From: Christine Fontaine <cfontaine@nac.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 18:23:06 -0400
Subject: USS CHESAPEAKE: "A Horse Of A Different Colour"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SD 90616.1819 (EDT)
MD 06.1730
Scene: USS CHESAPEAKE: CMO's Quarters
-------------------------------------
Lieutenant Commander Catherine Ledoux was discovering that being
on vacation was not very fun. Accustomed to spending most of her
time, both on and off duty, in sickbay, Doctor Ledoux, quite
frankly, did not know what to do with herself.
One thing she knew for certain: she did _not_ want to sit around
in her quarters, doing nothing. Granted, she could do some
reading, or perhaps even pick up her flute and perform a bit of
music. Or she could sing, but singing was always more enjoyable
when there was an audience present. Catherine's two Siamese,
although vocal critics, were not exactly what the vet would term
an 'audience'.
Then suddenly, it came to her, like a ray of hopeful sunlight
penetrating through the murky clouds. Why not take this time to
do a bit of riding? Even though she would only be mounted upon a
virutal horse, she could still enjoy the experience.
With a grin brightening her face, Catherine prepared for a session
of horseback riding.
Scene: En route to Holodeck 3
-----------------------------
Walking briskly through the corridors, heading towards Holodeck 3,
there was a lightness to Catherine's step that had been missing
before. With a smile of anticipation animating her countenance,
the equestrienne could hardly wait to begin riding.
Decked out in her riding apparel, none of the CHESAPEAKE's medical
staff would have recognized their Chief Medical Officer.
Catherine looked ready to tackle a hunter seat equitation class at
a horse show, or perhaps even a Grand Prix show jumping class.
To start, Catherine was clad in a pair of pale cream britches; the
soft leather along the inside of the leg and the seat allowed the
rider a firmer grip of the saddle and horse. A white rat-catcher
shirt, complete with a stock at the neck, was almost completely
covered by Catherine's navy hunt jacket. Shaped in the figure of
a cantering horse, a gold stock pin firmly attached the stock to
the shirt. Brown leather riding boots, custom made to fit
Catherine, encased her lower legs, and a pair of blunted spurs,
which did not hurt the horse at all, were securely fastened to the
boots. Topping the outfit was a velvet hunt cap; a safety helmet
to protect the head in case of a fall.
Catherine had one additional item: her own saddle. Carrying it
slung over one arm, the vet breathed in the familiar scent of
leather. Choosing to ride hunter seat that day, Catherine had
brought her forward seat saddle with her; it was designed for the
comfort of both horse and rider when negotiating obstacles that
required the horse to jump over the obstruction.
Eagerly anticipating the ride that she would take that afternoon,
Catherine was caught up in her own internal world. Consequently,
the figure of Commander Brennan, striding down the corridor in the
opposite direction, approaching her, did not register at first.
It wasn't until the Commander actually greeted her that Catherine
was startled out of her reverie.
"Dr. Ledoux!"
Her head snapped up in surprise.
"Oh... Commander." She blushed. "Good evening."
"And to you, as well." He smiled. "Going riding, I see."
"Yes, actually...."
She finally took in the equipment he was carrying -- a white
fencing jacket, a mask, and a long bag, which looked like it held
several rapiers.
"And I see you're going fencing." Rich had been a fencing
champion, so Catherine was familiar with the sport's
accoutrements.
"Ah. Well." Brennan looked at his burden, slightly embarrassed.
"Just a bit of a spar in the holodeck. I've yet to find a willing
opponent."
"Perhaps they're afraid?" Catherine's blush deepened as she spoke
the words.
"Afraid? Of me?" He seemed genuinely surprised and worried. "I
haven't done anything horrid, have I?"
"Oh, no, sir!" the Doctor quickly replied. "At least I don't
think so."
"That's certainly a relief."
Then, reaching for a curl that wasn't there, Catherine added, "I
just find that some junior officers are intimidated by their
superiors." She stopped abruptly, feeling like a fool.
"Hmm... must keep that in mind, then, in future... I certainly
don't want our junior officers intimidated of me. Although," he
grinned, "I certainly don't know who would be intimidated by me."
Catherine laughed softely, and there was a slightly uncomfortable
pause. Brennan broke the silence.
"Actually, Catherine, if you wouldn't mind...." He paused for a
moment, seemingly debating whether to broach a subject.
"Yes?"
"May I tag along? I really did mean it when I said I'd dearly
love to learn riding."
"But your plans...."
"Oh, I can fence any time. But... oh, God, I'm sorry, I really
shouldn't barge in on other people's vacations, should I? Please
excuse me."
