#debukefarmhold

Bluebell is just openly happy and proud.

She shows the sign again, more slowly.

And Stirling moves forward and comes to her.

A smile and a sign for Yes!

And more nose strokes.

"Guess you valers might have fast horses, but we DeBukes got the SMART Ones" Spencer says. Pretty confident Dagmar won't appear out of nowhere

Stirling is still young, and does prance a bit as he's made a fuss over.

"Oh, you try to tell Stormwake or Star that they're not smart, see how far you get."

A laugh at the silly young thing. "Lanark, I bet you were just as ridiculous at this age."

"Stormwake wouldn't think my opinion mattered as I wasn't worthy of his saddle yet. Star? Star might bite" He admits

"Pretty much," she agrees with Spencer.

Lanark pretends he's gone deaf in 'that ear' ... he was never that young.

"I could help teach Stirling..." she offers generally.

"One I'd really be worried about is Dagmar ..she might bite too" He chuckles "You guys have made a die hard Valer outta her"

Lanark perks at that. His hearing returned.

Spencer says "Well, you're one of the only ones who knows all the gestures... and you know em best in fact. I think the Chief, our chief that is, would be grateful if you did"

"I can't promise I'd be here a lot to do it...but when I'm here, I can."

Stirling prances a bit more. And bumps his head against her playfully.

Spencer nods "Sure, you got emmisary work ... been busy with that?"

"Well, not as regularly as it was at first, but yeah. When those tornadoes hit Tennessee, Dad and I went there to help out, and I did some outreach work there, too. I mean, you know, good to make connections. But...well...it's hard to juggle everything, sometimes. I think I might not be doing so well in math this year," she admits.

"What? You should talk to Sally Mae. she's aces at that"

"Yeah, I do sometimes. It's just...sometimes it's kind of hard to care."

"Oh. I hear you. I get so caught up in the music, sometimes Torin says that if I don't listen to the history and memorize some names he's gonna not teach me another note of another song. Talk about playing hard ball ball" A sigh

She grins. "He's got your number."

"YEah... old wolves know just where to bite." A sigh

"So true. It's totally not fair. So...okay, Stirling...try this." And hopefully with Lanark's help when necessary, she teaches the colt a few more signals, starting with back up.

It takes time

But it's time well passed and Stirling is smart.

"Spencer, will you give him a carrot for me, later? And some for his folks?"

"Sure" He says "Be happy to."

And by the time she's on the third signal, both hear a voice, "Sylvi Davidson, Spencer DeBuke.. Dinner has been called and I don't recall either of you getting a pass. Wash your hands and come join us. Sylvi, I will not send you home to your mother on an empty belly. She knows me better than that and so should you. " There's a tone of no nonsense

"Yes, Ma'am!" she calls back dutifully. A smile to Spencer. "I hadn't meant to stay so long, but I don't mind!"

"I know you don't mind, Hearth Agnes made one of your favorite dishes. Take a guess which" As he heads with her to wash hands.

"Oh, man....her fried chicken?" she asks eagerly.

"Famed in song and story" He nods and yes, soon she can smell just that.

She happily washes up and gets ready to join the feast and say hi to everybody else.

(End scene)