All I need is someone to hold me {open}

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Soncee pulled up in her old farm truck. It was a 1974 orange and white chevy truck. The truck did it's job getting her from place to place. She wasnt' going to complain about it being old and rusty. She didn't care. Right now, all she needed to worry about was her future. The things in her life that needed to be fixed. She walked into the barn and fed TinMan, then her mare Dutchess. She sold all her horses but TinMan and Dutchess because TinMan had shown her just what life was about. He took her through high school rodeo and a couple years of professional rodeo. There was no way in hell she was getting rid of the stud horse. She was going to keep him and breed him. She kept Dutchess because she wanted to breed her next year to TinMan and get a paint foal that will not only be able to barrel race, but also have some color, because Dutchess was homozygous.

She let the two horses eat for a little bit. She walked to the loft and sat down on the couch. She shouldnt' be riding, she shouldn't have horses for one reason; she was pregnant. She wasn't proud of it either. She loved the man that she was with. But he left her, he told he would be back and now he had been gone for three months. She had given up hoping he would come back. She had thrown away the engagement ring and now she was here, lonely and pregnant. She was a waitress at the diner, but soon she wouldn't even be able to work. And she was afraid that she may have to get rid of her horses. And that was the last thing she wanted to do. Her horses were her best friends right now.

She stood up and went to the bridge and grabbed a water. She sat back down and flipped through a magazine that was sitting on the coffee table. She sighed as she went through it. Soon enough, she wouldn't be riding. Her rodeo career this year was toast. And next year had a good chance of the same thing. She would be taking care of her child, and would be in debt. But then again, if she didnt' get a boyfriend or a fiance by the time her child was born, she would put it up for adoption. She didn't want to put her through hell jsut because her mom had been a slut and made some really stupid mistakes. She dug into her pocket of her pants and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She stepped out of the room and out of the barn and sat down on and leaned against teh barn wall and lit her cigarette.

She shouldnt' be smoking, but right now it was the only thing keeping her sane. The baby would most likely not be the healthiest, but right now Soncee didnt' care. The baby was putting her through hell. She land a hand on her stomach when the baby kicked. She sighed. "Chill out in there." She said and took a long drag of her ciggarette. She watched as people came in. Not alot were here today, but there were a few people. And no one seemed to care one bit about her.

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Hoofbeats echoed throughout the riding ring; the true rhythm of life. Effortlessly, a large gray mare wound around a corner of the riding ring, preforming a hardly noticeable flying change. Her ears perked forward as she listened to her surroundings, and just as she neared the jump, the man on her back found the perfect distance and signaled to her to leap. With quiet ferocity, the mare leaped without a fault and landed perfectly. Something about her graceful movements seemed off to Kade, though. As a western rider, both he and his horse were still new to show jumping. Rain, the gray Arabian/Mustang mare he was on, slowed to a halt and his hand found her neck. "Good girl, Rain . . . You were awesome." He quickly dismounted her and gathered the reins in one hand. His amazing horse was nine, and she was trained for cutting, barrel racing, and western pleasure. It was a miracle she picked up jumping without a single fuss over it. Kade pulled a peppermint treat out of his pocket and placed it under her nose. She sniffed and took it immediately as the walked into the barn. Raindrops on Roses was surely not tired, but she was hungry. He placed her in her stall and easily took her tack off, brushed her, and threw two scoops of grain in her bucket.

Kade sighed a goodbye to his horse and heaved the tack to his truck. Lately, the only thing keeping him going was that horse. Really, he no longer had something to live for. About a year before, his only girlfriend had been killed in a car accident. She'd even moved to West Virginia with her mother so they could be together. Now, though, everything had fallen apart in his life. He sighed again, heaving the bad memories out of his head for a bit. Something about moping just wasn't right. He threw everything in the back of his Tundra and threw his keys into the front seat. No one would bother with his truck, he never had anything but tack in it. He could hardly imagine how he looked, having been show jumping in full western gear. He wore jeans and western boots. That English stuff was far too . . . Classy. It just wasn't what he would be seen in. He turned his head up to the sky and leaned back, wondering what the heck he could do. Well . . . There wasn't anything to do.

