Robyn smiled as she fed Midnight. The horse tossed her head and nickered in thanks. Humming quietly, she scratched the horse’s forehead as she ate. She moved to scratch her horse’s ears and began to consider the goings on.
After several days of acting angry, Ben had let up, and they were on good terms. In fact, he had slipped off to see if he could get any information about the Redcoats’ doings or plans. It had been several weeks since they had last heard anything, and Chaplen seemed to have clammed up entirely.
Midnight raised her head and, ears laid back, whinnied quietly. Robyn jerked out of her thoughts. The horse’s warning meant only one thing, some one unfriendly was behind her.
“That horse seems to like you.” Chaplen smiled as the girl turned to him. “I thought only the Shadow Fox and your brother could approach her.”
Robyn smiled as prettily as possible. “Oh, I suppose she’s use to me. I come in here and milk the cow.” She gestured to the bucket full of milk. “Plus, I just gave her oats, and she likes those,” she said with a little laugh.
Chaplen remained skeptical. Seeing this, the girl made a quick hand gesture to the horse then snapped her hand toward her quickly. Midnight tossed her head nervously and backed away.
“It’s okay girl. I didn’t mean to spook you.” Robyn leaned her hand toward the horse again. She backed away and whinnied worriedly. The girl waved her hand in the “stop” signal, and the horse quieted. Robyn sighed and moved to pat Apollo. The dappled gray nickered happily.
“Robyn? Robyn! Robyn, where are you?!”
The girl frowned slightly at her brother’s urgent call. “Mr. Chaplen and I are in the barn, Ben!”
Ben burst through the doors, something black and white in his arms. Without a moment’s hesitation, he strode towards his sister and began explaining. “I need you assistance. Mr. Jenkens was beating this poor dog. I told him to leave him alone so he screamed that I could take him if I cared that much. So, I did.”
Robyn swung her shall from around her shoulders and laid it onto a pile a hay. Ben, understanding, placed the dog on top of it. His sister crouched and began crooning softly as her brother ran up the stairs. Quickly, he returned with his medical back. With Robyn speaking gently, Ben covered the gashes on the dog’s side and shoulders with a painkilling salve. After giving it a few seconds to deaden the pain, he cleaned the wounds and then stitched them closed.
Smiling, Ben sat back on his heals. His sister ruffled the dog’s ears fondly. “He’s a Scottish shepherd, right?”
Ben nodded. “Aye, they call them border collies.”
Midnight had perked her ears forward in interest when Ben had entered. Now, she gave a whinnying greeting to the dog. He, in turn, barked back. Robyn smiled, guessing they had known each other. Ben arched his eyebrow, now guessing whose barn Robyn had rescued the horse from. A silent agreement passed between them to discus the fact later.
Knowing Jenkens didn’t bother to name his animals, Robyn asked, “Have you named him, yet?”
Ben shook his head. “I was too worried about those gashes. I didn’t have time to stop and name him. I think of the important things first,” he replied with a smile. “I don’t stand there and consider names.”
Robyn pulled a mock scowl at her brother’s teasing comment. He knew that she had Midnight named before they had left the burning barn. In truth she hadn’t just stood there and thought of one, but had the name popped in her mind while grabbing the horse’s halter to lead her to safety.
“Do you have an idea for one?”
She smiled slightly. She did, but thought it better not to announce it in front of Agent Chaplen.
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A shorter chapter today. Sorry it's over a week late. Last week was insane, and borfore I knew it, I was on the way home. Then my dad found it funny to change the password for the interwebz and refused to give it to me. I will have to gain it for the Christmas break. Arg, 2 1/2 more weeks. And finals, ick.
Not much to say. Patriot (that's the dog's name) is fun. I like him. He's fluffy.
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