#rival stars horse racing stallion

[rivalstarsracinggirl]

Been working on my pretty thoroughbred collection recently

[fabledcreations]

After not touching this for months, I've spent the past 2 weeks straight (working on nothing but this) to get it finished- I'm very glad to be done with it, but happy I picked it up and wanted to share it here! The title of this one is "Rest your heart in mine." Tried to focus on giving off a 'warm/fuzzy' feeling.

For more follow me on...

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[speedy-dino]

Prettiest horse VS Ugliest horse

Admiral's Pride VS Marine Knife

[agirlwithmagicpals]

my favorite horse 🐴

[domesticated-feral]

I love Teen Wolf (well known fact), I also love Horses (going 14 years strong on this one) and there's this game called Rival Stars which I absolutely love...and go insane over.

Anyways point of this post is that I'm going to assign horses that I have in Rival Stars to Teen Wolf Characters :D

My criteria in choosing the horses is 1. Pretty coat that matches the character, 2. Type of breed aligning with what I think they'd ride the horse in (racing, steeplechase, cross country) and 3. Anything else that makes me compelled to line up the horse with the character (be it the name, the stats, or just the personality/lore of the horse that I've created in my head)

Scott McCall - Solar Eclipse

A Selle Français mare that has a copper chestnut coat diluted with champagne and dapples. She's got a calm, willing temperament. Scott and Solar Eclipse compete in Steeplechase!

Stiles Stilinski - Sandwich Thief

Sandwich Thief is a Thoroughbred Stallion that is unashamedly my most favorite horse in Rival Stars regardless of stats. His coat is a blood bay with no dilution and he's got blotch dapples. He has a headstrong temperament and can form deep loyal bonds with the rider. Stiles and Sandwich Thief compete in Flat Racing!

Allison Argent - Equine Effect

An Arabian Mare with a double dilution champagne on a flaxen chestnut coat. Her pattern is a roaning blanket appaloosa. She is inquisitive and has a sassy attitude, especially during training. Allison and Equine Effect compete in Cross Country!

Lydia Martin - Starry Truth

Star is a Thoroughbred mare with a grey-diluted golden bay coat and a marbled leopard pattern which in my opinion looks soo glitz and glam. (Her tackset is really pretty too) She can be a bit stubborn especially if she hasn't trained in a bit but when she's not, her potential really shines through. Lydia and Starry Truth compete in Cross Country!

Jackson Whittemore - Champion’s Chronicle

Champion is a Thoroughbred stallion with a copper chestnut coat, no dilutions, no flashy markings either. He’s a hard worker and mirrors Jackson in a quite number of ways. Coming from a line of exemplary horses, Champion’s Chronicle is really a Champion on the racetrack. Jackson and Champion’s Chronicle compete in Flat Racing!

this is part 1/(suspected) 5 of this saga

part 2 / part 3

[i-rate-horse-games]

🐎rated games🐎

🐎single player games🐎 ★★★★☆ - starshine legacy for PC ★★★✬☆ - horse life 4 for 3DS ★★★✬☆ - bella sara (2008) for DS & PC ★★★✬☆ - bella sara 2 for 3DS ★★✬☆☆ - bella sara for 3DS ★★✬☆☆ - horse life 1 for pc ★★☆☆☆ - let's ride friends forever for DS DNF - petz horsez 2 for DS 🐎multiplayer online games🐎 ★★★★★ - horse life (roblox) ★★★★✬ - alicia online ★★★★✬ - star stable online ★★★★☆ - horse isle 1 ★★✬☆☆ - horse isle 3 part 1, part 2 🐎browser games🐎 ★★★★✬ - wild horse's valley ★★★★☆ - horse eden eventing ★★★★☆ - howrse 🐎joke ratings🐎 ★✬☆☆☆ - horse insane 1.0 & 1.1 ★☆☆☆☆ - virtual horse breeding game ☆☆☆☆☆ - splatoon 3

🐎on my radar (thanks guys!!)🐎

barbie horse adventures: riding camp canter crossing (unannounced) disney princess royal horse show equination gallop and ride for the nintendo wii horse club adventures horse club adventures 2 horse fable horse life 1 for ds horse life 2 for pc horse life adventures horse racing manager (eta 2025) horse reality horse riding tales horse shelter 2022 (unannounced with demo & playtest) horse tales emerald valley ranch horse world online horsez for ds horsez for ps2 hrd 3 pegasus island i love horses: rider's paradise jumping horses champions legacy horse game let's ride: dreamer let's ride: riding star let's ride: silver buckle stables london cab (unannounced) lucinda equestrian challenge (coming soon) lucinda green's equestrian challenge my first horse adventures on seahorse island my horse and me my horse and me: riding for gold my life riding stables 3 mystable.co.uk petz horse club petz horsez petz horsez 2 (wii) pony friends 2 pro show jumping riding club championships riding star rising star - the horse game (unannounced) rival stars horse racing ropin' ranch saddle up with pippa funnell secret of the magic crystals sims 3 pets sims 4 ranch spirit: stallion of the cimarron: forever free for PC stablebound (eta early 2025) star equestrian (gacha game :/) sulky manager (unannounced) the equestrian IGS the ranch of rivershine track king unbridled: that horse game (early access) unicorn tails astride (in development) windstorm

also searching for a pc horse game that makes you watch people kissing every time you attempt a difficult challenge (rip)

might start a category for 'not quite horse games' so i can rate things like totk and skyrim from a horse-centric perspective so feel free to submit games like those!

