Maggie sighed as she tightened the laces to her boots, her blue eyes dim with thought. It'd been a long morning galloping horses and now she was supposed to be ready to work with a yearling. She could hardly wait for the new year to come because after the first two weeks, she'd get a week and a half vacation in Europe. Every rider would be in and out of the U.S. for the first couple months, taking advantage of the staggered early season. Witch Creek's juveniles and upcoming horses would be making the most frequent starts during the first three weeks giving the jockeys a chance to relax for the first time in a year. Ripley would have scheduled time off as well, but the woman simply would just not take a vacation. Her heart and soul was too wrapped up into the place, but at least she would have more downtime. She wouldn't have to maintain weight or physical form because of the baby. Maggie thought Ripley was rather lucky to avoid the fight as her metabolism slowed down and she entered motherhood. Maggie would love kids in the future, but she enjoyed racing far too much to entertain thoughts of retirement. Plus... she had a quartet of intriguing horses for Year Fourteen. She would be looking for her next Paranormal Hunter and she might just have it in the form of another grumpy filly. Maggie smirked, Lord knew there was plenty of irritable estrogen to go around at Witch Creek. The blonde looked up as Malcolm walked into barn with Artemis' Glory. The blaze faced filly pricked her ears up as Maggie stood, eyes blazing with irritation. She'd clearly enjoyed her grooming session with Mal... not. Artemis was a prickly little thing. Flashy as all get out with her chrome face and tall black stockings, the little bay looked sweeter than she actually was. Maggie liked the fire that gleamed in her eyes and the promise of muscle and toughness. Artemis was the kind of filly that Maggie would look twice at. She just had that little bit of spark that reminded Maggie so much of Finale Slew. The grade one mare had thrown a winner in her last breeding to Positively Precious. Artemis snorted as Maggie approached and reached into her pocket for a treat. The gleaming bay eyed it suspiciously, but carefully took the treat as though she wasn't quite sure if it was poisoned. Maggie laughed, turned her gaze to Mal. "Feisty isn't she?" "She's something... She takes forever to clean up. She found the one unfrozen puddle and doused herself. Brianne and Michelle were not pleased to be pulled off of stalls to clean her up." Maggie grinned, patted the filly. "You little troublemaker." Artemis leaned into the pressure, turning her suspicious gaze to Mal now that she had an ally. Mal's lips twitched, "Hey! I wasn't the one who cleaned you. You know you like me." Artemis' eyes rolled white as though she didn't care to remember the reasons why she liked the man. He shook his head, stuck his tongue out drawing a surprised look from Maggie. "I might have an affection for this filly... More than the others." Maggie patted his arm after clicking her helmet strap together. "Don't worry. I won't tell Adele." He chuckled as he boosted the blonde into the saddle. Appreciating the non-effort it took for the much smaller filly. Artemis was a tiny tyke compared to the other horses in her crop. At 15.3, she was the smallest horse Mal had dealt with in a long time. Small didn't mean any less tough. She'd left him covered in bruises more than Lady and Ennie combined. They'd gradually come to an agreement once he'd accepted her quirks and she, his busy body commands. Ripley was waiting down by the rail for them and she smiled at the trio. Artemis was so different from the rest of Witch Creek's stock in terms of body type. She was lithe and aerodynamic, pretty with a filly's face. She was as far different from Nirvana and Hourglass as it got. She reminded Ripley of Taboo with that fragile delicacy, but her mental maturity was farther than the gray's had been at this time. Artemis flicked her tail irritably when Mal gave her butt a pat as she passed by onto the dirt track. "I knew I liked her, but I didn't realize how much until she came down from the barn." Ripley said, smiling as Maggie nudged the filly into a trot. "I loved Ares and Aphrodite's Chant and both will make me look like a genius down the line... but I couldn't get rid of Artemis. Out of the three, she's the one I most adored." "She's a speedy little thing," Mal mused. "She'll be quicker than most sprinters because she doesn't have as much of a frame to grow into." "That's for sure." Maggie was chuckling to herself as the filly moved into a smooth hand gallop. It felt like there was nothing beneath her. Para and Josey were both coltish fillies with big bodies and thick muscles. Artemis was the opposite. She was narrow and more filly like than the others. She was quick footed and bright minded though and Maggie could feel the energy moving between them. Artemis kept her head high as galloped, lifting her knees high as though she wasn't quite sure about the dirt. It was more than likely Artemis would appreciate the turf slightly more, but as she moved over the sandy footing it appeared the filly grew more confident. She lowered her head only slightly when Maggie asked for more speed, but her legs flew with the adjustment and she began to snort. Maggie gripped some of the black mane in her hands, lowering her head to be level with the swift filly. It was like riding in a very fast sports car. She had a high cruising speed that you wouldn't have noticed unless you looked anywhere but straight. Maggie was grinning a wide grin as the filly covered the ground with enjoyment. For all of her hatred of being groomed, Artemis seemed to approach racing with pure fun. Ears pinned the filly launched over the dirt with more energy than before. She swept into the turn with crazy zeal, rounding it like a quarter horse rounded a barrel. "Told you I liked her," Ripley said to Mal as the filly clipped the corner and charged into the homestretch. She flew straight as an arrow down the stretch, ears pinned and body low the ground. She was a quick bugger and Ripley wondered how she would do when matched stride for stride by an opponent. Something told Ripley the bay wasn't going to go down quietly. She appeared way too happy to let someone steal the fun from her. Maggie was out of breath as the filly zipped beneath the line full of life. She was snorting and breathing slightly heavily, but she seemed to look around as though she expected more. She carried her head high as Maggie brought her back to a slow canter and than a trot. Maggie patted the filly's neck, calling encouraging words to her. The sleek bay snorted, flicking her tail as she drew up to Mal and Ripley. She neatly spun away when Mal went to grab for her reins. Maggie was laughing at the athletic move, as was Ripley. "Hey, none of that!" he chided when he finally got a hold of her head. Artemis dropped her head, met the man eye for eye and barely moved a muscle. Ripley laughed, "I'd say we have the fighter out of the lot. Everyone loves a fighter."
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