AN: I would like to point out that I will be fixing the spelling errors in the first chapter. Thanks to my one and only reviewer kellyhorse. Again I don't own anything of the Ranger Apprentice saga. The only thing I own is Taryn and anything that you don't recognize. And know on to the story.

Updated 12/11/12: Just revised a few things in this chapter, I should be doing this to all the chapters so just hang in there. And thanks for reading!

After Ranger Crowley disappeared from sight, Taryn let loose a sigh of impatience. 'I never have enough time.' She thought as she started walking toward the barn. Opening the big double doors of the barn, she noticed her best friend and partner in crime, Jackson Conwell. Having known Jackson since her apprenticeship she wasn't surprised to see him at the barn before herself.

"Late again?" Jackson asked not even looking up from the bridle that he was oiling already knowing it was her.

"I was going to be on time this morning for once, but I was stopped by the Ranger Crowley." Replied Taryn as she crossed the length of the barn to reach the feed room.

Jackson finally glanced up from the finished bridle, "Ranger Crowley? Isn't he the commander of the Corps? What did he want with you, a lowly peasant girl turn horse trainer?"

"Ha Ha, very funny Jack, and yes he is by the way. He wanted me to come supervise the graduates this year, I really don't know why, as far as I knew the ranger apprentices all where suppose to be trained in riding by their mentors. I didn't really ask Crowley why he would want me and not old Bob; he normally does all the introductions between the horse and the new rider. We just train the horses and then pass them of to him for the finishing touches."

"Maybe Old Bob is sick or doesn't want to go this year, I don't know either" said Jack, walking over to the rack and hanging the finished bridle up before going to help her with the buckets of grain.

"Maybe Jack, maybe." Taryn replied with a grunt as she lifted one of the many feed sacks.

"Or maybe Ranger Crowley wants a refresher course done. You know how those Rangers are with their skills. Always practicing and trying to make it better." Jackson offered a grin as he followed Taryn out the door to the path that lead to the pasture gate.

"Whatever the reason being, I'm going to need you to help with the training while I'm away. Crowley said I would be gone about a week, maybe 10 day." As Taryn said this she stopped in front of the gate to the pasture and let loose a shrill two note whistle.

"Ouch, I wish you would warn me when ever you get ready to do that." Jackson complained, wincing from the sound and rubbing his ear at the same time.

"It gets your attention, so why should I warn you just so you can ignore it later." A smirking Taryn said as she waited to hear if the horses where coming. Soon enough the thunder started as eighteen horses in the pasture came running to be the first one to get fed.

"When is this Gathering?" asked Jackson as he fended of a feisty 4 year old trying to get the grain before he had put it in the feed trough.

"In three weeks time." Taryn said softly.

"THREE WEEKS! You'll never be done with even the basics in three weeks." Started Jackson. Not wanting to listen to a lecture on how to manage the time and training of sixteen 3 year olds, Taryn shot Jackson a glare the shut him up real quick.

"That's why I need your help with the training. I'll take eight and you take eight. I figured you would want the five geldings, so that leaves you with only three mares, and I'll train the rest." Concluded Taryn as she finished dumping the last of her buckets into one of three feed troughs in the pasture.

Glancing over at her best friend, she could see him thinking about the plan. After about 5 minutes of the only sound being the happy munching of grain, Taryn spoke up "Does that sound ok Jack?"

"Aye, I think it will be ok, I'll just have to rearrange my schedule a little to work the training times in, but I think it will be just fine. And thanks by the way for giving me the geldings to work with." Replied Jackson after a second or two.

"Your welcome. I remembered that you preferred to work with them verses the mares." Taryn said with a smile.

"Speaking of work, which horse are you taking to the Gathering?" Jackson asked while he rubbed the nose of the horse next to him.

"I hadn't really thought of it until know. I was thinking of taking Tonalea, she hasn't been worked in a while and actually doing something would be good for her." Replied Taryn. "But King's Storm also needs a little bit more experience as well, oh I just don't know who to take."

"So why don't you take both, you can put your belongings on King's Storm and ride Tonalea there and then on the way back switch the jobs, that way they both get worked." Offered Jackson.

"Jackson your brilliant! That way I won't have to worry about slacking off on Storms training and progress, and Tonalea will still get to be used." Taryn stopped and turned to give Jackson a hug before returning to the barn.

"Ya well, just doing my job to keep you happy and thanks again about the geldings. While this bunch is eating why don't we catch some breakfast as well. I'm starving." Jackson said trying to hint that he was hungery.

"Jackson. You're always starving." A laughing Taryn replied.

"Hey that's not true…." Taryn shot him a look. "Ok well maybe it is." He grinned sheepishly. Putting the buckets back in the feed room, and gathering up the empty grain sacks to put in the corner to reuse, Taryn stared back towards the cabin that Jackson and she shared. Glancing over at Jackson she asked, "So Mister Starving, what are we going to have for breakfast?"

AN: another chapter done. I decided to end here because I just could not figure out what to write about next. Hopefully the next chapter will be up by the weekend. And once again any and all reviews are welcome! Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed it.