Kindred Spirits

Lyric finished hanging up the last of what few clothes she had and flopped down on the bed. She still couldn't get over what an amazing guest house this was. She had lived on site before at a few of her other jobs, but this one took the cake. It was the same amount of square feet as the main house, just designed to house more people. Caroline had given her the basic tour when she arrived last night. Not only was there a very large kitchen, but a living room, laundry room, and a home office with a few computers for the guests. The Richards were far more trusting than any of the other families Lyric had worked for over the years. Not that Lyric planned to do anything to break that trust, it was just an observation.

Thinking she would go tour the stables she was about to change out of her pajamas when there was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she hollered. The trainer Wesley opened the door and stuck his head in the room.
"Hey. I know Caroline promised that you wouldn't have to work for the first week but..." he trailed off.
"Yes?" Lyric prompted.
"There's a horse I'd like you to meet if you have time."

They walked from the guest house out to the small quarantine barn. On the way Wesley thought about the mare he was going to introduce Lyric to. Carol had found her picture on a website a little over a week ago. A sucker for any sob story, Carol had immediately called the stable in charge of the auction. After talking with Carol for a while and, realizing that Carol was seriously interested, the auctioneer had filled her in on something not previously released to the public. The mare was pregnant. However, due to a neglectful family, it had not been noticed by her previous owners. She therefore had not received any veterinary care.

The story pulled the heartstrings of everyone at Meadow Lark Stables, and Carol had immediately adopted her. She had arrived about four days ago and had proved one of the most difficult rescue cases any of the staff had worked with. She was terrified of men, but was too nervous and strong for most of the women to handle alone. Carol and Rachel had worked with her a bit and could now lead and gently groom her. However she still wouldn't let anyone go near her belly. Wesley hoped Lyric could help.

The quarantine areas at previous stables Lyric had worked at were small and usually of lesser quality, however this one seemed like a tiny paradise. Wesley stopped at the gate and waved Lyric on.
"She's in the pasture behind the housing, but she doesn't like men much so I'm going to stay back."
Lyric nodded and moved ahead, taking the small trail around back. Turning the corner Lyric stopped in her tracks. Before her was a mostly white mare with some of the bluest eyes, and she was clearly pregnant. The mare watcher her, ears slightly back.
"Easy girl," Lyric whispered. The horse snorted and stepped forward a foot.

Wesley shifted, somewhat impatiently, and glanced at his watch, he'd been standing there for 45 minutes. Deciding he had given her enough time, he slowly walked to the pasture. What he saw shocked him. There was Lyric, not only touching the mare, but stroking her belly gently while whispering. Wes stood there quietly taking the beautiful sight in. After about 5 minutes of watching, the mare caught Wesley's smell and pulled her head up sharply.
"Shh," Lyric coaxed, but still proceeded to exit the pasture.
She and Wes headed back to the main house.
"If you don't mind, I would like for you to report to Carol anything you noticed." Wesley said, Lyric nodded in affirmation.

Carol listened to Lyric as she explained what she had noticed about the mare. When she was done Carol wrote some notes quietly for a moment.
"Lyric, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to have our vet come out today and look at the mare. I think she would do better with you there even though our vet is a woman."
"Sure," Lyric replied.
Carol sighed and removed her glasses.
"I'm so sorry we're asking you to work when I promised a week for you to settle in."
"I don't mind, really," Lyric reassured, but Carol was already shaking her head.
"Still, the least we can do is let you choose her name."
Lyric stood stunned for a moment. She had worked for several stables over the years and never once had they asked for her opinion on a horse, let alone given her naming privileges.
"Do you have any ideas?" Caroline prompted.
"Uh," Lyric stuttered, "Actually, yeah, I do have an idea. She strikes me as such a refined lady, an aristocrat, what about Puttin' on the Ritz?" For a moment Lyric feared the worst but then a large smile spread across Carol's face and Wesley chuckled.
"Ritz for short?" Carol asked, Lyric nodded, "It's perfect! I'd like you to work with her whenever possible, she'll be your charge. Consult Wesley about her training program after she's foaled and started trusting people." Lyric was stunned, naming rights and control over her basic training.
"We're happy to have you here, and hope you'll become part of our family." Carol's smile was so warm, Lyric couldn't help but smile back.
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No, Ritz isn't giant, Lyric is just incredibly small.
This will act as Ritz's temporary reference until after she has foaled.

Registered Name: Puttin' on the Ritz
Stable Name: Ritz, Lady, Ritzy
Age: 8 years
Gender: Mare
Breed: Thoroughbred
Realism: Realistic
Registered: N/a
Bloodlines: Started
Projected Height: 16.0 hh
Phenotype: Liver Chestnut Tobiano Splash White
Markings: She looks as if she is only tobiano, leaving her true coat color around her ears and near the dock of her tail. However basic genetic testing and a bit of color oddity on her stomach show she is also splash white.
Genotype: e⁺e⁺ | A^aA^- | F^fF⁺ | T^tT⁺ | Spl^splSpl^spl |


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References: link | link | link | link

Ritz's design © ~Dakareegurl
Characters and art © *ShadowRaven1