A/N: YAY seven reviews already. Thanks so much guys. I hope you'll like the direction I take this story. Oh and btw, I know NOTHING about horses so if I screw a detail up please tell me. I got all my horse info from The Saddle Club and Pony Pals books lol. Sarah x

Troy, after tending to the every stall of the large stable usually had his lunch down near his and the other tenants cabins at the back of the estate. However, today all of Mr Montez's riders and trainers decided they'd do time trials down by the local race track and so it was Troy's job to warm up all the horses before they were taken by the riders. This process, seeing it was five horses which needed to be taken, took almost two and a half hours so Troy's lunch was delayed until the late afternoon, by which time he had to go feed all the horses in the stables again.

As soon as the sun had set and he said goodbye to Tobey it was now dinner time and Troy hadn't had his lunch as of yet. With his stomach grumbling and body aching from all his extra work today he trudged down the back path from the stables to a little clump of trees. Behind them was a long row of cabins, these were the workers quarters where the stable tenants, farmers, groundskeepers and some maids lived. The Montez's had a large employee base and Troy felt as if all of them were his family since he had grown up with most of them.

"Troy, how's it going?" A familiar voice called out from behind him and Troy grinned upon seeing his good friend Chad Danforth come bounding down the pathway, his bushy hair bouncing.

"Chad, how were the fields today?" Chad, like many other of the African-American workers, had to tend to the Montez's plantation, including his wheat and corn crops.

"Damn hot, I'll tell ya." The two chuckled, after shaking hands and made their way inside their cabin. Troy shared a room with his father, and then across from them was Chad's room which he had for himself and in the third room of their cabin was another African-American plantation worker and his Anglo Saxon wife. Troy admired Mr Montez for one thing, and his father agreed with this; he gave all the African-American workers a fair go, with a decent wage and living. He, unlike many of the rich estate owners in New Mexico, didn't treat them with prejudice or punishment yet to keep up appearances he gave them all jobs on the plantations. No one really complained though, they all knew their place and worked hard.

"When did your father leave?" Chad asked sitting on a nearby chair, Troy sitting opposite him.

"Last night, he won't be back for two weeks."

"Damn, well I know we'll all miss him. How were the stables today?"

Troy was about to explain his meeting with the Montez's beautiful daughter until two figures entered the cabin quarrelling.

"Ezekiel Baylor you know very well why I can't tell them!"

"You're going to have to eventually; you don't think they'll begin to notice your protruding stomach?"

Chad and Troy exchanged knowing glances as the couple who occupied the third room of their cabin sat at the table. It was Ezekiel Baylor or Zeke as they called him and his wife Sharpay who barely noticed Troy or Chad listening to them argue.

"Well I'm sure Mrs Montez doesn't pay attention to her wash maid. If she found out I'm pregnant we could be sent to the streets!"

Sharpay was a wash maid up at the main house and had been ever since she married Zeke five years ago. When they were both eighteen they married, much to the displeasure of many people who believed 'black' and 'white' didn't mix and these included her own wealthy parents. They then disowned their daughter who then began work where her husband did and Troy had become friends with them instantly. Despite their arguments over Sharpay's recent pregnancy they were a really loving couple and cared a lot for each other.

"My father will ensure that won't happen Sharpay." Troy entered the conversation and Sharpay and Zeke smiled at him gratefully. Troy knew Jack Bolton wouldn't allow Mr Montez to send them away, especially with a baby.

"Sorry for all the arguments, it's just I'm really nervous about this birth..."

"It'll be alright Shar...I promise." Zeke held her hand reassuringly and she managed to smile weakly back at him.

"Besides if they tried to do anything to you guys or the baby we'd have to hurt them." Chad tried to lighten the mood, believing he could take on the Montez's. Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"My hero. Well, I'm going to wash up. The cook says we're having mash and vegetables." Sharpay walked into the cabin's washroom as Chad groaned.

"And that's different to any other night how? I swear we need to hire another cook."

"Well I keep asking Troy's father for the position." Zeke added and Troy chuckled.

"Don't worry Zeke, I'm sure my father is going to get sick of mash soon and allow you to become the staff cook."

The bell was then rung from the mess cabin in which all the staff could eat or just collect their food and once they all returned to their cabin with their unappealing dinner and said grace the chatter began again. Zeke and Chad told them all of how a stray herd of sheep were found at the back of the wheat crops and nearly all of them had to round them up, much to Chad's dismay one bit him. Then Sharpay told them all of an argument she had overheard when hanging out the Montez's clothes this morning.

"Well, Mrs Montez was in the gazebo and she was yelling at her daughter. The poor thing..."

