“There is no way you’re going to get all that done,” Mary said, raising an eyebrow as Heather Parker shoved her books into her book bag and secured the flap before throwing it over her shoulders. 

“It’s just math, Mary,” she said.

Mary Anderson snorted. “And what about all the other things you have to do on top of it? I know you have lessons today, Heather and truthfully, there is not way your going to get to them all!”

“I have plenty of time. See you tomorrow!”

Being a senior in High School did have its perks. Last year she had a hard time getting to the stables to work her horses and even harder to get a chance for lessons with the ShadowWood instructor. This was her last semester in high school thus she had plenty of time to go play with her baby. Not to mention drool over Braden Kane who was far to cute to be allowed. Not that he seemed to know how much boots and a hate melted her insides when he wore them.

ShadowWood Stables was one of the biggest places in the city. It was a fifteen minute drive out of Sheffield, Missouri through some of the most beautiful country that Heather had ever seen. She was born in Huston Texas (another link she had with her hot crush, Braden). When her father got a new job in Missouri they moved. Thankfully, she didn’t have to leave behind her love of horses nor her Quarter Horse gelding, Merlin’s Magic Fire (also known as Merlin). She was a champion horsewoman in many divisions – her bedroom was covered with ribbons she had won and she had a shelf dedicated to her trophies. It was her mother that had always pushed her to be the best. She didn’t mind but it was certainly something she didn’t brag about.

The stables was rather deserted, which was odd at this time of day. Guessing there was a show somewhere that she hadn’t been told about (which was unlikely), Heather stepped from her car and trotted to the stables to find her horse.

Merlin nickered to her when she came into site and she grinned. “Hello, baby,” she said, patting his pink and red nose before planting a kiss on the velvet softness. “Ready for a ride?”

“Mrs. Keller is gone today,” a voice that sent shivers up and down her spine with pleasant effects. “She went with the Nelson’s to that pinto show.”

Braden Kane came around the corner, his smile landing on Heather with the effect of a bolder on a calm lake. Damn, she moaned. Apparently he had been working with his own horses today as he wore his hat, boots and jeans that were slightly stained from his duty as a stable hand. “I’m sure you can still ride, though,” Braden said when she didn’t speak for a moment. “Arena is free.”

“You work Rev today?” she asked after nodding to his statement.

He nodded, leaning on his pitchfork. “Improving. Might compete in the next reining show, too. You wouldn’t know when that is, would you?”

She shook her head, turning from those beautiful brown eyes to run her hand through Merlin’s mane. “No, but I can check when I get home.”

“Thanks. I’m working Celtic tonight if you want to come watch latter.”

“Sorry. I have to get some homework done. I’ll just ride Merlin for a bit then go home.”

When he didn’t say anything she risked a glance at him. He was frowning and she startled but he only shrugged. “I understand.” He picked up the pitchfork again and began to walk away back to the stall he had been cleaning out. Just as she was about let out her breath, Braden turned, lifting an eyebrow at her and giving her his shy, grin. “You know, Heather, you’re making it very hard for me to ask you out.” At her open-mouthed stare, he only winked, blushing slightly while he tipped his hat to her and went back to his job.

Sagging against Merlin’s muscular shoulder for support, Heather could have kicked herself. He likes me!

Merlin turned his head to butt her shoulder and she was waken from her realization. Taking a deep breath and choosing to ignore that last statement as his tendency to flirt with all the young girls here (including the Nelson girls), Heather took Merlin’s halter and lead him out to tack him up.

For being so nervous with Braden still around, whistling idly to himself as he worked, Heather managed to tack Merlin up quickly and get out of his way.

The arena was indeed empty. She could tell that Braden had been working Revelation (his champion reining stallion) as there were circles in the dirt where they had spun. Wincing and suddenly determine to get Braden off her mind, Heather checked the girth and swung up.

Her ride was only an hour long but Braden appeared as she was finishing with a bright bay gelding in tow. Celtic Desire was one his horses that he had bought recently and was training to be a barrel racer and gamer among other things. Previous owners had tried so hard to turn the stocky Quarter Horse into a pleasure mount that they had beat him. As Braden was hardly one for Western or English pleasure horses, he had bought him at a low price. So far, Celtic was well on his way to becoming a champion barrel racer.

“Though you were going to leave,” Braden said, not looking at her as he went to tie Celtic to on of the rings on the wall so he could pull out the barrels. “Decided to stay after all?”

“He’s not having a good day. Took longer to get him to do what I was asking,” she said as she loped Merlin, refusing to look at him. She didn’t bother to look at him as he climbed over one of the storage areas and threw out three white barrels then leapt over the rail with ease and grace she pretended not to see. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it. As if refusing to let him see she was going to leave because he had showed up, Heather worked Merlin in a few more maneuvers before dismounting – then working on his halter work. By this time Braden had Celtic in the arena and purposefully working him into a frenzy in preparation for the sprint he would need to race to the first barrel.

“Heather,” Braden called as she began to walk to the door. He rode up behind her and dismounted smoothly. “What are you doing Saturday?”

“Uh…I have a show to go to, actually.” He was asking her out?

Taking off his hat, Braden cupped the back of his head and rubbed it for a moment, Celtic tugging at the reins in his hand. “The one in Veldon, right?” She nodded. “Well, just let me know a day that you’re free.” He smiled. “We’ll go to a movie or something. Alright?”

Dumbly, she nodded.

He was nervous which almost pleased her. Well, actually it pleased her a lot. Smiling and feeling the hot warmth spreading to her cheeks, Heather left the arena, never looking back though she didn’t skip with delight until she was out of his site. “Yes!” she cried into Merlin’s mane. “He asked me out! Not Amber, or Ashley or that jerk Brianna! Me!” Merlin only shook his head. “I hope that was a fly,” she said to the horse.

The sun was just beginning to set when Heather left the stables. She had gone back to watch Braden work Celtic then helped him put the gelding away and clean the arena. Suddenly, staying up late for homework would be worth it. The gentle kiss he had given her as she got into her car still lingered on her check. Though she felt like complaining about his naive approach as if she had never been kissed before, she couldn’t help but feel giddy.

The light turned green.

She left the intersection, her mind still on Braden.

There was a screech.

Then the collision of metal before Heather realized what had happened.

She never got the chance to scream.