by Donna and Abby

Bright and early, Sarah Jo arrived at the stables as usual. Alannah had finish her morning feed and whinnied when she saw her owner approach. The little nurse grinned at Farmer Grey who was filling up water buckets.

"Morning, Miss."

"Good morning!" she said brightly as she got a bucket of grooming tools. "How are you today?"

"Fair t' middlin'." He smiled that Beanio smile. But when he moved to lift a bucket of oats he winced, then tried to cover it up with a faked groan, as if the oats were too heavy.

Sarah Jo glanced over at him, seeing the stiff way he was moving. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Slept wrong, I guess," he grinned, but there was the hint of a blush on his face and hay in his blond hair.

Sarah Jo put down the grooming bucket and walked over to him. "Stand still," she ordered and then began to expertly massage the stiffness out of his back and shoulders with her strong hands. "What in the world are ye sleeping on?" she asked.

"I . . . Uh . . ." He didn't want to admit he was sleeping in the hay loft. But now that Sarah Jo was close she saw the bit of straw sticking out from his hair.

Picking the straw out of his hair, she looked at him sternly. "You are sleeping up in the loft, aren't you?"

The blush deepened. "I didn't want to put anyone out, ye see."

"Silly man person!" Sarah Jo said in aspiration. Then taking him by the hand she said, "I have the perfect place for you!"

He looked shocked by the touch but went along. As much as he enjoyed being close to his horses, he was used to a better bed than the hay loft.

"Saddle up a horse and we'll go there," Sarah Jo said as they stopped by the tack room. She went in and got Alannah's saddle and bridle.

Grey nodded and went toward Wild Thing. The fractious stallion needed all the work he could get, and his owner was unable to do it herself.

Sarah Jo did a quick but thorough job of brushing her mare, then tacked her up. As she led her out into the stable yard, she made a quick phone call using the cell phone that was in the pouch she wore on her hip.

When Grey lead out Wild Thing, tacked up and gleaming in the sunlight, he asked, "All set?" in a faintly nervous tone. He had no real idea how the contraption worked, but he had a rudimentary understanding that the device in her hand communicated with someone elsewhere in the City.

"Sure am," she said brightly as she swung up onto her horse. "We have to go across town but we can ride on the beach most of the way. She then led the way to the bridge that crossed the river and went into the city.

He mounted and followed. Wild Thing had a liking for the mare and followed with all diligence. Alannah was not interested in him though and flattened her ears at him, warning him off. The two riders crossed over the bridge and then headed to the beach. Once there, they were able to give them a run, letting them get some of the excess energy out of their systems.

The stallion reared and pawed the sunlight, showing himself off, but the mare raced off, ignoring him. He snorted and followed. Grey laughed. "He'll win 'er over. You'll see."

They had a nice gallop and both horses were blowing a little when Sarah Jo pulled her mount back to a walk. Her face was glowing from the rush of the cool morning breeze as they had sped along the way. "Almost there," she called out as she turned off the beach and down Valley View.

He was smiling, his color high. He'd enjoyed the ride. It was almost a shame to hear it was ending.

Sarah Jo led the way, telling him her place was about half way down the street. She pointed out the end house and told him that was where Connor, John Clayton, and Katherine lived. But she rode her horse into the back yard of the condo that was next to it. He looked around. "Who will return the horses?"

"Don't worry," Sarah Jo said with a grin. She waved at Rayden who was standing on the patio, smiling at them. "That's the owner of the place. He knows you will be staying up at the cabin." As they entered the yard, the scenery shifted in front of them and they were now on a narrow trail leading up the side of a steep hill.

"Bloody hell!" Grey gasped as he patted Wild Thing's sleek neck. "It's a ruddy miracle!"

Sarah Jo just giggled as she guided her mare along the path. They hadn't gone very far before they reached a bridge formed by two logs laying over the creek. Ignoring the bridge, she had Alannah wade across the flowing water just a little further down from it.

Wild Thing snorted. For a moment he resisted the water, then, like a typical male, he plunged straight in. Farmer Grey, who was made of much gentler stuff, blushed again. "Sorry," he said when he saw he'd splashed her.

"Its ok," she said with a smile. "I won't melt!" They were now in a meadow that was knee deep in lush grass. He could see a small log cabin and barn just a short distance away. Sarah Jo rode up to the barn and jumped off her horse. "This is it!" she said happily.

"I like it!" he said, following her off his steed. "Yes, I do. It's ruddy perfect it is. Thank you." He eyed her wet clothes and, uncomfortable, turned away to look around. "I will have to come back to the stables each day, but I believe this pain in the arse would like the chance to run the night away."

"There is a nice fenced paddock behind the barn you can turn him loose in," Sarah Jo explained. The two of them untacked the horses and put them into the stalls inside the barn. After putting up the tack, Sarah Jo led Farmer Grey to the cabin.

On the porch, a sleepy looking hound dog raised his head and his tail wagged back and forth in greeting. "This is Beauregard!" Sarah Jo said as she patted his head and ruffled his long floppy ears. "Beau, this is Farmer Grey. He's gonna stay here with yah for awhile."

"Hello, Beau." He smiled. "Man should have a dog," he said, scratching the dog's ear amiably. Then he went into the cabin to check it over. He pronounced it more than ample to suit his needs. "Though I rather think Silas has come to depend on me, and I feel like I am deserting my post!"

After a quick tour of the grounds, the two of them saddled the horses back up and went down the mountain. "Your welcome to stay as long as you like," she offered. "Kat and I come up sometimes on our days off if you don't mind some occasional company."

"That would be nice," he said in a husky voice. "Perhaps for . . . some conversation." He smiled. "Or a Scottish reel?" Smiling cheekily at the flirt, he spurred Wild Thing on down toward civilization, leaving her to follow.