He muttered under his breath and strode toward the loft. At least in there he wouldn't be alone. He'd been at the barn for a while, enough time to see people come and go. Lately he hadn't spoken to anyone, though. Maybe all he needed was a little lightening up from someone. After he chilled out he'd have to go graze Rain, though. She needed the attention. And a bath, too . . . Kade glanced up with sparkling blue/silver eyes as he strode into the loft. People busied themselves with daily activities, such as eating and socializing. He walked to the fridge and grabbed a Mountain Dew, then plopped down on a chair. He didn't need to relax, but what else was there to do? He waited for a few moments to see someone he could go graze horses with, or just hang out with, but really there weren't that many people. He didn't know many of those that he saw. Boredom eventually took over and he threw his soda can in the trash. Just . . . He had to get out. Kade ran a hand through his hair and stepped out of the barn, eyes grazing his surroundings.

Only the smell of cigarette smoke caused him to look over at the girl leaning against the barn. He saw her just in time to hear her talk. To her stomach, though. She was pregnant, that much he could tell. Smoking wasn't the greatest for her kid, but he didn't really mind. He loved babies, but the thought of having one in him just made him shiver. Striding closer, he grinned. "You're a barrel racer, right? I think I saw you riding a few times before." Taking in a large huff of air, he attempted to ward his mind of other thoughts about his past. "My name's Kade," he added quickly, knowing it would be odd to have a stranger talking to her.

[zippyzip]

Soncee had been smoking outside the barn, sitting down leaning against the wall of the barn. She felt a kick of the child in her stomach and she spoke a few words. She ran her fingers through her hair to get it out of her eyes. Today, unlike her, she wore no cowboy hat. Which usually meant she was stressed and upset about life. She had a long shirt on, one of those paternity ones. She hated being pregnant. Once in her life she was fat, and she hated it. She wore hip huggers that were comfortable enough to wear while pregnant.

She took a long drag of her cigarette. She heard near by footsteps and looked up after hearing a mans voice. "You're a barrel racer, right? I think I saw you riding a few times before." He said. She gave him a rather small smile. She watched him for a moment before speaking. "That would probably be me. The only other people I know that barrel race is Miranda Dugger and Sydney Montgomery." She told him. She figured she should be nice to him, since it was the first guy to talk to her in ages. And if she wanted to have a father to this child she needed a man. So she would give him a try and move on from the last one, the father of her child to come.

"My name's Kade," He told her. She smiled a bit more this time and stood up. She reached her hand out toward him. 'I'm Soncee. " She told him. She shook his hand then smoked the last of her cigarette and threw it on the ground and stomped it out. Then picked it back up so it wouldnt' burn anything around the barn and tossed it into an empy tin garbage can. She glanced back to him and wished she wasn't pregnant. He was probably thinking she was some kind of slut. She sighed a little and looked at the ground. What was there to talk about?

"Dont' think I have seen you here before. You knew?" She asks him. She was going to make some conversation, even though she felt like being anti-social. But she needed to talk to someone, to let her feelings out. She looked back up to him. He was cute...wait no, he was gorgeous. He had beautiful blonde hair that she would just love to run her fingers through. Ok, so maybe Soncee was kind of a slut, she had been around and had done things with guys alot. That's ok, if he was a good man he wouldn't judge her on her past and her mistakes. He would like her for what she was now. But one thing that got her mind thinking was, he looked alot younger than her.. maybe by two or three years.

