In a long, pale tunic, Jazira lay on her side, propped up on her elbow, and reading by lantern light in the corner of Al-Hattal's stall. She was trying to forget the questions Lady Davenport hounded her with the whole afternoon, and the close scrutiny she had been under throughout the day. And she was trying to forget the impatience she felt, not having seen Frank since their morning ride together. She tried to forget that one day Frank would leave the manor, and England.

"Jazira," the voice was as soft as a whisper, but it made her jump in surprise.

Frank was sitting on his heels a few feet away from her. She sat up and he asked, "Where is the groom?"

Jazira answered, "He claimed to go looking for you at the tavern."

Frank studied her a moment to see if she had believed him to be there as well, but her expression was trusting. He smiled saying, "Good, let him stay there tonight. I have an idea."

Jazira scrambled to her feet and walked over to Frank who also stood up. The lantern light flickered over his handsome face as she asked, "What is your idea?"

Frank was suspended a minute appreciating Jazira's beauty as the soft light accented her shining eyes, her smooth skin, and luxurious hair. Jazira waited with question in her eyes and Frank considered that she didn't know how lovely she was. He shook his head, looked down at his boots, then continued, "Did Phillips tell you what happened this afternoon when we tried to. . ."

Jazira interrupted him, "Yes, that was why he thought you went to have a drink. He even said so to Lady Davenport."

Frank said, "And that's where she thinks I am?"

Jazira frowned but looked up at him with comfort in her eyes, "Yes, because she does not want to know the real Frank Hopkins."

Frank gazed into Jazira's eyes that looked up at him with confidence and trust, but he could also see a fringe of sadness in them as well. He said with a husky voice, "I want to take them out to try again. Al-Hattal and my mare."

Jazira's eyes lit up, expectation showed on her face and Frank said without hesitation, "You're the one that knows how to breed horses."

Jazira swallowed the lump in her throat and forced down the pride that sprang to the surface. She replied with gentle conviction, "Yes, I am."

Frank confirmed her belief, "Yes, you are. Can we try it tonight? I will be gone tomorrow."

Jazira's heart stopped beating. In a few words she went from elation to pain. She longed to ask where he had been and where he was going, but her upbringing suppressed the question. Her heart ached, he would be gone tomorrow and one day he would be gone for good. Her heart cried silently, "Hok-shel-ato."

Frank noticed the shadow that crossed her face and laid a hand on her arm asking, "What is it? What's wrong?"

But she looked down at her bare feet then said with business like precision, "I will take Al-Hattal out to the far pasture, first. Give him a few minutes alone, and then bring Storyteller."

Frank still wondered what had caused that sad expression on her face, but responded, "All right, we'll meet you in a few minutes."

It was a three quarter moon and Frank carried a lantern out to the pasture. When he approached the fence with his mustang, Jazira stood in the center playing with the stallion. Al-Hattal would walk away from her, but when she stretched her arms out he would come to her side. When she turned away from him, he would put his large head over her shoulder and gently push her head to the side, but she would not turn to look at him. Al-Hattal meekly dropped his head and walked to stand in front of her. Frank had never seen the stallion so subdued or submissive, and he wasn't the only one who noticed, the mare had pricked up her ears with interest. Storyteller walked a few steps away from Frank and towards Al-Hattal, but Frank held her back, waiting for Jazira's signal. She continued the game with the stallion and as the mare pulled against the loose rope Frank had thrown around her, he chuckled. The mustang wanted to play as well. It was magical watching as Jazira transformed the thoroughbred, and Frank understood the movements by the reaction it excited in the mare. So when Jazira looked up at him, Frank knew it was time to let her buck, and he slipped the loose noose over the mare's head and she eagerly trotted to join the stallion.

Frank climbed up and sat on the fence, hanging the lantern from one of the fence posts. When the two horses were comfortable with one another, Jazira came over to join him. She hiked up her tunic a little and accepted Frank's hand to pull her up beside him. He held onto her elbow until she was situated, and stared at her with admiration saying,

"You're amazing."

Jazira cocked her head up at him explaining, "There is nothing amazing about encouraging what is natural, or helping it along. It is an art passed down through my family, that is all."

Frank persisted, "But you didn't see them this morning, I would have never thought this was possible."

Jazira reflected honestly, "You would not have given up so easily."

But Frank remembered a time when he would have given up, and he remembered a race he almost gave away. And he remembered her challenge, 'You will prove them right, that blood is more important than will. And you will go on hiding how God made you, like me.'

Jazira like the silence that ensued was filled with sadness. She didn't know what to say and simply leaned against Frank, wondering if he was thinking about riding off into another sunset. Frank put his arm around her, brushing her soft hair from her shoulder. The horses had disappeared into the privacy of the darkness. Frank looked down at Jazira's face, at the distant look in her eye. He could suddenly see himself sitting on a fence on a future ranch in Missouri, with Jazira leaning against him as she was now.

Jazira closed her eyes, not from tiredness, but from the contentment and security she felt being next to Frank Hopkins. She was not aware that she sighed, but Frank heard her and smiled. It was all the motivation he needed and he said warmly,

"Jazira, I want you to come to America with me. I don't want to leave here without you. Will you come with me?"