Took me a while to finish this chapter but it's done! Lots of Ezria fluff and its a long chapter so I hope that makes up for it being late!

Thank you everyone who has reviewed so far and remember to review again!

Chapter 4:

The following Friday morning I awoke at six A.M on the dot. Ezra and I had to be on the road by noon and since my Mom wasn't going to be able to come with or help pack I still had several things to get finished by myself. Luckily the cold morning hours flew by and I was kept warm by my errands which included grooming Chaska, braiding her mane and tail and loading all of her tack as well as a day's worth of food into the trailer.

It was just a little after eleven thirty A.M when Ezra pulled into the barn parking lot, the snowy gravel crunching under the tires of his deep blue Chevy truck. I headed out to the parking lot when I heard him pull in to help him hook up my horse trailer. It took Ezra just under thirty seconds to carefully and skillfully back his truck under the gooseneck trailer correctly. I stepped up on the tire and climbed over the side of the truck bed.

"All ready to go?" Ezra asked, climbing out of the truck and shutting the door as I slid the last latch shut, making sure it was tight and that the trailer wouldn't go anywhere.

"Yep, are you?" I questioned, as I plugged the trailer light hook up into a spot in the bed of the truck.

"Think so."

"Alright, I just have to load up Chaska and then we can hit the road!" I exclaimed, stepping toward the edge of the truck bed. I threw my right leg over the edge, resting it on the top of the tire as I brought my left leg over the sparkling blue side of the truck. I was about to step down when my left foot suddenly slipped on the icy wheel and I tumbled backwards. Ezra's warm, gloved hands caught me before my head hid the solid ground.

"Thanks." I breathed, staring up into his stunning eyes.

"You know, I've noticed you're quite clumsy around me." Ezra smirked, causing those frosty blue eyes of his to crinkle at the corners. Warmth surged through me as I felt my cheeks flush crimson.

"Have you?" I grinned, unwilling to inform him that I was always clumsy.

He gave a simple nod. His eyes barred to mine as his mouth slowly crept closer to my face.

"I didn't notice." I breathed heavily, steam swirling out of my mouth into the frigid air around us. I was still staring into Ezra's eyes when his warm, chapped lips met mine; melting into them in a sweet, forgiving kiss that slowly deepened. I was startled by my reaction to Ezra's lips on mine. Hot electricity burned through my veins, sending sparks of passion flashing up my spine. My gloved fingers strayed from his shoulders up to his delicate chocolate curls that were slowly becoming moist with melted snowflakes. My already-swollen lips moved against his in a gentle, incisive way.

(Line)

Dizzy from our kiss, I let Ezra help me into the truck after getting Chaska loaded. My fingers and lips tickled from our touch, leaving me longing for more. The entire, winding, snowy drive Ezra held my hand as we told each other about our favorite things, dreams for our futures' and family life, slowly discovering more about each other as the minutes slipped away with the pavement beneath the tires.

Finally, as the snow seemed to be coming down harder than though possible, Ezra guided the truck down a long paved drive onto a large snow-covered-grass parking area next to a large covered arena. The sign above the barn read, Trinity Acres Stable & Arena. There were already several other trailers parked across the white lawn, and I expected the lot to be full of them by the time Ezra and I woke up the following morning for the race. Ezra and I climbed haphazardly out of the truck, our legs aching from the long drive and trying to be careful not to slip on the icy ground.

"Why don't you walk Chaska around for a bit and I will go check you in and get her stall number?" Ezra yawned, stretching his arms as we walked toward the back of the trailer.

"Okay, I'll meet you in the stall barn."

"Perfect." He shot me his adorable grin before turning on his heel and striding toward the large barn several yards away. I watched him, my eyes guiltily not straying from his cut behind, until he disappeared from my sight. I turned to the back of the trailer, unlatched the doors and guided Chaska out, making sure she didn't slip as Chaska cautiously placed her feet on the ground. I grabbed Chaska's hay bag and water bucket from the tack room and we set off toward the left side of the barn where the stalls were.

The cobblestone aisle way was dimly lit by several circular overhead lights, spaced evenly down along the ceiling. Two dozen Oakwood stalls with black metal trim lined the aisle way on either side, with a wash area, tack room and lounge room set near the entry way to the arena. The stable area alone was the most gorgeous horse-related building that I had ever set foot in. I had only seen pictures and dreamt of owning such a stable one day.

"Wow." I muttered aloud.

