Chapter 3.

AN: I love the emails and reviews. but one is especially important. someone emailed me about editing my stories and I accidentally deleted it! So if you could please email me again! I'd appreciate it. I think you said your story was called Drafted...if that makes any sense email me again! And everyone else can too. :)

Hi, okay. chap 3 is much longer than ch.2 thanx to all your reviews

READER'S READ THIS!!!!

Reader's Resource: In this chapter Rory and Tristan go to a polo match- this is what you need to know...

The game polo was introduced to England in 1869, but for the purposes of this story, we're going to say it was there 300 years earlier. The game has 4-6 chukkers (periods- whether it's 4 or 6 depends on the tournament). Each chukker is 7 minutes long. 4minute intervals are allowed between chukkers for players to change horses.

The half time intermission in ten minutes long. And the people stomp in the divots at that time. In this story we're going to say there is 6 chukkers! Thanx!That will help you understand the story a lot better! lol. On with the show!!!

Rory looked around in awe as Tristan helped her out of the cab. The crowd was thick with people. Men in their dashing suits and women in beautiful dresses chatting contently surrounded her. Rory held tightly to Tristan's hand as she observed the crowd, not wanting to get lost in the chaos. Tristan smiled as her grip tightened, and slid an arm around her waist protectively. Rory noticed how hard she was holding onto him and loosened up. "Sorry I was just..." She trailed off as she finally caught sight of the enormous field in front of her.

"Wanted to cut off my circulation?" He smirked, feigning injury. Rory just smirked. "No wait I know! You just couldn't bare to not be touching me so you felt you had to hold my hand, I'm truly touched Rory." He babbled away, sticking his nose up in the air. This time Rory spoke up, and jerked her hand away.

"No Mr. Egoman! I just didn't wan t to get lost is all. Don't let you head swell up to much or we won't be able to fit your head back through the door. "She smirked back. Just then a man ran though the crowed and passed the couple. Rory practically jumped and then blushed furiously when she realised she was in Tristan's arms once again. He smiled as she unwrapped her arms around him and he put his arm round her waist for comfort, and they both turned their attention to the game.

Twenty minutes later, the two were seated in their seats, watching the second chukker intently. Henry's team was winning so far, but it was still very early in the game so they weren't getting cocky yet. Tristan and Rory gasped and then laughed when a player from their team was suddenly knocked off his horse. He embarrassingly walked his horse back to the side and another player quickly jumped onto his horse and took his place on the field. Rory couldn't help but notice who it was, and both of their laughter ceased when they realised the person's identity.

Charles.

They sighed simultaneously and looked at each other. "Well it could be worse." He tried to cheer her up.

"It's fine, I don't hate the guy. It's just that I don't want to marry him, and I don't want to give him the wrong idea."

"I understand." He nodded. A few minutes later the second chukker was up, and Rory and Tristan decided to take a walk to stretch their legs before the next chukker began.

"So any sign of Mr.Karington?" She asked nonchalantly.

"No, thank goodness. Well, not yet at least."

"You don't want to see her?"

"I didn't come here to see her did I?" He asked, looking at her. Rory smiled and looked away, understanding.

"Ah, I see." By now the game was about to start, so they started the way back to their seats. "So, where are you from. Why don't you ever talk about your home?" She asked suddenly.

"Not much to tell I guess." He looked away.

"What do they do?"

"My father is in business, so mostly I just stay in and help him out." Tristan said, looking away at the trees in the distance.

"Really?"

" It's starting." He said suddenly as the whistle blew. The teams came out again and they were off. The two people turned their attention back to the game.

"And now, we'll perform a tradition that has lasted almost as long as the game itself, the stomping of the divots! So everyone gather in, and just push them in, do something for this field!" The burly announcer called. This was Rory's favourite part, and soon Tristan and her were having a contest to see who could stomp the most in. They giggled and laughed as they stomped one after another, and even more when Rory got her foot stuck in one and Tristan had to help her out. The other's around them quickly caught site of the two and smiled knowingly, and clapped when the whistle blew, as if thanking them for their performance. They smiled at each other and turned towards where there seats were when Rory heard someone behind them.

"Rory!" Charles yelled from his place on his horse.

"Hi Charles!" She waved and yelled back.

"Come over here at the next break okay?!" He yelled, smiled furiously.

"Okay!" She reluctantly called back. Tristan giggled at her as they ran back to their spots. "Oh be quiet, I don't even want to hear it." She warned, knowing what he wanted to say.

"Wasn't going to say anything." He lied as he stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged.

"I don't want to go." She humphed as they made their way over to him quickly after the next chukker.

"I know, but you promised." He said in a sing-song voice.

"I know I know." She tried to smile as Charles walked toward her.

