Epilogue

My horse grazed close to me as I looked over the landscape. It had been fifteen years since I had left them. Fifteen years since I had last seen Altair. I stayed away from the mainstream, preferring the solidarity and the landscape of the ranch. I needed nothing from the outside world. A light breeze kicked up around me, and my hair blew around my shoulders. I pushed it back and sighed.

A light nicker sounded by my ear and I turned to see my horse, a black Arabian I named Dash, just a few feet from me. I pulled a few carrots from my pocket, and held out my hand. His nose raised and he delicately sniffed the air. He must have caught the scent of his favorite treat, because he came trotting over and gently took them from my hands.

Reaching out, I ran my hand down his velvety nose, marveling at the feel of his soft flesh. I would never grow tired of the feeling. He nuzzled my cheek, causing me to laugh. "You big baby." I laid a kiss on his muzzle, and stepped towards his side. "Are you ready to return home?"

He tossed his head up and snorted something I took for a yes. We had been out all day, and I think he was about as tired as I was.

Getting into the saddle, I gathered the reins, and gently guided him towards the house. The sun hung low in the western sky as I set across the vast plain that was my back yard. I had come back to this place when everything went south when I awoke from the coma the Templars had put me under. I did not have contact with anyone, nor did I want to. Conner has come by a few times. Once to bring me the Mustang that was at his house. I smiled when I saw she was fixed up, but frowned when I saw how many miles were on the motor. The second was to bring me two horses that he had been caring for. One was Altair's roan. It looked at me one time, and bared teeth.

I heard it call from the pasture it was in. To bring the horse in at night, I had to just open the barn door, and let it walk in from the paddock. It hated me, it hated Dash, and it hated anyone that moved. I took to calling it Demon. The other horse was a well-tempered filly that would come when you whistled.

I bent low over the stallion's neck and ran my hand down his neck. "How about some running, boy?" I smiled and let the reins loose. He knew what that meant, and did not hesitate to open into a full on gallop. I loved feeling the wind in my face as the horse poured out everything he had

The house was coming into view when I pulled back. He slowed to a walk and that was when I saw him, leaning against the hood of the Charger, looking in my direction. I brought Dash to a halt and jumped down from his back. Giving the horse a pat on the neck, I took his reins and walked into the yard.

He pushed off the car and met me half way. Dash bared his teeth at Altair, and snapped at him when he came too close. "What are you doing here?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"Came to see you." He answered and looked at Dash. "Your protector?"

"My baby." I ran my hand down the horse's muzzle. "Now, what are you doing here, and where is Samantha?" I kind of spit her name out like a bad taste. I really had nothing against her, but it was just my hurt feelings resurfacing again.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I really couldn't tell you. She and I kind of had a falling out a few years ago I guess you could say." Taking a step closer, Dash's head came over my shoulder at him, and he quickly stepped back. "Will you do something about him before he decides that I'm his dinner?"

I laughed and gave the black horse a push backwards. "Oh he doesn't like the taste of flesh. Not like your beast out back."

The horse snorted and nuzzled my back, but I could tell he was eyeing Altair in only a way a horse could. Turnabout is fair play, I mused. "What was the problem? She finally saw you were an ass?"

That earned me a glare. "No you evil she-devil of a woman. You know, you still are a mean ass bitch."

I smirked. "I know. Did you think I would change?"

"Thought maybe you would. At least dull down that attitude of yours. I can see that didn't happen."

Turning, I headed for the barn. "If you wanna talk, you're going to have to follow me to the barn to get him out of this tack and brushed down. He's not overly fond of staying in the saddle for too long."

Altair stayed out of strike range of the large animal's legs, because Dash kept trying to pull the reins out of my hands and get at him. I guess he did have good tastes. I was not overly fond of him just showing up here. I mean, if he was going to come back and try to work things out with me, I would have thought it would have been sooner than fifteen years.

"You're in an awfully bad mood. I thought you would've been happy to see me, or at least gave a better greeting then letting your horse almost take a chunk out of me." I could tell he was frowning from the tone of his voice. Like I really could care less.

"Yeah well, if you were so concerned about seeing me, you had fifteen years to do it between now and when I left. I came straight back here. Haven't left since." I led the large horse over towards his stall and began to unbuckle the light weight saddle. "So, how long has it been seen you broke up? You did try to stay with her, am I correct?" I turned long enough to give him a flat look, then pulled the saddle down and placed it on the rack.

He leaned against the wall and watched me. "Yes, I tried, but all I could see was you. The way she smiled and in everything she did. You were the one that I wanted and it took me awhile to understand that. She may have been created to be you, but would never equal you."

"I will take that as a compliment." I grinned and slid the bridle off of Dash and began to brush him down. Turning my head long enough to look at him, I asked, "Her family didn't like you, did they?"

That got a grin. "No ma'am they did not."

We both broke into laughter. It was nice to hear him laugh again. Setting the brush down, I put Dash in his stall and gave him some feed. "If it makes you feel any better, my parents would've hated you as well."

He smiled, and shook his head. "Not really, but I understand."

After I finished my task and secured the stall door, I walked over to him, and wrapped my arms around him. "It's good to see you though. I guess I'm still not over the fact that she came between us."

He hugged me back, and I breathed in his scent. It was something I missed more than anything in the world. "I know. That was why I didn't lash out at you, but I was being truthful when I said I could think of nothing but you when I was with her."

I chuckled into his chest. "Come on. I will at least make you a sandwich and some coffee for dealing with me." I backed up, but he grabbed my arm, spun me around and pushed me into a wall. I heard Dash start getting angry, pawing at the ground and hitting the wall. "I would let me go before that horse comes through the stall door and gets your ass. He does not play around when it comes to me."

"Screw that horse." He smirked and his lips slammed down on mine. I was so not prepared for that. My eyes grew wide and I was frozen in place. Yeah, I was so not ready for this.

He pulled back and all I could do was blink at him. He had a shit eating grin on his face, and as much as I wanted to smack it off of him, I couldn't. I was probably looking really stupid at that point in time.

"Well, if I knew that would shut you up and put in a stupor, I would have done that when I first saw you." That smirk again. I just wanted to throttle him, but then I thought about that kiss. Yeah, I so couldn't.

Clearing my throat, I tried to play it off, but I knew as soon as my mouth opened it was not the way I had hoped. "That was nice.' And I squeaked. I did not just do that! I just squeaked!

Altair just started to laugh his head off. I scowled and marched past him. "Alanna wait up!" He called through the laughter. He caught me outside. "I didn't mean to piss you off again. It was cute that I had you that stunned."

I turned, and punched him in the shoulder. He grabbed it, but there was still a grin on his face. "You're still an ass." My face softened and I smiled. "But I would not have you any other way." And I grabbed the front of his shirt and kissed him back.

I want to thank everyone for reading this. I have another story in the works, but I don't know when I will post it. No, it will not have Alanna in it. That ship has sailed and I have it out of my system. I am toying with a few ideas, but nothing concrete. See ya later!

*Sassiersphinx*