Storiesonline.net ------- The Last Cowboy by Eon Copyright© 2005 by Eon ------- Description: Seraphim Langley lost everything in a tragic accident. Scarred and desperate, she and her friend Candace resort to stealing to survive. When the owner of a house they're caught burglarizing sends them to his guest ranch, Brookside, rather than to jail, Sera meets Asher James, a former Equestrian champion. Teaming up with him and his horse Eagle for an endurance race, they become everyone's favorite underdogs. But is strength of heart enough to win? Codes: MF slow rom 1st cons het ------- ------- Chapter 1: Crime and Punishment Sera crouched behind the tall hedgerow, peering through an almost imperceptible hole in the foliage. She watched as her best friend, Candace, jimmied open the lock on the front door of the two level ranch style house. I must be out of my mind, she thought, slowly creeping out from behind the bush at Candace's signal. Her friend had told her that the old man who owned the place was wealthy. She had assured Sera that he didn't actually live there, but kept a good many valuables inside. We only need a few things, Sera thought, slipping inside the house behind Candace. Just enough to get some money for college. If her parents had still been alive, she wouldn't be here. The accident that had killed her parents had also killed her beloved horse, Eagle Flight. Everything in her life that she loved had been destroyed in an instant. I shouldn't have lived either, Sera thought, fingering the scars on the side of her face that she kept hidden beneath a wealth of ashy brown hair. I don't want to be alive now. The inside of the house was so dark that she could barely see anything. Sera almost tripped over the couch in the middle of the living room. The arm of the couch knocked the air out of her, and she huffed, the sound echoing loudly in the quiet house. She froze like a deer in headlights, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. "Quiet!" Candace hissed from somewhere up ahead. "Sorry," Sera murmured back. "I... I tripped..." "Shhh!" She stepped around the couch, holding her hands out in front of her to hopefully keep herself from walking into anything else. Sera could hear Candace moving around, opening and closing drawers and cupboards. How the older girl could see in this house was a mystery. Pausing in what she assumed was the entrance to the kitchen, Sera waited until her eyes adjusted more to the darkness, and she could just barely make out Candace's silhouette. I shouldn't be so doubting, she thought. Candace has been by my side since the accident. Except that Sera was uncertain if that was enough. Candace liked to be in charge; she cajoled, threatened, bullied, and even blackmailed to get her way. She'd never really been mean to Sera, but she wasn't often very nice, either. Stop that, Sera thought, shaking her head. She took me in and gave me a place to stay. I should be grateful. But as they stood in the kitchen together, she could hear alarm bells going off in her head. Those aren't alarm bells! Sera realized a moment later. Those are sirens! She glanced over at Candace, who was wide-eyed and nervous. This was officially turning into their stupidest idea ever. "Shit!" Candace growled. "The rich old fart must have alarms that go right to the police station! Let's get out of here!" Candace pushed passed her and raced out the front door. Sera followed, stretching her legs to keep up. Her heart was pounding in her ears and the world seemed a dizzying blur. A leap carried her over the hedgerow, but she stumbled, landing hard on her knees in the wet grass. Groaning, Sera forced herself back to her feet and started running again. She was not the fastest runner, and she could hear someone coming up behind her quickly. Putting her head down, she put all her effort into running, but it wasn't long before a heavy body dragged her to the ground. Sera had suffered quite a few degrading experiences in her life, but being handcuffed was not one of them--until now. She bit her lip as her hands were jerked roughly behind her back and cold metal handcuffs slapped around her wrists. Her captor hauled her to her feet and started marching her towards a nearby police car. And here I was convinced that my life couldn't possibly get any worse, Sera thought, listening with half an ear as the cop rattled off the Miranda warning. "Let go of me, you donut-scarfing pig!" It just got worse, Sera thought, wincing at the sound of Candace's voice. She was shoved rudely into the back of the police car and the officer turned to deal with her loud-mouthed friend. We're not going to wiggle out of it this time, she thought, sinking down on the seat. Something tells me Mr. Rich isn't going to let us get away with a little community service. Candace was tossed into the car with her, but Sera paid no attention to her friend's ranting. She stared out the window and in her mind's eye she could a strong black horse racing over an open field. That's where I belong... ------- "Seraphim Langley and Candace Berkart." Sera lifted her head and stared blearily between the bars of their jail cell. Two officers were standing there, unlocking the cell. She dragged herself to her feet and held out her hands, allowing them to cuff her. Candace put up more of a fuss, but in the end she too was handcuffed. She'd been threatened with other charges, including resisting arrest, and that had taken most of the fight out of her. Sera was glad; they were in enough trouble without her friend calling the police officers pigs and donut-munchers. Sera was expecting to find a cynical public defense attorney waiting in the small room they were led to; instead a young, well dressed lawyer and an old man were sitting at the table. He must be the owner, she thought, starting to panic. Oh, well, there goes the rest of my future! Not that I had one to begin with. Sera stared at the two uncomfortable-looking, straight-backed chairs and wondered if they were expected to sit down. "Please, sit down," the young lawyer said. "I'm Barry Kensington and this is my client, Mr. Ralston. He's the owner of the house you were trying to burgle." "Uh... I... I'm sorry, sir," Sera stammered, stepping on Candace's foot to keep her quiet. "We know it was wrong. I guess... we were desperate." "Seraphim Langley," Mr. Ralston responded, smiling gently. "I've heard of you, young lady. Won the National Horse Show a few years back, didn't you? Fine horse, that was." Sera swallowed hard and stared at her toes. I thought I'd have faded into obscurity by now, she thought, biting on her lower lip nervously. At the tender age of sixteen she had ridden Eagle Flight to a first place ribbon in the National Horse Show, the most difficult competition for jumping horses. It hadn't been too long after that that the accident occurred. Sera hadn't ridden any horse at all since then. Even thinking about it brought back the fear of the accident, and the sorrow of losing the things that had meant the most to her in life. "Mr. Ralston has horses of his own," Kensington explained. "A ranch, in fact, in California." "I don't ride anymore," Sera said softly. "Certainly not now that I'm going to end up in jail." "I've heard about that, also," Mr. Ralston told her. "Horrible accident... a real tragedy. I imagine life has been hard for you since then." He paused a moment, still smiling that kind smile. "Please, ladies, sit down." Still feeling uncertain, Sera settled herself in one of those chairs. After a moment Candace sat beside her. Mr. Kensington picked up a manila folder that was sitting on the small table in the middle of the room and opened it, rifling through it. He handed it to Mr. Ralston, who closed it and set it back on the table. "You girls have gotten into quite a bit of trouble lately," he said, resting his gnarled hands on the folder. "Lot's of shoplifting, especially. Would you care to explain this to me?" No, Sera thought. Out loud she said, "We... we don't have a lot of money. My parents are... gone. You know that. And Candace's kicked her out when she was sixteen." "Such a shame," Mr. Ralston said, shaking his head. "Truly, two young ladies such as yourself should not be reduced to this." "Which is why," Mr. Kensington put in, "Mr. Ralston has decided to be lenient with you two. Rather than serving jail time, you two will spend six months on Mr. Ralston's ranch, working as stable hands." As Candace threw a fit of outrage, Sera stayed quiet, feeling as though her whole world was falling apart. I can't do this, she thought frantically. The memories... I can't! But there didn't seem to be a lot of choice. Neither she or Candace had money for bail, or any friends who did. And once Candace calmed down, she would no doubt decide to take the offer. Sera was deep in thought, and didn't notice Mr. Ralston approaching her until he had brush her hair away from her cheek. She jumped back, horrified, quickly covering up her scars. "You need this," Mr. Ralston said. "You have not let yourself heal. The final decision is yours, of course, but I hope you will choose correctly." Mr. Ralston limped from the room, leaning heavily on his cane. Sera watched him go, listening with half an ear to the conversation between Kensington and Candace. She knew what Candace would choose; as much as she hated work, she'd rather go to a ranch than stay in jail. I don't really have a choice, Sera thought, rubbing her temples. Staying in that cell much longer will drive me nuts. I have to go. It was the choice she didn't want to make, and she could already feel the memories trying to come rushing back. ------- Brookside Ranch was truly a lovely place, Sera couldn't deny that. It was rangy and rustic; the fences looked worn and homey, rather than the white wash she was used to, the barn had a shabby charm, and there was indeed a brook. She could hear it babbling even though she couldn't yet see it. Small, squat cottages and a ranch house looked quaint and comfortable. The grass was starting to brown with drought, but it was still mostly green. Even though it had little resemblance to her former home, it was still painful to look at. Inhaling, Sera could smell horse and grass, scents that brought back so much. Candace chatted brightly with the man who'd picked them up at the airport. He was Mr. Ralston's grandson, and rather handsome, with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a cute, dimpled smile. Something about him bothers me, Sera thought, eyeing the young man. I can't put my finger on it, though. She trailed along behind them, bouncing her tattered old duffle bag against her hip. Maybe it was just her. The only person she trusted at all anymore was Candace. "So, I'm Cole, and you're Candace," the young man said. "But who's your friend? She hasn't give me a name." "That's Sera," Candace said, shrugging her shoulders. "She's quiet like a mouse. Don't mind her." And he didn't, either. Cole showed them to the cottage they would be staying in long enough for them to put down their bags, then let them down towards the barn. This is a guest ranch, Sera realized, when she noticed people wandering around who obviously weren't ranch hands. Just lovely. If this had been simply a private ranch, where she wouldn't have had to deal with too many other people, she wouldn't have minded quite so much. I'm going to have to help people, Sera thought, wrinkling her nose. Rich, well-dressed people who will pause when I'm around and stare. Cole told them he would give them a tour, although personally Sera didn't think the place would be all that hard to navigate. She followed Cole and Candace up to the fence of the first paddock and stopped, barely able to breathe. "This here is part of our main attraction," Cole said. He rolled his eyes. "The other half walks on two legs and has just as much attitude. That's a Mustang stallion, wild as could be, can barely been ridden. Don't know why my grandfather keeps him. Waste of space, but the guests think he's great." Although Eagle Flight had been a gelding, he had also been a Mustang. Small, rangy, a black so pure and deep that it seemed impossible. Standing in the paddock, cropping at the short grass, was a Mustang the color of a night with neither stars nor moon. The resemblance was uncanny. Sera gripped the fence tightly as the Mustang lifted his head and turned it, seeming to look directly at her. The stallion reared, bugling loudly, his sharp hooves slashing at the air; then he raced away across the paddock. It's impossible, Sera thought, feeling her heart pound against her ribs. But he looks exactly like Eagle! ------- Asher paused in the doorway of the barn, staring curiously at the newcomers. Cole had mentioned something about picking up new hands; these must have been the girls who'd been caught trespassing. The blonde, who stood close to Cole, tossing her head and flirting outrageously, looked like the type to steal from other people. The other, a short, undersized young woman with the rangy, underfed look of a wild Mustang, and plain brown hair that trailed down her back and covered half her face, did not. Watching her face, Asher couldn't imagine any maliciousness and selfishness there. He followed her gaze and smiled, watching the black Mustang rear. Show off, he thought, shaking his head. Asher turned his gaze back to her, taking in the mixture of wonder and horror on her face. He stepped from the doorway and into the tack room, where an updated list of ranch hands could be found. The names Candace Berkart and Seraphim Langley had been added on. I wonder which one she is, Asher thought. Seraphim Langley... why does that sound familiar? "Perhaps you've heard of her." Asher jumped and spun around. Mr. Ralston was behind him, smiling at him, his pale blue eyes crinkled in gentle amusement. How does a man with a cane and a limp sneak up like that? Asher wondered. Somehow Mr. Ralston managed to sneak up on him about once a day. Usually he was at least prepared for it, but... well, so he'd been distracted, so what? Curiosity killed the cat, he thought. "She used to ride," Mr. Ralston went on. "Took the world by storm, winning the National Horse Show at age sixteen, on a Mustang that barely reached fifteen hands. I don't think I've ever seen anything as beautiful as that." I remember that! Asher thought. He'd been there with Mr. Ralston, watching. It hadn't been the first time he'd seen her, either. Seraphim was an amazing rider and her horse had been just as fantastic. He remembered his amazement, watching the two of them clear fences the little Mustang never should have been able to take. She had gentle hands, Asher remembered, smiling to himself. It looked as though she barely touched the reins. She'd ridden like a queen, he'd thought. "What is she doing here?" Asher asked, turning his attention back to Mr. Ralston. "Punishment, technically," Mr. Ralston answered, chuckling. "But she needs to be here. About... oh, three years ago, now... she and her family were involved in an accident. Both of her parents were killed, and her horse... snapped a cannon bone so badly, he had to be put to sleep." "That's horrible," Asher murmured. He hadn't seen her again after that time, but he'd thought perhaps she just couldn't handle the pressure. Mr. Ralston nodded. "She has a lot of scars, inside and out. She hasn't ridden since the accident. My guess is, she no longer has a will to live. She goes through each day, but she doesn't really want to." "Why does she look at him like that?" Asher asked. He knew that Mr. Ralston would know what he was talking about. Indeed, the old man smiled knowingly. He limped up to the window on the paddock side of the tack room and Asher followed. Like these two new girls, he had come here for a second chance. At seventeen he'd been involved in car theft. Neither of his parents were around; he had no idea where he was. Then Mr. Ralston had shown up out of nowhere and became his legal guardian, taking him to live at this ranch. Back then, Asher had been a rising star on the show jumping circuit; now he rode only for his own pleasure. Following Mr. Ralston's gaze to the girl called Seraphim, he felt a pang of sorrow for her. Mr. Ralston seemed more like a psychiatrist than a businessman, sometimes. Watching Seraphim, Asher had a feeling that the old man was right. "You see, boy," Mr. Ralston explained. "That girl didn't ride just any Mustang. She rode a solid black named Eagle Flight." Asher's breath halted in his throat. He knew all about Eagle Flight; the horse had once lived on this very ranch. Unfortunately, he was so wild and uncontrollable that it was decided he would be gelded and sold, a decision Mr. Ralston had never been happy with. However, before he'd been gelded, he'd been bred to one select mare and had one very healthy offspring. Seven years ago a small, solid black Mustang foal had been born. Running wildly across the paddock was that foal, now completely grown. Midnight Eagle. ------- Chapter 2: Adjusting Sera tossed a final heavy bale of hay down from the loft, then flopped down onto a pile of scratchy straw on the floor. She was sweaty and dirty, and completely out of breath. I didn't think I was so out of shape, she thought, wiping sweat from the back of her neck. It wasn't that she'd put on weight; if anything, she was thinner than she used to be. But over the last few days, Sera had found that chores she used to perform with ease had become difficult and tiring. Worse, Candace's charismatic personality had landed her a cushy place serving food, leading introductory tours, and helping with some of the less strenuous activities. Noisy chatter caught her attention. Sera forced herself out of the pile of straw and stagger to the window. Lined up along the fence was a group of girls, ranging from twelve to forty-something. They were watching a young man demonstrate how to brush and saddle a horse. Sera easily recognized the slender, willowy form, longish, shaggy dark hair, and soft, near-whispering voice of Asher James. Why does that name sound so familiar? she wondered, scowling. No matter. Between Asher and Cole bossing her around she was ready to scream. She climbed down the ladder and began hauling the last bale of hay into the tack room, where she stacked it atop the others. Sera dusted herself off and headed out of the barn, into the stifling humidity of mid-afternoon. She had no desire to get in between the girls and their eye candy, so she hurried past them. He isn't that good looking, she thought, hesitating just a moment too long. "Sera!" She stopped, cringing. Asher's voice, though soft, cut right through the warm, thick air. Sera turned, noticing the disdainful look of the girls gathered by the fence. All of them were dressed in stylish, high priced riding clothes. She was wearing a pair of battered jeans that were too big, an old t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off that she'd once used while helping repaint the fences in her old home, and a pair of work boots that were on their last leg. Sera's hair was down as always, covering the scars on her left cheek; her only consolation was that the sun put streaks of honey into the ashy brown strands. "Take Buster in, untack him, feed him, and brush him," Asher told her. "Then I need you to put some liniment on Marigold's cut. I don't want her getting an infection." Sera nodded stiffly and climbed over the fence to take Buster's reins from Asher. Her annoyance was partly tempered by both the fact that he was almost always busy and the fact that he really did care for the horses. He's a fantastic rider, too, she thought as she unlatched the gate. I can't imagine what he's doing here, instead of on the show circuit. He reminds me of that guy so many years ago... Sera paused, whipping around to face the crowd again. "You aren't that Asher James, are you?" she asked loudly. "The one who won at the National Horse Show twice in a row, and almost won a gold medal in the Olympics?" "No," Asher answered shortly, turning his back to her. "Get to work." Startled, she quickly led Buster into the shade of the barn. Years ago she had watched a young Asher James ride to a silver medal in the equestrian division of the Olympics. He'd been just seventeen, and Sera had been so impressed, she'd begged her parents for her own horse, so she could be in the Olympics someday. Not long after she had found Eagle Flight, and they had quickly become an unbeatable team. Unfortunately, Asher James had disappeared from the limelight by then. "It couldn't be him, right, Buster?" Sera murmured as she curried dust from the horse's soft hide. "It just couldn't..." Once upon a time, she'd thought about what it might be like to meet someone like him. Obviously he would be one of the nicest people she'd ever met. This Asher was... well, he wasn't mean, but he was always short with her, and bossy. He seems like he likes people about as much as I do, Sera thought, pausing to wipe sweat from her face. Which is to say, not at all. So why was he working here, then? And what had happened to him, anyway? After that time, she'd never seen him again. No, she reminded herself, you didn't see Asher James, Olympic silver medalist, again. There was no reason to believe that this was the same guy. His hair was too long, for one. A voice in the back of her mind reminded her that hair grows, but she ignored it. It's just a stupid fancy, that's all, Sera decided. Nothing to be impressed about. As if to emphasize that thought, Asher's voice rang down the stable aisle, shouting for her to get back to work. ------- Sera leaned against the side of the barn. It was almost time for the guest dinner, and not long after that, the employee dinner. Employee and probation dinner, she thought grumpily. She was absolutely a mess; sweaty and sticky, her clothes clinging to her body, her hair a mass of tangles. It had been increasingly hard for Sera to stay clean. The employees shared two shower rooms (male and female) and there was no privacy. She had to go late at night to avoid anyone who would see her scars. Maybe it was stupid, but could she help it if she was uncomfortable about those hideous things? "Slacking off?" She opened her eyes and glared at Asher. At least he was as sweaty and dirty as she was. But he looks good that way, Sera thought, curse him! She hadn't wanted to think of him as good looking, but he was. Just at the moment he had his cowboy hat pulled low, as it often was. She could see his hair sticking out from beneath it, just barely touching his shoulders. He makes a very good cowboy, Sera thought, feeling her cheeks heat. She pulled herself off the wall and started to walk away, but Asher grabbed her elbow. "Come with me," he said. "I think I've got something that will help you." "I'm off duty!" Sera snapped, glowering. "Can't I have even a little time to myself?" "No," Asher answered. She gaped at him in disbelief. Asher didn't let go of her; rather he continued to pull her along. He led her back into the barn, tugging her down the aisle to the main office. Asher's hand on her arm was gentle, thought. He had strong fingers and his skin was slightly rough with calluses. She was going to pull away from him, but he released her as soon as they reached the office. Curious in spite of herself, Sera followed him inside, eyeing him warily as he shut the door. "You need to start taking a shower more often," Asher told her. "Some of the guests have complained." "They have not!" Sera snapped. She paused and looked up at him. "Have they?" "They have," Asher assured her. "Granted, they'll complain about anything and everything, some of them. But it did bring something to my attention." Sera watched him as he moved over to a large board covered in pegs and keys at the far end of the office. She bit her lip as he pulled a key off the peg labeled "bath house". There were several extra keys for each thing and usually only those higher up on the staff hierarchy were allowed to have her own. Sera stared at him as he pressed the key into her hand and closed her fingers around it. "Why?" she asked. "I... I mean... you don't have to..." "Just take it," Asher said quietly. "And don't take your shower too late. I need you to be in the stables bright and early tomorrow." She might have been annoyed, if she wasn't feeling so uncertain. Fidgeting and chewing at her lower lip, Sera fiddled with her hair. I really should thank him, she thought. He didn't have to... But Asher felt sorry for her and she hated that. That was the whole reason she was here: Mr. Ralston had felt sorry for her. Well, and I tried to burgle his home, she thought wryly. But still, he could have just pressed charges and had me sent to jail. "Are those from the accident?" Asher asked. Startled, she held her hand up to her cheek. Sera hadn't realized that she'd pushed her hair away from her voice, leaving her scars exposed. They were the worst on her face, angry red marks that reminded her of something from a horror film. Down her neck, side, and leg, they weren't nearly as bad, mostly scattered ridges. The look on Asher's face was one of pity and it made her angry. He tried to touch her face, but Sera jerked away, letting her hair swing back into place over her cheek. "I don't need or want your pity," she growled. Asher smiled. "Of course you don't. You never did. Even when you couldn't compete in the National Horse Show that first year because your mount came up lame, you never complained." "How do you know that?" Sera demanded, staring at him. "Mr. Ralston dragged me along both years you qualified," Asher explained. "Trying to get me to stop feeling sorry for myself. I watched you. You and that horse. He put his head in your arms like a lost child and stood perfectly still while the vet checked and wrapped his leg. I've never seen anything like it." He was standing so close that she could feel the heat of his body. Back then, she'd noticed the boy watching her, but he'd been half hidden in shadows. Sera had thought he looked lonely; she was going to go over to him when she was done with Eagle, but he'd been gone by then. So it was him, she thought. The small office was suddenly getting really warm, and she imagined her face was bright red. He saw me with my Eagle... Thinking about Eagle brought tears to her eyes. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to think about it at all. The last thing she wanted now was for Asher to see her cry. Clutching the key, Sera turned and fled from the office. God, he probably thinks I'm so lame, she thought. And ugly, too. But at least she'd be able to use the shower when it was convenient for her. She would really have to thank him for that. ------- Asher sighed and dropped down into the chair behind the desk. Well, that didn't go well, he thought, pushing his hat back from his face. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that time. Of course memories of her horse would be painful for Sera. He'd just wanted to have a civil conversation with her, something he'd really been struggling with since she'd arrived. Asher had just turned eighteen when he went to that particular horse show. An adult, according to the law. Back then, there had been two things he'd wanted. Midnight Eagle had been one of them, and Mr. Ralston had made a deal with him, so that eventually the horse belonged to Asher. But Mr. Ralston couldn't give him the other thing he wanted, and he couldn't take it for himself. At eighteen years old, it wasn't highly looked upon to lust after a fourteen-year-old girl. He'd been so amazed by her; her gentle hands, her soft voice, her bright eyes. Asher had watched her longingly that weekend, always from a distance. Although he knew she'd noticed him at least once, he never gave her the chance to actually talk to him. She was too young for him then. And how ironic is it, Asher thought, that she's here now. But so different from who she used to be. Well, perhaps not that different. Her hands were still gentle and her voice was still soft, if only around the horses. But the light had gone out of her eyes. No doubt it was difficult living with those scars; people always reacted badly when they saw someone with scars like that. Asher didn't care; he'd never been attracted to her looks. He rose from the chair, running his fingers back through his hair. Really, he should shower and get down to dinner himself, before Mr. Ralston realized he was missing. Asher was still working off his payment for Eagle, after all. ------- The heat of the sun was almost unbearable. Asher rested beneath the awning over the porch in front of the main building, staring morosely out at the barn. In fifteen minutes he had another class and he was not looking forward to it. Teenage girls and older women flocked around him whenever and wherever he went. They flirted with him shamelessly, bickered with each other nastily, and generally got on his nerves. Asher found himself wishing he'd be up in the loft with Sera, tossing down bales of hay. He'd much rather do that, even if she wasn't the most pleasant person in the world, either. "Slacking off?" Asher turned slightly and raised an eyebrow at Sera. She wore a pair of short shorts, a tank top, beat up boots, and a sarcastic grin. As usual, her hair was draped over her cheek, hiding the scars. Hmm, he thought, looking her up and down. This gives me an idea. Turning to face her fully, he pulled off his cowboy hat and planted it on her head. It was a bit big on her and tilted down over her eyes. That's cute, Asher thought, grinning. If only she would act as cute as she looks right now. "Change of plans today," Asher told her. "You're going to be my assistant for my next class." Sera pushed the hat up and glared at him. "Who made you boss?" "Come on," Asher said, placing his hand gently on her back and urging her forward. "I need someone with me to keep my temper in check." "What for?" Sera demanded. "You're surrounded by females all day. You should be psyched." "Great," Asher griped. "Noisy, nosy, chattering females. Yeah, I'm thrilled." He started down towards the barn, allowing her to catch up at her own pace. No doubt she was wondering what to make of what he said. Well, she'll figure it out eventually, Asher thought. She needs to stop being so cranky and try to enjoy herself. Footsteps behind him warned him that she was closing on him. She had to walked twice as fast as normal to keep up with his long stride, but she did it. He'd noticed that she really didn't like it when he outdid her in... well, pretty much anything. "If you hate this so much, why do you do it?" Sera asked. "Paying off my debt," Asher explained, already wishing he had his hat back. The sun was far too bright. Sera raised an eyebrow at him. "Debt?" "Mr. Ralston had a horse I wanted," Asher told her. "I work to finish paying for him." "Which horse?" Sera wanted to know. "That one," Asher said, lifting his hand and pointing. He waited for Sera to follow his gaze to the horse he was speaking of. Asher knew the moment she realized, because she gasped loudly. In the bright sunlight, Midnight Eagle was even more glorious than ever. He raced from one side of the paddock to the other, working off restless energy. Sera's steps quickened as they got closer to the paddock. She walked right past the group of females waiting for Asher to arrive and stepped up on the fence to gaze out at Eagle. A gust of warm wind blew the hat back and it hung around her shoulders, allowing the wind to ruffle her hair. "All right girls," Asher said. "Today I'm going to demonstrate barrel racing. Sera, will you bring out the barrels for me and saddle Buster?" Sera nodded and jumped reluctantly down from the fence. As she headed into the tack room, Asher turned to his audience. The youngest today, a sixteen-year-old blonde named Leann, batted her eyelashes at him and he fought to keep from rolling his eyes. Mrs. Caroll, a middle-aged woman whose rich husband never paid attention to her antics, leaned closed to him, pressing her chest against his arm. You'd think they never saw a guy before, Asher thought, feeling annoyed. Why the hell do women find me so compelling, anyway? He didn't talk much and he always smelled like horse. "Hey boss!" Sera called. "Buster's limping!" "Shi... shoot!" Asher swore. "Um... is Raindown out or in?" "He's out," Sera said. "And Kassie's pregnant. I don't think there are any other barrel racers." "There aren't," Asher told her. "All right, go get Radical." He turned to his students, taking a step away from Mrs. Caroll. "Change of plans, ladies. Today I'm going to demonstrate how to handle an unruly horse." Moments later Sera reemerged from the barn, leading a tall blood bay Quarter horse. Radical danced at the end of the lead line, snorting and tossing his head. Asher stepped up onto the fence and sat on the top rail as she led the horse over. Sera kept Radical from getting too close to the group; he liked to bite and kick. She held him firmly in place with one hand on the lead line, while the other rested on his neck. "See how gentle and quiet Sera's hands are," Asher said, raising his voice just enough to be heard by each one of them. "A soft hand is needed with any horse. With a horse like Radical, you need to learn to be gentle but firm. Lead him around for me." Sera shot him a look; her cheeks were slightly red. No doubt she was uneasy being such a big part of his demonstration. They don't look too happy about it either, Asher thought, eyeing the group and trying not to grin. I think I'm actually going to enjoy this lesson. Of course, Sera would probably chew him out later for putting her on the spot, but he'd worry about that when it happened. Watching her with Radical, Asher found he wouldn't mind if she was that gentle with him. She has a lover's hands, he thought, his mouth going dry as she brushed Radical's forelock back from his face. He gave himself a mental shake; the last thing he needed was to start fantasizing about what her hands would feel like on his face. Mrs. Caroll and Leann were both watching him intently. Beautiful women day in and day out, Asher thought. They want me. Why do I have to want the one that doesn't want me? ------- Chapter 3: Sera Struggles Sera was grateful to be able to use the showers at her leisure. She snatched a few minutes before dinner to shower, just enough to wash her hair and body quickly. She was still dripping, her clothes clinging to her body, when she left the shower house. But the air was hot and she would be dry soon enough. Moreover, Sera could smell fried chicken as she approached the dining hall, and for once the thought of such food didn't make her sick. I'm so hungry, she thought, holding her stomach. The dining hall was full of chattering employees when she arrived. Sera grabbed a plate, filling it with fried chicken, corn on the cob, and mashed potatoes. She sat down next to Candace, who was chatting livelily with Cole. What is he doing here? Sera wondered, taking a bite of her chicken. I didn't think the owner's grandson would eat with us lowly employees. Cole had made some comments to that effect, after all, although not where Candace could hear. Even Asher didn't eat with them; he ate in his cabin. The sound of a plate hitting the wooden table top startled her and she glanced over to see who sat next to her. It was Asher. Geez, this is a night of firsts, Sera thought. At least Asher doesn't blow his own horn like Cole. In fact, he was always pretty quiet. From what she could tell, he seemed to talk to her more than anyone else outside of his classes, and their conversations had all been short. She peeked sidelong at him, curious as to why he was here tonight. Is he going to start bossing me around as soon as I finish eating? Sera wondered. That was really the only problem she had with him. "Shouldn't you be working?" Cole said coldly. It took Sera a moment to realize he was talking to Asher. "Off duty," Asher muttered, not looking up from his plate. Cole snorted in disgust. "Great. Stuck at the table with a dried up has-been." "Cole, be nice," Candace giggled. She leaned against Cole's shoulder, looking up at him flirtatiously. "I don't have to be nice to the likes of him," Cole said. "I'm the owner's son." "Stop it," Sera said softly. Cole, Candace, and Asher looked at her, startled. She'd been so quiet the whole time, she wondered if they'd even noticed that she was there. Sera felt slightly ill under Cole's disdainful gaze, but she felt a light touch on her back and glanced at Asher. His face was expressionless, but there was a smile in his dark eyes. What the hell am I doing? she wondered. And for him, of all people! Well, maybe it couldn't hurt to be a little nicer to Asher. "What is this, the Asher James Fan Club?" Cole asked, his voice full of scorn. "Here's a news flash for you, Sera: the reason Asher James disappeared from the show jumping circuit was because he was caught stealing a car!" So he is that Asher, Sera thought. Glancing over at him, she felt her heart drop to her stomach. His dark eyes were like ice; she shivered when he looked over at her. How could Cole say something like that? she wondered. Underneath Asher's icy gaze, she sense a deep sorrow. Sera realized that Cole was probably the type of person who liked being hurtful. Candace seemed to like him, so she'd tried to as well, but it seemed as though he had no redeeming qualities. "What's the matter, Ashley?" Cole taunted. "Afraid you might lose your fan club if they knew?" Sera dropped her hands loudly on the table and stood up. She'd heard enough. Untangling her legs from the bench, she left most of her food untouched and started to walk away. Behind her Cole made obnoxious kissy noises. Enough is enough! she thought, whirling to face him. Her fingers clenched into a tight fist. Before she released what she was doing, Sera had stomped back over to him and punched him in the face. Cole fell backwards against Candace, who shrieked and moved away. He tumbled off the bench and landed hard on the floor. Everyone in the room was watching now. Cole struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his nose. His eyes were wide and wild as he closed the distance between himself and Sera. She backpedaled rapidly, but he grabbed her arms, his grip hard enough to leave behind bruises, and shook her. He's going to kill me, she thought, oddly calm. He's taller and stronger and really pissed, and he's going to kill me. "You bitch!" Cole shouted. "I should have you fired! Then I wouldn't have to see your ugly face! We're running a ranch, not a freak show!" Cole was jerked back suddenly. Asher grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm around behind him. He flailed wildly, but he couldn't break Asher's grip. Sera stared at them both, her heart pounding against her ribs. "That's no way to treat a lady," Asher murmured, his voice soft and deadly. Asher wrapped the fingers of his free hand in Cole's hair and pulled his head back. Then he marched Cole out of the dining hall, with all of the staff following behind him. Even Sera couldn't resist going with them, but she lagged in the back, with one hand covering her cheek. Cole's remarks had hurt. All her time spending thickening her skin, but it still hurt. She leaned against the barn when Asher stopped beside it and tossed Cole into the muck pile. "Back with the rest of the shit, where you belong," Asher growled. He turned, tipping his hat to the crowd, then headed back to the dining hall. Most of the employees followed, talking quietly amongst themselves. Sera didn't want to join them. She waited until they were all in the dining hall, then ran off to her cabin. What will happen when Mr. Ralston finds out about this? she wondered. The thought made her ill. Sera was really beginning to enjoy staying here. She jerked the cabin door open and threw herself onto the bed with a sigh of mixed frustration and sorrow. How do