a bit. "You named that mustang?"

Nalani hesitated, then nodded. To her suprise, Dallas looked, inpressed?

"Wait a minute, you named that mustang, tamed her, then rode her in one day?" Nate looked amazed.

Nalani grinned sheepishly. "Uh, well, I've kinda been visiting her for the past week." she admitted.

Cade's eyes widend, Nate's jaw dropped, but Dallas just sat there. A smile was tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I figured I couldn't keep you from that mare."

Nalani gasped. "You knew?"

He nodded.

"How come if I ever do anything like that, you bite my head off?" Nate asked him. 

"Because you do crazy things. Like jumping off the roof into a haystack." Dallas said as he got up and started to leave.

"Let that live forever!" Nate said as he followed him out.

"I plan to." Dallas's voice replyed.

Nalani and Cade laughed. "So, what happened when Zanzia brought me back?" Nalani asked.

"When she came in, she whinnied and woke us all up. You were just laying there on her back. Then Kani tried moving closer and the mustang, uh, Zanzia, shied and snorted at her. You kinda fell of into a pile of hay." Cade told her.

Then she stood guard over you for about a hour. Wouldn't let anyone within three feet." he added.

"So, how'd I end up here?"

"After a hour she calmed down and let Kani pick you up. She followed her all the way to the truck. Then she just kinda went over to the corral and let us put her in it. Then Kani and her mom drove you to the vet" he finneshed.

Nalani layed her head down and smiled.

So all that sneeking out had worked. Zanzia trusted her.

Cade got up and started to leave. He stopped at the door and turned around. "Oh yeah, the vet said you wouldn't be able to walk for six to eight weeks. So Kani's mom plans on keeping you indoors."

"What!" Nalani cried. Cade laughed and disapeered.

                                                             ~^~^~^~^~

                                                         8 weeks later

"Here you go gir.l, home sweet home." Kani opend the door to the blue truck and Nalani jumped out. A high pitched whinny floated through the air to greet her. Kani laughed and gave her a push. "Go on, someone wants to see you."

Nalani didn't need to be told twice. She ran toward the corral were the whinny came from. Zanzia tossed her head and nickerd. Nalani felt her breathe catch in her throat. Zanzia's brown eyes peered out from under her forlock. Nalani swalloed. "Zanzia!"

The mare tossed her head and whinnied. Nalani laughed and ducked inside the pen. Zanzia trotted to the center to meet her, then lowerd her muzzle to her head. Happiness surged through Nalani.

The mares muzzle rested lightly on her head.

____________________________________________________________

All chars@me