Chapter 8

It was late afternoon when Rupert and Spike returned from the track in Lexington, Keeneland. They had a very good afternoon, Rupert talking with several top trainers like himself, and Spike chatting it up with some of the best jockeys in the business. Spike even scored him a race, riding the filly to win in a claiming race.

It was a little after six when the Giles pulled into the Summers Ranch. Most of the students were gone but there was still three figures on horse back in the jumping ring. Two were standing off to the side watching as a girls with long dark hair took her horse over a series of what looked like complicated jumps. Buffy was standing off to the side watching, occasionally running a hand over her bandaged wrist. Spike had Rupert drop him off and he strolled over there and stood next to Buffy.

"Whose the girl? Isn't that Emerald?" he asked.

Buffy squeaked, not hearing him approached and turned to glare at him before answering his question, "Yes that's Emerald. Cordelia is the girl whose riding, her owner." She followed his gaze over to where Willow and Moondust stood with another girl how had shoulder length blonde hair, "And that's Anya and Demon. They are just getting some practice in before their show Tuesday."

"Oh." was all he said as he turned his attention back to the brunette who was currently flying over what looked like a chicken coop and directing her horse to the final three jumps, a five foot high triple combination. She looked like she was rushing it and Buffy called out to her friend, "Check your stride, coming in way to fast."

Cordelia heard her and barely nodded, keeping her attention on the Arabian mare beneath her, pulling back slightly on the reins, causing Emerald to slow down enough. Cordelia rose over the mare's withers and squeezed with her legs. Emerald lifted and soared over the jump. Cordelia counted two strides then repeated the process and counted and jumped once more, clearing all three jumps. Willow and Anya clapped and Buffy smiled.

Cordelia trotted her mare over, seeing Spike for the first time. Her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip as she thought 'fresh meat'. She nodded her head towards Buffy, "Thanks for catching that. If we went in to fast like we were, we would have blown the entire combination."

Buffy smiled, "Well just remember to check her stride. You know Emerald likes to rush jumps sometimes. You'll have to watch that at the show, judges will dock points."

Anya chirped up for the first time, "And you would know all about that wouldn't you Buffy?"

Buffy turned red and Cordy smirked, "Hey Glory only rushed once, and we lost. So I learned from it."

Spike arched a eyebrow, "What's this? Little Miss Perfect Jumper blew a show?"

Buffy glared at him, "I was having a off day and my horse rushed a combination and we blew it. I have lost before. You can win them all. You're a jockey, you should know that."

He nodded, "So I do. So going to introduce me?"

Cordelia jumped on the chance to flirt, "Yes going to introduce us to the new hunk around the stables?"

Spike flashed her his patented sexy slow smile, "Spike Giles and you are?"

"Cordelia Chase. Pleasure to meet you." she said, returning his smile with one of her own, fluttering her eyelashes a little.

Buffy groaned and felt a little anger flare up at their flirting, "Please, no making the others sick. Spike, the other girl is Anya, as you know. Anya this is Spike. He's father's going to be training Sunset."

Anya nodded and dismounted Demon and lead him through the gate. Willow and Cordelia did the same. Cordelia gave him a appraising look then noticed the little looks Spike was giving Buffy out of the corner of his eyes. She dismissed him immediately, not wanting to chase after someone who already wanted someone else. She did that once and it didn't work out. No, she preferred those who she could ensnare. Anya only gave him a passing glance, being completely happy with her boyfriend Alexander Harris, a very successful vet.

Anya looked at Buffy, "I'm going to finish with Demon then go. Xander is providing a very romantic evening that better in with lots of orgasms for me."

Spike coughed suddenly, not used to her bluntness like Buffy, Willow, and Cordelia. He stared after the blonde girl as she led her gelding into the stables and looked back at the other girls who were trying not to laugh at his shocked expression, "Did she just say what I thought she said?"

Willow giggled and nodded, "Yup, our Anya is a very blunt girl. Loves horses, money, and orgasms, but hates bunnies."

They heard Anya's shriek at the mention of bunnies from inside the stables and her yell, "Bunnies! Bunnies where?!"

Buffy called out to her, "There are no bunnies Anya. Willow was just telling Spike you hated them."

Cordelia shook her head, "That girl's hearing amazes me still."

Willow nodded, "Yeah I know." She looked over at Buffy, "So are we still invited to dinner and your impromptu going away party?"

Spike arched a eyebrow, "Going away party?"

Buffy blushed and looked down, "They insisted on having one. Then my mom got wind of it and well that's just as bad as a stallion getting the bit between his teeth and taking off. Its not really a party. Its more like a dinner get together. We have a early start. Mom wanted Oz and his band to come and play."

Spike stared at Willow, "Oz has a band? He didn't strike me as the band member type."

