"God, what is it with cowboys and working before the sun thinks it's time to get up?!" Tessa's eyes held an exasperated light but Will only chuckled and ran his hand up her arm, marveling at the silkiness of her skin.

Will had been knocking at her bedroom door at five thirty that morning, waking Tessa out of a sound sleep. It took him ten drawn out minutes just to get her out of bed and then another five minutes of heated prodding to get her to get ready. There was an embarrassed moment when Tessa had to point out to her 'alarm clock' that so long as he was monitoring her actions, she would not get undressed. The man had hurriedly left the room, keeping his back to the closed door until Tessa walked out. There was more debating when Tessa demanded time to wash her face and brush her teeth but, as before, Will gave in. Breakfast was gulped down coffee - or hot chocolate in Tessa's case - and toast. The girl grumbled the whole way but abruptly ceased when she stepped out the front door and into the Colorado morning.

It was chill and Tessa had left her jacket on her bed again. Will offered his flannel shirt but the girl declined, feeling a little awkward at her company's generosity. The sky was a dusky blue from the lingering night and the sun remained just below the peaked mountaintops. White cotton ball clouds dotted the sky, a pinkish hue suffusing their bottoms from the promised rising of the sun. Birds called from tree to tree and as she watched a large bird of prey launched itself from a nearby tree, soaring up to the endless blue heights. The ever-present breeze played with grass, leaf, and hair alike, unprejudiced as to its choice of toy. Tessa was awestruck by the majesty of the morning.

But now she was yawning and tired and almost regretting her decision to help Will. Almost regretting. . . Her eyes lit up as they followed Will's path back to the middle of the corral where Brownie stood patiently waiting for her lesson. Yesterday was the feed bag; today was a horn. Tessa had at first laughed when Will showed her the little bike horn. Now, though, it was a serious part of the lesson, with Brownie having reacted only once and that being when it was right up against her flank.

"Do you want to try once?" asked Will. He offered up the honorary horn and lariat to Tessa's hand.

She hesitated only a moment before taking up the teaching tools and walking to the center of the arena. Will hopped up on the rail, a smile forming on his lips as Tessa took up the teaching stance. Since they'd done the progressive work - with standing on the other side of the arena and honking the horn to placing the horn on the mare and honking it - it was now Tessa's job to place the horn on varying parts of the horse, honking it now and then until Brownie reacted.

Will offered a few pieces of advice during the lesson but all in all Tessa did very well - as did the mare. The girl was a natural when it came to reading horses and Brownie responded well to her patient words and hands. Only three times did Tessa goad the mare into a gallop around the arena, when the horn was blown on her flank, her feet and her poll. Without waiting for further instruction from the ranch hand, Tessa began to work on these problem areas. Will could not hold back his pride when, by ten o'clock, Tessa had horn proofed the little brown mare.

Brownie followed the girl to the rail when Tessa walked over to Will, butting her nose against the girl's back. Tessa laughingly patted the white streaked face then rested her elbows on Will's knees, looking happily up at his face.

"So, how'd I do?" she asked expectantly.

The young man furrowed his brows in mock consternation, as if trying to break bad news to the girl. He started to speak, then he stopped, leaving his mouth hanging open. Finally he could no longer hold back his smile which turned into full blown laughter. Brownie snorted at his explosion and nodded her head up and down. Now Tessa laughed.

"I do believe you were just reprimanded by our four legged friend here." Her eyes sparkled with an inner light and Will noticed golden specks in their depths that had escaped his attention before. He dipped his head down to place a kiss on her hair but Tessa tilted her head up; his lips landed over hers.

They pulled apart, an impish grin curling Tessa's lips. Will looked somewhat surprised but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth too.

"You weren't going to do it anytime soon," reasoned Tessa. "Someone had to. Besides I know I did a good job with Brownie, no matter what you tried to convince me off." She arched her brows imperiously and Will only laughed again.

"Well, you're right. You did excellent, Tess. Is this your first time to train a horse?"

The girl preened beneath the praise. "Yeah, it is. I've watched friends start horses but never done it myself. Do you really think I did well?" she asked after a slight pause.

A wry grin turned Will's mouth and he shook his head at Tessa. "You'd think you'd never been paid a compliment before," he chided gently. She grimaced at him and he playfully cuffed her shoulder. "For the second time, I thought you did magnificently. I've never seen such stunning horse handling. You're a prodigy, a genius, a natural! You're-" It was the last when Tessa realized he was sporting with her.

