Chapter 4

Life for Regina was going great. She landed a position as a project manager for an engineering company. She was making a living for herself. She found a nice apartment in Los Angeles and she was happy. She couldn't remember the last time she felt true happiness.

She didn't have this feeling of looking over her shoulder anymore. She could enjoy her life and not be afraid of the other shoe dropping.

There was one thing in her life that she loved to do: being a volunteer at a ranch teaching young kids to ride horses. Ever since she could remember, she always had this connection to horses. They seemed to understand her more than she understood herself.

It was a Saturday afternoon when she arrived on the ranch. A little girl named Brittany ran to her as soon as she got out of the car. Regina smiled and crouched down in front of the girl.

"Miss Regina, can I ride my horse today?" she asked eagerly.

Regina laughed softly. "We still have to train you on taking care of a horse."

The little girl pouted. "But I want to ride like you."

Regina laughed at the statement. Tapping the girl lightly on the nose she said, "In order to do that, you have to get to know your horse. I had to learn so many things before actually riding." Brittany relented and grabbed Regina's hand pulling her forward.

Once inside the stables, Brittany led Regina to her father, Derrick. "Daddy, Miss Regina is here."

He smiled at his daughter.

"I can see that. Let me guess, my daughter asked if she could ride today?"

Regina nodded. "I told her she had to still learn how to take care of a horse. I had to do the same thing."

Derrick squatted in front of Brittany. "I told you sweetheart. Miss Regina will know when you are ready." He stood and faced Regina. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she said but she really had no idea why he was thanking her. She led Brittany to the stall and helped her before the other children came.

An hour later, Regina watched the other instructors teach the older children how to jump. She smiled at the memory of being that young. She didn't notice Derrick stand beside her.

"Can you do that?" he asked motioning toward the children.

She smirked. "I can. I've been riding since I was a young girl Mr. Matthews."

"Call me Derrick and I want to say thank you for teaching Brittany again. She's quite taken with you."

"She's an adorable girl. You and your wife must be very proud of her," Regina replied. That's when she caught it. The sad expression that came over his face. His green eyes darkened and he looked away for a second.

She studied him in mere seconds. He was slightly taller than her, he had dark hair. She could tell he worked out. However, there was a vulnerability there that she could relate to. Those eyes mirrored her own at one point.

He turned to face her again. "My wife died in childbirth. Brittany is all I have left of her."

Regina gasped. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I guess you noticed the ring. I can't bring myself to take it off," he said. A ring flashed in her mind. She blinked several times trying to clear her head. Him mentioning a ring stirred something within her but she chalked it up to sympathy.

"I'm sure she would like for you to be happy," she said trying to bring some comfort.

"Maybe," he replied. "Anyway, it's just I haven't seen Brittany become attached to another woman outside her grandmothers and aunts. You've made quite an impression."

"I'm glad I get to see her doing something she loves. Once she becomes an Olympic equestrian, she'll probably forget about Regina Mills, the woman who helped her," she joked.

Derrick chuckled. "Trust me. You are a hard woman to forget." Regina blushed at the compliment. They heard Brittany's voice coming from the stables.

"Daddy, Miss Sheila said I'm all ready to go."

Regina looked at Sheila. She had become a good friend of hers very quickly.

Derrick said, "Say goodbye to Miss Mills." Regina felt her tiny arms around her waist.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye sweetheart. See you next week," Regina said. She watched father and daughter leave.

"Why don't you ask him out?" Sheila asked.

Regina snorted. "Who has time to date? I'm still settling in."

Sheila rolled her eyes. "It's been three months since you arrived in LA. Live a little."

"Well, you date him then," Regina shot back.

"I'm already in a relationship. Besides, he has had his eye on you since you arrived. Trust me nobody has had any luck in trying to get his attention. He just came back a few months before you arrived.

She looked at her friend. "What?"

Sheila sighed. "Yep. Derrick and his wife met here and they were inseparable. Well, then she died and he couldn't bring himself to come back until now." Regina didn't say anything else. That kind of loss had to be unbearable for anybody.

Regina sat in her apartment watching television. She thought about Derrick's story. Losing someone like that would create a hole in anybody's heart. Not to mention he was a single father. Her heart went out to him.

She turned the television off and went to bed.

Regina tossed and turned as she saw herself saving a little girl from a horse. She helped the girl off the wild horse and finally calmed her down. Regina looked at the little girl curiously. She backed away as the girl began to morph into Brittany.

Regina gasped and soon the scene changed. She was tied to a stake and she saw blue eyes staring at her with so much hatred and disgust. She heard the man give the orders and she saw arrows flying directly at her.

Regina sat up in her bed gasping for breath. That was a nightmare she never wanted to have again.