SETI
Disclaimer: I want them to be mine. I want to say I’m the one who did this, but I didn’t but still it is very fun to borrow them.
Upstairs Alex was not in bed at all, as his father had thought. He was looking out the window at the two horses they had. One was Uncle John’s horse, Echidna, and the other belonged to his mum, Amunet. He watched as they ran together in the field, and decided to go out and see them. He didn’t have on his shoes, but that didn’t stop him. Once he got downstairs, he went to the back of the house, to the door that was easy for him to get out of. It was warm out, and he ran out to field yelling “Horse come see me.” He crawled under the fence, and the two horses came over to him. They were very big to his small form, but Alex at three was simply fearless, and that didn’t even scare him. Echidna lowered his head ,and Alex reached up and smacked his nose, which started him. He and Amunet ran away, with Alex chasing after them.
Once his call was finished Rick settled back in his chair and yawned. He was tired, and decided maybe he would go have a nap before Alex was awake, ready to have another adventure. As he was getting up he heard Evie scream out his name, and ran out to the parlor
“Alex is in the field. I yelled at him to stop, and he ran up over the rise.” He took her hand, and they ran outside toward the field and heard Alex screaming and crying, which made them run faster. When they got to him he was laying on his face, and the horses were looking at him, curious.
“Oh my god did he get kicked.” Rick picked him up, and examined him, but found nothing amiss.
“I falled down,” he cried. Rick cradled him in his arms, relieved that he had not been kicked by one of the horses.
“Alex that was very dangerous. Echidna, and Amunet could have hurt you,” Evie said taking her husband’s hand.
“I wanted to ride horses,” he howled. When they got back to the house, Evelyn took him to his room, and settled with him in his rocking chair.
“I want horse mum,” he told her.
“When you are older,” she said as she kissed his forehead.
“I big boy now. I go potty on big potty like daddy does, and I not wet my bed any more,” he told her through a yawn. That was true enough. He had finally learned how to use the potty, but a horse was a big responsibility, and Evie wasn’t sure he was ready for that yet. When he fell asleep she tucked him under the covers, then went back downstairs where Rick had tea waiting.
“Your son wants a horse,” she stated, as she took one of the china cups in to her hands, and sipped the contents carefully. Rick smiled.
“He has been asking me for a week now. Actually I was thinking now would be a good time to start him in lessons.” Rick said. Evie nearly choked on her tea.
“Oh Rick he’s just a baby.” Rick knew that.
“Your right he is, but he needs to learn respect for the two that we have. One of these days he will go out there and won’t be so lucky,” he pointed out. That much was true. Both of the horses were fairly spirited, and Alex had been lucky that they hadn’t decided to kick him.
“They are having a horse sale at one of the farms down from us. I thought we might go tomorrow and see if we could find him a good gentle horse, to learn to ride on,” Rick told her. She nodded, her approval. Once again her husband was right in the matter. Alex did need to learn respect for the horses, so they would go there in the morning. Once she finished her tea, and her sandwich, which Marie had brought to her, she headed back to work, and Rick went up to take a rest.
*****
The next day, bright, and early, Rick drove he Evie and Alex to the farm. When they arrived, they were the only ones there, which paid off in his eyes. A short rounded gentleman walked out of the stables, and came to the car.
“Hello, My name is Rick O’Connell, and I called about coming to view some of the horses you had up for sale,” he said. The man nodded.
“Yes sir, just follow me.” Rick got Alex out of the car, and held him.
“Noo want to walk daddy.” Rick looked at him.
“Then you have to hold my hand and behave.” Alex nodded, and when Rick put him down, for once he did behave. They walked into the stables, and the man already had a horse ready for them to view. He road it around the barn, and Rick watched it for its temperament, and its ability to listen. It was very spirited, too much for Alex, but this horse caught his own interest. When the man dismounted, Rick asked if he could try riding it.
“Sure, he is a real jewel,” the man said. Evelyn held her son’s hand, and they watched as Rick took the horse on a ride, both inside and outside. When he dismounted he came over to Evelyn.
