WildHearts9

Lance, Joey and Britney watched from the porch as a truck with a horse carrier pulled up in front of the house. Chris and Josh immediately went to speak with the driver, while Bobbie stood back and looked annoyed.

"I guess we're gettin' that horse after all," said Joey. "Chris's been sayin' forever how we need another one."

Britney nodded. "Yeah, and I heard this one was a wild thing. It was too unruly for the owner to keep any longer, and Chris bought it figurin' it would make a good horse show."

"Is it a bronco?" asked Lance.

Joey nodded. "Yep. A brown one with a black mane. At least that's what Josh told me. Haven't seen the sucker yet."

A loud whinny was heard, and suddenly there was flash of brown and black across the lawn. Lance watched with fascination as Josh rode the horse into the backyard where they trained them. He sighed, wondering if he was ever going to become a real rider.

"Hey!" yelled Chris, getting everyone's attention. "What are y'all doing sittin' there? Move your lazy asses into the backyard and help us out!"

Brtiney rolled her eyes as Joey and Lance laughed, the three of them
following Chris and Bobbie behind the house.

~*~
A FEW DAYS LATER...

"Come on Bobbie!" yelled Chris. "You've got to get control of the damn horse if we want him in the show!"

Bobbie sighed loudly, tugging on the reins they had attached to the new horse and making it stop.

"This horse is shit!" she yelled back. "He won't do anything I say! I don't think he likes me very much."

"Can you blame him?" mumbled Lance as he pushed a wheelbarrow full of dirt across the lawn. He watched as Bobbie dismounted the horse and turned to him.

"Lance! Take this flea bag away! I need some water."

Lance rolled his eyes, setting the wheelbarrow down and taking the reins from Bobbie. He stuck his tongue out at her back and turned to the horse. He rubbed their noses together and kissed it.

"Hey there boy," he cooed. "How are ya? Is that mean 'ol witch scaring you? Yeah, she frightens me, too."

Josh grinned, standing close enough to the horse to hear what Lance was saying to it. He tiptoed behind the other side of the horse, speaking in a deep voice.

"Yeah, she's a real bitch," he said.

He watched as Lance's eyes widened, and bit his thumb to keep from laughing. Lance leaned closer, until he was looking into big brown eyes.

"Horse?" he whispered. "Are you talkin' to me?"

Josh burst out laughing, his face growing red from lack of oxygen as he clutched the horse to keep from collapsing on the ground. Lance whipped his head around the large animal and stared at Josh, who was in tears from laughing so hard. He blushed a crimson red, glaring at Josh slightly.

"You ass," he said, causing Josh to laugh harder. "I knew it was you all along. I was just foolin' ya."

"Sure Lance," said Josh in between his chuckles. "You keep telling yourself that, babe."

Lance blushed at the nickname, and he suddenly wasn't mad anymore. Chris purposefully avoided watching his brother and Lance, instead looking at Bobbie and listening with half an ear as she bitched to him.

"-and it's not *my* fault," she huffed. "It's the fault of that overgrown dog you call a horse out there!"

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me you can't handle him Bobbie?" He whistled and tipped back his hat. "Man, I thought I'd never see the day."

Bobbie glared at him defiantly. "I can handle him," she spat, "I just don't-"

"I mean, Lance is great with the horse," continued Chris, as if he hadn't heard her speak. "Maybe I should just make *him* the rider and-"

Bobbie huffed, red in the face as she stomped over to Lance, pushing him and Josh out of the way and climbing back on the horse. Chris grinned. If there was one thing he knew how about, it was how to motivate his riders. Lance backed up, watching as Bobbie grabbed the reins and lifted her heels.

"No!" he said, rushing forward and grabbing her foot.

"What is the *matter* with you?" she yelled. "I'm trying to ride here!"

Lance shook his head. "Don't kick your heels into him," he said. "I've ridden him a couple of times and I know he hates it. You could get hurt."

Bobbie rolled her eyes, shaking Lance's hand off her foot.

"Whatever. In case you've forgotten, little boy, *I* am a professional
rider." She sneered at him. "I know what I'm doing." She waited until Lance backed up, before kicking her heels into the horse's side.

The bronco neighed loudly, standing up on its hind legs and kicking into the air with its front legs. Bobbie screamed, loosing her balance on the horse and falling to the ground. Josh, Joey and Chris ran to her quickly, covering their ears to block out her screaming and loud sobs. Britney ran inside to call the doctor, and Lance grabbed the wild horse's reins, talking to it softly and calming it down. He sighed sadly, wishing Bobbie had listened it him.

~*~
Lance sat out on the porch swing, covering his ears to block out the painful screaming that was coming from inside the house. The doctor had arrived over an hour ago, and was inside tending to Bobbie. The door opened and Chris came walking out. He looked pale as a ghost, and kept wiping the sweat away from his brow with a handkerchief, the other hand resting over his heart.

"Chris?" asked Lance worriedly. "Are you okay? How's Bobbie?"

Chris sighed, leaning against the porch railing and looking at Lance.

"I'm fine, but Bobbie sure as hell ain't," he said. "Broken leg. Doctor said it could take weeks to heal." He grumbled to himself. "Where the *hell* am I going to get another rider on such short notice?"

Lance's ears perked up and he turned to Chris with a wide grin. Chris looked at him, catching on to Lance's thoughts and shaking his head quickly. Lance jumped up, running to Chris.

"Please Chris!" he begged. "I can do this! I know I can! I know how to ride, and what I don't know I'm sure as hell willing to learn!"

Chris sighed, trying his hardest to not look into Lance's large pleading eyes, and failing miserably. He took one look at Lance and cursed quietly.

"Fine," he said, "but listen kid. This ain't no pony show. This is the real deal. I'll train you to be a bronco rider, but if you can't handle it and get hurt, it's not my problem. Got it?"

Lance nodded quickly, hugging Chris tightly.

"Thanks Chris," he whispered. "You won't regret this."