Accompany Me (Leland x Amy)

[<>Trinity<>]

Amy Garland && Double Dutch

Flaxen mane flowing with his movement, a handsome dark chocolate brown Noriker light draft trotted toward the Bowing Creek Trail. His muscular neck was elegantly arched, big brown eyes watching the trail while his large flaxen-feathered hooves thudded a steady beat into the earth. Perched on the Noriker stallion's back was none other than Southern Blues owner Amy Tonya Garland. It was spring again and Amy always somewhat despised the spring simply because of all the thunderstorms and high winds that brought down tree limbs or lightning that cracked whole trees in half. The trails always needed maintenance during the springtime which usually was the last thing Amy had time for.

Now though, with Tanner working more of the administrative side of Southern Blues, it freed up time for Amy to not only keep the trails in safe riding order but also work both Dutch and Captain. With Captain in the pasture for the afternoon, Amy was out and about exercising Double Dutch while making sure no tree limbs were blocking the path from the recent storm.

"Easy boy" Amy murmured, sensing Dutch's happiness bubbling up with every heavy step he took. The draft was happy to be out of his stall for a while.

Dutch nickered, the sound deep and soothing to Amy but as familiar as a human's talking b now. Pushing her intensely curly dark brown hair behind her ear, Amy smiled at her handsome draft. Yes, five foot three and Amy was still riding a sixteen hand draft horse. Anybody that had a problem with it was an idiot and usually promptly ignored. Draft was her baby and she felt bad for not having time to baby him for a while since she'd been working with Captain a lot.

Turning a bend in the trail, Amy sighed. The first victim, a birch tree split in half with one large branch laying across the trail. Reining Dutch to a halt, Amy swung out of the saddle and walked toward the half a tree laying across the trail. Going back to Dutch, Amy pulled a can of orange spray paint out of Dutch's saddle bag. Returning to the tree, Amy pulled the collar of her shirt over her nose and mouth before spraying a large X over the split tree.

[$*Crazy*$]

Leland Massey & legends Dark Angel

The day started off like any other and right now Leland yawned on the back of his seventeen point three hand mare. His brown curly locks swaying the nice cool breeze his brown eyes concealed behind lids as the motion of his horse made him wake up. He was bored out of his mind and slowly he opened his eyes wincing at the bright sun and looked around lazily great he had fallen asleep again he supposed this is what happened when you just got entirely way to bored or better yet lazy. The mare was intrigued by her owners lack of control but she didnt mind it the less tugging her mouth the better she felt. Spring wasnt one of his seasons the rain was nice but the pollen was his enemy everywhere he turned.He slowly sat up and scratched his head petting Angels' neck and sighed where was everybody isnt this a trail.

Leland grabbed the rein of his large black mare and turned her about nudging her into a trot trudging through shallow the droplets splattering in every which away. Soon he came upon a female and this certainly piqued his interest and she was like a succulent morsel curvy backside black curls. He silently went over her again and again and came closer watching her spray a giant orange 'X' on this tree which looked pitiful. Angel nickered to the stallion in front of her stepping quickly suddenly excited and sure enough curious as she came upon him touched her nose to his neck in a pleasant greeting. It was slightly weird and Leland was suddenly quite embarrassed he had to say up close she was smokin' hot. Her horse was certainly handsome as well since he had Angels complete total interest. Leland sighed he wouldnt be going anywhere anytime soon so why not make conversation to the oblivious female whom he didnt have a name for. "Hello Miss" he said casually and most certainly in a handsome voice.

[<Amy>]

The big bear of a stallion raised his head, flicking his ears when he heard other hoofbeats. Amy didn't even look around. If Dutch wasn't freaking, she had nothing to worry about. If it was Captain, she might be worried since he was still a bit unstable around unknown people. Dutch however, simply watched with a curious but utterly lovable expression as the big black mare approached, nickering her greeting and bumping her nose against his neck. Being a professional, Dutch didn't move or shy from the mare but instead reached out his big velvety nose toward her, intriuged by her forwardness. Most horses at the stable were TAEA horses and he was used to them shying or being violent toward him but not usually curious.

Hearing the guy speak, Amy didn't turn from examining the split tree. "Amy" she corrected automatically. She hated being formally named. Miss Amy, Miss Garland. It drove her nuts. Mrs Garland was her mother. Not her.

