Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (29 page)

She had kept her distance from Righ, watching the
angry animal try to rear up and break the ropes that held him captive.

“Aye, Leif, he will not let me near him now, but by
this eve I promise you he will.”

Osgood smiled, then joined her and his son a fair
distance away from Righ. On their journey from England to Scotland, the overly
large warrior had spoken at length with Ella about her training methods. Righ
presented the perfect opportunity for the lass to demonstrate her skills.

Ella had Leif fetch a few items she would need,
including a long, thin tree branch devoid of all its leaves. She and Osgood
then checked in on the injured stable master.

Colban’s family explained that he had awakened
earlier, was given some beef broth, along with the mulled wine laced with the
pain medicine. Boyd and Iain had agreed to take turns staying in their
brother’s cottage each night to ensure that he did not attempt to move from his
bed. Ella was more than pleased and said she would return in the morning.

“Send word to the castle immediately if you have need
of me. I would rather be awakened in the middle of the night then learn in the
morning of some mishap.”

“Aye, Milady,” Colban’s family said in unison.

Smiling, she waved as she left the cottage, then
turned to Osgood. “’Tis good to see a family care so much about one another.”

“Aye, lass, they are good people.”

“Now let us make haste, I am eager to get started with
Righ.”

Returning to the stables, Ella instructed Leif how he
would help, then told Osgood to stand a good distance away so he would not
frighten Righ.

Osgood huffed, then whined as he pointed to his son.
“Why does he get to help?”

She though he sounded like a jealous child, and found
it difficult to suppress her giggles so she would not hurt the giant’s
feelings.

“’Tis your overly-large stature that will frighten the
poor animal. Your son will be less intimidating, and since he works in the
stables, he has already started to gain Righ’s trust.”

Leif puffed out his chest in pride, gave his father an
arrogant smile and said, “Aye, Father, ye will scare the beast. Best ye let us
handle this. Ye may just learn a thing or two.”

Osgood glared at his son and asked, “Where did ye
learn such arrogance, whelp?”

Leif clapped him on the back and said, “From my
benevolent father, of course.”

Osgood burst out laughing as he clapped the lad hard
on the back, making his stumble forward. “Aye, my cocky son, now go and make me
proud. But I predict ‘tis ye who will learn something this day.”

The admiration and pride the father and son had for
one another were evident and their ready wit was infectious.

“I see ye are both sarcastic to a fault.”

Both smiled at her in appreciation, while Righ eyed
her with malice. Turning her attention to the latter, she silently vowed to
help him, despite his wishes to be left alone.

With a bucket containing a small amount of water in
front of her, long reins attached to Righ in one hand and a thin branch in the
other, she was ready to begin.

Leif stood 20 paces away, with another barely filled
bucket, ready to replace hers, while Osgood sat on a bench next to the stable
doors, eager for her to begin.

For the first hour Ella prodded Righ with the stick to
run around her in a circle as she repeated the Latin word for run, ‘cursor’. At
first he put up a fight, but when he felt the stick lightly tap his backside,
he conceded and began to run. He was still terrified and managed to stay as far
away from her as the long reins would allow.

After Righ ran a full circle, she said the Latin word
for turn, ‘adverto’. She promptly moved the stick into Righ’s path, forcing him
to switch directions. Each time he switched directions, he turned away from
her, which she expected, but intended to change. The purpose of the activity
was to teach Righ trust, along with some basic commands using positive
reinforcement.

Righ’s breathing was heavy and sweat covered his body
as he continued the arduous task. She knew he would soon turn towards her in
need of water and rest. After a dozen more failed attempts, he finally turned
her way when switching directions.

With a soothing, but excited voice she said, “Eu, Eu
Righ! Eu!” This meant ‘good’ in Latin.

He was panting hard from his exertion when she walked
slowly to him and set the bucket of water down on the ground. Too tired to rear
up or fight, he only eyed her with mistrust. She carefully backed away, giving
him space to enjoy the short rest and water. The small amount of water would
not even slightly quench his thirst, but it would teach him how to obtain what
he craved.

After Righ finished the water, she retrieved the
bucket as she said the Latin word for good, over and over again. Before
resuming, she allowed Leif time to exchanged the empty bucket with one filled
with the same amount of water as the first.

“Cursor. . .Cursor, “ she commanded after Leif had
distanced himself. The stubborn horse didn’t move until she tapped his backside
with the stick. She was pleased that he began running without a fight.

After he circled her two times, she said, “Adverto.”
Once again he needed the stick to be redirected and he also turned away from
her. She continued this tedious task until he, for the second time, turned
towards her. Righ was immediately rewarded.

“Eu, Eu,” she said, then placed the bucket of water in
front of him. This time, however, she did not back up as far as she had done
previously. Little by little she was teaching him to be comfortable with her
presence.

Within a half hour, he completely caught on and was
now allowing her to stand directly in front of him while he inhaled his water.
She continued to praise him in Latin during his brief respites and used his
name frequently. She had not attempted to touch him yet, knowing that would be
the ultimate test.

When Righ continued to succeed in turning towards her,
she decided that he was ready for the next step. She pulled out the sugared
apple cubes from the pocket of her breeches, then offered the treat to him when
he finished the water.

After three hours of constantly running around in a
circle, she knew the horse would be hungry. He hesitated at first, then slowly
moved his large head to her outstretched hand. He sniffed once, then gently
took it from her hand. All the horses she had worked with in the past loved the
delicious sugared apples.

They were always stored in her saddlebag so she could
give them sporadically as a treat or when training horses who had been abused.