Troy frowned thoughtfully, he really didn't like Gabriella's mother. She seemed very controlling over her daughter.

"Her name's Gabriella." Troy randomly blurted out and all three of his friends jerked their heads up in confusion.

"How do you know that?" Chad asked, with his mouth full of food.

"Well she came down to the stables this morning to see her horse and—"

"You didn't talk to her did you Troy?" Sharpay asked anxiously and Troy winced.

"Uhh...maybe."

"Troy! You know you're not supposed to be seen by employers, let alone speak to them." Sharpay reminded him worriedly and Troy merely nodded.

" I didn't know who she was at first...she...I don't know ok? She was just easy to talk to, she didn't treat me like a stable hand."

Chad and Zeke exchanged glances and obliviously returned to their food, but Troy didn't like the way Sharpay was eyeing him so he excused himself and went outside of the cabin for some air. He couldn't stop this annoying queasy feeling he had in his stomach and he was sure it wasn't from the food, but from Gabriella. He hadn't seemed to get her out of his mind all day and it was a strange feeling for him. Having grown up on the estate with his father and the other workers he rarely came into contact with women unless you counted his brief relationship with one of the maids until she was fired. Gabriella, however, was a lady and the way she treated him as her equal and how polite she was with him made him strangely happy. Her beauty was another thing he'd never come across before and it took his breath away.

"Troy, are you alright?" Sharpay's voice came out from behind him and he smiled weakly. "I'm sorry for the lecture I gave you in there, I just don't want you to get into trouble."

"I understand, it's ok."

"Was Gabriella nice? All the staff in the house say she is very amiable."

"Yeah, she is. She loves her horse as well, I didn't know wealthy people could be so friendly."

Sharpay chuckled, "It's a select few I think can be wealthy and have a sweet disposition. My family was definitely not like that."

"I tried to not talk to her once I found out who she was but she was very persistent. She just was really easy to talk with, well it was going alright until her mother came along." Troy sighed annoyed and Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"That woman is impossible I tell you. How Gabriela turned out so sweet is beyond me. What'd the witch do?"

"Well Gabriella wasn't supposed to be in the stables before her lesson and she was angry with her for that and then she gave me the once over, and let's just say she was feigning politeness."

"Don't worry about her Troy. She's like that with all the staff, treats them like nobody's."

"Then she dragged her away..." He smiled sadly and Sharpay noticed the look in his eyes. She was like a mother to him and since she was older wanted to make sure he was alright. Softly she brushed some hair from his forehead and asked, "Troy...do you think you have feelings for Gabriella?"

Troy sighed and his heart ached again. He knew he wouldn't be able to lie to Sharpay, she was too smart.

"I...I think I might..."

"Troy...you do know nothing can come of it...right?"

Troy nodded in response, "I know...it's not like I'll be seeing her again. Don't worry Shar."

Sharpay chuckled, "It's my job Troy."

"Well, now you need to focus on my future godson..."

"Godson huh? You are just like Zeke...he wants a boy too. Well I better get back inside, I'm eating for two now." Sharpay smiled and squeezing his arm she went back inside.

Troy too was going to go back inside and try to forget Gabriella when a loud cough and sneeze came from the cabin terrace beside him. Standing outside, wrapped in a coat on this hot night was Danny, another stable hand.

"You alright Danny?" Troy asked and the man sneezed again.

"Yeah...just a cold. I better get going to stable duty anyway."

Troy then remembered it was Danny's turn to guard the stables that night but Troy knew it wouldn't do him any good to be sitting outside whilst he had a cold.

"Danny, don't worry about it. I'll do your shift tonight."

Danny shook his head, "No Troy, it's fine. You already had a full shift today."

"Nonsense. You'll be even more sick if you're out tonight and we can't afford to lose a stable hand. Go back inside, I'll see you in the morning."

Danny smiled, before coughing again, "Bless you Troy. See you tomorrow."

Troy went back inside the cabin and searched for his coat.

"Going somewhere?" Chad asked curiously as Troy emerged from his room with his coat on.

"Yeah, I'm taking Danny's shift on night watch...he's ill."

"But you already had a full day today, and an early morning tomorrow." Sharpay reminded him worriedly and he walked to the door.

"I'll be fine. It'll get my mind off of things." He knowingly looked at Sharpay who understood he meant Gabriella and he exited the cabin, making his way up to the stables.

----

Gabriella couldn't get to sleep that night. She was continually tossing and turning in her sheets and her mind seemed to be wandering elsewhere. Frustrated she opened her eyes, watching as her curtains blew from the breeze coming from her open balcony window. Perhaps it was because of the fight she and her mother had had at dinner.