Satisfied the cutting crew would see the marker, Amy turned toward the newcomer, finding a mare almost eighteen hands tall standing next to Dutch and a tall young man, maybe twenty or twenty one. Having a professional mind before a personal mind, Amy tried not to note that he was one of her better looking boarders but so far it wasn't working.

"If you're going to ride the trail you'll have to jump this" Amy said, gesturing to the tree branch. "In your horse's case though I think she can manage at a high step." A small smile came on her features as she walked toward Dutch.

She felt, for once, a bit shabby since she wasn't used to constant scruteny. Of course being an administrator Amy had been to her share of seminars and conferences, fancy shows and trials. She just wasn't used to normal guys giving her a good long look. Currently she was wearing her typical old jeans, worn out work boots, white tank top and a faded denim jacket over it. Her hair as always was impossible, a mass of dark tightly wound curls around her shoulders but overall Amy kept herself controlled.

"If you ride ahead, keep an eye out for more of these" Amy said, gesturing to the fallen tree. "There'll be a cutting crew out here soon but for now the trails are a little washed out."

[$*Crazy*$]

The mare enjoyed the stallions touch and nickered to him more breathing in his scent as she put her nose to his. The soft velvet of each rubbing together in sync. Angel was to sweet for a large beast instead she was like a large cuddly puppy dog and liked this stallion since the others seemed a bit to mouthy for her likes which meant they liked to nip and bite and kick and be just plain rude to the mare. However Angel tolerated being the laid back horse who was like sweet beyond repair and boy was she curious. The mare was slightly clingy since the brute didnt decided to bite or kick and she liked that and she sought safety with him after all in her eyes wasnt that what stallions were for she was such a large sissy.

Leland watched the woman well well she was a feisty she cat which interested him even more. He mouthed slightly what she had said and snickered to himself pursing his lips. "Excuse me Amy" he said now knowing his name in truth he probably sounded like as ass but hey he was cute playful ass more so to say than what the name is derived from. He watched her slowly turn Leland had his arms propped on the pommel as Angel still checked out Dutch. She was like model turning around for him but faintly began examining her other features noting the curves once again in other places and finally settling on her face. So what he was a guy and he liked the view who could blame him. "Im sorry Amy it seems my horse has taken fancy to yours so looks like she gonna leech to him now" he said with a frown on his face and then rolled his eyes.

He snickered at his horse and then looked back to her "well if its okay to ride with you that if would you mind the company" he asked curiously eyes wary she seemed uptight but that didnt bother him he was up for anything. Today he wore jeans and some highly expensive brand of boots which he got through his acting career when he was bored. His shirt was short sleeved and had a cross bone right on his right man boob. Silently he waited on her answer probing her with his deep rich brown eyes which had a slight soft texture to them. He smiled at her his million dollar smile which showed perfect white teeth at the personality that hid behind it all.

[<Amy>]

Dutch was what Amy called a security stallion. His big size and relaxed nature made him very much welcome among even the most skittish of horses at Southern Blues. That was why Amy absolutely loved him when she worked him with uneasy horses. He made them feel safe because sometimes horses that were fourteen or fifteen hands felt humans took advantage of them. With a bigger stallion being sort of a model for behavior, Amy felt it did help a bit when bringing hurt horses around to trusting again. Dutch would be the first one Amy made them trust, conditioning them to him like a lead stallion when he comes into a new herd. Many of her students adored Dutch as well because of his teddy bear nature and adoring big brown eyes. There was just something about him that said "safety" and humans and horses saw it. Quite obviously, Angel had seen it.

Amy smiled softly, watching her stallion turn his head and snuffle softly as he probed around the mare's neck and head with his velvety nose. He didn't mind clingy. He was conditioned to tolerate it and right now it just looked absolutely adorable. Going to the side of her horse not occupied by a seventeen something hand black mare, Amy swung herself up into Dutch's saddle, patting his masculine neck.

"I don't think Dutchy minds" Amy told Leland, winking subtly. "Do ya boy?" The handsome Noriker let out a soft nicker, still curious about his newfound friend. "Well, we can't stand here and let them flirt all day, come on Dutch." Amy clicked her tongue to get Dutch's attention away from his "girl friend" and turned him around.

Heading a little bit down the trail again, Amy turned him, measuring the distance so Dutch had enough room for a light jump. Letting him go at a trot, Amy felt the stallion line himself up for a jump. Though drafts weren't the best idea for jumpers, Dutch could more than manage hopping a sliced tree and he did with powerful ease. Once on the other side, Amy glanced back at Leland and waited for him and his tall mare to join them.

