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Description
Though the hard winter was behind them and the slog of mucking out and filling haynets was over for a while, the arrival of Spring had heralded the busy work of training and exercising horses again in preparation for the summer season. Kel leant against the rail fence, watching the last of the mares gallop up to the top of the hill, and gave a satisfied sigh. He was tired and sore but it was worth it. He glanced over at Nell and gave her a small smile. He'd always be in her debt for rescuing him.
Nell's phone ringing broke the peace. She answered and there was a long pause. "How many?"... "We're on the way."
She turned to Kel. "There's been an accident with a horse lorry down the road," she explained, summoning him to her side and starting to march quickly through the barn and down the hill. He wasted no time in following after the short woman. He'd do everything he could to help.
When they arrived, Rocky was already at the scene. The lorry had taken the bend too sharp and tipped, but all the horses had been removed from the wreck and both he and the driver were holding onto the frightened animals. Nell had been expecting the worst, but as she gave the horses a cursory glance, it appeared nothing was broken. There were bloody knees, and cuts and grazes, and the coloured gelding had a bad stifle injury, but they were all on four feet.
They seemed an odd collection. Two paints, a cob, a small, terrified colt, and a skinny grey arab. Her eyes lingered on the latter for a long moment before approaching the driver. "Where were these horses headed?" They weren't show animals, that much was certain.
"It's a hunt lorry, mam. They're due to be shot."
Kel, who had taken the foal off of Rocky and was trying to comfort the animal, looked up in shock. "You can't shoot them. There's nothing wrong with them!"
Nell shook her head at the teenager, quieting him, then turned back to the driver. "Well they won't be going anywhere with that lorry in a ditch. You have their passports?"
"Yes," the man replied carefully.
"With their previous owners details?"
"Yes."
"Well then." She glanced at Kel and Rocky. "They'll have to come back to our yard. I'll ring the old owners and inform them that I intend to take the horses in."
"But..." the driver began.
"You were paid, yes?" Nell asked, to which the man nodded. "Well then, there should be no problem. If any of these horses need euthanizing, I'll do so myself with a vet. You just need to sign the passports. I'll do the rest." She smiled, and though she was much shorter than him, the man felt that the blonde Fraulein could make his life much harder if he didn't comply. He had more important things to worry about for now.
Less than an hour later, and Nell, Kel and Rocky were leading five more horses up the track to Phoenix Down stables.
Tralee was on the doorstep of the cottage, arms folded across his chest. He didn't interfere but shook his head slowly. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" the Irishman told her.
Nell and Rocky just shrugged in unison with a conspiratorial grin, while Kel sheepishly patted the nervous colt, not making eye contact.

Description
Though the hard winter was behind them and the slog of mucking out and filling haynets was over for a while, the arrival of Spring had heralded the busy work of training and exercising horses again in preparation for the summer season. Kel leant against the rail fence, watching the last of the mares gallop up to the top of the hill, and gave a satisfied sigh. He was tired and sore but it was worth it. He glanced over at Nell and gave her a small smile. He'd always be in her debt for rescuing him.
Nell's phone ringing broke the peace. She answered and there was a long pause. "How many?"... "We're on the way."
She turned to Kel. "There's been an accident with a horse lorry down the road," she explained, summoning him to her side and starting to march quickly through the barn and down the hill. He wasted no time in following after the short woman. He'd do everything he could to help.
When they arrived, Rocky was already at the scene. The lorry had taken the bend too sharp and tipped, but all the horses had been removed from the wreck and both he and the driver were holding onto the frightened animals. Nell had been expecting the worst, but as she gave the horses a cursory glance, it appeared nothing was broken. There were bloody knees, and cuts and grazes, and the coloured gelding had a bad stifle injury, but they were all on four feet.
They seemed an odd collection. Two paints, a cob, a small, terrified colt, and a skinny grey arab. Her eyes lingered on the latter for a long moment before approaching the driver. "Where were these horses headed?" They weren't show animals, that much was certain.
"It's a hunt lorry, mam. They're due to be shot."
Kel, who had taken the foal off of Rocky and was trying to comfort the animal, looked up in shock. "You can't shoot them. There's nothing wrong with them!"
Nell shook her head at the teenager, quieting him, then turned back to the driver. "Well they won't be going anywhere with that lorry in a ditch. You have their passports?"
"Yes," the man replied carefully.
"With their previous owners details?"
"Yes."
"Well then." She glanced at Kel and Rocky. "They'll have to come back to our yard. I'll ring the old owners and inform them that I intend to take the horses in."
"But..." the driver began.
"You were paid, yes?" Nell asked, to which the man nodded. "Well then, there should be no problem. If any of these horses need euthanizing, I'll do so myself with a vet. You just need to sign the passports. I'll do the rest." She smiled, and though she was much shorter than him, the man felt that the blonde Fraulein could make his life much harder if he didn't comply. He had more important things to worry about for now.
Less than an hour later, and Nell, Kel and Rocky were leading five more horses up the track to Phoenix Down stables.
Tralee was on the doorstep of the cottage, arms folded across his chest. He didn't interfere but shook his head slowly. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you?" the Irishman told her.
Nell and Rocky just shrugged in unison with a conspiratorial grin, while Kel sheepishly patted the nervous colt, not making eye contact.