"You rogue. Teasing me like that!" She punched him back.

"Oh, like your question was of the purest innocence. I know you only wanted an ego boost."

Tessa's chin lifted until she was looking down her nose at him, which was near impossible as her elbows were still resting on Will's knees. "Is that such a base reason?"

With firm yet gentle fingers, he brought her chin back down. "I didn't say it was, Tess. You did." A grin split his face and Tessa stuck her tongue out at him. His grin grew wider and she jumped up on the rail next to him, almost knocking him over in the process.

His arms flailed wildly until he regained his balance.

"Serves you right."

He scowled at Tessa until her bright smile brought forth a laugh from his gloomy visage. "Maybe. . . " He paused but by the set of his eyes, Tessa knew that the levity had disappeared from his words. "Tessa, last night I was thinking about Fire. . . and about your interest in him." He looked at the young woman out of the corner of his narrowed eyes as if gauging her response. When she remained silent, he continued.

"I was thinking about Fire and what it would take to train him." He looked at her again but this time she responded. With widened eyes she threw her arms around his neck, knocking them both off balance and sending them tumbling to the ground. They landed in each other's arms. Brownie stuck her nose through the rails, whuffing against Tessa's leg.

Will helped Tessa to her feet and then they dusted off each other's backs. Will rubbed his right shoulder, wincing as he did so.

"I guess that's a good response?" He wrinkled his nose as his shoulder joint popped back into place.

Hiding her face in her hands, Tessa bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Will. I didn't mean to make us fall."

A suspicious snorting sound came from behind her pale hands. She was laughing! Will lunged at her, wincing as another sore spot came to his notice. Tessa stopped laughing.

"Oh, poor baby," she cooed. She took a step towards the young man but as she did so he slapped her playfully on her rump. Her eyes flew open in unfeigned surprise and a little bit of pain.

"Hey!"

"Hey what?" Will goaded.

"My rear was already sore from your none too smooth ride from the airport."

Will chortled without sympathy.

"I'm glad you find it funny, Mr. Henkley," she replied archly, mustering as much dignity as one can with dust and hay in her hair. This only made Will laughed harder. Soon the ranch hand was clutching his stomach, gulping air into his lungs.

When his giggles resided, he grabbed Tessa around the waist, pulling the girl to his side. "You know you love it. You just don't want to admit it."

All of a sudden the fight drained from Tessa's slender form and she clung to Will's arm, looking into his eyes with dewy eyes. Will was drawn into their gold-flecked depths and he leaned down to her lips. His eyes slowly closed so he didn't see the slight smile curl her lips. Just as his lips touched hers, she said, "So when did you want to start training Fire?"

The muscles in the young man's jaw worked furiously as he pulled himself erect. Tessa smiled sweetly up at him, all smiles and dimples.

He moistened his lips, bringing himself under careful control. "Well, I figured that we'd start after lunch. Is that okay with you?"

"Uh huh. Sounds fine." She smiled at him again and then ducked beneath his arm. With trained grace she slid between the arena rails and led the patiently waiting mare out of the corral. Tessa carefully felt the mare's chest, gauging how much cooling she would need. Brownie's skin was warm to the touch and Tessa began to lead the mare for a once around of the stables.

For a short moment, she thought Will was going to remain by the arena but soon he jogged to catch up.

"Tessa, what is it with you?" His tone was playful. "You come here and treat me like a country bumpkin and now you're all smiles and laughs." He grinned at her. "It was my undeniable charm, wasn't it?" He grin took on a rakish curl.

Tessa swept her hand up to her forehead, pretending to swoon. "Oh, William Henkley! You handsome stud you! I can't live with out you! Say you'll stay with me forever!" She turned and clutched at his shirtfront with feigned desperation. Then she dissolved into giggles.

They bantered back and forth until Brownie was cooled off and then they bantered til they reached the green paddock, which held Hell's Fire.

"So, what's the plan of attack?" Tessa queried, propping her booted foot on the lowest rail of the fence. She kept a wary lookout on the nervously dancing gelding in the middle of the paddock, watching for any signs of attack on his part.

Silence met her question and Tessa turned her gaze upon the young man at her side. "Will? What are we going to do with him?"

The look on his face was less than reassuring. A frown drew down his fine brow, the tanned skin creased. "I want you to do it, Tess. I'll help in any way I can and any time you ask but I want you to do it all on your own." He turned somber eyes on her. "Are you up to it? It's not going to be easy to the say the least. This horse has got a mean streak in 'im the size of the Rocky's and he's got no compulsion to lose it any time soon."

