A/N: Before I start this chapter, I'd like to thank Beth for her two nice reviews. By the way, I read both your stories and loved 'em. Keep up the good work!


Chavez and Steve led Harry and Ron up the yard toward the barn. The smell inside it was incredible, a mixture of sweat, dust, horse manure, and old leather. The only other person inside was a slim man with short brown hair and brown eyes; he was dressed in corduroy pants, boots, and a leather vest layered over a Western shirt.

"You must be the new boys." he said. "Name's Dick."

Harry's eyes traveled over the double lines of horses tied to the support beams of the barn. They were all staring curiously at him. He suddenly found his voice. "What exactly are we going to do?"

Dick tossed Harry a strange instrument. It had a plastic handle with a dull, L-shaped metal blade. "Take this and start pickin' hooves. Red, tack 'em up. Charley'll help ya."

Harry bit his lip. "How do you pick hooves?"

"Run your hand down his leg and pinch the joint," Dick instructed. "Make sure you get all the rocks and shit out. If you don't, it'll go up through his hoof and make him lame."

Harry nodded and approached the first horse, a dappled pony. He noticed the placard on the support beam the horse was tied to. It bore the horse's name (Dime), its breed (pony), and its owner's name (there was none). Harry supposed the reason for the placards was so the horses could have assigned parking spaces.

Harry ran his hand along Dime's leg, pinching when he reached the joint. As if by magic, Dime lifted his hoof. After repeating the process three more times, he moved onto the next horse in line. This one was a bay with a white star on its forehead and one white foot. Its name was Sergeant Elias, he was a Morgan-quarter horse mix, and he belonged to Serena. Try as he might, Harry couldn't get Sergeant Elias to pick up his feet.

I hate this place, he thought angrily, sweat rolling down his face.

Ron wasn't having much more luck. He was trying and failing to pick up a saddle, which felt like it weighed at least fifty pounds. Charley took pity and carried it into the barn, stopping next to a sleek chestnut mare. Ron put the saddlepad on her back while Charlie demonstrated how to tie a lattigo knot.

Once all the hooves had been picked, Dick sent Harry to help Ron saddle and bridle the horses. Harry wiped sweat off his face with the bottom of his T-shirt. He began to wonder what time they'd be able to take a break. Surely it would be soon; Serena couldn't expect them to work all day long in this heat...

Nearly all the work was done when another man joined their number. He had a boyish face, ice blue eyes, and a mop of untidy blond hair. His suspenders, thermal shirt, and black corduroys looked as though they'd been slept in. He was also yawning.

"Don't tell me you've been in bed all this time!" Serena was back.

"I'm sorry," said Billy."I figured since we had new meat comin' in today, I could get a little extra rest. Ain't been sleepin' good lately. Maybe I got insomina."

"Maybe you're just hopelessly lazy," Dick muttered under his breath.

"For once, I agree with Dick." said Serena. "You better start haulin' your sorry ass outta bed in the morning or you ain't gonna have a job. Understand, Billy?"

Billy rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mother."

Serena pointed to Charley. "Get these guys on a horse." She waited until Harry and Ron were situated before placing her foot in the stirrup of Sergeant Elias's saddle, turning her foot out so she wouldn't poke him in the side. She grabbed the horn, swung herself aboard, and sat lightly in the saddle.

Harry was growing nervous. He'd never ridden a horse before, unless you counted the centaur Firenze who'd rescued him from the Forbidden Forest three years ago. How did you stop? Turn? Slow down?

He barely had time to ponder these questions. Serena was leading everyone out to the pasture where the cattle were grazing. They spent most of the afternoon in the pasture to check on cattle and get Harry and Ron used to riding. Later, they rode off the ranch and into the desert valley. Several horses spooked when a fat prairie chicken ran out of the brush, heading for the canyon.

"Hey, boys," said Billy. "That looks like supper to me. Let's rack out." He gave his palamino colt a kick, tearing after the chicken, whooping and yelling like a maniac.

Chavez, Dick, Steve, and Charley followed, not wanting to miss the fun. Serena and Sergeant Elias brought up the rear. Harry and Ron stayed behind. Eventually, the noise from the horses' thundering hooves and Billy's less-than-sane laughter faded away. The only thing to be heard for a long time was the growling that came from Harry and Ron's empty stomachs. Suddenly, gunfire erupted, then the horses cantered back up the field.

"Hot damn!" Billy cheered. Several dead prairie chickens were dangling from his saddle. "Stupid little bastard led us right to his whole family."

"Don't forget you're not the only one who shot somethin'," said Serena, who had dead poultry as well, plus a couple of rattlesnakes.

"We're sure gonna eat good tonight," smiled Dick.

Serena cut across the pack to stand at the front. "I'll race you to the house."

"You're on!" said Billy, never one to back down from a challenge.

Off they all rode into the setting sun.