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Eli Donovan ([info]edonovan) wrote in [info]oldwest_rpg,
@ 2008-05-17 16:20:00

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Entry tags:eli donovan, mary elizabeth mackenzie, robert mackenzie

Foal inspections
Who: Eli Donovan, Robert & Lizzie MacKenzie
Where: stables, New Shelby
When: May 17, 1867, morning
Status: Complete
Summary: Doc MacKenzie is checking in on Eli's new foal, and his sister Lizzie comes looking for him.

---
Despite a fairly smooth foaling and the fact that the new colt seemed to be doing perfectly well, Eli had sent word to Robert as soon as the sun was safely up. Trixie was nursing fine, the colt was already up and walking on shaky legs, but Eli had left them both to bond privately until the other man arrived.

It was satisfying, having a foal around the place again. This new colt was the first foal in Eli's own stables, so he was understandably pleased that he and his mother seemed to be doing well. If Trixie and her baby came through the next couple of months without any problems, he might have to look into finding another stallion for stud, and perhaps another mare or two, as well.

Eli leaned against the door of the stable as he waited for Robert to deliver his verdict. No sense making plans for that sort of thing until he made sure everything was all right with Trixie and her foal.

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[info]robertmackenzie
2008-05-18 04:06 am UTC (link)
"Well, Eli," Robert replied easily as he brushed down the wobbly foal under the watchful eye of its mother, "beautiful foal, his mum's doing well, and I don't find anything that I need be concerned about. He's up and moving, eyes are bright, airways clear, and he's feeding well, aye?" he asked.

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 04:23 am UTC (link)
"Nursing within the first hour, and not a hitch," Eli said amiably. If he looked a bit like a proud papa himself, watching Trixie with her foal, he could be forgiven; it was his first successful foray into horse breeding, after all, and he was entitled to a bit of pleasure at watching mother and baby doing so well. "I didn't see anything to get my hackles up, myself, but you're the expert." He grinned lazily at the other man. "Four legs, two ears, and a tail, I think he'll make it," he chuckled.

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[info]robertmackenzie
2008-05-18 04:49 am UTC (link)
"All the parts required of a horse," Robert laughed. "Strong wee thing, I think you'll be quite pleased. Does he have a name yet?"

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 05:15 am UTC (link)
Eli's grin widened, and he laughed. "He does," he said slyly. "Apparently Miz Austin's students decided 'Bandit' would be a right fine name for a young colt." He rolled one shoulder humorously, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm not sure if it'll follow him if he's ever sold, since a buyer might call that tempting fate, but for now? Bandit it is," he chuckled.

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[info]robertmackenzie
2008-05-18 03:38 pm UTC (link)
"Bandit, eh?" Robert chuckled. "Quite a name to live up to for a wee colt. But I think he's got it in him. Strong stock, good start, good home. Aye, I think he's..."

Robert trailed off, cocking his head towards the opening of the stables. "Did you hear someone?" he asked.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 03:45 pm UTC (link)
"Robert?" came the soft, feminine brogue, louder this time as the woman approached the stables. "Robert, I know you're in here. Edalene told me that you had an appointment here." She pushed open the stable doors, closing her parasol and grinning as she found Robert and the other man with the horses. "Ah, there you are. I was afraid that Edalene was leading me wrong. But thankfully no," she laughed before turning to the other man. "We haven't been properly introduced," she said, lifting the back of her hand for the new man.

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[info]robertmackenzie
2008-05-18 03:50 pm UTC (link)
Robert just shook his head. "Aye, no you haven't," he sighed. "Lizzie, this is Eli Donovan. Eli, this is my sister, Mary Elizabeth."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 04:46 pm UTC (link)
Eli looked mildly taken aback as he hastily wiped his hand on a rag and took hers. Unless he was remembering wrong, Robert had certainly mentioned that his sister was in a nunnery back in Scotland, and the last thing he'd expected was for her to walk into his stables. "Pleased to meet you, Miss MacKenzie," he said with a sheepish little grin. "I apologize for pulling your brother away so early in the morning -- we had a foaling last night."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 04:52 pm UTC (link)
"That's what Edalene said," Lizzie replied brightly. "And since Robert is smiling, I can assume that everything went spendidly. You have a lovely stable here, Mr. Donovan."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 05:01 pm UTC (link)
"Thank you," Eli answered, his smile widening. His stables were the one thing he was actually proud of, after all. "The colt's doing just fine, fortunately."

He paused, tilting his head slightly as she shot a glance at Robert. He had mentioned that she was good with horses, hadn't he? "Would you like to meet our newest resident, then, ma'am?" he asked her lightly.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 05:23 pm UTC (link)
"I would love to," Lizzie replied. "I'm rather a sucker for foals. Isn't that right, Robert?"