I always end up on the outside, looking in? she wondered, propping her head up in her hands. She knew by now that a lot of people would avoid her due to the way she looked. And truth to tell, Sera spent a lot of time pushing people away from her. Still, she tried to be inconspicuous, to stay out of the way of other people, and yet she still managed to get trampled underfoot, it seemed. I wonder if I'm going to be sent home for this, she thought, biting her lip. I... I don't want to go, really, but... maybe that would be best... ------- Asher stood on the front porch of the ranch house, waiting for Mr. Ralston to come out. No doubt he would soon; Cole had stomped in there half an hour ago. He wasn't worried for himself, though. This wasn't the first time he and Cole had knocked heads, and Mr. Ralston had never fired him yet. Not that he was really getting paid. However, Asher was concerned for Sera. She'd been here not even two weeks. And she was standing up for me, he thought. And Cole said that... that... I could kill him for it! No one deserved to be talked to that way. The door swung open at long last and Mr. Ralston limped out onto the porch. He took one look at Asher and smiled broadly. He leaned heavily on his cane, standing to one side and allowing Cole to stomp on by. Spoiled brat, Asher thought, fighting a scowl. He has everything he could possibly want but it doesn't stop him from trying to take from other people. "Don't look so upset, boy," Mr. Ralston said, in his soft, slightly raspy voice. "I won't fire her." "It was Cole's fault," Asher growled. "I should have beat him for what he said to her!" Mr. Ralston chuckled. "From what I heard, she did that herself. Too bad I missed that." He heaved a heavy sigh. "You two are really just too much." "What is that supposed to mean?" Asher demanded, frowning. "You wanted to hit him for what he said to her," Mr. Ralston explained. "She hit him for what he said to you. I know all the details, Asher. My employees are honest with me, even if my grandson isn't. Now, I've got a young lady to talk to." Asher watched him limp off, feeling stunned. He's too perceptive for his own good, he thought, stepping down from the porch. I guess I don't have to worry about Sera, then. He felt something in him settle, now that he knew she wouldn't be leaving. I would never have thought that I'd find her again, Asher thought as he started down to the barn. I think it would be a real loss if I never got the chance to know her... ------- Sera stared at the ceiling of the cabin. She couldn't sleep and Candace wasn't back yet. Probably with Cole in his private cabin, she thought. I can't believe she didn't stand up for me! But Asher... he'd been amazing. She closed her eyes, a smile creeping onto her face. There was a good chance that this would be her last night here, but she didn't mind so much. It was nice to have a hero for once, Sera thought. He's hot enough as it is, then he stands up for me like a knight in shining armor... it's too much! A faint knock on the cabin door made her jump. Candace must have forgotten her key, she thought, walking over to the door and pulling it open. To her surprise, Mr. Ralston was standing outside. Sera felt her heart sink. He wasn't even going to wait until tomorrow to get rid of her. She stepped back to allow him in, then sat down on her bed, staring at her toes. What has gotten into me? she wondered. I should really want to leave this place. It brings back too many memories, but... I don't want to be uprooted again, either. "Don't look so down, young lady," Mr. Ralston said, smiling at her reassuringly. "I'm not going to fire you." Sera lifted her head and stared at him, surprised. "You're not?" "No," Mr. Ralston told her. "For one thing, although I do give you girls a small stipend, you aren't technically employees." He paused, grinning. "And from what I understand, Cole got what he deserved. I just wanted to make certain that you were okay." "I'm all right," Sera said quietly. "Asher kept him from hurting me..." "What Asher did was very nice," Mr. Ralston agreed, "but I don't think he kept Cole from hurting you." Sera looked down, feeling her cheeks heat. I thought I was used to this by now, she thought. I really thought it didn't bother me anymore. Tears threatened to leak out from beneath her lashes, but she forced them away. She had not cried in years and she wasn't about to start up again now. Crying doesn't change anything, Sera thought. It won't make people like me or accept me. Mr. Ralston was standing by the door, holding it open, getting ready to leave. He paused for a moment and smiled at her sadly. "Trust Asher," Mr. Ralston said. "He's good with nervous young fillies." "I'm not a horse!" Sera retorted, scowling. "And I don't need him, or anyone else!" Mr. Ralston turned the full force of his gaze on her. "Maybe he's not as good with people as he is with horses. I'll admit to that. But he's got a way with horses, no matter how wild or mistrustful, and you, my nervous young filly, are no exception." What the hell!? Sera thought, slamming her fist down on the bed and glaring at the closing door. This isn't a game of Matchmaker! She flopped down on the bed with a heavy sigh. Really, she was making too much of this. Mr. Ralston was only encouraging her to make friends and trust people again. Him and every therapist I've had since the accident, she thought, scowling. What makes them think I need friends? I don't mind being alone. Sera had always been a bit of an outcast; a girl got used to it, after awhile. Grumbling to herself, she crawled beneath the covers. For several long hours she tossed and turned, trying to sleep. At once point she heard Candace creep up and before too long her friend was asleep. Sera, on the other hand, was wide awake. As the night wore on, and she didn't even doze, she got more and more frustrated. Finally she sat up, kicking away the covers, and got out of bed. She shoved her feet into her boots, quickly tied the laces, then crept out of the cabin. Why am I being quiet for her? Sera wondered. She certainly didn't try to be quiet for me. It was dark, for the most part, but not pitch; it was around midnight, no doubt, and there was enough light for her to see a little. She moved quietly along, or tried. The grass seemed to crunch rather noisily beneath her feet. Movement caught Sera's eyes, and she ducked behind one of the few trees dotting the field between the cabins and the barn. Bracing herself against the trunk, she peered curiously into the front paddock, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dark. It was Asher; she was almost positive. He stood in the middle of the paddock with his hands outstretched. The black mustang was tearing around the paddock in an energetic frenzy. He's amazing! Sera thought, although she wasn't quite certain she was thinking about the horse. Glancing up, she saw a low, sturdy tree branch just above her head. Moving slowly and carefully so she wouldn't make too much noise, she climbed into the tree, and perched in a wide U formed by two thick branches. Sera wrapped her arms around one of the branches for support and watched, entranced. The black began to gallop in circles around Asher. The empty night air carried faint murmurs; Asher was speaking to him, but she couldn't make out what he was saying. It doesn't matter, she thought, watching this is enough. Slowly the black's circles became smaller and smaller, until Asher could touch him. Sera watched with bated breath as he ran his hands along the stallion's coat. He reached up as the horse passed again, and wrapped his fingers in the black's mane. Using the horse's momentum, Asher pulled himself onto the Mustang's back. It took all her control not to cry out in joy. Sera leaned forward, keeping her firm grip on the trunk so that she wouldn't fall. Without saddle or bridle, Asher stayed perfectly balanced on the black. He leaned over the stallion's withers as horse and rider galloped swiftly around the paddock. Never in her life had she seen anything quite like it. Sera could ride without a saddle, and she imagined she could ride without a bridle, but she wasn't certain if she would look as calm and at ease. Asher never so much as wobbled. It felt like a dream. She leaned against the trunk of the tree, consumed with the vision of Asher and the black Mustang. When the great beast finally came to a halt and Asher slipped off his back, Sera felt a keen sense of disappointment. I could watch that forever, she thought. Now she watched horse and man walk together for long moments. The scene was so peaceful that she felt her eyelids drooping. She forced herself to stay awake until Asher had left the paddock and headed up to his cabin Feeling like she might fall asleep on her feet, Sera dropped down from the tree. She paused to glance back at the paddock where the black mustang gazed. I could do that too, she thought fiercely, I know I could! Rubbing at her eyes, she staggered back to the cabin and tumbled into bed. Candace was still fast asleep, but she wasn't worried about waking her, anyway. I could do that... Sera thought sleepily as she began to drift off, but not when I'm falling asleep... ------- Sera grumbled under her breath as she ran a soft brush along Buster's coat. She could hear Mrs. Caroll's shrill voice behind her but she tried to ignore it. It was hard to say which one of them was unhappier about the fact that she had been assigned to help the woman. I told Asher that she hates me, Sera thought, dropping the brush into the open tack box. I told him so. It hadn't stopped him from assigning her to Mrs. Caroll's horse, though. And here I'd begun to think of him as a nice person, she thought, rolling her eyes. "I told Mr. Ralston that he ought to send the girl away," Mrs. Caroll was saying. "The other one seems nice enough, but this one has 'felon' written all over her! No doubt poor Candace wouldn't even be here if it weren't for her." "And she hit Cole!" the woman beside her added, frowning. "I don't understand why Mr. Ralston didn't fire her right then! Cole is his grandson!" "She isn't really an employee," Mrs. Caroll reminded the other woman. "She has a lot of nerve, taking advantage of an old man's kindness!" Oh, just shut up, Sera thought. Why are people so... so petty? She retrieved a saddle from the tack room and staggered back to the stall with it. Mrs. Caroll usually rode English, but today she'd insisted upon a Western saddle. This thing has got to weigh a good seventy-five pounds, she thought, as she heaved it up onto a saddle horse. She retrieved a bridle and a scratchy saddle blanket, and brought those back as well. Sera closed her ears, or tried to, as she tacked Buster up. As she was turning to get the saddle, she noticed that Mrs. Caroll and her friend had gone suspiciously quiet. The saddle as also gone. Sera felt someone brush past her and turned to see Asher setting the saddle on Buster's back. Mrs. Caroll and her friend were glaring, but he seemed completely unconcerned. He reached out and ruffled her hair when he'd finished, earning himself an indignant scowl. "You shouldn't lift such a heavy saddle by yourself," Asher told her quietly. "Call me for help next time." "What if you're busy?" Sera asked, frowning. "Call me anyway," Asher answered simply, shrugging. "I don't want you getting hurt, Sera." He smiled at her, a small, warm smile that made her turn red to the tips of her ears. Asher tipped his hat to Mrs. Caroll and her friend, then left the stable. Sera turned back to Buster and began cinching his saddle in place. For a moment or two the women were quiet, as if too stunned to speak. Then they started up again, worse than before. If you don't want me getting hurt, Sera thought, why the hell did you just give them even more reason to be nasty to me? ------- Chapter 4: At Night Asher studied the food choices set out on the table for breakfast. I wonder what she likes, he thought, as he took two apples from a basket full of them and set them on his tray. There was also a plate of toast, another plate with sausage and bacon on it, and another with scrambled eggs. There were little plastic containers of apple juice, orange juice, and milk; Asher took one of each and an extra apple juice for himself. He ignored the curious glances as he carried the tray out of the dining hall. He found Sera as she was leaving the stable. She paused at the tap on the side of the barn and turned it on to wash her hands. She's taking better care of herself, Asher thought, as he watched her. Sera's hair, which was pulled into a loose, sideways ponytail to keep her face covered, was brushed until it shone. She was putting on a little weight, too, but her too large clothing still made her remind him of a Mustang. Sera looked up when she heard him approach. She eyed the tray curiously, her eyebrows raising. "Hungry?" Asher asked, holding up the tray. She continued to eye him skeptically. "What's the ulterior motive?" "No ulterior motive," Asher said, sighing. "Just eat something, okay?" Sera just shrugged, but she did follow him into the stable office and sit down wit him. She was silent as they ate, focusing intently on the food. Asher watched her, pleased to see that she was no longer simply picking at her food. Between the two of them they finished everything, including the juice and milk. He'd always had a healthy appetite, especially with the country air and all the hard work he did. Sera had been working just as hard and sometimes he was amazed that she made it through each day, with how little she ate. Is it grief, Asher wondered, or has she always been that way? "Guess it's time to get to work," Sera said quietly, when they'd finished. She looked up at him. "You didn't put me on the schedule with Mrs. Caroll again, did you?" Asher winced. "Sera, that wasn't my choice. Cole's been sticking his nose in lately..." "Great," Sera muttered, rising to her feet. "Why? Why doesn't Mr. Ralston do something about it?" "I didn't realize you hadn't said something to him," Asher told her. "I'll speak to him, if you like. I know you don't know him very well..." He would have expected a refusal from her. Instead Sera looked up at him and smiled, just a small smile. Despite her scars, he thought she was really pretty when she smiled. Asher watched her flit out of the office and heard her footsteps as she disappeared down the aisle. I suppose I should take that as a yes, he decided, picking up the tray. I should have said something before now, anyway. I hate when Cole messes in my job. It was just that sometimes it was simply easier to ignore it. ------- It was the first time in Sera's life that she could remember fried chicken being so delicious. Or mashed potatoes and corn on the cob, for that matter. She'd worked hard today, as she did every day, but for some reason there had been some extra... enthusiasm in her work. Even though she had to help Mrs. Caroll again today, she'd felt oddly cheerful. And now Sera was so hungry. She was licking butter from her corn on the cob off her fingers when Candace arrived, late. "Where've you been?" Sera asked her as she sat down. "None of your business," Candace grumbled. "Oh, for cripes sake, Sera, use a napkin! That's disgusting!" Sera shrugged and wiped her hands on her shorts. "I don't care. I'm not aiming for Miss America here, you know." "Obviously," Candace muttered, rolling her eyes. What's got her so cranky? Sera wondered, blinking at her friend in confusion. I'm sure she just came from being with Cole, so why... ? Loud laughter from across the cafeteria interrupted her train of thought. She looked that way and saw Cole, surrounded by a group of women. One of them, a pretty, petite brunette, was leaning close to him, hanging on every word he said. Sera glanced at Candace, her eyebrows raise. She can't really be surprised by this, she thought. "He says she's the granddaughter of one of Mr. Ralston's business partners," Candace explained, scowling. "He insists that he's just making sure she has a nice stay." Yeah, I'll just bet he is, Sera thought. There was no talking to Candace when she was in this mood, so she simply rose and tossed out her plate and cup. She wanted to get a shower in before she climbed into bed. Tonight she had something planned, but she couldn't do it if she didn't have at least a short nap. Her shower at least was private, since most people showered before dinner. Even Asher, Sera thought, although... I didn't see him at dinner. He didn't often eat in the cafeteria, but she'd kind of hoped she'd see him. If there's one thing she hadn't been expecting, it was him bringing her breakfast that morning. And he gave me the key to the shower house, Sera thought, shivering as she stepped beneath the hot spray of water. Why is he being so nice to me, of all people? Maybe he felt sorry for her. The last thing she wanted was anyone's pity, but she supposed it did have its advantages. Like being able to take a shower alone, without people around who would stare at her scars. When she finally crawled into bed, she was still completely dressed, with her boots waiting on the floor right beside the bed. She wasn't all that surprised when Candace came in early. Sera closed her eyes and let herself drift off to sleep for awhile, so by the time she woke up, her friend was asleep and the moon was up, shining in through the window next to her bed. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost midnight. Later than I wanted, Sera thought, slipping out of bed, but this'll have to do. The ranch was still and silent, aside from the faint chirping of crickets and the occasional whisper of wind through the trees. The stables were a dark shadow looming in front of her. Sera made her way quickly and quietly down to them and slipped inside. The lights were on, but fortunately there was no one in the stable office. Still, she stepped carefully as she made her way down to the stall where the black Mustang was kept. He was awake and shifting restlessly in his stall, shaking his mane and snorted. "Hello there," Sera crooned, reaching out a hand to him. "Beautiful boy..." The stallion came forward and sniffed curiously at her hand. Horses had always liked the smell of her and he was no exception. Then again, I usually smell just like them, Sera thought wryly, as she slipped into the stall. The stallion sidestepped nervously, but she just continued to murmur to him soothingly. His ears flickered forward. This is easy, she thought, cupping his muzzled in her hands. I've done this sort of thing more times than I can count. Still, Eagle had been gentle and calm, and this horse was high-strung. Sera ran her hands along his neck and over his back. Despite being small, he was a strong, muscular animal. Eagle Flight had been like that too, which was why he'd been such a powerful jumper. It's been so long, she thought, leaning against the stallion's side. If I could only just... She bit her lip and stepped away, peering out over the stall door. Sera saw no one at either end of the aisle. At least I know I'll have no witnesses, she thought, grasping that stallion's mane. This certainly isn't my brightest move ever. Still, Sera thought she could keep the situation under control. The stallion was small enough that she could pull herself up onto his back. The tricky part was getting her leg over, and as she hung there, trying to be careful, he started to get upset. "Easy, beautiful," Sera soothed. "Easy..." The stallion was having none of it. He sidestepped and she was forced to drop back to her feet. Sera gathered herself to try again, but she never got the chance. The stall door opened and she found herself being dragged roughly out of the stall. Uh oh, she thought, staring up at Asher as he quickly latched the stall door. I think I might be in trouble now... Even that time when Cole had insulted her, he hadn't looked this angry. Sera struggled, trying to pull away, as he dragged her out into the night. "Let go!" she growled, tugging futilely. "Damnit, Asher, you're hurting me!" He turned on her then. "You're lucky it's me," he snapped, "and not my horse! What the hell were you doing!?" "I um... I just wanted... I... I..." Sera stammered, cowering. She'd never seen him so angry. "What were you thinking?" Asher demanded. "You could have gotten killed!" "I... I know that..." Sera said quietly, looking away. "I don't know what came over me, I just... it's been so long since I've wanted... well, much of anything, really..." It was the closest she'd come to crying in years. I knew it was stupid, she thought, but I still just wanted to... I don't even know. Sera gave a start when Asher grabbed her suddenly and pulled her into his arms. Suddenly her heart was pounding so loudly she was certain he must be able to hear it. She felt his fingers tunnel in her hair, cradling the back of her head. Oh, hell, Sera thought, sinking against him. As if things weren't crappy enough already. The last thing she needed was more complicated emotions. "You scared me, Sera," Asher murmured against her cheek. "Don't ever, ever do that again." "I... I won't," Sera stammered, pushing him away. She was glad it was dark out, so he couldn't see her blushing. "Promise me," Asher said, frowning down at her. "I promise," Sera swore. "I really won't, I promise." He looked relieved, and no longer angry. Not wanting to anger him again, she didn't protest when he took her by the elbow and started leading her back up to her cabin. Asher was silent the whole way back and she found herself wondering what he was thinking. He's the only one here who doesn't look at me like I'm a criminal and a sideshow freak, Sera thought. Well, aside from Mr. Ralston and Candace. If there was one thing she'd always appreciated about Candace, it was that her friend never flinched at the sight of her scars. Sera lay awake for awhile after Asher dropped her off. She stared up at the ceiling of the cabin, thinking over the way Asher had reacted. The way he'd held her been kind of... nice. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd been held. I'll be leaving in five months, she thought, rolling onto her side. So there's no point in getting attached to anyone, least of all him. Still, there was a smile on Sera's face as she drifted off to sleep. ------- He'd known she'd be awake early, despite being wandering around in the middle of the night. When Sera paused in front of the fence he was sitting on and stared at him, he smiled at her. Asher held the reins of a big paint. The horse was one he used for a lot of his beginning students, because even though he was large, he was gentle and calm. He tossed the reins to her, then jumped down off the fence. "What's this?" Sera asked, frowning at him. "Why is War out?" "I think it's past time you started riding again," Asher told her. Sera's eyebrows raised. "On him? You use him for beginners!" "And for out-of-shape veterans," Asher said, grinning. "Need a leg up?" She glowered at him, which just made him grin wider. If she was so offended by the fact that he thought she needed to relearn on a horse like War Paint, then she'd relearn quickly. Asher had always figured her for a fighter, which was why he stood back while she tried to struggle into the saddle. She's, what, five foot five? he thought, fighting back laughter. And he's a good seventeen hands. Which meant that he was taller than her at the withers. Shaking his head, Asher finally just picked her up by the waist and hefted her into the saddle. Sera squeaked in surprise, her eyes widening in the same way a five-year-old girl's did when she realized how high up a horse's back could be. I really should have told her to wear jeans, Asher thought, as he began adjusting the stirrups for her. Although... The bare skin beneath his hand as he pushed her leg back was soft and warm. He found his eyes traveling upward, wondering if her skin was this soft all the way up. "Something wrong?" Sera asked, her eyebrows raising. Asher backed away. "No... no, nothing's wrong. All right, let's get started." She was definitely out of shape. He had to keep reminding her to keep her heels down and her shoulders back. Sera was nothing if not determined, though. Her hands are just like I remember them, Asher thought, smiling to himself. Steady, gentle... really, she has such lovely hands... And he was getting carried away now. He hardly knew her. Yet here he was, speculating upon things he simply should not be. And his reaction last night had startled him. He'd wanted to be angry with her for pulling such a stupid stunt, but once he'd seen her face, all he could feel was relief. The look on her face had been what gave Asher his idea to get her riding again. She was like him; she belonged on horseback. Unfortunately for him, she hadn't been on horseback in much too long. "Are you a person or a sack of potatoes?" Asher called. "Get those shoulders back! And stop bouncing all over the place!" "I'm tired!" Sera called back, as she pulled the horse down to a walk. "And hungry!" Asher glanced over his shoulder and saw people filing into the cafeteria for breakfast. They had to have been out here for an hour already. He waved for her to come over and together they got the horse untacked and brushed down before heading up to breakfast. Asher didn't really like eating in the cafeteria with everyone else; they were noisy and nosy. But he'd stay today if Sera stayed. "I'm going to hate you tomorrow," Sera groaned, as she piled scrambled eggs onto her plate. "Actually, I'm not feeling too warm towards you now." Asher chuckled. "Don't worry, you'll work it off." The look she shot him was priceless. He reached over and ruffled her hair, and in return she pushed his hat down over his eyes. Laughing, Asher pushed the brim of his hat back up, gathered up his tray, and followed her to an empty table. Looks like maybe we can be friends after all, he thought, setting his tray down next to hers. He glanced at Sera, hiding a grin as she struggled down onto the bench, wincing and groaning. After her muscles readjust, Asher decided, swallowing a laugh. Until then I'll be the last person she's feeling friendly towards. ------- "I wish she had come to me herself." Asher pushed the brim of his hat away from his eyes and shrugged. He sat in Mr. Ralston's office, enjoying the cool air from the AC. It had been a long day today and he couldn't imagine how long it had been for Sera, who was no doubt still sore from her first lesson this morning. I should tell Mr. Ralston about that, Asher thought, smiling to himself. He'll like to hear that she's riding again. "Cole is your grandson," Asher reminded him. "She might still have a problem saying something... but I don't. I don't want him interfering in my work." Mr. Ralston chuckled. "Hmm... that's strange, Asher, you used to be so good at ignoring him," he said, his pale eyes sparkling with amusement. "What could possibly have changed?" "Don't give me that," Asher grumbled. "Look... I need my workers to be capable of doing their jobs, right? Sera can't do that if Mrs. Caroll won't let her, and Cole keeps assigning her to that bit... to that lovely woman." "I think you had it right the first time, Asher," Mr. Ralston told him, grinning in delight. "Don't worry, my boy. I'll have a talk with Cole. He really shouldn't be sticking his nose in anyway." Mr. Ralston sighed and rolled his eyes. He always said that Cole thought himself far more privileged than he really was. Too bad Cole's father can't see it, Asher thought, frowning. Every now and then Mr. Ralston went out of the country on business and his son took over on the ranch. For some reason Ralston II didn't much like Asher. Whatever his reasons, it caused a lot of trouble when Mr. Ralston was away, especially since Cole so loved to stir up so much of it. "I'm glad to hear she's riding again," Mr. Ralston said quietly. "I don't know how you do it, boy, but you always manage to ease these nervous young fillies." Asher grinned. "The nervous young fillies I can ease usually have four legs, not two," he pointed out. "Sera wanted to ride again or she never would have gone for it. I think she just needed someone to make the suggestion for her... so she wouldn't feel like..." "Like she was betraying the memory of what happened?" Mr. Ralston asked, his bushy eyebrows raising. Asher nodded. As usual, Mr. Ralston was much more perceptive than any man had a right to be. I understand where she's coming from, Asher thought, but Sera needs to realize that it's okay to move on. Today had been the first step. Tomorrow, no matter how much she protested, he would get her up on War Paint for another lesson. It was somewhat slow going, bringing Sera back to the bright, lively young woman she'd been before, but Asher would succeed, one way or another. ------- Chapter 5: The Water Trough and What Happens After If there was a muscle somewhere between her neck and her toes that didn't ache horribly, Sera couldn't find it. She would have thought she would be doing well after two weeks, but Asher was a total slave driver and she always woke up the next morning sore as could be. I'm getting strong again, though, she thought, as she finished scraping the last of the scrambled eggs from her plate. Before long I'll be back to the way I was. Well, at least as far as riding was concerned. Today, at least they had a break; if you could call washing muddy horses a break. It had rained last night and some of their charges often spent the night outdoors. As far as Sera's experiences went, horses seemed to have this natural inclination to roll in the mud. If it was there, they would roll in it. That was why, not long after breakfast, she found herself hauling a bucket of warm, soapy water into the stable. Asher was already inside, clipping crossties onto Buster's halter. You couldn't tell by looking at him now, but Buster was usually a light gray horse. "Get to work," Asher told her gruffly, as she set the bucket down. "We've got a long day ahead of us, from the looks of things." She stared after him, a little surprised by his abrupt demeanor this morning. Well, fine, Sera thought, turning her attention to Buster. If he wants to be like that then fine. So why did it hurt? Grumbling to herself, she began the process of "de-mudding", as they had called it back home. First she had to use a stiff brush on some of the more dried on mud. I'm going to look like the creature from the Black Lagoon when I get done, Sera thought, wrinkling her nose as clumps of dried mud showered down on her. Buster, at least, was cooperative. Granted they were both sopping wet by the time she was done, but it was a success. Sera threw a light blanket over him and put him in his stall for the time being. She wasn't about to let him outside while he was still wet. Feeling satisfied with herself, she wiped her hands off on her shorts and looked up. Oh no, Sera thought, groaning inwardly. Asher had entered the stable leading Radical. "No way," she said, shaking her head. "There is just no way." "You've got the easy job," Asher told her, handing off Radical's lead to her. "Believe me." She glared after him as he headed out of the stable again. I didn't see you in here washing any horses, she thought, as she secured the crossties to Radical's halter. Just what is he doing, anyway? Sighing, Sera got back to work. Radical was not nearly as cooperative as Buster. He danced sideways while she tried to brush him and she had to move quickly to keep her feet out from under his hooves. And when she changed sides he tried to bite her. "It's your own fault," Sera scolded, dancing backward even though the crossties kept him from reaching her. She was brushing mud from his mane. "If you wouldn't roll in it, I wouldn't have to be brushing it out." Her one solace was that Radical liked the warm water. That didn't change the fact that she hauled in about six buckets per horse, at least. By the time Radical was finished, Sera was tired, damp, and dirty. She put him in his stall and dropped down onto the tackbox nearby. This was not how I was looking forward to spending my day, she thought, running her fingers through her hair. Oh, ugh... I feel so gross! She hoped Asher wasn't about to come into the stable with yet another horse. Why is he being so cranky today, anyway? she wondered, chewing absently on her lower lip. Her answer came a moment later, when the door of the stable rolled open and in came the great black stallion, nearly dragging Asher behind him. He'd been given a bath too, and apparently he wasn't happy about it. Shaking his mane in irritation, the black planted his hooves and refused to go into the stall Asher had opened. I'm not getting involved in this, Sera decided, inching away on the tackbox without really realizing what she was doing. It's like getting in between two lovers or something. Never before had she seen Asher have this much trouble. She watched, and when the black turned its head, catching Asher's hat with its teeth and pulling it off, she burst out laughing. She was still laughing when the horse was, at last, in its stall and Asher had his hat back. He stalked down the aisle towards her, looking more irritation than she'd ever seen him look, but Sera couldn't stop herself. She wasn't trying to be mean; it was just so wonderful to see calm, unruffled Asher as humanly ruffled as the rest of the world. It made her like him more-despite the way he scowled at her. "I'm glad you think it's so funny," Asher grumbled, pushing the brim of his hat down over his eyes. Sera swallowed a giggle. "Well um... you must admit... it was amusing..." "I'm glad you think so," Asher muttered. "Come on, let's get some lunch. Then we got a few more to do." Sera groaned. She allowed him to drag her up off the tackbox, only a tad less reluctant to get up than the black had been to go in his stall. Lunch was a far-too-short break, as far as she was concerned. And afterwards it was back to washing, brushing, and getting soaked and dirty. Sera's one consolation was that Radical had been the most difficult charge she'd had to deal with. The others fussed a little but for the most part accepted their baths docilely. It was a good deal later when she finally finished. Grumbling beneath her breath, Sera carried her last bucket of dirty, soapy water out of the stable. She found Asher sitting just outside, propped up against the wall of the stable, mopping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Without his hat she could see that his hair was a sweaty, tangled mess-as her own no doubt was-but he still looked good. That isn't fair, Sera thought, pausing a moment and setting her bucket down. He looks amazing and I probably look like I just crawled out of the dung heap. "So you're finally done," Asher said, glancing up at her. Sera frowned. "I don't know what your problem is," she said, "but it's really starting to get on my nerves!" "I hate bath day," Asher muttered. "And now we had an extra bath day. Near two dozen muddy horses and I had only you to help me." "Well, don't take it out on me!" Sera retorted. She planted her hands on her hips and glowered at him. "I did the best I could! Why are you being such a... such a jerk!?" Asher glared back. "Why are you pestering me!?" She couldn't believe it. I've had just as hard a day as he has, Sera thought, reaching down to pick up her bucket. He has no right... absolutely none! She was just so tired. Her head ached, her body ached, her eyes ached. Tears of frustration stung her eyes. Without really thinking about what she was doing, Sera upended the bucket over Asher's head. He yelped and sputtered, jumping to his feet and knocking the empty bucket out of her hands. For a moment they stared at each other; then her world inverted as he lifted her up and slung her over his shoulder. "Hey!" Sera shrieked, kicking her feet. "Hey! Asher... put me down! Asher!" There were people making their way up to dinner who stopped to watch as Asher carried her around to the front of the barn. Sera couldn't see where he was carrying her to, but she figured it out quickly enough. She flailed and struggled, but she wasn't able to free herself from Asher's grip before it was too late. The world did another stomach-lurching flip, and suddenly she was sitting in the water trough up to her neck. Ewwwwww, Sera thought, wrinkling her nose. It just doesn't get much grosser than this. Gathering what dignity she could, she rose and climbed out of the water trough. Some people were still watching, all of them apparently amused, but they moved on quickly enough when Asher turned to glare at them. Then he turned back to her and they stared at each other again. It struck Sera how ridiculous they both must look, sopping wet and messy, and she had to swallow a laugh. To her surprise, Asher flashed a wan smile at her. "Now that we're both cooled off," he said, pushing his hair back from his face, "maybe an apology is in order." Sera blinked. "An apology?" "I'm sorry," Asher said, smiling gently. "I... shouldn't have been such an ass. I guess I had a rough night and then this morning, finding out that we had to bathe these beasties... well, I shouldn't have taken it out on you." "Well, well, well," Sera said, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "So Asher James isn't perfect after all." Asher grinned. "I never said I was," he shot back, laughter edging his voice. "Stay here... I'll be back in a second." Perplexed, she watched him trot off towards the stable. A few minutes later he was back, his hat retrieved, leading the black Mustang. Fascinated, Sera watched him mount up easily, even without a saddle. A thrill raced up her spine as he steered the horse over to her and held a hand down to her. Full of nervous anticipation, she took his hand and let him pull her up behind him. What are we doing? Sera wondered, closing her arms around Asher's waist. Where are we... whoa! She forced her heels down and tightened her knees as Asher wheeled the black and set him off at a canter, away from the stable and paddocks, the ranch house, and all the guest cabins. Sera closed her eyes, enjoying the sting of the wind against her cheeks, as the black covered the ground between the main buildings and the beach in minutes. Asher didn't stop the horse when they reached the beach, either. Snorting in delight, the black plunged into the ocean, kicking surf up so high that it soaked his hindquarters and much of Sera herself. Holding to Asher tightly, she laughed as the Mustang played around in the water. She'd seen horses do a lot of funny things, and would probably see them do a lot more in years to come, but this was a first. It wasn't until he paused, in the water up to his knees, that Sera realized what he was about to do. Asher must have realized too; he jumped off and grabbed her hand, dragging her with him. They scrambled out of the way just in time, for the black had decided to lay down and wallow in the rising and receding water. "What is he doing?" Sera asked, leaning on Asher, breathless with laughter and exuberance. "Beats the hell out of me," Asher answered. "For all he pretends to be the most dignified creature on earth, he's awfully goofy." She looked up at him. Even though she was aware of how terrible she must have looked, dirty and tired, with her hair wet and plastered back so that her scars showed, she didn't care. Sera grinned broadly up at him, but her smile faltered when she noticed the look in his eyes. He has lovely eyes, she thought, suddenly finding it hard to breathe. She'd dreamed of those eyes looking at her with that tenderness, but the reality of it made her quiver. By the time his mouth settled over hers, Sera was trembling from head to toe. She'd never been kissed before. Horses had taken up years of her life, and then the accident, after which most people couldn't even look at her. Once she'd thought no man would ever want to kiss her, but Asher's lips, gently coaxing hers open, convinced her otherwise. Sera shivered as she felt the tip of his tongue brush hers. His hand rested against her back, and she could feel the heat of his body through the thin, cotton layer of her clothing. Asher pulled back and stared down at her. She could feel her cheeks turning red and she had to pull away from him. Her mind reeling in uncertainty, Sera followed the black as he clambered out of the water. She heard soft sloshing as Asher trailed them both onto the beach. Now I don't know what to do, she thought, catching hold of the black's reins and leaning against his shoulder. What do I do now? For once she found herself wishing for Candace's advice. "Mr. Ralston hasn't told you about him, has he?" Asher asked, coming around to the horse's other side. Sera frowned. "The horse?" "Eagle," Asher said quietly. "Midnight Eagle." She stared at him. Smiling slightly, Asher nodded. The man her parents had bought Eagle Flight from had told them he'd sired one foal, but she would never have thought... Stunned, Sera ran her hand down over Eagle's withers. She hadn't thought about that in so long. It was much easier to forget that Eagle Flight had ever existed. And now here is a living reminder, she thought, taking a step back. I don't know if I can handle this... "It's all right, Sera," Asher said, his voice quiet and soothing. "We can talk about it when you're ready." Sera smiled timidly. "Thank you, Asher," she said, reaching over and placing her hand over his, where it rested on Eagle's withers. "Thank you..." ------- One sleepless night had been bad enough. Asher was annoyed at himself for being such an ass to Sera, too. But in a roundabout way, it was her fault, since she was what kept him up all night. The night before he'd been thinking about her, dreaming about her, wondering what it would be like to kiss her. Insane, really, since he hardly knew her. Asher wasn't generally the lusting type, though, so it seemed there had to be some sort of emotion here. And then he had kissed her. For a moment he'd thought there'd been a spark, something wondrous that would grow over time. When Sera had turned away from him, though, he found himself in doubt. Does she even like me? Asher wondered, as he wandered down towards the dining hall. Oh, hell, I sound like I'm fifteen. He'd been avoiding relationships mostly, for the last few years. For a long time he'd felt satisfied with the conclusion that living for himself was the only way to live. Until Sera had walked into his life, and Asher had realized he'd been no more living than she had. A commotion drew his attention. They put the posters up already? he thought, frowning. It's a little earlier than usual. Every year, at the end of the summer, there was an endurance race. Around here it was popular for the rich folks to hire someone to train a horse for endurance running so they could enter it in the race. Once in a while Asher considered entering, but he always decided against it in the end. Standing apart from the crowd, watching curiously, was Sera. As usual her hair was wound into a loose braid, hanging over her shoulder, some of it left free to cover her cheek. She was absolutely lovely, despite the battered shorts, t-shirt, and boots she was wearing. Asher halted beside her and glanced down at her, his eyes shaded from the morning sun by the brim of his hat. For all the scars marred her pretty face, when Sera smiled, she was the loveliest thing he'd ever seen. "Someone's up late," she teased, nudging him gently with her elbow. "I was expecting you to rouse me at dawn for another riding lesson." "Trouble sleeping," Asher grumbled, uncertain how to take her teasing. "I see the wealthy have been stirred into action." "Are you going to enter the race?" Sera asked. "You and Eagle, I mean." Asher snorted. "My rangy little Mustang against their expensive Thoroughbreds? They'd have fits!" "When they lose," Sera said, grinning. Another commotion, louder than that the milling guests were making, arose from the dining hall. Curious, Asher started towards it, and Sera fell into step beside him. They had just reached the door when Candace rushed out, nearly knocking Sera over in her haste to get away. He didn't miss the tears running down her cheeks, though. Uh oh, Asher thought, as he followed Sera inside. Why do I have a bad feeling about this? As soon as he saw Cole, cuddled up at a table with that little brunette, he knew why. Asher made a grab for Sera, but she was already making a beeline for Cole. She hadn't seen the man standing some distance away, talking to one of the guests, but he'd seen her. If Joseph Ralston was here it meant that his father had left on business. Cole's father had never been a nice man, certainly not to Asher, and more than likely he wouldn't be nice to Sera, either. But there was no way to stop her now. