El Roseta Horse Ranch

Upon spotting Tara, Dallas' expression immediately changed from wide-eyed fascination to bug-eyed fear, as though he had just been caught doing something wrong. He shot his authority a sheepish smile before he approached her; he had been wanting to ask her some questions concerning the rumors of commercialism, as well as the odd behavior of the horses. So, mustering all the courage possible, (he was still unsure why he felt so intimidated by Tara after all this time)he cleared his throat and fell into step beside her.

"Mornin', boss!" he said, slightly too cheerful than he intended. "I was wonderin'... if I could ask you somethin'?"

Cathrine left the stables after grooming her part of the horses. She chuckled as she saw Dallas interacting with Tara. It still seemed like he was nervous around her even though he had been at the ranch for quite some time now. Cathrine smiled and went to go sit on the fence before washing the riding outfits. She enjoyed the sun and looked out on the now empty field where the horses played around when they weren't in the stables. She smiled and realised she had forgotten a brush inside the stables. She went back inside and looked over at Lakota ad Cass one more time. She smiles and fixed her high ponytail. "He's getting used to you, isn't he?" she asked Cass with a smile. "You're doing a great job with him" She picked up her brush and leaned up one of the poles in the hallway between the 2 rows of stalls.

Dallas approached Tara as soon as he noticed that she was in the stables, looking rather nervous as he always seemed around her. "Morning to you too, Dallas," she said to him with a warm smile, "And please just call me Tara and not boss. Anyways, of course you can ask me a question. You know you can ask me anything." Tara wondered why Dallas seemed to be so intimidated by her and why he still felt that way whenever he was around her. It wasn't as if she was mean to him or anyone else on the ranch. She loved being around the workers at El Roseta and considered them her family. She wanted everyone who worked there to feel the same way and to feel comfortable around one another. Hopefully Dallas would be able to start feeling more comfortable around her soon.

Lakota's head shot up and a few blades of grass slipped out of his mouth as he snorted. He eyed the mare behind him and bobbed his head, a proud arch to his neck. Cass leaned back and listened to the conversation.

" I sure hope it's not a virus. I've been temping Lakota every morning and he's been normal so far. He really was edgy this morning, though. He jumped at about every shadow he saw. " She smiled at the shire standing patiently beside Kitty. "Except for that one. "

As Tara approached, then, Lakota nickered, eying the plate. Cass blushed as she spoke and stepped forward to take the food.

" Thank you so much. You're so kind Tara. Don't you worry 'bout the orange juice, I've got a hose here for now. " She said with a wink. Cass had never experienced such hospitality as she did here at the Callahan's ranch. That's what inspired her to run her own one day.

Turning, she had to smother a chuckle. Dallas was tripping over himself trying to speak to Tara with the utmost respect that he could offer. He had been at this ranch for too long for that and neither Tara nor her family had ever shown any of the ranch hands even a bit of contempt. As Kitty stepped out Cass offered her a friendly smile.

" Ah thank you." She nodded, a flattered rosiness brushing her cheeks and the brim of her nose. " He's certainly coming along. He's a good guy when you can reach him. "

She smiled ad she watched the woman make her way into the stables. She patted Lakota's neck once more and pulled his head up from the grass and onward. For a brief moment his face was sour, but he followed willingly after that.

" See buddy? Even the other's think you're not so bad. "

His following snort seemed to drip with indignation. Cass sighed contentedly, quietly enjoying being with the creature beside her until she reached his paddock. He whinnied happily to the bay mare Lady, who returned the greeting and went back to grazing. Cass unlatched the gate and led the horse in. She slipped off his halter and for a moment he stood, almost indecisive in air. Lowering his head, he nickered and nosed Cass's arm before wheeling about and galloping over to the mare. He really was getting used to her. Cass was happy as she moved off, back toward the round pen to retrieve the saddle and polos she had left in the middle of it. When she did, she carried them into the barn, depositing the saddle onto it's rack and throwing the silver polo wraps into a laundry basket.

"Um, well," Dallas began, his eyes battling with the floor for several seconds. "Ya know, nevermind. It was a silly question to begin with. Sorry I bothered ya, Miss Tara."

In all actuality, Dallas had simply forgotten his question amidst his nervousness. That, and the handsome stallion he had been admiring as it was being washed and groomed had just left. He knew he had his duties to tend to, but Dallas just couldn't wait much longer to meet Lakota. He wondered how he could have overlooked such a fascinating creature, and as he tipped his hat to Tara in dismissal on his behalf, he followed cautiously after Cassandra and her horse. When he approached them, he stopped short and idled for a few moments; he wasn't quite sure just how to begin a conversation and pondered several variations in his head. Well, goodmornin', love your horse! No, too... weird.

This continued until he saw Lakota in his more comfortable state around Lady, and absent of his rider. He couldn't help but feel empathetic toward the gelding; they shared, oddly, many similarities. He wondered how Cassandra was so patient with him - but then he remembered how all the ranch staff at El Roseta had been just as patient with Dallas, and knew. He watched the stallion from behind the fencing and smiled broadly as he did so.

"You're not a bother at all Dallas, don't be silly," Tara told him. "And there is no such thing as a silly question. But I'll talk to you later. Have a good day." Tara watched as he walked over to Cassandra and Lakota. He seemed nervous as he approached them as well. "Oh Dallas, when will you ever get over your shyness around everyone here?" thought Tara to herself.