“What do you think of getting two horses,” he asked her. That she had not expected, for him to want a horse, but she couldn’t say no to him, so they offered a price for the horse. For that one they ended up at 1000 pounds, which was a bit pricy, but for a good horse, Rick figured he was getting his moneys worth. They looked at a few other horses, then when they were about to give up Alex ran away from Evelyn, over to the fence where another black horse stood. It lowered its head, and Alex patted it. It didn’t run away from him.
“What about that one?” Rick asked the man.
“Sure. He’s very lazy, but for your son he would make a good first horse. Why don’t I just make the total for the two, 1000 pounds.” That was a good deal, and they worked out arrangements for the man to bring both horses out to the house in the morning.
*****
Jonathan had gotten up, and finding the house empty, had settled in the parlor with a book of his own. He had gotten back into reading, mostly Sherlock Holmes, and was doing that when his family arrived home. Alex ran to him.
“Uncle John I got a horse and I gonna name him Seti.” Jonathan grinned up at his sister and Rick.
“We had nothing to do with his choice of names for his horse,” Rick replied, and they had not. Alex had always heard about Egypt, from his first day of life. He was of coarse born there, and because he went to the museum allot with Evie he always heard some talke of Egypt. Just the other day she had been talking bout Seti’s treasure to the Curator, and she guessed thats where he got the name from.
“Daddy got a horse too,” Alex informed. Jonathan was surprised by this, because Rick had not seemed the type to want to ride.
“I thought since everyone else had one, why not me,” He defended.
“And what are you going to name your horse?” Jonathan asked.
“Barney,” came Rick’s response. He had to be different than the rest of the family, so Barney it was.
“All right whose hungry for some lunch?” Evelyn asked her men.
“I am. I want a cheesy sandwich,” Alex said as he ran into the kitchen. The adults followed him, and they all had a sandwich of some sort. Once lunch was finished. Alex went to take his nap, and Rick went out to the field to see what kind of work the stalls would need. The small barn was a good three minutes from the house, and there were several stalls that needed working on, mostly just cleaning, so he got out a pitchfork and started his task.
*****
When evening came, and Evelyn hadn’t seen her husband since the afternoon, when he had left to clean out the barn. She left Alex with Uncle John., and after putting on a sweater, she went out into the field. Amunet greeted her as soon as she entered the field, and Evelyn stroked her muzzle.
“I need to start riding you again,” she told her friend. In reply the horse winnied, then ran off to be with Echidna. They had a hired hand who came and groomed the horses, who had been taking care of them since her parents were still alive, and whom she trusted more than anyone else, aside from them, to watch after their friends. When she got to the barn Rick was a mess, however the barn was cleaner than she had ever seen it.
“You have been busy, this looks wonderful,” she told her husband, walking up, and giving hem a hug and a kiss, despite how messy he was.
“Well I intended to just clean two stalls, but I got into what I was doing, and I’m going to be sore tonight,” he said.
She kissed him gently.
“Well we will just have to take care of that won’t we,” she said, her tone very seductive. They left the barn, and when they got back to the house, there was a note from Uncle John saying he and Alex had gone out for a drive, which was very perfect for the couple. They went upstairs, and in their room, Evelyn shut the door. Then she went to the bathroom, and started the bath running, turning on the shower, which was a new fixture just put in. When she went back out into the room, Rick was already undressed, and she wasn’t long to follow. Together they stepped into the shower, and Rick pulled the curtain around them. Then he pulled her into the stream of water, and against his wet, slick body, and kissed her deeply. Evelyn’s body ached immediately for more, and he wasn’t one to disappoint her. She clung to him, as he kissed his way to her ear, where he began to nibbled her lobe, and suckle upon it. He moved from her ear, back to her shoulder, kissing her there. When his mouth moved lower to her breasts, she cried out throwing her head back as his mouth moved over her sensitive nipples. Rick nuzzled each one, and the sensation of his mouth, and the warm water was enough to cause her body to spasm. He held her up, and took his hard flesh and rubbed her entry for moment then pushed into her. Making love this way was not easy, but it allowed them to watch, and was more erotic, because they could see. As he began his rhythm of entering and moving away from her warm heat, he returned to her nipples, licking and nipping them, suckling on them. He felt her body draw him in, and tighten around him, and he held still, until the pressure build enough to cause them a slight pain then moved again. Her climax was powerful, and he held them both up, as his followed. For a few minutes they stood under the stream of the water, then she moved in his arms.
