I'm sorry for the late update. I had planned to get this up weeks ago, but I kept getting stuck on this chapter. It's not as long as the others, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Please review at the end! :)


Things began to change after the day Eliot opened up about his past, and it started happening for the better. They were happy, happier than they had ever been in their lives. Even though the threat of someone coming after them was looming, they remained happy.

After a few days, Parker could finally take Brownie for a well-deserved ride. She saddled the mare, and smiled when Brownie moved her head up and down in excitement.

"Going out?"

She smiled wider at his voice. Turning her head, she nodded. "Sheryl said it was okay." She replied, watching Eliot come into the stall and scratch Brownie's face.

"Would you like come company?" He asked, softly.

She brightened at the concept. "Don't you have work?" She asked, studying him.

Eliot smiled. "I do, but would you like to join me?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

Parker lifted her brows. "Really?" She asked, hopeful.

He nodded. "Really, Parker. He answered, moving towards her. "I think it's time you see how everything works, don't you?" He asked, softly.

She smiled, and practically jumped into his arms with so much joy filling her heart and showing on her face. "I would love that." She whispered in his ear.

He felt so much strength from her words, and such relief. "Let me saddle up Hawkeye." He whispered, pulling back to look at her.

She nodded, and smiled brightly when he kissed her cheek.

As she watched him saddle up the black stallion, she found herself looking at his muscles moving through his button down gray shirt. Pride filled her soul as her eyes moved over his body. He was the picture of masculinity and sexiness, and he was all hers.

Parker never thought someone like Eliot would ever love her the way he did, but he did, and to top it off, he wanted to show her his world.

Granted, she had seen a lot of it the past month, but somehow this was different. Deep in her soul, she found how much she truly loved it out here. It was peaceful and free. Sure she had fun helping people, and taking down bad guys, and it was fun doing jobs where she could jump off buildings and steal things, but being out here in the open spaces was so different.

She knew if Nate and Sophie saw her now they would hardly believe the changes in her, even Hardison would be surprised. All in one month, she was riding horses, cooking, carrying on normal conversations with Sheryl, and in a steady relationship with a man who loved her for who she was.

When he finished, Eliot led Hawkeye out of the stall, and smiled as Parker led Brownie.

He tentatively reached for Parker's hand, and smiled when she grasped his right hand in her left, as they led their horses out of the barn. Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he let go and went to climb on Hawkeye. Parker smiled, watching him with such graze and agility, climb on the stallion.

He smiled at her gaze and motioned to Parker. "Are you coming or are you going to stand there and stare?" He asked, leaning forward on the saddle horn.

She narrowed her eyes playfully, and went to get on Brownie. "Can you blame me?" She asked, after she had settled on Brownie, and lifted the reins in her hands.

He smirked and shook his head for he had done the same thing when she moved to get on Brownie Parker caught his smile, and knew he was thinking the same thing with her. She nodded, getting her answer from the look on his face.

With a click of their tongues and a slight nudge in the horses' sides, they rode off to greet the mid-morning.

They rode for a while in silence, both taking in the scenery around them. Eliot glanced over at Parker and smiled. "I'm proud of you, Parker." He remarked softly.

Parker jerked her head towards him and a smile broke out on her face. "Why?" She asked, softly.

Eliot smiled and dipped his head. "Because despite your fear, you overcame it." He stated with a kind, gruff tone.

She smiled, and lowered her gaze. "Girls ride horses too." She whispered, reaching down to pet Brownie's neck.

He smiled when he caught Parker's words. "Sheryl told you about that song, didn't she?" He asked, glancing at her.

Parker nodded. "I've been meaning to ask you about it, but I never got the chance." She stated, quietly.

Eliot nodded. "I never really heard of it until I met Sheryl." He began, glancing at Parker. "It's her favorite song." He added, with a laugh.

Parker glanced at him. "I wanted to listen to it, but…" She trailed off with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Derek and I played it for her on her birthday this year." He said absently.

