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As he walked he heard Nick's voice and he looked up, to see the worker rushing toward them.

"Bethany? Nate?! What happened?!" he demanded.

"Grand bucked and threw her off, now she's broke her rib-"

"Broke sounds like an exaggeration, popped out of place? More likely." Nick had been in the military for awhile, and a military surgon for even longer. He took Beth from Nate and started to the stable, Nate was at his feet until they reached the door, then the boy refused to go any farther. Nick carefully laid her down on a firm haybail, the only thing he had for a table. He was in 'doctor mode', he felt her ribcage carefully, then moved the the other side where he cane across the injured rib. After feeling it for a moment, though he knew it probably caused her pain, he spoke. "Listen Beth, I don't think it's a break, I think you've just popped it. But I'm gonna have to pop it back... And it's probably gonna hurt." he admitted, not wanting to lie to her.

Bethany nodded, then looked to Nate. "Go get...Grand..." She said, knowing the horse would most likely injure himself if left unattended.

Nate, for some reason, didn't want to leave Beth. He shook his head and Nick spoke: "Unles you wanna fix her rib, you'll go!"

Nate reluctantly nodded then turned and ran off to get grand.

Nick watched him go the placed his hands on her side, "Alright... Beth, this will only take a second" after a moment he gave a hard thrust down on her side and there was a loud snap from the rib as it popped back.

Bethany yelped, feeling one of the worst pains in her sheltered life. She felt tears burn in her eyes and she immediately curled herself into a ball after her rib was popped back in. But the pain was gone now and she could breathe easier. "Thanks Nick..." She weezed.

Grand Design trotted around the arena, steam practically coming off of her body.

Nick sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Then he smiled and gently rubbed Beth's shoulder, "No problem, kiddo..." he said softly "But ya know, I'm not the one you should be thankin'..." with that, he turned and started to walk away.

Nate stopped at the fence, he watched Grand Design a moment before giving a shrill whistle, hopping to draw in the horse's attention.

Grand trotted over to Nate, expecting a treat of some sort. He swung his massive head, getting a good view of Nate.

Bethany sat up, a questioning expression on her face.

"Don't give me that look, Bethany. You know you should thank Nate." Nick stated turning to leave. But then he stopped and looked back at her, "And ya know? I think you need to tell him even more... I've noticed the way you look at him, you get all nervous. I know you have something going on in your pretty little head." he turned again, but the looked back at her, before she could deny anything. "And if you deny it, I don't suppose you'd mind me inviting him over tonight!" What Nick was referring to, was every Friday night, when Beth's father went out on business. The workers, with the permission of Beth's mother, had a party. A dance. Any money earned from the event, however it was obtained, was always donated to the stable.

Nate shook his head at Grand and grabbed his reins, "C'mon you, I gotta put you in your stall."

Bethany's cheeks heated up slightly and she bit her lips, "I don't like him. Yeah, he makes me nervous, because he's a popular kid. He could think up all kinds of horrible things to say about me, Nick. And yes, I think he's really cool, so maybe I am a little afraid to talk to him, because maybe i'll think that he won't think i'm cool." Bethany countered, her voice quiet.

Grand Design snorted and bobbed his head, eager to go back to his stall.

Nick simply gave her a sly smile, before turning and swiftly walking away.

Later that Night...

Just as Nick had said, the barn, out by the stables was full of people, laughing and Dancing. Nate stood to the side with Nick. The blonde had himself a plan, but wasn't about to speak of it. Instead Nick just looked fro Beth, while Nate

Bethany had tried to avoid going to the Friday eve. dance. She wanted to avoid Nate mostly, because she was too shy to really talk to him. But he mother insisted that she participated, since she was the hostess, always.

Formal dress was out of the question, and Bethany wore a pair of faded blue jeans, and a white button up shirt. Her blond hair was pulled back into a messy pony-tail, but she was clean and smelt nice.

Bethany sat on the mounting block in front of Grand's stall. The horse popped his head out of the barn and nibbled on Bethany's shoulder, in return she scratched his muzzle sweetly.

Nick spotted Beth and he smirked. He tapped the shoulder of one of his friends, a man named Caleb Farmer. He whispered something and Caleb nodded. Then he ran off to the stage, where he grabbed the microphone. "Okay fellas', y'all get to buy a dance with a pretty gal. You guy know how this works. Bid for a dance boys let's go!" Caleb chimed and instantly bids began to be called.

"Fifteen for a dance with Sidney Bernard!"

"Twenty for a dance with Allie!"

Nate listened quietly, but he was watching Beth, with a quiet gaze.

Nick elbowed him and when Nate looked at him, Nick handed him thirty dollars.

Nate gave him a confused look and Nick looked from Beth to Nate. When he realized what he meant Nate shook his head. After a few more minutes of various bids, Nick again elbowed Nate. Who was again looking at Beth. Nate was quiet then he smirked, he decided it would be fun to dance with a girl who didn't like him. So he jumped up on a haybail. "Thirty!" he called. The crowd got quiet.

"For a dance with which girl?" The announcer asked.

"Bethany Valentine!" Nate answer nobely.

The 'girl auction' always annoyed Beth. It used to be because she was never picked, who would want to risk a dance with the owner's daughter? But her annoyance for the 'girl auction' simply evolved into her view as being stupid. She didn't get it, why not just ask the girl? Why spend money.

So she sat there, playing with Grand's forelock, listening to the hum of the microphone with once ear. It wasn't until she heard the bid of $30. Anything over $25 meant that the girl wouldn't be able to refuse a dance. She looked around aimlessly for the author of the voice, then heard something she'd thought was just her imagination.

Nate had called her name.

She blinked, bewildered, their eyes meeting. Her palms grew sweaty and she stood politely. Blood roared in her ears and she slowly approached Nate, for that was the rules. The girl would have to grab the man's money, hand it to the announcer then go dance with him.

She gingerly took the money, her crystal blue eyes locked with Nate's. Bethany turned slowly and took the money to the announcer. She placed it in his hands then returned to Nate. Blinking and still in mild shock.

Seeing her reaction Nate smiled politely at her, to try and comfort her. A slow song started to play and he smirked, "Are you okay with this? I mean, we do have to dance together." he smirked. "And I know you don't really like me but-" Nate wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him, "-one dance couldn't hurt." he smiled. Nate had always watched those old movies, where the hero was arrogant, swauve, and charming. Nate decided to be like that, just to see where it got him.

In return, Bethany placed her palms on his shoulders, her heart racing. She didn't get it, guys like him didn't go for girls like her. Nate was smooth, arrogant, a player, perfect, charming, hansom, and had at least 6 other girls who would leap at the opportunity of dancing with him. Why would someone like him, like someone like Bethany? She was timid, shy, a geek, pathetic, worthless. How could she compete with him?

"I fine with this." She said softly, hating how each word caused a small blush to form on her face, "And I like you just fine. You thought I didn't...?" She asked, looking into his eyes and almost getting lost.

When she said she liked him he smiled. He wasn't thinking along the lines of, 'like'='crush', he was just thinking, 'she doesn't hate my guts'. He noticed the small blush on her cheeks and tried not to smile. He wasn't making fun of her, he thought it was nice, he knew girls who would act embarrassed, and make themselves look stupid. But Beth wasn't like that, and Nate was glad. He replied smoothly, "Well yeah, I did actually. It's just, you've never seemed to like me." he relpied with a bit of tease. His amber eyes had somehow become locked with her's, of crystal blue.