🐎more to come! please submit any that are missing or ask me to reevaluate a game that was misjudged!🐎

tags i use: #*you are the horse, #*you can be a boy, #horse game rating, #not a horse game rating

[aylinvail]

ok but what if rogue trader white lotus bitch villainess where the RT claims Heinrix as a race prize after possibly causing the deaths of Kunrad and Edelthrad so she can inherit

A year of planning. Twelve men and women. Twelve horses. All of it over in twelve minutes.

No outsider could conceive of, let alone begin to understand, what the Chase meant to the Dargonians. That they breathed it, ate it, lived it. That they prayed to the saints of Dargonus, Saint Rosalyn and Saint Lunette, all year round for their blessing. That the upper and lower houses pledged their youngest sons and daughters to the Saints service so that their elder siblings may win the year’s race. That all their loyalties, legacies, and divisions all proceeded from the Chase, as planets radiate in orbit of a star. That the ever-churning circles of their customs and beliefs could be distilled down to this single point – the race track. Scattered with the dust of stone cut from the sharp cheeks of the Dargonian hillside. To be run by Dargonian born men and women on Dargonian bred horses. An impenetrable rush of human and animal bodies joining centuries of tradition that no unblooded could hope to pierce.

The Chase was the center. The Chase was Dargonus. To know this was to know all. 

The girl knows this and understands that this is not her place. She should not be here, walking alongside the blue and white stallion of House von Valancius, herself clad in the same colors. As the youngest, she should have been pledged to the Saints, but fate had seen it fit to feed her older brothers to the Warp. They only had her, and the House of Sky and Moon has always fielded a champion. And so Aylin would ride, without the blessing of a sacrifice behind her, to keep that millenia long chain of tradition unbroken.

Sintella, the capital of Dargonus, was punishingly hot in the summer. The sun beat its rays down on the heads of spectators, but despite this, the blooded gathered around the plaza, their servants trailing after them in a procession that could rival a Saint’s feast day. The plaza filled with every soul emptied from courtyards, palaces, churches, whorehouses. Chief among them, aside from Aylin von Valancius’ own house, was the House of the Roses.

She heard the Roses before she saw them, the sound of a hundred blaring bronze trumpets declaring the arrival of the Duque of Aguilara, Heinrix Alvaro Vicente de Contreras y Silva. The Duque, considered a young man still at thirty five summers, had won brides and husbands at the Chase for his gaggle of sisters. It was this summer, all of Dargonus hoped, that the Duque would finally win a bride for himself.

They will be sorely disappointed, Aylin thought to herself, watching as the Duque sallied into the plaza on his dark steed, for I plan to win the Duque for myself.

this au brought to me by

[ofpsalms]

Quick NPC description for Nicola’s colt/stallion Aureus

- Aureus is a Nisean horse, an ancient precursor breed to the modern Akhal-Teke. He has standard buckskin coloring with iridescent golden sheen, is 15.3hh at shoulder. His markings include a star on forehead, white socks on both back legs, pastern marking on right foreleg.

- His name is rather topical, meaning “Golden” in Latin, the iridescent sheen of his coat reminiscent of a popular golden coin of the same name used in the 3rd century.

- Nisean horses originated in the northwestern corner of the Sassanian Empire, an extremely hostile rival of Rome. Their limber builds and wispy manes make them distinct from sturdy and elegant Roman horses. Nevertheless, they were coveted for their speed and hardiness. Many Nisean horses  were captured and taken to Rome as spoils from skirmishes with the Sassanians, and sold to the highest bidder. 

- Aureus was not originally intended to be a riding horse, but one used for chariot racing. Ownership and breeding of chariot racehorses was reserved for the highest echelons of Roman society. This included the statesmen Gaius Annaeus, who took a liking to the Nisean for their distinctive looks and speed. In their childhood, Nicola and her brothers were forbidden from going near these prized racehorses, but the young girl could often be found near the Villa’s pastures, watching them from afar. 

- It was both an open act of spite and desperation that Nicola took the four year old colt from her father’s stables and fled into the night, Aureus taking off at such a speed that the young woman nearly fell off his back. In the years since, he has carried her from one end of the Roman empire to the other, the two having formed a very strong bond. 

- He is intelligent and quick to learn, in addition to being sweet natured. Often he will rest his nose on her shoulder when they are at rest. Being a hot blooded animal, he tends to be sensitive and nervous, looking to her steady guidance. He is extremely skittish and hard to handle by strangers, having a very strong tendency to bolt, but will often warm up to Nico’s longtime companions.

[rackartyg]

listen. the amount of money i would pay for a proper, realistic horse breeding game. and there still isn’t one.

[mapleridge]

New stallion, Sensational Show!