"I'm guessing she's not a rescue since she warms up to stallions so easily?" Amy asked, nodding to Angel. "Either that or she's just like her master and warms up to the opposite sex" Amy added, lightly teasing.

It wasn't often Amy talked to guys that were not her employees, much less her own age. She could manage hormonal teens and horses flying into a rage but in all honesty it had been a while since Amy bothered to even look twice at a guy. She was friends with males, Jon, Tanner and Travis just to name three not to mention past friends and boyfriends. Since inheriting Southern Blues though? Yeah, Amy's social life had all but disintegrated.

[$*Crazy*$]

Leland grinned from ear to ear at the new found friendship of the two horses and shook his head. Little love bugs and they just found each other what sweetness this was turning out to be. Angel snuffled her nose a bout and sniffed this in that in the way horses get to know one another and she barely back off when Amy got in the saddle Angel probably would have laid her head in Amys lap. Leland smiled "I dont think I would mind either having a girl all up on me like that" he teased with a grin a playful hint to his voice. "Oh by the way names Leland and this here lady is Angel" he said getting the formalities over with he was very straightforward. Leland pulled Angel away somewhat reluctantly and watched as Amy turned her horse around and jumped the fallen tree. Leland smiled he liked the sporty kinds of girls and well he guessed he had finally found one to his liking which had nice curved pretty face and nice hair. Angel was fixing to go over the stump with a startled Leland his mare sure was interested in that stallion "jeez girl hes not going anywhere gosh clingy much" he petted her turning her around in circles the mare impatient and wanted back beside her buddy.

"Your right she was hand raised and a spoiled baby at that" he said. " Yes I have to say she loves the opposite sex just like her daddy" he said cooing to the mare. He gave Amy a grin letting her know he caught onto her little joke. He nudged Angel into a canter and she scaled the tree without any problem she could have walked over it but Leland wanted to be cool to jumping over obstacles in a western saddle oh so smart now his pride was hurting something fierce. Angel then hurried over to Dutch and seemed content again as she was leeched to his side again Leland didnt mind he kind of liked it and wondered if Amy did to then he began wondering if he wore deodorant didnt want to stink and scar the women off wouldnt be too smart but he had extra strength Degree oh yea. Angel lipped at Dutchs' mane she was a big flirt and very much so enjoying herself.

[<Amy>]

"You already know my name and this big baby is Dutch" Amy said, smiling and watching as the powerful mare flew over the tree and seemed to latch instantly on to Dutch's side again. The big stallion contentedly let her lip at his mane, setting off at a slow walk that Amy indicated by a soft tap on his side. "I spoil him rotten, don't know how he turned out so passive." Double Dutch snorted and swished his flaxen tail, strangely not bothered by the clingy black mare. It seemed he liked the clingy girls which didn't surprise Amy. He may not look clingy but Dutch did like attention, whether from mare or human. His passive but somewhat protective nature toward Amy and the horses he took under his wing made him very tolerant toward equines much like Angel.

"You from around here? Don't think I've seen you before" Amy said, trying to think of some sort of casual conversation topic that normal people, not horse obsessed people much less not very social horse obsessed people, would talk about. Ok, lame but hell the last time she'd really talked to anybody had been Tanner's job interview or maybe giving a student a few pointers on a dressage transition.

In her mind, Amy was tracking all the various things that she had going on at the stable so she could keep her mind on things that weren't just the fact that she was in very nice company at the moment. She was professional, had to act like it. Knowing her boarders was one thing but personal relationships beyond friendship were out of the question...for now. Amy looked at Dutch whom was lipping at Angel's black mane and envied the stallion. He didn't have to worry about things like that. He may be the stable owner's stallion but that didn't stop the mares from showing interest or stop him from lazing about in the pasture or in his stall all afternoon.

Dutch, oblivious to his mistress's troubles, was busy loping along lazily beside the taller black mare. He had recently been added to the Southern Blues stud list because he was at an age where competition wasn't out of the question but Amy would be thinking about purchasing foals from his brood, passing on his desired genes through crossbreeding or purebreeding. His price was a bit higher than some because he was a bit of a rare breed in these parts. Most Norikers were bred in the mountains and in America the German-originated breed was on the rare side in pure lines.

