With my head resting on Grayson's shoulder I sighed and Grayson chuckled, a smirk on his lips when I raised an eyebrow at him. "What's so funny?" I asked, lifting my head when he just laughed.
"You have the silliest grin on your face right now, Mia." Grayson pointed out and I fixed him with a blank stare until he leaned in, kissing me full on the mouth. When we broke apart he took one look at my face and even when he sniggered I didn't even care.
"Whatever you say, Harlan." I replied with a sigh resting my head back on his shoulder and he grinned, resting his head on top of mine after a pause. "You can tease me as much as you want but I know I saved your life." I pointed out as Grayson draped his arm around my shoulders.
I couldn't even remember closing my eyes but I woke as soon as I heard footsteps. As soon as I raised my head I found a blanket draped around my shoulders and I sighed, noting that Grayson wasn't sitting beside me anymore.
"Mia, why are you sitting on the porch?" Lucky asked and I lifted my head wrapping the blanket fully around me. When I lowered my head she offered me a tiny smile. "Grayson came by didn't he?"
"He was here but he must have left when I fell asleep." I replied, pushing myself up with one arm and as I slowly made my way towards the door Lucky quickly stepped forward opening the door for me. "Thanks." I muttered, stepping through the doorway and as I made my way back to the couch Lucky exchanged a shrug with Pru and Abigail who followed her inside the house.
As I made myself comfortable on the couch Lucky walked over watching in silence as I draped the blanket over my legs. "One minute he's so kind to me and the next? He just leaves me on my own." I whispered, fighting back tears as my friends stood beside the couch. "Maybe he's just using me until he finds someone better."
"Mia, no one in their right mind would want Grayson." Pru pointed out and Lucky rolled her eyes at her friend. "Except you, Mia." She corrected and I snorted, covering my face with my blanket.
"Grayson really does like you." Abigail offered and I sighed still hidden under the blanket until Lucky pulled it down enough to uncover my face.
"He just has a funny way of showing it. One minute he's thanking me for saving him and taking a bullet for him and the next...he leaves." I answered, fiddling with the blanket. "I don't get what he wants."
"Mia, he probably had to work. Besides he left this note but you must have missed it." Lucky pointed out, handing me a piece of paper folded over. I stared at the paper until I finally plucked up enough courage to unfold it and my friends leaned in.
Noting how closely they were watching me I rolled my eyes, looking at the note before I looked up. "Grayson said he'd come past tonight to see me. Surprised if he does show up." I explained, folding the note back up before I slipped it under my pillow.
"He'll show up, Mia." Lucky answered and I nodded not totally convinced as I waited patiently for night to come. When I heard footsteps I looked towards the door a smile on my face though as soon as Jim and Kate Prescott entered the house I frowned, taking the note I'd pulled out from under the pillow before I crumbled it up.
"I should have know he wouldn't be here. Why lie to me after everything I did?" I muttered, dumping the note on the table as Jim closed the door looking at Lucky with a raised eyebrow.
"Grayson told Mia he was going to come past and see her. But he never showed up." Lucky explained and Kate looked over to see me lying back staring up at the ceiling with my arms crossed against my chest.
"Typical Grayson." Pru agreed but Abigail looked thoughtful and Pru blinked as she broke int a smile. "What are you planning?"
"If Grayson won't come here we should bring Mia to him." Abigail suggested and everyone stared at her until she sighed. "What?"
"That's a good idea, Abigail. Maybe tomorrow we can head out to Grayson's ranch." Lucky suggested and Kate sighed, shaking her head at the trio.
"Mia needs her rest, Lucky. Otherwise her injury won't heal." Kate replied and the PALS all nodded though when she left the room heading for the kitchen with Jim in tow I saw Lucky with a faint smile on her lips.
Even though I wasn't happy about Grayson leaving me when I fell asleep I brightened at the thought of his face once he saw me riding onto his ranch with the PALS and our horses. Though the very next morning after breakfast I was beginning to think we wouldn't be able to sneak out especially with Kate and Jim still in the house.
"I don't think this is going to work." I pointed out, the blanket folded beside me and Lucky just grinned still very convinced we'd be able to leave without anyone knowing. It wasn't until Kate and Jim headed for the kitchen with the dishes from this morning's breakfast in their hands that I saw Jim giving me a wink and I blinked, confused.
"I asked Dad and after some convincing he said that Grayson probably got distracted by work. Besides he said if we're careful and you take your time we should head to Grayson's ranch." Lucky explained, helping me from the couch and with a one-armed shrug and a faint grin I followed the PALS towards the front door.
The moment I stepped into the warm sunshine outside I heard a familiar whinny and I grinned as Thunder raced over to me only stopping inches from the porch.
"Yeah I missed you too, boy." I laughed as he pushed at my chest and I rested my head on his forehead. "Want to go for a ride?" I asked him and he nodded, snorting though when I started to head down the steps I stumbled and he leaned in close enough to catch me.
"Whoa there. Still a little wobbly huh?" Lucky commented as I draped my arm around Thunder's neck and I let out a breath. "Maybe we should wait."
"I'm already here, Lucky and besides I want to see Grayson as much as I know he wants to see me. Besides I'll be fine once I'm on Thunder's back." I insisted as we made our way to the barn to grab our riding gear.
Putting on Thunder's bridle and saddle was the easy part though getting onto Thunder's saddle proved a little more difficult. In the end Thunder knelt and with a little more effort I climbed onto the saddle using my one good arm to hold onto his reins and Thunder snorted carefully making his way outside the barn. Once outside he looked at me and I sighed, patting his snout as the PALS followed us and as we headed for Grayson's ranch I let out a breath surprised I could feel that worn out from just climbing onto my horse's saddle.
