We walked to church on Sunday morning. Race barefoot back to the Johnson's fence; That's where I first saw Mary, On that roadside pickin' blackberries...

Bianca watched as Boe worked the last of the cows through the gate. You would never realize it now when you looked at him, but when she found him he had almost been . She was riding up at the edge of their property a year ago and something spooked her horse. When she went over to see what it was, she found a ball of soggy black and white fur. Her father said that someone had dumped him because he was probably too hyper. Bianca could still hear her father's words. 'A dog like this doesn't belong in a city where he is on a four foot chain all day.' He was right. Boe loved to work and run. Him and Sandy were the best dogs they had on the farm. Bianca got off he horse and locked the gate behind the cows. She called Boe and headed home.

She took the road, something she rarely did. She wanted to see if to see if Mary was out. Bianca couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something about her.

When Bianca returned to the barn it was almost one. She didn't see the new and was disappointed. She didn't have many friends. She sighed as she took off the saddle and blanket, taking it into the tack room. She brushed down Skip and put him in his stall with some oats. She headed up to the house. Erica was down on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. "Watch it Bianca. Take off your shoes. I don't want them on my clean floor." Bianca didn't argue she took off her shoes and headed up stairs. "Bianca lunch will be ready soon!"

"Alright mom!" Bianca called from her room.

Eight thirty Bianca finally came in from the barn. She had been working with her new horse that she received as a birthday present from her Grandma Mona who lived in Kentucky. She smiled, she loved her Grandma. She was the first person she told she was . Mona knew about Kendall also. At first she was a little shocked but fifteen minutes later they were laughing over tea.

Bianca entered the house and headed up to the bathroom. "Hurry up Kendall!" She said as she knocked on the door.

"Yeah! I'm coming!" Fifteen minutes later the door opened and Kendall emerged.

"About time!"

Kendall rolled her eyes she was about to say something back, but their father walked by in the bathroom. "Girls, to bed early, we have church in the morning."

"Yes sir." They both answered as he kissed them on the head.

"Goodnight."

"Night." They both echoed.

"So you are you ready to get your butt kicked?" Kendall asked taking off her shoes looking at Bianca.

Bianca smiled, "No, today your are going to eat my dust!" Bianca told her sister as she handed her shoes to her father.

"Girls," Erica said walking next to Jackson in an orange and white floral dress. "Don't you think you are getting to old for this?"

"Erica, let them go, they are still kids."

"Jackson..."

"On your mark, get set, GO!" Bianca and Kendall yelled as they flew down the red dusty road towards the end of the Johnson's long fence. Kendall's long legs made her easily take the lead. Bianca looked over to the right and saw Mary on the roadside looking at them. She put down everything she had catching up to her sister and pulling in the lead, winning the race.

"Beat c'ya." Bianca said breathing heavily leaning on one of the posts.

Kendall smirked looking over her shoulder. "Someone's got a crush." She sang as she began walking back towards her parents.

Bianca blushed hard as she looked over to see Mary staring at her. Bianca smiled, it hurt to smile, her legs hurt, her chest hurt and her head was spinning, whether it was from running or the site of Mary walking towards her she didn't know. 'Ow." She whispered. She was never going to run that fast ever again.

"Hey." Mary said as she came up to Bianca.

"Hi." Bianca breathed.

"Your pretty fast. Are you in track?"

Bianca laughed lightly. "The only two sports we have at the church is football and baseball. s don't play either."

"Oh." Mary whispered looking at the ground.

Bianca saw her parents approaching. "Hey...have you ever been on a horse?"

"Umm... no..." Maggie blushed in embarrassment.

"Maybe sometime I could take you on a trail ride."

Maggie eyes lit up. "I would love that! I mean...sure...if you want."

"Yeah. You could maybe come over this afternoon..." Bianca was cut off by a loud yell.

"Margaret! Get in here! Now!"

Maggie hung her head and blushed. "I'm sorry, I have to go. Dad wants me."

"Its okay...maybe I could come down after lunch and see if your parents will let you go."

Maggie smiled. "Okay."

"See ya'."

"Bye." Maggie said as she went into the old house to face her drunken father.

"Who was that Bianca?" Erica asked.

"Oh that was Mary, her mother and father moved in here." Bianca motioned to the house.

Erica nodded. "How old is she?"

"My age. I asked her if she wanted to go on a trail ride today. I thought maybe after lunch I could bring Molly down."

Jackson nodded. "If you get your chores done sure."

Bianca nodded. "Thanks dad."

Maggie lay down on her bed in the dark room, the curtains closed. They had moved here to get away from it all. But it didn't seem to help; Maggie felt that it only made it hurt worse. They had only been here two days and he was drunk. Maggie got up and moved to the bathroom attached to her room. She gently washed the bruises on her arms and shoulder. She covered the one on her shoulder with an oversized bandage. She changed into a pair of old jeans and a long sleeved shirt. If Bianca did come, she was going to wonder why she was dressed for fall in the middle of summer.

Tell me if you want more....