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Kade could practically see the horses he didn't need to look at as they passed. All he heard was hoofbeats on concrete, but that was enough to tell him what was happening. Some younger kids must have been running down the isle with their horses, acting like monkeys. He chuckled softly, but not loud enough she'd think he was laughing at her. He shook his head and turned his eyes back up to Soncee. The silvery/blue color of his eyes was somewhat clouded, though it would take a lot of staring for someone to notice. Or just a very perceptive person. He was worried and saddened, but about such he wouldn't speak of. He tried to keep a grin on as she gave him a small smile. Really, when she didn't speak at first he was wondering if she was bothered by him. He could understand why, though. She was possibly one of the more social around the barn, and quite often some of those girls just ignored people who spoke to them. Somehow, though, he doubted it. Something about the lax attitudes of western riders made him positive that hardly any were mean.

Her answering comment made him smile. Rain was trained for barrel racing, and really needed some practice on it. Maybe what she needed was some good ol' practice . . . He smirked and nodded. "Barrel racing is an awesome class. Western riding is so much more fun than English," he half mumbled the last part. Show jumping . . . Ugh. He liked it a bit, but not enough to take it up as a full career. For the first time, his eyes wandered down to her stomach. He just glanced, and then allowed himself to look away. He didn't need to stare at her. He hated when others stared at him oddly, so why act like she was some other life form? Really, if she staid at Pinewood, he would have loved to see the baby. Children intrigued him for some reason. Their innocence was something he always thought was adorable, and just the fact that things around them could shape their future . . .

He nodded his head a bit and took her hand as she gave it to him. "You have a very pretty name. I've never heard it before . . ." He gazed as she dropped her cigarette and stomped it out. He'd never smoked before, but he really didn't have anything against it. New worry clouded his eyes as she stared at the ground. Something was bothering her . . . He ran a hand through his hair and then shuffled into a different stance, shifting his weight.

She asked him if he was new, and it made him think about how social he should have been. "No, actually. I've been here for a few years, but because of some stuff happening . . I haven't really been all that social. But hey, we all have our downfalls." He shrugged and tilted his head. Honestly, that was the truest thing he probably had ever said about what had happened. He never spoke about why he wasn't all that social. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you look so down?" He did care about what was wrong, it was just probably odd that he would ask. He smiled and motioned to her stomach. "It has to be pretty cool to be having a baby. Probably not so much fun for you at the moment, though?" Kade's hand curled up at his side, giving him something to do. He never could sit still after all. His eyes scanned her face, which was quite pretty. She just looked somewhat sad . . .

[zippyzip]

"Barrel racing is an awesome class. Western riding is so much more fun than English," He told her. She chuckled a little at the last part. Yes, it was true. English was boring to her as well. 'English.. never liked it never will. Rodeo is my life. Well, atleast it was until she got pregnant. " I have a stud horse in the barn, he was my main ride all through high school until now. I am kind of retiring him now that he is like 14. " She told him. She loved TinMan, he was her best friend.

"You have a very pretty name. I've never heard it before . . ." He told her. She smiled to him. No one had ever told her that her name was pretty. They just said it was interesting and different. "Thanks. I don't know where my mom found it. Kade isn't very popular." She said and gave him a smile still. She got quiet for a moment and looked at the ground after putting her cigarette out. "No, actually. I've been here for a few years, but because of some stuff happening . . I haven't really been all that social. But hey, we all have our downfalls." He told her. "Yes, I know how all that goes. Been there done that." she told him. She had been that way for a month now, only talking to people that talked to her first. She watched him. He had beautiful eyes. Dang, why did he have to be so darn tempting?

If you don't mind me asking, why do you look so down?" he asks. She got quiet again and looked down. She was deciding whether to tell him or not.. parts or all of it. She looked back up to him. "Well, I have made a few mistakes, rather big ones. Went a little fast in a relationship, got engaged within like three days. Got pregnant and the man left me saying he would come back. Two months later, can't get ahold of him. So I threw the engagement ring away and now I'm stuck with a child that has no father." She told him. That was basically teh story all summed up. She took a deep breathe and her hand laid on her stomach when the baby kicked.

