Ashley reached up and brushed away the tear from the other girl’s face. “He sounds like a cool dude,” she offered, making the blonde chuckle lightly.

“Yeah, he was.” Spencer grabbed her girlfriend’s hand and pulled her forward, “C’mon, I wanna show you my horse.”

“Horse?” Ashley’s eyes widened as she was tugged along.

They made their way into the barn, and the taller girl quickly jogged to the last stall in excitement. The brunette followed up slowly behind her.

“Aris!” Spencer yelled happily as she leaned over the stable gate.

A particularly large, dark brown horse turned around in the stall to face his shrieking intruder. He snorted once and walked to the gate, sticking his nose out at the girl. She brought her hand up against his mouth, so the horse could recognize her touch as the other hand ruffled the mane that fell on his forehead.

“Aris?” Ashley repeated in question as she stood behind the other girl.

“Yeah, Aris!” the blonde turned around to face her girlfriend as she beamed. “His name’s Aristotle.”

The brunette chuckled, “Wow, how lame.”

“I know, but I liked it at the time. You can pet him if you want.”

Ashley’s eyes widened as she looked between the other girl and the horse. “Uhh…pet him? That thing, right there?”

“Yes, Silly, this thing, right here.” The blonde resumed stroking the horse’s nose.

“No, thanks; I’ll pass.”

Spencer frowned, “Aww, c’mon, Ash! He won’t bite!”

“I beg to differ!” a voice quipped from the barn door.

The blonde looked over to catch Easy walking up to them. She pouted, “Excuse you, there’s nothing wrong with my baby.”

“Aris is down right evil,” the older teen persisted.

Spencer smirked, “Y’know, in one of the e-mails Aunt Cece sent me, she said you tried to ride him. How’s your head? Hitting it on that rock when you fell must have hurt.”

Easy ran a hand through his wavy hair, “Shut up. He was being neglected, so I was trying to keep him in the riding habit.” He sighed, “but he only cooperates for you. Maybe you can take him out while you’re here.” Smirking he added, “I bet he’s missed clearing those barrels.”

“You guys still kept the barrels up?” the blonde asked, surprised.

“No way in hell we’d take ‘em down, Spence. Be too much of a change, and that’s not fun to see around here.”

“No, it’s not,” Spencer nodded in agreement.

Turning to look at the quiet brunette, Easy laughed, “I was just fuckin’ with ya, though. You can pet him. He’s pretty friendly when you’re not on his back.”

“Yeah, Ash, c’mon.”

Ashley shook her head vigorously, “No way, man. That thing’s way too big and scary looking.”

“God, you’re such a baby,” the taller girl chuckled before turning back to the horse. She rested her forehead against Aris’ nose and closed her eyes. Enjoying the feeling. Enjoying the memories.

Ashley studied her girlfriend’s face, hard. This was the most at ease Spencer had seemed in weeks. The brunette wished it would stay this way because having to walk on egg shells around the girl was staring to bother her. It was exactly like she said that first day they became a couple; sex would make things more complicated. And it had. And Ashley was completely lost on why exactly it happened.

She looked over at Easy and squinted her eyes, “Hey, did you know that you sort of look like Dane Cook? I mean besides the hair and yeah…but yeah…”

He chuckled lightly, “Yeah, I’ve heard that.”

Ashley nodded and turned her gaze back to Spencer…but Spencer wasn’t there. She looked around the barn just catching the backside of the other girl exiting through the large doors. Looking as tense as she had been just that little bit ago. The brunette shook her head sadly.

“Is she okay?” Easy asked. He caught Spencer walking off without a word, as well.

The brown haired girl sighed, “No,” she admitted honestly.

He nodded, “Well, I’m gonna go tend to some things. Maybe you should find out what’s up with her.” Without waiting for a response, he also exited the barn.

Ashley looked back at the stall; Aristotle was staring straight at her. She shook her head and walked up closer to him. Touching him lightly on the nose, she asked, “What’s wrong with her, Aris?”

Of course, she got no reply, but it was worth a try.