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Sera demanded, grabbing Cole's shoulder. He shook her off, glaring at her. "Don't touch me, you freak!" "Shut up!" Sera snapped. "Why are you such an asshole? You can't get away with walking all over people like that!" "Young lady!" Sera jumped; no doubt she hadn't realized that someone was watching her, although how she couldn't was beyond him. The whole room was staring. This is a total disaster, Asher thought, making his way reluctantly over to Cole's table. This is definitely not how I would have wanted her to meet Ralston Jr. Joseph Ralston was a tall man, still thin despite the toll of years, his tidily cut hair salt-and-pepper gray. He approached the table and stared down at Sera, disapproval and distaste etched in every line of his face. "I'd appreciate it if you don't talk to my son that way," Ralston said, his voice deceptively calm. "My father may have been too much of a bleeding heart to get rid of you, Ms. Langley, but believe me, I won't hesitate." ------- Chapter 6: Folly Bernadette Lovejoy was not a mean person. That did not, however, keep her from being a pampered, somewhat spoiled princess. It might not have been such a bad punishment, attending to her every whim, if it weren't for the fact that Cole was with her nearly every waking moment. He'd been the one to make the suggestion to his father, after Sera's outburst. Didn't think it was worth firing her over, Cole had said, and besides, Bernadette really needed the help. Sera couldn't argue with that. Bernadette was shy and skittish around horses, and she was a lousy rider to boot. So it was now her job to teach the young woman how to ride, and to help her get over her fears. Joseph Ralston didn't seem like he thought this was the best solution, but he'd gone along with it for his son's sake. Plus, Bernadette's family is rich, Sera thought, and friends with Mr. Ralston. When she'd asked Asher what she was supposed to do about this, he'd told her to try to make friends with Bernadette. How was anyone's guess; she had absolutely nothing in common with her. But Sera tried her best, which was why she'd been up at an ungodly hour to get in a riding lesson and a shower before heading to breakfast with Cole, Bernadette, and her family. And it was why she was helping Bernadette saddle up a small, docile appaloosa gelding so she could spend the day riding with her and Cole. "This should be fun," Bernadette said enthusiastically, as they led their horses out of the barn. "Don't you think, Seraphim?" Does she have to call me by my full name? Sera wondered, biting back a frustrated growl. Out loud she said, "As long as we don't get lost." "That's what we have you for," Cole said, chuckling softly. "So I hope you don't prove to be a lousy guide." Already irritated, Sera stopped her horse and turned to face him. She was distracted, though, by Asher coming around the side of the barn, leading a fully saddled Eagle. Oh, thank God, she thought, trying to hide her relief. Please, please let him be coming with us. It appeared he was, because he paused long enough to hand her Eagle's reins, then helped Bernadette into the saddle. Cole didn't look too happy about it, but Bernadette smiled warmly down at Asher. On second thought, Sera thought, thrusting the reins back at him, maybe it would have been better if he'd stayed away. She mounted up herself. There was a bit of a longing in her, a wish that she was riding Eagle rather than War Paint. Not that War wasn't a great horse, because he was. I'm getting back into form really fast, Sera thought, as she settled the reins comfortably through her fingers. Why won't he let me ride Eagle? Asher moved up alongside her, and Cole and Bernadette fell in behind. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see that Cole was not at all happy to have Asher along. "I think we'll stay mostly near the trees today," Asher said, taking control of the whole situation without really thinking about it. "It's much too hot to be out in the open sun." "You really know a lot, don't you?" Bernadette gushed, bringing her horse close to Asher's. It's called common sense, Sera thought, rolling her eyes. She'd never disliked Bernadette this much before. Maybe it was because she hadn't been staring up at Asher with her beautiful eyes, in her perfect, beautiful face, while he answered her questions in a very polite, friendly voice, and even smiled. It was a little foolish, but Sera was so distracted, trying not to notice Asher and Bernadette, she didn't notice Joseph Ralston coming towards them until Cole spoke, greeting his father. Oh no, Sera thought, her worries about Asher forgotten. What does he want? "Asher," Ralston said gruffly. He didn't like Asher, but he seemed to at least respect his knowledge. "You know that reptile show that comes through this time of year?" Asher's eyebrows raised. "They're staying at the ranch, aren't they?" he asked. "Mr. Ralston allows them to entertain here, even though... well." "Even though they're dangerous," Ralston finished for him, his expression grim. "One of their snakes got out. A rattler." "What!?" Bernadette shrieked, looking terrified. "It's all right," Ralston soothed, smiling in what Sera was sure he thought was a comforting way. "They're positive it's just in their cabin somewhere. But I'd like you to be careful all the same, while you're out there." Sera stared after him as he walked away; he'd paid about as much attention to her as he would a speck of dust. What she wanted was to demand of Asher just why Mr. Ralston allowed a traveling reptile show to stay at a guest ranch, but she wouldn't do that in front of Cole and Bernadette. I suppose the ranch is open to any guest, she thought, but still, that seems risky to me. Then again, Mr. Ralston probably figured the people running the reptile show would keep their reptiles in their cages or tanks or whatever they used. And the more Sera thought about it, she supposed that to people like Bernadette, this was the 'wild west'; they expected dangerous, poisonous lizards out here, didn't they? She found herself riding point, while Asher, Cole, and Bernadette rode abreast behind her. Cole was about as happy about this whole thing as she was, Sera realized. He became sulky and petulant as Bernadette and Asher talked. I bet he never thought we'd have something in common, she thought, glancing over her shoulder at him. I might feel a little more sympathetic if it weren't for the way he'd treated Candace, though. Candace might have her faults, but she'd always helped Sera out. Her heart was in the right place, even if her methods were rather flawed. "So you trained him yourself?" Bernadette was saying. She was staring wide-eyed at Asher. "But wasn't he wild?" "Well, he wasn't exactly what you'd call tame," Asher admitted, reaching down and patting Eagle's neck. "But I suppose he and I have formed something of a partnership over the years." Bernadette smiled sweetly. "Well, I guess that makes you a real cowboy, doesn't it?" That was apparently the last straw for Cole. Glancing over her shoulder again, Sera saw him stiffen in anger. Oh, what does he care? she thought, rolling her eyes. Bernadette is just another toy to him, anyway. Not that she didn't deserve it. What kind of girl accepted an invitation to go riding with one guy, then spent the whole time flirting with another? Not that I entirely blame her, Sera thought reluctantly. I mean, it is Asher. Who'd want Cole over Asher? But still... Well, Candace had wanted Cole over Asher, but she'd always found her friend's taste in guys a little suspect... "Hey, how about a race?" Cole suggested suddenly, interrupting Sera's thoughts. He was, however, talking to Asher. "My horse against your... pony." "Ooo! A race!" Bernadette cheered, bouncing in her saddle. "That sounds exciting!" Thank god I put her on the world's laziest horse, Sera thought. Out loud she said, "I don't think that's a good idea. Mr. Ralston told us to be careful." Cole snorted. "There's no snake out here," he said. "You heard my father, it's in their cabin. Come on. Unless, of course, you're afraid... Ashley." Don't sink to his level, Sera thought, straining now in the saddle. Don't sink to his level, Asher, don't... She tried to see his face, but it was shadowed by the brim of his hat. Certainly he could never be so irresponsible, right? This was Asher, after all. He isn't a god, she reminded herself sternly. He makes mistakes too... Just not these kinds of mistakes. The other three drew up around Sera, as she had come to a halt, waiting to see what Asher's answer would be. Finally he lifted his head and tilted his hat back; she could see the light of determination in his eyes and her heart sank. "Fine," Asher said, his eyes narrowing on Cole. "If you're in such a mood to eat dust, who am I to argue?" "Down to the shoreline, then," Cole said, grinning broadly. "If your nag can make it that far without dropping dead." Sera could only really gape as Cole and Asher lined their horses up. Bernadette ended up signaling the start of the race. As she watched Cole's long-legged thoroughbred and feisty Eagle charged away, kicking up a cloud of dust that had mostly obscured them in a matter of minutes, Sera couldn't help a feeling of unease. She nudged War Paint gently with the heels of her boots and he stepped up next to Bernadette's gelding. The other girl was still bouncing in the saddle, her brunette curls bouncing along with her. She turned her big blue eyes on Sera. "Isn't this exciting?" Bernadette breathed. "No," Sera muttered, scowling. "It's stupid and macho and so... male!" Bernadette giggled. "Come on, Seraphim. Just relax. Let's follow them... although not quite that fast." Stop calling me that! Sera wanted to scream. She didn't want to follow Bernadette anywhere, but War was used to trails, so he followed the appaloosa without being told. Annoyed, she squeezed the reins, just enough to get her mount to stop; it did him no good anyway, to let him get away with bad behavior. While she was fussing, trying to get War Paint to behave, Bernadette was moving further away. That was when something came slithering out from beneath the underbrush of the cluster of trees next to them. It was hard to say which was louder; the horses' terrified screams, or Bernadette's. Instinctively Sera threw herself across War's withers, turned her head to the side, and grabbed hanks of his mane tight in her hands. She locked her knees tight around his sides as he reared and hung on desperately. Even some of the mellowest horses she knew were badly frightened by snakes and the appaloosa, no matter how lazy it could be, was no exception. But Bernadette did not have a fraction of Sera's skill, and when her mount reared, she slid right off. There was a sickening crunch as she hit the ground that made Sera's stomach turn. War's feet touched the ground, but it wasn't over year. Sera grabbed further up on the reins as Bernadette's appaloosa went whipping by, heading for the safety of the stable. When her horse tried to turn and follow, he found he couldn't lower his head. She did not like using such a hold on a horse's mouth, but that part of her that had remained oddly calm through all of this reminded her that if her horse ran off, there would be no one to help Bernadette. Sera could hear Bernadette's terrified sobbing and, just faintly, the snake's rattling. No doubt the snake was afraid, too, as much as animals got afraid, and was prepared to do when any cornered creature would-not that she had overmuch sympathy for the snake. Finally she got War Paint to settle down, at least enough that he wouldn't run off. Sweat flecked his neck and shoulders; she was feeling pretty sweaty herself, actually. Bernadette was on the ground, her sobs turning into screams. Even from up on War's back, Sera could see it was a horrible break. And there was the snake, its head lifted to stare at Bernadette. "Quiet, Bernadette!" Sera hissed desperately. "Please... you've got to calm down... you've got to stay still!" ------- Eagle kept pace with Cole's thoroughbred easily enough, and Asher hadn't yet let the mustang have his head. He knew this whole race was a stupid idea, but with Sera there, watching him, he hadn't been able to say no. Juvenile, yes, and now that the wind rushing over his face had cleared his head, he realized she probably wasn't going to be terribly impressed, even if he did win. Can't hurt to get away from Bernadette for a bit, though, either, Asher thought, crouching lower over Eagle's withers. Riding like this always made him feel better, even if he'd allowed himself to get stuck spending the day with Cole and his new girlfriend. A scream split the air then, making Cole's thoroughbred skitter sideways and almost fall. Sera! It was the first thought that went through his mind when he heard the scream. Ignoring Cole's struggles to keep his mount on its feet, Asher sat back and squeezed the reins. Eagle slowed reluctantly, obviously confused by his rider's sudden urge to turn around. Even moving slower, the tight half-circle they turned was a dangerous move. Fortunately Eagle was much more sure-footed than Cole's mount and as soon as they were turned around, he was galloping full speed back towards where they had left the girls. It was a struggle to slow Eagle-who was moving even faster than before-once they neared Sera and Bernadette, but there was no choice. Asher could see the trouble before he reached them, and the closer he got, the more he was filled with dread. Sera was still on War Paint, some twenty or thirty paces behind Bernadette, who was on the ground, screaming. There was an extremely agitated rattler on the ground before her. Without stopping to think, Asher slid down from Eagle's back. The snake whipped around. Now what? Asher wondered. He glanced up and saw Sera watching him, her face so white that her scars stood out in horrifying, red relief. Bernadette was still screaming, and he wished she would stop; it was hard to think. The snake at least seemed confused... assuming snakes got confused. He took a step toward it, still not really certain what he was going to do. A moment later he was almost knocked over as Eagle leapt forward, bugling loudly. The snake disappeared beneath trampling hooves and a large cloud of dust. Eagle might not be wild, but he was still a mustang stallion and he knew how to handle dangers. "A... Asher?" Sera called. He looked up into her wide blue eyes. "It's all right," he called back. "Just hold on." He began inching his way around Eagle, who was giving the dead snake a few last stomps. White sweat flecked his dark coat and his nostrils flared. Asher reached over cautiously and patted his nose. "I'm no fan of snakes, either," he assured the horse. Bernadette's screams had died down to piteous whimpers. Glancing down at her, Asher winced; that break was going to be hell to set. He went over to War Paint and reached up, resting his hand over one of Sera's. She jumped a little, and blinked at him, as if only just coming awake. Amazing, he thought, pulling her hand down to his mouth, heedless of the dirt on her fingers. She kept her head pretty well. Color came rushing back into her cheeks as Asher brushed his lips over her knuckles. "Ride back," he murmured, looking up at him. "Having them get an ambulance." Sera nodded. He released her hand and stepped back, giving her room to turn War-who was all too eager to go home-and start back towards the stable. Fortunately they hadn't gone too far when they'd begun the race. Asher watched her for just a moment, then turned his attention back to Bernadette. Eagle was waiting, too, and he gave an impatient snort. Sighing, Asher crouched down in front of Bernadette and carefully slid an arm around her shoulders. She jumped and turned her face up to stare at him, her eyes wide in pain and fear. "I'm going to try to stop the bleeding," Asher told her. "Don't worry, Bernadette. Sera will bring help." ------- Sera sagged against the fence, grateful for the breeze in the night air. She could hear noise from the dining hall, where everyone was using the fact that they were all-for the most part-safe and sound as an excuse to celebrate. Bernadette was still at the hospital and, surprisingly enough, Cole was with her. He'd come back more than an hour after the ambulance had left, leading his very slowly limping mount. Since his father had started at him right away, telling him to get to the hospital and see Bernadette's parents, Cole had done the only thing he could do: he'd handed his mount off to Asher. It was good sense, and Sera might have been impressed, if she weren't so annoyed at them both. Except that Asher had looked pretty heroic, distracting that snake like that. Even if it was Eagle that killed it in the end, Sera thought. The owners of the reptile show had been very upset about their snake, but Joseph Ralston had been completely unsympathetic. For once, she agreed with him. She'd also overheard him-how could anyone miss it?-on the phone, telling his father that they should no longer allow the reptile handlers to stay. A lot of the ranches did, because it provided another entertainment for their guests, but Brookside would become the exception. "Sera?" I'm not turning around, she thought stubbornly. I'm still annoyed at him for acting like such a... guy! She felt a hand on her shoulder and, forgetting herself, turned to look at him. His cowboy hat was tilted back so that she could see his face. Why does he have to be so good-looking? Sera wondered, backing against the fence. Staring up at him, she began to feel a little guilty. She'd been pretty childish today herself, even if she hadn't actually been verbal about it. "You okay?" Asher asked, leaning against the fence next to her. "No, I am not okay," Sera retorted, scowling. "What got into you today? Who were you trying to impress? Bernadette?" Asher shifted uncomfortably and rubbed the back of his neck. "You, actually." "Me?" Sera blinked at him. "Why would you ever think I would be impressed by something so childish?" She wasn't really expecting an answer, but his reaction was astounding nonetheless. Sera gasped as Asher grabbed her suddenly and pulled her against him. Pushing him away would have been impossible, and not just because he was stronger than her. The way he held her made her heart pound wildly. There was something protective about the way his fingers curled in her hair. "I thought it was you," Asher said quietly. "When I heard Bernadette scream, I thought it was you." His lips brushed her cheek; the scarred cheek, not the other one. She could only feel it faintly, since beneath the scars, the damage to her nerves had been pretty severe. Still, it was enough to make tears sting her eyes. Sera stared up at Asher as he pulled back just a little. He cupped her cheek with his hand-again, it was the scarred cheek, as if he was completely unbothered by it-and gently trailed the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. As Asher leaned down again, she began to tremble. "Why me?" she asked, her voice quivering, Asher smiled. "Why not?" he murmured. And then he kissed her. ------- Chapter 7: A Little Kindness Straw poked at her back through her t-shirt and tickled her legs and arms where they were bare. Sera didn't care; she was out of the sun, up here in the loft. Not that that did much to ease the heat. She was sweating so much that bits of straw were sticking to her skin. Thank God Asher doesn't know where I am, she thought, reaching up and wiping her forehead. If he sees me looking like this, he'll realize he made a mistake. Astonishingly, a whole week had gone by, and he had not seemed to realize that the girl he was showing so much interest in was a deformed freak. Fortunately, Sera thought sarcastically, so many other people have been kind enough to point this out to me. The worst was a girl named Diana, a friend of Bernadette's, who had apparently been chasing after Asher for several summers. She was this stunning, dark-haired, dark-eyed creature with ivory skin that would make a nineteenth century debutante murderous with jealousy. Sera couldn't even begin to compare with someone like that. Even when her face hadn't been scarred, she'd had plain, everyday blue eyes, and hair an ashy, boring brown. Now it's just like... who am I kidding? she thought, sighing. What does Asher see in me, anyway? The last time she'd asked him that, he'd gotten really annoyed and made her muck out stalls (although technically that was what she was supposed to be doing, anyway). The sound of someone coming up the ladder into the loft startled her. Sera sat up, spitting out a piece of straw she'd been chewing on. Lovely, she thought, as Asher appeared at the top of the ladder. Like I really wanted him to see me looking like a cow chewing on its cud. He tilted his cowboy hat back and grinned at her as he climbed up into the loft. Asher was wearing a plain black tank top and a pair of worn old jeans; he did not, apparently, understand the concept of shorts. Even Sera had to wear shorts in this heat. Fortunately her scars didn't creep that far down her legs. They were mostly on her face, with a few exceptions. That was because that was where most of the sparks, thrown up from the friction between her parents' truck and the other, had hit her. "I had a feeling I'd find you up here," Asher said. There was a light, teasing quality to his voice that made it impossible not to smile. "Hiding from the heat?" "Trying to, anyway," Sera replied. "Days like this I think I would have been better off in prison." "You'd go crazy," Asher said, settling on the straw next to her. "Not a problem," she shot back, grinning. "I already am." Asher chuckled softly and Sera thought she might melt at the sound. No matter how grumpy and cynical she tried to be, it was hard not to be in a good mood when he was around. Even with people like Diana on her case all the time, she was feeling... good. Better than she had been before, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It was kind of like having her first crush, belated though it might be. Sera knew it was a little silly, but why shouldn't she have fun and be happy? "Well, I have a better idea," Asher said. "Let's go swimming." Sera turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows raised. "You're kidding, right? I'm not going in that pool... too many little rich brats peeing in it." Asher coughed, choking on a laugh. "No!" he gasped, shaking his head. "Not in the pool. You'll see. Come on." He grabbed her hand and stood, pulling her up from the straw. Grumbling, Sera brushed at the bits hanging from her clothing and skin. Not that she couldn't use a good dunking; she was dirty and sweaty. But as Asher started climbing back down the ladder she planted her hands on her hips and glowered at him. "Uno momento, chico," Sera grumped. "Do you really think I own a bathing suit?" "Do you really think you speak Spanish?" Asher retorted, smiling. "Come on, Sera. I'll give you something you can wear." She wasn't entirely certain why that should make her face turn a red that would put a ripe tomato to shame. However, it also made Sera go quiet, and follow him docilely down the ladder. Asher led her from the stables and across the ranch towards the cabins where the male staff members slept. These were shaded by a fringe of trees and his was far in the back, somewhat isolated from the others. Very Asher, she thought, nodding to herself. Stands apart from everyone else, but still looks so warm and inviting. That thought made Sera's cheeks red, too. She'd never been in his cabin before, because they weren't really supposed to do that. If it looked inviting on the outside, that was nothing compared to the inside. Also very Asher, Sera thought approvingly, as she took in the woven rug spread across the wooden floor, the dreamcatchers and paintings of horses up on the walls, and the comfy looking bed, covered with a patchwork quilt that looked homemade. He had no dresses, only a carved wooden trunk at the foot of the bed. There was a tall book shelf, however, filled with books, and the little kitchen/bathroom type attachment was surprisingly clean. There was a small table there and on top of it-she noted with great amusement-were horse head salt and pepper shakers. "Cute," Sera said, waggling her index finger in the direction of the shakers. Asher grinned sheepishly. "Mr. Ralston gave them to me for Christmas last year," he explained. "I'm still not exactly sure why." She watched him go to the chest at the end of the bed and rifle through it. That's all the clothes he has? she wondered, her eyebrows raising slightly. I mean, not that I own a lot, but I haven't exactly had a steady job or anything for the last several years. Asher pulled out a t-shirt and tossed it to her. It was dark blue with the words Universe of Kentucky on it in very faded white. Sera lifted her eyebrows in Asher's direction, but he just shrugged. She knew she wasn't about to get many answers out of him; he was very hush-hush about his past. So she glared at him until he sighed and turned around. "It's not like I haven't seen naked women before," Asher pointed out. "You haven't seen me naked!" Sera retorted, yanking off her own t-shirt. "And anyway, since when did you start thinking like a... like a man?" "Sera," Asher said, his voice full of laughter, "I am a man. I'm just quieter about it than most men." Sera discarded her shorts, then pulled Asher's shirt over her head, happy to see that it fell down to her knees. "Are you sure it's okay if I use this?" She turned to face him and swallowed hard. He'd only taken his tank top off; that shouldn't make her feel so light-headed. Asher turned and paused, smiling at her. She noticed a scar, long and ragged, that came around his side, tracked down his belly, across his hip, and disappeared beneath his jeans. What is that from? Sera wondered, taking a step closer. He never mentioned any scars. She reached out and gently touched the scar, without really thinking about what she was doing. Asher's skin was warm and soft beneath her fingers. Her cheeks burning, she slowly gazed up at him. "I got it a few years ago," Asher told her. "This horse I was training... young and very green. He fought me every step of the way. We ended up tangled in a barbed wire fence..." Sera winced. "You're lucky to have limbs left." "It wasn't too bad, at least for me," Asher said quietly. "The horse, though... well..." He looked like he didn't want to talk about it, so Sera wasn't about to ask. She found herself staring at the scar again, slowly tracing it with her finger. It was the first time in her life she'd been this attracted to someone, physically or otherwise. I want... she thought, leaning forward hesitantly. I... I don't even know what I want... All she knew was that Asher's skin really did feel so nice. His hands rested on her shoulders. It had been such a scary thing, the few times he'd kissed her. Sera's stomach was all in knots, but her lips were slightly parted when she looked back up at him. He seemed almost as nervous as she was, but it had to be her imagination. She had to stand on her toes to reach his mouth, and she slid her hands up along his chest, until she could feel his heart beating beneath her palm. Asher's mouth touched hers gently; all his kisses had been gentle. This time, though, was different. This time there was a barely restrained passion in the way he kissed her. Sera was soon breathless and lightheaded, but she didn't want to let him go. Asher pulled his mouth back from hers, but she tugged him back insistently. He was just so warm and it felt so nice, especially when his arms went around her and he held her against him. Sera shivered when his tongue touched the tip of hers. That small touch sent heat throughout her body, all the way down to her toes. When he pulled back again, she let him; she had to, or she was afraid she might pass out from lack of air. Not to mention her knees were like jelly and every part of her body felt like it was on fire. Including her face, which was once again bright red. "I thought we were going swimming," Asher said, his voice slightly breathless. "My head is certainly swimming," Sera grumbled. Had she done something wrong? Asher chuckled softly. "Well, that makes two of us. Let me finished getting changed, okay?" Sera left the cabin to allow him to change. He didn't seem to mind if she stayed, but she wanted to get a bit of fresh air. Outside was little improvement, because it was so hot, but at least she could clear her head a little. I don't get it, she thought, touching her scarred cheek. I know all the 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' crap and all, but... Well, she wasn't going to get into it with Asher again. He really didn't like it when she talked like that. It's easy enough for him to tell me not to say I'm ugly, Sera thought, scowling. He's only drop dead gorgeous. That's all. The screen door of the cabin opened and he came out. She looked up and had to grin. Far be it from Asher to stop being Asher, simply because they were going swimming; he still had his cowboy hat on. Worse, his swim trunks-she assumed that's what they were-were the long time that went below his knees. Granted, they were hanging kind of low on his hips. She's seen guys wear their pants like that all the time, but Asher's hips were kind of... sexy. Hoo boy, Sera thought, rolling her eyes. A shrink would so have a field day with me. I'm like, seven or eight years behind in my emotional and hormonal development, at least. "Come on," Asher said, tossing a towel to her. "Let's get going." Feeling rather odd, wearing only his t-shirt, she followed him as he started back across the ranch. They were heading past the main buildings when they came across Bernadette, struggling on her crutches. Sera felt a pang of sympathy for her; aside from the clunky cast on her leg, she was sweating profusely in this heat. Over the last week Bernadette had spent every moment she could around Sera and Asher. She was so grateful to them, she said, for saving her from that snake. Sera didn't think she'd actually done anything, but there was no arguing with Bernadette. "Hey there," Bernadette said, looking a little less cheerful when she saw them dressed for swimming. "Gee... you're lucky to be able to go swimming..." Sera frowned. "Well um... maybe..." She paused for a moment, thinking, then smiled. "Actually, maybe there's a way you can go with us." "Really?" Bernadette asked, looking eager. "It won't be entirely comfortable," Sera warned her. "But you will be able to cool down." "I'd really like to," Bernadette said quietly. Sera was reminded of a lost, forlorn kitten. "It's been so horrible, this last week, with the heat and this stupid cast." Sera nodded. "All right," she said. "Asher, could you get some kind of floatation device?" She reached over and helped steady Bernadette on her crutches. "You and me are going to go find some garbage bags and masking tape." ------- Asher was a little disappointed in himself. His first thought, as he'd headed off to find a floatation device-God only knew why-was how annoyed he was at Bernadette. She showed up like a little lost kitten and Sera became a bleeding heart. He'd wanted to spend some time alone with Sera, something he didn't actually get to do very often. Asher was also disappointed in himself because part of the reason, even if it was a small part, that he wanted to be alone with her was due to the way she'd warmed up to him in his cabin. He supposed he could get over the whole Bernadette thing, since part of what he liked about Sera was the compassion she kept trying to hide from others. When he returned with one of those rubbery pool mats, he found Sera and Bernadette on the ground, wrapping up her leg. With, surprise, surprise, garbage bags and masking tape. It looked ridiculous, but Asher was starting to see what she had in mind. He'd broken his arm once, and he'd had to do this sort of thing in order to take a shower. Of course, he didn't know how well it would protect against a full blown dunking, but he imagined that that was what the mat was for. Asher put the mat down to help Bernadette back up to her feet. "All right, we're ready," Sera said. "Can you carry Bernadette? That way she doesn't have to hobble all the way to... where are we going, anyway?" "It's not that far," Asher told her. He picked up Bernadette anyway; a little reluctantly, considering the way she was looking at him. How could Sera kiss him like that and yet be so naïve about the way Bernadette flirted with him? "Follow me." He took them to one of the ponds the ranch had. This one had been man made and was filled through use of underground piping. It was hardly used once Mr. Ralston had gotten the pool finished, though. Asher preferred it, because it was blocked from view by a thick clump of trees, and of course because people hardly ever went there. He'd been wanting to share it with Sera; now he was somehow stuck sharing it with Sera and Bernadette. The very worst part was that part of Sera's plan ended up involving him holding Bernadette up in the water. If I didn't adore her so much, Asher thought, watching her splash around like a hyperactive duckling, I'd be so pissed. Sera seemed to really like the water, though, and she was being awfully cute, playing and splashing around. Bernadette shrieked every time she got a little too close, but that just made Sera laugh. It was almost worth it, having to be Bernadette's caretaker. "I can hold her for a bit, Asher," Sera said, "if you want to swim around." "But you're having so much fun!" Bernadette protested, before he could say anything. "I'm sure Asher doesn't want you to stop." Let's let Asher decide what he does and doesn't want, he thought, trying not to scowl. Out loud he said, "It's all right, Sera. I was beginning to think you didn't know how to have fun. It's reassuring to know." She stuck her tongue out at him and went back to her splashing. At least I get to watch her, Asher thought, sighing inwardly. It is very nice to see her happy. And she seemed to actually like Bernadette, which was a good sign; Sera hardly liked anybody. He just hoped that this wouldn't make things worse between her and Candace. Not that he liked Candace all that much, because he didn't. But she'd still been Sera's best friend for years and the one who had helped her through so much. Maybe I should talk to her sometime, even if she does bug me, Asher thought. She might be able to tell me something that will help. "How're you doing?" Sera asked, awhile later, as she paddled up to them. "Feeling all right? Not too uncomfortable?" Bernadette laughed. "Stop being such a mother hen, Seraphim," she teased. "I might start to think you're not really so cold and tough after all. And no, I'm not uncomfortable at all." "Please," Sera said, rolling her eyes, "stop calling me Seraphim. I prefer to be called Sera." "Oh... I'm sorry," Bernadette said. Asher