When Tessa didn't hesitate to accept, Will brought her up short. "I really want to make sure that you understand what such a project will entail, Tess. He's not like Brownie and he's unlike any horse you - or I, for that manner - have ever come up against.

"Brownie is basically done so we'll only work her for an hour or so three days a week. The rest of our time will be with him," he jerked his head in the direction of the now still Fire. "And I do mean every spare moment. We have to-" Will stopped himself, a grin pulling up on his mouth. "And there I almost took away your spotlight."

Tessa wrinkled her nose at him, her eyes sliding back to the gelding. "So we're going to get him used to our scent and our presence, then?" Her eyes clouded for a second and then she gasped. "I know! Have you ever tried carrots or molasses with him?"

Will snorted. "I wish he was that simple. That horse won't come within ten yards of ya', treats or no."

"No, I don't mean right out of our hands. . . Not at first, anyway." Tessa warmed to her subject. "We'll just sit in one spot and every now and then toss a treat in his direction. As he becomes more comfortable, we'll bring the treat closer and closer, until he doesn't mind our presence." Her smile was brilliant and pride shone clearly through her eyes.

Hesitant to shatter Tessa's dream, Will really thought about what she was saying. It had merit and told of the girl's genuine desire to tame the gelding. He wondered if she realized how patient she would have to be though.

The girl noticed his hesitation and her face fell, a deep sigh escaping her lips. Her gaze was almost mournful as it followed Fire around his 'realm' and Will hastened to ease the harm he had done.

"I think it'll work, Tess. It won't push him too far, too fast. It tells of willingness on your part to make a lasting impression on him. . . The worst that'll happen is he gains a couple'a pounds, right?" His half-grin brought a winking smile to Tessa's lips and she laughed.

"What are we waiting for then?"

While Will gathered up the equine snacks of carrots and molasses and apple flakes, Tessa ran into the house to gather a few things of her own.

"Why on God's green earth did you bring those out here?" Will demanded upon seeing her motley assortment of articles.

"Well, how else will he get my smell in the parts of the paddock I'm not in?" Her tone said clearly that this reason was the only logical conclusion one could come to. Will rolled his eyes and begged for patience.

Tessa set about placing old shirts and jeans of hers and Will's on the fence and then, much to Will's indignation, into the paddock. He watched with silent suffering as some of his most comfortable clothing was thrown into the grassy area, right within reach of Hell's Fire's destructive hooves.

As she threw the last shirt - Will's - into the paddock, Fire snorted and charged the errant piece of clothing, rearing up on his hind legs and coming down with a leg jarring thud on the deep red cloth. The shirt was pushed into the soft earth, two hoof marks clearly visible on the material. Will tried to hide his wince; he wasn't too successful.

Fire successively stomped three more pieces of clothing, two of which were Will's. The ranch hand was about to protest when Fire took one of Tessa's jeans in his large, yellow teeth and swung it from side to side, much like a dog does with a chew toy. The sound of ripping cloth was audible even to the two human spectators on the opposite side of the arena. Will couldn't suppress his pleased smile at his companion's grimace.

When Fire had finally spent his equine fury on the trespassing articles, he began to nose and smell the remaining shirts and jeans - they were now totalling two. He snorted as his nose met with another of Tessa's jeans, but his lips only played with the stiff cloth. When Fire tired of her jeans he moved onto a hunter green flannel of Will's. The young man bit his tongue, willing the gelding to pass the shirt by. . . He didn't will hard enough.

The green flannel was torn to shreds in a matter of seconds, the horse's large teeth tearing the shirt with the ease that he chewed the grass. Will scowled at Tessa, making no effort to hide his displeasure at losing four of his most comfortable shirts. She refused to look at him.

"I really hope there was a good reason behind tossing my good clothing to that horse, Tess," Will said ominously, "because it there isn't you're going in next."

She flinched and sidled away from her fuming friend. "I didn't think he would react so violently to a few pieces of clothing." She smiled shakily. "At least he didn't tear up my other jeans. . . And there are still six or so other shirts and jeans of yours on the fence that he hasn't ruined." Her tone was hopeful and not just a little apologetic.

Just as she spoke, Fire found the clothes on the railing and was none too pleased. The errant shirt before him was none other than Will's and the man's jaw clenched in knots as Fire snorted indignantly and proceeded to reduce the shirt to rags. Tessa barely jumped out of the way as Will lunged at her, his arms wide and all-encompassing. She ran a few steps away and help up her hands, palm out.