[echoalias]

I had grand plans for Day 24 of Randivor April: Horses! :D

So grand, I did not finish them...! XD

So here, have a headcanon that I may come back to, one day:

Cowboy/RDR2 AU -

Randvi is a runaway from a bad marriage, and stumbles upon The Raven Gang.  They're a rough around the edges travelling band made up of outcasts and vagabonds, and led by a scowling, scarred, sharp-shooter - Eivor "The Wolf-Kissed".

Gunnar's a lucrative and prolific weapons dealer - do not be fooled by his kind nature.  Valka the apothecary may or may not be an actual witch, but she keeps everyone healthy and fit, so they turn an eye to her strange habits and chanting.  Tekla often spikes the beer she brews, and the food she cooks, but it tastes nice enough.  Holger and Alvis are mostly there for entertainment, but they also make the perfect distractors of any heist, and weave a good tale to intimidate or mislead rival gangs.  The kids are hooligans and pick pockets.  Sunniva and Norvid are still level headed sorts; the ones you want riding out with you.  Birna gets them in trouble more than she gets them out of it, but she is endlessly loyal, and pretty damn good with a rifle, so she is always forgiven.

They are a mismatched, dysfunctional family of strays, and Randvi gets adopted in.  Eivor takes her under her wing (obviously), and they ride the plains together while Eivor shows Randvi the lay of the land, and tests her skills with a gun - and of course, Randvi impresses.  She’s a handy sort, used to farm work and living rough and wild, and shooting pests threatening to eat her family’s crops.

So then suddenly Randvi's not just a pretty face; she's riding out to rob banks and looting outposts and running down trains.  She completely turns over the gangs finances, and suddenly they’re not just getting by – they’re thriving.  And she’s even better at planning heists than Eivor and Sunniva!

Eivor's quickly smitten, and she takes Randvi out more and more. Patrolling, hunting.  They lay out on the plains of a night-time while on lookout duty, and star gaze.  And they race from one town to the next to prove who is the better rider, and they wrangle wild horses because Randvi quite likes the look of that golden stallion they saw yesterday...

And they run from the law and build a fearsome reputation, and end up on Wanted posters - Dead or Alive, Wolf-Kissed and Little Red.

(And, I suppose, wouldn't it be awful if Sigurd/The Husband found out where Randvi had run to?  A duel should sort that out…!

And Kjotve’s gang is an antagonistic thorn in their sides, too.)

Anyway...the history of the wild west was written from the back of a horse.  So that's where this prompt took me :D

[rivalstarsracinggirl]

Very happy with this pretty stallion I got from the latest cross country summer games event

[crystalgirl259]

The Flame and the Dragon Ch19

Chapter 19: The Gift

The cold wind bit mercilessly at Kai's exposed neck and cheeks. It had been snowing heavily for almost a week and snow blanketed the landscape once the blizzard ceased. Thick icicles hung from the balconies and roofs of the castle, and snow caked the roofs and towers. But the frosted surface, open fields of white hills, and frosted trees created the perfect environment for the playful staff. White, fluffy snow crunched loudly beneath his fur-lined paddock boots.

Harumi gave Kai a new pair of thick leather riding breeches and a long-sleeved, form-fitting, dark crimson turtleneck.

Over the outfit, he wore a long, red fur coat that covered most of his skinny frame. Soft fur tickled his skin and snuggly hugged the warmth to his body while the leather exterior managed to block any wind that dared try and penetrate it. Kai spun around a couple of times admiring the new coat from all angles and wondering what Cole would think if he saw him in it. Flame trotted beside him, overjoyed to see his master again. Nelson was running around the castle grounds with them, excited to see and touch a real-life horse for the first time in over a century.

The stallion was happy to let the boy pet him and ride on his back.

He always loved attention, just like his owner. The horse suddenly snorted into Kai's spikey hair and rubbed against his arms. He sniffed Kai's jacket and started digging through it Kai laughed at the treatment and pulled a juicy red apple from his pocket. He grinned as Flame's dark eyes lit up and he carefully snatched the apple from his master's hand and devoured the tasty treat. When he was finished he licked Kai's cheek, making the teen laugh loudly.

None of them noticed Cole admiring them from the balcony, watching the stallion triumphantly gallop across the snow-covered plains.

A small smile was on Cole's face when he watched Flame play with Kai and Nelson. His main focus was on his captive, though once in his thoughts the word no longer seemed appropriate. He felt a small jump in his chest when Kai smiled and laugh when Nelson tried racing Flame. Cole realized that was the first time he'd ever truly seen Kai smile or laugh. The teenager smiled brilliantly and laughed alongside Nelson as he had never before experienced something so enjoyable in his life.

It was a stark contrast to the feisty character he'd become accustomed to.

Just the sight of Kai's warm smile he'd kept hidden from him melted Cole's frozen heart. His breath hitched being suddenly exposed to the most innocent and blissful side of the otherwise resolute and world-hardened young man. For a brief moment, Cole would've given anything to have Kai smile at him like that. Subconsciously, his hand touched his bandaged torso beneath his opened coat. He hadn't bothered wearing a shirt under it, in case Kai insisted he changes the bandages again.

The wound had fully healed by now.

