Hopeless Night: Day 12

Word Count: 72,008

Summary of Events:
Part 7: Twilight
Chapter 22:
Magnus was brought out of the mine and offered for sale to Herr Reiter who nearly didn't purchase Magnus, but finally decided to do so. Emma and Olga worked in the kitchen. Upon arriving at Herr Reiter's farm Magnus was given a shave, a haircut, a bath, new clothes, a physical, and food.
Chapter 23:
Emma's brother Korbinian and Olga's sister Dagmar got married and everyone celebrated the occasion, Emma presented the wedding cake which awed Korbinian and Dagmar. Magnus helped with getting the crops planted, driving one of the plough teams which he really enjoyed.
Chapter 24:
Emma, Olga, and Emma's mother weeded the garden and then Emma worked to make tarts for Herr Reiter's dinner party that evening. Magnus finished weed ploughing for the day and put the team away, then he helped stop a runaway coach horse.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Heading out of the stables — still under the watchful eye of one of Herr Reiter's manservants — Magnus headed back toward the wall which he spent most of his days inside of.
An equine squeal, however, caused Magnus to stop. He turned toward the horses and carriages at the house and saw a single horse who was hitched to a small carriage on its hind legs, thrashing its forelegs in the air.
It looked like it was taking all of the driver's strength to get the horse not to run away. Magnus couldn't see anything that should've set the horse off, which puzzled him. He thought that there really ought to be a reason for the horse's fuss.
Before Magnus could examine the situation any more, though, there was a loud snap and the horse was off at a full gallop with the carriage in tow and the driver hanging on to the edges of his seat for dear life.
Magnus turned toward the pastures he'd passed at a run and grabbed the nearest horse. Swinging aboard — with no controls save his legs — Magnus charged the horse out of the pasture and after the runaway horse who was making straight for the Strenghärte.
It seemed Magnus had made a good selection in his horse, as — one he got his horse galloping — it began to steadily gain on the runaway horse. Magnus crouched low over his horse's withers, savouring the feel of the horse's muscles rippling powerfully underneath his legs.
Soon Magnus was close enough to the runaway horse to reach for it. Magnus grabbed the runaway's bridle and slowed his horse with subtle leg cues, causing the runaway horse to be forced to turn — slowing his momentum until finally he was stopped — his nostrils flared huge, eyes wide showing the whites, sides heaving, sweat darkening the coat.
Magnus sat still on his horse — who felt to be equally as winded — and got his own breath for a few moments before gently reaching forward with his other hand and rubbing the bridge of the horse's nose.
After awhile Magnus got off of the horse he'd borrowed — who dropped its head to eat calmly — and reached up his hand to the horse's neck, never once letting go of the bridle, and gently rubbed the horse's neck.
When the horse started to relax somewhat Magnus started to murmur softly and kindly to the horse. Slowly and gently he worked until the horse lowered his head nicely, and then he kept going until finally the horse got so relaxed that he cocked a hind hoof and sent his hip to an angle.
Magnus then released the horse's bridle and mounted back onto the horse he'd borrowed. Taking up one of the broken reins, Magnus then led the now settled runaway at an easy walk back to where he'd taken off from."