was surprised at how sincere she sounded. "I guess I just got into the habit of calling people by their full names. It keeps them from calling me 'Bern', sometimes, which I really hate." "Can't imagine why," Sera said, grinning. "Well, I won't call you Bern if you don't call me Seraphim." I feel so neglected here, Asher thought, looking back and forth between the two of them. And yet... They were talking about small, simple things, but they were talking. Sera was being social, coming out of her shell, and he couldn't help being pleased. Even though she'd warmed up to him, she was still so distant with other people. He'd thought it was a triumph when she'd agreed to take riding lessons from him; this was an even bigger victory. It was, Asher realized, something like bringing around a horse that had been abused. It might be difficult, but it could be done, with time, patience, and love. And he had yet to find it not worth his while. "Okay, I am so turning into a prune," Bernadette said, a little while later. "I think I've had enough..." She still sounded a little reluctant, despite turning into a prune. "All right then," Asher said, trying not to seem like he was in too much of a hurry to put her down-even if he was. "Feel better?" "Much," Bernadette assured him, as he set her down carefully at the edge of the pond. "Thank you both. You two just seem to come to my rescue all the time, these days." "Not me," Sera said, sliding up beside Asher. "He does all the work." "Slave driver," Asher grumbled. He grinned down at her, though, and she started to laugh. Beneath the water he felt her arm slide around him and had to fight to hide his surprise. Affection. She was being affectionate, even though there was someone else around. Granted, it was beneath the water, but it was still something. I guess I don't mind so much that we had Bernadette with us all day, Asher thought, leaning against Sera's side. After all, it's Sera's kindness that draws me to her. ------- Chapter 8: Sera's Big Mistake "It's kind of frustrating that she won't talk to me at all." Asher looked up from the saddle he was cleanly and raised his eyebrows at Sera. The three of them, Sera, Bernadette, and himself, were in the tack room, doing cleaning duty. The smell of saddle soap was soothing to him, but it made Bernadette sneeze, so mostly she was talking to Sera and helping dry already cleaned pieces of tack. The heat wasn't too bad today, so with the little oscillating fan in the corner, they were all fairly comfortable. Asher's stomach was starting to growl, but it was hard to get a word in edgewise to even mention lunch. "I know she's upset about the whole Cole thing," Bernadette said. "I don't really blame her for that. It's just... she shouldn't take it out on you." Asher frowned. "Are you two talking about Candace?" "She hasn't been talking to Sera at all," Bernadette explained. "I even tried talking to her, but she really doesn't like me. It's not like it's my fault, what Cole did." Not like you tried to stop him, though, Asher thought. He still wasn't sure he really liked having Bernadette around. It made Sera happy, at least. But Bernadette, although not as bad as some of the other girls she usually hung out with, was still a spoiled brat. She had to have known about Cole and Candace. Of course, now that she'd met Asher, Bernadette didn't pay any attention to Cole. Seems to me she's just as bad as he is, Asher thought, scrubbing hard at dirt caked beneath the saddle flap. But it's not like I can say that to Sera. He'd never seen Sera so happy before. Oh, she was still grumpy in the morning and she still didn't like being around people, but the improvement was astounding nonetheless. And she was riding well enough that he'd graduated her from War Paint to Radical, who was much harder to handle-although not for her. While she might have been a bit rusty at the actual riding part, she hadn't lost her special touch with horses. Asher, who taught mostly girls like Bernadette, was pleased to have Sera as a student. He'd even agreed to give Candace lessons-assuming Candace ever spoke to Sera again. "What you need is to have some fun," Bernadette said matter-of-factly. She took a snaffle bit from Sera and began drying it off. "Mother convinced Father to get me a wheelchair to use, so the girls and I are going into town later to go to the mall. You should come." "I'm not really... the mall type," Sera said. "I mean... and I don't really know your friends..." "Oh, sure you do," Bernadette assured her. "There's Tina and Leann and Diana and-" "Hold on," Sera interrupted her. "I'm not going anywhere with Diana. She hates me." Bernadette rolled her eyes. "She does not hate you! Diana is just a little... territorial. She doesn't like sharing her friends." Funny, Asher thought, as he settled the finished saddle on a sawhorse, where I come from, we call that being a rampaging bitch. He wondered if perhaps Sera was thinking something along the same lines, because from the corner of his eye he noticed her lips twitch. He would have said it out loud if Bernadette hadn't been there, but the last thing he needed was her blurting something like that out to her father. Mr. Ralston was still out of town, and Ralston II was watching Asher and Sera like a very hungry vulture. "Look, Diana does not hate you," Bernadette said firmly. "Maybe... maybe she dislikes you a little, but that's only because she doesn't know you." "Bernadette, it wouldn't matter if she knew me," Sera said. "All the Prada in the world couldn't make that girl like me." Bernadette sighed. "This is part of your problem, Sera. Diana is a Ralph Lauren type of girl, not a Prada type." Somehow Asher got that feeling that Sera didn't care, but he kept his mouth shut, once again. He could tell by the exasperated sigh she heaved that comments from the peanut gallery were not what she needed right now. She handed Bernadette the last bit of leather-bridles had to be taken apart to be cleaned or they got tangled up-and rose to retrieve another. It was Asher's job to put the bridles back together when they were dry, so Bernadette began handing the pieces over to him. "I am a Wal-Mart type of girl," Sera declared, as she pulled a rather dusty bridle down from its hook. "And Ralph Lauren types of girls or Prada types of girls do not like Wal-Mart types of girls." Asher chuckled. "Not exactly Socrates, but pretty profound." "Oh, hush," Bernadette hissed at him. "Asher, you're supposed to be on my side here! Don't you want her to have fun?" "Yes..." Asher answered slowly. He wasn't sure it would be wise to mention that going to a mall wasn't exactly his idea of fun. "But I mean... it's really up to her." "For once," Sera said, turning back to look at him, "couldn't you be the bossy, chauvinistic, control freak type of guy?" Asher shrugged. "Sorry." She let out a dramatic sigh that had him fighting a grin. As much as it concerned him to see her becoming so close to someone like Bernadette, he wasn't about to make her decisions for her. Not that she'd let him, in the end, but he had a feeling she'd find it easier to say no if he supported that decision. I guess Bernadette isn't as bad as she could be, Asher thought, noticing the other girl's pleading look. I think she genuinely likes Sera and wants to be her friend. The problem with Bernadette was that she didn't really know how to be friends with someone who wasn't a rich snob. And it wasn't like she was surrounded by people who could show her how. "All right," Sera said at last. "I'll go." She held up a hand, cutting off Bernadette's shriek of delight. "But you make sure Diana leaves me alone. I don't know what's more annoying... her or the mall." ------- Leaving Brookside Ranch, even to go into town for an evening, was not something Sera wanted to do. She'd allowed herself to be persuaded by the hopeful look in Bernadette's eyes, though, and that was why she found herself hiking through the mall for what felt like hours. Worse, although she liked Bernadette, Leann, Tina, Jessica, and of course, Diana, were not exactly thrilling to spend time with. They talked about the most asinine things imaginable. Who gives a flying you-know-what who Brad Pitt is dating? Sera thought, as they all piled into an elevator. I sure as heck don't. He's not that special, anyway. He was no Asher, that was for sure. Except that Asher hadn't exactly protested this little trip to the mall. Sera supposed she should be glad that he was always supporting her and all, but it would have been nice if he'd argued a little. This relationship between them was so new and uncertain, sometimes she wondered if she just imagined the way he looked at her. She supposed it was a good thing, for them to spend some time apart, but she missed him. Who could blame her? Asher didn't waste her time by talking about stupid things like celebrities and clothes. They had been in enough clothing stores to last any normal person a life time. When Sera saw Diana heading for another one, she almost screamed. I don't belong in places like this, she thought, as she pushed Bernadette's wheelchair through the door. Look at me, I so don't look like I belong here. They were in Banana Republic, a store that was high end for the likes of Sera. And while Bernadette and her friends looked like they belonged, she just looked like a misplaced stable rat. Not that Bernadette hadn't tried to help. She'd helped Sera pick out her best pair of jeans-the ones that were only a little faded-and had leant her a top, which she'd declined. Bernadette had also leant her an oversized, unwieldy Gucci bag that clashed horribly with the Boston Red Sox t-shirt she'd ended up wearing, because it was her cleanest one. Sera's father had bought it for her at a game, not long before the accident. She hated baseball and she wasn't all that fond of the shirt, but she'd been unable to get rid of it. And now here I am, she thought wryly, wearing it. "Come on, Sera," Diana said, with a kindness she was positive was false. "Come over here." "Um..." Sera began. Her hands tightened on the back of Bernadette's wheelchair. It had been her defense the whole night long. "Go on," Bernadette said, looking over her shoulder and smiling. "At least try to be friendly." "You owe me one," Sera said quietly. She left Bernadette there and headed over to where Diana and Leann were looking at some hideously yellow-in Sera's opinion-blouses. God, why would anyone pay that much for these things? she wondered, after glancing at the price tag on one of them. What's wrong with jeans and a t-shirt, anyway? Still, she browsed idly through the shelves, only half-listening to Leann chatter away about something or other. Sera had to admit, some of the clothing was actually very pretty. I know Asher isn't the type to care about what a girl wears, she thought, fingering a slinky looking, wrap-around black skirt, but still, I can't help wondering... Someone bumped into her from behind, hard. Sera was jostled about so badly that she had to grab the clothing rack to keep from falling down. That made so much noise that everyone in the store heard it, even above the annoying pop music blaring from the store speakers. Great, she thought, as she tried to straighten out the clothing, aware of all the eyes on her. Just great. And, surprise, surprise, it had been Diana who had bumped into her. "Oh, Sera! I am so sorry!" Diana exclaimed. "I didn't notice... oh, gee, look at that rack..." "Yeah," Sera grumbled. "I know." Diana giggled. "Come on," she said, grabbing Sera's arm in a surprisingly tight grip. "Let's get out of here." Sera tried to protest, but Diana was surprisingly strong. Bernadette and the rest of her friends were also heading for the exit, though, so she figured they might as well leave. They were talking about heading home, finally. Thank God, she thought, as she took hold of Bernadette's wheelchair. I can't wait to... oh no... There was a very loud sound, a sort of ringing, that had started up around them. Sera recognized that sound. It was a store alarm going off. She was still standing there, rooted to the spot, when the mall security and the manager of the store got there. They demanded to see the contents of all of their bags. But there's nothing in mine but my wallet, Sera thought numbly, as she handed her bag over. Hell, it isn't even my bag. Which was why she got such a nasty shock when the head security guy pulled a small, slinky red sundress from her bag. Of course, she hadn't put it there; she had never even seen the dress before. But the store manager was glaring at her like she was the spawn of Satan or something, and the security guard looked annoyed. "Come on, young lady," he said, reaching for her. "You have to come with us." Sera took a step back. "No," she said. Her voice sounded hollow to her ears. "I didn't do anything wrong." "I don't have time for this crap," the security guard grumbled, making another grab for her. "Now come al-" "No!" Sera shouted, slapping his hand away. She ran. Somewhere inside her she knew it was stupid, but all she could think was that there was simply no way she was letting them drag her to jail again, especially for something she didn't even do. The problem was that the mall security had walkie talkies. They caught her just outside, in the parking lot. Not again, Sera thought, not again. Two of them held her in place while a third roughly handcuffed her. She knew she shouldn't have run. But she didn't want to go through this again. ------- If Asher had known how boring it would be without Sera around, he would have told her not to go. I've gotten spoiled, he thought, reaching up and rubbing Eagle's nose. Ever since she got here, I've gotten used to having someone interesting around. He'd had his fill of the spoiled rich girls who always hung around him, fawning over him. It was stupid. Sera didn't fawn. Okay, sometimes she got a little starry-eyed, but that was actually kind of nice. It didn't hurt a man's ego any when the woman he was interested in was interested in him in return. "What do you think, boy?" Asher said quietly. "Me and her... we all right together or what?" Eagle snorted. "Thanks, boy," Asher said, grinning wryly. He wiped his face with the back of his hand. "I'll take that load of horse snot as a yes." He sat up, running his fingers through his hair and knocking blades of grass loose. The sun had gone down and Sera still wasn't back yet. The good news was that a couple of hours ago, Mr. Ralston-the nice one-had returned from his business trip. Asher knew there was a chance he could have to leave again before long, but it was nice to have him back for awhile. Maybe I'll go have a chat with him, he thought, laying a hand on Eagle's neck. I've missed the old guy. Mr. Ralston was much nicer to have around than his son was. "All right, you," Asher said, slinging an arm over Eagle's withers. "How 'bout some dinner before I go see Mr. R, okay?" Horses were smart creatures and Eagle was one of the smartest he knew. The horse's ears pricked forward at the word 'dinner', the same way they did at the word 'apple'. Asher didn't need a halter or a lead to get Eagle to follow him across the paddock and into the barn. Although the stallion didn't like being cooped up in his stall for too long, he didn't mind going in there to eat. Asher found Cole in the barn. For all his faults, at least he did take care of his horse. In fact, watching him run a brush over the thoroughbred's silky-looking, chestnut coat, one got the impression that there was actual affection there. Well, even snakes like other snakes, Asher thought, slipping into Eagle's stall before Cole's horse took a chunk out of his arm. Amazingly enough, Cole was the only person that the chestnut didn't try to bite. Even Asher, although he could handle the horse, couldn't keep him from biting. Maybe Cole just tastes bad, he thought, smiling to himself. "So, where's your freak show girlfriend?" Cole sneered into the near quiet of the stables. "Considering some of the girls you've dated, Cole," Asher drawled, "I don't really think you should be calling anyone a freak." Cole sniffed. "I date only high class girls," he said arrogantly. "Oh, is that what they're calling it nowadays?" Asher rolled his eyes. "You see, I just don't get it. Must be one of those things that is different all across the country. And I thought the term 'bitch' was universal." "You're not usually quite this mouthy," Cole said, pausing in his brushing to eye Asher curiously. "Did I strike a nerve about your girlfriend? It's too bad about her, isn't it?" Asher frowned. "You got something you want to say, just say it." Cole was definitely enjoying himself. Asher would have really liked to slap that smug look off his face, if he weren't part of the boss' family and all. He set the brush down and walked over to the stable doors, the ones facing towards the ranch house. Curious despite himself, Asher left Eagle's stall, making sure it was securely latched-the horse was way too good at opening it-and followed. He's just trying to get you riled up, he thought, that's all. There's nothing wrong with Sera. So why could he see the flashing lights of a police car near the ranch house? Ignoring Cole's gleeful smirk, he started off across the lawn, walking as fast as he could. If he started to run, he would also start to panic, and that would not be good. I don't see an ambulance, Asher thought, his eyes sweeping the scene. If she was hurt... But she wasn't hurt, he found out a second later, as she was dragged from the back of the police car. He felt his heart sink when he saw that her hands were cuffs behind her back. "Hold on, boy." Mr. Ralston's voice, soft and oddly soothing, as the old man came limping over. "You look fit to be tied." "What the hell is going on?" Asher demanded, not taking his eyes off Sera. What could she possibly have done to have gotten herself handcuffed like that? "She didn't go quietly, from what I understand," Mr. Ralston said, as though he'd read Asher's mind. "Which is no surprise, really. A scared little filly like that is going to run when you try to corner her, every time." "I don't understand," Asher said quietly, finally turning to look at Mr. Ralston. "What happened?" Mr. Ralston looked up at him, his pale blue eyes serious and grim. Asher really hated it when he looked like that. It meant two things; he didn't really know for sure what had happened, and he didn't know if he could get Sera out of it. This just doesn't seem right, Asher thought, watching Diana, Leann, and Tina gather around one of the police officers. This is... surreal. He looked back to Mr. Ralston, who was frowning. "Looks like," Mr. Ralston said, "our little filly got herself arrested for shoplifting." ------- Chapter 9: The Lonely Heart Asher was grateful to Mr. Ralston. He'd convinced the officers who'd brought Sera back to allow her to change her clothes and take a few minutes alone in her cabin. Well, sort of alone, since there would be a police officer standing right outside, waiting for her. The others were in the living room of the ranch hours, along with Mr. Ralston and his son, the girls who'd been with Sera at the mall, and Asher himself. I'm glad she's not here, he thought, wrinkling his nose as the balding, rather overweight sergeant held up the dress. She doesn't need to listen to this. What made it worse, though, was Bernadette. She just sat there in her wheelchair, staring at the floor, and looking very guilty. That was how Asher knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was all a setup. I should have told Sera not to go, he thought, frowning. I should never, ever have let her go. How was he going to convince this raving lunatic of a police officer that Sera was innocent? Especially since she hadn't exactly helped herself any by running off like that. Not that Asher blamed her; he just wished she could have made this a little easier on herself. "Did anyone actually see her take the dress?" Mr. Ralston asked calmly, in response to the sergeant's ranting. "No one needed to!" the officer snapped in response. "She had it in her bag when they left the store! And then she ran away when she was caught!" Mr. Ralston smiled wryly. "Miss Langley might be a bit skittish, but she is no thief. You frightened her." "Because she was guilty!" the officer shot back. Mr. Ralston was the polite sort of person who didn't roll his eyes at another, but Asher could tell he was hard pressed, this time. The problem was, while Sera might be innocent of this crime, she was guilty of the ones in her past. All of them, unfortunately, incidences of theft. Not like I don't know how that goes, he thought, sighing. But really, this is stupid. Anyone who knew Sera would know she'd never steal anything so frivolous. She has no use for that kind of clothing, Asher thought, studying the dress. Although... The front door of the ranch house banged open, startling all of them. It turned out to be Candace, her blonde hair actually out of place, as though she were badly frazzled. Asher noted the dirt on the knees of her jeans and the straw caught in her hair, and wondered what she'd been up to. She looks like she's been mucking stalls, he thought, his eyebrows raising as she stomped across the living room and snatched the dress from the officer's hand. He was so stunned that he could only stand there, gaping at her. Candace held the dress up and shook it out, then snorted in disgust. "These people actually believe she stole this?" Candace demanded, looking at Mr. Ralston. Mr. Ralston shrugged. "Apparently so," he said, obviously fighting a smile. There was an amused twinkle in his eyes. "Is there some reason in particular that they shouldn't?" "Um... duh?" Candace gave the dress a shake. "It's a sundress. A backless sundress, for crying out loud. It's miraculous enough to get the girl into a pair of shorts." "I fail to see how that proves she didn't steal it," the officer sniffed. "It was in her bag." "Dude, you're a police officer," Candace said, rolling her eyes. "Ever heard of being framed? I mean, come on." She draped the dress over her arm and took a look at the tag, then started to laugh. "Not to mention it's a good four sizes too big for Sera. At least." Asher blinked. How does she know that? he wondered. He'd always gotten the impression that Candace didn't pay enough attention to Sera to know those kinds of things. At the moment, though, Candace really seemed infuriated on her friend's behalf. She thrust the dress back at the police officer and turned to look directly at Diana. Mr. Ralston's son began to rise, but Mr. Ralston laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Yeah, Asher thought, never smart to get between two women like that. Because Candace was pissed and Diana looked scared. "That dress," Candace said quietly, "is a size ten. I've had to work for years, after Sera's parents died, to get her to eat enough to even stay alive. It's only recently that she's started to get healthy again, but she's still a long way from fitting into that." Candace took a step forward. "Although I do believe, Diana, that you are a size ten." Diana, looking panicked, leapt out of her chair. "You have no proof!" "You had to have touched the dress to put it in her bag," Candace said, smiling sweetly. "I'm sure we could find out if you left any fingerprints behind. Unless you'd like to confess." Can you even dust material like that for fingerprints? Asher wondered. It didn't matter, because Diana seemed to believe you could. Except that instead of convincing, she sat back down in the chair, folded her hands primly in her lap, and informed the police that she would say nothing further without her lawyer. Which was, as Candace informed her directly afterward, pretty much a confession. But no one got the chance to say much of anything else, because the door banged open again. This time it was the female officer who had escorted Sera to her cabin. She looked even more frazzled than Candace had. "She's gone!" she gasped, slumping against the entryway to the living room. "I didn't realize... the windows in the back..." Asher groaned. "Great," he said, standing quickly. "Just great. I'll get her." "She won't have gone on her own two feet," Mr. Ralston called after him, as he raced out into the night. Damnit, Sera, Asher thought. We just get you out of this mess and you get yourself back into it! Of course, Mr. Ralston would never charge her with horse theft, even if that was technically what she'd done. It was a good thing, though, that it was a fairly light night out, with so many stars and the moon completely full. I'll have a hell of a time catching up to Eagle, Asher thought, as he ran towards the stables. I'm not even sure which one of our horses could... oh. Standing at the fence, his head raised so that his nose went over the top rail, was Eagle. Of course she wouldn't take him, Asher thought. She wouldn't do that to me. He climbed over the fence quickly and caught hold of a hank of Eagle's mane. The stallion snorted, but went along fairly willing into the stable. It was late for Asher to be tacking him up, but he'd always liked late rides, anyway. It was while he was tacking up Eagle-trying not to rush and be careless, despite his concern for Sera-that Candace came into the stable, holding saddle bags. "Mr. R said to give this to you," she said, holding them up for him to see. "Just in case she's gone out too far for you two to get back tonight." "Hopefully I can find her," Asher said, his tone grim. "Would you look down the aisle and see if you can figure out who she took?" Candace started walking down the aisle, speaking as she went. "This is just like Sera," she said. "She still hasn't learned not to run from her problems." "Well, she's had a lot of reasons to run," Asher pointed out. He finished tightening the girth on Eagle's saddle, then began attaching the saddlebags. "How did you know it was Diana, anyway?" "I didn't," Candace admitted, pausing in front of Radical's stall-which turned out to be empty-and smiling sheepishly. "At least, not until I saw the size of the dress. I've been working poolside. You wouldn't believe how pissed she gets if someone let's slip that she's a size ten." Candace looked at him and rolled her eyes, smiling wryly. Asher didn't really understand what was wrong with being a size ten, but he was a guy; what did he know? And he didn't have time to stand around wondering about it, either. He finished securing Eagle's bridle and started to lead him from the stable, with Candace following close behind. It was getting darker now. How am I ever going to find her like this? Asher wondered, frowning. I just hope she went in the direction I think she did. "You know," Candace said quietly, "there was a time when I thought Sera wasn't going to make it. She wouldn't eat at all, after the accident. And since then she's been... living, but not really alive." She paused and looked up at him. "She's really changed since she met you. So I'm counting on you to bring her back." ------- Why didn't I bring a flashlight? Sera wondered, glowering down at the pathetic pile of twigs she'd made. Or a match? She should have realized it would have been chilly on the beach, but she hadn't really been thinking. Now she was out on the beach, shivering, because she hadn't even thought to bring a blanket. I just wanted to get out of there so badly, Sera thought, staring miserably down at her would-be fire. Why should I wait for them to throw me out when I can just leave? Except, of course, that she hadn't gotten a chance to say good-bye to Asher, thanks to that stupid cop who'd been guarding her door. If they're dumb enough to believe that someone like me would steal a dress like that, she thought, her eyes burning with unshed tears, then I don't need any of them! Even Asher! Except... how could he possibly think she was guilty? Asher was the one person Sera had thought might believe her, but she hadn't gotten the chance to talk to him about it. Maybe he wouldn't believe me, she thought, nudging the twigs around, still uncertain how, precisely, she was going to get a fire going. I mean, having a long record of shop-lifting and stealing, not to mention I'm here 'cause I tried to burglarize Mr. Ralston's house... that sure doesn't help my case any. "What do you think, boy?" Sera asked, lifting her head and looking at Radical, who she'd had to tie to a piece of driftwood. "Oh, wait... you're another thing I stole." Radical snorted. Sera ignored him. She wished she had Eagle, who was much better company, but there was no way she could have done that to Asher. This just sucks, she thought, leaning over her pathetic fire pit. Am I supposed to like, strike two rocks together or something? Ugh, why don't I ever think about these things before I do them? "Works much better if you have a match. And a slightly larger pile of sticks would help." Sera managed to keep herself from screaming. Whether it was the soft sand or the fact that she was lost in her thoughts-and perhaps a little bit of the roar of the ocean, too-she hadn't heard the horse and rider approach behind her. She knew who it was without having to look, of course. How did he find me? she wondered, focusing intently on her stupid attempt at a fire. It's dark out... how could he possibly have found me? Sera jumped when she felt him sit down next to her. She couldn't speak; probably, she realized, because she was so happy that he'd come after her. Well, so long as it wasn't just to drag her back to be arrested, but Asher wouldn't do that. Would he? "You know, running away doesn't look good," Asher said quietly. "It doesn't matter," Sera said. "No one is going to believe me, anyway." "No, probably not," Asher agreed, startling her. "But they will believe Diana when she confesses, which she pretty much has already." Sera turned her head to stare at him-except she couldn't really see him, in the dark. "What?" She listened, not sure she believed what she was hearing, as Asher described the exchange between Candace and Diana. Sera wasn't actually too surprised by her friend's defense of her; she and Candace had been through far too much together for one to abandon the other. I knew she'd believe me, she thought, even if no one else did. Sera had only ever stolen anything out of a need to, not because she wanted to. And the last thing in the world she would steal-pretty much the last thing in the world she would want-was a slinky little backless sundress. "So you can come back," Asher finished. "Mr. Ralston isn't going to let anything happen to you." "I guess so..." Sera said, her voice hesitant. "I uh... I just..." "You're shivering," Asher said, soft laughter in his voice. "Hold on a second." He rose-she could see just enough to see that much-and went over to Eagle, who was standing next to Radical, apparently unbothered by his presence. When Asher came back he had a blanket full of things; matches, a canteen, food designed specifically to be taken on camping trips. This stuff he put aside, so he could drape the blanket over Sera's shoulders. That's Asher, she thought, smiling to herself as she snuggled down under the blanket. He's always coming to my rescue. Although she wasn't sure if even he could really help her, this time. She huddled there as Asher gathered enough driftwood to make an actual fire, not the pathetic pile of twigs she'd had going. It took awhile, but he did get a fire started. It wasn't bit, but it was enough to let off a little bit of warmth. It couldn't be very big, Asher explained to her as he worked, because of the breeze that had kicked up on the beach. He didn't want the wind to make the fire bigger and possibly spread it. Sera thought that this was pretty unlikely, but then, what did she know? It was just that even Asher's fire looked kind of... wimpy. "I think you'll probably think twice before doing this again," Asher teased, as he handed her the canteen. "You should be glad I showed up when I did." "Yeah," Sera said quietly. "Asher... why did you come after me, anyway? I mean, if they realized I was innocent..." In the flickering light of the fire she thought she saw him blink at her confusedly. "Because you're innocent, of course. The whole mess is done with. Problem solved." "This problem, maybe," Sera said. "Except that all it's going to do in the end is make all the other problems worse, because people are going to side with Diana even if they know, deep down, that she was the one who really did it." She sighed heavily. "And no one wants me there, anyway." She knew she was feeling sorry for herself, but she couldn't help it. And really, it was the truth, anyway. People like Diana, who hated her, would never, ever give her a break. And there were a lot of those kinds of people at Brookside Ranch for the summer. Maybe I should just go home, Sera thought, leaning wearily against Asher's shoulder. Except... I don't have a home. She realized she'd honestly begun to start thinking of the ranch as her home, lately. "That's not true," Asher said, startling her from her thoughts. "I know for a fact that Eagle wants you to come back. He's never met anyone like you before... and he'll miss you if you don't come back." Sera turned her head and looked up at him, raising her eyebrows. "And you know all this how, exactly?" "Well, you know, I'm in tune with my horse," Asher explained. He turned his head and smiled down at her. "We're partners, Eagle and I. And I'm telling you, he's going to miss you if you leave." Asher, she'd noticed, was somewhat taciturn when it came to expressing his feelings. Well, he was like that about pretty much everything, really. But it made her smile. Sera reached up and caught a lock of his hair, which was loose and windblown-he must have forgotten his hat. She toyed with it, twirling it around her finger, oddly fascinated by the way it looked all coiled up. Shifting her legs beneath her, she rose just a little, so her mouth was close to his. "What about you?" Sera asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Instead of answering, he kissed her. A very nice, gentle kiss that warmed her from head to toe. Forgetting about the blanket, she wound her arms around his neck and kissed him harder. There was a sort of desperation in Sera, a need to be as close as humanly possible to the one person who truly seemed to understand her. Asher responded by wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight while he kissed her. His body was so warm that she completely forgot the brisk breeze coming in off the ocean. Sera started in surprise when she felt his tongue slide between her lips, and she pulled back quickly. Oh damnit! she thought, horrified. I didn't mean... I'm just not used to... But Asher seemed to get it. He chuckled softly and kissed the tip of her nose very gently, then kissed her on the mouth again. Sera relaxed, sinking against him, and eventually parted her lips at the insistent coaxing of his. His tongue brushed against hers, making her shiver, but she realized it was actually kind of nice. Very nice, even, she thought. She tunneled her fingers in his hair and clung to him as he tumbled back onto the sand. Asher's hand traveled down her back slowly. She could feel the heat of his skin through her shirt. Oddly enough, Sera felt no panic or uncertain when he slid his hand beneath her shirt. His touch was so light that she could barely feel it, and he was careful of the places where there were scars; not, she knew, because he was disgusted by them, but because it bothered her. In truth, Asher seemed to have no problem touching her, scars or no scars. His other hand was against her cheek, the scarred one. He cradled the side of her face in a tender way that made her feel like she was the most precious thing on earth. The blanket fell away completely as Asher rolled them over, and it ended up trapped beneath her. His hand traveled around to her side, then her belly, his touch always so careful. Sera did feel some uncertainty when he lifted the hem of her shirt slowly upward. It was one thing for him to touch her. To have him looking at her was frightening. Although her scars were fewer on her body than on her face, she was still self-concious about them. Asher must have realized that she was worried about it. He sat back and smiled. "You know, Sera," he said quietly, running his fingertips ever- so-lightly up the middle of her body, "did I ever tell you what it was that first attracted me to you?" "No..." Sera said, in a voice that shook with an emotion she couldn't describe. "Not... not really. I mean..." Asher chuckled. "It was your hands," he told her, quieting her stammering. He took one of her hands in his own and gently rubbed her knuckles with his thumbs. "You had the gentlest, quietest hands I'd ever seen." He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. "You have a beauty inside you that nothing physical can ever compare to." Plenty of people had told her that true beauty is on the inside. Yet somehow, when Asher said it, when he looked at her the way he did, she found it easier to believe. Sera opened her hand in his and reached for him, even as he started to lean down to kiss her again. His hands dropped to her body, moving up over her ribs, moving up so he could push her bra out of the way. She couldn't stop herself from moaning when his hands cupped her breasts. Sera had never been touched like that before. She'd never imagined that she could feel as if all her nerves were singing simply from Asher's fingertips running lightly over her skin. "This is not a good place for this," Asher murmured, drawing his mouth away from hers just a bit. Sera opened her eyes and blinked at him. "What do you mean?" she asked. "It's not like anyone is going to catch us, way out here." "That's not what I mean," Asher said wryly. He moved his hands away and began straightening her clothes. "Besides, we should probably get some sleep." "Wait a minute!" Sera protested, grabbing his arm before he could move away. "Why? Did I do something wrong? You keep stopping..." Asher's expression was pained. She knew how much he hated talking about what was going on in his mind. But he seemed resigned, because he sat back and put an arm around her, pulling her against his side. He had to wriggle the blanket out from beneath them in order to drape it over them both once more. And even once they were covered, he fiddled with the fire, dug at the sand, trying to stall. You better give me an answer, buster, Sera thought, scowling at him. Or your ass is grass. Of course, she wasn't exactly expecting the answer he came out what. "Would I be right," Asher said, "in assuming you've never had sex before?" Sera just gaped at him. "That's what I thought," Asher said, chuckling. "So it's probably not the sort of thing you want to do for the first time on a beach in the middle of nowhere." "Who said we'd be doing... doing that, anyway!?" Sera demanded, her voice coming out in a squeak. Asher let out a frustrated growl and threw his hands up. She could see the tension in his body as he shifted away from her. Is he angry with me? she wondered. He doesn't look too happy. Actually, he looked rather... embarrassed. And she could tell he was trying to say something, but he couldn't figure out how. Well, he did a fine job with all that inner beauty stuff, Sera thought, scowling. What's the big deal? Because he really seemed unsettled by all of this. "It's... it's your body language..." Asher said, looking infinitely uncomfortable. "It's um... inviting..." He let out another one of those noises of irritation and looked away. "Do we have to talk about this right now?" I should have listened to my therapists when they told me I needed to socialize, Sera thought. Then maybe I'd know how to handle this situation. Figuring it probably wasn't wise to push the issue, she gathered the blanket up and scooted over to where Asher sat, so she could put the blanket around him, too. After a moment he relaxed and even laid back, allowing her to use his chest as a pillow. See, this isn't so bad, now is it? Sera thought, gazing up at him, trying to see through darkness. Of course, she wasn't about to say that out loud. Still... "Is that a good thing?" Sera asked. "My body language being inviting, I mean." Asher groaned. "Sera..." "I just wanted to know," Sera said defensively. "If it's a bad thing then I should fix it, don't you think?" "Let's just say it's a good thing for you," Asher said, his voice sounding exasperated and amused at the same time, "and a whole lot of trouble for me." He shifted a bit, arranging her so that she was in a position more comfortable for him. Then he lifted his head enough to gently kiss her forehead. "Get some sleep, you little brat. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day." ------- Chapter 10: Loss The woods surrounding Brookside Ranch were peaceful. Candace had discovered that she actually enjoyed horseback riding, when she was out alone in the woods. Sera often warned her that it wasn't wise to go riding out alone, in case something happened, but on a day like today it was hard to take that advice. It wasn't because it was a nice day, although it was. It was just that dealing with the backlash of Sera's recent arrest—erroneous though it might have been—was more than Candace felt up to today. Aside from which, Sera didn't seem to need her help. With Asher at her side, she was doing just fine. It seemed that, overall, it was better just to stay on the sidelines as far as Sera's life was concerned. Candace had never seen her this happy. Even with the trouble people were giving her over the whole incidence—in spite of the fact that she was innocent—Sera was coping pretty well. Of course she's coping well, Candace thought, smiling wryly to herself. Who wouldn't be, with a guy like Asher at their side twenty-four seven? Not that she was jealous. Well, maybe she was a little bit jealous. But there was little she could really do for Sera, so it just seemed better to stay out of the way. Absorbed in her thoughts as she was, Candace was nearly thrown from her horse when it spooked, reacting to a very large, very loud cracking sound. Trying to remember what she'd been taught, she jammed her heels down and sat back, tugging gently on the reins. The horse—a palomino mare named Dandelion—tossed her head up and sidestepped, but didn't bolt. What in the hell was that? Candace wondered, stroking the mare's neck in an attempt to soothe her. It sounded almost like a gun shot. But there was no way. Not out here. Mr. Ralston would never allow hunters on his land. "Easy girl," Candace murmured to the mare, who was still snorting nervously. "No big deal... probably just a tree branch snapping or something..." Keeping her voice low and soothing, she managed to calm the horse down enough so that they could resume their trek through the woods. Certainly it couldn't have been a gun shot. It had to have just been, like she'd said, a snapping tree branch, the sound merely magnified by the relative stillness of the trees. There's nothing out here but me, Dandelion, and some chipmunks, Candace told herself, as she straightened in the saddle and urged the mare forward again. Nothing to be worried about. Think of something else. Like, for example, what was she going to do about this thing between Sera and Asher? Because Sera had absolutely no clue when it came to guys. Eventually she was going to go to Candace for advice and what exactly was she supposed to tell her friend? It's not like my last attempt at a relationship was very successful either, she thought, rolling her eyes. I'm probably not the best person to go to anymore for this sort of thing. She wasn't sure who she was more angry with, herself or Cole. It had been stupid to get so gaga over him, especially with the way he'd treated Sera—something, she'd somehow gotten it into her head, she could break him of—but it wasn't her fault he'd decided to drop her for Bernadette. It seemed Candace was not to be allowed some time alone with her thoughts today. As she and Dandelion meandered slowly through the forest, in no hurry to be much of anywhere, her musings were once again interrupted, this time by what she could have sworn was a call for help. At first she thought it was her imagination, and continued on the way she'd been going. Then she heard it again, definitely a cry for help, so Candace turned Dandelion and urged her in the general direction of the sound. Who else is out here? she wondered, leaning over the mare's withers as she kicked into a lope. I know Sera and Asher are working and none of the guests are allowed to ride out alone. Led through the forest by the calls, she and Dandelion soon came out into a cleared area, right near the ocean. Except that it wasn't a beach, but more of a cliff, easily fifty or sixty feet above the water. Candace's eyes fell immediately on the horse, lying on its side near the cliff's edge, hardly moving but making soft, pain-filled groaning sounds. She had to look away when she saw that the horse's right front leg was snapped—and that the horse was Cole's. Which meant that that was who was calling for help. She jumped out of the saddle and headed over to the cliff edge, trying to keep Dandelion as far from the other horse as possible, so she wouldn't panic. Looking down, she found Cole clinging to a root that stuck out of the side of the cliff. He looked up and his eyes filled with relief when he saw her. Candace had never seen him looking so bedraggled and dazed. Not to mention exhausted. She imagined that the only reason he was still holding one was because the rock of the cliff jutted out in places, giving him somewhere to put his feet. Well, that and the jagged rocks below, poking up from the water like a sea serpent's teeth. "Auric," Cole gasped out. For a minute Candace didn't understand what he meant, until he added, "Where is he?" Oh my god, Candace thought, glancing very briefly at the ailing horse. He doesn't know. "How did you get down there?" she asked, trying to direct his attention elsewhere. "There was... a sound," Cole explained, still struggling to breathe, it seemed. "Like a gun shot. Auric bolted... I don't know, everything is a blur..." "I'm going to go get Asher," Candace said, sitting back on her heels. "He'll know how to get you down... er... up from there." "You're leaving?" Panic made Cole's voice sharp and high. "You're just going to leave?" He's afraid, Candace realized. Well, of course he is. He's only hanging five feet above sharp rocks. Still, if she couldn't leave him, how was she supposed to get help? She looked up at Dandelion, who was not at all happy about being so close to the cliff, or to Auric, who was still groaning in pain. Sera had always told her that horses, when spooked, tended to run for home. Candace stood up for a moment, ignoring Cole's pleading protests. She released Dandelion's reins and gave the mare a sharp slap on the rump, at the same time letting out a loud yell. Startled, the mare took off, hopefully in the direction of the ranch. This had better work, Candace thought, taking a seat near the cliff edge. ------- Sera was busy hosing down a mud-covered yearling when Dandelion came trotting into the stable yard, rider-less. Up until that point, her day hadn't been too bad. She'd been working with Asher, and he kept other people from bothering her. But as soon as she saw the mare—Candace's usual mount—she started yelling. Asher came bursting out of the stables, took one look at Dandelion, and began shouting orders at the stable hands. He came up behind Sera and rested his hands on her shoulders, giving her a gentle shake. "Go get Radical," Asher said, when she looked up at him. "Quickly." They both raced into the barn, her to saddle Radical, him to saddle Eagle. Asher had what he called a 'rescue kit'; saddle bags filled with a canteen, granola bars, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a blanket, rope, and a raincoat. There was also something long and thin that was rolled up in burlap, but he wouldn't tell her what it was. Sera had once recommended to him that he should add a cell phone to his rescue kit, but apparently Asher wasn't all that technologically savvy. Well I'll be changing his mind about that, she thought, gritting her teeth as she pulled the girth strap tight. Just see if I don't! She was so worried about Candace, she thought she was going to throw up. "How are we going to find her?" Sera wanted to know. She let Radical fall into step beside Eagle. "We have no idea where she is!" "The ground is still pretty wet from the rain last night," Asher said. He reached over and place a hand over hers, trying to reassure her. "We should be able to find tracks. As far as I know, no one else besides Candace went out today, so we won't have to worry about them being obscured." His soft voice and strong hands always calmed her down, at least a little. Enough so that she could help him look for tracks in the soft, damp ground. And they did find tracks, much to her relief. They were obviously Dandelion's tracks, because in most places the mud and turf was churned up, as if by a galloping horse. A panicked horse. What had spooked the mare so badly that she had run all the way home? And what had happened to Candace? The tracks led them into the forest, where it was dim and harder to see. There were broken branches that might have been from Dandelion's charge through the trees, but they couldn't be certain. Asher had to dismount and walk alongside Eagle, following what tracks they could see. It took them too long and Sera was near tears with frustration when they finally came out into a clear area near the ocean. A cliff, in fact, overlooking the ocean. She was shocked at what she saw. The horse laying on the ground she recognized as Cole's. Sera needed only a quick glance to see that he had snapped his right cannon bone. Candace was sitting on the ground not far from where the horse lay, leaning over slightly to talk to someone apparently somewhere below the line of the cliff. Cole, Sera realized, as she began to put together the pieces of what had happened here. Oh my god. She was off of Radical faster than an eye blink and dashing past Asher, who was quickly getting the rope from the saddle bag, made for the edge of the cliff. Skidding to a halt before the edge, next to Candace, she looked down to see Cole dangling from a root. "Thank god you're here," Candace said, springing to her feet and throwing her arms around Sera. "I thought you'd never get here." "You scared the hell out of me!" Sera scolded, hugging her friend tight. "When Dandelion came into the yard without you... what were you thinking?" "I had to stay," Candace whispered, so quietly Sera barely heard her. "He was scared. And... he doesn't know about..." Candace glanced over in the horse's direction. Auric, Sera knew his name was, from reading it off the chart at feeding time. While Asher lowered a rope, tied around the horn of Eagle's saddle, down to Cole, she went over to Auric and knelt by his head. He was long past the point of thrashing in pain or even making much noise. She stroked his nose gently and murmured to him, but there was nothing she could do to soothe him. A broken cannon bone usually ended up fatal for a horse. Auric's break was worse than any she'd seen before. With the help of Asher, Eagle, and Candace, Cole was able to scramble up over the edge of the cliff. He was ragged, covered in dirt, with scrapes on his face and arms, and his clothing was torn. Sera expected him to complain about something: the fact that he'd been down there so long or the fact that they'd had to rescue him. Anything. But as soon as Cole's gaze fell on his horse, he went still and silent. He knows what it means, Sera thought, rising and wiping dirt from her hands and jeans. "Sera, take Candace and go back to the ranch," Asher said. His voice was cold and grim. "Call a vet." "But..." Sera began, glancing from Auric to Cole and back again. "Go," Asher said firmly. "Take Eagle. Go quickly." He walked untied the rope from Eagle's saddle, then also untied the long, thin bundle. Suddenly Sera realized what it was. Feeling sick and dizzy, she grabbed Eagle's reins, and Candace's arm, and began dragging her friend away. Although Candace protested some, Sera managed to get her up on Radical's back and away from the clearing fairly quickly. I just want to get out of here, she thought, nudging Eagle into a canter. I want to get away from here before... Candace let out a startled cry at the sound of a shotgun going off. Reaching out, Sera grabbed hold of Radical's bridle, and spurred Eagle into a gallop, leaving her friend with no choice but to speed away from the forest and back towards the ranch. She didn't slow the horses until they were almost back to the main buildings, too far away for Candace to go back. Why would anyone want to? Sera wondered, trying to hold back her tears. All I want is to go curl up somewhere dark. Candace, however, had other ideas. She pulled Radical to a halt, refusing to budge. "How could they?" she demanded. "That was cruel!" Sera spun Eagle around to face her friend. "Cruel? Candace, how long were you out there?" "I... I don't know..." Candace stammered, a little taken aback. "I think... I mean, I was out riding Dandelion and I heard this sound like... like that, just now. And I thought... well, I don't know what I thought, I just kept riding." She loosened her hold on Radical's reins and the horse started walking again, albeit slowly. "It was awhile before I found Cole, and then I sent Dandelion back to the ranch and..." "That horse was laying there like that for a long time," Sera said quietly. "Calling a vet... sheesh. Even for an emergency call, it could take the vet an hour or more to get here, if she's out on call right now. You're telling me it isn't cruel to leave Auric just laying there in pain like that for so long?" "But... but isn't there something we could have done?" Candace asked. "I mean... people break limbs all the time..." "Horses aren't people," Sera said, with forced patience. She was trying so hard not to cry. "They're animals that, by nature, spend most of their lives on their feet. Auric snapped his cannon bone... badly." As Radical and Eagle drew even again, Sera reached out and took hold of Candace's hand, trying to offer her friend some comfort. "There is surgery... expensive... things that can be done. But... thoroughbreds like Auric are often too high-strung to deal with the recovery. More than likely it would have just meant more pain for him, and delaying the inevitable." Sera didn't know what else to say. She couldn't explain to Candace just how bad Auric's injury had been. He must have been running fast when he slipped. She imagined he'd tried to avoid falling off the cliff and had come down badly on his right leg. Eagle Flight had done similar one time, during warm ups at the National Horse Show, but he'd only had a mild sprain. Even that had been a long recovery. I can't stand it when this sort of thing happens, Sera thought, reaching down and clutching a handful of Eagle's mane. I can't. It makes me think of the accident... She let Candace go inside and stayed in the stable herself, brushing down Eagle and Radical, and trying to keep her mind off that day. It was soothing, spending time with the horses. Her mind reeled with the suddenness of what had happened. Sera hardly noticed the looks and whispers of the ranch guests who passed her on their way to dinner. At the moment her own problems felt far away. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she would feel such sorrow on Cole's behalf. She was standing on the bottom rail of the paddock fence, staring out over the wide, grassy expanse, when Asher returned. Sera didn't see him approach, only hear him say her name softly behind her. She turned and dropped down off the fence, straight into his arms. He'd been gone for so long, she'd started to wonder. Burying her face against his shoulder, Sera held to him tightly for a long while. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what. Part of her was angry with Asher. Another part of her knew that what she'd said to Candace earlier, even though it had been painful, had been only the truth. "Are you okay?" Asher asked quietly, pulling back to look at her face. Sera shrugged. "I don't know," she answered, honestly. "I um... I guess this is all really... sudden..." "I know," Asher said. He turned towards the fence, running his fingers through his hair in agitation. "Cole says he heard a gun shot... apparently pretty close. And Auric took off." "Candace said she heard it too," Sera told him. She leaned against the fence next to him. "Do you think it's true?" "Yes, I do." Asher's voice was soft and grim. "Cole might be an ass, but he wouldn't lie about something so serious." He turned his head slightly, to look at her. "I have a feeling I know who's behind this, Sera. This isn't the first time this has happened." ------- "Where are you going?" Candace froze. She looked over at Sera's bed, to find her friend peeking out from beneath her covers, blinking sleepily. Usually Sera didn't wake up when she snuck out, but it seemed she wasn't going to have that sort of luck tonight. She leaned her back against the screen door, reaching behind herself to catch the handle and push, just enough to get the door to open. The night air came rushing in, hot and humid, making Candace groan inwardly. She had no desire to trek across the ranch when it was hot out like this, but there was something she had to do. "Nowhere," Candace whispered, in answer to her friend's question. "Okay," Sera murmured, burrowing back down beneath the covers. She would have laughed, if the situation weren't so serious. Shaking her head, Candace slipped out of the cabin and started off across the ranch. Except for quiet chirping, crickets or cicadas, or some kind of bug, the ranch was almost completely still and silent. In the front paddock Asher's horse, Eagle, was wandering around near the fence, cropping lazily at the grass. Although it was out of her way, Candace stopped by the fence and reached through the rails. Everyone warned her to stay away from Eagle, who liked no one but Asher—and Sera, apparently—but she wasn't afraid. The horse lifted his head and sniffed at her fingers curiously, then went back to grazing. Candace stepped quietly as she reached the area where the other cabins, including Cole's and Asher's, stood. When she reached Cole's she paused outside the door, bent down, and reached under the stairs. It was easy enough to grab hold of the key hanging underneath and pull it up. Cole had told her one night, when they'd been lounging in bed together, that the real reason he kept the key under there was because he had a tendency to forget his. Back then, he'd seemed so real, so different from the way he acted around everyone else. When the whole thing with Bernadette had happened, Candace had decided that it had all been an act. Now she was beginning to wonder. The cabin was silent and dark, but she could tell that Cole was laying on the bed. Stepping carefully so she wouldn't trip, she made her way over there. He didn't even lift his head when she sat down on the edge of the bed, but she knew he was awake. "I'd ask you how you're doing," Candace said quietly, "but I doubt you're feeling very good." "There was nothing else we could do." Cole's voice was soft and hoarse, with an edge of desperation, as if he just wasn't sure they'd done the right thing. "Sera said as much," Candace said. "That... he was in a lot of pain. Still... it must have been difficult..." "Difficult?" Now Cole sat up. He even turned to face her. Despite the darkness, she could tell he was upset; she could feel the tension quivering in the air between them. "You know, my grandfather which much rather have Asher as a grandson than me. The only time I ever though I had his approval was when he gave me Auric. And now Auric is gone." "I know you're upset..." Candace began. Cole let out a short, bitter laugh. "Upset? You don't get it," he said. "Auric may have been a horse, but he was also the only one who liked me for some other reason than I'm the heir to a very large fortune!" He dropped back down onto the bed, turning his back on her once more. "God, aren't I pathetic? My only real friend was a horse." Candace took a deep breath. Well, I guess even jerks have feelings, she thought. Though why this sort of thing has to happen before they become aware of it, I don't know. Certainly she'd seen this in Cole before. All those times she'd gotten on his case for the way he treated Sera, he would get very quiet, like a small child who was well aware of what he'd done wrong. Sera could be very mean, too, Candace thought, back when she'd just lost her family. From the things she'd seen and heard, Cole didn't feel like he'd ever had a family. "Well, I for one never cared about your money," Candace said. "Money can't take the place of a person's human aspects... like forgetting their keys." Was she imagining it, or did he actually almost laugh at that? "Being friends with Sera, I've learned a lot about the value of people." "You sure didn't show it, for awhile there," Cole pointed out. "Before that whole shoplifting thing, you hadn't spoken to her in weeks." Candace rolled her eyes. "Yes, well, Sera—unlike some people—is growing up, and she needs her space," she said. "And who are you to criticize me, when you've treated her so poorly?" "If you're here to lecture me about all the things I've failed at," Cole said, his voice hard and angry, "then please leave. You may not have noticed, but I'm really not in the mood today." Since she knew from experience that telling him to stop feeling sorry for himself wasn't going to work, Candace just remained quiet. There was so much pain radiating from his voice that it was hard to stay angry with him. It's ironic, she thought, shifting up onto the bed next to him, that the one person who can understand what he's going through right now thinks he's a complete slug. Well, they were going to have to work on that. For the moment, though, Candace just settled down next to him, reaching to put her arms around him. Cole startled her by turning suddenly and grabbing hold of her. He buried his face in her hair and held onto her tightly, almost too tightly. Asher and Sera will figure out just what happened out there today, Candace thought, running her hand along Cole's arm, trying her best to soothe him. And when they do, someone is going to be in some serious trouble. ------- Chapter 11: Heating Up "Oh, come on! You can tell me!" Sera just shook her head. She continued brushing Eagle, let the feeling of his soft coat beneath her hands soothe her embarrassment. Candace was her best friend, it was true, but she didn't think she could tell anybody about what was going on with Asher. There are other things to worry about right now than my relationship, she thought, staring down at Eagle's mane. But... I could use some advice... Candace knew more about relationships than anyone else she knew. It was only that Sera wasn't sure what to think at the moment, because her friend had begun sneaking out to Cole's cabin at night again. "I can't help you if you don't tell me," Candace wheedled. She was sitting on a tack box a few feet away, holding a can of Diet Coke in her hands and sipping occasionally. "I have to know what's been going on... you know, kissing, petting... above the waist, below the waist..." "Candace!" Sera hissed, her cheeks burning. "Don't talk so loud!" Candace rolled her eyes. "There's no one in here but us," she pointed out. "Well, and the horses. But I doubt they're going to tell anyone." Sera sighed. The thought of telling anyone made her stomach twist in knots, but things were starting to get complicated. Since that night by the fire, she found herself getting anxious and feeling awkward around him. Not that I didn't already, she thought, but it's getting worse. What else could she do? She dropped the brush into the bucket near the tack box, then unhooked the crossties and lead Eagle into his stall. He wasn't happy about going in there, but Sera figured he could deal with it while she talked to Candace. Her friend scooted over on the tack box, giving her some room to sit down. "So?" Candace urged. "Well, I... that is..." Sera stammered, uncertain how to begin. "Have you guys kissed?" Candace asked. Sera just nodded. "And anything else?" Candace handed the soda can to her. It was warm, but at least it was wet. "We um..." She clutched the soda can tightly. "Well, you know... ahhh! I can't say it! You know I can't say it!" Candace chuckled. "In other words, things are getting pretty serious." Sera just nodded again. Her friend slid an arm around her shoulder and gave her a small hug. God, I am such a loser, she thought, twisting her fingers together anxiously. I can't handle something like this... But this was big. She supposed she was getting better at it, though. A few months ago, kissing would have seemed like a big thing. It was just that she felt so pathetic, being so far behind. This sort of situation made Sera feel like she was still a teenager, and she wasn't. "Look, don't worry," Candace said, patting her arm gently. "It's not like you don't know about protection. Plus, it probably won't hurt very much." Sera blinked in confusion. "Why not?" "Um, hello?" Candace rolled her eyes. "Thin little membrane plus bouncing around on a horse all the time? Sheesh, don't you listen to any of those articles I read aloud from magazines?" "Not really," Sera admitted, grinning. She was feeling a little better now. "I really don't need to know seventy-six different ways to please my man in bed. Or at least, I never have before." That made Candace laugh. She gave Sera a small, playful shove, then snatched her Diet Coke back. "There are some useful articles in those things, you know. You'd be surprised by the amount of things women don't know about their own bodies." Sera wasn't surprised by anything she didn't know about her own body. Although she did remember, vaguely, what Candace was talking about. The school she'd gone to, when she was still in high school, had been really liberal minded about sex ed. In fact, she'd learned quite a few details that she'd never wanted to know. I guess I should be grateful I was taught at all, though, Sera thought. So many kids aren't. She grabbed the soda can back from Candace; brushing horses was thirsty work. The two of them were fighting of the soda can—playfully, though—and laughing, when the barn door slid open. They both jumped, startled. Sera would have expected Asher, but as soon as she heard the sound of crutches, she realized it was Bernadette. She hadn't seen the other girl since that day at the mall, and she hadn't really wanted to, either. She knew that it was Diana, Sera thought, narrowing her eyes as Bernadette slowly hobbled her way towards them. Yet she didn't say a word! She just let them arrest me! She was still furious about that, and apparently so was Candace, because she could feel her friend tense. "Need something?" Candace said, her tone cool. "Just wanted to visit the horses," Bernadette answered. She looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything..." "Oh, we were just talking about Sera's and Asher's sex life," Candace said brightly. Sera's eyes widened. "Candace!" she exclaimed. "Shut up!" "Aw, come on," Candace said, smiling. "She needs to know that she can't come between you two." She paused for a minute and studied Sera. "Although your fashion sense might, if you don't do something about it." I'm going to kill her, Sera thought, gritting her teeth. I swear to God, I'm going to kill her. What was Candace doing? Both her friend and Bernadette were laughing, although Bernadette at least tried to smother it. But she noticed that, despite her laughter, Candace's eyes were hard. That was when she realized what her friend was up to. Candace leaned back against the wall behind her and folded her arms, gazing at Bernadette until the other girl froze like a frightened deer. Uh oh, Sera thought, this could get really ugly. "It's too bad you don't have a lot of money, Sera," Candace said. Her eyes were on Bernadette, though. "Although that might turn you into a spoiled little brat who lets her friends get framed for shoplifting, so maybe you should stick to t-shirts and jeans." Instead of getting upset or angry, Bernadette frowned. "But what about the money my parents gave you?" she asked, puzzled. "What money?" Sera stared at her. "I haven't had a dime to my name in God only knows how long." "But... but they were supposed to... I thought..." Bernadette stammered. She burst into tears. Candace and Sera had to leap up and catch her, because she simply let her crutches fall. Oh, now what? Sera thought, sighing heavily as she and Candace helped Bernadette onto the tack box. I really don't need this right now. She was still hurt by what Bernadette had done. Until that day at the mall, she'd really begun to believe that Bernadette really wanted to be friends. "God, stop blubbering," Candace grumbled. "What's your damage, girl?" "Candace," Sera said, in a warning tone. "Look, Bernadette... you're the one who betrayed me. What right do you have to be crying?" "Because!" Bernadette sobbed. "I... I t-t-thought you only... that y-you were being nice because... because my parents were paying you." She hiccupped. "People are only ever nice to me because I have money." Sera didn't quite know what to say to that. She sat down on the edge of the tack box and reached out, gently touching Bernadette's shoulder. Much to her surprise—and mortification—the girl turned and started sobbing against her arm. Looking up, she saw Candace throw her hands up and roll her eyes. Well, what am I supposed to do? she thought at her friend, because she couldn't say it allowed. This girl is beautiful and she has tons of money, but she has lower self-esteem than me. That in and of itself was a revelation, but it was one Sera would have to consider later, when there wasn't someone crying into her t-shirt. All she could do was sit there until Bernadette stopped. I wonder what she meant, about her parents paying me, Sera thought. No one said anything to me about any money. Not that that would have mattered, anyway. She'd enjoyed spending time with Bernadette. Still, she couldn't help feeling a little excited at the prospect. It would be nice to have something other than jeans and t-shirts to wear when she was around Asher. "I'm sorry," Bernadette sniffed, when she finally stopped crying. She straightened and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, apparently unconcerned about getting herself messy. "I know that doesn't make up for what I did, but I really am sorry." "It's okay," Sera said, ignoring Candace, who was mouthing the word 'no' at her. "I mean... I understand..." "Really?" Bernadette perked up. "You forgive me?" Sera continued to ignore Candace, who was shaking her head emphatically. "Sure," she said. Candace threw her hands up again, looking really annoyed. What am I supposed to do? Sera wondered, looking at her friend. She was crying, for cripes sake! She didn't know what to do when people started crying. Finally Bernadette let go of her, and she was able to slide awkwardly off the tack box. Picking up Bernadette's crutches, she made to give them back to the girl, but she had her cell phone out and was dialing. What the hell? Sera thought. Does she announce it to people every time someone forgives her or something? She glanced at Candace, but her friend just shrugged; it was obvious she was rather irritated at the moment. "Hey, bro," Bernadette said into the phone. "Wanna do me a favor and forge daddy's signature for me?" Her brother—it must have been her brother—said something that made her laugh. "Yeah, I know. Look, just send over a check for fourteen-hundred, written out to Seraphim Langley, okay?" Sera nearly choked. Fourteen-hundred dollars? she thought, staring wide-eyed at Bernadette. Sheesh, no wonder she thought I was just nice to her for the money! She wasn't the best at math, but doing quick figures in her head, she knew that that had to be around fifty dollars a day. Poor Bernadette, Sera thought, feeling a little more warmth towards the girl. She obviously needs some understanding. Maybe Candace understood that, because she'd calmed down and looked resigned. Bernadette snapped her phone shut, grinning. "Maybe that will teach my parents not to be such narrow-minded assholes." ------- Asher's work wasn't finished, but his rumbling stomach insisted that it was time to stop, for now. He set the last bale of hay down in the tack room; he'd have to get a couple more, later. Maybe I'll get Sera's help, he thought, smiling to himself. I haven't gotten to spend time with her all day. Although things were a little awkward between him and Sera. It was like the closer they got, the less confident she felt about their relationship. Trust her to do things backwards, Asher thought wryly. This is harder work than hauling bales of hay. Still, it was kind of sweet, that it was so important to her. They just had to work at it a little harder. He found Sera waiting for him just outside the dining hall. In typical Sera fashion, she had on jean shorts, a t-shirt, and her work boots. Her hair was pulled to the side to cover her face. I wish she didn't have to do that, Asher thought, reaching up and touching her other cheek. But it must be so hard to look in the mirror and see those memories staring back out at her. Still, when she smiled, she fit her name rather well, in his opinion. And Sera always smiled when she saw him, but tonight she looked even happier than usual. "What's got you so excited?" he asked, as they walked into the dining hall together. "You look like you're ready to burst." "It's... well... you're not going to believe this," Sera said. "Guess what I'm doing tomorrow." "Mucking stalls?" Asher ventured, widening his eyes in feigned innocence. She gave him a little shove. "Aside from that, slave driver," Sera grumbled. "I'm uh... well, I'm going to the mall. A different mall!" she added hastily, when she saw the expression on his face. While they collected trays and started spooning dinner onto them, (American Chop Suey, which Asher hated, but he was hungry enough to eat anything) Sera explained what had happened that afternoon. The thought of her spending time with Bernadette, of all people, made him nervous. Sure, it was kind of cool, that Bernadette had had her brother forge her father's signature on a check; he just didn't want to see Sera get hurt again like that. She seemed unconcerned, though. She's learning how to forgive, Asher thought, as he set his tray down next to hers. I guess it's a good thing, for her to learn forgiveness. "What, exactly, are you going to get at the mall?" Asher asked, glancing sidelong at her while they ate. Sera looked down at her plate, her cheeks turning pink. "Well, um... clothes, I guess..." "You have clothes," Asher said. He realized the moment he said it how stupid it was. "I mean... well... have fun." What is wrong with me? he thought, grimacing. I've never had trouble like this with a girl. It was as if her nervousness made him nervous. But, really, clothes shopping? Asher couldn't help wondering what kind of clothes than entailed. Since Candace and Bernadette were going with her, he doubted that she was going to pick up some more jeans and t-shirts. I'd like to see her in a dress or something, actually, he thought, glancing over at her. I bet she'd look good... Sera always looked good to him, but maybe some nicer clothes might help her self-esteem a bit. That was definitely something she needed to work at. "Maybe it's frivolous," Sera said quietly. She nudged her American Chop Suey across her plate with her fork, suddenly uninterested in it. "No, it's not," Asher assured her hastily. "It's a great idea. I just have guy mentality... you know, grab a shirt and go." That made her smile a little. Yeah, so, so smooth, Asher, he thought, sighing inwardly. Regular Casanova... that's me. Well, he'd just have to fix it. And since he was planning on spending time with her tonight, he figured he'd be able to do that. Assuming, of course, he wasn't having to wrestle with any... impulses. Which he usually had to, around Sera. Still, Asher leaned closer to her and put his lips near her ear; he felt her shiver, and saw her cheeks heat. "Meet me in the stable later, okay?" he said quietly. Her answer was a silent, wide-eyed nod. ------- When Asher had invited her to join him in the stable later, Sera had been expecting... Well, she didn't know what she'd been expecting, but this wasn't it. She dropped down onto a stack of hay, groaning softly. From head to toe she was covered in sweat, and her arms ached from tossing bales of hay over the side of the loft. If I'd have known he was going to make me work, Sera thought, scowling up at the dim bulb flickering above her head, I wouldn't have come. She'd been hoping to spend time with him, especially since she was going to be gone most of the day tomorrow. The ladder clattered against the floor of the loft, which meant that Asher must be coming up. And that meant that they were done. Thank god, she thought, sighing. She was glad to see that Asher, at least, was just as sweaty as she was, if not more so. He paused at the top of the ladder and lifted his shirt up to wipe the sweat from his face. Suddenly Sera didn't mind so much, that she'd come out here only to work. She was able to stare outright, for those few seconds while his face was covered, before having to look away so he wouldn't notice. By the time he settled down next to her on the straw, her heart was pounding. "God, I hate doing that," Asher muttered, pulling his hat down over his eyes. "Hey, you had help," Sera reminded him. "Misled help, but help nonetheless." Asher chuckled. "I appreciate it. I really do." "Oh, yeah, sure," Sera grumbled. She sat up and reached over, pulling his hat away. "The least you could do is look at me!" Bad idea, Sera thought, her heart starting up again as his eyes fell on her face. A slight smile touched the corners of his mouth and his eyelids lowered just a bit. She wondered if he knew how sexy he looked like that; it made her mouth go dry. Suddenly unsure what to do, she sat back on her heels, her gaze flickering from his face to his chest and back again. Guys are supposed to be stinky when they're sweaty, Sera thought, admiring the way his shirt clung to him. Not sexy. Maybe there was just something wrong with her. "Stop that," Asher said quietly. Sera blinked at him. "Stop what?" "You know what," he murmured, that teasing smile growing a bit wider. Asher reached up and caught hold of her hair, gently tugging her towards him. "You keep that up, I might end up having to RSVP." Sera wasn't sure exactly what got into her then. She closed the distance between them and pressed her mouth to his. His fingers wound into her hair, holding her closer. She could feel his body beneath hers, feel muscle moving as he shifted and tumbled her over onto the straw. They way he settled over her, she could feel his hips against her thighs. She let her eyes flutter shut and relaxed, sinking into the straw as he kissed her. Asher's lips coaxed hers open gently, and this time when his tongue brushed against hers, she didn't pull away; although a shiver of delight did shoot down her spine. His hands slid beneath her shirt, warm and gentle, just gliding lightly over her skin. Although his fingers traced between her scars and around them carefully, she knew it was only because he didn't want to hurt her. Sera pressed against his hand, wishing he would touch her with