Welcome to Hickstead, home to both Seven Oak Stables, and Blue Acre - two rival stables. Both offer opportunities for their clients to reach the highest level of excellence. Each stable differs from the other, so choose wisely and never forget, loyalty is everything... Meanwhile as the stables battle it out, there's trouble brewing at the university. Be careful, if you don't pick a side you may get caught in the cross-fire...
This is an chilled out rpg with a super friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Remember to sign up with your characters full name in all caps and don't forget to do your claims! Thank you and Welcome, we've been established since 10th March 2009 but unfortunately have had to close guest view of our boards due to multiple sites ripping off our hard work, such a shame! Come chat to us in Discord before joining if you like!.
hen was the last time Daisy had seen Jess? Months ago? Knowing daisy, she could’ve seen the other farm girl a few hours ago and it would’ve felt like years. Even though their parents had a friendly rivalry over produce, it didn’t mean they couldn’t have hung out like friends. There were plenty of times that they helped each other out, even if they were still battling for the biggest pumpkin for the fair.
Daisy didn’t know what prompted her to ask Jess to lunch. Maybe because she was feeling lonely and needed some guidance. Despite working at Parker’s for a while now – Daisy was still struggling with meeting people. Was it her lack of texting fast? A smartphone scared Daisy. Not like it would attack her, but it was too advanced for her to focus on. Plus, it didn’t look like it would survive dropping from a fruit tree by accident.
The blonde sat in the booth, adjusting the skirt of her dress as she could feel her thighs getting a bit stuck on the booth seats. The lounge was quiet as lunch didn’t appear too busy. Daisy took a sip of her water before running a finger on the rim. It made that silly sound that made Daisy think of her childhood.
Jessie had been looking forward to lunch since Daisy had asked her. She had always been a sociable person, very outgoing and more of a extrovert than introvert. Since moving to Hickstead, she had struggled - people were tough to meet when you didn't know anyone. She tried to be her usual bubbly, friendly self and reach other but so far the only bite she'd had really was Nick - and now they were dating, so it kind of made the friend thing null and void. She'd met a few people at some functions, and managed to make a couple of connections but she was used to always being around people and she had to admit she felt lonely sometimes. With such a full household with all her brothers, she had always been having a laugh or joke with them, or if not them then her friends or their friends, shoving each other about and joking about - her family were tight knit, and then there had been the farm hands who were like family anyway.
She liked the town though, Hickstead suited what she wanted and she wanted to stay, but she missed people. So, she had naturally jumped at the chance with Daisy. They may have been some kind of rivals growing up, but it was all in jest really, and she had no reservations about having lunch with her. She'd pulled on an over-sized tank top and a pair of jeans, sticking with nice casual as she headed into the lounge. It was easy to spot her friend and she gave her a hearty wave before heading over and sliding into the seat opposite. "Hey, did you order drinks yet?" She asked, unsure if she was a little late or if Daisy had gotten there early.
t didn’t take long for her friend to show up. She was dressed cutely, something a bit more toned down than what Daisy was. “No, not yet! I just got water for the both of us,” Daisy smiled brightly. She had eyed the menu a bit and the raspberry mango lemonade sounded pleasing. If she didn’t have to go back to work at the farm, she would’ve gotten an alcoholic beverage.
“How have you been Jess? You have your new semester starting soon?” University wasn’t something Daisy knew she wanted to do yet. She was homeschooled for most of her schooling, so going to something on campus was a bit daunting.
“No, not yet! I just got water for the both of us,” Jessie nodded and gave her friend another smile in response, glad she wasn't so late that she had missed Daisy ordering the drinks. "Thank you," She added, she was good on tap water generally and didn't honestly drink much alcohol but her eyes glances over the mocktails and other fruity concoctions before settling on her usual - a coke. Some people thought her choice would be lame but whilst she was happy to go for a drink, she always felt that you didn't need to be drunk to have a nice time.
Her eyes flickered over to the food instead as she made her choice on drinks. Her stomach rumbled in anticipation and she laughed, "sorry, serves me right for skipping breakfast." She admitted, knowing her friend would understand. “How have you been Jess? You have your new semester starting soon?” Jessie nodded, blowing out a breath, "I've been good! Work is picking up but they've been absolute troopers with my uni days; they've changed this term so I had to shuffle shifts." She pulled a face, her lab job went hand in hand with her criminology course which was great for her. She liked her job, they were good and flexible people and good support with her school work. She knew they hoped she stayed on one she was done and she was thinking about it. "I...also met a guy, recently." She added with a faint blush as her mind went to Nic. "But enough about me, how are you?"
ust means more leftovers later if you fill up too fast,” Daisy smiled. Maybe it was a farmer thing. The long hours of work and forgetting to eat. It hadn’t gotten to a point once that daisy had to set a timer for herself to eat lunch.
