I know, I spent little time in 1550, but I really wanted to get to this time. 1832, one of my favorite time periods, and the setting of Myth. I promise I'll spend a lot of time here. Promise. Like…four chapters or more.

Also, I know that the characters have the same names. They will. It's just easier to write it with them having the same names. So yeah, there will still always be Piper, Prue, Phoebe, and Leo, but the girls won't always be sisters.

WARNING: this chapter contains a major spoiler for "Love is a Myth". One little line, GIANT spoiler. It may not seem so big at first, and it may seem hard to find, but it's there! It's a spoiler! Big 'ole spoiler!

"What the hell was that?"

"That was an egotistic woman being helped by an egotistic man."

"Um…"

"It's eighteen thirty-two, remember?"

Piper nodded.

"In this time, you…She married a man who didn't truly love her, and nearly lost her ranch because of it. She eventually found herself, and tried to fall for another man, but it didn't work. He…has had as bad a life as she, and is…subtly…bringing her back around to love. At least, he's trying. She's a tough case, you know."

"I can understand why…"

"She had it hard…He's there to help her, but he's in need of her help, as well."

"Why?"

Leo sighed. "Just watch."

"What is this?" Piper asked, walking outside.

"She is for you," Leo replied calmly, walking the a horse up.

"Why?"

"I heard about your horse and thought you needed one, considering the kind of work you do."

Piper sighed. She was still in shock from her horse's lame leg. He was her best horse, and she would never ride him again. She scanned the mare Leo brought with her eyes. She was truly a magnificent animals She knew that the mare was Leo's, it was the only horse he rode. Her pure white coat and long mane and tail. She stood so proudly; she definitely knew how beautiful she was.

After a silent moment, Piper said, "Leo, I can't take this gift. I don't want anything from you. I've already told you that. I want nothing more from you but for you to leave."

"Piper, take her."

Piper looked at the beautiful horse. "Leo…" She shook her head. "Why do you even want to give away a horse like that?"

"She was my wife's," Leo answered quietly.

Piper managed a small smile. She looked from the horse to Leo. "I can't accept this. It's not right," she said, shaking her head slightly. "You shouldn't give her up."

"Piper, please. I can't keep her. She's too demanding for me, the kind of horse that needs attention. The attention that I know you can give. Please take her. She's a wonderful horse."

"Leo, I can't take your wife's horse."

"She's not my wife's anymore. She's yours…" A few silent seconds went by before Leo spoke again. "Whether you like it or not," he said with an almost smug tone and a matching smile.

Piper shifted her weight to the other leg. She walked forward a couple of steps. Leo didn't budge. She held her right hand out and he handed the reins to her.

"Now give me one of yours," Leo said.

Piper smiled. "Jackass."

"C'mon. Give me your worst animal. I need a horse, Piper," Leo insisted, the solemn moment seemingly forgotten.

Piper thought for a second. "Okay…" She nodded for him to follow her to the barn. He did, walking behind her to see how she walked his horse.

Leo smiled slightly. The mare belonged with Piper, not with him. She was the last tie to his wife. He had to break the bonds.

Piper led him into the biggest barn. She tied the white mare up outside a stall, saddle and all, and walked up to a stall. Inside was an all-black mare. She had no white on her feet, legs, body, or head. She was standing in the very middle of the stall, staring straight at Piper.

Leo came up next to Piper. "So, this is the worst horse you've got, eh?" he asked.

"This is death, Leo."

"Death. Hi."

"No, this horse is suicide. Riding her is impossible. I've tried it. She's worse than a cowboy horse. She's possessed by the devil himself."

"Every devil's got a little angel, Piper."

"No. I change my mind. Not her."

"Why not?"

"Here, take the stallion. He's a better riding horse," Piper said, turning to walk up to a horse sticking his head out of a stall, ears alert. She ran her hand down his forehead. When she got no answer from Leo, she looked around slowly. She had to do a double take.

Leo was standing in the wild mare's stall. She was backing into the corner, her ears flat against her head, one front hoof up, curled toward her stomach. She bowed her head to show him her forehead.

"Leo, get out of there!" Piper hissed.

Leo didn't answer. He advanced on the mare slowly, and she kept backing away until she hit the corner of the stall. He held one hand out at her, making quiet shushing sounds to calm her. Piper was quiet until he reached the mare.

"Leo, that's suicide! Get out!"

"Shh."