Willow nodded, her eyes shining at the mention of her boyfriend, "Yeah, they are called Dingoes Ate My Baby. They rock. But they had a gig tonight at a 21 and over club, so no go to club for us."

Buffy nodded, "Right, so lets get Emerald and Moondust groomed and fed for the night. Spike you can help out with the evening feeding. Mom and Dad are already in the feed room getting ready. Dawn's cooking, so God help us all."

She didn't even leave him room to protest and marched off with Cordy and Willow. He sighed and headed in behind them, moving past them to find Joyce and Hank to offer his help. He was surprised to find his father already there. Hank looked over his wife's shoulder and saw him, "Here to help?"

"Looks like it. Put me to work." said Spike, moving to stand beside his father.

Joyce nodded and pointed to a row of five buckets, "Those go to our five broodmares. They are in aisle 3. Their names are on the buckets so it shouldn't be a problem. They also get one leaf of hay. That's in the loft."

Spike nodded and picked up the first two buckets and headed out. He met Buffy who was on the way and accidentally bumped into her. She turned to glare at him but stopped when she saw his teasing look. She just shook her head and headed into the feed room to collect Sunset's feed. It didn't take long with all the hands they had to finish up the feeding so it was only a matter of minutes before the whole group was marching up to the house to wash up for dinner.

Buffy, Willow, and Cordelia headed up to Buffy's room to wash up and change, none of them wanting to come down for dinner smelling like horses, no matter how much they loved them. Joyce directed Rupert and Spike to the guest rooms and their bath. Spike was heading back downstairs when he ran into Buffy. He opened his mouth to say something when his brain froze up just by looking at her.

Buffy was wearing a pair of leather pants that clung to her legs and bottom and some halter top that had a little heart cut out, showing off enough cleavage to leave his imagination running wild about pulling her in the spare room and ripping the shirt off and having her for dinner. Her golden hair hung in soft curls around her face and her face was made up so that he thought he was standing in front of a angel.

He reached out and brushed a hand lightly over her cheek, tracing his way down with a light finger. Buffy shivered and stared up at him. He had changed into a pair of black jeans and a black tee with a blood red button up shirt over it. His blonde hair was slicked back. She gulped as he stared down at her, his blue eyes piercing her hazel ones. They stayed locked like that, just staring at each other for what seemed like a eternity. Spike took a step forward, like he was going to say something but Cordelia's cough broke them apart. Buffy whirled around to face her two friends who were grinning ear to ear, each with that I-Know-What's-Going-On look in their eyes.

Spike blushed and muttered something about helping the parents downstairs and rushed off. Buffy stared after him, much in the way Willow stared at Oz. Willow and Cordelia came up on each side of her and looped their arms through hers. They walked towards the stairs and Buffy just waited for the question she knew was on their lips.

"So…" drawled Cordelia, "What's going on between you and jockey boy?"

Willow nodded, "Yeah you two looked all snuggly."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "We were not snuggly at all. Hello, I just broke up with my boyfriend."

The three girls walked downstairs and Cordelia rested a hand on Buffy's shoulder, "Honey, if I had a guy like Spike looking at me the way he looked at you, I wouldn't give a rats ass if I just broke up with my boyfriend. He wants you and you want him, the lust was all but written on your face."

"What was written on whose face?" asked Dawn as she bounded down the stairs behind them.

Buffy's face turned three shades of red and she whirled on her sister, "No one. Stop spying on us. I'll tell mom."

"I wasn't spying on anyone. I was walking down the stairs. Next time you don't want people to know about how you got the hots for a jockey, then keep your voice down." sniffed Dawn as she pushed past them to go help set the table. Buffy stared after her and raised her hands, making a throttling motion with them. Willow and Cordelia laughed and the three entered the dining room.

The spaghetti and bread was already on the table. Wine glasses were filled with red wine for them all but Dawn's, who was filled with juice. Rupert, Hank, Joyce, and Spike were already seated and Dawn was taking a seat on one side of Spike. Willow gave Buffy a nudge that pushed her towards the other seat next to spike. The other two sat in the only two chairs left.

Spike looked at Buffy and smiled as Hank lifted his glass, "Here's to a new beginning for us all. For the Giles for undertaking a new horse. To the family for supporting this decision, for the friends who are by our sides the whole time. And to my daughter, Elizabeth, for supporting the decision to send her favorite horse and for going with him. I know that she will do us proud."

"Don't worry Daddy," said Buffy as she sipped her wine, "I'll make sure that they don't do anything you wouldn't approve. And I'll take extra care of Sunset. It will be like he never left the ranch."

Joyce smiled, "Well I hope you have fun in New York. It will be a wonderful experience for you."

Spike smirked, "Don't worry Mrs. Summers, I'll make sure it's a experience that she will never forget."