“I was supposed to make you feel good,” she said looking up at him. He leaned down and kissed her lips.
“Evie that always makes me feel good.” He moved away from her, and got the soap, and they both bathed, then got out. As they were dressing Alex knocked on the door.
“Its story time mum,” he said over and over, until Evelyn answered his call.
“Your all dressed for bed. Say goodnight to daddy, then we will go read your story.” At his mothers instructions, Alex went over to where Rick was finishing getting his pajamas on.
“Night daddy.” Rick knelt down and drew his baby into his arms.
“Goodnight buddy. Have a good sleep.” He nodded, and went out with his mum.
*****
A week passed, and today, a Friday, was Alex’s first lesson with Seti. The other horses were all in their stalls, so that Seti would concentrate on his task, as well as Alex. Both Rick, and Evelyn were out, ready to teach their son how to ride his new horse. Now Rick led Seti out into the main part of the barn, and Mitchell, their farm hand, brought out the tack box that had everything they would need. His job for the day was complete, and he left them alone.
“All right buddy, the first thing we have to do before we ride Seti, is to groom him. That means we have to brush his hair.” Rick pulled out a rounded rubber item, with rubber teeth.
“This is a curry comb. He brought it over to where Evelyn sat holding him, and let Alex touch it.
“We use this to get any dirt, or mud that he might have on him, and any loose hair off of him.” Rick curried the horse, and Alex watched with fascination.
“I want to do it now,” he said. Evie brought him over, and he practiced with that, a moment. Then it was on to the next step. Rick pulled out a brush, with hard bristles
“This is a hard brush, and will get all the dust off of your horse. “ Again, Rick showed him, and then Alex got his try. They went through the entire grooming process, until Seti was ready for the next part which was Alex’s saddle. They had to special order it, just in his size, and Rick told him all the parts, like the blanket, the girth, the reins, and martingail, everything as he worked to get the horse ready. When he finished, it was Evelyns turn. She had taken many years of lessons, and was ready to teach her son the proper way to ride his horse. Rick lifted Alex up onto the saddle, and Evelyn took the reins, and placed it in his hands the right way. She also adjusted his stirups so that there was a slight bend in his knees.
“Now baby, you have to use these to tell Seti where you want him to go. If you want him to go right”, and she pointed to the right, “ then you pull back with this hand, gently though.” and she showed him which turned Seti’s head to the right. She got the basics drilled into his head, then Rick got the lead, and they walked out in the field. For this first time, Evelyn walked at his side, incase he decided to get rowdy, and what surprised both of them is that he was calm. He picked up quickly on how to get his horse to move, and an hour later was still going, but it was time to let his horse rest, so Rick led them back into the barn.
“Nooo I want to ride more,” he said starting to cry. Alex was tired too, and both knew that. He hugged on to his horses neck holding on, and to his credit Seti stood perfectly still.
“Alex shh. You can ride him tomorrow baby,” Evelyn said rubbing his back.
“Noo want my horse.” He had tight hold of his horse, and Evie had to pry his arms and hands away from the horse, and pull him off. Once he was in her arms, the fight was over, and he just cried. All that time, Seti had remained still, and Rick rewarded him with a piece of peppermint candy.
“I’ll get him taken care of.” Rick told his wife. She nodded and took Alex to the house for his nap, something he needed.
“Well that was an adventure wasn’t it, you did well pal,” Rick said as he removed the saddle, and the reins. Once Seti was in essence stripped down, Rick brushed him off, then led him out to the field ,and let him run. He released the other three, and then headed back inside.