more... enthusiasm, perhaps. As if he were reading her mind, Asher rested his palm completely on her skin and slid his hand up over her ribs. His fingers pushed her bra aside, then gently stroked the curve of her breast. A feeling of heat traveled through her body as his fingertips danced lightly along her breast, and brushed over her nipple. Asher pulled his mouth away, trailing kisses down the side of her cheek and along her neck. Sera moaned softly, shivering when he nipped gently at her earlobe. His free hand moved back down her stomach, down to her the waist of her jean shorts. Butterflies began to flutter in her belly as he pulled them open and slid his hand beneath. She was trembling by then; with anticipation, not fear. Everything fled from her mind except for the feeling of his breath, warm against her neck, until he touched her. That first touch sent a pleasurable feeling racing along her nerves, making her gasp out loud. "Shhh," Asher murmured, covering her mouth with his. Her soft moans were lost against his lips as he gently teased her clit. It was just a light touch, but she found herself lifting her hips against it all the same. Her body tightened as he slid a finger slowly inside her and even his mouth couldn't muffle her gasp then. His thumb pressed against her clit, stroking as he moved his finger in and out, a slow, careful motion that made her whole body feel warm and tight. Sera buried her fingers in his hair, needing to hold onto him. When his mouth left hers again, she couldn't keep herself from moaning. Asher lowered his head to her breasts, finding her nipple, which was now so hard it hurt, and caught it between his lips. His tongue soothed even as it made that sweet burning sensation increase. Sera lifted her free hand to her mouth, pressing her knuckles firmly against her lips, trying to quiet herself. Each time his finger dipped back inside her, she lifted her hips and let out a soft, muffled cry. The tenseness built in her body until she thought it would make her crazy, and then suddenly it released in waves that made her cry out so loudly, Asher had to clamp his own hand over her mouth to quiet her down. Panting softly, still shuddering a bit, she pulled his hand away and tugged him back down to her. At that moment Sera didn't give a damn where they were. She pulled his shirt up and ran her hands along his back, and was rewarded with a soft little sound from his lips. He kissed her, hard, and she knew he wasn't going to stop this time. And then the barn door slammed. The only thing that kept her from screaming was Asher's hand over her mouth. Both of them froze, staring at each other in surprise and chagrin. This is not fair! Sera thought. It's just... not fair! Her body was still tingling, even though Asher had taken his hand away. She didn't want to stop. But they could hear footsteps coming down the aisle and soon, voices. She tried to remember if it was possible to see the loft clearly from the floor. "You've been warned! Hunting on our land is against the law, and you know it!" That was the voice of Mr. Ralston's son, Joseph. Sera recognized him when he was angry, because he was always angry at her. The voice that answered was deeper, and full of smugness. "Your land? What makes you think it's your land?" "Don't start that again, Red," Ralston warned. "You've got nothing." "I've got this." There was the crinkling of paper, followed by a short silence. "Court seems to think it's legit." "Fuck the court!" Ralston growled. Sera was so startled, she almost gasped. "A horse of ours had to be put down because you and those lumbering morons you call sons felt the need to go out and shoot something! You stay off my land or I'll have the police drag you off!" "It's not your land, Joe," the man, Red, said, his voice so full of arrogance it made her cringe. "The police will be dragging you off, if you set foot there. Who gives a shit about one dumb beast? It's just a horse." More footsteps, followed by the slamming of the door at the opposite end of the barn. There was more yelling, too, but Sera couldn't quite hear it. She held tight to Asher, who had sank down against her and buried his face in her hair. He was angry; furious, even, he was shaking with it. He said it happened before, she thought, running her fingers through his hair in a futile attempt to soothe him. It must have been that Red guy. What did he have, that made him think he had a right to hunt on Brookside Ranch? And how dare he talk that way! Sera thought, angry tears burning in her eyes. Who the hell does he think he is? ------- Chapter 12: Even Though The patch of moonlight on the cabin floor would have been enough to get dressed by, but she didn't bother. Instead, Sera pulled on her brand new robe, cinching it tight around her, and slid her feet into a pair of rubber-soled slippers. I could just turn the light on, she thought, glancing back at the empty bed next to hers. Candace isn't here... again. But probably Asher would be asleep, so there was no point in getting fully dressed when she'd be coming right back. And it was a very hot night. Even with the robe over it, she was much cooler in her t-shirt than she would have been fully dressed. It was odd having new clothes, but really nice, too. And agreeing to accept the money had made it easier to convince Bernadette to stop paying her from now on. Sera had gotten to meet Bernadette's brother, who had brought the check—the one actually signed by their father—and she'd liked him. This was apparently a game the two siblings liked to play. Their father would do anything to keep his son's delinquent nature from ruining his own reputation. So whenever Bernadette's brother forged his father's signature for something, he would promise never to do it again in return for a favor—in this case, getting his father to sign Sera's check. According to Bernadette, her brother did this sort of thing about half a dozen times a year. So now she had new t-shirts and jeans, socks and underwear, all sorts of practical stuff—and one not so practical outfit that both Candace and Bernadette had insisted she buy. The rest of the money had gone away in a bank account that Asher had helped her open. It was nice of him to help me, even though he's been so down lately, Sera thought, as she stepped up the stairs to his cabin. I know he and Joe Ralston are working together to figure out what to do about that Red guy. That's enough to bum anyone out. She knocked quietly, and a moment later heard him invite her in. It was dim inside the cabin, with only a few flickering candles to provide light. The faint smell of sandalwood and cinnamon hung in the air. Asher was laying on his back, his hands tucked behind his head, staring at the ceiling. The flickering candlelight warmed his tanned skin to a golden-brown, contrasting starkly with the white sheet low on his hips. Yikes, Sera thought, sucking in her breath sharply, as she made her way over to the bed. I don't think he's wearing anything under there... She clutched her robe tightly around her, kicking off her slippers before climbing up onto the bed next to him. "You should be asleep," Asher said quietly. "Well, I can't sleep," Sera retorted, stung. "I was worried about you." Asher turned his head to look up at her. "I know," he murmured. "Come here, Sera." She crawled across the bed and settled against his side, sighing as he put an arm around her. Sera rested her head against his chest, closing her eyes and savoring the feeling of his warm skin against hers. Pressed up against him like that, the robe was really too warm for her, but she wasn't about to leave. He needed her; she could tell by the way he held onto her. Asher might not be very verbal about his feelings, but there were times, like now, when he couldn't hide them from her. Sera would stay as long as he needed her there. "Nice robe," Asher said. His voice was lighter than it had been. "Looks cozy." "A little too cozy," Sera admitted. Asher shifted onto his side and stared down at her. She could see candlelight reflected in his dark eyes, and something else, something that made her tremble from head to toe. Slowly she propped herself up onto one elbow, and he settled back on the bed. Sera pulled her legs up beneath her and sat up, bracing her hands on his chest. Both Candace and Bernadette had teased her about 'comforting' him, but neither of them knew she'd been considering it. The heat of his skin and the rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her hands made her lightheaded. Maybe I should leave, Sera thought, before I do something stupid. "Maybe you should leave," Asher said quietly, echoing her thoughts. "Before..." Sera cocked her head curiously as he trailed off. "Before?" "Before I help you get un-cozy," Asher murmured. The tone of his voice made her shiver. She leaned forward, letting her eyes drift closed as she lowered her mouth to his. The scent of soap mingled with sandalwood and cinnamon, filling her with a sense of comfort. Asher's mouth was warm and welcoming, and he brought his arms up around her as she kissed him. Now I really am too hot, Sera thought, shifting uncomfortably in her robe. Despite that she sank down against him, parting her lips at the gentle insistence of his tongue. Asher's hands wandered down her sides, finding the tie of her robe. He tugged, and had it open before she fully realized what he was doing. Startled, Sera pulled her mouth away from his and sat up. She was half in his lap, her robe sliding down her shoulders, her t-shirt having ridden up around her hips. She could feel something hard and hot under the sheet, pressing against her thigh. Asher gazed up at her, his dark eyes heavy-lidded, an expression of mild disappointment on his face. "I was hoping you weren't wearing anything under that," he admitted, flashing a small, crooked smile. Sera swallowed. "Are you wearing anything under this?" she asked, plucking at the sheet. "No," Asher answered, his smile widening. "Is that a problem?" Sera shook her head. He was right, she thought, shrugging off her robe. He really is a man... just quieter about it than most men. Yet she found she kind of liked that about him. It was thrilling, the way he slid his hands beneath her shirt and up along her back as she leaned forward to kiss him again. She kissed his mouth once, then his neck, finding sensitive spots with her lips. Asher smelled so good, and he made soft little groaning noises when she hit the right spot, that made her whole body tighten. Right there, Sera thought smugly, listening to his moan as she nuzzled behind his earlobe. I like being able to do that. While she discovered her newly realized powers, Asher ran his hands along her back, his fingertips stroking along her spine and tracing little whorls across her skin. It was so soothing that she relaxed completely. At least, until his hands slid around to her stomach, then up to cup her breasts. Sera sat up, so startled that she couldn't even choke out a gasp. Worse, his hands felt so good and were so warm that she wanted to just sink against his touch. Although, she thought, biting her lip as his thumbs brushed over the tips of her nipples, that might not be such a bad thing. "That's for being such a troublemaker," Asher explained, his voice soft and slightly ragged. Behave, she told herself. Behave, behave, be—aw, hell. "If that's how you punish me," Sera said, "it certainly isn't going to get me to stop." Asher chuckled. "I wish I'd known sooner," he said, grinning. "I thought you were supposed to be quiet and shy." He continued to fondle her gently, almost too gently, really. Screw quiet and shy, Sera thought, straightening up. I've been quiet and shy my whole life... I want to be different for once! She caught the hem of her t-shirt and yanked it up over head, throwing it aside to meet Asher's wide, startled gaze. For a bare second she started to panic, realizing that she'd exposed every one of her awful scars; then Asher's arms were around her, and he dragged her down to him and kissed her hard. Nearly every thought went out the window then, but Sera had the presence of mind to pull back for a second. "I guess I've got a thing for cowboys," she explained breathlessly. "Should I be worried?" Asher sounded equally breathless. "There's an awful lot of those around here." "No, there isn't," Sera assured him, her words slightly muffled against his mouth. "You're the real thing." It was a new sensation, having her body pressed up against his like this. She closed her eyes and relaxed against him as they kissed. Asher followed the line of her body with his hand, down along her waist and over her hip. When her curled his fingers around the waistband of her panties and tugged, she knew what he wanted. Trembling a little, Sera sat up, sliding off of his lap. She turned away, listening to the rustle of sheets and the creaking of the bed, as she pulled her panties off. When she turned back, Asher was sitting up on the bed across from her, the sheet having slid off his lap. She felt her cheeks turning hot, but she turned and settled herself across from him, also sitting. He was very patient. In the near-dark and near-silence they sat, exchanging gentle kisses and hesitant touches. Asher's hands were more assured than hers, and when his fingers traced the curve of her breast, or explored between her thighs, all she could do was sit there, shaking slightly and moaning. Sera was much more uncertain, following the natural lines of his muscles as she trailed her fingers down his chest. It was easy enough to kiss him, and she kept lifting her mouth to his, eager for more of that. But her hands trembled more the further down his stomach that they traveled. Asher caught her hands in his and held them, gently rubbing his fingers over her knuckles. Relax, Sera thought, taking a deep breath. Relax, this is Asher, he would never—ooo! She shivered as his mouth suddenly found her earlobe. Much like she'd done, he moved down her neck, finding sensitive spots with his lips as he worked his way down. Except that unlike her, he didn't stop at her neck. Asher kissed his way down over her collar bone to her breast. Sera drew in her breath sharply as his lips closed around her nipple. She closed her eyes and sighed his name, all of her uncertainty rushing out of her. When she opened her eyes again, still tingling from his mouth, she watched him lean over and retrieve something from a drawer in the bedside table. Sera's mouth went a little dry as she saw, in a flicker of dying candlelight, that he was holding a condom. Asher's expression was still patient, but questioning now as well. She gazed back at him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. Sera was a little surprised when he handed the condom over to her. Leaning close to her, he helped her get the wrapper open. She was shaking again, not really from fear, more from anticipation. And her cheeks were bright red, as well; she felt ridiculously awkward and inexperienced. She kept jumping every time her fingers brushed against him so Asher, chuckling softly, decided to forego showing her how to put the condom on this time and just did it himself. "Come here," he said, tugging her with him as he laid back on the bed. Sera could feel him pressing against her stomach. "I..." "Don't be afraid," Asher said quietly. He rested his hands on her hips and lifted them up. Sera braced her hands against her chest, her eyes widening as she felt him at her entrance. Asher did nothing else but wait, his hands on her hips, his eyes on her face. She leaned forward, comforting herself with the familiar feeling of his mouth on hers. She wrapped her fingers in his hair for further comfort and relaxed, letting her hips lower just a bit. That first feeling of him inside her, even just that little bit, made her gasp. Asher shifted his hold so his arms were around her, and Sera rested against him, slowly bringing her hips down. It didn't really hurt, but it was a rather invasive feeling, at first. Her body kept wanting to tighten around him, which must not have been a bad thing, because he made little noises when it did. Sera wriggled experimentally on top of him, letting out a surprised sound almost like a purr at the tingling it caused in her body. She pulled back and opened her eyes, pushing herself up to get a good look at Asher's face. He looked like he might purr, as well. He stretched out underneath her, his hips pushing up into hers, and she moaned softly. Her wiggling wasn't very graceful or skilled, but it felt good. She tried to keep up with Asher, lowering her hips at the same time he lifted his, but it was awkward and not easy to do. He didn't seem to be concerned by her lack of skill, though. Asher ran his hands along her body, the look of fascination and appreciation in his eyes making Sera feel completely unashamed. She covered his hands, which were cradling her breasts, with her own and gazed down at him, realizing just how much she'd come to love him. Asher wound his fingers around hers and pulled her down to him. She kissed him first this time, and she was the one to coax his lips open and slide her tongue into his mouth. He brought his hands up to her face and pulled his mouth away from hers, but she pursued him, kissing him breathless. "Sera..." Asher panted, even as she continued to kiss him. "Hey... I'm trying... to tell you... how I feel..." Sera paused with her mouth against his. "Show me," she murmured. She gasped in surprise as he tumbled her over onto her back. Asher caught bother her hands, pinning her wrist down to the pillow above her head. He held them there with one hand, the other gently stroking her breast. His body moved inside hers, slowly at first, keeping her pacing with none of her awkwardness. Sera didn't care anymore if her movements were completely artless; she kept bringing her hips up to meet his. Asher's fingers teased her breast, stroking the soft flesh and feathering over her nipple until it was stiff. Then he lowered his head and caught it in his mouth, making her moan loudly. Sera closed her eyes and tilted her head back as his rhythm increased. She kept her hands above her head, even when he let go of her wrists to get a better hold on her. One arm was around her thigh, keeping her open for him, and the other was under her back, forcing her breasts up against his mouth. She gripped the pillow tight, digging her nails into it, as each thrust became faster. Asher's mouth was hungry and restless against her breasts, and each time his lips found her nipples, sucking on them gently, it made her cries louder. Sera wasn't sure if it was only a few minutes or an eternity, but when she finally stirred, still trembling from her orgasm, Asher was holding her tight, his face buried between her breasts. She reached up a hand to brush his hair back from his face. It was damp with sweat, and so was his skin. Come to think of it, she thought, so am I. Still breathing hard, Asher lifted his head and pushed his hair back to look at her. His dark eyes were full of light, and something else that she couldn't define. Sera shivered as his fingers trailed along her breast, and it gave her a thrill, that he couldn't seem to stop himself from touching her. "Holy hell," Asher panted, as he dropped down onto the bed next to her. "I always thought I was more of a gentleman than that." Sera rolled onto her side, giggling. "I'd prefer you weren't," she told him. "That wouldn't have been nearly as fun." "And I was doing so good, keeping control," Asher said, shaking his head in mock disgust. "It's you and that damn inviting body language of yours." That was nothing, Sera thought, resting on his chest. She stretched against him, loving the sensation of his body against hers. Asher watched her, obviously still recovering from both the sex and the surprise. She wasn't all that surprised, though, when she really thought about it. People thought she was quiet and shy, but she'd always been a fun-loving thrill-seeker at heart; meek people just didn't ride horses over six foot fences. And besides, this is Asher, Sera thought, moving up so she could get her mouth close to his. I love him... and I want him. "I want to do that again," she said, brushing her mouth over his. "Isn't this the part where we cuddle and bask in the afterglow?" Asher asked. He was trying very hard not to grin. Sera kissed him once more, harder. "I want," she repeated, "to do that again." ------- Juice dripped down his hand as Eagle bit into the apple he was holding. Asher lounged against the paddock fence, watching Sera and Radical circle in the distance. She looked happy and confident; it was hard to tell that she'd stopped riding for years. You'd think she'd have had enough, though, after last night, he thought, smiling to himself. Even he was aching from head to toe, not to mention absolutely exhausted. Exhausted, but satiated, and feeling a bit smug. The opportunity to spend the night making love to her, hearing her cry out and watching her shudder, was definitely something to feel smug about. Asher had been a little surprised at first, but watching her now, he realized he shouldn't be. Yes, she was kind and gentle, but he'd seen how fiery she could be. It came out more and more with each day. There's so much I don't know about her, he thought, grinning as she wheeled Radical wildly and began galloping him back towards the fence. But I'd like to. Of course, he'd spent a good deal of time last night getting to know her, but that had been different. Asher had been laying there, needing her soft voice and gentle touch, and then there she was, much like the angel she was named for. He'd woken up thinking it must have all been a very, very good dream. Except a look around had told him it wasn't. The sheets next to him had still been warm, and the blankets had been rumpled and tossed aside. Asher had found his hat and one of his t-shirts missing, and he was not at all surprised now to see her wearing them. She jumped down from Radical, shaking back her windblown hair, and he had all of a second to discard the slobbery apple core before she was in his arms. I could stand waking up to this every morning, Asher thought, holding her close. Even if she did tire me out. "It's about time you got out of bed," Sera said, retrieving Radical's reins. "I've never known you to be so lazy." "I often sleep in after working so hard," Asher told her. He opened the gate for her and the horse, and closed it behind her. "Although obviously the world is topsy turvy today, because I know for a fact that you are not this much of a morning person." "How romantic," Sera said dryly, pulling open the stable door. "And for your information, Casanova, it's noon." "It's morning to me," Asher said. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You know, angels are supposed to be merciful." "Hey, would you two stop cuddling? You're making us sick!" Frowning, Asher released Sera and squinted down the aisle. The sunlight pouring in from behind them made it impossible to see, so he reached back and closed the door. Squinting into the dimness, he saw Cole sitting on a tack box further down the aisle, holding Candace in his lap. For someone who had sounded so grumpy, he looked pretty cheerful. I'll be damned, Asher thought, watching Candace toy with Cole's hair, which had grown out enough to get a bit curly. I wonder if she knows she's got him wrapped around her little finger. The way Cole held her was familiar; it was the same protective way Asher held Sera. Glancing over his shoulder, Asher saw Sera cooing to Radical, keeping him from biting while she untacked him, and he looked back at Candace and Cole. I guess Sera isn't the only one who can soothe obnoxious beasts, he thought, grinning. He slumped down on the tack box across from them and watched her brush the horse, humming very faintly as she worked. Candace was watching her too, a curious expression on her face, but Cole's attention was on him. "You look like hell," Cole said, still sounding perfectly cheerful. "Bad night?" "Great night," Asher told him. "But I slept like shit." "Aha!" Candace bounced in Cole's lap, clapping her hands together excitedly. Asher tried hard not to laugh at the expression on Cole's face. "He's grumpy and tired, and she's perky and glowing. You know this means sex." Really good sex, from the look of things," Cole said, studying Asher a little closer. Lots of really good sex," Candace agreed. She ducked then, but Cole, not knowing Sera as well as her best-friend did, was not so quick. The rubber currycomb struck him hard on the shoulder and bounced off, hitting the floor. Not too long ago, if someone had thrown something at him, Cole would have had a fit. Now he simply reached down and tickled Candace, turning her giggles into full out shrieks. Grinning to himself, Asher watched Sera put Radical in his stall, ignoring the rather loud male-female bonding going on next to him. Despite her obvious disgruntlement about being teased, Sera still came over and settled down on his lap. "Told you so," Candace said, pulling herself back up. "So, how was it, Sera? Dish!" Asher shook his head. "I'll drive out later and get you girls some ice cream if you want to talk, but you are not doing it here." "I'm not telling if you're not," Sera said, folding her arms across her chest. "Your bed has been empty far more than mine." "You can have her back," Cole said. "She snores and she hogs all the blankets." "You're just annoyed because I've handed you your ass at Street Fighter every night this week," Candace huffed. Cole did not look like a man who had any intention of giving the woman he was holding back to anyone. Asher glanced at Sera, catching a glimpse of her face. She looked cautiously happy. Not to worry, little one, he thought, folding her in his arms. He's not about to hurt her. And if for some reason he did, well, Asher would just have to break every bone in his body. It seemed, though, that Candace's company was turning Cole into someone worth knowing. It would be awhile before Sera would trust him, but Asher had a feeling she'd come around eventually. She was too nice a person to stay angry. All of them were startled when the barn door suddenly opened, letting in a stream of light. Spots danced in front of Asher's eyes as the door slid closed, cutting off the light. When his vision cleared he saw a big, broad-shouldered man standing a few feet a way. With his plaid shirt, potbelly, and graying red hair and beard, the man looked like a has-been lumberjack. Asher moved Sera gently from his lap and stood up; across from him, Cole did the same. For once the two of them had something in common, because neither of them liked Red Garvey. "You're not welcome here," Cole said softly, his voice shaking with barely suppressed anger. "Well now, that's just rude," Red said, grinning broadly. He nodded to Sera and Candace. "Afternoon, ladies." "Get off my family's property before I call the police." Cole took a step forward and Asher followed suit. Red chuckled. "You're a stick in the mud, boy. Much like your old man. I'm only here to see the competition. No Brookside horses in the race again this year, I hear." "Leave," Cole said again. Candace and Sera had stood up now, too. Sera, Asher knew, had more than likely figured out who this man was. It wouldn't take Candace long to figure it out, if Cole hadn't already told her. Auric would have run this year, if... if he... Asher thought, scowling. That bastard. He's only smug because his greatest threat is out of the running. How he would have loved to take Eagle up against all those snotty rich people and their delicate, purebred Thoroughbreds. Of course, there was the small matter of the five-hundred dollar entry fee that he didn't have, so that wasn't really an option. Would wipe that smile off his face, though, Asher thought. "Oh, I'll leave," Red said. He turned to go, and then paused, looking at Asher. "What about you, boy? Heard that pony of yours is mighty fast. Or ain't you got any money?" "That wouldn't be a fair race, Garvey," Asher said calmly. "Horses like yours are no competition for Eagle." Red threw back his head, roaring with laughter. Well, what did I expect? Asher thought. It's not like that would intimidate him. But something did, because a moment later, he stopped laughing. Casually as you please, Cole took out his wallet, counted out five hundred dollar bills, and handed them over to Asher. Red stared at Cole, and so did Asher. "There's the entry fee," Cole said quietly. "See you at the race, Garvey." Red stared at him for a moment, then turned to leave, shaking his head. When he was gone—leaving the door open behind him—Cole left the barn, with the three of them following a moment later. I don't even want to know why he's got that much money in his wallet, Asher thought. Although... it was probably Auric's entry fee. The bright sunlight dazzled his eyes, and it was a minute or two before he could see Cole leaning against the paddock fence, watching Eagle race around in restless circles. Candace went to Cole immediately and put her arms around him, but Sera paused by the fence and whistled loudly. Eagle's ears perked up. He changed direction mid-stride and came barreling towards the fence. Cole is out of his mind, Asher thought, stepping up behind Sera. We cannot enter this race. Absolutely not... He watched Sera slide through the rails of the fence, holding her hand up to Eagle as the horse came to a halt before her. She seemed to think the idea of racing Eagle was a good one, judging by the grin on her face, and the way she cooed excitedly about it to the horse. Oh hell, don't do that, Asher thought, as Sera glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. Now I'm going to have to do it. "We might lose," he said out loud. "You and Eagle will win," Cole said confidently. He nodded at Sera, who laughed and tried to stay on her feet while Eagle used her as a scratching post. "For her." ------- Chapter 13: The Unlikely Duo Crawling out of bed every morning at the crack of dawn was not generally something Sera looked forward to. It wasn't as bad, waking up next to Asher, but it still left her a bit cranky. He was usually out of bed a few minutes before her, so by the time she was getting dressed, he was out the door. Every morning Asher left the cabin a few minutes earlier than her and headed down to the stables to prepare Eagle and a second horse—usually Radical—for the day's training. And not long afterward, Sera headed up to the dining hall to grab something for them from early breakfast. She got a lot of looks and whispers when she went to fetch breakfast, but she didn't care. Girls like Diana were the worst, but even they were easy to ignore. None of them spent the whole day by Asher's side, training horses and doing chores and eating meals. None of them went with him to his cabin every night. And none of them made love to him nearly every night. Sera got to do all those things. It made her ridiculously happy. Even the nights when they both tumbled into bed, too exhausted to do more than exchange a few kisses. Still, a break was good. Watching the ocean waves rolling in and out, Sera felt more relaxed than she could ever remember feeling. She and Asher had hiked down to the beach on foot and had a picnic. Now they were stretched out together on a blanket spread out beneath a tree, offering them shade from the glaring sun. She lay in Asher's arms, resting her head on his chest, and letting the combination of the beat of his heart, and the waves crashing on the shore, lull her into a drowse. Tomorrow they would be right back to earlier breakfasts, long days, late dinners, and short nights. Sera wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet while she could. "Comfy?" Asher's soft voice rumbled beneath her ear. "Very," she assured him. She blinked sleepily, then let her eyes drift shut. "I could lay here for the rest of the day." "Sera," Asher said, his voice full of wry amusement, "the sun is beginning to set. There really isn't any day left." "Don't spoil my fun," Sera grumbled. "I'm trying to pretend we don't have to get out of bed less than twelve hours from now." Asher chuckled softly. He ran his fingers gently through her hair and down her back. Sera lay still, enjoying the feeling of his hand rubbing her back. Despite being in much better shape than she was, they spent so much time in the saddle that she was permanently sore. Sometimes Asher gave her long, relaxing massages that helped to loosen her poor, abused muscles and make her feel better. She returned the favor, but she wasn't as good at it as he was. She opened her eyes again and looked back out to the ocean. Indeed, the sun was beginning to set, casting a strange, purplish shadow on the water like a spreading bruise. Only another week, she thought, and we'll be able to relax. Okay, another two weeks, really, at least for Asher. Sera was getting nervous about the race, but she did her best to keep that hidden from him. She hadn't liked what she'd seen and heard of Red Garvey one bit, and she was worried he might pull something underhanded to ruin Asher's and Eagle's chances of winning the race. He obviously had no scruples, if he didn't care that he'd caused the injury and death of someone else's horse. "We should probably head back," Asher said quietly, as the sun slipped further beneath the horizon. "I'd like to give Eagle a rubdown before bed, and the two of us could use a nice big dinner." "Let me guess... rubdown first?" Sera asked, as she slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position. Asher reached up and rested his hand against her cheek, running his thumb lightly over her lower lip. "Don't worry," he said, in a soft, teasing voice, "I'll make sure you get your rubdown too." She nipped playfully at his thumb, and he pulled his hand back, laughing. Sera stood up, dusting sand that had crept onto their blanket off of her jeans. Asher stood too, picking up the blanket and shaking it off. He tugged it carelessly under one arm, and the two of them started heading off together, climbing back up onto the cliffs above the beach. The path was rocky and overgrown, and they both stumbled a bit, but they were at the top before it got too dark for them to see. Sera didn't mind much that they had to hike the rest of the way back onto the ranch proper; she wasn't in any big hurry to be back in the saddle again. The smell of hot chicken and corn on the cob reached her nose as they made their way across to the stables. There was always food saved for the two of them, now that they were the ranch's only chance of competing in the race. Still, Sera wouldn't have minded just sitting down and eating dinner, rather than reheating it and shoveling it mindlessly down her throat before bed. The only thing was, that meant hanging around the farm on their days off, where they'd never get any peace and quiet. If someone wasn't coming up to her and hissing in her ear about how she didn't deserve Asher, then someone was coming up to him, asking him Eagle's training was going. Shouting voices reached her ears as soon as Asher slid open the barn door. Surprised, Sera peered around him to see what was going on. Cole and his father were half-way down the aisle, yelling at one another. Candace stood behind Cole, clinging to his arm and looking very pale. A few feet away from them, Mr. Ralston stood leaning on his cane, looking exasperated and amused and impatient all at the same time. Asher came to a complete stop so quickly that Sera nearly ran into him, but no one took notice of the two of them. "I thought I told you that I don't want you running around with this... this woman!" Cole's father was shouting. "Her name is Candace!" Cole retorted. "And I don't care what you say! I'm not going to stay away from her just because you're paranoid about your business prospects!" "This is about your prospects, not mine!" Cole's father jabbed a finger angrily in his direction. "You won't be respect at all in the business if you're seen with people like her!" "I don't care!" Cole yelled. "I don't want your stupid business, anyway!" The stables were silent except for the occasional shuffle of a horse in its stall. Sera knew that Mr. Ralston ran several ranches and two Thoroughbred farms, one of which was in Europe. His son Joseph was the company lawyer, from what she'd heard, and he wanted Cole to follow in his footsteps. Mr. Ralston's son only stayed to watch over the ranch when his father was out of the country. I wish he didn't have to ever go, Sera thought, clinging to the back of Asher's shirt. Then we could have to deal with his awful son. She was getting used to Cole, but she couldn't stand Cole's father. "Then what do you want, boy?" Cole's father asked, in a dangerously soft voice. "Candace," Cole responded immediately, glaring defiantly at his father. A faint smile flickered across his face as Candace put her arms around him. It seemed to give him courage, because he glanced over at his grandfather next, looking pale but determined. "And the ranch." Cole's father gave him a disgusted look, then turned to stomp away. At that moment he noticed Sera and Asher, who were standing in front of the door he'd intended to leave by. In the other direction was his father, now leaning against a stall door and tapping his cane idly on the cement floor. Sera and Asher scampered apart as Joseph Ralston stormed past them, not even bothering to shut the barn door behind himself. Well, that was rude, Sera thought, pulling the door shut. So much for the being brought up in a barn theory... As she closed the door, Asher started down the aisle. "Everyone okay?" he asked quietly. "Don't worry, boy," Mr. Ralston answered with a chuckle. "First time we've all been okay in years. I want to see you in my office later, Cole." Cole nodded silently. Despite his fight with his father, he was looking relieved and almost happy. Mr. Ralston bid them all goodnight and made his way out, his cane clacking against the floor. Sera grabbed Asher by the arm and started pulling him out of the barn, too. He looked at her as if she was crazy, so she pointed at Cole and Candace, who were now too focused on each other to notice them. Shaking his head, Asher put an arm around her shoulder, bringing her close against his side, and the two of them left the stable. I'm sure Eagle can wait until after dinner, for once, Sera thought, feeling pretty happy herself. ------- Asher flopped face down onto the bed, too exhausted to even feeling guilty about leaving Sera to take care of Eagle and Radical. The last few days had been so hectic, what with all the noise about what was going on between Candace and Cole. There was so much tension in the air, even the horses were disturbed by it. Sera, with her wonderful hands and soft voice, wasn't having much trouble. Eagle, however, sensing all the excitement, was giving Asher a run for his money. His arms and chest were sore and tight from trying to keep the stallion from taking off. It wasn't just the issue of Candace and Cole that was causing excitement, though. The race was coming up, too, and people were getting anxious. There were so many people coming up to him and asking questions that it gave him headaches. He'd finally decided to move Eagle into the quarantine part of the stable, because he could lock people out of it; too many had been coming to gawk at the stallion, upsetting him. Even Mr. Ralston hadn't been able to get them to stop. After all, they paid money to visit this ranch—as they were all fond of reminding Asher whenever he told them to leave him alone. The sounded of his cabin door opening didn't even startle him. He was used to Sera's quiet footfalls, and he knew it was her. Asher lay there listening; first she took her boots off, then he heard the rustle of clothing as she undressed. The bed creaked as she climbed onto it. She slid her hands beneath