It had taken much longer than he thought it would have, and had no doubt it could've been a lot worse, had it not been for the teen's persistence. Cole had never felt this way before. His claws subconsciously moved to his chest as if feeling his heartbeat for the first time as it thundered in his chest. He sighed in frustration and started back towards his room, and down the stairs. Cole collapsed into his favorite chair at the head of the dining room table and sank to the seat.

His hands started massaging his temples in a desperate act to help him think but it did little to help.

His attention turned to the wide window, the curtains were drawn open. He could only faintly see the dots of his captive and his servants, but that perfect smile Kai had worn so effortlessly burned vividly in his mind. He sighed and collapsed his upper body against the table. A small stab of pain filled his chest at the realization that he was probably the only one who hadn't had the honor of seeing Kai smile like that. Or maybe he had and didn't realize it.

He had felt this foreign emotion for reasons he assumed was simply because he hadn't had time to focus on them.

When he saw Kai today, playing in the snow with Nelson he'd normally just think it was childish or idiotic when the only thing they'll do is get cold and wet, but he'd never felt this way before. Like he'd do anything to him smile like that all the time. With that thought, Cole rose to his feet, eyes bright with determination. He wanted to do something for him and not as a thank you or a repayment, just for the hell of it. He'd heard through the grapevine that Kai loved books, though the statement didn't surprise him.

It seemed natural that Kai would possess an artistic soul.

An idea formed in Cole's mind, forming a grin. With that, he turned around and burst from the room, radiating an aura that could rival the people playing outside in the snow...

****************

After putting Flame back in the stables and Nelson had said goodbye because he had some chores to do, Kai had intended to go and find someplace to get warmed up again and rid the cold from his bones. That is until Cole suddenly pulled him aside and said that he had something to show the teen. Kai was confused by that, but his curiosity won and he followed close behind the Dragon Lord as they walked to his surprise. Neither of them said anything.

It was like when Kai first arrived at the castle, but there was now hardly any tension between them.

Kai recognized the way to the ballroom, only instead of entering, Cole continued walking, so Kai followed him. The brunette looked around at the area of the castle he had yet to explore. Large curtains pooled like waterfalls of gold and silver around the enormous windows. The pale moonlight poured through them illuminating the different posed dragon statues standing in between each window. The hallway ended in front of two curved-shaped ivory doors outlined in gold, beneath a glittering emerald tapestry embroidered with a huge silver tree.

Cole suddenly came to a stop and Kai barely managed to stop walking straight into the hybrid's back.

He opened his mouth to speak, but again was cut off, this time by a sudden blackness wrapping around his eyes.

"Cole, what are you doing?" He asked as his hands instinctively moved to remove the blindfold, but Cole stopped him.

"It's a surprise, and I can't have you spoiling it by peeking." He said, loosely tying the cloth securely around Kai's eyes. He kept his paw on Kai's hands. Kai sighed and let Cole guide him.

"Can't you trust me by now? What if I promise not to open my eyes?"

"I do trust you, but I also know your curiosity has a nasty little habit of always getting the better of you." He admitted. The scream of wooden doors opening filled Kai's ears. Temporarily blinded, he let Cole guide him inside the mysterious room. They stopped in the middle of the room, and Cole let go of his hands.

"Can I take this thing off now?" Kai said more impatiently than he meant to sound, but there was anxiousness that didn't go unnoticed by Cole.

"Not yet." He whispered. A swoop sound and a gust of wind was his only warning, followed by the screech of reeling curtain holders. The light brightened the darkness covering his eyes and Kai wondered if that was moonlight.

"Now?" He asked with the anticipation of a child waiting for a birthday present. A loud thump was his answer.

"Now," Cole said as he carefully cut the blindfold and moved so he could see Kai's reaction. Kai kept his eyes closed for a second, momentarily fearing what he was going to see but his enthusiasm won and they slowly opened, then bulged with joy. A gasp of delight escaped his mouth and his cheeks flushed with happiness. He spun around taking in the wonder around him and resisted the urge to pinch himself in case he was dreaming all of this.

"This is incredible!" Kai breathed, his amber eyes alive and bright with childish wonder as they took in his special surprise. He was in the largest, most magnificent library he had ever seen. The room was enormous and rectangular with a roof that curved to a slope. Books lined all four of the walls so tall ladders were placed on them in intervals. The shelves were separated only by two enormous stained glass windows stretching all the way to the ceiling.

The moonlight illuminating them in a way the sunlight never could.

In the corner, an elegant golden staircase with spiral patterns carved into the wooden banisters spiraled to a second floor, an entire open circle overlooking the first floor. The bookcases on the second level, looped together like a giant circle stopping just at the base of a huge mural painted in rich detail upon the ceiling. A midnight blue dotted with silver stars with bigger ones forming constellations, whose true forms were painted in brilliant gold lines.

On the ground floor, globes were dotted around as well as several couches and chairs.

Two or three large desks made from giant smoothed slabs of stone made a suitable workstation on either side of the room. Two bookcases stretched from the walls stood on either side of an enormous white marble fireplace trimmed with gold and interline with black onyx. Just above it behind the banister of the second floor rested another huge stain glass window. Only this one was arched and was decorated with the symbol for the Tree of Knowledge.

But what stunned Kai the most were the books.