Parker frowned. She loved hearing Eliot sing; however, she hadn't heard him sing since that night on the job, and she wanted to. She just never told him. It was odd for her because she felt so much jealousy at the thought of Eliot singing to another woman, granted it was Sheryl, but still.

She bit her tongue to keep from saying anything that would ruin the moment, but kept her eyes forward.

Eliot shook his head and smiled at the silence coming from Parker. His mind began to work out a small plan to make up what he had just said. He could tell she was jealous, even though she would never say such a thing. He also knew how much she underestimated her feelings, only because she didn't understand them.

They arrived at the valley, where the cattle were grazing, and Parker's eyes widened as she took in the lot.

"There are so many." She stated, in amazement.

Eliot smiled and nodded. "There has to be to make any kind of profit." He replied, glancing at her.

Parker nodded. "What do you do with them?" She asked innocently.

"Sell some at auctions, and some to breeders." He answered, nodding towards them.

"Why do you sell them?" She asked, trying to understand everything.

"Because if I didn't, there would be too many cattle for me to take care of, and I would run out of room." He replied with a smile.

She smiled back. "What happens to them after they are sold?" She asked, after a moment.

"Some are sold to the meat factory, and some are sold to people who want to get into the business." He answered calmly.

Parker's eyes widened. "You eat them!" She nearly shouted, glancing back at the cattle.

Eliot chuckled and nodded. "Yes, Parker, we eat them." He stated, firmly but gently.

Parker stared at the cattle, and began to picture the poor cows on her plate. She shook her head. "How can you eat them?" She asked in disgust.

"Because cattle are meant to be eaten, that's what they are here for, Parker. We raise them, tend to them, and finally we butcher and eat them. It's a part of life, Parker." He replied, gently.

Parker studied him, as the words began to sink in her soul. She remained silent for a few minutes, trying to understand what Eliot was meaning. She realized it was true. Everything had a purpose, and if that meant that a few cattle had to be sacrificed so others could eat then, she could agree with it.

"I guess I can see that." She whispered in a low tone.

Eliot smiled at her reply. He had to admit; she was trying. "Come on; let's see if any are missing." He replied, rearing his horse to the left.

Parker smiled, and nodded. She pulled Brownie's reins, slightly to the left, and followed Eliot down to the lot. She watched as he mentally counted each cow, and relief wash over his face as he finished up the count.

"They're all here." He replied with relief.

She nodded, and let out a breath. "That's good news, isn't it?" She asked, looking at him, carefully.

He nodded, cautiously. "For the moment." He replied after a moment.

Parker sighed at his expression. She knew he was worried. That was Eliot, the worrier. She leaned forward on the saddle horn, and watched as the cows ate the grass. She realized then, that Eliot wasn't the only one who was the worrier. No, now she was the worrier. She worried about him.

Lowering her gaze absently to Brownie's mane, she thought about the times she used to not worry. Before she found a family, she never worried about anyone, and now she worried about Eliot, not because he was a part of the family, but because he was her family. She loved him. She realized that it came with the territory for loving someone. You worry about them.

Of course now, she worried not only for Eliot and his safety, she also worried about Derek and Sheryl, and Brownie. Being out here with them, they had become more of a family to her than the rest of the team.

She felt eyes on her, and she smiled as she turned her head to find Eliot looking at her with a curious expression on his face.

"What?" She asked, straightening in the saddle.

Eliot shook his head. "You just look so natural." He whispered, in a choked voice.

Parker felt her cheeks heat, though she normally wasn't one to blush, the way Eliot looked at her and spoke to her at that moment made it the most natural thing in the world.

"What are we doing next?" She asked, after a moment.

Eliot smiled, and picked up the reins. "I need to check the fences. You can come with me if you want to, or you can head back." He replied, softly with a gruff tone.

She tilted her head. "Do you want me to come?" She asked, though he could hear the slight fear in her voice.

He smiled, reaching for her hand on top of the saddle horn. "Always." He stated, simply.