"It has to be pretty cool to be having a baby. Probably not so much fun for you at the moment, though?" She looked at him like he was crazy, but it was more of a playful look. She shook her head a little. "It's cool to think that I will be a mother and that it is growing inside my stomach. But, it's painful, and it's hard when you don't have a man supporting you." She told him truthfully. No reason to lie to this man. He seemed very much interesting in her, so why ruin a possible future with him?

She started to walk in teh barn. 'Come with me. I will show you my two horses." she said and walked inside and stopped by TinMan's stall. The big bay stallion popped his head over his stall door. 'This is TinMan. My main ride. And next to him is my paint mare Chinook. She is in training right now, well.. not lately since I'm pregnant. But once I get her going I want to breed her to TinMan. " She told him. She was getting use to being social again. It was nice to have someone to talk to. She was letting her guard down so he could step into her life he wanted to. 'I had alot more horses but I sold them all due to beign pregnant and wouldn't be able to ride them all. " She said and sighed. That was the downfall of beign pregnant. She told the doctor it was either quit riding, or quit smoking, but not both. The doctor told her to decide. But really, she had been doing both. She was thinking about now just riding and quitting smoking. But either way the baby was at risk. But she didn't really care..

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Kade nodded vigorously as she chuckled. "Western is all we'll ever really need. Nothing could ever beat it," he murmured triumphantly. "He sounds like a great horse. You must go way back with him . . . It's cool that a stallion would be such a great partner. One in a million, huh?" Something about the way she spoke made it sound like the two had an extremely close, unspoken bond. He'd tried to ride a stallion before, but testosterone against testosterone never ended up well. In act, it ended up with him sprawled on the ground and the stud wandering away. Fourteen wasn't very old or a horse, but usually they preformed their best in their younger years. When he competed in California a few years ago, his horses had all been from the ages of four to nine. Though, he'd really just rode whatever horse he could. "I have a big Mustang/Arabian mare named Rain that I'm attempting to train for show jumping on top of her western classes." He chuckled inwardly, remembering her awkward movements.

Soncee's smile brightened him up. He shrugged simply as she spoke his less-than-popular name. Honestly, he couldn't even figure out what it meant in a baby book. His mother must've been on drugs when she named him . . . He shivered a bit at her comment. Everyone had their downfalls, whether they had come to admit them or not. He hadn't spoken his to anyone, but if someone were to ask what his problem was, he'd have no problem answering. Rather than replying to that, he just nodded. Out of everyone, he surely understood where she was coming from. He'd been so spaced out because of that one tragic death that he could hardly even put up with waking up in the morning.

Kade wasn't sure he should've asked when she looked down. Actually, he elt like the biggest idiot in the world or butting into her personal life like that. But he cared, and what she said trult surprised him. "We all have our moments where we're too lovestruck to think clearly." He quieted as he watched her place a hand on her stomach. She didn't seem thrilled at the moment, but he'd probably go insane if it was him. "The man had to be an idiot to leave, anyway. If I were him, I'd stay with you or more reasons than just because you were pregnant!" Actually, he'd probably be with her just because he liked her in general. Getting engaged quickly wasn't something he'd do, but then again, how would he know? He'd never been swept off his feet that quickly. "My girlfriend was killed in a car accident a while ago, and really I haven't been right since. I suppose it's us against the world." He flashed an exuberant smile at her, having had their downfalls shared.

He chuckled at the look he recieved from her and glanced at the ground for a moment. "I can't really say I know how you feel, but I do feel or you. And, hey, if you ever need anything you can just ask. My parents are always away on business so they basically gave me the house and send money to me in hopes that it will cover up all the times they've been away." He shivered at the thought of the mansion he lived at. It was great, but it just wasn't a place where he enjoyed being. His parents moved to an apartment by his mother's law firm and called every so often to see how he was doing. He doubted they even knew he was a vet's apprentice.

