Just a note to the reviewers that have been asking if I am finished yet. No I am not finished with this story, infact, I think this might be a rather long story so I'm sorry to those who like a fast story that ends a few chapters after it begins. I do hope you all continue to R&R though, and thanks for your support. Onto chapter 14.

Chapter 14: Horseracing Festival

Dante got up and rubbed Night down. Night was full of energy today, a good thing too; it was already time for the horseracing festival. Dante didn't enter last year because he feared the horse was too young and might go lame on him if he pushed it too hard. Now Night was a strong horse that could pull a carriage if need be, he was a stallion and after today would be a prized stud. Dante saddled the horse up and led it to the front of the farmhouse.

Elli was inside making the beds and sweeping; she was very clear about being clean, the farmhouse was always tidy with her around. Elii and himselfhad talked about the wedding for a time; he asked her if she was sure she wanted to be a housewife to him, there was nothing exciting about it in his mind, butshe was certain and she assured him of it. As soon as Elli saw Dante she ran towards him and entrapped him in a hug, she really did love him. Dante hugged her back and she led him to the table. He sat and ate a great breakfast that Elli had prepared; she was a great cook.

Elli and marriagegot him to thinking that he wouldsoon need help on the farm, he was having a hard time finding time to be with her after he had done everything that was required around the farm. He needed help, help that he hadn't found yet.

Dante had found a book at the library that had told him about the Harvest Sprites, he read the whole thing and knew where and when he could find them and ask for their help. Hoggy, Nappy, Timid, Bold, Aqua, Chef, and Staid. Dante could ask them at any time to take care of the animals on his farm or to help him water or harvest the crops. Dante loved tending to his crops and harvesting them, he needed help with caring for the animals though, not because he didn't enjoy it, it just took too much time from him, time he should be spending with Elli. Buthe apparently could not ask the Harvest Sprites to help him in Spring, and if he planned toask them this summer he had to have a supervisor for them, someone who would be willing to work on the farm with them and make sure they all got through the day and to make sure that they are paid for the days work, they enjoyed being paid in eggs or food which Dante was sure he could spare, but where to find someone who was not too busy to help him perminantly?

Dante forgot about the farm while he ate and he enjoyed the meal, Elli's cooking was greatand he intended to hire Chef to help her with the meals she would have to produce to feed a helper, the Sprites, their family and themselves. Aqua would be hired to help Elli clean the house and farmyard; he loved to decorate and plan things. Dante ate and gave Elli a kiss; he then went outside to take Night to the horse racing festival.

Night was happy to be there and Fable enjoyed being around the young kids of the village as well. Night was taken to his place in the stalls and was ready to race. Dante went and talked to a few villagers before the race. All the people from the town were routing for him, he had their support and he would use it to his full advantage.

"Jockeys to your horses" Called the announcer.

Dante went and got onto Night, he whispered into Nights ear the whole time the Mayor announced the racers, Night was ready to go.

BANG

The gun sounded and the horses were off, Dante pulled to the lead quite easily and maintained a steady pace for the stallion. Night held the pace easily and ran like the wind, not nearly as fast as the stallion could if necessary. Dante was in the lead when one rider caught up, Dante turned to see who the jockey was and what his horse could do. Dante looked at the horse, then at the Jockey, the jockey was looking at him. They locked eyes and Dante halted, his mind spun...

Something about those eyes is so familiar, yet they are different, but so familiar.

One more look at he Jockeys eyes asthey looked back gave Dante a chill and a flashback

'Running, running fast, eyes following, not those eyes, ones like it, loving eyes, hateful eyes, confused and unwanted, loved and adored eyes'

Dante pulled himself out of the trance and found he was last and the horse was at a trot. Dante heeled the stallion forward as fast as it would go, and Night ran like the wind itself; as fast as the night he had found Elli at the botom of Mother's Hill. Night ran past all the other horses and caught up to the jockey that was in the front. The jockey was the jockey Dante was in the lead with prior to his head trauma; the one with those eyes… Dante heeled Night forward faster, he caught up to the jockey and they both pushed their horses to the finish line. It was a dead tie, no one could tell who had won, and even Dante was not sure.

The announcer called another round, but for this one they had to ride bare-backed. Dante knew how to dothat more than he knew himself, he also knew that Night could win this one easy, as long as Dante kept himself focused.

BANG

The gun sounded and Dante and Night flew into the lead leaving a trail of dust behind them. Dante was the wind, he could race it and dance with it like this, if for only a moment, he felt really alive, he could sense everything around him and yet he could focus on nothing but him, his horse, and the red tape that marked the finish line.Night raced like the otherhorsewas on his heels; he passed the finish line and turned Night around. He and Night trotted back looking for the other rider; they found him. The horse was nowhere to be found, and the Jockey was on the ground holding his arm in tears.

"Help me, I plead you…help me" The rider looked to be panicking.

Dante got the rider onto Night's back with him and went to find the doctor. The Doctor was found and saw to the jockey's wounds. The Jockey could not go home for a while; he would have to be taken care of. Dante offered for him to stay at the farm, he would arrange for a bed to put in the spare room that would be for his child when it got older.

On the way home the Jockey introduced himself as Dan, hesaid he was a travelling Jockey; it was how he made his money. Dante accepted the story, maybe that was how he knew him, and they competed a while ago. Dante figured he must have been a horse rider when he was younger, it was as though he was born on horseback, he could steer a horse with hisknees and could ride like an expert. Dante didn't bother to ask how he might have known him, he was not entirely sure he did. But there was something about his eyes that sent shivers down Dante's back.

Whenhe had gotten Dan into the spare room he went and informed Elli of the events. She was willing to help him. Dante told her he had to go out to the mountains tomorrow and chop wood and that he would be out all day. Elli offered to take care of Dan for the day; she would feed him and help him around.

Cliff was going to help out on the farm tomorrow; hesaid he would take care of the farm for some extra money. Dante was glad for the help and paid him in advance. Dante would have a very long day tomorrow, he would take Fable and Night to help him. The wood would make another house for the new helper that would supervise the Sprites as they worked. There was plenty of room on one part of the farm so that another house could be built, equal in greatness to Dante's, Dante was even thinking about getting a second story put on his own house soon; The Goddess knew he had the money, that was something he was not short of.

Well I've fixed this one up to the best of my ability, sorry for the sloppyness