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[info]robertmackenzie
2008-05-18 05:25 pm UTC (link)
"Aye, always have been," Robert agreed. He pulled a gold filigreed pocket watch out, checking the time before shaking his head. "And as much as I would care to stay around, I'm afraid I have another appointment." He gave Lizzie a significant look as he pocketed the watch once more. "You don't stay and inconvenience Mr. Donovan. And you," he said, turning to Eli, "don't hesitate to tell her to get lost when you need to get back to work."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 06:28 pm UTC (link)
"Oh, I'm sure she won't be an inconvenience at all," Eli laughed. "Most of my time's going to be with the colt this morning, so Miss MacKenzie is more than welcome to stay as long as she likes," he smiled, and gestured back toward the rear of the stables where Trixie and the colt were housed. "Thanks, doc -- I appreciate you setting my mind at ease this morning," he said with a wry little chuckle.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 06:52 pm UTC (link)
Lizzie glared at Robert as he left the stables. Did he think she was some rattlebrained puppy who didn't know any better than overstaying her welcome? How dare he chastise her about when to leave. "Thank you for the offer to stay," she said, returning her attention to Eli. "My brother seems to have forgotten that I am no longer a child. But he has other good qualities, so I'm inclined to forgive him."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Eli laughed at that. "He's an older brother -- comes with the territory," he told her with a grin. "I'm sure he didn't mean it like that." With a shake of his head, Eli lifted one hand to gesture toward the foaling stall in the back of the stables again. "Trixie's just back here. She's had a few hours to get her little man all cleaned up and presentable, so they're up to taking visitors by now," he told her drolly.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 07:13 pm UTC (link)
"Lovely," Lizzie beamed. She hung her parasol on one of the bridle knobs before following Eli to the back stall where Trixie and her colt were settled. "Oh, Mr. Donovan," she sighed. "He's beautiful. What a rich color."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 08:23 pm UTC (link)
"Takes after his mum," Eli said affectionately, and ducked into the stall to give Trixie a good rub on the side of her neck. "He'll be a good looking fellow once he's put on some meat and muscle and gets his feet under him proper. You've a lot to be proud of, m'girl," he told the mare with a grin. The little colt nudged at Eli for a scratch of his own, his legs still just a bit unsteady, before turning his curiosity toward Lizzie.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 08:43 pm UTC (link)
"Hello, sweetie," Lizzie said warmly, holding her hand out for the colt as she grinned. "You're just about the handsomest colt I've ever seen. You have a name, love?" she asked.

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 08:58 pm UTC (link)
"His name is Bandit," Eli told her solemnly, hiding a smile as the colt nuzzled at Lizzie's hand. "We had a group of the younger schoolchildren out to see Trixie a couple of weeks ago, and they had a mind to choose a name for her foal for me," he laughed. He gave the colt a gentle pat on the rump, careful not to overbalance him. "Bandit, this is Miss MacKenzie," he announced with an impish little smile.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 09:11 pm UTC (link)
"Oh, it's quite the pleasure to meet you, Bandit," Lizzie cooed, leaning over to give the little colt a quick kiss on his muzzle. "You're already loved if you have a number of wee ones all scrambling to name you. I think Bandit is a fine name for a horse. How many other foals are you expecting this season?" she asked Eli.

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 09:17 pm UTC (link)
"Just this one, for now," Eli answered. He extricated himself from his position between the colt and his mother to lean against the stall fence near Lizzie. "I wanted to make sure Trixie's foaling when off without a hitch before I started breeding in earnest," he clarified. "I've got two other mares and a pair of stallions so far, so I'll be looking into shift toward more foalings over the next hear, hopefully." He grimaced. "Assuming I can ever get that one new stallion to behave himself. He's a handful, right enough -- been banished out to the far pasture for the day, so he doesn't disturb these two here."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 09:25 pm UTC (link)
"I'm sure you'll break him in," Lizzie declared, giving Bandit one last little kiss before stepping out of the stall to give the colt and his mother some breathing room. "You seem to be quite the able horseman, and I have full confidence in your abilities. Speaking of, how did you get into horses, Mr. Donovan? I can see it in your eyes that you have quite the passion."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-18 09:34 pm UTC (link)
"Apprenticed with my father," Eli answered with an easy smile. "Da was a stablemaster himself, he started teaching me when I was big enough to hold a shovel properly." He laughed slightly. "I had an excess of energy as a boy, he decided I needed a bit of help focusing it," he chuckled. He ducked out of the stall after her, and leaned against the fence from the other side to keep an eye on the colt as he nursed. "And you? Assuming he doesn't have more than one sister, your brother tells me you've got quite a hand with horses, yourself," he added, his eyes twinkling.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-18 09:49 pm UTC (link)
"We had quite the stables at our summer home," Lizzie explained. "We all spent quite a bit of time in the stables. There's nothing quite like the wind in your hair and the heather whipping up around the horse as you run." She sighed, lost in a memory for just a moment. "It was freedom. I didn't have to be... everything that everyone expected for me to be while I was riding."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 12:11 am UTC (link)
Eli smiled at the obvious pleasure she had in that particular memory. "Been a while since I went riding just to ride," he admitted softly. "Sounds like you enjoy it just as much as I did." He turned his head to grin at her. "If you ever get the urge for a ride, I've got the two other mares who could use the exercise," he offered. "And Trixie, once her little one's weaned. You're welcome to take any one of them out for a ride."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 12:39 am UTC (link)
"You mean to tell me that you own all of these beautiful horses and you don't ever ride just for the pleasure of it?" Lizzie asked, obviously taken aback at the thought of that. "Why did you stop?"