They'd been sitting at the table, eating silently until Anita exclaimed she had great news. Gabriella curiously asked what it was and she was sourly disappointed. Her mother had invited Ryan Evans II to come join them for vacation as soon as her father returned home and Gabriella was less than enthusiastic. Then she and her mother had another argument about a possible betrothal to the buffoon and Gabriella stormed up to her room, retiring for the evening.

Sitting up and sliding out of her bed, Gabriella checked her hair in the mirror, her curls tied in a side ponytail with a white ribbon and she had her white nightgown on. It actually wasn't bad attire and perhaps if she slipped on her large coat she could sneak outside for a little while. She knew she was forbidden to but if she was back in bed before her mother checked on her there would be no harm done. Slipping on her riding boots under her nightgown and then putting on her black coat she went outside to her balcony.

To anyone else this would seem to be a hard feat – climbing down her balcony, onto the garden lattice on the walls and to the ground. Gabriella, however, had perfected the art over the years as she would sneak onto the grounds at night all the time. As soon as she reached the ground safely, the estate before her, she made her way over to the stables, the night wind hitting her face as she hurried.

She really wanted to see Belle again, perhaps ride her a little since she wouldn't be able to all week. Cautiously she approached the back door of the stables and sighed in relief that the night watch wasn't there. She creaked open the stable door anxiously and sighed in relief that some of the lanterns hadn't been completely turned off and provided an ample light for her to see the horses. She excitedly found Belle, who seemed enthusiastic to see her that she whinnied.

"Shhh girl...we're going for a little ride. But you have to be quiet." Gabriella patted her nuzzle then after tacking her up she led her out of the stables, holding her lead. Sighing in relief that she made it outside she began to mount her until a voice came from behind.

"Do you usually steal horses in the middle of the night Miss Montez?" She recognised that voice and slowly she turned, still holding the lead. She was faced with an amused Troy, holding up a lantern.

"I'm not stealing...just borrowing Mr Bolton." She smiled innocently. "Please don't tell my parents."

Troy sighed, coming towards her, "I'm afraid Miss Montez..." He began and Gabriella slumped in defeat. "I'm going to have to come with you."

She looked up in surprise and he grinned at her, handing her the lantern.

"If you don't object of course, I'll just tack up my horse." He grinned causing Gabriella's heat to flutter.

"I'll be waiting then."

Watching his retreating figure Gabriella tried to retain her excitement. She would be riding her own horse with a man she barely new and was more or less forbidden to converse with in the middle of the night. After about five minutes Troy was leading an older stallion out of the stables and he mounted him with ease. Gabriella mounted Belle as well; glad that with the night's darkness Troy wouldn't be able to see her nightgown ride up.

"Where were you planning on riding?" Troy trotted beside her and Belle and Gabriella frowned thoughtfully.

"Well, there's a little forest area up near the wheat crops, which has its own little creek. Are you familiar with it?"

"Well then, I'll see you there." He chuckled and before Gabriella could react Troy had galloped away and Gabriella realised he wanted to race her. Not backing away from a challenge Gabriella nudged Belle and without a seconds hesitation she also bolted down the large paddock towards the woodland area. Smiling, she realised they'd caught up with Troy's stallion and Troy grinned back.

"Not bad Miss Montez. "

"Why thank you." She winked at him and she slowed Belle down, as they approached the clump of trees. Troy dismounted first and to Gabriella's surprise he came beside Belle and offered to help her dismount. Blushing slightly, she accepted his hand and tried to dismount gracefully; however, this wouldn't be the case. Tripping up on her stirrups, Gabriella squealed in fright as she fell off of Belle and unfortunately or in a way fortunately Troy was there to catch her and he fell onto his back with a thud and Gabriella was straddled on top of him.

"Oh...uh..." Troy managed to stutter and Gabriella, after pausing for a moment remembered herself and stood up, blushing profusely. She was really trying to forget how it felt to have her legs wrapped around him like that...

"Excuse me...I'm...I'm a little clumsy..." She helped him up and he chuckled, brushing his work pants off. "I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No...not at all." He smiled at her, setting his lantern down on the grass and grabbing hold of both Belle's and his horse's leads and leading them down to the tiny creek which, if followed, went straight to the Albuquerque river and onto the outskirts of town. The horses, grateful for the freedom, excitedly lapped up the water and Troy came over and sat beside Gabriella on the grass.

"Since you're here I really want to apologise for how my mother acted earlier today, it was completely uncalled for—"

"There's no need to apologise miss...you were not rude to me." Troy smiled at her and Gabriella frowned.

"You can call me Gabriella. I promise I won't tell anyone." She then grinned at him and Troy cleared his throat.