Piper closed her mouth. She watched silently as Leo made his way up to the mare. He touched her forehead and nose, then her mane. She flinched and pulled away from him.

After a long ten minutes, Piper's jaw dropped. Leo was standing beside the horse, his hands running along her shoulders, legs, neck, and back. Her ears were up, calm, but her head was turned to watch him carefully.

Soon, Leo had the mare by the rope halter, leading her slowly out of the stall, coaxing her with quiet shushing sounds and coaxing words. He tied her up carefully outside her stall, then went over to the white mare. He took her saddle, saddle blanket, and bridle off, and brought it over to the black mare. He slowly and cautiously set the blanket on her, letting her get used to the feeling once more. Then he placed the saddle over it, but didn't buckle it. He waited a few minutes before, very slowly, starting to buckle the saddle.

It took a long time, but Leo had the mare in a saddle and bridle, and was sitting on her, walking her around the corral. Piper hadn't spoken a word the entire time. Leo looked up at her from where he had been leaning over in the saddle, watching the mare's feet.

"She'll do, but I'm keeping my saddle and bridle."

Piper didn't nod or speak a word.

"Saddle up the mare."

"First of all, I don't take orders from you. Second of all, give her a name," Piper told Leo.

"The Mare."

"The Mare," Piper echoed.

"Yes. Mare. Now go on, saddle her up."

Piper grumbled a few words under her breath, but got out a saddle blanket, bridle, and saddle, and did what Leo had told her to do. She stuck her right foot in the right stirrup and swung up onto Mare. She sat on the saddle for a moment, just petting the horse.

Leo gave the black mare a kick in the flank and disappeared from the barn. Mare took off after her owner before Piper could even react.

Piper caught up with Leo in a clearing in the forest. He was sitting on the mare, and she was standing still, her neck stretched out to the ground to munch on the grass. He was staring at something. Piper rode up beside him and saw what he was looking at. She sighed.

"What is it?"

"It's a wedding arch."

"For…"

"Yes, for me," Piper sighed. "Long ago, it was for my husband and I…"

"You and…"

"Gordon, yes…"

"It's so worn…" Leo whispered.

"It was very beautiful a long time ago..." Piper got off of Mare and touched the arch, running her hand along its curves and twists and edges. It was hand-carved of wood, painted white, though the paint was chipped and mostly gone. "Ouch." She pulled her hand away quickly, revealing a splinter in one of her fingers. She pulled it out. "But...beauty never lasts…" she sighed, holding the small chip of wood up in front of her eyes.

Leo watched her silently, trying to imagine what had happened to her. He knew all of the details that he could gather, and what he picked up from Piper, but some facts about that failed marriage were unclear to him. He didn't ask. She would tell him in time.

Piper looked up at him. "What are you thinking about?" she asked quietly.

His gaze snapped to her face. "…I was thinking…about you and Gordon…"

"Oh." She looked down. She thought about everything she had to go through with that man. All the pain he caused her and the ones she loved…Tears formed in her eyes. Tears of anger.

In a sudden burst of hate and rage, Piper kicked the base of the arch, where it went into the ground. She screamed as she did it, and kicked it again and again.

Leo jumped to the ground and grabbed Piper by her shoulders when she started throwing her fists at the arch. She twisted and squirmed and screamed at him to let her go. He managed to turn her around to face him, holding her wrists to keep her from hitting him. Her screams were suddenly sobs as she still vainly tried to flail and jerk her fists out of his grasp. Tears soon started to creep down her face, and she slowly stopped fighting him. He slowly pulled her against his chest.

Piper's screams and fusses were sobs, and she cried, somewhat involuntarily leaning against Leo. She mumbled a few things about Gordon, about her rage, but nothing more. He held her head against his chest and tried to quietly calm her down.

Her sobs slowly turned to sniffles. From there she was quiet, just leaning against Leo's chest. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "I can hear your heart…"

He kissed the top of her head on impulse, but she didn't pull away. "Under all of that?" he asked, referring to the fact that his long coat was closed.

"Yes."

Piper looked up slowly. Her eyes caught his and she was unable to move. Before anything could happen, he pulled away. She closed her eyes, irritated, and he mounted his horse. He smiled slightly.

All in good time.

I know, it was short for the length of time I made you guys wait. Did ya find the spoiler? Did ya? Did ya? Did ya? Should I shut up? Should I? Okay. I will.

Don't forget to R&R! I--I mean...The purpleish-blue box loves it!