She did notice she had been shedding some weight a month ago. Daisy had always been a bigger-looking girl, so when her last pair of overalls were loose – she was surprised. It was welcomed, as she knew it was something to work on, even a stone or two. Her PC had mentioned she was nearing diabetes, something Daisy had to be more cautious about her health now.
Daisy stuck with water and looked at the chicken and salad options. Despite being a farmer, beef wasn’t exactly her thing. “I’m glad that work has been accommodating though! How many more years do you have left now?” She closed the menu, choosing the chicken Waldorf salad with some crusty parm bread on the side.
“A guy? Oooo. How exciting! What’s his name? How’d you meet? Me? Oh...well..” Daisy stopped for a moment. There was a lot of bad she wanted to say, but did she want to lie? Jess was one of her only friends, so she should trust her, right?
“To be honest…not that great. I’m having a hard time meeting people. I don’t know if it’s my looks, my personality…I just…It sucks,” Daisy sighed. “Maybe I’m better cooped up at the farm.”
"Just means more leftovers later if you fill up too fast,” Jessie grinned in return and nodded, "I have to admit that the way I grew up kind of makes me feel bad about wasting food." farmers were not rich, despite the stereotype, and often ate from what they made on the farm. Her family were predominantly sheep and cows, over crops but they'd have a vegetable patch that Jess had helped to tend to. It was something she wanted to have when she had her own house, a garden and a vegetable patch. She liked having dirt beneath her fingernails, unlike most girls.
“I’m glad that work has been accommodating though! How many more years do you have left now?” she smiled and nodded, thanking the waitress as they dropped off the water and taking a sip. "They're really good, I've got a couple of years left but still loving it so far. How is the bakery going?" she asked, having meant to pop in before now and finding herself running out of time during their opening hours. “A guy? Oooo. How exciting! What’s his name? How’d you meet? Me? Oh...well..” she blushed again, pausing to place her order of the bacon and cheese steak burger with the waitress before answering. "He's called Nick, and he's a paramedic. It's a ...funny story actually. I was mugged when I first got here, I didn't really know anyone and he was the first person on scene. I threw up on this shoes." she pulled a face. "Must have been magic because he came back to see me in hospital and things just developed..."
“To be honest…not that great. I’m having a hard time meeting people. I don’t know if it’s my looks, my personality…I just…It sucks, Maybe I’m better cooped up at the farm.” Jessie's lips turned down at the corners to hear her friend wasn't having a good time. "Don't be silly, it's not you. It is a tough place to make friends, I'll admit. I was quite lonely when I first moved here. I didn't know anyone and it's not been easy." she chewed her lip. "The best way to do it is to throw yourself out there. Join some clubs or lessons, I've met a few people now at the yard! A lot of people grew up here but they are nice, I promise."
hat’s lovely. I kind of wish I had the drive for school. I just don’t think I could do it.” Daisy had thought about getting a class about business or something, but it was the idea of being immersed in that atmosphere that made her stomach churn. “Bakery is very busy. A lot of weddings happening. Someone ordered a cookie table, so there’s been a lot of overtime. We’re hoping for a break between now and October. The farm will be getting busy too, with apple season. I guess I’m lucky that I can run on low hours.” There wasn’t anything remotely healthy about the lack of sleep Daisy was having. She loved both jobs and wanted to do her best at both. Her parents wanted her to prioritize the bakery over the farm, but how could she let her family hanging when two people had been out?
Daisy looked at Jess, a face of guilt on her. If she had known Jess was mugged, she would’ve high-tailed it. But it was too late now. “Well, that’s one way to meet. But I’m glad things worked out for you! Have you been together long?”
She took a sip of her water and rested her left cheek in her palm. Daisy looked down at her sweating glass, before looking back up. “That’s reassuring. Yeah, I can tell a lot of people grew up with each other. I mean, I meet a lot of people at the bakery – but when the time comes to hang out outside of work, it feels weird. Like I don’t know how to ask. There are a few soup kitchens. Maybe those, since I don’t think lessons or sports are my vibes?”
"That’s lovely. I kind of wish I had the drive for school. I just don’t think I could do it.” She gave an easy smile and a slight shrug, "there are always days I wish I wasn't doing it - it's the same as anything really, that you have to work at. It has good and bad days, regardless of whether you wanted to do it in the first place or not." It was no different to having any ambition in life; even your passion you could hate some days. When you were tired or hungry or bored or overcooked, some days you just didn't want to. The horses even took their toll some days, it was how life was. But the point was still getting up in the mornings and still putting in the effort and the time to it.
