A/N: Yes it's been taking me a while to get chapters up. But ya can't blame me. I have loads of homework to do from when I was sick. I still wanted to write, but my mom told me to do my homework. And here I am…typing up a chapter.

Chapter 3

Another Mare

"Hi, Esperanza." Lady Fire said with enthusiasm

"Hi…so what are your names?" Esperanza asked curiously.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Lady Fire; you can call me Lady for short. This was my friend in the Calvary. We'll now we aren't, but anyway she's Silver Tide. Silver for short."

"Oh, nice to meet you. Are you going anywhere?"

"We'll, I did have a herd once. I want to find them again, but I do need someone to stay with. What herd are you from?"

"I'm from the Cimmaron herd. Spirit lead it, but he got caught by the 2-leggeds saving us…" Esperanza hung her head a little lower.

"Spirit! He is the horse that set us free! I saw him gallop off!"

"Really! I hope he can find us again one day."

"I'm sure he will. So who is running your herd right now?"

"Oh, I am."

"Really? Do you mind…?" Lady Fire's voice trailed off.

"Not at all. Come meet the herd!"

So with Esperanza leading Silver Tide and I towards the herd, looking down from the high rise we stood on and saw for the first time Spirit's prized herd. The sun was setting in the west cast a golden glow on the land. We stood there, it was like time stopped and the moment hung suspended. We slowly walked down the rise everyone's head looking up at us in curiosity.

Esperanza then introduced the herd. I made a note in my head to remember them, but kept thinking back to my herd. I longed to be back with them again, probably as much Spirit is longing to find them. It was like I could see my dad Fire Light galloping, leading the herd with my mom, Ojos Verde galloping along side with him. Then there was me following behind, tossing my head in the heat of the moment. It was like I was there, without a care in the world, then I rapidly snapped back to reality, not realizing Silver Tide was talking to me.

"Lady? LADY!"

"Oh, what?"

"I asked if you liked it here?"

"Oh, yeah, it's great…"

"Lady, it'll be okay. Whatever's on your mind, I'm sure everything will turn out okay."

"Yeah, I guess…"

"Just try to be happy we have somewhere to stay. I hate seeing you like this."

I was happy we had somewhere to go, but the sadness weighed out the good. I just couldn't help feeling this way. The summer dragged on. I felt worse with each passing day. The lose of my herd was starting to overwhelm me. Then I found myself thinking more and more about Spirit: a profound love growing for him in my heart. I never told anyone of this, not even my best friend, Silver Tide. I didn't know what to feel anymore. Having sadness, love, anger, all mixing inside of me at the same time was frustrating. For the first time in my life, I felt my heart torn two ways.

The winter passed through with such horrible loneliness that ached in my heart. I thought it was going to be the same story for spring, but on one sunny day I was quietly grazing next to Silver Tide when a loud whinny shattered the cold silence. Everyone's head shot up. I saw Spirit and my heart skipped a beat. 'He's back! Now I can tell him…' but my thoughts were interrupted with the sight of a gorgeous looking paint standing next to him.

Her creamy white mane was tossing in the wind and her bright blue eyes sparkling brightly next to Spirit. Spirit galloped down with the mare and everyone greeted him with joyful neighs. He started to gallop, the mare by his side. I started to sob so I slowed to the back of the herd. 'How could this happen?' When Spirit finally found a resting spot he introduced the mare as Rain to the rest of the herd. Silver Tide and I also had to introduce ourselves to him. Quickly I wiped my face and swallowed the tears with a hard gulp.

After we made our introductions Spirit said, "It's great that you're in our herd! I'm so glad to meet you!" Then he looked over at me, "Have I seen you before?"

"Uh...probably at the Calvary."

"Oh! I remember you! I remember when I first saw you I thought—," then he stopped his sentence abruptly and looked over at Rain, "I though…that…uh you were wild before."

I responded, "Everyone at the Calvary was wild once before."

"Yeah…" Rain then gave him a look, "We'll when I first came there…I, uh, didn't know that. I gotta go." He said quickly.

Then Spirit quickly left with Rain. I thought I was about to start crying right then and there. I then trotted off, Silver Tide talking to another horse. I found a spot far from the herd to sleep and I lay down. I began to cry when a horse came walking up to me from behind me.

"Are you okay?" said a familiar voice.

"Spirit?"

"Yeah,"

I stood up and quickly wiped the tears from my face.

"What do you want?" I said sweetly.

"I heard someone crying so I thought I'd come over."

"Well, no ones crying…"

"What's wrong?" Spirit said softly.

"I…nothing."

"You can tell me."

"I…I…" Then I began to cry again. I laid down and Spirit laid down facing me.

"What?" Spirit said gently, "you can tell me anything."

"I…I…love you! You saved me and, and you helped me and your so sweet to me. The whole time you were gone I was thinking about you. The worrying for your life took over me. I've been so miserable. Then you came back with…a mare. I know it seems crazy because we only met in the Calvary, but I just…I don't know. My heart is leading me towards you, but forget it. You found…a mare"

"I…uh…" I looked at Spirit through the tears and he looked completely shocked.

"I shouldn't have told you this." Then I got up and started to leave.

"No! I mean, don't leave."

"You're with a gorgeous mare and you're crazy about her, there is no place for me."

"Don't leave, please."

"Why should I stay here?"

"I love you too."

A/N: Ooo the suspense! Sorry I know this is REALLY short, but it had to be done. Please review.