They were different from the ones he was used to. Each book was an antique, bound in velvet, leather, or hardcovers with thick hinges. Some had locks while others had jewels embedded in the cover. Older volumes had simple plain leather or velvet coverings with only the title on the side. Others were painted a vibrant blue, red or green. Age had dulled the colors, but none of them lost their wisdom. Upon closer inspection, he noticed each elegantly carved bookcase had a sliding glass cover protecting the books from air and moisture.

Even the second floor has multiple glass doors despite the circular shape, showing him these books had not just been well-used but loved and cared for.

Kai practically jumped with excitement, before bolting around and pouncing on Cole in a hug so sudden he almost fell over.

"I take it you like it?" He laughed.

"I love it! I've never seen so many books in my life, or such an amazing place, I mean look at this!" The teen beamed as he raced around like a kid in a candy store, admiring each shelf, each globe, each desk, the fireplace, then bolting up the spiral staircase and exploring the entire top section. He moved so fast Cole got dizzy following him.

"Thank you!" Kai smiled when he came back downstairs, and hugged him tightly. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad you enjoy it." Cole's smile brightened. Kai's face was almost an exact mirror of the one he'd seen earlier. "Because it's yours." He added and Kai gasped in shock. He examined the hybrid's face for any hint of lies, but when he saw none, the brunette squealed in delight as he wrapped Cole in a tight hug.

"Oh, thank you so much!"...

[crying-over-spilled-feels]

Passing of the Torch

Disclaimer: This drabble is based off of the Rival Stars Horse Racing game on Steam. Francis is the only canon character, and he is owned by PikPok, the game’s developers. Kate is my rendition of the player because I was not going to write another reader insert like I did in my youth. Based on the drabble prompt: “I’m up for the challenge.”

Word Count: 200

 ----------

           Returning to the family farm at the behest of her grandfather’s most trusted friend had never been on Kate Donoghue’s to-do list until now. After her father’s fatal accident, her mother had fallen into a pattern of despair, and Kate was not allowed to ride or visit a horse until she was eighteen and free to make her own choices. However, moving away to business school had isolated her more from her grandparents’ farm and their legacy of horses.

“I am glad you have returned,” Francis speaks up from the entrance to the ranch house.

“Francis!” Kate happily shouts, wrapping the older gentleman in a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you!” the brunette woman breathes.

“And it’s so nice to have you back, little dragonfly. Your grandmother and I have missed you,” Francis assures, squeezing Kate in another hug. “We have read your grandfather’s will; the horses and the land are yours.”

“But Nana—” Kate begins to interject.

“She told him to leave them to you to decide and she would follow your lead.”

“Take me to the barn please, Francis.”

“With pleasure, little dragonfly. Are you sure you’re ready?”

“I’m up for the challenge.”

Francis smiles widely.

 -------

Author’s Note: I very much have enjoyed playing Rival Stars Horse Racing thus far after buying it on Steam over the summer. My two best horses to race to date have been a Rank 4 mare named Artisan Morning who successfully beat Calthorpe in every race we ran against him and had a record of 50 wins with 2 second places as well as her grandson Leopard Amethyst, a Rank 5 stallion who has forged her legacy on ahead with similar statistics. Anyway, I wanted this game to have a bit more of a backstory as to how the player felt about taking over the horses and lineage, especially given that all the backstory provided is the accident of the player’s father and receiving a letter from Francis. I hope you all enjoyed this musing drabble, and until next time, dear readers! Have a magnificent day, afternoon, or night!

[domesticated-feral]

welcome back to another post of feral assigns horses from fav horse game ever to tw characters!

Derek Hale - Lost Control

Lost Control a.k.a Connie is a Selle Français mare with a black coat, no dilutions and a lacing dapple pattern. She is quite sensitive and in tune to the rider which makes competing with her a breeze. Derek and Lost Control compete in Steeplechase!

Peter Hale - Millionaire’s Tax

Millionaire's Tax is a Thoroughbred mare with a champagne-diluted copper chestnut coat and a splendid pinto pattern. A willing temperament, she will take on anything with no fuss as long as the rider is confident in the seat. Peter and Millionaire’s Tax compete in Flat Racing!

Isaac Lahey - Party Animal

Party is a Thoroughbred mare with a blood bay coat with double-dilution gray. She's a happy-go-lucky sociable horse and demands treats from anyone who dares walk by her stall. Isaac and Party Animal compete in Flat Racing!

Erica Reyes - Golden Enigma

Goldy is a Thoroughbred mare with an amber chestnut coat diluted with cream. She's picky from the type of feed she gets to the people who handle her but very loyal to those she likes. Erica and Golden Enigma compete in Flat Racing!

