With a groan I pushed myself up from the dirt by my elbows, dust settling as my horse Thunder lowered his jet black head towards me pushing my long black hair away from my face. "Yeah I'm okay but next time warn me when you're going to stop that fast." I sighed as I climbed to my feet only to hear a chuckle and I whirled around to find a man standing near the fence grinning at me as I dusted myself off.

"Don't know why you even have a horse, missy if you ride like that." He laughed until I stormed over him and he blinked when I came to halt a foot from where he was standing narrowing my eyes inches from his face.

"The name's Miss Mia Davis and for your information I could ride circles around you." I snapped at him and he raised an eyebrow, watching with a smirk as Thunder snorted. "Welllll...maybe not circles." I added though judging by the grin he had I'd already said too much.

"The name's Grayson, Mr Grayson to you. How much do you wanna bet on beating me?" He asked me and I groaned, trying to think of a response. "Judging from your clothes you don't look like you have a penny to your name." He added which caused me to look down at my dusty brown pants with a frown, noting that I'd ripped the hem when I'd slipped off Thunder.

"Like I care what you think." I grumbled back, climbing onto Thunder's back and as he trotted past the arogant man he stepped up beside Thunder who paused giving the man a snort. "Do you mind moving or do you want Thunder to stomp you into the dust?"

"That's a fine looking stallion you have there. Never seen one like that before. How about this? Instead of giving me your money, what little you have anyway, how about when I beat you you give me that horse." He suggested and my blue eyes widened my horse giving him the same blank stare. "Then it's a deal."

"Oh no. There's no way I'm giving you Thunder. Not for all of the money in the world." I finally managed to growl and he just crossed his arms staring at me.

"Oh so now you're too scared to race me?" Mr Grayson laughed and I growled at him, gritting my teeth while Thunder wondered if he should stomp the arrogant man into the dirt. "Don't worry I'll give you one of my horses if I somehow lose. Heck I'll even give you a whole week to practice though it won't do you any good."

"All right already. I will race you but in a week." I finally replied, leaning over enough to shake his hand and he grinned at me giving my hand a shake before he smirked at me. As soon as he walked away I groaned rubbing at the bridge of my nose as Thunder rolled his eyes at me fixing me with two grey eyes until I sighed. "Don't worry, Thunder. I promise that by the end of the week he'll wish he'd never even made a bet with me."

Though that soon changed when I heard a horse whinny and when Thunder turned his head I looked over at a mustang who stared at me. "That wasn't a smart move." His rider told me and I sighed as Thunder started to walk towards the hotel until the mustang's rider shook her head and I rolled my eyes gently tugging on Thunder's reins.

"Why not? I'm Mia Davis by the way." I asked her and she hopped off her horse's back, patting his nose before she turned her attention to me. "Other than being a jerk I don't see what the problem is."

"That was Mr Grayson and he's a colossal jerk. Believe me I've had more than a few run ins with him. I'm Lucky by the way." She said and I just shrugged, sliding down from Thunder's back only to catch my foot in one of his stirups and when I landed hard on my backside Lucky tried to stifle a laugh.

"Yeah so I'm not great but I can beat that jerk any day." I protested and Thunder rolled his eyes at me waiting until I climbed to my feet before he nudged me. "I didn't mean to make a bet with him but he made me so angry I just..." I trailed off when Thunder snorted at me looking at Lucky and her mustang who snorted at me.

"Bet your own horse?" Lucky answered and I just nodded the reality hitting home that I'd just bet and risked losing my best friend to a man I'd only just met. "Why did you do that? I wouldn't let anyone try and take Spirit from me."

"I don't know okay!" I snapped standing beside Thunder who nuzzled me my anger at being tricked so easily plain on my face. "He insulted my clothing and my riding and I just let my temper get the best of me. Wouldn't be the first time too." I finally muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

"So how good are you at riding?" Lucky asked and after a pause I shrugged. "Since I saw you fall twice I'm guessing you're still getting used to riding?"

"Truthfully I am. I've only had Thunder since my twenty-first birthday a month ago. I moved to Miradero less than a day ago and I've already learned that some people are jerks no matter where they come from." I explained as I followed Lucky and Spirit through the town. "I used to live in the city but I wanted to get out and explore the world. My parents weren't exactly thrilled so I promised I'd come back after a week if I couldn't make it on my own."

"Don't worry about it. I can teach you how to ride if you want." Lucky suggested and I nodded secretly hoping that I'd be more than capable of beating Grayson in a race after a week of practice. Little did I realize it wouldn't be quite so easy to master riding in a week...