Travis woke in the middle of the night and reached for her, only to find her side of the bed empty. He turned on the bedside lamp and saw that the bathroom door was closed. He got out of bed and walked over and pulled it open.

She was sitting in the dark, crying softly. She looked up at him and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Come on," he told her and scooped her up and deposited her in the bed. He lay next to her and drew her close to him.

His bare skin was wet from the tears on her cheek. "I know it's hard, baby, but crying is not going to help. I know you feel helpless, and angry at yourself, but we've done all that we can do for now. The police have pictures, and the horse was chipped, but you saw how easy it was to steal him. Don't blame yourself."

She sighed, "But it was my fault, if I'd been more careful nothing would have happened. I should never have given my horse to a stranger."

"They still might have found a way to steal him, remember, you're not the only one this happened to. Horses get stolen, that's why we insure them." He pulled her closer to him, inhaling her sweet scent.

"No," she said and tried to pull away.

"I only want to make you feel better," he told her, "Don't push me away, sweetheart, I love you."

When they woke, they took a shower and went out for breakfast. Coralee ordered coffee, but Travis told her that she needed to eat and ordered bacon and eggs for her which she only picked at. Exasperated, he took a fork full of eggs and hashbrowns held it to her mouth, and said, "Eat, eat at least half, you need this. I know you don't think you don't, but you do."

She managed to eat half of what was on her plate but pushed away the rest. "That's it, that's all I can manage. I don't have an appetite."

He looked at her and shook his head. "I know how upset you are, but you need to take care of yourself. You know that don't you?"

"Yeah, I know. What am I going to do now that I don't have a horse?" She took a sip of coffee.

"Make yourself useful, stay busy. Someone will always need help. You're a good groom, you can help get the horses ready and we always need help loading and unloading. I wish I could tell you we can stick around here and wait to get news, but we've got to go to Fort Worth." He put his hand on hers, "what makes it worse is that you know you made a big mistake, but you have to deal with it."

She'd deal with it by throwing herself into helping the others. She could load horses, equipment, and anything else that would be put on the trucks. She dreaded the thought of the work being done because that would mean she would have to stop and then she would start thinking again.

"Come on, time to get in the truck, we've got to leave." Travis put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to his big, black rig.

She sighed and got in. She took her pillows and leaned against the window, closing her eyes. Travis started the truck and pulled out and soon they were rolling down the highway on their way to Fort Worth.

"Hey," someone shook her shoulder, "Don't go to sleep on us." She turned around and saw his friend Matt smiling at her.

"I'm all right, I'm just tired, really." She managed to smile, then lay back against the pillows. She slept until they reached the first truck stop and ate lunch. She only ate a little of her turkey sandwich, then a little bit more at the urging of Travis, but only to please him. He wanted her to take what she left to go, but she refused and left the remains of her lunch on the table.

It was a fourteen-hour drive and Travis was doing it all at once. That was fine with her, this was like a respite, as soon as they stopped, she would have to deal with the fact that she had no horse. She tried not to think about what might be happening to Coronado.

"Do you want me to get you another horse?" Travis was talking to her.

"What?" she asked, a little startled.

"Do you want another horse? I can ask around since we don't know when or if you'll get your horse back. You need to be competing, you shouldn't just wait around. And don't ask if I can afford it. Do you want another horse?"

"I want to keep competing, but do you think it's a good idea to get me another horse before we hear something? I know Coronado was expensive, and I hadn't earned enough yet to start paying you back."

"I told you I didn't expect you to pay me back, I just want to see you do well, and you have been. I have friends, I can ask around, and I'll keep checking on what's happening with the investigation. In the meantime, I'm going to teach you cutting. I want you on a horse as much as possible."

"What happens if they find Coronado? What will I do with three horses?"

"We can breed your palomino mare to your stallion and see what kind of horse we get out of it. If we like the foal, we can keep it or sell it if you want. Just let me get you back on a horse, okay?"

"Okay, okay, you're probably right, I know I need to do more than act as one of your hands. I want to get back in the arena, how long would it take to get another horse trained?"

"Depends on you and the horse, but it will take time. And we might find your horse, there is that possibility, but right now everything is up in the air."

Travis was worried about her, he'd never thought there'd be trouble, but he was concerned about her not riding, he worried about her bubbly personality changing, and he started to wonder if he was too old for her. Maybe she should be with someone younger? Someone who didn't have the responsibilities he had.

Mandy, his barn manager, was standing by the pen, watching a rider warm up his horse. He and Mandy had had a brief fling, and when it ended had wound up friends. He was glad, because she was good with horses, and, like him, had grown up around them.

He came up and stood next to her as they watched Coralee lead a horse into the barn. Mandy could see him follow his young wife with his eyes.