Kade happily followed her into the barn, watching her movements in an attempt to analyze what she was thinking. He averted his eyes, though, as she stopped by a stall. A big bay head popped out and he smiled. Reaching his hand out, he placed it flat so the stud could sniff it, and then rubbed his nose before putting his hand back down. "You're a handsome boy, aren't you?" He could easily tell he was a Quarter Horse. "Wow, he's amazing. And he looks like he's in a great condition!" He strode a few steps over to Chinook's stall and gazed at her. Paints were one of his favorite coats. "She's so pretty . . . They'd have a beautiful foal, and I think a blind man could see than." He narrowed his eyes at her words, knowing it had to be very hard to sell her horses. He'd go nuts if he had to sell Rain. "That had to be hard to do . . . But you could always see them here and there, right?" His hopeful attitude was something even he hadn't seen in a while. A whinny behind him told him that Rain was craving attention. He turned and looked a few stalls up across the aisle and shot her a glare. Her gray head turned to him to look at what he was doing and he couldn't help but smirk. Quickly, though, he looked back at TinMan. His stature was that o a true Western horse.

[zippyzip]

"Western is all we'll ever really need. Nothing could ever beat it," He told her. She smiled. This man was one of a kind, she could tell. He was nice, and he liked western events. Her ex fiance was a english man...loved jumping. That's all he would do. It drove her nuts. "He sounds like a great horse. You must go way back with him . . . It's cool that a stallion would be such a great partner. One in a million, huh?" She nodded, agreeing with his words. It was so very true. 'Yes, western events are far more better. TinMan is one in a million. He's not like must stud horses. He acts like a gelding most of the time." She told him and smiled. She had worked and worked with that horse to get him what he was today.

"I have a big Mustang/Arabian mare named Rain that I'm attempting to train for show jumping on top of her western classes." She smiled to him. Mustangs were fun to train. They could be freaking stubborn and wild, but with alot of work it usually paid off. But for Arabians.. she wasn't much for. But there were alot of good arabians around. "That's cool. I like mustangs." She says and smiled. She remembered in high school rodeo when she rode broncs and bulls with the boys. She rode the wild mustangs and she dang near won that rodeo, but got bucked off before the buzzer.

"We all have our moments where we're too lovestruck to think clearly." He told her. She smiled to him. She was staring to like this man more and more. He didnt' seem the kind to judge. 'Ya, I guess. If I could go back, I would change that." She told him and sighed a little. She knew she wasn't perfect, and thought that Kade was insane for even talking to her. In her opinion, she wasn't worth talking to. "The man had to be an idiot to leave, anyway. If I were him, I'd stay with you or more reasons than just because you were pregnant!" She looked at him and jsut kind of laughed. Was this guy trying to tell her he liked her already? She wasn't sure but she wasn't going to play hard to get. She was just going to play along. " I bet you would." She said. Why did she always fall for boys so easily? She didn't know but she was liking this one more than she had any other boy in her life. "My girlfriend was killed in a car accident a while ago, and really I haven't been right since. I suppose it's us against the world." He told her. She blinked and walked up to him closer, and gave him a small hug. 'I'm sorry to hear that. I know how losing close people is. It's hard... but it just makes you stronger." She told him and gave him a smile, a bigger smile than before.

"I can't really say I know how you feel, but I do feel or you. And, hey, if you ever need anything you can just ask. My parents are always away on business so they basically gave me the house and send money to me in hopes that it will cover up all the times they've been away." He told her. She gulped. This man was offering alot to her. She wouldn't take it unless she really needed it. But that was so much to offer. She started to wonder why thsi man was so nice. It almost scared her to think that he was so nice. She was half tempted to bolt off and run. She kept herself contained though telling herself that this man was worth a risk of getting your heart broke. "Thanks." was all she could say.