Daniel seemed genuinely flustered. For a moment, Catherine did
not know what to say, but when her mouth opened, words came out of
their own volition.
"Il n'y a rien a excuser," she smiled shyly. "Il serait une
plaisir si vous me joiniez. (There's nothing to excuse. It would
be a pleasure if you would join me.)"
"Vous etes beaucoup bienfaisante," he replied, sounding relieved.
"Merci. (You are very kind. Thank you.)"
He stopped for a moment, a frown appearing on his face. "Oh...
but I haven't the proper equipment...."
"The holodeck can take care of that, I would think," said
Catherine. Her eyes shone with anticipation. "Shall we go,
Daniel?"
She led the way. She couldn't see Daniel's smile of wonder as he
nimbly followed behind her.
Scene: Holodeck 3
-----------------
Catherine and D.J. were standing just outside a quaint riding
stable fashioned almost entirely of wood. Inhaling deeply,
Catherine smiled as the scent of the wood mingled with the clean
smell of fresh straw and the warm scent of horseflesh. Sapphire
eyes sparkling, the Doctor turned towards her companion.
An impish grin lighting her face, Catherine looked Daniel up and
down, satisfied with the riding gear that the holodeck had
furnished the Commander.
"I'll think I'll spare you the grooming and tacking lesson this
time," Catherine stated. "But remember, a real equestrian always
takes care of those details herself."
Daniel smiled in return, seemingly quite surprised by the change
that had overcome the Chief Medical Officer. No, this was hardly
the same Catherine Ledoux that had been blushing in the ship's
corridor, just a few minutes ago.
Since Catherine had brought her own tack with her, the computer
simply furnished a mount, a beautiful, high-strung, dapple gray,
Anglo-Arabian hunter. For Daniel, Catherine asked the holodeck to
provide a calm, quiet, Morgan gelding. Blood bay in colour, the
Morgan's coat shone in the simulated sunlight. While Catherine's
horse pawed the ground impatiently, eager to be on his way,
Daniel's mount simply stood at ease; attentive, but relaxed.
"Ready?" Catherine asked, while patting her horse's neck.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Brennan replied.
"All right. Lesson one: mounting a horse." Catherine held the
part-Arab's reins lightly in one hand, while standing on the left
side of the horse.
"First, you place the reins over the horse's head and you gather
them at the withers." Catherine demonstrated. "Right here, where
the neck meets the back. You want to hold the reins firmly, not
too tight or too loose."
Daniel nodded, following her direction. "Let me guess. Too tight
and he'll complain. Too loose and he'll run away with you."
Grinning, the vet replied. "That's it exactly! Sounds like
you're a natural horseman."
"Thank you," he mumbled. Catherine thought she noticed a slight
reddening of his face, but she continued her demonstration.
"Now, you'll notice I'm standing to the horse's left. That's
called the near side, with the right side being the off-side.
Horses are always handled from their left, or near side.
Actually," she paused, "you'll probably find this interesting,
being that you're a fencer. All these traditions date back to the
days when swords were worn. For a right-handed swordsman, he'd
wear his sword on his left hip, and there was no way he'd want to
swing a leg *and* a heavy sword over the horse's back." Catherine
laughed. "I know *I* certainly wouldn't want to!"
Daniel laughed as well. "I think getting on a horse would be
difficult enough without complicating matters with a sword."
Nodding, the Doctor returned to her lesson. "Now, with the reins
in your left hand, you face towards the horse's tail. With your
right hand, you take the stirrup." Again, she demonstrated.
"Grasping it at the back, you turn it towards yourself."
"So far so good." His manner was still awkward, but he was
managing a semblance of Catherine's expert movement.
Catherine smiled. "Okay. Next you put your left foot in the
stirrup. Then, you'll grasp the pommel - that's the back - of the
saddle with your right hand, and turn to your left, facing the
horse." Hopping on her right foot, Catherine demonstrated the
correct turn. "Make sure." Hop. Hop. "That you point your toe
*down*." Hop. Hop. "So that you don't poke the horse in the
side." Hop. Hop.
"Now." Catherine bent her right knee a little deeper and then
jumped up, using her hands to keep her balanced. "You push
yourself up, and then you swing your right leg over the horse."
Actions matched words; and in one smooth movement, the vet was
mounted.
"See? It's easy." Catherine smiled down at Daniel.
"Easy. Right." He stared at the stirrup he held in his hand for
a moment longer, then took a breath. He lifted his left leg and
put his foot into the stirrup. He looked at his foot as it tried
to remain where it was, then grinned. "This is... rather...
awkward."