“Bakery is very busy. A lot of weddings happening. Someone ordered a cookie table, so there’s been a lot of overtime. We’re hoping for a break between now and October. The farm will be getting busy too, with apple season. I guess I’m lucky that I can run on low hours.” Jessie smiled again and settled back in her chair, relaxing easily as she always did around people. She'd always been a very sociable person, which had made it tough moving away from home to begin with. "A cookie table? What the hell is that?" She laughed, imagining a table made of cookie and thinking that wasn't what Daisy meant. "I love this season though, just before the cold sets in and it's dark all the time." Jessie was always summer over winter but she traipsed through the mud and the cold and dark each year to make it out the other side.
She saw the look of guilt but didn't comment - Daisy hadn't been here at the time, nobody had, and Jessie was not one to be resentful or hold grudges or anything. She could have called and told people back home, but she had chosen not to, so that she didn't worry them -that was on her. She didn't expect them to know. “Well, that’s one way to meet. But I’m glad things worked out for you! Have you been together long?” Jessie shook her head, her face lighting up a little as it always did when talking about Nick. "Not long, no... a few months - we're just dating right now but.. I really like him, D." She blushed, she had always been a heart on sleeve kind of girl but she felt like Nick was finally one she didn't have to worry about stomping all over it.
Jess took a sip of her own drink, watching her friend for her response. “That’s reassuring. Yeah, I can tell a lot of people grew up with each other. I mean, I meet a lot of people at the bakery – but when the time comes to hang out outside of work, it feels weird. Like I don’t know how to ask. There are a few soup kitchens. Maybe those, since I don’t think lessons or sports are my vibes?” She wrinkled her nose in the way she always did when she thought; being an extrovert she knew these things were easier for her than other people who weren't as outgoing. "I guess you just... make the move and ask? They can only say no and then you don't have to ask again. Or they say yes and you've made that step! I'm sure they would though, if you all get along in the shop why not have a drink after work sometime?"
rust me, I had to ask Mrs. Parker what the client meant for it, too. Disadvantages of not having a smartphone,” Daisy laughed. “It’s this new thing, I guess. Kind of like a buffet of sorts? Just a massive variety of cookies and whatnot, keeping the cake a small thing for the couple.” Daisy was surprised to even hear what a donut wall was. There were a lot of new things coming from the internet to the point it made Daisy kind of want to know what it was like having a minicomputer in her pocket.
Daisy nodded vigorously. “Oh, absolutely. I love seeing all the horses out, prancing about. It’s always a nice thing to see when I’m walking home from work.” Ever since Daisy was given permission to say hello to Pearl and a few other horses at both barns, she made it a mission to at least pass by after work. Mornings were a bit harder, as she knew she could get lost in time there. “Maybe I could stop by and see you ride?” It had been a moment since the two had even ridden horses together. Daisy hadn’t taken it seriously, but it was in the farmer’s way of life to at least make one walk.
A grin couldn’t get wider when Daisy noticed the small color grace her friend’s face. It was a nice feeling, to see one of her best friends get so giddy. Daisy was a bit jealous like any good friend would. There was something about meeting someone like that. So far, the only person that Daisy had even got the eye of was Tommy Bolden. But that guy looked at all the girls the same way, so it was hard to know how true his interests were. “I’m very happy for you Jess! That’s amazing.” Now granted, Daisy would happily hide his body if he ever broke Jess’ heat. But she was going to keep that to herself.
“Yeah, I don’t have anything to lose, really! I’ve thought about picking up riding again. I mean, I think I would meet plenty of people that way,” she laughed. “Mrs. McConnell still has Betsy that’s rideable. The mare probably wouldn’t do anything fancy, except a trail ride here and there.” Daisy suddenly had a thought but wondered if it was the right thing. But taking Jess’ advice, why not? “Do you think I could maybe meet any of your riding or school friends?”
"trust me, I had to ask Mrs. Parker what the client meant for it, too. Disadvantages of not having a smartphone, It’s this new thing, I guess. Kind of like a buffet of sorts? Just a massive variety of cookies and whatnot, keeping the cake a small thing for the couple.” Jessie raised her eyebrows but then considered it and shrugged, "I guess that is the power of the internet, people able to swap ideas that much easier - you see one thing and it sparks another idea, even if it's a bit off the wall. I kinda like that idea now I get it more though." She admitted, having a sweet enough tooth she could imagine it being quite nice. Though she was more a meat eater and a buffet sounded like a better idea. She wasn't big on social media but she'd heard enough from other people about things like Instagram and Pintrest for ideas.
