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Parker took a deep breath as she approached the paddock. What on earth possessed her to do this? She swallowed hard as she caught sight of the supposedly gentle horse, Brownie.

She calmly walked up to the fence, and placed her forearms on the post. She moved her arms, to where her hands were resting on the post, giving it a death grip, as Brownie lifted her head, and began to walk up to Parker.

Her eyes widened as the horse moved closer to her. It stopped just a foot away from her, and she swallowed once more as the horse lifted its nose to sniff her hands.

"I'm not edible, horse." She stated, as the horse continued to sniff.

"I mean it." She replied, her voice shaky.

Then the horse nudged her hands with its snout, and Parker squealed.

"She thinks you have a treat, Parker." Eliot replied from behind.

"Well, I'm not a treat." She stated, her eyes never leaving the horse.

Eliot rolled his eyes, and held out his right hand, in his palm was a sugar cube. Parker inhaled as Eliot moved his hand in front of Brownie.

Brownie, realizing the young woman had no treats, moved to Eliot's hand, and quickly ate the sugar cube.

Parker panicked when she saw the horse eat out of Eliot's hand. She jumped back, and grasped his forearm.

Eliot chuckled at her reaction, and moved his hand to touch Brownie's face. "It's okay, Parker." He replied, stroking the horse's mane. "She likes to be rubbed." He replied, continuing to stroke the horse.

Parker let go of his arm, and reached forward with hesitant fingers. Brownie, sensing Parker's discomfort, remained still as Parker began to stroke her face.

Parker moved her fingers across Brownie's face, and down to her nose. She smiled as she thought the nose felt like velvet, and the fur was soft. Slowly she lifted her other hand, and stroked the mare's mane. She felt her muscles ease as the horse gently nudged under her palm, causing her to giggle.

Eliot watched in amazement. He knew of Parker's fear of horses, and he knew she hated going near them. It was part of the reason he said she would never make it out here, not because she was a city girl, but because of her fear. He smiled, and felt his heart lift at the sight of her stroking the horse's face.

"You really wouldn't eat me, would you?" Parker asked the horse. "You know, I had a horse like you when I was younger, but my foster parents sold her." She replied, as she continued to stroke the horse, forgetting that Eliot was still standing there. "I missed her so much. I named her Bunny." She continued, her voice holding a slight hint of pain.

"Why did they sell her?" Eliot asked, watching her stiffen.

Parker dropped her hands, and stepped away from Brownie. "They didn't want me to be happy. They said it was my fault I was a foster kid." She replied, turning to him.

Eliot watched as her once pain filled face, turned to determination. "Where do I start?" She replied, clasping her hands together.

Eliot rolled his eyes. "Damn it, Parker." He replied, shaking his head.

"Don't you start, Eliot, I'm here, and I want to help." She replied, folding her arms.

Eliot sighed, and placed his fingers at the bridge of his nose. "Fine." He replied, his voice holding aggravation. "You can start in the barn." He replied, turning around.

Parker glanced at the paddock, where Brownie was watching them, and then ran to catch up to Eliot. "Are there other horses, in there?" She asked, stopping at the door.

Eliot nodded. "Don't worry, Parker. They are in stalls. All I want you to do is clean up the stall where Hawkeye stays, while I go check on the fences." He replied, handing her a pitchfork, and then pointing to an empty stall.

Parker whimpered as she grasped the fork in her hands, and watched Eliot approach a black stallion. With amazing swiftness, Eliot climbed up on his horse, and reared the horse towards the door. Parker gasped, and jumped out of the way.

"I'll be back in a few hours, Parker." He stated, staring down at her.

Parker clutched the fork tighter, and stared up at him with wide eyes. He sighed as he realized, he was moving too fast for her with the horse.

"Do you promise?" She asked, glancing at the horse, and then at him.

Eliot nodded, and moved the hat tighter on his head. "I promise, Parker." He replied, clicking his heels in the horse's side, urging him forward.

Parker moved to the door, as Eliot rode away, and sighed. The more she tried to get close, the further he would run away.

She jumped as she heard the other horses in the barn neigh. She moved the fork in front of her, ready to plunge the fork into any enemy horse coming at her. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the horses still in their stalls.

Moving slowly to the empty stall, she grimaced at the sight. Manure and hay mixed together covered the ground; she wrinkled her nose, and glanced at the door. Not wanting to disappoint him, she stepped into the stall.

"You know, if you wear boots, instead of tennis shoes, it will be so much better." A feminine voice remarked from the left of Parker.

Parker was stunned. One, that the woman had snuck up on her, and two that there was a woman at all standing in there.

"Wh…who are you?" Parker stuttered, glancing around her.

The woman was a short brunette with gentle brown eyes, a round nose, full lips, and curvy hips. She wore a simple shirt with jeans and cowboy boots. She looked as if she was in the her late thirties, with a tan on her visible skin, indicating her days in the sun.

She stepped towards Parker and smiled. "My name is Sheryl. Sheryl Young. I'm Derek's wife, a friend of Eliot's." She replied, holding her hand out.

Parker sighed and grasped the woman's hand in hers. She felt a wave of relief sweep over her at the woman's words, though she didn't know why.

"I'm Parker." She replied, when she realized the woman was waiting on a name.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Parker." Sheryl replied with a kind smile.

Parker nodded, and then turned back to her job. She moved the fork across the back of the stall, to the front, dragging the compost to the front.

"I hate to disturb you, but how do you know Eliot?" Sheryl asked a smile forming on her lips.

Parker paused, and glanced at the lady. "We…uh…work together." She replied, looking back down at the stall.

