"And here's an apple for you, too... hey now, don't be such a pig, Air! Chew before you swallow! You know how nice Dr. Soderquist gets so grumpy when he has to drive out all this way just because you or Star has a problem!"

Susanne laughed as her companion snorted and shook her head in reply.

"Feeding the horses?" a voice behind her said.

"No, just spending time... they get lonesome and bored sometimes. And I've had them since they were just foals." She loved talking about her horses, so usually, she purposely tried to say very little about them. She'd discovered that most people tended to lose interest after the first sentence or so. Of course, when talking to Jackson, her brief sentences were due more to the fact that she was a little tongue-tied.

"And how long ago was that?"

"Um... they're... they're fourteen years old. They're actually twins. I got them for a song from old man Jefferson, who was convinced they'd die before they were weaned."

"Wow... then you must have done something right. What are their names?"

"Airplane and Starship."

Jackson laughed. "And you got them from a Mr. Jefferson?"

Susanne just grinned.

*******

Susanne jogged Star around the hills. It was peaceful out here... so far from everything. She could sit and lose herself in her thoughts. And she was safe here on the Lakota's holy land.

Roger wanted her to come with them to Los Angeles tomorrow... she wasn't sure what to do. She could go, of course... there was another farm about three miles away, and the oldest boy had looked after the animals in the past. It was easy, he just got his own horse and rode straight across the fields.

Maybe she was losing touch out here in the middle of nowhere... but it was so peaceful... still, when she thought about it, there was a part of her that was excited about going back to California. How long had it been since she'd seen the ocean? Since she'd seen the mountains? The city? She remembered thinking that she'd never be able to go without them.

What had happened? Had she proved herself wrong, or had she simply been too afraid to leave her secluded little corner of the world?

Lost in her thoughts, Susanne snapped out of them as Star slowed to a walk and started turning. She reined her in and sat, looking around at the hills around as far as she could see. The sun was getting low behind them, and Star knew that it was time to go back.

"Alright, girl, head home," Susanne said, and Star immediately began cantering in the right direction. Susanne needed to make some phone calls.