Better Dig Two ( Briley--private)

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

outfit-- www.polyvore.com/untitled_91/set?id=47547181

It had been a month since Briley came over to Nora's place. She felt it went well, and they even went on a few dates after that. But there was just one nagging feeling inside her gut, did he or didn't her like her? She figured he does, because why else would he ask her out several times, but she wanted to hear it from him. He seemed so perfect in several ways. A real gentleman, he was considerate, and warm. To be fair, Santiago was the same , in his own way. Santiago was protective of her, but knew how to give her the space that she needed. Also in that month, her big brother William was declared missing, and possibly dead. Nora took it real bad, but not as bad as Alissa. Even though she could not fully comprehend what it meant, she understood that daddy was just going to be gone even longer, and it broke her heart. He was going to be missing her 6th birthday party. The glow in her personality wasn't as bright anymore.

To help her keep her spirits up, Nora always brought Alissa out to work with her instead of leaving her at the day care, so that way Alissa can be closer to family. Nora had also been a little distant since the news. The only way she knew how to clear her head was to go to the barn to teach and ride. She had just gotten done with a lesson with several of her students, and she walked back to the barn with them. She got out Arlo, and hooked him to the cross-ties as she gently groomed him. She got a knot in her gut, and she wanted to cry. Here it comes. She stopped and leaned forward on Arlo and softly cried. No! She cannot break down at work. She stopped, wiping away her tears, though her eyes now looked puffy and red, and she got tacked up before heading to the outdoor arena.

Nora mounted up on Arlo and tapped his sides with her knob spurs, and circled around the arena. She shortened her reins, and got Arlo round and had perfect form. Warming him up before going to jump.

[Briley Cole Ferris]

It was a wonderful evening, classes were over, they had ran smoothely today, and there was a warm breeze floating through the air. The classes had been wonderful today and didn't have one thing to do this evening, so, I was going to work Sandy in the outdoor riding ring. Perhaps bend a few poles, work on reining, you know, the simple stuff. I walked down the hall, whistling slightly, I noticed that Arlo was gone out of his stall, for he was stabled next door to Sandy.

Hmmm.... Wonder where he and Nora were?

I sighed a longing sigh, Nora and I had been on a few dates, they had been very succesful. But, at the same time, it just felt so distant between us. I missed her, truth be told, she had been in a blank mood, pushing people away all of the time. Her and Alissa both, and truly, it broke my heart. The pair had lost a special person in their lives this year. Well, it wasn't official yet, but he was MIA - missing in action. Everyone was pretty certain that he was dead, even I had this empty feeling that she was gone. But a man could never be sure, perhaps we could hold on to just a little bit of hope.

I stopped at the large, gray's stall and clucked gently. The large stallion pulled his head out of the hay and walked over to the stall door. He stuck his head out and nudged me gently, leaving a smile upon my face. I shrugged a bit, rubbing my hand along his halter line before grabbing a hold of it. It wasn't long before I had him strapped in the cross ties and was brushing him slowly. Before too long, I had his coat brushed spotless and was spraying some whitener in his mane and tail. Then I placed a plain black set of tack with a rebel flag saddle blanket. Then, I led him out of the cross ties and mounted quickly upon him.

I nudged him gently and walked him out of the barn, we headed for the ring where I saw a woman and a large horse trotting around the ring. Yeah, theres where Arlo and Nora must be. I nudged Sandy again, the scarred gelding moving quickly beneath me. I rode up next to the ring, cleared my throat and called out to Nora, "Jumpings for sissy's, let's go for a real trail ride." I smirked a bit, waiting for her reply, while straightening out my blue plaid shirt.

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

Nora didn't want to be distant, but it was one of the ways that she coped with loss. Just being by herself allowed her to clear her mind, but then she would exclude herself from gatherings, or from those that she loved. All she would do now is teach and ride, and would hardly call Briley to see him. Most of the time, if he wanted to see her, he would call her. She was so grateful for having him in her life, he was so loving and very patient with her. At least till all these emotions blow over, he would have to be patient with her.

Nora concentrated on jumping Arlo, and sailed over the jumps. She grabbed a tuft of mane, and tapped him with her spurs. When he landed on the other side, she smiled and patted his neck. She slowed him to a working trot, and heard a familiar voice. She looked over and saw Briely, she smiled and stuck her tongue out. Dear, sweet Briley. She slowed Arlo down to a walk, and gave him another encouraging pat. He was such an awesome horse. He was one of the best things in her life. " Excuse me, jumping is for sissies? I'd like to see you do this? What could be better than sailing through the air, and felling the wind brush by your cheek?" She laughed and walked Arlo out and stood next to Briley and his horse. She patted Sandy's neck, and gave Briley a tender and longing kiss. She pulled away and smiled. " Trail ride huh?"

[Briley Cole Ferris]

I steadied myself up on top of the grey gelding, grabbing a hanful of mane as I watched Nora soar over the jumps. Sandy would raise his head, prick his ears every time she would complete a jump. The pair were so elegant, Nora strode across the large horses back with ease. The large horse would neatly tuck his legs up against his stomach, and used his large legs to catch himself neatly. Not once did the hoof of the horse touch the jump. His eyes were dead set in front of him, he never looked around, he always approached the jumps at a steady speed, never going too fast or too slow. I smirked, shaking my head slightly, Nora didn't think I knew how too ride.