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 12:57 am UTC (link)
"Time and opportunity, mostly," Eli admitted with a sigh. "I've had my hands a bit full with getting things set up out here. Never seem to find the time anymore." He shook his head with a sheepish grin. "Bit of a shame, really -- I miss it now and then, but there's just so much to do here."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 01:02 am UTC (link)
"So you'd let me run off for an afternoon with one of your mares and leave you here to muck?" Lizzie replied. "Well that's not fair in the least, not bloody fair at all. And..." she trailed off with a grin, "I don't know my way around here yet. I could set off on a trail and end up in another town before I realized what I was doing."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 01:09 am UTC (link)
Eli laughed and quirked an eyebrow at her. "Sounds like you're needing a guide," he agreed. "Surely your brother would want to be showing you around town?"

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 01:13 am UTC (link)
"Oh, Robert's showed me a few things," Lizzie admitted, "but he's like you. Completely wrapped up in work. Shame, really. I'd even be willing to provide a lunch to go along with anyone who was willing to take me around. But I can understand that work always seems to come first. Even if it is a shame to waste gorgeous days such as these on nothing but work."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 01:18 am UTC (link)
Eli shook his head, hiding a grin. "I've been offering a few riding lessons here and there when I've the time to spare for some of the others in town," he admitted. "If your brother's got too much on his hands and I can get away, I'd be glad to show you around, a bit." He shot her a grin. "Shame to leave you to wander on your own all the time, after all."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 01:34 am UTC (link)
Lizzie just beamed. "Mr. Donovan, that's such a nice thing to offer. I quite appreciate it, and I do plan to take you up on your offer. In fact, you may just find me dawdling around her just so that as soon as you can get away, I can snatch up your time. Unless that would cause you difficulty. Would that, Mr. Donovan?"

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 01:40 am UTC (link)
"Not at all," Eli laughed. "You're good around the horses, and I daresay Trixie wouldn't mind the company while I'm finishing up whatever I'm doing." He lifted one eyebrow at her teasingly. "I can't guarantee you won't have some of the men paying you more attention than the horses, but I can put them to work if they start bothering you."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 01:43 am UTC (link)
"Are you volunteering to be my protector as well?" Lizzie asked, her eyes dancing as she held back a laugh. "My, Mr. Donovan, I'd hate to be a bother."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 02:08 am UTC (link)
"Part of the service," Eli said wryly. "I doubt you'll be needing it, but if any of them make a nuisance of themselves, just give a yell -- they'll be needing more work if that's the case."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 02:36 am UTC (link)
"I appreciate it," Lizzie replied. "I will leave my well-being in your hands, and I am certain that I won't be disappointed. You won't be rid of me now, I hope you realize. I'm afraid I seem to have a soft heart for horses... and for kind people as well," she tagged on with a grin.

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 02:46 am UTC (link)
"I don't expect I'll be needing to be rid of you," Eli countered with a laugh. "If you've a soft heart for horses, you're more than welcome any time." He grinned back cheerfully. "And if you're partial to kind people, I expect you'll find a fair few of them here in town," he added lightly.

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 03:30 am UTC (link)
"I suspect that I've found one that will be hard to beat," Lizzie chuckled. "But I won't take up any more of your time, Mr. Donovan. Not if you're going to get your work done so that you can pleasure me with a ride."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 03:41 am UTC (link)
"I'll see what I can do to oblige," Eli assured her with a smile, and reached over to hold the stable door for her. "I've some supplies to pick up in town this afternoon, but perhaps over the weekend or next week I can free up a bit of time to show you around."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 03:45 am UTC (link)
Lizzie grinned as she moved to stand in the doorway. "I would very much appreciate that, Mr. Donovan. I look forward to our next meeting."

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[info]edonovan
2008-05-19 03:50 am UTC (link)
"I will, as well, Miss MacKenzie," Eli replied with a cheerful smile. "And tell your brother I said thanks again for having a look at Trixie and her colt."

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[info]memackenzie
2008-05-19 04:04 am UTC (link)
"I will," Lizzie assured him. With a wave, she turned and exited the stables, calling out, "Take care, Mr. Donovan."

She hadn't gotten out of sight when the bright sunlight reminded her that she'd left her parasol hanging with the bridles in the barn. She briefly entertained the thought of turning around and retrieving it, but a more interesting thought flitted in to her mind. Mr. Donovan was a reputable sort, one that she hadn't found often since coming to America. If it was there the next time he looked, he would surely feel inclined to return it.

And whom he sent to return it would tell her quite a bit about the man.

So she didn't turn around, vowing instead to get a second one from home before she came back in to town. He had promised her a ride soon anyway, and hopefully this might give him a reason to keep good on said promise.

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