Falling for Forever by Caitlin Ricci Page A

wrapping her cloak around her body. Bryn slipped her feet into some shoes and grabbed a bag of coins that Mariah had left on the couch.
    The rising sun stung her eyes at first, but they quickly adjusted and she ran to Luca as he played in the field. She reached him and hugged his big white neck. He let her hold him for only a moment before pulling away and prancing in sunlight.
    "Luca?" she said between giggles.
    "Yes?"
    "Would you like to go to town with me right now?"
    "That could be interesting."
     She smiled at him and they started walking. The tall grass brushed against their legs as they walked toward the gate.
    "So what do you need in town?" he asked her as he munched on some leaves.
    "I want to make Mariah breakfast, but I don't know what yet."
    Luca swallowed his food and looked over at Bryn. " You really like her, don't you?" She shook her head and blushed. "I'm a horse, Bryn. Not stupid."
    She sighed and looked up at him. "Is it really that obvious?"
    The big stallion laughed and smiled at her. "As much as it is that she likes you too."
    "Really?" she asked hopefully.
    He nodded and held a branch up away from her head as she passed under it. "Of course. I have never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you."
    They came to the gate and Bryn stayed close by Luca's side as he led her past the lions. Their stone faces seemed to be watching her, and she shivered uncomfortably. They traveled along the dusty road and Bryn looked to her left at the wall. It was made entirely of smooth marble. Its ledge was well above her head. Bryn guessed that it was probably about eight feet high.
    "Who built this wall, Luca?" she asked as she ran her hands over the cold stone.
    "Mariah did. The elves helped, of course, but she did a lot of the work."
    "It must have taken her forever," she said as they kept walking toward town.
    "I'm still trying to figure that one out too. Blame it on magic. It explains everything else in that forest," he said offhandedly.
    "How long have you known her, Luca?"Bryn asked as she played with a flower in her hands.
    "Almost all my life," he said thoughtfully.
    "Really?"
    He nodded and smiled at her. "Mariah saved my life when I was just a foal."
    "Will you tell me about it?"
    Luca looked over at the rising sun. "When I was very young, there was a brutal storm, and I was separated from my herd. Mariah found me that night and saved me. She nursed me back to health and raised me. We've been friends ever since."
    She smiled at him and ran her hand over his smooth neck and shoulder. "Mariah's a really great woman, isn't she?"
    "Yeah, she is."
    Bryn pulled her cloak tightly around her body as they neared the town. "How's the horse that I released doing?"
    "Juno?"
    Bryn nodded. Luca smiled at her and chuckled. "Poor guy didn't know what to make of everything. He's never been wild before. But he'll be fine now that he's made some friends in the herd."
    "You have a herd?"
    Luca nodded. " Well, it's not really my herd. More along the lines of just a bunch of horses that are wild that were released or rescued or just decided to come join us."
    "Do you have a mate?"
    Luca laughed. "A mate? Heavens no. You do ask a lot of questions for a two-legged don't you?" He smiled at Bryn warmly and ruffled her hair with his muzzle.
    She blushed and smiled. "Sorry. Bad habit, I suppose."
    "No, it's fine. I love talking, but everyone seems too preoccupied lately. They're all pregnant or nursing their new foals or falling in love. It's ridiculous. I'm glad just to be away from it all."
    Bryn giggled. "Why don't you have any foals coming, Luca?"
    He shrugged and smiled at her. "I've lived with Mariah too long I think. I've been so used to being a bachelor that even though I'm surrounded by beautiful mares, I care for them only because they need me."
    Bryn frowned. "Is that the only reason Mariah cares for me?"
    "Of course not. And don't ever think that again, Bryn. Mariah cares for you very deeply and she would do so even if