"It might be awkward at first. But it's easier once you're
mounted."
"Quite." He nodded, then frowned slightly in concentration. He
started hopping, as Catherine had done... hop, hop... hop, hop...
jump...!
His right leg propelled him into the air, and not a moment too
soon, he came down, almost missing the horse. Catherine cringed
as Daniel held on to the horse's neck. He finally managed to
right himself. He sat up, trying to regain his composure. She
watched, trying not to laugh.
"You don't need to jump *over* the horse, Daniel."
He look up at her, his face red from excitement and embarrassment.
He blinked for a moment, then cleared his throat. "Yes, of
course." She heard him mumbling something to himself... something
that sounded suspiciously like, "jump *on to* the horse, Daniel."
* * * * *
The lesson had improved once Daniel was safely esconced on the
horse. Catherine had chosen the mounts wisely -- the Anglo-
Arabian proved ready to respond to her every small signal, and the
Morgan was calm, quiet -- although, she suspected, as she watched
Daniel still bouncing up and down in the saddle, that he probably
sensed the horse's amusement at his inexpert riding.
They approached the stable where they had begun. They paused to
look around one last time before returning to the world of the
CHESAPEAKE. Catherine looked at Daniel, and saw him looking at
her, smiling. Her face reddened slightly... there was a certain
look about him....
"Now... you must show me how to dismount." He looked down at the
ground from where he sat atop the horse.
Catherine smiled. "Well, that's actually easier than getting on.
Although," she paused, considering her words, "once you're on the
ground you might wish you had never dismounted." Mischieviously
she added, "novice riders tend to be a bit sore after a long
ride."
Immediately, the Doctor's cheeks turned rosy pink, as she realized
what she had said. Quickly, she demonstrated the dismounting
procedure, which was essentially the reverse of mounting.
Walking over to the Morgan, Catherine held the horse's head for
Daniel as he attempted to climb down. Not that the holo-creation
was going anywhere, but habit was habit.
"Take *both* feet out of the stirrups before you swing your leg
back over," she cautioned, as the vet noticed Daniel's right foot
was still securely resting in its stirrup.
"Right," he nodded, as he carefully pulled out his feet out of the
stirrup.
Sliding off the horse in a fairly smooth motion, Catherine nodded
in approval as Daniel's two feet hit the ground. "Excellent," she
commented, then asked, "so, how did you enjoy riding? *I* love
it, but I know its not for everyone." She smiled timidly.
"*I* enjoyed it," he grinned, then looked down at his legs. "I'm
not quite certain my leg muscles did, but, that is something else
entirely."
Catherine failed to contain a little laugh, then sobered up a bit.
"Do you think you may need a painkiller of some kind?"
"No," he shook his head, "it's certainly not that serious.
Fencing requires similar work on the legs, so they're not entirely
unaccustomed to this kind of workout."
They led the two horses back into the stable and tied them up.
Catherine gently patted the side of the Anglo-Arabian, smiling.
"Nous devons nous promener encore. (We should go riding again.)"
Daniel's voice startled her a little. She turned to see him
smiling at her, then looking back at his mount. He had somehow
managed to produce an apple and the Morgan was biting into it out
of his hand. He looked back at her.
"Pas maintenant, bien sur," he reassured her, "mais c'est tres
amusant etre a cheval. (Not now, of course. But horseback riding
is fun.)"
Catherine's look of surprise disappeared. "Bien sur," she
replied, smiling shyly.
"Did you want an apple, too? For your mount?"
"Hmm? Oh." She realized she had been eyeing the apple.
"Please."
The holodeck produced another apple in his hand, and Daniel gently
placed it in hers. "There." He smiled, then went back to the
Morgan.
She watched him pat his horse a for a moment longer, then quickly
looked back at her own mount. Daniel Brennan was not quite what
she had expected. He was a friendly enough man, but she had not
expected such whimsy from the Commander, who always seemed to be
thinking about something serious. Perhaps he will turn out to be
a good friend after all, she thought, as she gave the apple to the
seemingly hungry horse.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Respectfully submitted,
Takako Nagumo Chris Fontaine
CDR Daniel J. Brennan LCDR Catherine Ledoux, DVM
Executive Officer Chief Medical Officer
USS CHESAPEAKE USS CHESAPEAKE
<tnagumo@pop.pitt.edu> <cfontaine@nac.net>
<< NRPG >>
Ah, vacation time! Just a little glimpse of the *real* Catherine that's
buried somewhere inside...
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