"It's pretty amazing isn't it?" I jumped at the sound of Ezra's voice behind me. Chaska must have heard him coming, as she didn't even flinch.

"Yeah, it's stunning, and so clean."

"They just remodeled it a few of months ago."

"So you've been here before then?"

"Yes, a few times. The most recent was last fall."

I nodded in approval. "Are we all registered and everything?"

"Yes. Chaska's stall is number eleven." I glanced around me at the brass numbers on the stall doors. Stall eleven was just a few feet down from where we stood. After getting Chaska situated in her stall, Ezra and I headed back out to the trailer, stopping at a small concession stand on the way and purchasing two hamburgers, fries and milkshakes.

The camper part of the trailer was toasty warm, a comforting escape from the cold outdoors. Ezra and I sat down at the little table to eat.

"So are you ready for tomorrow?" I asked, biting into my hamburger.

"I should be asking you that question. You're the one racing tomorrow." Ezra replied, a smile playing across his lips.

"I'm ready, nervous, as always, but so ready."

"You barrel race every weekend and you're telling me you still get nervous?"

I nodded. "The bigger the race and the more people, the more nervous I am."

"Ah stage fright."

I nodded again, sipping on my milkshake. "Something like that."

"Will this make you any less nervous?" Ezra breathed, and before I could respond, he was leaning across the small table, his lips pressed against mine and one of his hands caressing my cheek.

Nope, I thought as my heart began thumping erratically, being kissed by my ridiculously hot trainer was only going to cause me to be more nervous.

(Line)

The sound of my alarm blaring loudly woke me up the following morning just a few minutes before nine. Ezra was lying beside me, emanating warmth. I gently shook him awake, surprised that my alarm hadn't done the job like it did for me. He groaned and rolled over toward me, his adorable smile instantly spread on his face.

"You're a great cuddle buddy." I whispered in Ezra's ear, my mouth just near his sculptured jawline.

"Well thanks. So are you." He whispered back in my ear.

"But, all good things must come to an end. We'd better get ready. It's time to race!" Ezra pouted his lips, feigning sadness, and then his lips broke into his adorable smile once more as he said, "Alright! Let's race!"

My number to go out of the gate was 61, which was lucky because not only did I have plenty of time to get ready and warm Chaska up, it also meant I was finished with racing early for the day and could leave as soon as I pleased; though I liked to stick around to watch others race and of course to receive any possible awards, assuming I had run a good time.

The race started at ten A.M and it was just a little before noon when the announcer said over the loudspeaker, "Number 59, Carly Santanos is up, number 60, Ellie Frank, is on deck and number 61, Aria Montgomery, is in the hole." The nerves that had been slowly flowing through me now cascaded throughout my body. Ezra was standing beside Chaska and me in the warm up arena beside the larger one used for gaming. We watched as first Carly and then Ellie ran through the barrel pattern. Carly ran a 16.5, and Ellie (who knocked down the last barrel, earning her a 5 second penalty) ran a 20.9.

"Okay, Aria, you're up, remember to look, keep your hands down and use your legs to guide her okay?"

All I could do was nod my head as the announcer called my name. I lightly kicked Chaska up into a trot, guiding her in a circle in the middle of the practice arena, and then kicked her up into a lope. We loped two full circles before I urged her toward the large arena. We shot out of the open gate, Chaska's hooves flinging dirt up behind her as we raced toward the first barrel, all of my nerves flying away from me, stranded in the dirt.

As Chaska came around the first barrel and headed toward the second all I could hear, barely over the sound of air whipping past my ears, was Ezra shouting, "Look! Look! Use your leg! That's it! That's a girl! Go!"

Adrenaline surged through me as I pushed Chaska toward and then around the third barrel, letting her break into an extended lope as we ran home. Chaska flew across the finish line, stopping just before the gate when I sat deep in the saddle and told her, "Whoa." Cheering and applause greeted me as I glanced behind me at the clock just as the announcer was saying, "That was miss Aria Montgomery with the third fastest time today so far, of 15.335. Way to go Aria."

"Woo-hoo!" I heard Ezra's voice over the sound of the applauding crowd. I led Chaska back through the gate and over to where Ezra was standing.

"Great job Aria. Your barrels were perfect; you looked where you were going. Just remember use your leg." Ezra exclaimed as I climbed down from the saddle.

"Thank you! Anything else I need to work on coach?" I said teasingly.

"Yes. You need to push her faster." Ezra flashed me his adorable grin, and took my hand in his as he led me to the trailer, nothing but excitement flowing through my veins.