[$*Crazy*$]

Leland smiled "yep nice to meet you by the way" he said casually trying not to seem to excited and trying to get her out of the serious mood she was in. He liked it better when she teased and he seemed to like that a lot. "What kind of horse is he looks like a rare horse you have there" he said giving Dutch a pat only to find Angel all up the poor stallions butt not literally. Angel nickered softly in a happy tail flicking slightly just cause she was taller didnt mean anything and she was sure it didnt bother her. "Seems we have some pretty spoiled horses on our hands just Angel makes me think possessive" he laughed lightly. Which was true she was acting like a jealous girlfriend clingy and not wanting anyone else around her new found friend who hadnt lifted anything to hurt her. "Naw not from around here Im from Washington D.C" he said lightly petting Angels necks softly getting a happy nicker from her.

Leland mind was definably not Amys' he had images of girls in a wet t-shirt contest and streaking through a meadow. He was a guy he could dream and he was practically doing that now on Angel he wouldnt be surprised his tongue was hanging out his mouth. He would put the definite term to 'horn dog' which is what he was most guys were in their own minds. The girls just didnt get it though he was pretty sure they had images of hot guys like him giving them massages and kissing them in the rain. He thought about that for a moment and that was seriously hot he wanted to try it. A childish grin came across his features and he chuckled out loud and suddenly looked around CURSE his imagination it would be his undoing one of these days. "Oh um you put him up for stud" he asked curiously seriously thinking the process would calm Angel maybe not make her so clingy and then he figured she would more than likely follow poor Dutch around the pasture on hours and Leland blinked poor Dutch Angel already did that to him.

[<Amy>]

Dutch snorted softly, noticing the other human's attempt to reach out and touch him only to be thwarted by the mare. Apparently she was one of the very clingy types but since Amy was doing nothing to change that, Dutch just let it go. He got plenty of pats and attention from Amy and her students so he was content without the touch of one more. He simply went along with it, knowing full well he had to behave despite the fact it seemed very possible this mare was in heat. Six years of training or not, Dutch was a stallion but luckily he was a well controlled stallion.

"He's a Noriker, they're a light draft breed usually in the mountains. They have amazing stamina and strength." Yes Amy knew what she had said would probably be twisted in his male mind into something unseemly but she pretended not to notice. "And yes, he's up for stud. There are a lot of good traits to get out of him if he's bred with the right mares. If I find a mare that gets marginally good traits in the foals, I may keep her as one of his broods."

There were a few students that had filed pedagree papers and whatnot for the foals their stallions had studded or mares had birthed. Comanche Chief was one of the equines getting quite a bit of attention for the foals he had with Viva la White Girl. Both had highly desired traits and Aaron had filed a request for her to be one of Comanche's brood, bred with just him to develop a line but Amy had yet to really go over it.

"What about you? Have a brood hanging around the nest?" Amy asked, referring to either a girlfriend, wife or kids, whatever he wanted that to mean.

Most of the guys at Southern Blues were either teens or in unstable family relationships. One had been divorced and the other his brother was dead, his niece was his life. Though Amy admired them for getting their acts together and was glad to have helped, she preferred just simply single men.

[$*Crazy*$]

Angel was just now coming into heat almost fully in so she was entirely looking for suitors and she was not behaving herself ol' floozy Leland thought. Which Angel had her eyes set on this rare breed right here and she snorted lightly nickering to him swishing her tail back and forth. She was teasing that naughty mare Leland thought and rolled his eyes. When Amy spoke of that rare breed Leland laughed and grinned "great stamina and strength eh" he said thinking of himself a body builder and being able to go all night long wouldnt that be any guys dream though you would need a girl who could handle all that. He grinned that would be some woman least Amy was with someone who appreciated women more so than not. "Thats actually a neat type of breed I was thinking of breeding Angel it may calm her clingy self but I figure she will latch on to the foal like a leech" he teased lightly. He was thinking of all the studs he had seen today none of them seemed to fit Angel but this one horse stood out to him and Angel too the other studs were entirely to...what the word horny he thought casually. Though they were supposed to be but they could be like Dutch and act all innocent.

