standing there nervously, face as pale as white. When her eyes met his, she gave him a nervous smile.

”I am not sure about this,” he heard her.

”Consider this as part of 'Educating Heidi'. I did as you requested for. Now it is time you fulfill your end of the promise,” he smiled at her.

She nodded her head, taking a deep breath and going over to the brown horse with careful steps. Not only did the Lord comply with her request of asking Eveline Moate to stop with the handwriting lessons but had removed her from the job as Heidi's educator. Instead, Stanley had taken Ms. Moate's place in continuing Heidi's lessons.

”Are you trying to scare the horse?” Nicholas asked seeing her crooking her fingers which were ready to dip into the mane like the flour that had to be turned into dough, ”There. That's much better,” he said seeing her fingers match his actions.

Unexpectedly that day, the Lord didn't ask her to mount the horse right away. Instead, the Lord and her took the horses on small walks around the open fields, behind the mansion. One of the stable man stood at a distance just in case if one of the horses tried getting away. Heidi made sure to hold the horse's rein tightly in her hand. It would be a twenty minutes walk before the horses would be fetched by the stable man. She was relieved that the Lord unlike his usual self had taken time in letting her accustomed with the horse she was to ride.

After a few days, the day finally arrived where Heidi had to sit on top of the horse so that she could learn to ride.

”I think the horse is too big for me, milord,” she said looking at the saddle and the place where she had to keep her footing to get on.

”The horse is just fine. Get on it now. I don't have all day to teach you when there are other things that need to be attended,” Lord Nicholas gave her a pointed look. While Heidi looked at the horse, then the saddle wondering how to get her feet on without making a fool of herself, Lord Nicholas stood there with gleeful smile.

”Master,” the butler spoke, standing behind his lord, ”You said you wouldn't bully Ms. Curtis.”

”Did I now?” Nicholas murmured.

”Yes, master. Is it because she is Mr. Lawson's future bride that you treat her so?” the butler asked curious.

”I wonder...” Heidi held the horse with one of her hand for support and the other which rested on the saddle. Finally when she did mount on the horse successfully, she had big smile of achievement.

”She did it!” the butler clapped both his hands.