It's a Love Story

Cassie looked up at her with big eyes. "You got me presents? Why? You're the guest, silly," she said.

"It's Christmas though, right?" she asked, smiling. "Everyone gets presents." She looked up at Mike and poked at his ribs. "I got you stuff also."

He chuckled and kissed her. "You shouldn't have. C'mon. Let's get your stuff onto Cloud and get you home." He turned to the horses and stroked their noses. "This here's Cloud," he patted the white one's neck. "And this is Rosebud," he stroked her mane. "Which one do you wanna ride home?"

"Whichever one you're riding." she said, gently, shyly stroking Rosebud's nose.

He smiled. "I'm riding Cloud." He chuckled softly as Rosebud nudged her hand, then her cheek. "She likes you."

Lilli smiled brightly, petting the horse some more. "I didn't realize how big they actually were..." she mumbled.

"You should see the Clydesdales my cousins have. They're monsters compared to these two," he chuckled and put Cassie on her saddle, then hooked Lilli's luggage up to Cloud's saddle. "Let me help you up," he smiled and helped her up into the saddle before climbing on in front of her so he could steer the horse. "Keep behind me, Cassie," he told her gently and led the horses back home.

Lilli smiled, wrapping her arms around Mikes waist. "Cassie can ride by herself?" she asked.

He smiled and nodded. "She's been riding by herself since she was three," he put a hand on hers. "There it is," he smiled and pointed to his family's ranch. "Home sweet home."

"wow... it's beautiful." she smiled. "Do you live in the sort of town where everyone knows everyone?" she asked.

"Everyone knows everyone and the mice that live in their stables," he chuckled. "Everyone's excited that you came. I told them to back off until tomorrow, though. Give you enough time to rest, and all," he grinned.

She shrugged. "I live in New York... I don't mind busyness."

He chuckled. "I'm hoarding you all to myself today. Well, my family," he chuckled and got down off of Cloud when they reached the stables, out of view of her horse, and helped both the girls down. He tied up the horses and took her hand, pulling his old hat down over her eyes. "No peeking. Time for your surprise," he smiled and led her to the pen where her mare was. "Alright, you can look now," he smiled. "Tell me what you think."

Lilli pulled her hat up and gasped at the horse in front of her. "She's for me?" she asked, reaching out to run a hand down her nose. "Mike, she's beautiful..."

He smiled happily. "I told you I'd get you a horse. Got you the best one in town. She's not completely trained yet, and she hasn't got a name, but she's gentle and very friendly."

She smiled and looked at him. "I get to name her?" she asked.

He smiled and nodded. "Yep. She's all yours."

((What does the horse look like?))


She smiled and jumped at Mike, hugging him. "Oh god... I love you." she laughed, kissing his lips then going back to her horse.

[whatever you want her to look like]

Mike laughed, hugging her back. He kissed her back, smiling happily. "I love you, too."

she smiled, running her hands down her horse's body. she had an all brown body with white sploches all over. She smiled more. "She looks like she was splattered with paint."

He smiled. "I thought she looked pretty enough for you to ride her."

She looked back at Mike. "I can name her anything?"

"Anything at all," he smiled.

"I like the name Splatter." she went to pet her mares nose. "do you like that?"

He smiled. "It's a cute name."

The mare nudged Lilli's hand, nickering gently and swishing her tail.