Becca walked into the house slowly, almost expecting some crazy press person to jump out and shout "Boo!". Her mom had gone on and on about security and about how much the media was going to be paying attention to them, so do this and do that and make sure the doors are locked when she got home.

 Thankfully, no one did, and she went around and locked everything up tight. "That's done." She said aloud, then plopped on the couch.

What does she expect me to do now?

Eventually, she got bored and grabbed her knife, and started sharpening it. Although it wasn't really that dull. She had sharpened it a couple days ago.

When that one was done, she went to her room and got another one, a Swiss Army knife, and started on it.

She had gotten through her Kershaw, Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Leatherman by the time her mom got home.

Becca had jumped when the door opened, but relaxed when she heard her mother's Georgia boots on the wood flooring.

"Hey." She said automatically.

Her mother put her bag down on the counter and sat down beside Becca, putting an arm around her shoulder. "You know this won't change anything. We're staying right here. The company can be run from here."

Becca let out a breath of relief. "Oh, good. I didn't know. Well, if we're going to be rich and everything, we really need a couple saddles. And the barn needs to be fixed. And-" She paused, "I had my eye on this horse. Beautiful mare. Tennessee Walker. Three years old, already trained in jumping. If I wanted to do competition, which I don't, I could even do cross-country with her."

Her mom grinned. "I think that can be arranged. But we aren't buying another barn. We may have a lot of money now, but we can only keep it by not spending it all. We can fix it, though."

Becca nodded. "Okay. Sounds good. I've got to go on the trail, though. Ben's waiting."

"Alright. Go on." She smacked her daughter's shoulder. "Have fun, don't let it drag you, stay away from the road. That new one he's got is a terror."

"Okay." Becca grabbed her boots by the door and slipped them on.

"Be back by dark." 

"Okay, mom. I will." She promised, and walked out the screen door.

The barn they had wasn't really anything too special. Not one of those super fancy ones like you see on TV, anyway. Theirs was small, with four stalls and a tack room that was more like a closet. The pasture was a fair size, about 6 or so acres. The fence wasn't a wooden fence that you see on TV, either. Those were too expensive. No, they had a fence with electric tape.

The horses were all pretty nice, though. Except for the stupid pony. The only reason they even had that Shetland was because she had learned how to ride it.

There were six horses in total. The Shetland pony, a mean little thing, that was brown and named Tom. Then there were the three quarter horses, Red, Lady, and Isaiah. Red wasn't even red. He was more like a burgundy color, but looked brown when he was in the shade. Lady was a sweet old one, 17 years old, and was a solid brown. Isaiah was young and in the process of being broken in. Becca was the only one that could even come near him.

Then there was her dad's horse, a Percheron, who was like a boat with his wide back and gentle movements. He may have been as big as a house, but he could ride a three year old around with no problem.

Then Becca's.

Her horse wasn't like any of them. He was a stallion, a black-and-white Paint she'd broken in herself when she was 8. He wasn't always gentle, because he was at the top of the totem pole and had to keep the other horses in check. He had a slight wild streak, but generally obeyed and didn't constantly fight when she was on him.

Becca opened the stall door. "Thrush!" She called. The horse's ears perked and he turned around in the stall, his large body having a hard time doing it quickly.

He turned around, though, and she grabbed his halter and led him out.

"Come on, boy." She patted his neck, then led him to the small tack room. Once there, she grabbed a bridle and reins.

"Alright. Come on." She pushed his side gently, so he would stand beside his door again. Then she climbed up and slid on his bare back. "Let's go."

----------------

The trail ride turned out to be fairly uneventful. Ben's new horse was a hard ride, but seemed to be alright when in the company of Thrush.

"You know," Ben said as they trotted the horses back to her house, "this could end up being really good for you. For college. You won't have to owe anyone money."

She had told Ben what had happened with her Uncle's company while they were riding. He had been a good friend since 9th grade and was good with saving money.

"I guess so. It looks like the only catch is having to take care of the company. And mom and dad are good at that, you know, since she's got that degree and dad's been running the shop."

He slowed his horse down as they neared his truck and trailer, pulling the reins several times. Thrush slowed decidedly more quickly, and Becca couldn't help but smile at his obedience. "Good boy."

"Why thank you." Ben said, and she snorted. "Not you. Shut up."

"Sure." He dismounted his horse, slinging his leg over slowly.

Becca followed suit, and tied Thrush to a small pole they had put next to the driveway. "There's still some light out." Ben observed as he took the saddle off and put it into the trailer. "You want to go to the pond?"

"You can't ride that horse bare-back."

He rolled his eyes and led it up the ramp. "No, I meant y'all's pond. We can take a walk."

She arched an eyebrow, but nodded. "Sure."

He smiled. "Good."

He shut the back gate, and motioned with his head.

-----------

The pond really was beautiful while the sun was setting, with the different colors reflecting on the water.

Really, the only downside was the stupid mosquitoes.

"So," Ben began, picking grass apart with his fingers, "I've been thinking lately."

"Finally."

He grinned back. "No, shut up. I mean, it's just that I wanted to tell you something."

"Okay... go ahead. I don't have all night."

He bit his lip and motioned to the pond. "It's just... everything has been kind of hectic, you know? And the other night..." He took a deep breath. "I know we both applied for Ellsworth."

Her eyes widened. "Ben.... I'm sorry."

He managed a weak smile. "No, I got it in the mail. Centenary wants me."

She broke out in a grin, and pulled him into a hug. "That's great! They're some of the best! Well," she added, "except that they're in New Jersey. Be brave!"

He laughed and patted her back. "I know, but you didn't apply there."

"Yeah, because I'd rather be a trainer."

"It's just... I don't want to have to go our separate ways, you know? You're just a great friend and everything."

"Aw, going all soft, are we?"

"Shut up." He said, and punched her shoulder. "We've got a plan something. So we see each other a few times a year or something."

"Alright." She agreed. "Let's plan it later, though. I've gotta go home."

-----------------

She pulled her boots off at the door. "Dad? You home?" She called.

"Yeah, in here!"

Becca shucked her sweatshirt as well and headed to the office. "Hey, whatcha doing?"

He glanced up and flipped another page. "Going through these stupid papers. Gotta read 'em for the company and sign it." He paused and looked up. "Say, you were with Ben tonight, right?"

"Yeah."

"Ah. How's that horse of his doing? Heard it was a couple hundred dollars at the auction."

"Fine. Kinda skittish, but fine."

He nodded. "Alright. Go on and get some supper and go to bed. I guess I'll work on this until it's finished."

" 'Kay."

---------------------

Montgomery, Alabama

"Tucker, you've got to do this! You know how it works. If you don't make better than B's, you're going to put on a terrible name for the family." John Crean told him.

"Hey, they're B pluses. Besides, you know as I well as I do that nobody's gonna be paying attention to me when I'm running the company in... what is it, 25 years?" 

"Well, do it for your new girlfriend, then."

"Dad, we've been dating for a month, and I'm breaking up with her soon. She's nice, but she wants something I'm not going to give."

"Not her." John pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped a few things. "Her." He turned it around and showed a picture.

Brown hair, grey-green eyes, and beautiful. Shooting a rifle.

"I don't know who that is."

"Becca Ginald. You'll get to know her better soon."

"Why would I do that?" Tucker asked, taking the phone from his father's hands and scrutinizing the picture.

"Well, it is your fiancé."

[A/N. Votes and comments are always greatly appreciated!!!!!]