Chapter 31 : Wilder Get Tamer

This morning's training didn't work as well as I'd hoped. Ever since we fell and I felt something protrude between Gerard's legs, we'd been very awkward. For the first time I saw Gerard look clumsy and retreat first with the excuse that he had to help Mr. Wymond in his office this morning.

I didn't have a better reason to hold him back, so that's how my training this morning ended. Although it was unsatisfactory, I felt it was a good thing. Because I had plenty of energy to train with Sam today.

There were only four days left and Sam made good on our agreement yesterday. After completing a series of mandatory agendas as well as small tasks, Sam and I had more free time than yesterday thanks to our dexterity in doing the tasks. Well, our determination is equally strong. When we put it together, we are unstoppable.

Seeing how urgent the situation was, Sam taught me to ride first. He got Wymond out of the stable with ease, while I had to exert a little more effort to force Wilder out of his stall.

"Do you know what's the most important thing to do before you can ride?", Sam asked as she jumped down from Wymond.

My eyes squinted at Sam due to the glare of the sun behind him, "Getting on the horse?"

Sam paused staring at the dry ground he kicked a little before looking back at me, "I wouldn't call you stupid, but that answer is really stupid." , his comment seemed exasperated.

I shrugged my shoulders together, "Well, sorry. I'm still a newbie to horse-things."

"Okay, listen carefully because I don't like rebroadcasts." , Sam emphasized and I nodded in understanding, "I've told you before that a horse isn't just a horse, right? It can feel us. When you're sad, it can feel it. When you're happy, it can feel it. Even when you're afraid to get on it, it can feel it! A horse is not just an animal that can drive you around. It's a very good listener and a very loyal friend. So you have to love them. Wilder." Sam explained as he walked up to Wilder and began to stroke the hairs on his neck and then his back.

"And secondly, don't show your fear of him. I'm not lying about horses knowing how we feel. It really can feel it. So, make sure you are calm and relaxed when you try to ride him. Can you do it?"

Sam knew I doubted that just by the look I gave him. But it's not coach if he doesn't insist.

I was given some tips to become calmer and the most effective way for me was to take a deep breath and then take another deeper breath before finally exhaling slowly through my mouth.

Sam gave another technique that was similar to this. That is, we take a deep breath and then stiffen all the muscles in our body and hold it for five seconds before finally exhaling slowly through the mouth while stretching the muscles that were originally stiff. The method was actually effective, except that the expression on my face while strengthening all the muscles was very unpleasant to look at. It looked like someone had just been possessed by an evil demon. For sure.

I had done the relaxation technique four times and now I had actually managed to sit on Wilder. Well, I was satisfied, I'm sure Sam could see that from the look on my face. Sam looked proud, and then he began to teach us how to make our horses want to move according to our will.

I thought getting on the horse was the most difficult stage. Apparently there is still controlling a horse that is not as easy as it looks. It's not just a matter of pulling the reins, but also how to control the pull of the reins according to the horse's strength and mood.

On the first try, it was quite easy. With just a little tug, Wilder would move purposefully. But on the fifth try - as if Wilder wasn't in the mood - he seemed to rebel. Wilder didn't want to move at all, and I was so impatient that I smacked Wilder's ass. As a result, Wilder got angry and went berserk by running to and fro.

It was like Dejavu. Only this time I was able to hold my own on the horse and was able to stop Wilder's tantrum. Who would have thought that Wilder's anger would be so helpful. I began to understand the tempo of Wilder's stomping and how to keep myself on his back.

Before I knew it, I had mastered him.

***

In the afternoon, I was able to ride alongside Sam and Wymond. Our horses jumped over the wooden bars of the obstacle course together and moved in regular synchronization. My teeth were dry because the whole time I was on the horse, I couldn't stop smiling so happily that I forgot how to close my mouth.

After five laps, Sam decided to stop and I followed suit.

Although I had no trouble getting on now, getting off was not the case. The image of Wilder suddenly going berserk while I was descending kept playing in my head every time I lifted one foot off the saddle pedal.

Sam seemed to see a bit of that fear in me. He was suddenly beside me and held out his hand to me. It reminded me of Gerard helping me during Wilder's rampage.

"You guys are really similar, huh. Thank you." , I commented.

"Who? Me?" , Sam asked in surprise.

I nodded, "Yeah. You and Gerard." I said as I rubbed the side of Wilder's neck.

"Ha! You've got to be kidding me." , he commented as he walked towards his horse, "Of all the most impossible things, the one you just mentioned is the most impossible."

My forehead furrowed, trying to digest Sam's sentence then smiled grinning, "Hey, listen. No matter how much you dislike Gerard, there's no need to overdo it. He is your brother after all."

"He's not my brother."

My smile instantly faded, replaced with a surprised curious face.

"What, you're not joking, are you? That time Gerard said-"

"That we're brothers?", one corner of Sam's lips tugged upwards, "Tch, sure. He didn't want the truth about himself to come out. What a fox."

"It seems like this is a serious thing."

"You're probably the first person here to know this. Although he's older than me, he's not the son born to my mother. I met Gerard when I was seven years old. Even at that time he was shorter than me, but he managed to capture the attention of my mother and father. Even to the end of my mother's life-forget it. I don't want to talk about it." Sam pulled Wymond, his horse, back to the stable, "Don't forget after this you have to teach me archery."

I stared at Sam's retreating back. I couldn't imagine a cunning person like him having such a complicated childhood. Seven years old, it was the best time of my life. The whole year was filled with only good memories, times when I learned many new things about nature. One of the most memorable was about how to catch a poisonous snake. My father said there was a body part on a snake that was a panacea for all diseases.

There was a sense of guilt running through me knowing that the atmosphere and feelings were not experienced by Sam even though he had more opportunities to have fun and learn things than I did.

"Thanks for cooperating today, Wilder. You're really tough." I said before pulling Wilder's leash, following Sam.

Wilder's cage was deeper than Wymond's. Just as I had passed Sam who was saying goodbye to his horse, I bumped into Angela who also seemed to have just said a quick goodbye to her horse not far from Wilder's stable.

I tried hard to ignore her by pretending to talk to Wilder. Not caring about being considered crazy, I just followed what Sam was doing. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Angela looking at me with a grin.

"Nice shirt." , she said as we passed each other.

"Thanks!", I said with a big smile on my face, exposing all my front teeth.

He chuckled and continued on his way. It took me a few seconds to realize that our shirts were all the same. She was just teasing me. Damn, I fell for her dime trap.

Swallowing my shame whole, I hurriedly continued on my way to Wilder's cage.

Today Wilder had done his job well and cooperated. As a token of my gratitude, I let him have more of his lunch by taking some grass from the next cage that looked empty. Not only that, I also gave him a gentle massage on his back up to his stomach.

"Don't massage too hard on that part!", someone said to my surprise.