Vernon Boyd - Cowboy's Fantasy

Cowboy is a Quarter Horse stallion with a copper chestnut coat and pretty moderate rabicano markings. He's agile and diligent to the rider's instructions. Boyd and Cowboy's Fantasy compete in Barrel Racing! (I'd like to hope that rival stars brings in western disciplines into the game now that there's quarter horses in game, okay?)

part 2/(suspected) 5 of this saga

part 1 / part 3

[elizacornwall]

Vengeance is an Idiot's Game - Chapter 35 - The Scars we Hide

Read all the published chapters here. -------------------------------------------------- Eliza woke up again later in the day, her first bout of consciousness earlier had turned out to be in the morning hours. Mrs. Grimshaw hadn’t been to change her bandages again, so it couldn’t be evening yet. She carefully took her time to sit up. On the table next to her was a white bundle of clothes, she suspected Sadie had placed it there for her to preserve a little dignity after the naked incident earlier. She pulled the night gown over her head, a task that proved to be much more difficult than expected due to her injured hand and she silently thanked the woman for not leaving something more complicated to get dressed in. She set her bare feet on the ground, the earth felt dry and dusty under her toes, much different to the lush grass and damp soil at Horseshoe Overlook. The air was hot and filled with moisture, laying heavy in her lungs. After some timid testing the young woman managed to get up, careful to take it slow not to pass out again. She held onto the cot for support and staggered towards the tent entrance, opening the canvas a little and winced when daylight hit her face. It was so bright. Shading her eyes with her good hand, she stepped out and squinted around the new camp. It seemed to be more spacious than the last one but just as quaint. The huge tree that stood in the middle provided some much needed shade, it felt like the height of summer here and even though her gown was thin, with the heat and the physical exhaustion of getting up she was already sweating. The treeline that marked the border on one side was contrasted by the expanse of a big lake behind her, the shore not far away. It was a nice spot. “Eliza! You’re awake!”

Mary-Beth’s joyous voice rang from somewhere, and she could just about brace herself for the sudden wall of words before her three friends came rushing towards her; babbling congratulations, thanks and well wishes. Karen grabbed her and squeezed her in a bone-breaking hug, Tilly shouted to her to be careful of Eliza’s hand but the blonde paid her no mind. “Good t’see you stood upright woman!”, she laughed as she let go of her. Eliza smiled at her friends, glad to see that they truly were unscathed. Mary-Beth took her by the elbow and directed her towards the wooden chair that stood next to the tent, gently pushing her down on it. “You gotta take it easy, we were so worried about you!” They all sat down on the floor around her, Tilly was the first to speak. “Sadie said you were the one that heard ‘em bastards first, is that right?” Eliza nodded. “I woke up in the pitch black and thought I’d heard something in the woods, but wasn’t sure if I didn’t imagine things… Thank heavens I didn’t nod off again”, she replied. “How are things, has anyone heard of my father?” They all shook their heads. “Naah, been quiet since we’ve arrived here. There’s a town not too far from here, Rhodes, but the people there ain’t the brightest. Some hillbilly idiots”, Karen chuckled. “All they care about is moonshine and hating each other.” Tilly nodded, adding: “Lenny told me ‘bout them two rival families, seems like they been killing each other for generations, no one knows why anymore.” They caught Eliza up to date with happenings, but there wasn’t much to tell. No one had mentioned Arthur yet, but she knew the question was burning on their tongues. Dutch hadn’t given out or gone on any missions of note until Arthur had reemerged, it seemed to Eliza like he was the driving force when it came to the gang’s activities and successful plans, always to be relied on by their leader. The other members had gone scouting, hunting and scoping out the nearby town to see if there were any leads, but only when Dutch, Arthur and Hosea rode out for the first time together the other day, the other boys would get some momentum too, starting to plot their own robberies and schemes. Eventually Tilly was the one to touch on the subject. “So you were out blank this whole time? We thought maybe… Well, Arthur spent an awful amount of time in there with ya.” Eliza could feel her heartbeat quicken and hoped her cheeks wouldn’t betray her. “I can’t remember anything, first time I was awake really it was Mrs. Grimshaw in there with me, then Sadie.” The three girls were looking at her, not quite convinced. No way in hell would she admit to that dream that still sat very vibrant in her memory, it would only make her the target of gossip and jokes for weeks. She avoided especially Mary-Beth’s eyes, she was almost certain the girl had a soft spot for the rough outlaw. And there you go betraying your friend dreaming up such filth. She shook her head to get the stabbing feeling of guilt out of her mind. “Where is everyone? It’s awfully quiet here”, she asked looking around camp, hoping to change the topic. “Let’s see… The old dragon was headed off to town earlier, said she needed something from the doctor for ya, Sean and Javier are on guard duty, Abigail has taken Jack to the lake and Dutch and Arthur are out on some official duty”, Karen counted off. “Charles is out huntin’, and the rest I ain’t too sure.” “And Hosea?”, Eliza asked. “Probably in town, talking some poor bugger out of his clothes”, laughed Tilly. The group enjoyed being whole again and were talking about this and that for a while, when they could hear the thundering of hoofbeats coming from the woods. They turned towards the noise and it didn’t take long until the massive shape of Moonshine came into view with Arthur on her back, crashing out of the trees in neck breaking speed. They were closely followed by the slender shape of Dutch’s gorgeous Arabian, the stallion almost looked like a foal in comparison to her huge frame. The heavy mare came to a skidding halt, her rider slightly lifting