As Amy spoke to him Lelands' eyes widened my my she was asking personal questions. "A brood? ugh no I'm single and no kids or crazy ex girlfriends or ex wives" he laughed natured though he couldnt say the same thing for his friend whose girlfriend tried to kill him. He thought about Angel and Dutchs' foal or foals if they bred them and was curious as to what would come out. Surely a mix breed but what about the color the eyes and other parts of the horse. "What about you have any attachments?" he asked curiously well she asked him he had the right to ask her hands down. He had nothing to hide but if she didnt he would respect her wished and keep his lips zipped he knew he was one of the few sane people around and grinned unless you counted him in the crazy imagination category then he wasnt normal anymore.

[<Amy>]

Amy looked over at Leland, appraising his mare and weighing the possible outcomes for a crossbreed with Dutch. The foal would be as strong as a titan that was for sure or at least have wonderful stamina. With the grace and subtle power of a Frisian, it would be an interesting outcome. Their coloring would probably be very classy, an elegant black or rich dark brown or bay. If the foal inherited Dutch's flaxen mane and tail that would make the foal one heck of a thing to see, like a Rocky Mountain Horse but with sturdier legs.

Reaching over, Amy patted Angel's neck. It wasn't much of a reach since the mare was like...attached to Dutch and Amy could feel the mare's side barely a hair-width from her leg. "I don't think she's a leech, just in heat and naturally affectionate" Amy said in the mare's defense.

She liked the mare. Affectionate horses usually came in the form of passive mares or laid back geldings, very seldom in a stallion like Dutch. Angel wasn't a passive mare. She liked Dutch and went after him. It was amusing and cute at the same time even though most people claimed horses didn't know what the hell love was. They just knew what heat scent was and Amy wasn't going to dispute that. It was just cute to see Dutch so patiently tolerating a clingy mare at least a hand taller than himself.

Glancing at Leland, Amy shifted in the saddle as Dutch leaned over and lipped at Angel's mane, his big hooves absentmindedly clopping along the trail. "Honestly? I think the last time I was on a date was before I ended my professional career" Amy admitted. "That was a while back, at least five years because I got Dutch right after that."

A reason Amy disliked springtime other than trail maintenance? All the freaking rain. When it got up to a big bad storm, Amy's right knee would choose to either ache dully in the most annoying fashion possible or hurt so bad she couldn't walk. It wasn't so bad with normal rainstorms but get a big ol' thunderstorm going and Amy was either grouchy, uselessly immobile or both.

[$*Crazy*$]

Angel felt the touch of Amy and nickered lightly. It seemed the two horses here were nothing but a bunch of love bugs which made Leland smile and Angel excited. Considering the foal once more Leland was sure the legs on that particular foal would be long and strong and the set of the horse would be a sturdy and definite show possibility. Leland smiled the foal would no less be beautiful just like his mare who he had to admit was gorgeous in comparison to some of the studs in the barn and Leland wanted to be more than certain that he was sure about that stud and willing to pay an arm and a leg for successful breeding and hope to god it takes. "Well she normally isnt like that I have never seen her connect to another horse like that shes normally all alone even when shes in heat just now is just plain weird" Leland said sheepishly. He knew horses changed over the years but Angel hadnt and she was different around this particular horse and seemed to enjoy the attention she was receiving from the stud. In due to that Angel was nipping tendrils of mane and using her lips at his maw tentatively.

Leland listened to what Amy had to say well atleast he actually listened unlike some guys he happened to know who just used girls to score and wind up with a we bairn on their hands. Leland wasnt like that he wouldnt do anything unless the girl was sure and very very positive she was willing to get married if she got knocked up Leland wouldnt leave her. Leland laughed "well we are alike I haven't been on a date since I was thirteen and was forced to wear braces and then that girlfriend did to however our braces got stuck together and well...mom never let me go back out" he grinned from ear to ear like the mischievous little boy he used to be and more than likely still was which made Leland stick out. He burst into laughter making Angel turn around and look at him like he was retarded and then she snorted and shook her head and went back to bother Dutch.

[<Amy>]

Typical cliche "braces stuck together" line, yep, Amy had heard it before. Guys and girls both with braces never ended up well but it was funny every time. The stable owner laughed along with Leland, making Dutch twitch his ears curiously. Shaking her head in wonder at the awkwardness of adolescence, Amy patted Dutch's neck absentmindedly. "My last boyfriend oh what did he say? He said "go marry a horse if you love them so much" or something stupid like that. Couldn't understand why I rode professionally but six months later I gave it up and took on risk horses. Still horse obsessed obviously but at least I'm not going from here to France every three months for international competitions."