*****
In his room Alex was cradled against him mum almost asleep. He was still sniffing, as it was very upsetting not to have been able to ride longer. When she felt his grasp around her chest loosen, she moved to his bed and put him down, and as she was straightening, Rick came in, and pulled the covers over Alex, and they left him to sleep.
“I just released the horses, but I was just thinking once he gets good enough to be on his own, we should start taking family rides. I’ve never really been around all of the property.” That was true, they had been so busy when they moved to England, that aside for short walks around the gardens, close to the house, they hadn’t really been further out into the fields.
“Well, since Jonathan isn’t booked up for the day, and it is a beautiful day, we should go for a ride, Amunet needs to be ridden, and I know that Mitchell rides them but I’ve missed that.” They walked downstairs where Jonathan was working on a puzzle.
“Jonathan, would you care to look after Alex while Rick and I go for a ride in the field?” He looked up.
“Sure, I’m just hanging about the house today. Where is he?” Alex came down stairs then.
“Done napping gonna go ride Seti again,” he said still tired. Since they wanted to go out, Jonathan took care of Alex, talking him into having a nap with him. Once they were gone, Rick took Evelyn’s hand, and they went outside, to the field to get Barney, and Amunet ready for riding.
*****
Aside from being on a camel, Rick had never really seen his wife in action, and found that she was an accomplished rider. Even he didn’t know half of what she did, so today he got his lessons. Presently Evelyn was teaching him how to post.
“It’s rather like a rhythm, when you dance, you just have to feel your horse walk, and rise up and sit down.” She showed him, and made it look easy, but when he went into a trot, he was bouncing all over the saddle. Evelyn was patient teacher and decided it easier to teach him by telling him when to rise and fall against the saddle. By having her do that, Rick understood what she had meant by finding the rhythm of his horse, and readily got the hang of things.
“Good.” He road over next to she and Amunet.
“So teacher what reward does the student get.”
“You have to catch me first to find out,” She said, and took her horse into a full canter. Rick caught up to them nearly at the other end of the field, which was almost 8 acres across.
“All right you may kiss me.” Two could play at this game.
“My turn.” He clicked, and whistled, and Barney took off, with Evelyn close behind them. She made a pass, and Rick was amazed.
“All right we better let these two have a rest,” she said noticing that the horses both of them were hot. They took a leisurely pace back to the barn, and after rubbing them down with cool water, and brushing them they put them in their stalls for a rest, and went back to the house to check on Uncle and son.
*****
It was Cleo jumping on his bed, which woke Alex. He sat up rubbing his eyes, and decided to pay a visit to his horse. He got out of bed, and walked down the stairs, one foot at a time until he reached the bottom. Then he shuffled into the back of the house, and tried the door but it wouldn’t budge. He hit the glass, mad now, and went to the front of the house, and tried that door getting the same results. Then he watched Cleo go out her little cat door, and decided that was his way out. He got his head through, but his arms wouldn’t fit. So he pulled himself back in. He turned around and slid his feet out the door and was doing good, until he got to his waste through, then it was a tight fit. He pushed with his hands, and was getting squeezed, but kept on until he couldn’t go. When he tried to push in, he couldn’t do that either, and was quickly becoming irritated. He pushed again with his hands, and only made things tighter and started to cry.
*****
In their room, Evelyn came awake listening. She thought she heard her baby crying, so carefully she got out of bed, and pulled on her robe. Once that was done, she walked out into the hall and heard Alex let out a scream and more cries. She ran back into the room.
“Rick get up something’s wrong with Alex.” He sat up fast, and in a moment they followed the cries to the back door where they found Alex wedged in, and Jonathan trying to figure out how to get him out.
“I want out,” he screamed. Evelyn moved to sit on one side of him, to soothe him, and reached her hand to where he was through the door. There was not an inch of space.
