Waking Up In Vegas

Chapter Twenty One

From her perch atop the dun-colored horse, Cathy watched across the yard to where Delana was urging Persephone- a spirited and un-averagely large strawberry roan- around an outside curve. The maneuver lined them up perfectly for the fence ahead of them. One, Two.. Three more strides and the horse was upon the jump, it's hind legs propelling it up, up, and over to land heavily on the other side and take off for the next jump.

Cathy had to admit that Persephone had the will to jump, and had quite a good jump on her. But Persephone lacked the speed and grace that made Delana and Diana such a beauty to watch. Persephone was ike Phoenix, the dun she was on, simply taking him through his paces. From canter to trot to gallop to walk... she put him through them all, the horse performing beautifully, with without that special grace the Diana had. Duo and his husband had came up for breakfast that morning, and for his mother to take a look at the design he was working on for the new stable. Duo was still inside, but Wufei was straddling a fence, watching Delana and Phoenix.

It was just as she was finishing up, and Delana was likewise, that she saw the white jeep pulling up the driveway. Maia and Vanny looked up from where they sat on a white-washed fence.

"Oi', Cath! Brother's here!" Jasper called, the wind ruffling his bronze hair. Riding the gray- Diana- he was closer to the drive and could tell for certain.

As soon as the door to the jeep opened, Cathy could tell something was wrong. So could the others.

"Give the reins here," Jasper said, trotting up to her. She obediently handed over Phoenix's reins and dismounted, running across the work yard.

"Trowa!"

Delana was right beside her, having handed Persephone off to her younger sister- despite the horse being so tempered, she knew Vanny could handle the spirited roan. Plus, Wufei was there in case Persephone did decide to show off.

The two women sprinted towards where Trow and Quatre got out of the jeep, Trowa looking slightly shell-shocked, and Quatre a bit lost.

"Trowa? Trowa? What the hell happened?" Delana asked, her long legs allowing her to easily match Cathy's more energetic stride.

Trowa blinked at them. "It was Midii..." he said. "Midii showed up at the house."

Cathy's eyes narrowed, a low growl coming from her throat. "That *bitch*. Did she not learn anything from the last time I.... Why I oughta just go and...."

"Catherine!" Delana gripped Cathy's shoulders, spinning the other woman around. "Calm down. I hate the whore as much as you do, but let's at least give Trowa time to talk first!"

Wufei was walking up just at that moment.

"Whore?"

"Midii!" Cathy spat. "That bitch dares show her face around here...."

Delana just happened to look at Trowa and Quatre. Her eyes softened when she saw the clear distress Quatre was in, looking so much like a lost little puppy. She didn't really know what was going on, but she knew she had to do something.

"Quatre! Come on! Me and 'Fei will show you around the stable why Trowa talks to Cathy. I think they need some 'sibling' time, neh?" She shoved her new 'girlfriend' towards the green-eyed artist and reached out to grab onto both of her brothers-in-law.

It didn't take her but a moment to drag them both into the stable, where Vanny and Maia were placing Persephone in her stall. Vanny took one look at her sister and brother-in-law and scampered away, dragging Maia behind her.

"Remember Luna?" Delana asked Quatre as Wufei grunted and climbed to take a seat on a few bales of hay, looking over the stable with an almost disdainful stare.

"Your mother's horse?" Quatre asked, eying the horse both curiously and fearfully. It occurred to Delana that Quatre might be a tad afraid of the large animal. She smiled sweetly and nodded.

"So...." Quatre said, in an effort to at least postpone the 'grilling' he was sure to get later, "What kind of horse is she?" He took a few steps closer to where Delana stood at the stall's door.

"Tennessee Walking Horse, of course!" Delana laughed, patting the dark coat. "Artemis" she motioned to the next stall over, the one where Quatre stood, "is a Haflinger mix with Hanoverian. Luna's got such a great jump on her, and a good turn of speed, too. Mama bought Artemis, thinking that his dressage background and Luna's jumping background could combine for a good foal. And it did! Diana's a doll to ride, and very responsive when it comes to jumping."