"I'm sorry, Will. I didn't think that he'd react like that. I swear I didn't!" She could see that her words weren't getting through as Will stalked toward her. "You're the one who said we have to have patience if we're to work with him. You said that it would take time."

"I said it would take time, but I didn't say it would take my clothes," he explained through gritted teeth.

Tessa looked desperately at Fire and smiled at what she saw. "Will, look! He's not tearing them up anymore!"

The girl began running as the words left her mouth and Will was hot on her heels. Fire looked after them with apathy, a thin strip of blue cloth trailing from his teeth.

The door flew open and Tess hoped desperately that it wouldn't leave a mark on the wall. She sprinted down the hall and into the kitchen, hoping that her mom or aunt would be there. Her presence entered upon an empty room.

Footsteps fell behind her and ragged breathing filled her ears. Slowly she turned around, meeting Will's stormy eyes.

"I really thought that he was getting over it," she pleaded. "I didn't think he'd continue to do it!"

Will advanced steadily toward her, finally cornering her between the counter and refrigerator. The edge of the tiled counter dug into her back. The young man stood over her, contemplating what to do with his prey. The silence drug on, only punctuated by Will's hard breathing.

"Not only do you take my clothes without my permission and throw them about his paddock, but you do nothing when he begins to ravage them. You owe me, Tessa Aumlin."

She thought and finally resorted to every woman's last defense.

"I'm sorry, Will. I didn't think that would happen." Her voice became thick with unshed tears and a wet gleam brightened her eyes. Tears began to leak down her cheeks and she threw a sniffle in just for emphasis. "I'm sorry, I really am," she cried. Even he couldn't hold up against this, she thought wickedly.

Will put forth a valiant effort though. Yet, like Tessa planned, his face began to soften and an apologetic light shone in his eyes. "God, I'm sorry Tess. I shouldn't have gotten so upset."

Smiling through her tears, she looked up at him through moisture kissed lashes. "You're not upset then?" She forced a little quiver into her voice, playing the distressed young girl to the best of her ability.

"No, I'm not upset-" He paused, a roguish smile creasing his face. His hands clamped around her waist, holding her against him. "But, my little actress, you will be buying me new clothes when next we go to town." Before she could pull away, he bent over and placed a kiss square on her mouth. "Then, I'd say we'd be even."

Tessa screwed up her face into a scowl and stuck her tongue out at her tormentor. "You evil man. Holding me against my will. Why, if anyone saw you doing this to me-"

"They'd say you deserved it, young lady." Her mother's voice rang clear from the kitchen doorway.

Will and Tessa both jumped and Will hurriedly separated from the young woman. Tessa took on a haunted look and hunched her shoulders as though protecting herself from unseen blows.

"Is it true that you threw his clothes in with a wild horse?"

The girl nodded miserably.

"Well, then you'll just have to do as Will said. When next you go to town you will reimburse him for his loss from your own money. And for the next week you're to have nothing to do with that horse or any other."

"But Mother, a whole week? I've-"

"Miss Aumlin, she's been-"

Both abruptly stopped as Kelly's face darkened. "A week. Do you both hear me? And I don't want any sneaking around either. A week or I'll make it for the rest of the stay." The woman met both culprit's eyes and then turned and left the kitchen, the two young adults quiet in her stead.

Merri peeked around the doorjamb and winked at Tessa and Will. "She's just still upset from earlier. I'll work on her." And with that, she was gone.

"And now I've incurred her wrath for both of us," sighed Tessa. "And Aunt Merri won't be able to change her mind. My mother's as stubborn as. . . well, as stubborn as me, I guess." Her lips turned up in a rueful grin.

Will looked guiltily at Tessa. "This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't chased you." He worried at his lower lip. "Well, since you have nothing better to do, do you want to go to town?" He offered her a sour smile and Tessa only laughed.

The bumpy ride was no different than the first time Tessa had to suffer it and she didn't bother keeping her annoyance to herself.

"God, Will! Is there any way to make this ride any more uncomfortable?! Why don't you just stick nails in the seat cushion too!" Tessa fumed at her driver, a scowl drawing down her lips.

"I'll have to consider that, Tess. It would at least take your mind off of the bumpy ride." His face remained as smooth as a pane of glass but his voice was anything but somber. The girl resisted the urge to stick out her tongue, reminding herself that she was sixteen.