"You're a handsome boy, aren't you?" Kade said to TinMan. Soncee smiled at Kade. He did like horses, that was good. TinMan gave a low nicker and he pushed his muzzle into Kade's hand, not even taking the time to sniff it. "Wow, he's amazing. And he looks like he's in a great condition!" Soncee nodded. "Yes he is. I will still rodeo here and there on him, just not competing hard on him. He has slown down quite a bit the last couple years." She says. She hated to see it, but hard events like that took a toll on some horses. "She's so pretty . . . They'd have a beautiful foal, and I think a blind man could see than." He told her. Soncee laughed. But this laugh was a natural laugh, nothing fake. She hadn't laughed like that in a long time. 'Ya, you think?" she asks and stroked Chinook's head. "That had to be hard to do . . . But you could always see them here and there, right?" He told her after looking over to his horse. She smiled a little. "No, I won't see them. They were sold to owner clear across the country. But they all went to be rodeo horses, since that is what i specialize in."

She looked back over to Rain. "I'm gonna go see your horse now." She told him and walked over to Rain. She held out her hand and studied the mare. She was a gorgeous creature. She studied the mare for a moment. She looked at Kade. "So do you like kids?" She asks him. That was her main problem right now. She needed to find someone that liked kids so they could help take care of them and what not. And if he didn't, she didn't want to waste time with him. But she had this feeling that he liked kids, or he would have never asked if it was cool to be pregnant.

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|||ooc|| MAJOR muse-fail! I'm sorry for this crappy post. Dx |||

Kade couldn't help but chuckle at the smile, knowing there was always a reason for distate in English. Heck, he just didn't like them because the saddles bothered him. TinMan . . . An interesting name for a horse so special. He nodded, imagining all he hours she'd put into training him. Keeping that stud would not only be great for her own reasons, but also for breeding purposes. Though he had a strong distaste for racehorse breeding, everything else was fine by him. Except for puppy mills run by the Amish . . . Those just irked him, really.

He grinned at that comment. "Mustangs are one of my favorite breeds because they are the true start of all Western riding. Without them, some of the rodeo events wouldn't of even happened. But Arabians are the heart and soul of most English riding because of racing, and then everything that branched off of that. I think it's . . . Interesting to have a part of both worlds." Kade shrugged at his own logic and curiously looked at Soncee. Really, Rain was fun to train. She had her moments where she'd see a dog and go flying towards it, then stop on a dime to sniff at it. No, she was a giant, playful teddy bear.

Kade attentively shuffled his feet into a new stance and peered at Chinook once more. He shook his head thoughtfully, pondering over how many regrets a person could have before things started to look up. Maybe, later on, everyone could look back on their past regrets and just smile. Sometimes, he knew, they'd be sad, but maybe, just maybe, they would be some of the greatest things that ever happened to a person. He just shrugged when she said that she bet he would. He wasn't about to go get a girl pregnant and leave her, anyway. No, from his own hsitory he knew better than to ever do that. He smiled and looked at her with big blue eyes. His surprise won over any other feeling when she hugged him, though. "Nothing more true has ever been said," he said with an attempt at a smile.

Kade understood why she didn't respond with much. He wouldn't have either, really. But he had to let people know that no matter what, he would always be willing to give them whatever they needed. Rather than replying, he gave her a reassuring look. Her look told him that something was wrong, that she was feeling something she didn't expose. He knew it was an odd question to ask, and just nodded to himself.

A chuckle erupted from him as TinMan pressed his nose quickly into his palm. "At least he's always around as a leisure horse! And Chinook will have her own role model." Kade looked at her rather happily, though the look faded as he listened to her response. "Well at least you know that they'll all be in good homes . . . Who knows? Maybe you'll even see one of them in a rodeo some day. When you make it big as a barrel racer," he said with a wink. He could only imagine how those horses looked, just from seeing Chinook and TinMan. Those two looked to be in excellent condition . . . Smirking, he turned to Rain.

Nodding in respose to her statement, he followed her up to the big mare. At 16.3, she was not the size of a mustang at all. Her structure was, but her head and size were that of an Arabian. She flung her head up playfully and happily nuzzled Soncee. "Kids? I love them! They're great . . . When I do actually see some kids here and there, I love to play with them and rock the babies to sleep. Why do you ask?" He dreamily gazed at Rain and Soncee together, watching what they were doing.