Well, it had been a while, but I still remembered everything that I had learned. There was one part in time whenever I would ride any style, and ride any horse. I loosened my grip on Sandy's mane, his eyes widened slightly and he started pawing. I looked up, to see Nora sticking her tongue out at me good-naturedly. I smirked, tightening up on the reins of Sandy, causing him to settle beneath me. His nostrils flared as he took in the familiar scent of the other horse and nickered loudly. "Hushup Sandy, I commanded him gently. He obeyed and was now standing there steadily and calmly, watching the other horse trot around the ring.

Sandman was ready to go, I could feel it in the way his muscles tensed up every time I spoke and moved. Oh, he was so ready. As Nora started talking to me I shrugged, I could show her up, right here, right now. It shocked me whenever she pulled Arlo up next to Sandman, patted Sandy and then planted a kiss on my lips. One hand grasped Sandy's mane, while the other found her hip and pulled her into me. I didn't want to let go, but I allowed her to break free whenever she pulled away. Don't let your hormones get the best of you, I thought as I pulled away with a sluggish smile.

I tipped my chin towards the jumps and looked at Nora challengingly, "Well, yes a trail ride. Unless you want to loan me Arlo for a moment and I can show you my skill. Since you've never seen it." I smirked a bit, how long had it been since I had rode English? A long time, but surely my skills weren't that rusty.

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

Nora smiled as she pulled away from him, leaned in closer for another kiss, and then pulled away. She couldn't get enough of Briley, but she had to cut it off somewhere and come up to breathe. She pulled away gently, kissing him one more time, and then sitting all the way back on Arlo. Arlo looked back at her and snorted as if to say 'Geez mom, get a stall!' Nora looked at Arlo and laughed. She was a woman on the verge of falling in love with this amazing man. Nora looked at him and smiled, admired the five o'clock shadow that was slowly appearing on his face. His blue eyes matched his blue shirt perfectly. Man man who knew how to dress himself well was always a plus.

Nora bit her lip and smiled, she dropped her reins onto Arlo's neck, and climbed over onto Sandy. " Hop on board cowboy. Show me what you got. You jump my course clear, and maybe I'll treat you to dinner next time," she smiled and watched him climb onto Arlo. Arlo tossed his head and moved slightly. Briley weighed a little more than Nora, he was used to carrying someone lighter, and he wasn't used to that kind of weight. He walked forward when Briley nudged him forward and picked up a canter.

[Briley Cole Ferris]

The first thing I knew, Nora had kissed me once, then she kissed me another time, and another after that. My arms wanted to entangle around her and pull her closer to me, but I resisted. A smile broke loose across my lips as she kissed me, my hand gripped grey mane and kept me in the saddle. She took my breath away, just by every touch, and it shocked me. It really did. We had been on a couple of dates and she still managed to steal my breath.

How amazing.

My eyes looked over her carefully, always liking what they saw, never growing old of taking in every curve of her bodice. This thought caused a large grin to break across my lips. I straightened myself up, eyes looking towards the arena as Nora climbed on behind me. I smirked and slid out of the saddle, allowing the reins to drop on Sandy's neck. I looked up at Nora and tipped my hat to her, "Get the money ready." I chuckled before climbing on Arlo, tossing my hat onto the horn of Sandy's saddle before running my hand through my blond hair. Then, I balanced myself in the English saddle before squeezing my knees into his barrel and nudging him slightly.

I kept my hands firm on the reins, and I took up the slack, causing Arlo to hold his head straight and firm. As well as make his chops shorter and less lengthy, that way we could cover ground smoother and easier. We would have no problem. My lips pressed together and made a smooching noise, which informed Arlo that he should speed up. We neared the first, small jump at an easy lope. As he jumped into the air, tucking legs against his stomach, I leaned forward in the saddle, hands gripping his mane. And as he neared the ground, I leaned back sort of, putting the utmost pressure in the stirrups. I softly came back down to his back, hands relaxing on him once more.

As we neared the next jump, I sped him up, repeating the same thing I had done on the last jump. Then, I slowed him down to a trot and moved back towards Nora easily. A smirk of achievment was on my face. Flawless ride, flawless ride. I stopped him at the gate before sliding off easily, gripping the reins in one hand. "So, how 'bout that trail ride?" I removed my hat from Sandy's saddle horn and gently placed it on my head.

[Nora Elizabeth Middleton]

Nora sat atop Sandy as she watched Briley ride Arlo around the ring. She put his hat on top her head, and just rested her hands on the horn. She was so used to the curvature of the English saddle that she had forgotten what it felt like to ride western. Nearly all her life she had ridden English, and never really took up any other form of riding. Maybe that'll soon change. She had been looking into getting a quarter horse mare from a friend of hers. The mare was a reining champion, but the friend had outgrown her and needed a new home for her. Maybe Briley could give her some pointers, but honestly how hard could it be to ride western? She felt Sandy move underneath her body, and she stroked his neck and gave him a light pat.

Arlo responded well to Briley's commands, and he flew over the jumps. He loved jumping, and with Briley on his back it didn't seem so hard after all. He tossed his head, giving the last jump a second thought, and then jumped over. He slowed down to a trot, and then a steady walk to catch his breath. He walked to the gate, and Nora smiled at her boy. " Not to bad I suppose, for a cowboy,"she teased and laughed. She gave him back his hat, and swung off Sandy and walked to Arlo and patted his neck. She was proud of him. She kissed Briley and leaned against Sandy. " Alright, I could go for a trail ride,"she said softly and got her foot in the stirrup and swung up.