Will snuck a glance at her and laughed. "Tess, you look as though you've taken a bite of a sour, ole' lemon rind!" He slapped her thigh jovially but as he did the truck hit a particularly vicious hole and the steering wheel jerked from his hand, sending the truck off to the side of the dirt road.

"Will!" Tessa screeched. "Get back on the road!" She jammed her foot against the bottom of the dashboard and braced her back against her seat.

"I'm trying, Tessa," he said through clenched teeth. He finally regained control of the vehicle and steered it back onto his side of the road, trying to undertake the task of breathing again. Much to his displeasure, a broad smirk now lit Tessa's face. . . That was not the way he had meant to lighten the air.

 Once the truck eased onto the paved road, Tessa's body relaxed into a semblance of comfort. "Are your rides into town always this exciting?" she teased, her voice insultingly sweet.

Her driver gifted her with one of his pointed glares and continued driving.

"I guess I'll take that as a 'no,'" Tessa rejoined dryly. "Thank goodness for your truck's sake. I don't know that it could stand another such adventure."

 Tessa watched avidly as the town came into view. When she had passed through, it had been blanketed in darkness, only penetrated by the small, lighted windows blazing bravely forth from a few buildings. The young city dweller was surprised to see how metropolitan the small Colorado town was. The tallest building towered over the rest of the town and "KLVE" was in big blue letters across the face of its glassy surface. The mall covered a large area beside the radio station, its squat, two-story structure like a boxy star with its 'arms' reaching out in different directions. Tessa's eyes roved over the stores which passed by her open window, a sense of home settling around her with such companies present as Baskin Robbins, MacDonald's, JC Penny's, and Domino Pizza.

"Will, why are we turning here? The mall's back that way."

His laughter was hardly amused. "I'm doing this for you, Tess. You'd pay twice as much there as you do here. Besides, what's in the mall but a bunch of over-stuffed peacocks parading about for any witless fool who will look?" Will bit off the last of what he was going to say as Tessa's eyes darkened and her fair skin grew flushed. "Did I just stick my foot in my mouth?"

"Me and my friends used to spend our free time in the local malls and I don't-" Will gestured helplessly and tried to say something but Tessa rolled right over him, "-consider my friends, nor myself, to be 'over-stuffed peacocks parading about!'"

"I didn't mean-"

"I would suggest you avoid broad generalizations when you don't know whether your company falls into them, Will Henkley." Tessa met Will's gaze, deliberately turned her back to him and proceeded to stare out the window.

Suppressing a sigh, Will backed out of the small, packed dirt parking lot and headed towards the center of town-- towards the mall.

The ranch hand laughed freely as his charge breathed in the distinctly different smell of the mall, a smell of food and new clothes, mingling perfumes and colognes, and filtered, metallic air. The look on her face was one of homecoming-- he couldn't understand such a feeling. Fake greenery and faker people didn't suit his taste. Nor did the constant enclosement. Yet Tessa seemed more at ease in the air-conditioned box than she did on the back of a horse and this calmed Will's already fraying nerves.

Her hand slipped into his with a naturalness that reminded him of Amy. No, he still couldn't think about it and his thoughts skittered away from the ghost. Tessa peeked up at him and squeezed his hand ever so slightly, drawing herself a little closer to his side and again, Amy's face drifted across his vision. His flinch was visible this time and Tessa's brows drew together with concern, her expression of love turning to one of worry.

"Is everything all-" she began but was abruptly cut off when a small body torpedoed to Will's side and launched itself into his arms.

"It's been years, Willy! Where've ya' been for so long? Don't ya' know we missed you?" the brunette pouted, pressing herself against Will's chest.

A look of utter disgust flickered in the young man's eyes and was mirrored in Tessa's. Although her face was also dark with rage at the thought of this-- this-- sappy-eyed pup hanging on her Will.

Will disengaged himself from his avid company none too gently and openly wrapped his arm around Tessa's waist, placing a kiss on her cheek. The brunette's eyes widened and her lips parted in what could only be shock.

"Ohh. . . " she exhaled with a melodramatic sigh. "I-"

"It's good to see you again, Missy. Are you and Brad still going out? Last time we spoke you two were just getting ready for prom."

Missy's face screwed up in disgusted sneer and glared over her left shoulder at a group of youths sitting by the spitting fountain. "Yes, we are but," she turned dewy, darkly outlined eyes back to Will, pointedly ignoring Tessa, "I was kinda hoping that when you came back that we could-" she trailed off, coyly batting her lashes and looking up at Will through them.

This story is still in progress so please check back in periodically. .

 Last revised on 05/09/99