Buffy took another sip rather quickly, catching the look in his eyes. It was like he was trying to embarrass her in front of her family, as he kept sending her these heated looks. She turned and gazed at him coolly, "Trust me, it takes a lot to make me experience something I won't forget."

Cordelia coughed into her spaghetti at the innuendo in Buffy's voice. Willow reached over, her face red for she caught it too, and pounded on Cordy's back so that she could breath again. Spike just smirked and turned his attention back to his food, reaching for a piece of bread.

Buffy studied her food, wondering why she made a remark about that, and in front of her parents and Rupert at that. She ate in silence, thinking only how she was going to survive being around Spike as much as she would have to knowing the way he looked at her and the way it made her feel. She didn't even know him and yet she longed for what he offered her in his eyes. The promise, the touch, the desire. It was all there burning in his piercing blue eyes.

The rest of the dinner was in silent and when there was talking it was about horses. It was pretty quiet as everyone at the Ranch realized that this would be the last time they say Buffy. Willow kept sending her friend looks as the tears threatened to fall. They had always been close and always been together. Buffy was the one Willow could turn to, whether it be boy or horse troubles, or just life in general. And the redhead knew that they wouldn't drift apart, that they were only a phone call away, but it would still hurt not being able to turn to her when she needed.

Cordelia was just wondering how she would get along without Buffy at the shows. Buffy was Cordelia's mentor in a way, the one she could turn to with horse problems. Riding was the only thing Cordelia would admit Buffy was better at. And it was hard not to when you saw Buffy on a horse, it was like they were one soaring across the jump. Cordelia sighed, missing Buffy already, as a teacher and a friend.

Dawn wasn't sure if she was going to miss her sister or not. Probably so, but only after she was gone for a few weeks. It would be nice to have some attention for herself, and maybe fore a change her parents can help her on her riding instead of worrying about Buffy. Joyce knew that she would miss her eldest daughter, but felt that this trip would help her in so many ways, and maybe help her get over her riding fear that she developed. Hank felt the same as Joyce, but couldn't help but worry about Spike and how he felt towards Buffy. Buffy had told her parents about Riley, and Hank wasn't sure if Spike was the right choice for her so soon after a breakup like hers.

Giles couldn't wait to get Sunset up to New York and start his training. This would be the horse that soared him to the top once more, and the horse to be envied everywhere. Spike was already planning his and Buffy's first date, how he would romance her and sweep her off her feet. Then convince her that he loved her and he did. When a Giles fell in love, they knew it and it was a love to last forever. It was their way and the way it had already been. His father loved his mother Jenny and never fully recovered from her death.

Dinner passed quickly and it was already late. Buffy walked her friends to the door and said their good byes there, away from everyone so that they could cry and hug each other in private. Cordelia was the first to hug Buffy. The prom queen clung to her friend, sniffing back her tears.

"Its going to be lonely without you here." she said, wiping away the tears that did fall.

Buffy smiled, her own tears falling, "I know but hey, no competition in the look department now that I'm leaving."

Cordelia laughed and flipped her hair, "Honey, there has never been competition."

The girls laughed at that, knowing that despite how she acted, Cordy had a heart of gold. Willow moved and took Cordelia's place, clinging tightly to her friend, crying openingly. Buffy fought back the tears, but they fell as well. For them both, it was like loosing a part of each other.

"I'm so going to miss you. I'll call everyday." sniffed Buffy, looking at her friends.

"You better." said Willow, faking a threatening look.

Cordelia smiled slowly, "Yeah I want to hear all about Mr. Spike. And what happens between you two."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Nothing's going to happen. We will have a strictly business relationship."

"Sure you say that now." said Willow and Cordelia together. The girls laughed and hugged one last time, wiping away the tears and saying good bye again. Buffy leaned against the doorframe and watched her friends retreating back and the disappearing taillights as they left the ranch. She was so wrapped up in already missing her friends that she didn't hear Spike as he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Things are going to be just fine."

He gave her credit for not jumping and screaming like she had the last time. He offered her a lopsided smile as she faced him. Much to his surprise, instead making a snide remark or brushing him off, Buffy smiled back at him and whispered, "Yeah I know. But I'm still going to miss them."

"Well you got me." he offered.

"Oh and that makes me feel a helluva lot better." she drawled, smirking.

Spike chuckled then caught her chin between his hands, "You have no idea." His voice was low and he leaned in, barely brushing his lips over hers before turning to go up to his room. Buffy stared after him and her hand came up to brush over the place his lips touched. With a small smile playing over her lips she went and said good night to her parents and Dawn before heading up to her own room.

A/N: Once more sorry for the posting delay. I kinda hit a writer's block. Hehe. But its gone. The next chapter should be up this weekend. But expect at least two new chapters a week.