• As I rode in the moonlight, I could feel Dancer tense up. Her ears pointed back, as if to listen to something behind us. I gently pulled on the reins to stop her when I heard another horse. I put my hand on the knife which was on my hip as I turned around. I jumped when Matt Manning came out the bushes, riding his handsome quarter horse; Sammy.
    “Matt, are you tryin’ to scare me to death?” I said to him.
    “Why yes I am. It worked too,” he said with a smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes.
    “What are you doing ridin’ out in the moonlight anyway?” I asked him raising one perfectly arched eyebrow.
    “I uh… I just felt like ridin’,” he said not looking at me. I turned Dancer around and rode up beside him. I grabbed his reins.
    “Why are you following me, Matt?” I asked leaning towards him. I could see the pulse in his throat quicken. I released the reins and took off into the bushes, Dancer running as fast as she wanted. I heard Sammy behind us. I grinned a sly grin as I pulled her to a stop and he ran right past me. He quickly stopped and turned in his saddle to look at me.
    “You are following me!” I shouted at him. “Stalker!” I ran past him towards his house, I knew his Ma would still be awake. I hopped off Dancer as soon as she stopped. I tied her reins and ran into the house.
    “Mrs. Manning, control your son, please,” I said when I stumbled into the house, Matt right on my heels.
    “Matt what did you do now?” she said shaking her head.
    “Ma, she was ridin’ out by herself in the moonlight she could’ve-“
    “I would not have gotten lost!” I turned on him. “I know my way through those woods better than you do!” I punched him; he grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back. I let out a shriek of pain before I shoved my elbow into his stomach.
    “Get off me!” I shrieked as he tried to grab me again, I thrust up my hand and the palm of my hand hit his nose; he stumbled backwards.
    “Ma? Aren’t you gonna do anything?” he said looking at her.
    “Matt, I think you deserved a good kick in the butt from Hailee. Good job sweetheart, you fight better than he does.” I nodded in agreement. I stood my ground when he started towards me; ready to take him on again.

    I said my goodnights to them and went outside; Matt followed. He grabbed my wrist as I went to untie Dancer, who was silently chewing on the green grass. I turned to look at him, he grabbed the reins.
    “What are you doing?” I asked.
    “We are gonna walk Dancer back to your stables. And we are gonna have a talk.”
    “Fine, whatever, I know I can’t stop you.” I said snatching the reins from him. We walked in silence all the way to the stables. He helped me take the saddle and bridle off my horse. I gave her some oats before we walked out of the stables and into my house.
    “What do you want to talk to me about?” I asked when we walked in the silent house. I turned to look at him when he didn’t answer.
    “I can’t resist anymore. You’re driving me crazy.” He said leaning towards me, grabbing my wrists in a tight grip. His face just a breath away from mine.
    “Get away from me!” I said pulling away from him. “I don’t want you to touch me.” I turned away from him and walked to the kitchen; he followed me. I poured myself some water and got some banana pudding. I gave him some too.
    “Go home Matt. I don’t need company.”
    “It seems like you do, you live all by yourself in this big house. I might just have to move in here.”
    “Whatever, you can move in if you want. But I won’t pay attention to you.” I said, focusing on looking at my pudding rather than his face.
    “Okay, cool. I’ll move in tomorrow.” He said, shaking the blonde hair out of his eyes. I rolled my eyes and hissed under my breath.
    “You can stay in the room upstairs to the right, third door on the left. It’s the farthest room from mine.” I finished my pudding and walked him to the door. Before I could do anything he kissed me.
    “Finally!” he said backing away from me. I narrowed my eyes and followed him outside. I stood on the porch and watched him walk back to his house. I knew he was going to start packing.



    The next morning I woke up to someone knocking on my door. I got up and stretched. When I opened the door, I wasn’t surprised to see him with his stuff in boxes.
    “Hurry up and get your stuff up there before I change my mind.” I said yawning. He nodded and ran up the stairs, two boxes in his arms. I was eating some frosted flakes when he plopped down beside me. He took in my t shirt and my long, tan, muscular legs. I slammed my hand down on the table when I caught him staring me down.
    “Rules,” I said. “I have rules for you; one stay out of my way. Two don’t stare me down like you want to eat me. And three don’t even try to get involved with me.”
    “Oh, but it’ll be so hard. Now that I live with you.” He said grinning his mischievous grin.
    “I can kick your happy a** out too.” I said smiling. I got up and changed into jeans and a flannel shirt. I was putting on my boots when he came in. He was dressed and ready to work. I think today I’ll have him mucking out the stables…hm…
    I showed him how to pull a calf, muck the stalls, feed the horses, and check the horse’s hooves. When we were done, we were both wiping sweat off of our brow. I gave him a lazy smile before playfully punching him in the arm.
    “You did alright,” I told him.
    “Thank you, you didn’t do too bad yourself.” He said smiling. Before I could do anything, as fast as a snake, he had me against the wall of Cherokee’s stall.
    “Let go of me,” I whispered, my hands trying, but not succeeding, to push him away. I felt his lips against my skin. “Get off me.”
    “Tell me you don’t like this,” he said, his lips nipping mine.
    “I don’t-“I couldn’t finish the sentence before he captured my mouth. I bucked against him trying to push him away. I looked over his shoulder and saw Cherokee just eating and listening to us. I finally surrendered into his kiss. When he finally let go of me, I silently picked up the brushes and other horse things and walked out of her stall. He followed behind me.
    “Hailee,” he started before I cut him off.
    “Don’t talk to me! I can’t believe you!” I said storming off. I felt his cool eyes on my back.

    After I put away the tools in their proper place, I heard a truck pull up.
    I walked to the front yard to see who it was; it was Justin. He hopped out of the car and enveloped me in a bear hug.
    ”Ouch, Justin, my collar bone,” I said teasingly.