It hadn't been that long ago when Amy had been the queen of the dressage circuit and princess of the jumping ring. Olympic trials were said to make or break the dreams of equestrian riders. For Amy it had broke her and her horse. Left her with knee problems when it rained and Chico long gone.

Patting Dutch's neck again, Amy looked over at Leland. "Don't think Angel would have bonded with Dutch if she'd seen him when he was a risk. Oh boy, I don't think I've seen a horse so crazy since. Well...maybe Hawk but it depends on who you ask."

Amy smiled lovingly at her chocolate colored stallion. Dutch snorted and bobbed his head, swishing his tail as he walked along beside Angel. He would swing his head lightly to brush her neck or nip at her mane but more or less kept himself in the image of a stately gentleman entertaining a court lady, affectionate but polite and obedient to Amy's commands from the saddle. Hard to think of him as an abused yearling throwing himself all around in his pen and about to be put down, looking for any way out and looking so beat up and hurt nobody would give him a chance.

Now he was a fair dressage stallion, a loyal trail pal and a therapy horse. Weird how time changed people and horses.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Yea It was needless to say embarrassing" he grinned "oh he did that to you I have a girl say that to me much..what was it I said? Oh yea well atleast she don't complain about every little thing" he said with a grin. "Yea I never seen someone walk so fast in my life" he said then gave Amy a grin well he had some charm. He grinned and shook his head "oh lord I couldnt imagine doing that every three months I think I would be broker than a dust mite" he said with a laugh which was true. Angel nickered and pulled slightly away going into a prance bowing her head lightly. Leland was completely taken off guard and had to hang on to his pommel. She sure was excited "well jeez Angel warn someone before hand when you get entirely to excited maybe it will give me a chance so I don't fall off" he said to the mare who had stopped and harks were perked doubly she had seen something that interested. She snorted lightly stomping her horse she shouldnt be afraid of anything ol cow Leland thought as he looked with her. Just then a rabbit shot out of the brush. Angel watched it and trotted after it that poor rabbit. "Well guess we know how to get her away from Dutch" Leland laughed as he bounced in the saddle.

Angel nickered to Dutch like a lovestruck filly still after the rabbit then two others shot out of hiding and Angel got entirely excited not able to make her mind up which one she wanted to go after. She snorted signaling one out poor bunny was going bunny with a large thousand pound horse on his cotton tail. She nickered to it she was entirely to curious and Leland sighed he couldnt do anything with her once she found something that interested her and right now it was Dutch she chased bunnies for a few moments. If only that rabbit would be still so she could smell it and then they could go back to Amy and Dutch. Angel was entirely to distracted.

[<Amy>]

"All my winnings usually went two ways, one to college and one to more entry and travel fees" Amy told him, laughing. It was a wonder she hadn't been broke as a child but if she'd run out of money her dad or her uncle would pay the fees to get her to shows. More or less since she was one of the few people in her family still interested in equines, her uncle had eventually made her his heir to Southern Blues Stables. Of course back in his day it had been called Bowing Creek Stables, after the large creek that ran not far from the trail. Angel distracted Amy from saying anything else when the mare caught sight of a rabbit that had dashed out of hiding.

Never in her life had Amy seen a fully grown, nearly eighteen hand horse act so much like...a dog...or a ten year old. She was just going along after the rabbit, her whole interest on it which made Amy raise an eyebrow. Why didn't Leland rein her in? She looked old enough to have had decent training, or at least enough to know that she obeys the rider before anything else.

Dutch nickered curiously, not spooking when the rabbits appeared but not prancing after them like a curious colt. He picked up his pace to a trot with Amy's command so they could keep pace with the unusual mare and her even more unusual rider. Arching his powerful neck, Dutch moved with the power of an earthquake and flaunting grace of nature's finest breeding. His flaxen mane flowed against his neck, muscles moving easily under his dark hide as he trekked along after the mare.

"She sure is an odd one" Amy said. "But I think Dutch has been walking enough, poor baby needs to stretch his legs."

Drawing Dutch up alongside Leland and Angel with Dutch dodging rabbits, Amy winked at Leland. Not normally a natural flirt, it just seemed easy with Leland. Clicking her tongue, Amy let Dutch go. His hoofbeats were heavy and sturdy on the ground like the beat of a large drum, his pace easy and smooth. He wasn't as fast as a Thoroughbred but nobody ever said drafts didn't know what it meant to gallop. Being a light draft, Dutch didn't have quite as much heavy muscle as some breeds.