[zippyzip]

"Mustangs are one of my favorite breeds because they are the true start of all Western riding. Without them, some of the rodeo events wouldn't of even happened. But Arabians are the heart and soul of most English riding because of racing, and then everything that branched off of that. I think it's . . . Interesting to have a part of both worlds." He told her. She nodded. She didn't think she had seen a cross between a mustang and a arabian before. She was kind of interesting in seeing what this horse looked like. "Well then your horse should be good at just about everything then." She said and smiled.

He had told her about his girlfriend being killed. That always sucked. She hated when loved ones passed away. It was hard, but you eventually got over it. "Nothing more true has ever been said," He told her when she hugged him. She just nodded in agreement. Kade seemed to be good with words. He knew what to say, when to say it. It was fun to listen to him talk and to see what he had to say about different thigns.

"At least he's always around as a leisure horse! And Chinook will have her own role model." He told her. She smiled to him and looked at TinMan then to Chinook. 'I guess I could always have you ride him while I'm pregnant. He is really nice to most people. But with men, he tends to get a little more frisky. But after a few kicks and jerks, he gets over it." She told him and smiled. "If you ride Chinook, she is really smooth and she has alot of get up and go when you ask for it. But other than that, she likes to go slow and be lazy." She said. Chinook was different that way. The horse was naturally kind of lazy, but when you asked for speed she gave it to you without hesitation.

"Well at least you know that they'll all be in good homes . . . Who knows? Maybe you'll even see one of them in a rodeo some day. When you make it big as a barrel racer," She looked at him and saw him wink. She laughed. "Yes, that's true. But I doubt I will have make it big." She said. With being pregnant and having a kid around all teh time, her future in rodeo would be a difficult road to go. She wished that men were the ones that got pregnant.. like sea horses. That would be great and then all her troubles would be over.

"Kids? I love them! They're great . . . When I do actually see some kids here and there, I love to play with them and rock the babies to sleep. Why do you ask?" He seemed to really like them by the way he responded. She just smiled to him and shrugged a little and her face went a little pink. "I.. uhh.. just wondered. I guess I'm just trying to protect myself from heart break." She told him. That was how she felt and she wasn't going to lie to him about it. She looked at Rain and smiled. The mare was really tall to be a mustang.. and an arabian. Most arabians she seen were small too. Her face was alot of the arabian. 'You sure are a pretty thing Rain." she told the mare and rubbed her face gently.

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Kade actually let out a chucle at her comment. Rain was the best, but that was what every horse owner told their horses. Or what they told their friend's horses. Whatever the case, the two were perfect for each other because they failed at English together. The strict movements of English riding were so different from Western that often time Rain would start to use cutter movements instead of smooth, classy movements. "Rain was trained in barrel racing before I got her. Then, I taught her cutting and pleasure. Show jumping, though . . . Well, we both have major trouble with. Once you start western riding, it's a pain to get out of it for even one hour." He gratefully bopped Rain on the nose, who tilted into Soncee's hands. She liked the attention of a girl for once, and it was obvious.

He sighed thoughtfully as he started to drift off and think about summer. In California, summer meant bareback riding on the beach with a group of stablemates. Here . . . Summer love and rumors were in the air. It was so different. There were plenty of things to do, but he decided he was content with relaxing with his friends at the barn. Riding and spending time with the horses were some of his main priorities, anyway.

"If you want me to ride them, I'd be more than happy to. Tinman and I could have male bonding time," he joked. "But really, whenever you have your baby and you want to ride, I'll be your full-time babysitter. That way you could ride and always have someone cooing over your child." Her descriptions of their traits and personalities made him smile. TinMan just sounded like the nice boy he was, while Chinook sounded adorable. He loved horses that were either laid back and quiet, or wild and headstrong. Otherwise, he'd never let his guard down when riding because he wouldn't know the personality.

