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bigearringsgir

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            A bright and sunny day in June found Nick Parker saddling up a horse for a ride. He tightened the straps, checked the bit, and then turned to best friend, Lilly Sutra. She was stroking the horse’s velvety neck. The large mare’s name was River; her milky white coat shimmering with beauty and showing her strength.

            “You sure you don’t want to come? We’ll stay at a trot,” Nick promised.

            Lilly took her hand away from the mare and, after biting her lip, said, “I don’t know, Nick. I don’t really like to ride, but…I won’t fall off, will I?”

            Hiding a smile, Nick said, “I promise; you won’t fall, and we’ll stay at a trot. Please?”

            She finally gave in. “All right,” she said slowly, as Nick gave her a hand and helped her up. He climbed up after her and, putting both hand on either side of her, reached for the reigns. He instructed her to hold onto the horn.

            Lilly laughed and turned to ask her friend why it was called a “horn”, but ended up bumping into his chin. Laughing again, she opened her mouth to try and ask again but stopped as she looked up into his face. For a moment she stared into his crystal blue eyes but then she turned around.

            “So, where are we riding to?” she asked, for some reason feeling the heat rise to her face.

            “You’ll see,” said Nick, kicking River’s sides. They rode toward a big hill about two miles away from the Sutra home. True to his word, Nick made sure River stayed at a trot. Trotting past tall trees, lush fields, and beautiful meadows; all green and very much alive; Lilly felt glad that she’d come.

            When they reached the top of the hill, Lilly gasped. The scenery was even more beautiful from up there; the trees and fields were patches of shimmery green with flowers dotting the dirt roads and the meadows.

            “Nick, it’s so beautif –” but before Lilly could finish River bolted down he hill. Panicking, she yelled, “Nick, you liar! You said a trot – this is a run!”

            He leaned closer to her and grasped the reigns tighter, yelling back at her, “I didn’t do it! She bolted. Lilly, hold on, she won’t stop!” But Lilly still thought he’d done it on purpose; as kids he’d always pulled pranks on her, she figured he was better at lying now – or at least he thought he was. And as soon as they were both safely on the ground she would kill him.

            “Nick you are dead!” she screamed at him once they had started to slow down. When they stopped Nick slipped down and tried to help Lilly down, but she yelled, “I hate you, Nick! Don’t ever ask me to ride with you again – because I won’t!” And she slid off the horse.

            In spite of the situation, Nick grinned. For a moment he thought she would yell “I don’t want to be your best friend anymore” but she hadn’t said that to him in years; besides, she never meant it.

            The wind blew his wavy blonde hair away from his smiling eyes. He leaned against River’s side and folded his arms across his chest, and shrugged. “Oh, well, then I guess you won’t want –”

            “No, I won’t!” she interrupted him, walking over to River’s rump and smacking it. And you won’t, either!” River took off running for the barn, and Nick fell straight back. Lilly lunged for him; intending to punch his lights out; but he’d anticipated it.

            He rolled over, stood up, and pulled Lilly’s hands behind her back, and then whispered into her ear, “Yes, I will.” Turning her around to face him, Nick grinned. But before she could smack it off his face he kissed her on the mouth.

            At first Lilly slowly closed her eyes to enjoy it but then opened them again and pulled away.

            “Nick Parker!” she yelled, deciding to slap him. He just grinned and caught her hand, blue eyes flashing at hers a moment longer and then he dropped her hand and ran for the house. “Nick Parker, you are so dead. Nicholas!” She screamed, running after him.