I stood on the sidelines, staring at Pheonyx in the ring. She was performing her routine flawlessly. My heart sang with pride as she swung around the saddle like an acrobat.

She was perfect. She was poetry in motion. And she was mine.

There were twenty competitors here today. Many of them seasoned vets. But Phee had a level of showmanship and precision that set her miles above them.

Never mind how damn beautiful she looked out there!

I knew she was going to win hands down. Getting to Nationals was going to be easier than I thought. Hell, we might even be going to the World Champtionship.

Watching Phee stomp the competition was the best damn thing I'd seen in my life. And I'd helped her do it. She'd let me polish up her technique to the point where it was textbook. Oh she'd grumbled at first when I made her get down to basics.

But look at her now.

The secret smile she flashed me at the end send a shot of pure love right to my heart. Love… that was what it was, no doubt about it. Well, dang. I had been afraid to say it out loud but there was no denying it now.

I loved the little filly.

And she was going to learn to love me back, dammit. Come hell or high water, I was hearing those three little words from her.

And soon.

Even if I had to trick her into saying them.

She waved at the adoring audience as the judges tallied their scores. I held my breath, waiting for it. I had a good feeling- I hoped that maybe- just maybe- she'd get a perfect ten.

And she did.

The crowd went absolutely wild.

Too wild.

Some fool starting waving a gun around in the air, celebrating Texas style. My eyes were wide as someone else pulled out a firearm. Didn't these idiots know that was a good way to spook a horse?

A shot rang out and Apollo reared back. Phee held on with all her might, clinging to the saddle. It wasn't enough.

Time seemed to stop. I heard a dull roaring in my ears as I reached out for her. But I couldn't reach her in time.

I stared in horror as Pheonyx fell. With the horse on his rear legs like that, it was a good ten feet to the ground. I saw her land on her shoulder, her head bouncing against the ground.

I roared and was over the fence in a heartbeat. The crowd was utterly silent as I ran towards the still figure on the ground. I had tunnel vision, staring at her beautiful, still face.

No, no no no. Please God no…

I wanted to lift her up and hold her but I was no dummy. I could make things worse that way. I brushed her hair back from her face, checking for breath, a pulse, anything.

I said a prayer of thanks as I felt the faint warmth of an exhale on my hand.

She was breathing.

"Phee- come back to me, babygirl. Please darlin', don't leave me-"

Her eyelashes fluttered and she moaned. She blinked those gorgeous eyes of hers and stared up at me.

"What are you doing up there, Clint?"

I exhaled in relief, but I knew we weren't out of the woods yet. I hadn't realized a crowd had gathered. I kissed her hand in a decidedly lover-like way.

Hell, even if I had noticed the crowd, I doubt I would have cared.

"Hold still, honey. We got to wait for the doctor, you hear?"

She nodded and I flinched.

"Don't even do that. Try not to move at all, okay?"

She frowned, wiggling her fingers and toes.

"I'm fine Clint. See?"

"That's real good but I meant what I said- don't move an inch."

The doctor was there before she could argue with me anymore. He checked her neck and her spine, and nodded to me. I let out a big whoosh of air after he shone a light into her eyes and turned to me.

"Pupils are responding… She seems to be fine. I don't think there's a concussion. Still, she should take it easy for a few days. Lots of fluids. No riding until she's checked out again."

Pheonyx was moaning in protest but I was grinning ear to ear. She sat up and I was there, guiding her to her feet and right into my arms. I kissed her long and tender, careful not to squeeze her too hard.

Hootin' and hollerin' broke out along with applause. The crowd was glad to see her on her feet. They were even happier to see a pretty lady get kissed so thoroughly.

"What the hell is this?"

Jackson Delancey was standing behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and grinned at him. Well, it was time to pay the piper after all. So be it.

He was already lifting his fist but I shook my head.

"Not until the lady is clear."

A muscle twitched in his cheek but he nodded. I helped Phee out of the ring and into a seat in the rider's tent, taking my sweet ass time to make my lady comfortable. I handed her a bottle of water and told her to drink the whole thing by the time I was back.

"I hate to leave you but this won't take a moment."

"Where are you going?"

"I need to pay my respects to Jackson."

Her eyes widened as I strode outside. I nodded at Jackson. Daniel was standing beside him, both of them looking fired up. They were big sonofabitches.

I smiled.

I was big too.

"You whoreson! Who told you you could touch that girl?"

Daniel nodded, cracking his knuckles.

"Phee is off limits."

"Sorry boys. The lady is mine. It's a done deal."

"Like hell it is!"

Daniel rolled up his sleeves.

"You're going to have to get through us first."

I grinned widely, eager to let off some steam. I couldn't beat the fool who'd fired their weapon, but I could pummel the Delanceys. And make my claim on Phee official in the process.

"Gladly."

To give them credit, they took turns trying to stomp me into the mud. I had to respect that. If they had doubled up on me, it would have been a real short fight.

After about twenty minutes we were all starting to look a little worse for wear, but no one was winning. I held up my hand as Jackson cocked his fist to take another swing at me.

"Hold up. I need to check on Phee."

"Hell no. Daniel will do it."

I nodded my agreement.

"Aright. But make sure she drinks that whole bottle of water!"

Daniel nodded, still managing to look pissed off while being agreeable. They put their cousin first though, that was obvious. It was kinda sweet when you thought about it.

Not that I had time to think about it.

Jackson was swinging for me again.

"You stay away from our little girl!"

He landed a punch.

"She's not a little girl! She's mine!"

I landed a punch.

"No, she ain't! She's ours! We won't let you trifle with her!"

He landed a punch.

"This is no fling! I'm asking you for Pheonyx's hand in marriage!"

I landed a punch.

"Hell no, you can't marry her! She's still a child!"

I smiled at him slowly, my meaning plain as day.

"She's no child. You can trust me on that."

Jackson roared and came at me. That's when I saw her. Phee was standing with Daniel, watching the whole damn thing.

"You should be sitting down!" That was the last thing I said before Jackson tackled me into the mud. I'd turned away just in time to miss seeing him charging at me like a bull. We wrassled on the ground until we both ran out of steam and collapsed side by side.

I groaned, staring up at the sky as Jackson lay in the dirt beside me.

That was a lesson learned.

Never turn your back on a Delancey with a bone to pick.