"Rory! Good to see you." He said as he kissed her hand politely. They stood beside a long row of horses, eager to get out onto the field. Tristan stood to the side. He couldn't describe the feelings inside him. The way his guts twisted when he took her hand, but he smirked and made a mental note to tease her about this later, and watched the interaction intently. "So, what do you think of the game so far?"

"Well you guys are winning so I suppose that's a good thing." She giggled. "These horses are beautiful!" She said as she gently petted the horses smooth face.

"Yeah, this ones name is Indigo. My cousin named her."

"Aw, that's so cute. Hi Indigo. You sure are beautiful." She said as she rubbed her soft mane.

"You want to take a quick ride?" Charles asked hopefully. "We have a few minutes."

"Oh, I'm not much of a rider." Rory admitted.

"Oh, come on, you'll be fine." Charles said as he untied the horse. Tristan tried to conceal his laughter as he lifted Rory onto the horse, saving her from having to be lifted by Charles. She grinned and sat on the seat.

"I look ridiculous." She stated embarrassingly.

"You look great." The men said simultaneously then looked at each other. Charles tuned back to Rory, "You feel okay?"

"Yah, I feel fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!" She screamed as indigo ran through the open fence. She galloped and galloped and Rory screamed and screamed at the top of her lungs. The men stared after her in shock, finally breaking out of their reverie when she yelled an piercing " HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!" Tristan quickly and swiftly jumped onto another horse nearby. Charles tried to hop on to another but just then the next chukker began and all the horses galloped out onto the field. Leaving Charles behind Tristan quickened the pace on the horse, until he was close to Rory. She screamed and held on with all her might. She turned her head quickly when she saw Tristan gallop up next to her. "Tristan help!" She yelled over the sound of thundering hoofs.

"Rory, you have to trust me!" He yelled.

"I do, I do, just get me off this thing!" She screamed.

"Try to stand up." He told her. Rory, still holding tight to the reigns stood up a little. "Now lean over her a little." Rory leaned over cautiously and lost her footing. She screamed in fright but her screams were last when a strong arm flung her over it's horses. She grabbed Tristan's waist and held on, tightly wrapping her legs around the horse's stomach, grateful for the support. Tristan smiled and grabbed the others horse's reigns, slowly pulling both to a stop just before the woods started. Rory loosened her hold when realised that they had stopped. Tristan untangled himself from her arms and hopped off, quickly tying the reigns to a nearby tree, then went for Rory. She still had the distressed look of her face. Her dress was wrinkled and sat awkwardly on her, and her hair looked like it had just been through a tornado. He lifted her down by the waist and brushed some of the hair away from her face.

"Are you okay?" He asked, breathing heavily.

"Yah, I think so." She tried to smile. She took the pin out of her hair and let the rest of it fall down her back. She brushed all the dirt off her dress and straightened it out then looked back to Tristan. He had this concerned and relieved look on his face. "Are you okay?" She asked, gently touching his face. He grabbed her and hugged her fiercely. "Tristan?"

"I was just so scared. You could have died." He whispered into her hair.

"I'm okay, and your okay, so let's..." They pulled away to look at each other. Rory smiled. He looked so scared before, but now he seemed so content and...happy. "just take a walk or something." She finished.

"Okay, walk is good."

"Key word there is walk. No riding please." She giggled. He laughed and held her hand as they walked. "So how did you learn how to ride like that in an office." She asked incredulously.

"I don't know."

"Well, you sure can ride, so I just wanted to ask..."

"I don't know. I must of taken lessons I guess. Are you sure your okay?"

"Yah, I'm sure." She smiled. The couple started to walk towards the lake and stood at the edge. Rory looked up at Tristan, and he looked down at her. "What are you looking at?" He chuckled.

"You. Thanks for what you did back there."

"Your welcome, it really was no problem." He stood square to her. "I'm just glad your okay now."

"I am." He smiled and looked into her eyes. Maybe it was the way they stood, or the drama before, maybe it was just the way he needed her right then, but he found himself leaning in. And then so did she. And then they heard the thumping of thundering hoofs. Rory looked down embarrassingly and Tristan looked to see who it was. Charles hopped off his horse and ran over to Rory.

"Oh my word, Rory Darling, are you alright. You gave me a fright!" He said as he took her hands.

"I'm fine. Tristan got me off the horse alright." She said softly.

"Thank you Tristan really."

"It's no trouble at all." He stated calmly. No trouble at all... "Rory we should probably get back home."

"I suppose we should." She agreed.

"I'll come along. We don't want anymore run offs do we?"

"No definitely not." She agreed again and the three walked towards their horses. Rory and Tristan locked eyes for a minute and smiled at each other, a silent understanding.

AN: Okay, Well, I'll leave it there for now. It seemed like an appropriate place to stop it. Okay? Well...drop me a line to tell me how you feel! C ya next time.