his shirt, running them along his back, and he let out a soft sigh. Thank god for her, he thought, managing to lift himself just enough so she could get his t-shirt off. I'd be going crazy without her. Sera was there when he woke up, when he crawled into bed... even when he showered, when they could finagle it. Asher had forgotten just how good it could feel to have someone by his side all the time. "My poor Asher..." Sera murmured. "He threw you pretty hard... you've got bruises." Asher gasped as she touched a tender spot on his back. "I was really trying not to think about that," he said, through gritted teeth. "I think that bruised your ego more than your body," Sera teased. He didn't bother to reply; she was right, of course. Eagle hadn't thrown him in ages. At least I won't be caught off guard next time, Asher thought, listening to Sera as she climbed off the bed and padded into the mini-kitchen. Eagle knows he can't pull the same trick twice with me. In the kitchen he heard the water running, and the sounds of cupboards opening and closing. He would never have guessed it when he'd first met her, but Sera was as good at taking care of people as she was horses. In a few minutes there was a glass of cold water on his bedside table, and she was back on the bed next to him with a bowl of warm, soapy water and a sponge. Asher took a sip of water and sighed as the cool liquid slid down his throat. It's like she's a mind-reader, he thought, resting his head back on the pillow. Somehow she always knows what I need. Sera ran the sponge along his back, shoulders, and arms, clearing away a day's worth of dust. She brushed his hair back from his neck, her fingers soothing against his skin. Her touch woke his body up. Despite aching from head to toe, Asher suddenly felt a bit more awake. He rolled over slowly and looked up at her. Sera was wearing only a bra and panties, and her hair hung free down her back, looking as soft as silk. "What?" Sera asked, a faint smile touching the corners of her mouth. "Nothing," Asher answered, shaking his head. "I'm just wondering how long I'm going to have to wait before you kiss me." Sera's smile widened to a grin. She ran the sponge down his chest and stomach, then sat back and dipped it in the water bowl again. The look she gave him was expectant. With a good deal of wriggling, Asher managed to get the rest of his clothes off. He stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes, shivering as the sponge touched his belly again. Sera leaned over, and he felt the warmth of her hand, braced against his hip, as she pressed her mouth to his. I really should finagle it so she does this every night, Asher thought, reaching up to cradle the back of her neck. There really aren't too many things better than this. Sera stretched out beside him, kissing his neck, shoulders, and chest as she continued cleaning him. Asher was fully awake now, and he kept pulling her mouth back to his. His hand traveled from her stomach to her hip, then to her back, careful of the places where her scars were sensitive to the touch. The scars didn't bother them; most of her skin was so soft beneath his fingers that he didn't notice much else. It took some clumsy fumbling—much to his chagrin—but Asher managed to undo the catch of her bra. He discarded it, then snatched the sponge from her hands. "My turn," he murmured, pushing her gently back onto the bed. Sera's giggles turned into a soft moan as he ran the sponge over her breasts. Asher reached across her and soaked the sponge in the water again, so that soapy suds gathered on her skin when he continued washing her. The water on her breasts was all too tempting, and he followed it with his mouth, licking it away. He felt Sera's fingers in his hair, holding him against her as his lips traveled up the curve of her breast, and he flicked his tongue over the tip of her nipple. Asher opened his eyes and looked up at her, watching her face as he teased her with his tongue, then took her nipple into his mouth and sucked on it gently. He let the sponge sit on her stomach for a moment and reached down, grabbing the waistband of her panties. Getting them off was a bit tricky, because reaching with his other hand would disturb their rather cozy position. Fortunately Sera lifted her hips for him, and used the hand that wasn't tangled in his hair to help him get her panties off. Asher discarded those, too, then dipped the sponge in the water again. He lifted his head to watch water course down her belly, feeling a ridiculous smugness that she was his. Sera made the sweetest noises when he chased the water down her stomach with the sponge. Asher pressed his hand against her knee, pushing her thighs apart, and she jumped, letting out a startled gasp, as he slid the sponge between her legs. He watched her face intently, taking in the way her eyelashes fluttered and her lips parted. She moaned softly as he trailed the sponge down her thigh. Oh, to hell with it, he thought, tossing the sponge away. He pushed himself up and covered her mouth with his. Sera shifted beneath him, making it easier for Asher to position himself between her legs and slide inside her. It was perhaps not one of his more responsible moments, but he didn't care. She felt so good that he couldn't think straight. Sera parted her lips under his and he thrust his tongue into the heat of her mouth. She was responsive to everything, lifting her hips against his, arching her back when he cupped her breast gently, and pursuing him when he drew back from the kiss. Asher groaned softly as she nibbled at his lower lip. He opened his mouth willingly, as she had done for him; it was definitely worth obliging her, to feel her tongue brush up against his. It was so difficult to maintain his control when she was moving under him like that. Finally he got his mouth away from hers, and found the sensitive places along her neck and behind her earlobes. It made her wriggle beneath him all the more, but it also made those sweet moans louder. Sera's hands clutched at his arms, holding on so tightly that her nails pressed into his skin. Asher moved inside her faster, listening to her moans grow louder, waiting until her lovely voice was crying his name and her body was trembling beneath his, before he gave in. He sank against her, pressing his face against her neck and shuddering as he came. He could have fallen asleep like that. And he might have, too, if someone hadn't started pounding on his door. What the hell? Asher thought, jerking his head up and staring at the door. Sera shifted around beneath him, so he pushed himself up and slid out of her reluctantly. She bounced up with enough energy to make him want to pass out and began pulling on her clothes. Asher barely managed to sluggishly pull his jeans back on before she'd opened the door. There was a time when he'd been younger that he thought he couldn't possibly hate Cole more than he already did. Now he knew otherwise. "Is there a problem?" Sera folded her arms and stared at Cole. Her voice was short and icy, and not because she didn't like him. "I, uh..." Cole stared back at her. Looking like a deer caught in headlights, he turned his gaze to Asher. "I'm sorry... I just thought Sera might be able to help..." "With?" Sera asked. Asher thought it was a pretty good question, all things considered. "It's Candace," Cole explained, his gaze bouncing around the room in an attempt to avoid the pretty obvious evidence of their recent activities. "She won't talk to me..." Sera sighed. "Say no more. God, I never thought I'd be the one on this end..." Asher watched in disbelief as Sera slipped past Cole and disappeared into the night. If I didn't love her like crazy, he thought, I'd be pissed. He just couldn't fathom the energy she tended to have after they made love. At the moment he would have loved very much to roll over and sleep, he was so exhausted, but there was the little matter of Cole still standing in his doorway. Asher wished Sera hadn't opened the door, but he knew that would never have happened. She'd taken the urgent knocking to mean that something was wrong, and it was part of what he adored about her, that she'd help anyone, even a guy like Cole who hadn't always been very nice to her. "I'm really sorry, man," Cole said, looking guilty. "But I didn't know what else to do. I think Sera is the only one that Candace really trusts and will listen to." "Don't worry about it," Asher mumbled sleepily. His eyes were drifting closed, but he didn't care if it was rude. "I never mind waiting for Sera to come back..." ------- For all she could have strangled Cole, Sera had never felt more alive than she did now. She sprinted across the grounds, the grass tickling the soles of her bare feet, her way lit by a bright, fat moon that was only a tiny sliver away from full. Chirping reached her ears, crickets and cicadas, and then there was a sleep whinny or too. I would have killed him if he'd arrived five minutes earlier, Sera thought, stretching her legs out and enjoying her run. He's not so bad anymore, especially since Candace got to him, but no one interrupts me and Asher and gets away unscathed. It was amazing to her, that she could feel so good and so confident. All of it was because of Asher. I guess Candace's magazines aren't completely off, Sera thought, as she leapt up the stairs to her old cabin. It's really true that if a guy gives you the "you're the sexiest creature on earth" look enough times, you start to believe it. She yanked open the screen door and pounded hard on the inner door. Sera figured that it would only take a minute or so of persistence before Candace opened the door. Her friend didn't seem surprised to see her. Candace's eyes were red, which shocked Sera. She couldn't ever remember seeing her cry. Candace gave her a long, miserable look, then went back into the cabin and dropped down onto Sera's old bed. Sera followed, taking a seat on the bed next to her, suddenly feel unsure. This was usually Candace's job, not hers. "I'm not in the mood right now, Sera," Candace said. She stared down at the floorboards of the cabin, which were lit by moonlight spilling in through the window and the still open door. "I know you came here to give me the kind of pep talk that I usually give you, but I'm really just not in the mood." "Oh... well..." Sera had never seen her friend so dejected before. She put an arm around Candace's shoulders, not sure what else to do. "I guess I can understand... I mean, I know how difficult it is..." "But you're coping with it just fine," Candace pointed out. "It's just... the way they look at me. Like I'm worthless. I hate that. I can't ignore it the way you do." She pulled away a little and looked up, smiling faintly. "You really are the stronger one of the two of us, you know." Apparently so, Sera thought, as Candace slumped against her once more. She sighed and put both arms around her friend, at a loss for what else to do. There were quite a few things she could say, but she didn't think tough love was really what Candace needed right now. It might kick Sera's ass in gear, but the fact was that she really was stronger than Candace. Tough love was what was needed when it came to Sera's stubborn streak. Candace didn't have that kind of tenaciousness; what she needed was just love. "You know, Candace," Sera said quietly, "for the record, I doubt Cole would come pounding on Asher's door at night, risking interrupting God would only know what, if he thought you were worthless." ------- Chapter 14: Hard Decisions The water made her feel weightless. Above her, the heavily leafed trees kept the sun from reaching her face. At times like these, Sera felt more comfortable in her own skin than she had in years. It was a little strange, being alone, when she had been around Asher every minute of every day for weeks. She needed the time to think, though. Despite her pep talk, Candace was still avoiding Cole. And the whole rest of the world, for that matter. To think, when I was younger, I thought studying psychology would be fun, Sera thought. Now I just wish people would stop trying to hand me their emotional baggage. Asher was the only one of her friends who wasn't dropping all his problems on her. When they got finished with work, and she finally managed to get away from Candace or Cole, or sometimes Bernadette, Asher was the one who put his arms around her and made her feel better. And in return, Sera sat by him at those times when he fell silent, contemplating the race. She knew he was nervous, even though he'd never admit it. In fact, she'd be by his side right now, but he'd wanted to spend a little time alone with Eagle. She'd done the same with Eagle Flight, before they competed, so she could understand, even if she wished he would have let her join him. A splash to her right startled her. Sera straightened, flailing her arms and sending water in every direction. Soft laughter filled her ears. She found the bottom of the pond with her feet and glared at Asher. Or tried to. It was hard to be angry and fierce when he was standing there, half-submerged in the water, with his hair tousled from running his fingers through it. Aw, heck, Sera thought, wading through the water to him. Why does he have to be so damn sexy? She put her arms around him and dragged him close, pulling them both deeper into the water. "I take it you missed me?" Asher brushed the hair away from her forehead and gave her a quick kiss. Sera nipped at his fingers. "Don't I always? How are you feeling?" "Like hell," Asher admitted. He sank down into the water up to his shoulders. "I forgot what it was like to be this nervous over something." "You'll be fine," Sera assured him. "I'm gonna be here for you every step of the way." She drifted around behind him and planted her feet again, resting her hands on his shoulders. They stayed there in silence for awhile, while Sera massaged Asher's shoulders, trying to work out some of the tension. His skin was a warm, golden-brown from all the time he spent in the sun, and the muscles beneath her hands had that wiry quality of having developed from hard work, rather than the gym. He's so real, she thought, pressing her face against his neck. He's not one of those fakes... he really is a cowboy. The hairs at the nape of his neck tickled Sera's nose. She closed her eyes, taking in the scent of sun, hay, and water. Asher turned suddenly, catching her off guard. His mouth settled over hers, his teeth gently nipping at her lower lip. He rested his hands on her hips, pulling her body closer to his. This is blissful, Sera thought, leaning her weight into him. She couldn't help feeling as though she was the luckiest person in the world right now. For the longest time she'd been letting life slip away from her, but she'd found a second chance. Not everyone managed to find that in their lives. "We really shouldn't stay up too late," Sera reminded him, when he finally drew back from her. Asher straightened and gazed down at her. "If you keep looking at me like that," he murmured, tracing her lower lip with the pad of his thumb, "I'm going to be up all night." "If you too don't stop looking at each other like that, I'm going to be sick." Sera whirled abruptly, to find Candace sitting on the bank of the pond. Her hair was up in a high ponytail. Combined with the off-the-shoulder top covering her bathing suit, and the black rubber bracelets she was wearing, Sera couldn't help wondering if her friend had been sitting in their cabin watching reruns of I Love the 80s. Of course, on Candace it looked cute; on her, it would probably look kind of dopey. Asher let out a soft, frustrated sound, somewhere between a growl and a snort, but he didn't say anything. Add 'understanding' to the list of his good qualities, Sera thought. And 'patient', too. "If you don't stop interrupting us, I'm going to strangle you," Sera warned, smiling teasingly. She waded through the water to the edge of the pond. "It's good to see you out... how're you feeling?" "Like crud," Candace admitted. She tucked her knees up to her chest and sighed. "I miss Cole." "You need to go talk to him," Sera told her. "I know it's difficult for you, but come on, Candace... you're tougher than this. You always have been." "That's because I've always had you to take care of," Candace said. Sera glanced over her shoulder and smiled apologetically at Asher. He shrugged and sank beneath the water up to his shoulders, seemingly unconcerned. I'll make it up to him later, she thought, as she climbed out of the water. She hated leaving him like this, what with the race starting tomorrow, but in all fairness, she did sleep in the same bed as him, so it wasn't like they were going to be apart all night. I'll try to take care of this quickly, Sera decided. There's only so much I can even do, anyway. This is something Candace has to choose on her own. ------- It was starting to get dark out. Asher knew he should probably go to bed soon, but he wanted to wait for Sera. Besides, it was a nice night. There was just a hint of breeze on the air, cooling the heat to something bearable. I forgot what it was like to be nervous, he thought, leaning heavily against the fence of the front paddock. There's been so little for me to be afraid of in years. In fact, his one fear now was losing Sera. He didn't mind that she'd gone to help Candace; she was there for him nearly every minute of every day, anyway. She was the one thing that soothed his nerves. "Hey, isn't it past your bed time?" Finally, Sera's voice. There really was something about it that put him at ease. Asher turned to face her, imagining she was probably feeling a bit frustrated. There was definitely a look of exasperation in her eyes, but it didn't take away from that angelic glow she had. Completely cliché, he thought, watching the way the dying sunlight played upon her hair, making it look gold and orange. But there's just something about her... The more she opened up, the more she seemed to attract the attention of those around her. When she was close enough, Asher snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Sera pressed her face against his chest and clung to him tightly, her fingers curled around his shirt. He simply stood there, holding her, waiting patiently for her frustration to pass. Maybe the race will take all their minds off the melodrama, he thought, smiling to himself. Sera's a bit more grounded, but I wish Candace and Cole would just realize already that this isn't Romeo and Juliet. It wasn't as though Candace's parents were going to lessen her dowry to one sheep instead of twelve, if she married Cole. And vice versa. "I don't think I like being the functional one," Sera said, when she finally pulled back. "Candace is being so... so..." "Irrational?" Asher supplied, settling a hand on her hip as they started towards his cabin. "But you should know better than most that it's easy to be a bit irrational about something that has a huge impact on your life." Sera leaned her head against his arm. "I know," she said. "I do, really. It's really disquieting, though... Candace's lack of confidence, I mean. I don't know how to deal with it. And I sure as hell don't want to even think about dealing with Cole's end." Asher winced. He'd actually tried to talk to Cole a few days ago, without much success. Without Candace, Cole spent a lot of time holed up in his cabin, keeping to himself. Thinking, was what he'd said, when Asher had asked him about it. Certainly Cole was long overdue for some guilt and regret, and it was definitely something he should work out before trying to have a serious relationship, but Asher thought he should at least tell Candace that. His not chasing her was just making the situation worse; she wanted to know that he wanted her. Some women... Asher thought, sighing inwardly. Well, many of them were far too complicated for someone like him. "Try not to think about it, okay?" Asher leaned down and gently kissed her cheek. "I'm kind of hungry... do we still have some of those strawberries left?" "Always thinking with your stomach," Sera teased, reaching over and giving his side a pinch. She disentangled herself from him and ran the last few steps to the cabin and up the stairs. Asher followed along at a leisurely pace, grinning to himself. It was dim inside the cabin; Sera had lit a few candles, but left the lights off. He much preferred it like that, anyway. While she was busy raiding the mini-fridge, he plopped down on the bed and pulled his boots off. Although he wasn't as tired—not to mention bruised—as he often was, resting still seemed like a good idea. I wonder if I can convince her to take a shower with me, Asher thought, eyeing Sera speculatively. Or maybe we can just get a washcloth and some water again... Sera came back with a Tupperware container full of strawberries, a bag of marshmallows, a couple of bananas, orange slices, and some cherries. She set everything on the bed, then headed back into the kitchen and popped a bowl of liquid chocolate into the microwave. While he waited for her to return, Asher pulled open the container and took a strawberry. Last night Mr. Ralston and his second wife, Marie, had had a fondue party. He and Sera had taken leftovers back to the cabin with them. "You know, we really should keep more food here," Sera said, as she came back with the bowl. "Then we wouldn't have to go to the dining room every night. Or maybe breakfast, that would be good." "That would insult the cook," Asher said, dipping his strawberry in the chocolate. "Who would then refuse to give us late night snacks. I don't want to risk that." Sera rolled her eyes. "Geez, Asher you eat like a..." "Horse?" He grinned at her. He barely managed to get the bowl of chocolate out of the way in time. Sera, though slight, was still strong enough to knock him over when she crashed into him. Asher wrestled her quickly down on the bed, before she could get the upper hand; she'd discovered that his sides were ticklish, and liked to exploit that fact. He grabbed another strawberry and dipped it in the bowl, which he'd set on his nightstand, and gently pushed it between her lips. Sera's eyes widened and her cheeks turned pink. She stopped trying to tickle him and reached up, biting into the strawberry. "You... no fair," Sera complained, as she nibbled on the fruit. Asher dragged the other stuff closer to them. "And tickling me is fair? I think not." "Pass the marshmallows," Sera said grumpily. Chuckling, Asher handed over the bag of marshmallows. They spent some time in silence, eating, and vying for the bowl of chocolate. We're perfect for each other, he thought, grabbing her hand and licking the chocolate from her fingers. We both like to ride horses, we both like to eat, and we both like to... whoa! Sera had turned over enough so that she could reach him, and slid a hand beneath his shirt. There was warm chocolate on her fingers. He released her other hand and lay there, barely breathing, as she pushed his shirt up. Asher was still having trouble getting used to just how bold Sera could be. He shivered as she pressed her mouth to his stomach. Slowly, deliberately, she ran her tongue over his skin, over the smears of chocolate she'd left behind. Asher forgot about food as he watched her. I knew she was trouble from the very beginning, he thought, smiling. Although I guess she's trouble in a good way. Sera finished what she was doing and pushed herself up, leaning forward to kiss him. He tasted chocolate, on her lips and on her tongue. Asher could have spent every waking moment like this, lounging around with her. "You know," he said, when she drew back, "you taste like dessert." She scowled at him and reached for his sides. Before she could tickle him, Asher grabbed her around the waist and rolled her over. Sera was feisty, though, and the two of them ended up in a heap on the floor, leaning against each other and laughing. That was not uncommon when it came to their little scuffles. She could get the better of him, usually by pressing her body against his in ways that made him lose his concentration. Now she just rested against him, relaxed in the circle of his arms, her head tipped back so she could look up at him. Sera's smile was shy but radiant. "You know," she said, echoing him, "I really love you." Asher froze. "Oh... um..." he stammered, while her smile faded. "Oh, come on, do I really need to say it?" "It wouldn't hurt to know how you feel," Sera muttered, slumping down. "I'm not a mind-reader, you know." Before she could slink away, Asher gathered her up and pulled her close to him. Sera twisted in his arms so she could rest her head more comfortably on his shoulder. I guess some parts of you are still frightened, he thought, running his fingers through her hair and brushing it back from her face. You've gotten so vibrant and cheerful, I keep forgetting what's underneath all that. Asher was getting so used to seeing her happy, he didn't like seeing her upset. "I thought you knew by now," he murmured. "I love you, Sera. Maybe it's crazy, but I've loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you." ------- Sera usually didn't mind mornings so much, but today she was feeling uneasy and cranky. It wasn't a lack of sleep; she'd had a very peaceful night in the comfort of Asher's arms. Now, though, there was a race to worry about. The closer it got, the more uncertain she was, for a reason she couldn't explain. I wish I could go with him, Sera thought, laying her cheek against Eagle's neck. I'm gonna miss both my guys. Although she wasn't as close to Midnight Eagle as she had been to Eagle Flight, the two of them were really becoming fast friends. He was still partial to Asher though. A sentiment she could fully understand. Less than half an hour until we have to leave for the starting line, Sera thought, pushing away from Eagle. She crouched down and made sure his leg wraps were secure, even though she'd checked them three or four times already. There was really nothing left to do, but when she wasn't doing something, she felt useless. And a little lost. It was the first time she'd be separated from Asher since she'd arrived months ago. God, I need a reality check, Sera thought, rolling her eyes at herself. I can start becoming co-dependent on him. But he'd told her that he loved her. Just thinking about it warmed her, and made her feel more at ease. Aside from which, it was really nice to know this wasn't a one-sided relationship. I guess I should have realized, Sera thought. But I didn't want to make any assumptions, either. It was nice, but in its way it was terrifying, too. That was something she kept deep down, because she didn't want to think of it as frightening. It was wonderful; her only fear was losing someone she loved again. "Come on, Sera." Asher peeked over the stall door. "If you keep checking his leg wraps, you're going to make him nervous." "Well, then," Sera said, rising and dusting her hands off on her jeans, "he can just join the club." Asher chuckled. "Don't worry," he said, reaching over and ruffling her hair. "Everything will be fine. But if you're that determined to work, you can check his tack for me." Sera stuck his tongue out at him. Laughing, he headed down the aisle a ways to speak with Mr. Ralston and his son. She let herself out of the stall and when to the sawhorse just outside of it, where Eagle's saddle was perched. It was the western saddle, one made a bit lighter so it wouldn't be hard on the horse's endurance. Asher had already stated that he was not spending a week in an English saddle. I don't blame him, Sera thought, crouching down to inspect the cinch straps. I don't even have what he does, and I wouldn't would to be sitting in an English saddle for a week either. As far as she could tell, everything was in a good shape. She knew there'd been some worry of sabotage, but the saddle and bridle looked fine. Certainly they wouldn't go that far, Sera thought, straightening. I mean, it's just a race... Too bad she wasn't entirely sure. The kind of people who went hunting illegally like that didn't care who got hurt, when they wanted something. In this case all they care about was their pride, which was beyond stupid. Something caught Sera's attention. She didn't know if it was instinct, or if she'd seen it from the corner of her eye, but suddenly she knew something was wrong. Her heart pounding so loudly she couldn't hear herself think, she whirled around. Asher, Mr. Ralston, and Joseph Ralston were still talking. They were standing beneath the loft. Up above, right over Asher, who was standing the closest, a bale of hay was tipping precariously off the side of the loft floor. Time slowed to an eternity as the hay bale tipped a few more inches, and fell. "Asher!" Sera screamed, frozen to the spot. Chaos erupted around her. Someone scrambled down from the loft, barely using the ladder, and took off down the aisle. Cole, who was at the far end, shouted something and chased after him—she was certain the culprit was a man—almost knocking her over as he raced by. Sera took this all in with an odd sense of detachment. Her eyes were trained on Mr. Ralston and his son, who were carefully lifting up the bale of hay and moving it to the side. Asher lay there on the floor of the barn, motionless. Sera was positive her heart had stopped. Not again, she thought, biting hard on her lower lip to keep from breaking down in tears. I can't lose someone I love again... I can't take it... She remembered those vague moments from after the accident, the ones that seemed like clips from a movie; both her parents, burned and bloody, and still as death. Then Asher groaned softly and shifted, breaking her out of her memories. Sera ran to his side, bruising her knees as she dropped to the floor. "Easy, little lady," Mr. Ralston soothed. "It's all right. Joe, run along and get Marie. I imagine the boy's got a concussion, but she'll be able to tell better than me." He looked up and winked at Sera. "She used to be a nurse, you see." Asher groaned again. He tried to sit up, but he couldn't do it on his own. Sera wrapped her arms around him to help him. He's okay, she told herself. He's going to be fine... Nothing appeared to be broken, although it took some talking, to get him through his wooziness. He leaned heavily against her and rubbed his head, but made no move to stand. Mr. Ralston was forced to stand; his knees couldn't take kneeling for too long. He leaned on his cane, his expression pained, and shook his head, tsking softly under his breath. "Probably one of the Garvey boys," he said. "Hopefully Cole catches him." "They couldn't possibly have planned that." Sera looked up at the old man. "I mean... they couldn't have known where Asher would be..." Mr. Ralston shook his head. "They got lucky, is all," he said. "Probably trying to figure out something they could do to get us out of the race. Looks like it might have worked, too." "No." Asher lifted his head, then groaned softly and let it drop again. "We can't withdraw." "You can't ride," Mr. Ralston said firmly. "Leastwise not until we know whether or not you're okay, and by then the race will have started." But we worked so hard, Sera thought, tightening her grip on Asher. Ugh, this isn't fair! Those damn Garveys... they probably had planned to ruin Eagle's tack, but for whatever reason, that hadn't worked out. She wondered how long that guy had been sitting up in the loft for, waiting for his chance to do something, even if it was only to escape unnoticed. Some people have all the luck, Sera thought, looking up at the loft, which now seemed so conveniently placed for someone like that. And it's never the people who deserve it. Cole arrived back first, breathless, and gasped out a report: he'd chased the guy across the ranch and down the road, but there'd been a truck waiting, and so he'd gotten away. Joseph Ralston arrived back with Marie mere moments after that. She was a small, plump woman with a kindly face and a lot of curly, steel gray hair. We're running out of time, Sera thought, watching her as she inspect Asher. If the race starts and we're not there... Feeling sick to her stomach she looked around for something, anything, to distract herself with. Asher's hat lay on the floor a foot or so away; she picked it up and dusted it off. "Probably nothing more than a minor concussion," Marie said at last. "But we're gonna take you to the hospital, just to be sure." "The race," Asher protested weakly. "I'll ride," Sera said suddenly. Everyone looked at her. "Why not? I can do it." "It's too dangerous," Asher said, frowning at her. "Says the guy who's sitting on the floor with a concussion," Sera retorted. She set his hat on her head and smiled bravely. "Asher, I am not letting all our work go to waste. And I am not letting those bastards win. You go to the hospital and make sure you're okay." She stood up and looked at Cole, who was the one who'd be driving the van. "Load 'im up. We've got a race to run." ------- Chapter 15: Start A dozen other horses. That made Midnight Eagle the thirteenth. Sera sincerely hoped that that wasn't a bad omen. Only a dozen other horses, she told herself, gripping Eagle's reins so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. That's not a lot... But it sure felt like a lot, to her. Especially since she was pretty sure that Eagle was the smallest one of the crowd. And she was the only female rider in the race. The rest were all men, and none of them were pleased with a woman riding in "their" race. I wish Asher was here, Sera thought, glancing at the crowd of supporters that stood nearby. I hope he's okay... No, she couldn't think about that now. What she had to think about was all the work she and Asher had done. It simply could not go to waste. Besides, what did she have to be afraid of? She'd gone through hard times, and she'd lived. And here I am, Sera thought, actually doing something with my life again. There was no way she was going to let anything stop her. Asher would be just fine, and she'd see him soon. "You okay?" Cole, who was standing beside Eagle, asked. "You look a little pale." "I'll be fine," Sera assured him, flashing a tight smile. "I've double checked your saddlebags," Cole said. "You have everything you should need, including food and water. And a map... it'll show you where the checkpoints will be." Sera sighed. "I know, Cole," she said. "I know. Also, I should ride fastest during the early morning and late evening, I should not ride after dark, and I should make sure I keep myself hydrated. You've told me a dozen times already." "I can't help that." Cole reached up and rested his hand on her arm for a moment. "If anything happens to you, Asher will kill me." Sera smiled faintly. She wasn't going to let Cole see that she was really unnerved. Instead she sat up straight in Eagle's saddle, her chin raised defiantly, as Cole led the horse towards the makeshift starting line. She found herself sandwiched between a big, muscular blood bay and a speckled gray with a homely head. The riders were not really any better, either. They looked down at her, their expressions annoyed and mocking; you'd think she'd decided to get a sex change, rather than just ride in a race that traditionally had only male contestants. Come on, boys, Sera thought, it's the twenty-first century... get over it. She sucked in a deep breath and forced herself to a death-like stillness in the saddle. Any minute now, she thought. Any minute... The anticipation was killing her. Now Sera really understood how nervous Asher had been. She'd probably be puking right now, if she'd had the time; and if she'd managed to actually get down some breakfast to begin with. When the starting gun went off, she was so startled that she dug her heels sharply into Eagle's sides. He let out a sharp snort and lunged forward. If it weren't for the other horses surging around him, he might have tried to toss her off. Oh god, Sera thought, wrapping her fingers in his mane and holding tight with her knees. Oh god, oh god, oh god... what have I gotten myself into!? There was no time to think about it, though. The horses around them were moving faster than they were. Determined that they wouldn't be lost in the shuffle, or left behind, Sera loosened her hold on Eagle's reins, leaned lower over his withers, and nudged him gently with her heels. The stallion sped up, keeping pace with this crowd. They wouldn't stay at this speed for long, but while they did, she was going to show them that she and Eagle were up to the challenge. ------- Had she known before she'd decided to ride the race just how much of a challenge it was going to be, Sera probably wouldn't have been so quick to volunteer. For one thing, it wasn't necessarily the most exciting thing in the world. The lull in the middle of the day, when the sun was too high and too hot for her to ride fast, was boring and long. There was more than one mark trailed for the race, so she found herself alone for lengthy spans of time. Plus, Sera was still not completely back in shape, and her whole body ached by the end of the day. There was nowhere to bathe or use the bathroom—comfortably, at least—in the wilderness, and that was where she ended up her first night. She knew there were scouts riding around the area of the race, making certain that no harm came to any of the riders, and that all of them were able to make camp. Sera had spent enough time with Asher, helping him setup makeshift camps as practice, that she could handle herself well enough. It was a warm, dry night, so she kept her fire small, and left her tent rolled up on the back of Eagle's saddle. The meal she ate was just plain oatmeal—something that would stay well during the length of the race, would fill her up, and would stay with her. Still, by noon of the second day, Sera couldn't wait to reach the first checkpoint. Mr. Ralston owned a couple of RVs, so there'd been some semblance of a bed for her to sleep on. Plus, there'd be a shower and a hot meal waiting for her, too. And Asher. He had to be there. She couldn't wait to see him. Heck, she couldn't wait to see just about anybody who would be able to talk back to her. Sera loved Eagle, but he wasn't much of a conversationalist, that was for sure. It was starting to get dark—and she was starting to get worried—when she finally saw shapes up ahead. Knowing it had to be the checkpoint, Sera urged Eagle into a canter. She heard hoof beats behind her, and knew that other riders had found the checkpoint, too. Dinner, she thought, as her stomach growled. I'm starving. And I'm tired. And I feel crummy. She could smell cooking meat; a barbecue, probably. By the time they reached the edge of the campsite, Sera had nearly brought Eagle up to a full gallop. "Sera!" The excited shriek could only come from Candace. Her friend pushed her way through a crowd of people ranged around a large stone grill and raced to Eagle's side. Grinning, Sera swung down from the saddle, only to be engulfed in an enthusiastic hug that knocked the air out of her. As Candace squeezed her tight, she looked past her friend's shoulder, trying to see over the heads of other racers and supporters. When Cole stepped out of the crowd, closely followed by Asher, her heart soared. He looked a little tired, but otherwise fine. "Asher!" Sera cried, wriggling out of Candace's grip. He caught up to her before she'd had a chance to go more than a few steps, and swung her up into his arms. "Hey there," Asher said, his voice light and faintly teasing. "Hey! Put me down!" Sera squirmed in his arm a bit, but she didn't try that hard to get free. "I've got dinner waiting for you," Asher told her, ignoring her request to be put back on her feet. "And I thought you might want to clean up." Sera gave up the fight. She peeked over Asher's shoulder at Candace and Cole, who looked a bit awkward together, but she didn't try to