“Let me get on the outside, and see if I can push him back through, “ Rick said after a moment. He went to the front door and out, around to the back, where Alex’s legs and feet, as well as most of his waste stuck out. He had on his sleeper pajamas which were thick to keep him warm, and Rick hoped it would pad him.
“Jonathan can you hear me?” Rick yelled.
“Perfectly clear.”
“Alex listen to daddy okay. I’m going to push you back inside, and I want you to take a breath and let it out, and don’t breath.
“Rick let me show him” Evelyn said. From her spot she did what Rick had instructed and let him practice some.
“All right baby, this is it I’m going to tell daddy when your ready.” He nodded and did what they wanted, and Evelyn told her husband to push. Alex screamed bloody murder, and Rick had to stop, because he was afraid he was hurting him.
“Evie do we have any cooking oil?” Rick yelled.
“I think so why?” Then she knew why, and stood to leave, but Alex held on.
“Noo go mummy,” he cried.
“Shh. Mummy is going to get something to help us get you out okay?” He nodded, and while she was gone Jonathan held his hand.
“My belly hurting uncle John,” Alex said.
“I know it does partner, but we will soon be getting you out.” In a moment Evelyn brought the oil in two cups. She cave one cup to Jonathan, and then went outside and gave one to Rick.
“How do we do this?” She asked.
“We will coat as close to the opening as we can, and then we will have to just rock him until it works in on him.” This was not going to be easy. Rick yelled out for Jonathan to do what they were doing, and both of them worked on getting as much Oil on Alex and the door as was humanly possible. Rick told Alex to do his breathing trick, but Alex was already crying.
“No daddy not hurt me,” he cried.
“Buddy, daddy doesn’t want to hurt you, but we have to get you out.” Rick pushed and pulled gently and it didn’t hurt Alex to do that. It took almost an hour of doing that and pouring oil on him before he finally slid out. He was crying hard, and wanted dad to hold him. While Rick and Evelyn took him up to give him a bath, and get him back to bed, Jonathan cleaned up the mess, and hoped Alex wouldn’t try getting out anymore.
*****
Upstairs in their bath, Evelyn and Rick bathed Alex together. His tummy was a little red from the tight squeeze, but other than that, and being worn out, he was fine. Once he was clean. Rick lifted him out and wrapped him in a towel, and they went into his room. There Evelyn got out another pair of warm pajamas, and as they dressed him he fell asleep.
“My poor baby,” she said as Rick laid him in his bed.
“I think he has learned his lesson, and I’m glad we put those locks on the doors.” She nodded, and once they had kissed their son goodnight, they went to bed.
*****
Time passed, and it didn’t take Alex long to learn how to ride on his own. He knew how to post when trotting, and knew how to get his horse into all four gates. Every weekend they would all go out into the field, out close to the woods, and have picnics, while their horses grazed near by. It was good family time together, and something they all looked forward to at the end of a long week. Riding had quickly become and O’Connell family tradition, and one which would stay for years to come.
It had been a year since they O’Connell’s made the big move from Egypt, to England, and life had settled in at a normal pace for a change. Evelyn was, of coarse, at work at the Museum. Even Rick had found a place in the work world. He was an appraiser of treasures, as well as a go between for the buyer, and the person selling the treasure. As a part of this work, he got a good commission off of what he did. It wasn’t as if they needed the money, but it gave him something to do. What he liked about his job, is that the majority of what he did was from home, so he had time to spend with his son, and Alex didn’t have to have a nanny all of the time. Their bundle of joy had finally gotten out of the terrible two’s stage of life. Though he still had his bad days, they were not as many, and Rick for one was very happy about that. Right now Alex was supposed to be down for a nap, and while he was, Rick was making a call to a man who lived in London, who had contacted him about selling an old family heirloom, to a man in America.
THE END
NOTE: Little horse Since, depending on what horse you get, they ride in gates. Like walking is the first gate, and trotting is another, Galloping and Cantering are two more. Gate is just the term of which is used to describe the different speeds of a horse. I may not have it in exact order, but oh well. Hope you liked it.