"Guess I'm still not fully recovered." I pointed out and Pru fixed me with a raised eyebrow as Thunder walked beside Chica Linda. "I know I rushed things but I just wanted to see Harlan." I answered in a small voice, cringing at how needy I sounded but no one commented. We took much longer to reach Grayson's ranch because Thunder had to pick his way carefully around every tree branch and rock in our path while the PALS' horses just leapt over them.
"Sorry it's taking so long to get there." I apologized, wincing at the ache in my arm as Thunder slowed once he felt me tremble. "Still a little sore."
"Maybe we should go back, Mia." Lucky suggested and I sighed, peering off into the distance to see if I could spot Grayson's ranch in the distance. Once I realized we had barely passed Skull Rock I lowered my head chewing my lip when Spirit slowed enough to walk beside Thunder.
"I'm not feeling the best right now, Lucky. Guess it was too soon to go for a ride." I agreed, Thunder turning around after I lightly tapped his flank. We made our way back and I lowered my head my eyes filling with tears from the pain radiating from the area around my gunshot wound. Once we arrived back at the barn I slid off Thunder's back only preventing myself from hitting the ground by grasping Thunder's saddle and as I led him back into the stable my friends looked at each other.
"I just know that the PALS think I'm dumb for wanting to talk to Grayson." I muttered, having removed Thunder's saddle and after I set it down I eased myself onto the floor in his stall. Thunder just snorted standing at my side. "I took a bullet for that man and he just leaves me behind again." I whispered, my voice cracking and Thunder stepped forward. Pulling myself up I buried my face in his neck my tears falling onto his neck as I sniffed.
After my tears finally dried I lifted my head and Thunder nuzzled my face, staring at me until I finally let out a breath cracking a sad smile at him. "I'm going to be fine, Thunder. From now on I'm not going to let anyone upset me. Besides I should be focusing all of my energy on letting my arm heal. Then we can go riding as much as we want." I promised Thunder who whinnied, nudging me and I managed a faint laugh.
"You okay in there, Mia?" Lucky asked, poking her head into the barn and I just nodded hoping that the PALS couldn't see my red eyes. If they did they didn't mention it and I felt a little better as they joined me in the stable. We spent time just talking about riding and the racing academy before I finally let out a yawn not realizing just how tired even the short ride had made me.
"You really should be sleeping." Pru said, helping me up when I wobbled and I nodded breathing a little heavier than usual as we walked the short distance to Lucky's house.
"Just walking's tiring me out." I agreed, my legs trembling and Thunder stepped close enough that I could reach out and grasp his mane. Together we made it to the front porch even with me panting like I'd run the entire length of Miradero before I stumbled on the first step, only stopping myself when Thunder pushed his head in my path.
Leaning on him I felt myself shaking at my close fall and Lucky nodded at Pru and Abigail who helped me climb the steps. Easing myself onto the rocking chair I let out a sigh, closing my eyes for a few seconds. At least that's what I thought until I cracked open my eyes to find a pair of brown eyes staring at my face. Once I lifted my head I figured out who they belonged to and I groaned, shifting over enough to allow Harlan Grayson to take a seat beside me.
Noting the way I was staring at him silently Harlan's lips curled into a grin. "Before you get mad at me I was busy yesterday and when I finished working it was too late to come visit ya." Grayson explained and I tilted my head to one side still silent as I chewed my lower lip. "I doubt the Prescott's would like it if I knocked on their door near midnight, Mia." He added and I just sighed, shifting close enough to rest my head on his shoulder.
"I was starting to think you didn't like me, Harlan." I replied and he just chuckled, draping his arm around my shoulder. "I tried to come and visit you too but I barely made it past Skull Rock. Can't even ride Thunder right now." I explained and he blinked, grimacing when I sniffed.
"Mia, you need to let your arm heal, you got shot remember?" Grayson pointed out and I coughed, swallowing my tears as he gave me a one-armed hug. "Now what have those girls been sayin' about me?"
"Nothing bad, Harlan." I answered, content to rest my head against his but he just raised an eyebrow at me and I lifted my head with a sigh. "You're not going to leave it alone are you?" I asked him getting an immediate nod and a grin and I rolled my eyes. "Fine. They said that I should come and visit you but I tried that today and I barely reached Skull Rock before my arm started to hurt."
"You came by?" Grayson asked, blinking when I rubbed at my eyes and once he saw how red they were he let out a breath. Reaching over he wrapped his fingers around mine, lightly patting my hand with the other. "Mia, I don't want you getting hurt again. You know I wouldn't forget ya."
"Like today? I found the note you left but you never showed up." I pointed out, still hurting from his failure to show up at the Prescott's and my own failed attempt at reaching his ranch.
"Mia, it was pitch black outside by the time I finished working for the day and I doubt Jim Prescott would be happy about me showing up that late." Grayson answered, holding both of my hands and after I stared directly at his eyes he fixed me with an embarrassed smile. "You know I can't keep myself away from you." He added leaning in close and I felt my face heat up when his lips brushed my forehead.
"I know how hard you work all by yourself with only Xerxes for company so I won't get angry. But you have to promise me that when my arm's all healed up you and me are going for a ride." I answered once I could tear myself away from his brown eyes and he nodded, noting with a smirk that my face was a bright shade of red.
"It's a promise, Mia." Grayson answered with a faint chuckle.