Righ had certainly been abused, and she was beginning
to worry over the laceration on his flank. They still had not been cleaned, and
the sweat that coated his body was only making his wounds worst. If she did not
gain his trust soon, infection would set in, possibly kill him.

Concern was soon replaced by relief when Righ began to
nudge her hand for another treat after finishing his water. It usually took
horses much longer to show such behavior. She rewarded him with another treat,
while crooning praises in his ear. Keeping her movements very slow and light,
she stroked his neck and was pleased he did not flinch or snort.

As she backed away, he followed and then nudged her
for another treat. She complied with his request, then gently stroked his neck
before she took him to the water trough.

As the horse drank his fill, she motioned for Leif to
bring a bucket of oats, which he did with slow, tentative steps.

The final hour spent with Righ was by far the most
rewarding. He became meek and a bit affectionate as she rubbed him down and his
behavior earned him another sugared apple cube. She laced it with yarrow, which
would ease his pain and induce sleep. When he was completely dry, she took him
back to his stall and began cleaning the lacerations, then coating it with
salve. .

When Ella walked out of the stables a short time
later, Osgood and Leif were sitting on a nearby bench, staring at her in awe.

“That was truly amazing,” Osgood praised as he came to
his feet. “I admit, I had my doubts at first, but now he is as docile as a
lamb.”

“He did well today, but this method will need to be
continued in order for him to make progress. Tomorrow, I want your son to do as
I did today.” Turning to Leif, she asked, “That is, if you are willing? I truly
think if anyone can continue with Righ, ‘tis you.”

Leif was so excited that he threw himself into her
arms and hugged her with more strength than she expected.

“I take it you are indeed willing,” she chuckled.

“Aye, ye have taught me a great deal this day. I thank
ye.”

“You are most welcome, and I look forward to teaching
you more on the morrow. Feel free to ask any questions.”

While the threesome made their way back to the keep,
Leif plied her with various questions about training horses. She loved seeing
his enthusiasm as well as answering his intelligent questions.

As they walked through the bailey, she noticed the
numerous smiles and friendly greetings cast her way. She was not used to so
much attention, since most of the people at Greystone were warned not to
converse with her, especially in public.

She would miss the Macleods and the warmth she felt in
their presence when she returned to England. As she entered the keep, she told
herself not to allow these people into her heart, for the pain would be too
great when she was forced to leave them. But, she feared it was already too
late.

“I must go and see to the evening meal, but I will
send Thea to help ye dress,” Maeve said, after assisting Ella with her bath and
tending to her back.

“There is nae reason to, for I can dress myself,” she
explained.

“My wee daughter will be so disappointed if ye dinna
allow her this duty. She has been looking forward to it all day with hopes ye
will ask her to brush yer hair.”

Ella slipped on her chemise, then eyed Maeve with a
knowing smile on her face. “Aye, after hearing all that, how can I refuse.”

“Ye have a kind heart, lass,” the older woman said
with a guilty giggle as she left the chamber.

Alone in the chamber, Ella was about to open the chest
at the foot of the bed, when she heard a scratching sound at the door. Ella
quickly threw on a robe, and then opened the door. Like a whirlwind, Arth
rushed in and leaped on the bed. With time to spare, she played with the
exuberant animal until Thea entered the solar.

Ella was pleased that the little girl held no fear of
Arth and bounded onto the bed to give him as much affection as he gave her.

They arrived in the crowded hall a short time later,
hand-in-hand, with Arth close on their heels. Everyone rose when they spotted
her, smiling warmly as she hastened to the dais.

“You are not leaving me,” she told Thea, then squeezed
the child’s hand to emphasize her words. She realized how foolish she was
acting when Thea responded with a giggle.

Lady Esme and Nicholas greeted her halfway, then led
her to the high table, while Thea ran to the kitchen to help her mother.
Greetings were cast her way, which deepened the blush spreading rapidly across
her face.

By the time the meal was served, the high table
consisted of Lady Esme, Bowen, Nicholas, Edric, Osgood and Maeve, as well as
Leif and Thea. Ella was surprised and very pleased that Osgood and Maeve’s
children were in attendance. Usually children were fed before the meal, unless
it was the laird’s decision to include them.

“Gavin is their Godfather,” Lady Esme said when she
noticed Ella eyeing the children. “He takes much pride at having them join us
for the evening meal. And Leif and Thea simply adore my sons and relish the
time spent with them and the rest of the blackguard.”

“It pleases me to know how kind Gavin is to them. Leif
aided me a great deal today.”

“Aye, he told us much about his afternoon,” Lady Esme
said with a chuckle, remembering how the braggart child went on and on about
Ella’s amazing gift with horses.

“Aye,” Bowen chimed in, “he is most eager to repeat
your efforts on the morrow. I also heard from Maeve that ye have asked little
Thea to come meet your horse, Apollo.”

“You have heard correctly,” Ella began, “and I do hope
she will come. Apollo is extremely gentle with children. He is like a large
puppy, most eager for attention.”

At hearing ‘puppy’ Bowen couldn’t resist asking, “I
heard ye also called Arth, puppy.”

She stared at Bowen in bewilderment.

“Aye, she did, but I doubt she remembers,” Nicholas
explained. “An hour afore we returned home last eve, we stopped at the loch to
bathe and refresh the horses. That is, with the exception of Ella, who was fast
asleep. Paen stood guard over her a fair distance away and when we returned,
she slept with her arm wrapped around the enormous beast.”

Ella felt her face flaming as Nicholas continued the
tale, “At first we were shocked by Arth’s uncommon behavior, but a moment later
we understood why. She spoke in her sleep, calling him puppy and praising him
endlessly as she stroked his thick black fur. Arth looked to be in heaven,
since most people are usually verra uncomfortable in his presence.”