"Sorry, it's just what I've been raised to do...Gabriella." His eyes twinkled in the moonlight and Gabriella tried not to melt into the very grass she was sitting on. "It's a very pretty name."

"It was my grandmama's. She named me before my mother brought me over here from Puerto Rico." Gabriella told him, blushing again as he paid her a complement. She didn't remember anything of Puerto Rico; she was only two years old when she sailed from there with her mother because Anita was betrothed to Carlos Montez years earlier. Her father had come out here because Gabriella's grandpapa had struck gold out in New Mexico.

"So which language is it that you speak?" Troy asked curiously.

"Well my family speak Spanish sometimes but mostly English. Then I have to learn French, Latin and a little German."

Troy's mouth fell open in shock and Gabriella hoped he didn't think her a snob for reciting all the languages she knew.

"You know all of those?"

"I have to learn them at school and from my tutor at home."

"That's amazing." He gawped and she again blushed, and she was glad it was quite dark because she knew she looked like a red tomato by now.

"What about your family? Do they all live here on the estate?"

Troy cleared his throat, smiling sadly, 'Well, it's just my father and I. My mother uh...she died, when I was a baby."

Gabriella's heart ached for moment, just wondering what it would be like to grow up without a mother, but with her own mother she thought for a moment it must be pleasant.

"But it's alright though...my friends are my family. I've grown up on this estate and I know everyone really well."

"You know the horses really well." Gabriella felt it was her turn to complement him and he grinned sheepishly. She recalled this morning where he had connected in a way with Belle which was new to her.

"Thank you...but the man with the real skills is my father."

"Really?"

Troy nodded and Gabriella was captivated at how proudly he spoke of his father," He taught me everything I know. He told me that you have to treat your horse as an equal and not as an animal you can control, because in actual fact the horse can end up controlling you."

"I wish I'd been taught that way."

"I don't understand. Why are you taking riding lessons? From what I saw you ride beautifully."

Gabriella sighed disdainfully, "My mother. She wants me to learn to ride side saddle like a proper lady rides a horse." She groaned and Troy chuckled.

"That doesn't really seem comfortable."

"It isn't, believe me. You ride so smoothly on that stallion." She motioned to the horse which was resting beside Belle, "Is he yours?"

"Tobey? He's really my father's. Your father gave him to us and I like to ride him a lot, he's an amazing jumper...well he used to be." Troy smiled over at the horse that was nuzzling Belle affectionately.

"My father speaks very highly of your own; he must be a very amiable gentleman. I'd love to meet him." She noticed him grin proudly then his smile faltered.

"Gabriella...you do know I work for you."

"You work for my father..."

"It's the same thing, I...I don't know if it would be proper for us to meet like this anymore." He avoided her gaze and Gabriella began to panic.

"Not proper? I think we're past all sense of propriety now, don't you?" He refused to answer and she sighed, trying to get him to look at her.

"You're one of the first people I've met who I enjoy talking to, who treats me like an equal... unless you find displeasure in our conversations?" She nervously wrung her hands, hoping he wouldn't agree.

"Of course I don't...I enjoy talking to you Gabriella...it's just." He struggled to find the words and Gabriella lifted up his chin, her hand tingly with the contact of his warm skin. "You're a lady...I'm...I'm just the stable boy."

Gabriella sighed. This was exactly what she didn't want, for status to get in the way of a possibly beautiful friendship...possibly more?

"Troy...you are so much more than a stable boy and in my eyes we are equal."

"I can't afford to lose my job Gabriella otherwise both my father and I are in the streets..."

"How about we meet in secret...that way no one can find out about our friendship." She hopefully asked and grinned in relief when he nodded.

"I'd like that...very much."

Gabriella yawned and lay down on the grass beside Troy. "Then it's settled I—"

She was interrupted by a soft whinny coming from the creek and looking up she and Troy saw their two horses continuing to nuzzle each other, their long tails flicking in delight. Troy chuckled.

"Tobey seems to have a soft spot for Belle."

Gabriella grinned, "And Belle for Tobey. Well why wouldn't she? He seems to be a very courteous, handsome gentleman."

"She seems quite the lady though..."

"I'm sure there's more to her than we know. She's a free spirit."

Troy turned to look at Gabriella, "Is she now? Perhaps that is why Tobey finds her so interesting"

"Belle obviously doesn't object to his admiration. I believe our two horses could work together."

Troy grinned, sidling up closer to Gabriella as they lay down on the grass, "You really think so? A beauty and a retired stable horse?"

"I do."

Sleep eventually came to the pair as they lay on the grass, the trees covering them from the outside world. They fell into a slumber with smiles on their faces because they knew they were no longer talking about their horses.