"So, you help people too?" Sheryl asked, crossing her arms.

Parker stilled her movements once more. Did this woman know about her and Eliot's work? If she did, then how much did she know?

Sheryl chuckled. "You have nothing to worry about, my dear. My husband and Eliot used to work together. I know there are certain things I'm not supposed to know, but you know what they say, curiosity killed the cat." She replied, smiling softly.

Parker tilted her head. "What cat?" She asked, her child-like naivety seeping through.

Sheryl studied her for a moment before answering. "It's just a saying, sweetie." She answered with a motherly voice.

Parker nodded, and went back to work.

"Have you had anything to eat?" Sheryl asked, studying her some more.

Parker shook her head. "I just arrived a few hours ago." She replied, moving the fork back and forth.

"And Eliot didn't feed you?!" Sheryl almost shouted. "Ugh, that man. He calls himself a gentleman, but he has the manners of a pig sometimes." She replied, in an angry tone.

Parker smiled at the woman's frustration, but quickly wiped it from her face. "He didn't know I was coming." She replied, continuing her work.

"That is no excuse." Sheryl stated, stepping towards her.

Parker stiffened at her approach, and Sheryl seemed to understand, and stopped a few feet from her. "Why don't you come into the house, and I'll fix you something to eat?" She asked, the motherly tone entering her voice again.

Parker shook her head. "I have to finish this." She stated, moving the fork back and forth.

"That can wait until you are properly fed, Parker." Sheryl replied, with a soft tone.

Again, Parker shook her head. "I can't. I have to do this." She stated, her stubborn streak coming into light.

"You can return to it, after you eat, sweetie." Sheryl stated, in the motherly tone.

Parker sighed. "I have to finish this." She reiterated her tone full of determination.

"Why are you being so adamant?" Sheryl asked, her tone remaining soft.

Parker stilled her movements, but kept her head down. If this was Sophie, she could tell her, but this was not Sophie. This was a woman, who apparently knew Eliot, and worked here. Eliot may trust her, but she didn't know her.

Parker sighed, and propped the pitchfork against the stall. She turned to the woman. "I could use a bite to eat." She replied, her voice sounding like a child being scolded.

Sheryl smiled, and gave a nod. "Great, follow me." She replied, walking past Parker, and then stopped to see if Parker was following her.

Parker looked at her work, and then followed Sheryl out of the barn, and into a small house next to the barn.

It was a quaint cottage with white posts along the front porch, and Parker smiled at the simplicity of the house.

"I know it's not much, but it's home to me and Derek." Sheryl replied, after catching Parker studying the house.

Parker lowered her head. The loneliness of never having a home, not one like this, began to hit her like waves. She masked her face, and followed Sheryl inside.

She took in the appearance of the house, and found it to be cozy. Where Eliot's home was decorated in a western motive, Sheryl's home was decorated in a quiet beach motive. She smiled at the homey feel of the house, and followed Sheryl into a small kitchen. To the far wall was a small nook with a light colored round table and chairs placed in the center.

"Make yourself at home, Parker." Sheryl replied with a light tone, and a soft smile.

Parker nodded, and pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"I hope you like hamburgers and fries." Sheryl replied with a hopeful look. "I made these for Derek and Eliot when they get back, but there is always patties left. I can never cook just the right amount." Sheryl replied, placing a plate in front of Parker with a patty and a bun, along with a bowl full of homemade fries. "I'm not sure what you usually eat on your burger, so you can help yourself to whatever you find in the fridge and cabinets." Sheryl added, sitting down at the table, with her burger in front of her.

She had placed the ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, and tomatoes on the table. Parker took the ketchup and squirted some on her bun, and then some on the side for her fries. She finished fixing her burger, and was about to take a bite, when she saw Sheryl bowing her head.

Parker sat quietly until Sheryl opened her eyes, and sent a soft smile to her.

"I was brought up a Southern Baptist, and it's a habit for me to pray before a meal." She explained with another smile.

Parker nodded, and took a bite of her burger.

"So, Parker," Sheryl began, taking a sip of her glass of water. "Tell me about yourself." She finished, with a soft, friendly gaze.

Parker lowered her eyes to her burger, and shrugged. "Not much to tell." She replied, taking bite of a fry.

Sheryl nodded, and picked up Parker's sad tone. "Okay, then," She whispered, taking a bite of her fry. "Well, then tell me what are you doing here?" She asked, trying to keep her tone light for the first time.

Parker looked up, and noticed Sheryl was taking a protective turn. She sighed. "I came to be with Eliot." She said simply.

Sheryl lifted her eyebrows. "You're dating him?" She asked, with a shocked tone.

This time, Parker raised her brows, and dropped her mouth. "No!" She shouted, rather quickly. "We're only friends." She explained, picking up her glass of water.

"I see." Sheryl replied in a contemplative tone. "You're only friends, and yet you came all the way here to be with him." She explained to herself.

Parker nodded.

"And there is nothing going on between you?" She asked, placing her elbows on the table with a smile on her face.

Parker blushed, and lowered her head, taking another bite of a fry. She finally shook her head, but then nodded, confused on how to answer.

Sheryl smiled to herself, and continued eating. Whether this girl knew it or not, she cared for Eliot, and Sheryl loved playing matchmaker.

Wait until Derek finds out! She thought with another smile.


What did you think?

I got to say, I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it!

I tried to stay true to Parker, and yes, I gave her a past with a horse BEFORE the terrifying incident. I hope you liked it.

If there is anything you wish to see in this story let me know in a review or just send me a message! I will do my best to accommodate. ;)

Until Next Time...