He frowned and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't say that. Plenty of people still ride professionally after having a kid! Besides, you'll already have two members in your fan club to start off with." He grinned and removed his hand. Being a pro wasn't just a big city dream. It was in reach for every rider at Pinewood, should they wish to take it up as a career. He pondered how long women were pregnant for a moment, something he had forgotten when he learned all about horse breeding. Then, eyes lightening up at Soncee, he started to wonder when her baby was due. He decided it best not to ask and to move on with his thoughts.

The smile wouldn't leave Kade's face at her blush, or her words really. He did know what she meant by heartbreak. He felt like the one that was biting at the heels yelling, "Please, I'll change!" all the time, then perching by the phone for hours like an old budgie, waiting to ge a phone call back. Well, not really, but that was what it felt like when Ashlynn passed away. "You don't need to worry about heartbreak. What's done is done, and it's in the past." He scuffed the ground with one of his boots and looked at Rain, who was intent on getting rubbed to death by her newfriend. He laughed and shook his head. "She absolutely adores you, Soncee. She's probably plotting the ways to get out of her stall and stand by TinMan and Chinook every morning so she has to get love from you." The mare shut her eyes and let out a big breath, which sounded much like a sigh of happiness.

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Rain was trained in barrel racing before I got her. Then, I taught her cutting and pleasure. Show jumping, though . . . Well, we both have major trouble with. Once you start western riding, it's a pain to get out of it for even one hour." He told her. She smiled a little and looked at Rain. For some reason she couldnt' see the horse barrel racing. But I guess anything is possible. She studied the mare a little more from the outside of the stall. "Well, I wonder if she still knows her stuff? She asks and smiled. She wanted to ride so bad. She just might take TinMan out and just walk him around the arena or something, because she was dieing to ride a horse.

"If you want me to ride them, I'd be more than happy to. Tinman and I could have male bonding time, But really, whenever you have your baby and you want to ride, I'll be your full-time babysitter. That way you could ride and always have someone cooing over your child." He told her. She laughed a little and shook her head. Why was he being so nice to her? Why was he offering so much. He hardly knew her and he was already willing to give up time to take care of her child...so she could go riding. " I ... don't know what to say. Umm. I guess we will see about you taking care of the baby. But that would be nice if you would ride Tinman and Chinook for me." She told him and smiled a little. She was hoping he would keep his word, unlike so many other man. She hoped and prayed he wouldnt' ditch her like all the rest.

"Hey, don't say that. Plenty of people still ride professionally after having a kid! Besides, you'll already have two members in your fan club to start off with." She looked at him and gave him a strange look. She shook her head a little. "And most of them have husbands to take care of the kids while the wife is out going pro. I don't have a husband.. or a boyfriend." She told him. It was true, most professional barrel racers were married if they had kids. But Soncee wasn't married. She hated it. She felt like a slut, in which she would agree she was a slut. But she was changing now. She didn't want to be known as the slut around here. "And how do I have two members in my fan club?" She asks a bit confused.

"You don't need to worry about heartbreak. What's done is done, and it's in the past." He told her and she looked at him. Wow.. he sure knew how to say the right things. This man was full of wise words, and she liked it. "I'm kind of worried about future heartbreak. I don't know if I can handle another major break-up." She told him. the last one really took a toll on her. She hadn't been the same since then...but maybe this man in front of her could change that.

"She absolutely adores you, Soncee. She's probably plotting the ways to get out of her stall and stand by TinMan and Chinook every morning so she has to get love from you." he said after he scuffed the dirt. She smiled and looked to Rain. "I would, I'm a nice person. Ask TinMan and Chinook." She told him and smiled. She had taught her horses to nod their heads when she did, so it looked like they were agreeing. "I will come and give her love anyway." She said and rubbed the mares forehead.

She rubbed her stomach a little feeling the baby kick. She was about 5 months in, which meant she had about 4 months to go. But the doctor said the baby would probably come early since she smoked. Soncee wasn't sure whether to quit or not. Maybe if her and Kade hooked up and started going out she would try quitting, for the baby's sake. But other than that, smoking to her was what was getting her through. But then again, she just might quit smoking and ride horses instead. Either way, the baby would probably come early.

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