hello everyone! Freddy here, with a brand new story! yeah yeah, I know I probably shouldn't be starting a new story right now, but the idea for this one just won't freaking leave me alone. plus I'm totally in love with the Buck/Grace pairing right now. thy're just the perfect couple IMO. and I've recently watched Home on the Range a couple times and the Buck/Grace pairing (or Brace, as I call it) just seemed so perfect to me, I decided to write a fanfic. I'm kinda surprised that there isn't at least one other HotR fanfic on this site. if there is, I haven't found it yet. but anywho, I'm seriously going to try and keep updating this story as much as possible (especially if I get some reviews). I've decided to try and dedicate my fanfiction time to one story and try and finish it. and since the idea of a Brace story won't leave me alone, I decided to just write some fanfiction and get it out of my system. so I hope you enjoy this story and PLEASE leave a review! reviews are awesome.

Disclaimer: I do not own Home on the Range or any of it's characters. they are all owned by Disney. I'm simply borrowing them for this fanfic

Grace knew what she was doing was wrong. she'd known it ever since she'd started sneaking off. but it was the only way she could see him. and she needed to see him, it would break her heart if she didn't. he'd been gone for a few weeks helping the sheriff catch an outlaw and Grace had been terribly worried about him. but then she'd heard from Rusty that he was coming home that day. and Grace knew then that she had to see him. it felt like it had been forever, even though only a few weeks had gone by. it always felt like forever whenever he had to leave. but still, Grace was very proud of him. sighing, she slowly snuck out of the barn, glancing at Maggie and Mrs. Caloway, who were blissfully asleep in their stalls.

Grace quickly and quietly left the barn, stopping for a moment beneath the archway of Patch of Heaven's gate. she sighed again, glancing up at the archway. a feeling of guilt washed over her as she passed under the archway and headed down the road toward town. she knew it was wrong to sneak off like this, but she was certain that her family (mostly Mrs. C) would not approve of her relationship. "If only I could tell them" she said quietly as she walked into town.

all the buildings were dark and quiet with the exception of the local saloon. the lights from inside faintly lit the path that cut through the middle of town. Grace stopped in front of the saloon, glancing in one of the windows. the humans all looked so happy, without a care in the world. she sighed as she watched a few couples who were snuggled up together at a few tables.

"hey there, little lady"

Grace jumped a bit at the sound of a familiar voice behind her.

"what's a pretty lady like you doing out here all alone on a night like this?"

Grace giggled a bit, turning to see a familiar stallion standing behind her. the Jersey cow's face lit up with a smile. "Buck!"

the stallion chuckled, smiling a bit. he and Grace walked closer, nuzzling each other. "I really missed you, Gracie Girl" Buck said, using the special nickname he'd given her.

Grace giggled a bit. "oh Buck, I missed you too!" she took a step back, examining the stallion thoroughly. "are you all right? you didn't get hurt, did you?"

Buck chuckled again, nuzzling her cheek. "I'm fine Grace, really" he smiled. "nothing can ever keep Buck down!" he let out a battle cry and did a karate chop in the air.

Grace giggled. "oh Buck" she nuzzled up against him, her head just beneath his chin.

Buck sighed, loving the feeling of her against him. "I missed this" he said quietly.

"hmm, me too" Grace mumbled.

"you wanna take a walk?" Buck asked.

Grace nodded and the two walked off toward a field just outside of town. they liked to go there to be alone to talk and just spend time together. there was an old shade tree that they loved to sit under and enjoy each other's company.

they settled beneath said tree and Buck told Grace of his latest adventure tracking down a cattle rustler. "oh, he was a crafty one" Buck said. "but not as crafty as the sheriff and me! it didn't take nearly as long for us to catch him as we thought it would"

"wow" Grace said in awe. Buck's chest puffed out a bit, proud that he had impressed her. "oh Buck, you're so brave" Grace said, giggling.

"yeah, I am" they both laughed quietly. if someone had told Buck two years earlier that he would fall in love with a cow (and especially a cow like Grace), he would have just laughed and dismissed the premonition. but now, as he laid beneath the tree watching Grace giggle at a comment he'd made, he couldn't imagine his life without her. and he couldn't believe how long it had taken him to realize just how much the beautiful Jersey meant to him.

"Buck?" Grace's voice brought him back to the present.

the stallion blinked. "huh?"

"you okay?" Grace looked at him with concern.

Buck sighed, smiling fondly at her. "I'm fine, Gracie Girl"

"you sure?"

Buck nodded. "yeah. I was just... thinking"

"oh?" the cow was intrigued. "about what?"

Buck's smile widened a bit. "you. well, us, really" Grace giggled, smiling a bit. but her smile quickly turned to a frown. "Grace?"

the Jersey sighed. "I'm sorry Buck, it's just... I hate having to sneak around like this"

Buck nodded slowly. "I know you do, Grace. so do I. but I know how your family would be, especially Mrs. Cunningham"

"Caloway" Grace corrected.

"yeah, her. I know she's never really liked me"

Grace giggled. "well Mrs. C doesn't know you like I do" she nuzzled Buck's cheek affectionately. Buck sighed, nuzzling her back. the two remained silent for a while, just enjoying each other's company. little did they know what was going to happen early the next day.

for that night would be the last night they'd spend together for a long time.

well, what do you think so far? I'm really excited for this story and look forward to working on the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to leave a review! oh, and I swear the next chapters aren't going to be as sappy as this one. I just couldn't resist a bit of Brace fluff :P

-FreddysNightmare1984