get away. She was too tired for that. Instead she leaned her head against Asher's shoulders and enjoyed being carried by him. He's all right, she thought, closing her eyes. Now I'm sure everything will be okay. That first night had been scary, alone, not knowing how Asher was, but Sera knew the rest of the race would be a lot easier. She was impressed by the RVs Mr. Ralston owned. They were huge; she'd never seen a vehicle quite that big. Asher finally set her down outside of one of them, and held the door open for her. Sera stepped up into the RV and peered inside curiously. It reminded her somewhat of the camper her family had owned when she was little, except much bigger. There was food waiting for her on the table close to the center of the vehicle. With Asher's help, she got her hands and face clean enough that she felt she could sit down and eat something. "How has it been?" Asher asked her, while she ate. "Lonely and boring," Sera admitted, around a mouthful of barbecued chicken. She licked sauce from her fingers, then spoke again. "And nerve-wracking. I hated not knowing if you're okay." Asher snorted. "And how do you think I felt? I've been worried sick. We couldn't catch the Garveys in the act... I'm worried they might pull something during the race." "They'll have to actually find me, first," Sera pointed out. "There's a lot of ground out there to cover." Asher frowned at her. Sera resisted the urge to giggle. She was happy that he was concerned about her, but she didn't want him getting too overprotective. I'm not about to quit this thing now, she thought. I'm going to finish what I started, even if I lose. Maybe he read her mind, or maybe he just felt the same, but Asher let out a little say and gave her a half-amused, half-exasperated smile. Sera focused her concentration once more on her dinner, and finished every last bite of what had been a very big plate of food. Afterwards she felt so good that not even the fact that she had to use an outdoor shower stall could bring her down. Asher stood outside it and talked to her while she cleaned up, getting her up-to-date on what was going on at the checkpoint. She was one of seven riders to have arrived since the last time he checked, but he told her that he figured most, if not all of them, would be back soon. Sera absorbed it all, right down to the very cadence of his voice. If I can just remember his voice, she thought, as she stepped into the robe that Asher held for her, then those nights that I have to camp out alone will be far less lonely. It all passed like a whirlwind. Before she knew it, she was huddled in the RV, sitting at the table in her robe and eating ice cream. It felt like she'd arrived only five minutes before; and she knew, when she left, it would feel like she had stayed for only five minutes. "Enjoying that?" Asher asked. He sat across from her once more, and was watching her, his eyes filled with amusement. Sera licked the spoon clean before answering. "I didn't realize ice cream could taste that good," she told him. "I hope you have more of it at the next checkpoint." "Not to worry," Asher said, chuckling. "I'll make sure you have it." He rose and took the empty ice cream dish from her. Sera twisted around in her seat, soaking in the sight of him. The cat-like grace that she found so attractive was apparent in his every move. She rose from her seat and stepped across to the door of the RV, inspecting it for a lock. This is the last chance I'll get to spend some time alone with him before the next checkpoint, she thought, clicking the lock into place. And I may not get much time with him at the next one. Sera didn't care too much what they did, so long as no one bothered them and took away their time together. Asher turned back to her at last, and she threw her arms around him, catching him by surprise. She didn't give him a chance to do or say anything; she stood on her toes and kissed him, hard, making him stumble back. He steadied himself and placed his hands on her hips, gently pushing her back enough to ease up the kiss. Sera felt a bit weak as all the tension and worry she'd had, waiting to know if he was going to be okay. The fear that had filled her, when the bale of hay had fallen on him, turned into a wave of joy at his safety, and a desire the strength of which pulled her down quicker than an undertow. Asher responded in kind, tugging her towards the bed—one of two at either end—closest to them. His mouth was hot and hungry on hers, demanding she part her lips for him. Sera obliged, moaning as his tongue brushed up against hers. The two of them stumbled a bit as they made their way to the bed, but that was no deterrent. She did, however, use it to her advantage, giving Asher a push that sent him sprawling onto the bed once they were close enough to it. He laughed as he landed, and looked up at her, raising his eyebrows. "And what, pray tell, has gotten into you?" Asher asked, watching her tug loose the cinch of her robe. "As of yet, nothing," Sera replied, grinning wickedly. She let the robe slide open and fall back from her shoulders, forgetting—as she always did around Asher—to be self-conscious of her scars. Asher propped himself up on his elbows, returning her grin as she climbed up onto the bed, letting her robe fall away completely. "What are you doing?" "Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'save a horse, ride a cowboy'?" Sera teased. Asher's eyes widened in a playful mockery of shock. Sera stretched her body out over his, lowering her head to kiss him lightly. She tugged his shirt up and rested her hands on his stomach, feeling muscle stretch beneath her touch as he shifted, trying half-heartedly to tumble her over. As punishment she tickled his sides, making him wriggling. That started a full on tussle, which made it challenging—but still fun—for Sera to get Asher's clothes off. She forgot the fact that she was sore from riding so much, and from sleeping on the ground, and worked to wrestle him back down to the bed every time he tried to get up. Sera forgot about everything, except for Asher. She closed her eyes and held onto him as he moved inside her, as he pressed gently kissed to her fact, neck, and shoulders. Afterwards, she lay without moving, encircled by his arms, drifting in and out of a doze. She was so exhausted, she didn't know how her body could have had the energy for sex. Only about... five more days... ish... Sera thought sleepily. Not long before I can go back to always know where Asher is... ------- Asher watched the sky through the blinds hanging over when of the RVs windows. Sera was asleep in his arms, her head resting on his chest, completely unaware of the fact that he was upset. The sun was coming up, and he'd have to wake her soon. It felt like they hadn't had enough time together, even though they'd slept through the night side by side. The two of them had been left alone; not even Candace had disturbed them. Still, Asher felt as if the RV lacked some of the privacy and intimacy his cabin had, and he was all too aware of the other campers and racers outside. He was also concerned about the Garveys. Although he hadn't told Sera, Red Garvey and his two youngest sons were stirring up trouble. They were always noisy, disturbing the other supporters, and often getting in Asher's face, threatening him. He'd kept those details from Sera; she didn't need more to worry about. And he couldn't really imagine what they could actually do, anyway, but he'd been keeping an eye on them. Cole, who was still struggling to figure out his relationship with Candace, had been helping him. Light was beginning to creep through the blinds. With a sigh, Asher gave Sera a gentle shake. She stirred, opening her eyes slowly, stretching out against him like a waking cat. Suddenly she sat up, her eyes wide and confused. He laid a hand on her arm, murmuring soothingly, and Sera relaxed. "I forgot where I was," she said, smiling sheepishly. "Going through a lot of that the last couple days, aren't you?" Asher asked, ruffling her hair. Sera huffed, pushing his hand away. "You have no idea. So, are you going to get me breakfast?" Asher laughed. He grabbed her by the waist when she started to climb out of bed, pulling her back down against himself. Sera let out a breathless protest, flailing wildly as he dragged her down to the mattress. He pinned her down and kissed her hard, until he was breathless, too. Brat, he thought, sitting back. Good thing she's so cute. He climbed off the bed and reached out, taking her hands. Asher had to brace himself as she jumped at him suddenly, almost knocking him to the flood. "Hey!" Asher cried, around his laughter. "You trying to bruise me?" "If I was, you'd know," Sera answered. She nipped gently as his shoulder, then let him go. "I am hungry, though." "Why don't we get dressed and go get breakfast together?" Asher suggested. Sera was already pulling on her clothes. He watched her for a moment, glad to see her looking so cheerful. In an hour, maybe a little bit more, she'd have to get started again, and he wouldn't see her until the next checkpoint. I'll just have to enjoy every moment of breakfast, Asher thought, startling her by pulling her into a sudden hug. And every single second helping her get ready. That period of time, when he'd been left to wonder how she was faring out in the wilderness, had left no doubt in his mind; Sera was the most important thing in the world to him, and he was going to keep her safe, no matter what. ------- Chapter 16: To Finish Most of the campsite had been cleaned up. Asher peered out from the back of Eagle's trailer, watching people pack away the last few things they had left. The last week was a blur in his mind. Waiting, traveling, cooking, cleaning... he'd done every last thing he could, to keep his mind off of Sera. She seemed tired, but overall fine, when he saw her. She'd encountered nothing out of the ordinary, she'd told him time after time, and had only come across other riders a handful of times. In fact, she hadn't run into the Garvey's rider. However, Asher was still concerned. He turned away with a sigh, and peered around the dim confines of the trailer. Everything looked clean, ready to go. Cole should be getting back soon, Asher thought, jumping down from the trailer once he was satisfied. Then we can hitch this thing up and be ready to leave as soon as possible. While he hoped Sera would win—and believed that she could—he wanted to be prepared anyway. The supporters of the winner were known to get a bit rowdy, and Asher wanted to make sure that they didn't get caught in the middle of that. "Asher!" Dust flew as Cole brought the truck to a very abrupt halt. Annoyed, Asher covered his nose, waiting for the dust to pass. Apparently unbothered by the miniature whirlwind he'd kicked up, Cole shoved open the door and jumped out. He was far more disheveled than usual, his hair tousled as if he'd just rolled out of bed, his t-shirt rumpled, and dust covering his jeans and shirt. It was the look of concern and fear on his face that caught Asher's attention. "Come with me," Cole said. Without waiting for an answer, he turned and sprinted across the campground. Asher followed, catching up to Cole in a few quick strides. The two of them stumbled onto the tree-lined dirt road in a matter of minutes. At that point, Cole grabbed his arm, slowing him down. He gestured for Asher to be silent, then the two of them crept across the road and into the bushes. What the hell are we doing? Asher wondered, as they crouched, hidden, in the underbrush. This is silly... They were watching the road, obviously, but for what? It wasn't long before they found out. The dull thud of hoof beats on the road caught Asher's attention. Passing them, riding at a slow trot, were two of the Garvey boys and a third person that he didn't recognize. The strange man was small and dark, with a receding hairline. He wore dusty plaid and slouched in the clunky western saddle that was almost too big for the small mare beneath him. Asher saw leaves stuck in the mare's mane and tail, and realized that the man had taken his horse through the trees. It wasn't really a forest, per se, but there were a lot of trees around, and some pockets were thicker than others. "You found her?" one of the Garvey boys asked. He was smaller than the other, with freckles that stood out even on his sunburned face, and he looked like he must have been the younger one, as well. "Not too far off from here," the man answered. "You got my money?" "Not until you take us to her," the other Garvey cut in. "We're in a hurry. The sun is only gonna be that high for a little while longer... if we miss her now, we might not catch up to her again." "Fine, fine," the man grumbled. "I'll show you the way." He didn't look very happy about it, but he urged his mare forward, trotting down the dusty road. The Garvey boys followed, laughing and joking loudly. Sera, Asher thought, rising slowly. They have to be going after Sera. There was no other "her" in this race, and there was no other reasons for the Garveys to be searching for someone. He waited until they were out of sight, then scrambled out of the brush. Cole followed, pulling twigs from his hair. "Get the truck," Asher told him. "Meet me down the road." "What if they hear us?" Cole asked. "We'll be pretty close by then, if they do," Asher replied, shrugging. "Go!" Cole nodded and headed back to the campsite at a flat run. Asher did the same, but in the opposite direction, down the road that the Garveys and their associate had gone down. He could see the tracks of the horses in the dirt beneath his feet, and knew the patterns of them well; they'd picked up speed shortly down the road. Hopefully they don't go where we can't follow, Asher thought, coming to a stop as he heard the roar of the truck behind him. He wasn't about to let them get to Sera. One way or another, he was going to stop them. ------- Sera crouched beside Eagle, running her hands down his left foreleg. It had become her habit early on to check him often. When she'd stopped him to rest while the noon sun passed, she'd checked his legs carefully, looking for sign of strain. And now she did it again, searching for heat or swelling that might not have shown up right away. Eagle had his neck craned around, watching her, as if he couldn't understand why she thought she needed to do this. Indeed, Sera found nothing. He was as fit as ever, and she could feel the muscles in his strong shoulders ripple; he was eager to run again. She also went over his tack carefully several times a day. It gave her something to do at those times when it was too hot or too dark to ride. Although every last bit of leather was coated in dust, it all remained undamaged. Not much longer now, Sera thought, sighing. I never thought I'd get sick of looking after a horse. Eagle was fussier than she'd realized, and he was a lot of work. He liked to shift around and try to bite her when she tacked and untacked him. Sometimes he would puff up, so she'd have to check the girth carefully before mounting. Other times he simply danced away from her, making it difficult to get back into the saddle. "Almost done," Sera said aloud. She needed to hear a voice, even if it was only her own. "Hooves, boy. Last thing." Eagle snorted. "Yeah, I know." Sera gave his ears a quick scritch. "Just let me finish, okay?" The dirt was usually loose enough that Eagle picked up next to nothing, but she always checked his hooves anyway. With his blood, he was as tough and surefooted as any pony would be. Still, it wouldn't take more than a small stone to bruise his tender frogs, especially in the back. Sera had to lean her weight heavily against Eagle's hindquarters to make him pick up his back feet; he didn't mind the front so much, but by the time she got to the back, he was generally irritated. He thinks he's pissed, she thought, huffing as she set down his foot. God, he's heavy. He should be lifting more of his weight on his own, but Sera could deal with doing the work herself, since the race was almost over. "I think we're about ready to go," Sera told him, as she straightened. Eagle stomped a hoof. About damn time, she was sure he'd say, if he could speak. "Don't tell me you're worried those other horses might outrun you," Sera teased, as she picked up his bridle. She pushed aside the long, frizzy forelock, and ran her hand down to the soft velvet of his muzzle. Eagle was eyeing her; he knew what was coming. It took patience and care, for Sera to get his bridle on. As long as she didn't bump his teeth, he'd take the bit obediently. Otherwise he'd give her hell. The day before she'd been tired, and not as careful as she should have been. Eagle had lifted his head up, making it hard for her to get the headstall over his ears. He was only just fifteen hands at the withers, yet he still managed to pull off "keep away" with little difficulty. Sera had just dropped the reins, ground-tying him, when she heard a faint rustle. There were trees around, a bit of shade for her and Eagle, and her first thought was that it was the wind. The air is still, she realized, as she stood there, listening over the sound of her heart beating. Eagle was alert beside her, his head up, his ears swiveling around to track the sound. His nostrils flared, and he turned suddenly, almost knocking Sera off her feet. She grabbed his bridle, both to stop him and to steady herself, and peered around his shoulder. She didn't recognize the three men. Two of them sat horseback, and the third was standing a few feet away, pointing a gun at her. Eagle sidestepped, tossing his head nervously. Sera laid a trembling hand on his neck. The Garveys, she thought, eyeing the man who held the gun. They must be... The man's shaggy red-blonde hair and his splash of freckles was a dead giveaway. "Go away," Sera said. Her voice was soft and quavering. "Didn't anyone ever teach you manners?" the man responded, leering at her. "Aren't you gonna say hello? It's only polite." Sera tightened her grip on Eagle's reins. "Leave me alone! I've never done anything to you!" All three men laughed. The other Garvey—he looked younger than the one holding the gun—jumped down from his saddle and stepped forward menacingly. Or at least, as menacing as a skinny redheaded boy could look. Eagle let out a loud snort and pawed at the ground as both Garveys came closer. This is ridiculous! Sera thought. It's only a race! She huddled closer to Eagle's side, feeling his flesh quiver under her hand. He was as anxious as she was. She dared not let go of his reins; even an enraged stallion couldn't survive a direct hit from a strong enough gun. "Let go of the horse," the younger Garvey commanded her. "Or my brother here'll shoot ya." His brother rolled his eyes. "Shut it, Jake. Let me do the talking." He shook the gun at Sera. "Let go. You won't be finishing this race." "I don't think you want me to do that," Sera warned. "Let go of the horse." He took yet another step closer. "Now!" She forced herself to pry her fingers away from Eagle's reins, afraid of what would happen if she didn't. In a flash Eagle snaked his head forward and closed his teeth on the man's wrist, causing him to swear loudly and lose his grip on the gun. Jake lunged forward, trying to recover it, but Eagle went after him, and he backpedaled so quickly that he landed in the dirt. The other man, who hadn't spoken once, whirled his horse around. He didn't get very far before he was yanked out of his saddle. Sera stared, amazed, as Cole grabbed the reins of the man's horse and pulled the panicking creature away from its owner. She didn't know who was the most surprised to see Asher, who moved as swiftly as his horse, grabbing her assailant and yanking his arm behind his back. While his brother howled in pain and surprise, Jake Garvey scrambled to his feet. He made another dive for the gun, and nearly got kicked in the face for his effort. Yelping like a whipped dog, he backed away from Eagle and turned, stumbling for an escape. Cole stuck out his foot, tripping Jake and sending him flying. The other Garvey brother put up one hell of a struggle, twisting around in an attempt to get away from Asher's tight hold. Sera grabbed Eagle's reins, backing him away from the fight. She could see him getting worked up; flecks of sweat were appearing on his neck. Asher nearly lost his grip on his opponent, and the two of them went down. The other man tried to grab the gun again, but he was pinned down, with Asher's knee pressing firmly into the small of his back. While they grappled for the weapon, Asher looked up at her. His dark eyes met hers; Sera had never seen so much anger in his eyes. She glanced past him, to where Cole restrained Jake Garvey—the other man had still not gotten up—then hauled Eagle further back. "Ride!" Asher growled, twisting his opponent's arm fiercely. "But..." Sera protested weakly. "Get out of here! Now!" Sera pulled the reins over Eagle's head and leapt up onto his bare back. She locked her knees tight, but even so, she almost fell as she turned the horse around. The struggle behind her continued as she nudged Eagle's sides with her heels, sending the stallion bursting forward. They crashed through the thicket of trees they'd been resting under earlier and took off across a stretch of open ground. I hope we're almost there, Sera thought, ducking low over Eagle's withers. I don't know how long I can do this for. Or Eagle, for that matter. His pace was blazing, carrying them rapidly away from their rest stop. His mane whipped back, stinging her face, and a cloud of dust was churned up by his hooves. Sera held on, ignoring the blurring scenery they passed, and the fear that rose in her throat when she thought about Asher, back there struggling with the Garveys. Even if she wanted to turn around, she wasn't sure she could stop Eagle. He raced out his nervous energy, charging across a stretch of open, flat land that hopefully led in the right direction. She was surprised when, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of another rider. At first Sera thought she was being followed; then she realized that this was one of the other racers. The other rider was on a big, long-legged beast that had at least some Thoroughbred in its veins. The two horses raced about even, neither one pulling too much ahead for sometime. There were others, too, she found out eventually. Three others; one that came from behind, and two that were out in front. With the flat stretch of land, though, things were beginning to even out. Sera kept the barest hold on Eagle's reins, allowing him to have his way. He lowered his head, stretching his body out as he bore down on the two frontrunners. Looking around his shoulder, Sera thought she saw dark specks in the distance, that might have been the finish. She'd had no idea, when she'd stopped to rest during the middle of the day, that she was this close to the end. "Come on, baby," Sera urged, above the wind roaring past her ears. "Come on... you've got this..." Eagle's ears flicked. He had them pinned back as he ran. She felt the power in his shoulders and hindquarters as he dug deeper, switching into a gear she hadn't known he'd had. As the dark shapes in the distance grew bigger, the two of them closed the gap on their riders. Sera saw on, then the other, glance back at her, and urge their horses faster. Nuh uh, she thought, murmuring something nonsensical to Eagle. This is ours! The smallest of the two lead horses was still almost a hand larger than Eagle, but the stallion caught up nonetheless. Now Sera was certain the finish was up ahead. She could barely make out clustering crowds of people, and the large RVs and other vehicles. Perhaps Eagle caught her excitement. Perhaps he felt her pride as he passed one horse and chased after the other. Whatever the case was, the stallion passed both opponents in what felt like an eye blink, and was racing for the finish. Sera thought she saw Candace at the edge of the crowd, jumping up and down, but Eagle flashed by so quickly that she wasn't sure. Sera cried out in triumph as the blue chalk marking the finish line disappeared behind them. In answer Eagle tossed his head up and bugled. Obviously satisfied that he'd been victorious over those upstart challengers, he allowed her to pull him back, to slowly coax him down from his flat out gallop. We did it! Sera thought, throwing her arms around the stallion's sweat-soaked neck. Ha! Take that! Beaten by a girl and the smallest horse in the race! She buried her face against Eagle's mane as the horse ambled down to a walk, laughing or crying, or perhaps both. ------- Asher couldn't care less about his griping captives. He stood on the roof of the truck, watching Sera and Eagle charge across the finish line first. That's my girl! he thought, grinning. He ignored the Garveys, who were climbing out of the back of the truck, no doubt bruised from the bumpy ride; they were unlikely to go far, what with Cole waiting for them, and race officials on the way over as well. Only the other man, the one who had led them to Sera, didn't get out of the truck. He'd ended up landing funny and breaking his leg, when Cole pulled him down from his horse. Asher wanted to call the police, but it wasn't up to him. He'd suffered disappointment when he'd found that the gun had had no actual bullets in it, but seeing Sera's triumph made him feel better. The officials will take care of it, anyway, he thought, leaping down from the truck. They won't let the Garveys off that easily. He didn't want to be the one to take responsibility for it. Asher ran towards the crowd of people as quickly as he could, leaving behind his other worries. At that moment there was only one thing he wanted: to see Sera. He had to elbow his way through the crowd to get to her. Mr. Ralston and his son were there, shooing people away from both horse and rider. Candace had Sera in a tight hug, and didn't look like she was about to let go anytime soon. Asher couldn't wait for his turn. He tapped Candace on the shoulder, and when she looked up, startled, he tugged her gently away. When he turned to face her, Sera looked highly amused. Dust smudged her face and there was a hint of exhaustion in the way she held herself, but her eyes were bright with victory. "We did it," she said, grinning at him. Asher nodded. "Yes you did, sweetheart." He hugged her tight. Around them the Ralstons were getting the crowd to disperse, and Cole had shown up with the race officials behind him, but Asher hardly noticed. He laid his head against Sera's, listening to people talk without hearing what they were saying, watching blankly as Candace and Cole, speaking to each other in very quiet voices, led Eagle away. Asher could feel Sera trembling as excitement and exhaustion, and a host of other emotions, overwhelmed her. He sank to the ground with her, holding her tight as she cried out her tiring mixture of sorrow and success. ------- Chapter 17: Real Life Decisions There were few places that Sera loathed more than the hospital. The smell, all the people, the long, echoing hallways... it made her nervous. The last time she'd been in a hospital had been after her accident, and she had to try hard not to think about that. Unfortunately she was here because of the accident, in a sense. She was coping with the freezing cold floors, the ridiculous hospital gowns, and the I.V. in her arm, all thanks to her accident. I don't know about this, Sera thought, shifting uncertainly in her chair. Maybe this was a bad idea. She breathed in, sucking in the oxygen from the tube they'd given her, after she'd nearly passed out from the I.V. Why was she here, with a needle stuck in her arm, looking about as unattractive as was humanly possible? Was it really so bad, having scars on her face? Maybe I'm just being vain, Sera thought, lifting her hand to her cheek. There's nothing wrong with me. They're just scars. What did they matter, really? Asher didn't mind them. It was Asher who gently pulled her hand away from her face. She looked up at him, all too aware of how awful she must look. He looked as great as always. At first Sera hadn't wanted him to come with her, but then she'd decided she need extra support for this part. After all, he'd ridden to his rescue plenty of times, hadn't he? Who needed a knight in shining armor when they had a cowboy to save them from crazed, gun-wielding redheads? "Calm down, Sera," Asher said quietly. "You're making me nervous." "I can't help it," Sera grumbled. "I want this thing out of my arm! I should just go home..." Asher squeezed her fingers gently. "What a waste. You've come this far, haven't you?" She couldn't really argue with that. The thing was, the longer she waited, the more she regretted her decisions. Hadn't she learned anything from these past months? I'm fine the way I am, Sera thought, staring down at her lap. Why would I even feel a need to change? Winning that race had been such a huge triumph for her. It had done a lot to boost the self-confidence that had begun slowly creeping back since she'd arrived at Brookside. And she'd earned the grudging respect—or at the least, annoyed indifference—of everyone at the ranch. Two weeks ago this had seemed like the best idea in the world. And since she'd made the decision, she hadn't had much time to think about it. Aside from the attention she and Eagle were getting from locals newspapers, there'd been other things to deal with, as well. The Garveys, for one thing. In spite of the fact that their gun hadn't been loaded, they'd wracked up enough crimes during the race to net them some time in jail. And of course, she and Asher had also attended Cole's and Candace's elopement, and then had to deflect the backlash when Cole's father found out. "Sera?" Asher's voice startled her back to attention. "I'm sorry," Sera said, smiling ruefully. "I got a little lost in my thoughts. I just... I don't know about this." "About what?" Asher asked patiently. As if he didn't already know. "You know!" Sera tossed her hand up. "This! This surgery... maybe it's a bad idea." Asher sighed. "Sera, we've been through this already." Yes, indeed, they had. More than once. Twice the day before yesterday, once during the day yesterday, in the middle of the night when she'd lounged around, unable to eat or drink and too nervous to fall asleep, and on the ride to the hospital. Sera hadn't even told him about the arguments she'd had with Candace on the subject. Her friend was not too busy with her new marriage to give Sera a hard time. In fact, she'd insisted that she and Cole postpone their honeymoon so she could be around to help Sera recover. "I just don't know," Sera repeated. "I mean... isn't this shallow of me? Shouldn't I be happy with who I am, and all of that?" Asher rolled his eyes. "Sera, this isn't a made-for-T.V. family movie on ABC," he said. "This is your life! And it's time you stopped hiding from it." "I'm not hiding," Sera said stubbornly. She was so hiding. At first, when she'd brought this epiphany of hers up with Asher, she'd been convinced that she was being mature. Until he'd countered her argument by pointing out that she used her scars as an excuse to hide from the world around her. Sera had thought she'd done well, coming out of her shell enough to do the things she'd done this summer. But the truth was, it had been more of a distraction than anything else. Sometimes, at night, she'd lay awake, afraid to close her eyes, afraid she might dream of the accident. That was when she realized that meeting Asher had only begun her healing; there was still a lot of work to do. "It's time you did this," Asher said quietly. He rested his hand on hers. "It would be wonderful if you could cope with the daily reminder of what happened to you. But every time you look in the mirror, it makes you want to stop moving forward." He reached up and touched her scarred cheek. "You're only human, Sera. It's okay to want to look in the mirror and not see these." Sera felt tears sting her eyes. He was right, of course. She wanted more than anything to not have to look at those scars anymore. She wanted to look at herself and not think she was monstrous. In truth, there was little to be done about the scars on the rest of her body; those she would have for the rest of her life. But she wanted to be rid of the ones on her face. Sera could just imagine what it would be like, to know the skin Asher touched was smooth and soft. Asher put an arm around her carefully. Sera leaned into him and let the tears run down her face. She was scared and excited at the same time. Everything will be fine, she assured herself. I'll be fine... So perhaps there were people who would call her shallow for this decision; she realized that she just didn't care. This was her life, and she had to live it. If she was unable to live it with scars on her face... well, that was no worse than other things people used to get through life. ------- Even knowing ahead of time that Sera was planning to hide herself away while she recovered didn't make it easier on Asher. He didn't blame her, but he did miss her. The cabin was lonely, doing his chores was boring, and spending time with Cole and Candace—when she wasn't looking after Sera—made him feel like a third wheel. Eagle had enjoyed a nice, long rest, and now he was back to exercising the stallion, not to mention dealing with the requests that came for breeding. Asher was pretty sure it was pathetic when your horse had more opportunities for sex than you yourself did. When the day finally came that Candace told him that Sera was ready, he'd fought hard to hide his excitement. He'd missed her so much, and he was pretty sure that Eagle had, too. Waiting through the day and into the afternoon, though, proved trying on his nerves. Before returning to the ranch, Candace was taking Sera to go shopping and get her hair done. That left Asher to his own devices. He'd planned on going slowly through his chores, but by the afternoon he'd finished them, and taken a shower, too. Cole had joined him in his cabin, briefly, but Asher wasn't in much of a talking mood. He was lounging on the bed when someone knocked on the cabin door. Cole again, Asher told himself, trying to calm down. It has to be Cole. After all, Sera had gone shopping with Candace, who wasn't likely to let her go for several hours at the least. Still, he got up from his bed, figuring he'd deal with Cole for a little while. Only it wasn't Cole; it was Mr. Ralston. He stood at the door, leaning heavily on his cane, and smiling that benign smile of his. He looks tired, Asher noted, taking a step back and inviting the old man in. I forget sometimes, how old he is... "Waiting for our little filly to return?" Mr. Ralston asked, his raspy voice full of good humor. "I would think she'd be back soon," Asher said, sighing. He closed the door behind Mr. Ralston and gestured toward the kitchen. "Please, sit." "No, no." Mr. Ralston shook his head. "I'm not staying long. Just wanted to give you something for the little lady." He pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Asher. Asher took it and opened it, curious. For a moment he wondered if perhaps that was the wrong thing to do, but Mr. Ralston just stood there patiently, still smiling. The envelope held a check... a big check. "What's this for?" Asher asked, his eyebrows raising. "Whatever you wish," Mr. Ralston told him. "It's for you to buy her a Christmas present. And don't try to argue... you've earned that and more, the both of you." Asher didn't really know what to say. He might have refused, but he didn't want to insult Mr. Ralston. Besides, this would help him do what he'd been thinking about doing, what he didn't have the money for. He wanted to buy a horse for Sera; a young horse, that they could work together to train for eventing. As much as he loved Eagle and mustangs in general, he'd love to train a different breed. Asher could just picture Sera on the back of a strong, big warmblood that simply flew over fences. That was what he thought about, after Mr. Ralston left. He wasn't worried about Sera leaving, now that her sentence was coming to a close. Asher had already talked to her about that. She'd be with him for the holidays, and after the first of the year they could go looking for the right horse to train. It's very strange, he thought, stretching out on his bed again. The way things have changed, since those two came here... Candace had turned Cole into a nice person, a man who would rather wear jeans than a business suit. And Sera had managed to capture Asher's heart, when few others had ever even caught his attention. "Is this what you've been doing all day?" Sera's voice filled his ears, startling him from his daydreams. Asher sat up quickly, almost falling off the bed. The sound of her laughter made him smile. He turned to face her, to see her for the first time since she'd had her surgery. Although he'd known she'd look different, the effect was a little jolting, helped along by the new clothes and haircut. The scars were gone—except for a few faded traces, he noticed as she came closer—and one cheek was as smooth as the other. Sera's ashy brown hair had been trimmed so that it felt to just below her shoulders, and her bangs were cut straight across. Something had been done to enrich the color, bringing out streaks of gold that he'd only seen under the sunlight. Asher saw that she'd allowed Candace to get at her with make-up; mascara, eyeliner, and lipgloss, at least. She looked much more like the young woman she was, then the sad creature she'd been. "Say something," Sera pleaded. She sat down next to him on the bed, smoothing down the short, white cotton dress she was wearing. "I'm not sure what to say," Asher admitted, eyeing the strappy leather sandals she was wearing. "You've turned into a girl!" She smacked him on the arm. "I've been a girl right along!" "I've noticed," Asher assured her. He put his arms around her, stopping her from hitting him again. Sera laughed and sank against him, resting her head against his chest. Asher looked down at her, at her now smooth cheek, and smiled. She's happy, he thought, brushing his fingertips lightly along her skin. She's definitely happy. That was what mattered to him the most. As much strength as it took, to live a life with your past staring you in the face every day, it took even more strength to admit that you couldn't do it anymore; and that you didn't want to. Asher was proud of her. She might not have quite realized it yet, but for Sera, the most valuable lesson she'd learned was to be unafraid of admitting her fears. "So, no more hiding?" Asher asked. He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead. Sera looked up at him and grinned. "No more hiding." ------- End Notes: When I'd first begun this story, I hadn't intended for it to turn out quite so long. Of course, considering there was a point when I thought I wouldn't even finish it, I'm really ahead of the game. It was about two years ago that I first started writing this. And it's the only one of my abandoned projects that I've gone through the trouble of revisioning, to bring it back for the people who requested it. Revisions or no, though, I found that stringing along a story for two years (without working on it constantly) isn't easy. There were times, especially towards the end, where I struggled to maintain the chemistry between Sera and Asher. Since, for me, the characters are the most important part of the story, I decided not to push it. Instead I kept the ending brief and to the point, rather than trying to pad it with extra details and risk destroying what I'd built. I think I've learned a few lessons of my own with this one. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-08-01 Last Modified: 2006-04-02 / 01:33:20 am ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------