A/N: Leverage characters are not mine. I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment

Chapter 1

Bridgeport Brew Hub

Sitting across from her best friend waiting for their drinks to be delivered, Michele looked at her friend, Sandy. "How did you find this place?"

Sandy laughed. "Google, baby."

Michele cocked her head. "And we are here for?"

The waitress brought their drinks. "Well, drinks, friendship, food."

She rolled her brown eyes. "We could have done that at your home or mine."

"Michele, it's called taking a break from work. If we did it at your home, we'd be constantly interrupted and at mine...well, I would have had to clean first."

She shook her head just as a dark haired man stepped up to the table. "Sandy? I'm Nathan Ford."

Smiling, Sandy put out her hand to shake his. She gave Michele a sly look. Michele pursed her lips, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"This is Michele." Sandy pointed at the other woman.

Michele took Nathan Ford's hand and shook it. .

"May I?" He pointed at the seat.

Sandy quickly switched to Michele's side, giving him full use of the booth. Michele moved over to give her more room, realizing that she was now trapped and unable to leave should she not want to hear what was being said.

The waitress quickly brought Nate a drink of scotch. Looking at the ladies' drinks, she smiled and left.

Michele looked around the Brew Hub and noticed only one person at the bar. His back was towards them. She tapped her straw on the table a few times before unwrapping it and dropping it into her glass of water with no ice. Nate watched her for a moment, before turning to Sandy. "So, what's the problem?"

Raising an eye brow, Michele looked at Sandy. "You hired a hit man?"

Flushing, Sandy shook her head. "I didn't tell Michele why we are here. She wouldn't stay to hear if she had any options, Mr. Ford."

"Please, Nate." He glanced at Sandy. "You run a ranch?"

Michele smiled. "Not any ranch. It is a ranch designed to help kids with autism, vets, anyone who suffers from depression or fears. They work with the horses, riding them, brushing them, petting them and it seems to help."

While Michele was speaking, Sandy brought out fliers and pamphlets about the ranch handing them to Nate.

"The ranch is a 501(c)3, nonprofit. The city council is trying to remove our nonprofit status by petitioning the IRS. At best, my earnings are thin. I don't have enough to fight a big fight in court." She looked again at the bar and the man at the bar was gone. "My horse was poisoned about a month ago. I take that personally."

"Well, horses die." Nate took a sip of his drink.

"Jose' was only 18. The vet confirmed it was a poison." Michele was adamant Sandy dug out the paperwork from the vet handing it to Nate. "Typically a horse cared for can live to the age of 45. Jose' was well loved, rode, good diet. Whatever was given him, suffocated him. A slow, scary death."

"I need help to find out who is doing this to my ranch. If I lose it, there are 20 kids and 35 vets that will lose our services. Will you help?" She took a sip of her water.

Nate stood. "I will get with my team and see if there is anyway we can help." Shaking hands, Nate glanced at a cane propped up against the cushion. "Michele, you have a hurt leg?"

She looked at the cane. "My hip. I was in an automobile accident almost a year ago. I lost both my parents that night and my hip was badly broken. The cane helps."

"Was it a multiple car accident?"

Michele shook her head. "We were coming home from a friend's house and dad lost control."

"Was he drinking?"

"Dad didn't drink."

"Thank you Michele and Sandy," Nate disappeared around the corner.

Walking into the Leverage Headquarters, Nate took a seat at the table. "Hardison what do you have on El' Rancho?" He smiled at the name.

"Her parents died almost a year ago." The screen held their photos. "She was in the hospital and rehab for a total of five months." Michele's photo, while she was in the hospital, came up. "While she was recovering, Hank, the ranch foreman took care of the ranch. He still remains in that capacity."

Pressing several keys the screen populated with the forms. "This form," Alec enlarged it. "is the request to rescind the 501(c)3. The others are a court date to go forward once she loses the nonprofit status to collect taxes and possibly back taxes depending how far back they rescind." Alec rubbed his chin. "It looks like the entire city council has signed the documents. It's almost like there is an agreement of a take over of the property." Alec glanced at his colleagues.

Nate took a sip of his drink as he stared at the screen. "What about her horse, Jose'?"

Alec took only a few seconds to bring up a red roan appaloosa. "This is Jose'. Named after the film character Jose' Wales." Hardison grinned. "With Jose', Michele brought home a lot of trophies." A short video appeared of a woman riding the large horse at break neck speeds around barrels, the film melted into one of her and Jose' working in a cutting event. "This horse was in competition until the age of 17. It was at that point the accident occurred, ever since then, he has been working with the autistic kids, adults and veterans."

Sophie watched the video in amazement. "They almost appear to be one with each other."

"It's like she's dancing with her horse." Parker watched as the horse countered the calves moves.

Eliot nodded. "A once in a lifetime connection."

"Okay, enough about the horse. What's everyone's take on the take over of the ranch?"

Alec raised his hand up quickly before returning it to the key board.

"Hardison?"

"In ten days, there will be a gala at the ranch. They do this yearly to help raise funds for operations."

Sophie sat up straight. "Gala?"

"Uhm, yeah. The rich are invited to eat, drink and see what the ranch offers to the community. They started doing this years before the her parents died." Hardison pulled up local articles about past galas. One photo included a photo of Michele with her parents on either side with attendees dressed as cowboys and saloon girls in the background. "It's kind of an upscale country party."

"But it's a Gala." She looked at Nate. "Nate, we got to help."

Nate sighed quietly. "Anyone else?"

"I'm in." Eliot looked at Nate.

"Me too." Parker "Will I get to ride a horse?"

"Uhm, my allergies, I would be happy to stay here to supply audio and video support."

"Come on Hardison, you can do more." Eliot looked at him.

Nate looked at his team. "Alright. I'll give Michele a call."

A/N: Leverage characters are not mine. Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a comment.