Tara decided to begin grooming Licorice, the Thoroughbred stallion. She went over to his stall and gave him a carrot to nibble on while she brushed his shiny dark brown coat. She made her way to his thick black mane and tail next. Finally, she cleaned under his hooves. For some reason, Licorice always seemed to have the dirtiest hooves of any of the horses Tara was used to grooming. "You silly boy. Why must you always go and get yourself so dirty?" she laughed at him.

At that point, her father walked into the stables and told her that all of the packing was finished. "Could you tell everyone to meet us in the ranch house so we can say our good byes before leaving?" he asked her.

Cathrine smiled at Cass as she talked. "Really? Lakota isn't nervous around Shadow?" Cathrine looked at the shire stallion that had started munching on the good stuff in his feeder not realising Cathrine was looking at him. "Quite amazing. For some reason Shadow seems to accepts lakota as well. Strange since Shadow really had a hard time connecting with the other stallions on the ranch. You think you'll be competing with him this year? It'd be nice with an extra person on Team Callahan" Cathrine smiled. She was proud of being captain of the group that competed. She trained a lot of the younger members and competeted on high levels every year representing the ranch. Sadly things weren't going to well. Having the appendix on the team would only be a plus.

When Cass finally got the chance to sit down she snatched the plate of breakfast she had set down beside the washer, savoring the chance to fill her stomach. The eggs and bacon, even though they were a bit cool, were just what the doctor ordered. She poked her fork into the fluffy yellow omelet and dug out it's warmer underside to eat first. She noticed Dallas head out of the stable and tilted her head to keep her eyes on him. He seemed a bit out of sorts this morning. Perhaps later she would pull him aside to make sure things were all going alright. Cass turned back at Catherine's voice. She smiled brightly and nodded, chewing her food and quickly swallowing so she could speak.

" No, he really does behave nicely around him. Usually he acts like quite the show off in front of any other horse. Prancing around and acting all kinds of proud. I think he knows Shadow could kick his butt for it if she wanted to. " She chuckled softly. " Does he now? I'm sure Lakota would be glad to hear it. He admires that horse, I think. And, you know, I think we just may. Lakota has been doing well under english and western. He's really starting to get under himself and it would do him good to get out into a show ring. "

As Mr. Callahan walked in Cass smiled and gave him a friendly wave. Then her brow furrowed a bit.

" Goodbyes? leaving...? Where are you going? "

Cass had been working all morning and had clearly missed some important conversation at breakfast.

He wasn't sure how long he had been watching Lakota, but the mention of the Callahan's farewell snapped him out of his amorous trance. His eyes hesitated to part with the majestic animal for several more seconds, but when they finally did, he made his way toward Cassandra and Cathrine. He cleared his throat, tipped his hat (something he really needed to work on slowing down a bit) and bid them another good morning - well, the first for Cassandra, anyway. He was suddenly reminded of the question he had wanted to ask Tara: if the rumors of the Callahan's departure were true. He hadn't been himself for the past few days, since the grievance for the anniversary of his parents' wore him out all too well; if he had missed mention of their leave, it was probably because of that.

"What's goin' on?" he asked softly.

"Well you know how shires can be. Reserved but still full of pride" Cathrine laughed. "But nontheless I think it would be good if Shadow and Lakota could become friends, it would be great for both of them. Lakota wouldn't be lonely and would probably adapt to the others faster and Shadow had someone he could socialize with. Besides if they both competed they had something to have in common. It could develop into a good thing between them" she said and smiled. "And of course you're more than welcome to join our team. The more we are the better" As Dallas came over and tipped his hat Cathrine smiled and copied his movement rather clumsey with her own cap-like hat. "as to what, Dallas?" Cathrine asked friendly as Dallas asked about what was going on.

"Of course I will Dad, but uh, first I want to explain things to Cass since she missed out on breakfast this morning and has no idea what's going on right now. And Dallas doesn't know what's going on either. So I will explain everything to them and then bring everyone in once we are all caught up," Tara explained.

"Ok honey, see you all in a bit," her father replied and walked back towards the ranch house.

Tara made her way up to where Cass was standing near Cathrine and Dallas, hating herself for not telling her about the big news sooner. She had probably just assumed that one of the other workers had told her about it, but apparently the subject had not come up since. Given, they had all been very busy this morning what with all of the horses acting out of the ordinary and all the hustle and bustle that had been going on.

"Hey, Cass, Dallas, uh there's something I haven't told you guys yet but really should have," Tara began, "I apologize for being so absentminded. But um, my parents are moving away to California because they were offered some very nice land for a good price. They are going to start a bigger horse ranch there with its own breeding program. So, they won't be here anymore, but they left the ranch in my name. So now it's up to us to run this place. I do hope this news isn't too huge or shocking for you, and again I am sorry for not telling you sooner. My parents should be leaving in about half an hour, and they would like to see us all in the house before they leave."

Dallas was unsure if he should be shocked, terrified, or incredibly happy for Tara; so he was a frazzled mixture of all three. He stared at Tara absently for several long seconds before he snapped back to reality and acknowledged what had just been said. He thumbed his nose, searched for something to say within the span of the ground beneath his boots, then bounced his attention from Cathrine to Cass, then finally back to Tara.

"Uh..." was his articulate response. "Congratulations, Tara."