The next morning, he awoke before dawn and slipped out of her arms. He looked back longingly at her curled sleeping in the bed, but moved to the grab his clothes and got dressed. He headed out to the barn and took care of the morning chores, already getting used to this new routine. He tended to the horses last, feeding Leo and giving him water. He moved to Beauty to do the same, finding him much more difficult to manage. He marveled over his fiancé's skills with him, but recognized that the horse was probably simply unused to dealing with someone other than Isabella. He finished and came into the house to leave a note for her to find when she woke, planning to head out for his ride before she woke. He walked to the den and looked around for something to write with. As he sorted through the desk, he thumbed through old pictures and smiled at his girl. He moved a stack of them aside and saw the bank ledger, and paused for a moment. He placed his hand on it, but did not pull it out or open it. He knew that when the time came, she would share everything with him. He pulled a piece of paper from beneath it and found a pencil buried under some other documents, and began to write.
Upstairs, as the sun shone through the windows Isabella slowly awoke, blinking at the light and stretching her body in the bed. She turned her head to the side seeing he was gone, and pulled herself out of bed. She padded to the bathroom, where she readied herself to go into town. He heard her movements and abandoned the note. He walked up the stairs and paused in the door of the bathroom. He watched her careful movements as she began putting her long hair up.
"Morning, baby," he smiled as he leaned against the doorway.
"Good morning."
He watched her intently. "I was just writing you a note to tell you I'm going to leave for my ride now. I should be back early this afternoon. All the morning chores are done, so there's nothing for you to worry about."
"Ok," she nodded. "I'm going to leave soon to head into town."
"Ok, baby," he whispered. He leaned in close and placed a soft kiss on her temple. It seemed odd, but it hurt him to know that the two of them were going to be apart for the majority of the day.
She smiled, "be careful."
"I will, love. You come back quickly. I want you here when I get home." He gave her a wink with a lustful glance and she chuckled.
Shaking her head, she smiled. "I'll do my best, babe. You'd better go before you get yourself in trouble."
"Kiss me first."
She leaned up, kissing his lips softly. He closed his eyes and rubbed her arms.
He squeezed her hand as he turned away and walked down the hall.
"Be careful!" She called out as he descended the stairs.
He smiled, calling back up to her. "I will, baby. I'm not going to leave you."
He walked from the house and got Leo ready to ride, swinging onto his back and taking off at a lope through the fields of the farm. Isabella finished getting ready and headed out to get Beauty. As he reached the top of a hill behind the house, he looked down to see her riding away from him in the opposite direction. He let out a shrill whistle and saw her pull the black stallion to a stop. As she turned to look for the source of the sound, she saw him waving in the distance and waved back.
From his position on the hill, he yelled as loud as he could, "love you baby be careful!"
She smiled and waved, showing him she had heard. Looking over her shoulder, she turned Beauty back towards the road and took off. When he couldn't see her anymore, he turned Leo and headed over the hill.
Isabella slowed as she rode into town, feeling the disapproving stares of the townsfolk. She grinned to herself, and continued towards the church at the end of the road. She slipped off Beauty and tied him, unaware of the dark clouds gathering behind her as she headed into the church. Inside, she greeted the reverend with a big hug, and the two sat down for a long talk. While he was shocked to hear her tale, he knew her father well and had known Isabella herself since birth. He knew that she didn't make quick decisions lightly, and he told her he couldn't wait to meet this young man who had stolen her heart and sent the townsfolk into such frenzy. Together, they planned a small, private ceremony that would take place in the church in just two days. As she stood to leave, he congratulated her once again and told her that her father would be very proud. She smiled shakily and wiped away a tear as she thanked him, walking outside. As she approached Beauty, she noticed he was moving in a nervous manner. She looked up and saw the gathering clouds, heard rolls of distant thunder. Quickly she untied him and abandoned all other errands, mounting him and taking off toward home. The rain began to pour down before she reached the edge of town and she cursed silently.
Back on the ranch, James had reached the end of the property line and began riding along it. He saw the clouds gathering over town and hoped his girl was ok. He knew the storm was moving in closer, and decided to cut the ride short and head back. He nudged Leo forward, moving quickly through the brush and starting down a steep hill. As Leo stepped tentatively, the water-soaked ground suddenly gave way and he slipped, falling to his side and pinning James's leg as they slipped and slid down the hill in the rain and mud. As they slid faster and faster, the horse moved off of him, freeing James from beneath him. His joy at being released was short-lived, however as his head glanced off a rock before his fall finally ended. He lay still for only a moment, gasping, and then pushed himself up on all fours, blood dripping from his forehead. He took stock of the situation, the leg that was pinned feeling sprained. He called Leo over and was able to pull himself onto the horse. He slumped in the saddle and pointed the horse toward home.
Isabella galloped faster down the old dirt road, the crashing thunder and lightning making Beauty rear up several times. She clung to his neck to not be thrown off, urging him faster and faster. She didn't know what, but had a sinking feeling that something is wrong. As she reached the house, she saw Leo coming over the back field, James slumped in the saddle. She gasped as Leo ran up to her whinnying loudly. Jumping off Beauty's back, she hurried around the horse, reaching up to her fiancé with fear in her heart.
"James? James, please! You promised!"
His eyes opened and he looked down at her, trying to force a smile. "Im... Ok, Baby...."
"No, you're not... Can you get down?"
He clumsily slid from the saddle and slipped to the ground. He held on to the saddle as she struggled to hold his larger form. She wavered a moment, and then stood straight.
"It's ok," she whispered. "I've got you."
She guided him toward the door, her body burning from the exertion.