She sipped her drink as Daisy nodded. “Oh, absolutely. I love seeing all the horses out, prancing about. It’s always a nice thing to see when I’m walking home from work. Maybe I could stop by and see you ride?” It was Jessie's turn to nod and give a smile, "They are really relaxing to watch; sometimes I get distracted by them grazing when I have time to kill. But sure, of course you can." She had no problem with bringing friends up to the yard. The stables were kind about visitors too, as long as they followed the rules of the place. She couldn't see Daisy being any trouble though. She rolled her eyes as Daisy's grin widened, never having been great at hiding her feelings and always quick to blush, she wasn't great at attention and usually hid from the spotlight.
"Yeah I know," She admitted, cooling her cheeks with another drink, not needing her friend to say anything about how bad she clearly had it. “I’m very happy for you Jess! That’s amazing.” She chuckled, raising her eyebrows slightly, "is it so hard to believe I could find myself a good man?" She joked, knowing that wasn't what her friend meant at all. She just had that fairy tale thing in her head and couldn't help herself, but being a hands on, farmer type of gal with a bubbly personality didn't attract all that many guys surprisingly enough. “Yeah, I don’t have anything to lose, really! I’ve thought about picking up riding again. I mean, I think I would meet plenty of people that way, Mrs. McConnell still has Betsy that’s rideable. The mare probably wouldn’t do anything fancy, except a trail ride here and there.” Daisy suddenly had a thought but wondered if it was the right thing. But taking Jess’ advice, why not? “Do you think I could maybe meet any of your riding or school friends?” She smiled again easily enough. "You would, there are a lot of horsey people in town, and it's quite easy to slide into lessons and make connections. Sure, when you come up to see the horses some time I'll introduce you. Besides, there's nothing wrong with going for a plod, it's a nice way to take a breath and de-stress."
aisy beamed when her friend agreed. “Perfect! I will try to figure out a day, and we can line something up.” If there was anyone that Daisy forced herself to text on her flip phone, it was Jess. Albeit, it had slowed down – but it was rare for Daisy to often text. Despite her being quite fluent in typing all the numbers quickly to get the letters she needed. Other than that, phone calls were the best.
The wait staff came back, refilling beverages and dropping off the food that was ordered. Daisy lifted her eyebrows at how big her salad was. She was taking half of this home. “Gosh, I didn’t realize how large the food portions are here. Was it what they call this? A trough salad?” Daisy joked.
Seeing her friend's happiness like that - her grin, was exactly why Jessie did things like that, and enjoyed it. It wasn't hard to say yes to such a simple request and make someone's day - even better when it was her close friend. “Perfect! I will try to figure out a day, and we can line something up.” Jess nodded, taking a swig of her drink. "That sounds good, give me a couple of options and then I'm sure at least one of them will work! You know what adulting is like." Jessie rolled her eyes, feeling like most of the time she had to schedule things in just to meet a friend, when it used to be as easy as knocking on someone's door and asking them to come out and play. Now, you had to ask for everyone's quarterly work schedule to pencil something in and then something would change and it would move.
Jessie rubbed her hands together in excitement as she saw her food arrive, unable to stop herself doing just a little bit of a happy dance. “Gosh, I didn’t realize how large the food portions are here. Was it what they call this? A trough salad?” Jessie grinned and gave a little laugh, delighted to see her own portion was plenty large as well. "They like to feed you up here, clearly. I won't complain, it's better this way than getting a spoonful for double the price." she said as she dug in.
aisy nodded and began digging into her food herself. She would have to fight off her family for the leftovers but knowing her – she would eat them on the way home on the bus or the walk. With work, she had become quite the multitasker of eating food while walking. Some people found it odd or rude, but with a schedule like Daisy's – it’d be difficult to not eat on the way.
“I’m happy we made this work,” she stated after she swallowed her bite and chased it down with water. Daisy wasn’t like her younger sister, but it didn’t mean that she didn’t have friends or wanted to hang out. She knew times were changing, so she had to do her best to go with the growth.
Jessie ate fast without meaning to. She was hungry, she loved her food, and she'd grown up in a house full of boys. If you didn't eat quick enough, someone was going to try and steal something of your plate - probably your favourite thing you were saving to eat last, like a roast potato. Jessie had had to fight off offending forks before, and old habits died hard. She shovelled it in a little less than gracefully, but she felt comfortable in the company of a fellow farm friend, and not like she was about to be judged for dreadful table manners.
“I’m happy we made this work,” She took a swig of her drink, giving her time to answer by nodding until she was sure she wouldn't show Daisy anything offensive. "So am I, I'm really glad you came here too." She added, because hell if it wasn't nice to have a friend in town from her old life. "At least now, neither of us really have an excuse to be a hermit." They could drag each other out if one needed a break or some social time, or visa versa.