himself out of the saddle, shouting taunts at Dutch who came close second. “I ain’t seen them race for years it seems”, noted Mary-Beth, smiling. “Feels like good old times, don’t it!” The other girls agreed. Eliza only had eyes for the man who was dismounting the warhorse, bantering with Dutch. They stowed away their saddles and let the horses free to graze, then the gang leader’s eyes fell on her. He said something to Arthur, who followed his gaze, meeting hers. Even from across all that way she could see his face light up. He approached alone, leaving Dutch behind. Eliza suddenly got very nervous, how should she greet him after all he’d done for her? It wasn’t like she remembered any of it herself, would it be too obvious if she thanked him anyway or would that be only basic courtesy? Before she could decide on anything, he was upon them. “So you’re awake then? Good to see you upright”, he smiled down at her. She couldn’t muster anything more than a simple: “Hey.” WEAK. Jesus Christ almighty woman. In that moment she wanted to be anywhere but here, even would have preferred to be back in the tent, unconscious. How in the world she was this dense she couldn’t believe sometimes. Thankfully her friends saved her further embarrassment and picked up the conversation. “You’re still the better rider than mister high almighty over there then, ain’t ya!” Karen laughed, pointing back at Dutch over her shoulder. “Suppose so, although he almost had me a handful of times. That tiny Count of his got surprisingly swift legs”, he answered in a chuckle. “You girls alright, no trouble here in camp?” “Never any trouble ‘s long as Mrs. Grimshaw ain’t around!” answered Tilly gleefully. Eliza was taking in his appearance. He had taken off his tan leather coat in this heat and exchanged his usual, shoddy looking clothes with dark trousers, a relatively clean white shirt and a fetching leather waistcoat over it, looking very handsome.. There was a star pinned to his vest that looked suspiciously like a- “So you become a deputy sheriff now? How in the hell did ya manage that?” Mary-Beth asked, pointing at the badge on his chest. “Oh that… Turns out the law ‘round these parts is even more stupid than we thought possible. We helped ‘em catch some runners yesterday, and Sheriff Gray deputised us.” He gave a barking laugh. “Imagine that, Deputy Williamson!” They all joined in laughing. It felt good, as if the world was in perfect harmony. In that moment, all the fear and guilt of the past couple weeks were pushed out of Eliza’s mind, and she was able to simply enjoy the company of her friends. Arthur sat down on the floor with them and started to retell their adventures with Gray, the idiot Sheriff of Rhodes.

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Mrs. Grimshaw returned with Sadie driving the wagon when the sun hung low over the lake. The day had cooled down a little and it was quite comfortable now, a nice breeze providing some fresh air. The old woman frowned when she saw Eliza sitting outside with her friends and approached quickly, a mighty scowl on her face. “You should be in bed girl! What did I tell you about your hand needing rest? Really Mr. Morgan, I expected more of you, letting her sit here as if she was perfectly healthy!” Eliza shrunk under the stern tone of her voice, the old woman still intimidated her like no other had before. “I- I just…” Arthur stepped in, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “She’s alright, she’s only been sitting here with them girls getting’ some sunshine. Ain’t nothing wrong with that, the woman needs some colour back.” Mrs. Grimshaw dismissed this with a disapproving click of her tongue. “We’ll need to change your bandages, away with you girls. Come on Miss Cornwall, into the tent with you.” She shooed the three young women away, not paying any mind to their protests as she helped Eliza get up and led her back into the darkness of Arthur’s tent. He followed, and Eliza was glad that Grimshaw didn’t chase him off too. She sat down onto the cot, watching the woman setting out the supplies she had gotten from town on the table. Arthur was leaning against the post next to the entrance with his arms crossed, watching over the two women. Taking off the wrap wasn’t half bad, but she hadn’t been prepared for what would be revealed underneath. The skin at the back of her hand was ripped open, revealing a good chunk of raw flesh beneath. Thankfully there wasn’t much swelling and no ooze or puss, Eliza knew that such things would complicate things tenfold and could be potentially life threatening, but to see her dominant hand in this state shook her to the core all the same. The edges of the skin were already starting to heal, pink smooth tissue had started to form, but after almost a week of uninterrupted rest she would have hoped it had made more progress. She felt sick and averted her eyes as the woman carefully rinsed the wound with alcohol, tensing silently as the pain shot through her. “Can’t just get up and get on with life, much as that’d help us, girl”, Grimshaw commented as she covered the edges of the wound with a sharp smelling paste. “If you can’t keep it still you ain’t ever using it like you did.” Eliza just nodded meekly, she wasn’t in the mood to have an argument with the woman. Besides, she was right and the prospect of losing a fully functioning hand was threatening enough for her to listen. “Thank you Miss Grimshaw.” The old woman had finished and gathered her things to leave. In passing she shot Arthur a look. “And you should leave the poor girl alone and sleep some Mr. Morgan. You look like you ain’t slept in weeks!” He just grunted, and she slipped out. Eliza looked at him, but his eyes were obscured by his hat as so often. The silence was getting awkward, so she pushed herself to speak. “I owe you some thanks I guess”, she began. “For saving my life… And Sadie told me you were looking after me while I was unconscious. So… thank you.” It was a weak display of gratitude and she knew it. It didn’t even come close to what she felt, but she couldn’t think of a way to express herself any better in that moment, not without letting slip what he truly meant to her. “It weren’t nothing.” He didn’t shift from where he stood, but he lifted his head to look at her. “You were the one that saved us all, ‘t was the least I could do.” Eliza gave a joyless laugh and rolled her eyes. “If I hear that one more time I might just drown myself in that lake”, she replied. Everyone had been telling her how she’d saved the whole camp and as much as she supposed that it was true, it became less and less enjoyable to hear. Arthur chuckled at her response. “I ain’t gonna say it again then. Grimshaw’s gonna kill me if she’d saved ya only for you to go drown yourself.” She gave a half smile but didn’t reply, only staring at her