Parker smiled, and almost jumped in her saddle. Eliot chuckled at her reaction, and titled his head to the side.

"This way." He replied, urging Hawkeye to head on.

Parker followed suite.

As they rode, Parker took in the scenery around her. The stillness of the hills. The hot wind blowing making the tall grass bend like waves. Even the blue sky seemed to stretch on for miles over the horizon and beyond.

A few times, Eliot had pulled his horse to a halt, and had climbed down to inspect the barbed wire. Parker watched as Eliot pulled the wire with expertise, until it was tight. He had slipped on a pair of deerskin gloves to keep his hands from being cut up.

She smiled at the way he treated each stop like he did when they were on a job. He was focused, though at times he would sneak a glance her way, and send her a casual wink.

As they stopped for the fourth time, Parker seemed to have gotten a hang of what Eliot was doing. He seemed to have sensed it, for he turned around and asked for her help.

With a smile on her face, she swung her leg over Brownie and landed on the ground with such ease, Eliot had to smile.

She bounced over to where he was standing, and he shook his head. "You need gloves, Parker." He replied, tenderly.

Parker glanced down at her hands, and frowned slightly. She didn't have any.

Eliot smiled softly, and approached the sack over Hawkeye's back. Opening the pouch, he pulled out an extra pair of gloves.

Parker smiled as she took them from his outstretched hand. "Thanks." She replied, happily.

Eliot nodded. "No problem."

He positioned himself in the middle of the strand of wire, and pulled. "Parker, I need you to hold the wire right here, okay?" He asked, lifting his brows.

Parker nodded, and held the wire tight against the pole. Eliot grabbed a u nail and positioned it over the wire. With a hammer in his other hand, he hammered the nail into the post.

Parker squealed with glee when the nail secured the wire. "That was fun." She stated, bouncing up and down.

Eliot shook his head. "How was it fun?" He asked, glancing at the post.

"Because it was new for me, and I got to do it with you." She stated, seriously.

Eliot stared into her eyes, and swallowed hard. Parker was unique in so many ways. He knew she had been excited to see what he did on the ranch, but to actually have fun doing work with him was something he never expected. He knew that if he lived to be a hundred, or even spent fifty or a hundred years with her, he would never stop being surprised by her.

Dropping the hammer on the ground, Eliot leaned forward, and grabbed her by the waist. Gently he pulled her to him, and quickly placed his lips on hers.

Parker wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave in to his passionate kiss. She pushed her body closer to his, and sighed into his mouth when his mouth opened hers wider. After a moment, Eliot realized Parker needed to breathe. Pulling back, he lingered a centimeter away from her mouth, his eyes searching her face.

Parker did her best to control her breathing after the headlong passion Eliot gave her. Leaning her head forward, she placed her forehead on his.

"What would I do without you, Parker?" He asked, holding her close.

She shrugged. "Probably be sane." She replied, pulling her head back. "After all I am crazy." She stated, with a curt nod.

Eliot shook his head at her words. "You're not crazy." He began, with a soft smile. "You're Parker." He stated, searching her eyes.

Parker smiled leaning forward to quickly kiss his lips and then hugged him close. Neither knowing someone was watching them from a distance.

Nicolas sneered in a dark way as he watched from behind a tree a good fifty feet from their position.

Soon, it was going to be time to execute his next plan.

It was a perfect plan. Just before he kills the pretty little thief, Eliot will know what he felt when Eliot killed the woman he loved and his future.

Nicolas felt satisfaction in his chest as he thought of the look on Eliot's face when Parker's life drains away and he is left alone.

Payback was hell, and he was bringing it.


What did you think?

I'm going to warn you now. Things are going to get a little dark in the next few chapters, but not too dark.

Also, for those reading my Thief, Hitter, and the Plant story, I am currently working on finishing it up. I should finish it up by this weekend!

Consider it a Thanksgiving present from me to you! HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING!

Until Next Time...