He turned to her, "What do I do, Mandy? I need your advice."

"Get her ass on a horse, keep her busy, and don't let her avoid riding. I know she feels guilty, she knows she should not have handed her horse to a stranger. She made a mistake, that's all. How many people have tied their horse to their trailer and returned to find it gone? How are things between the two of you?"

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. She doesn't avoid me, thank god. She blames herself, not me, for what happened. She's avoiding riding, out of guilt I'm guessing. I don't know quite how to get through to her." He took off his hat, scratched his head, then replaced it. "Any ideas?"

"Get her on a horse and don't take 'no' for an answer. If you think you want to get her another horse, then do it. She's learned her lesson and won't repeat the same mistake. I think she's a keeper, I think she's been good for you."

"I don't think I deserve her, but I'm glad she married me. I'd do it again, you know? When she's herself she's a real pistol. I just hope I get the old Coralee back soon."

"You will," she put her arm around his waist and hugged him, "Didn't you tell me she grew up sheltered? She just didn't expect something like this to happen. She's having to grow up a little in a way she didn't expect, but she'll be okay."

"I think you're right, I hope you're right," replied Travis, "And I think I've been a little too easy on her. It's time for a little tough love. I want the girl I married back."

They'd finally reached Fort Worth and were getting ready for the show. Coralee did not put on the shirt she normally wore when she competed. She was opting for a tee shirt and tied her hair back in a ponytail. She didn't bother with makeup, though she looked fine without it.

"Hey," he told her, "Bring your shirt, and hat, and wear nicer jeans. I want you to warm up horses tonight, you do that better than anyone else. If someone can't ride tonight, I want you to be ready to step in.

"But I won't know their routine," she objected, "It's easy to warm them up, it's another to compete."

"So," said Travis, "Fake it. You're good at reining, it shouldn't be that hard to memorize a routine. I'm tired of seeing you sitting on the sidelines. You don't mind grooming and stall mucking, but for you, that's the easy way out. You're going to get lazy if you don't push yourself."

"Okay, if that's what you want. I don't think I'll be riding for anyone, everyone's okay. I don't mind being a groom, Travis."

"I hate to see you wasting your talent. There's a dispersal sale after the show, we're going to look for a horse for you. I don't like watching you sit on the sidelines."

"But…" she started to say, but he cut her off.

"No 'buts', you're going back to work." He picked up her hat and set it on her head, "You can start warming up my horses, then help whoever needs it." He put his arms around her and hugged her, "I know what you can do, let's let them see it."

At first, she tried to hide in the stalls, but Travis found her and dragged her out. "Do my horses first," he said so she took a horse from one of the grooms and began riding in the arena. The grooms were showing off, sliding and spinning, as they rode, and she could not resist showing off a bit herself and did a long slide as the riders left to get other mounts.

She didn't intend it but she surprised herself and did the longest slide she'd ever done, almost without trying. People applauded and she waved her hand like she would if she'd done it when competing.

She rode out of the arena to get another horse and Travis picked her up by the waist and spun her around.

"Now, that's what I've been waiting to see," he told her, "You looked like yourself again, not the sad little girl I've seen hanging around. You needed to get on a horse and you need to compete. Time's a wastin', girl."

"Well, I can't compete yet, not without a horse. In the meantime, let me do my work. I can't ride for you but I can support you."

"We'll see about that," he said and left her alone.

The news came in the next morning. Travis was bringing her with him to the dispersal sale, but it hadn't begun yet. His phone rang and she saw him pick it up, then cast her a strange look. He stepped out of the room, still talking on his phone, leaving her to finish packing.

He came in and told her to sit down. Her heart sank, there was a look of pity on her face and. knew what he was going to tell her before he said a word.

"I'm sorry, Coralee, but I want to tell you this now. Coronado's dead." He looked at her as she covered her face and started crying. "I know, sweetheart, it's awful. The thieves were driving some stolen horses in a trailer and a driver under the influence was speeding. He lost control and smashed into the trailer. Your horse died instantly and some horses that were in the rear of the trailer. Three others had to be put down. The driver of the rig suffered serious injuries and probably won't make it, two others are in the hospital and were arrested."

He took her in his arms, holding her while she sobbed. She put her arms on his chest, resting her face against him.

"So it's over?" she asked, and he tightened his arms around her.

"Yes," he said, "Except for the trial, it's over. I'm sorry sweetheart, I knew how much you cared about that horse. Now it's time for you to start over, we'll find you a nice colt…"

"Or filly," she interrupted, "I wish you'd bought that little blood bay mare, I liked her." How can I be talking like this, she thought, I just lost Coronado. But he was already lost and I think I knew it.