Sometimes...it was better to let everything just float. Let things go so losing your mind didn't happen. The fabric of her mind was unraveling. Liber8 terrorists were plotting to manipulate an unsuspecting populous, and here she was thinking how nice it would be to ride a horse. People here in 2012 still rode them. Kiera pondered how it would feel sitting atop one of the magnificent animals.

"Alec…"

"Yes, Kiera?"

"Do you have horses on your farm?"

The techie chuckled over that. Uh…yeah. What self-respecting farm didn't have them? Thoughtfully, he replied, "Uh huh. Sure do."

The light in Kiera's eyes sparked brighter. She saw herself extending a hand to rub a steed's nose, feeling the majestic beast nuzzle her hand. In her mind's eye, stroking the horse's flowing mane, Kiera smiled. Lost in her private equine musing, she asked, "How many?"

"Fifteen," he said, sounding proud. "My family has raised horses for generations. Fine breeders of good stock."

The wheels clicked faster in Kiera's head as they turned. Brain cells fired rapidly. Enthusiasm pulsed throughout her body. She had to ride a horse! A memorable experience she'd eagerly share with Sam, if she ever made it back to him. What if he were all grown up, with a family of his own by the time she returned? What if he had died? Thoughts like that numbed her; she had them often.

"Could I…," Kiera began. Was she being frivolous? She was here for far more important things. Still, she yearned to seize a chunk of this reality. "Alec, could I ask a favor?"

"What? Only one?"

"It's not one of my usuals." Kiera quietly lamented, wishing that her son was here so she could take him along for the ride. Simulations and replicas were no substitutes for the real thing. "I'd like to see a horse. And ride it. Could I?"

"You wanna ride a horse? Why?" Alec saw that she was dead serious. "To help you gain more insight into LiberEight?"

"No. It has nothing to do with LiberEight."

"Why the ride?"

"I want to know how it feels. It's personal. Carlos and I stood in-between the seething protestors and police personnel mounted on horses. I stood so close to one, but didn't put my hand out to touch it. I wanted to, but I didn't. I want to touch a horse, Alec." She sighed, hearing how absurd she must sound. That didn't stop her from wanting to go through with her crazy idea. Couldn't he humor her? Alec dipped his head and Kiera told herself to stop being childish. "Forget I ever—"

"I think it's a great idea," Alec seamlessly slid in. "When do you want to have your ride?"

"Anytime you say." Kiera brightened, ecstatic.

There was no need for any of his family to be around, eliminating the nosy questions. This would be a private matter. Alec said, "Come here at noon tomorrow. We'll have the homestead all to ourselves. Mom's got a doctor's appointment in town. My step-dad's away on business. My stepbrother, Julian, is never around, a lot now. Ever since the Exetrol fiasco." He stared up, into the screen Kiera was on. "Works for you?"

"Yeah, it does, as long as a case won't interfere."

"Hey, it'll be fun. See ya then."

"I'm looking forward to it," Kiera rejoined. Her wide grin blossomed, the way it used to whenever she spent time with Sam. "Thanks, Alec."

"You're welcome. Want to see some horsies, eh?"

"Yes. Can't wait."

"All right. You've got it. Night."

"Night…"

Then, she wondered bemusedly. Were horses and horsies the same thing?