feet. She felt drained after being up the whole day and suddenly didn’t know how to hold a conversation anymore. Her mind spun around the same question that plagued her since Sadie told her he’d been there and looked after her, until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Why’d you do it?” “What d’ you mean?” She looked at him, her face blank and tired. “Look after me for all those days”, she replied flatly. She was tired of making up possible reasons in her mind. “I find it hard to believe Dutch didn’t have anything he needed your help with, and I can’t think for the life of me why you would give up so much of your time making sure I’m okay. Now and before all that mess with my father”, she added. He held her gaze, on his face an expression she couldn’t read. For a long time he was silent, seemingly thinking hard. Eventually the man sighed and uncrossed his arms, he laid his hat onto the table and took a seat on the stool close to her. He slumped down, resting the elbows on his knees, staring at his hands. “S’pose ‘s no use not telling you”, he started. “I ain’t ever told anyone except Hosea and Dutch…” Eliza caught his look and nodded, understanding what he was getting at. “I’m not going to tell anyone, don’t worry”, she reassured him. He sighed, seemingly struggling with where to begin. He leaned back, looking up at the canvas clad ceiling and started to speak. “It was years ago, back when we was just a small group. Things were different back then… Easier I suppose. John was only a kid and we were mostly doing scams and tricking rich people to part with some of their money, ‘til Dutch took me on my first big bank job with Hosea… Although that don’t have anythin’ to do with this, sorry.” Arthur adjusted his position slightly, Eliza just sat and waited patiently for him to continue. “I was stupid. Met a young girl in a town we passed, we… Well, we liked each other, enough. She knew what I was but would have me anyway. Dutch, Hosea and me, we moved on, but…” He came to a halt, struggling to find words. Eliza tried to help him along. “Did you love her?” He looked at Eliza, confused for a moment, then gave a breathy laugh, shaking his head. “No, at least I think I didn’t. I weren’t looking for love, anyway. No, she got pregnant.” “Oh.” Eliza didn’t know what she had expected, but it wasn’t that. She couldn’t think of anything else to say. “She – we, had a son, Isaac.” He corrected himself and sighed heavily. “I weren’t… Well, my life was with Dutch an’ Hosea, I ain’t never thought about settling down, even if it’d have been the right thing to do. She knew and understood. I destroyed that poor girl’s life… No idea why she didn’t hate me. Her family did, that’s for sure. Anyways… We moved on, more people joined us and the gang started to be more like it is now. I made sure to go back an’ see them whenever I could, give them money, be with them for a couple days and the like. Make sure they were safe and provided for ‘t least, even just to feel less… Well, it never did sit right with me, it weren’t right to be so careless in the first place, but what could I do. I was young and my place was with Dutch and Hosea. Did that for five years.“ Eliza observed him, paying attention to every word that left his lips. He didn’t immediately continue and she couldn’t keep her question to herself. “So you’re a father? Where are they now?” Arthur didn’t take his eyes off his hands, a sadness was written on his face that was so deep, her heart threatened to break for him. “They got killed.” The silence that followed was deafening. Eliza didn’t know how much time had passed, she was still trying to process what he had said. After a long while he gathered himself and continued, his voice laced with deep set bitterness. “I went back there one day, found both of them buried. They were murdered, by some damned thievin’ bastards for a handful of dollars.” She wanted to say something, do something to console him, show him she shared his grief, show him she cared. But there was simply nothing she could have done to ease his pain and

that hurt even more. They sat side by side, neither of them saying a word for a good few minutes. When Eliza finally spoke, her voice was quiet and hoarse. “I’m so sorry.” Arthur lifted himself up a bit, tilting his head back, his eyes fixated onto the ceiling. “Ain’t nothing you gotta be sorry about, is what it is”, he sighed. “If I weren’t so stupid in the first place it would never had happened… Just wish I could’a saved them.” Eliza wasn’t sure, but she thought she could hear a slight jitter in his voice. She wanted to hug him so badly. Instead, she resorted to watching him, until he caught and held her glance. “I don’t expect you to think I’m a good man, I ain’t… I promised her I’d protect them, but I… I didn’t. They got killed because I couldn’t be there.” He sighed, appearing to have given up on trying to string his further thoughts into words. She didn’t know how to respond herself, knowing he had never revealed this much of his past to anyone in the camp apart from the two men that had raised him made her feel… What, important? She was silent a long time, before she decided to turn back to her original question. “Thank you for trusting me with this, Arthur. Only… What has it got to do with you taking care of me?” He looked at her, returning her gaze with a sincerity she hadn’t experienced from anyone in a long while. “Her name was Eliza.”