"Wow..." Quatre whispered. "You sure know alot about horses."

She laughed again, but it was Wufei who spoke. "Well, you know about your business, right? Just like history is my business. Well, horses are hers."

Quatre nervously petted the lighter colored horse. "Such a beautiful color," he said, admiring the coat and ignoring the blatant sarcasm in Wufei's voice. "Palomino, isn't it?"

"No. Common mistake," she said. "Flaxen chestnut. See the slight red tint to the coat? The way it's more red towards the spine, fading into auburn towards his underside? Palomino's don't have that red hue. And the eyes are much darker than a true palomino's would be."

Quatre shrugged. "I don't know much about horses. To me... Palomino is blond and Appaloosa is spotted... that's about it."

Delana laughed. "If you stick around long enough, Cattie, you'll learn alot more about horses than you ever wanted to. Me'n' Mama are the only jumpers in the family... the only true ones, that is... but if we were both sick... Vanny, Duo, Trowa, and even Cathy could all fill in for us. Vanny's not got the competitive spirit, but she does enjoy the occasional dressage, and the occasional hacking competition. If I get the chance, I do the barrels with Phoenix... one of our other horses... but jumping is my passion."

Quatre thought for a moment, an earlier thought crossing his mind again. "Delana, if you don't mind me asking... horse jumping and things are expensive sports right? And owning horses, too."

She nodded.

"Does Howard make enough from running the shop to support all of this?" He motioned to include the stable, the surrounding lands.

Delana laughed. "He barely makes enough money to pay to upkeep the shop, with the way he lessens all the bills! The business isn't our lively-hood, Quatre. It's just for fun! Mama had a sizable trust fund left from her parents, and we turn a nice profit from breeding our horses. I meant it when I said horses are my business. I went to school for pre-vet, with emphasis on equines," she giggled. "We take horses... like Artemis and Phoenix.... and we have them serve to mares that we think would produce good foals. We break the foals in, train them... then sell them. Sometimes, we stand them at public stud, or contract to have another stallion serve to one of our mares."

"Sounds complicated," Quatre observed.

"It is," Wufei stated before Delana could answer. "They say it's pretty simple, but you have to have good eyes for the horses, a decent knowledge of genetics, good accounting skills unless you have an accountant working for you, and alot of other stuff. It's kind of hit or miss sometimes."

Delana glared at Wufei. "Do you have to act so condescending, 'Fei? Would it kill you to be nice?"

Wufei shrugged, then leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "I remember lunch yesterday. Forgive me if I seem to not like the man that nearly made my best friend cry."

Quatre looked away, stepping closer to the auburn horse, as if it would save him. Wufei almost grimaced under Delana's glare. The similarities between his husband and his husband's sister were quite startling sometimes... including their indigo-violet eyes.

"Chang Wufei...." she snapped. "You know nothing. You were not there yesterday after lunch. Unlike you, I've taken the time to talk to Quatre. I've taken the time to *think*!! AND," she screeched, rounding on him. "You can't say much at all. How many times have I had to cradle my brother while he's crying his heart out over something *YOU* did or said?"

Wufei's mouth... open to retort... snapped closed. Black eyes narrowed, clouding over.

"That's different," he ground out.

"Like hell it is. You're an asshole, Wufei. Truly a one-of-a-kind obnoxious, egotistical asshole. How the hell is this any different than when Duo tried to..."

Her mouth closed, her eyes going wide as she realized what she had been about to say. Wufei realized it too.

"Don't go there," he growled.

"Not any different," she reiterated. "I'm going to check on Trowa and Cathy. Wufei... I suggest you talk to Quatre. I think you two have a *LOT* in common. You jackass."

She turned on her heel and left the stable, leaving Luna wuffling behind her.

Quatre looked at Wufei... and Wufei looked at Quatre.

This wasn't looking good....

~*~*~*~

To be continued....