Chapter 1

A four door White Ford pickup bounced along the round that between Willow creek and Pine Hollow, pulling a horse trailer behind it. Inside the Cab sat two parents and a Son. The boy sat in the back looking out the window. He was about 15 with brown hair and blue eyes. He was deck out in Grey Cargo pants a bright blue shirt and next to him on the seat was a silver Jacket. On his feet were a pair of sneakers and next his feet on the floor board was a rather nice pair of riding boots. He sat there absent mindedly wrapping the rag he had been using to polish the boots around his finger and then unwrapping it.

Finally his mother spoke.

"Connor," she said, "promise me that you won't get into any trouble at Pine Hollow!"

"Yeah," said his Father, "Like getting into fights. The way you did at Cross County."

"Hey," said the boy meeting his dad's eye's in the rear view mirror, "It was only one fight! And I told you I didn't start it!

"Whether you started or not," said his Mother, "you broke that boy's nose when you hit him!"

"I knocked him out too," said Connor in a wry tone of voice.

"See," said his mother, "And you're not acting a bit sorry for it."

"Would you have me be sorry that I stopped that bully Reggie Van Forsythe he was about to shove that kid face first into a pile of horse manure just for bumping into him! Would you rather I just ignored bullying and didn't do anything about it."

"Of course not," said his Father, "And I'm not saying that you did anything wrong, but you know you have to be extra careful about acting on your heroic impulses."

"Ah yes," shaking his head slowly, "It always comes back to my little secret doesn't it?"

"Ever since the day of the accident in your uncles lab your mother and have been worried about what would happen if anybody found out about it."

"I don't deliberately start fights, Dad." Said Connor.

"I know," said his father with a chuckle in his voice, "But you sure finish them."

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Lisa, Carole and Stevie were walking to the aisle between the stalls. It was about mid morning and Lisa was carrying a handful of Carrots for the horses. Just as they passed by Stall number 10 a beautiful black stallion with silver mane poked his head over the door and snatched one of the carrots right out of Lisa's hands.

"Hey," said Lisa Laughing, as the horse crunched on the carrot, "you're a sneaky one."

"That wasn't very polite, Boy," said a voice from inside the stall, "no matter how much you like your treats." The boy walked around from the other side of the horse. In his hand was a curry comb.

"Sorry about that, Miss," he said politely to Lisa, "Paladin here can be a little cheeky sometimes and he can smell an apple, carrot or sugar cube a mile away."

"You must be new here," said Carole

"Yeah," said the boy, dropping the curry comb into the tray and picking up the hoof pick "I just got here late yesterday afternoon; I guess the three of you had already left for the day. My name's Connor Maddux and you've already met Paladin." Lisa spoke up before either of the others could.

"I'm Lisa Atwood," she said, "and this is Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake." The boy exchanged pleasant greetings with them and then turned to Paladin.

"Okay Paladin let me see your foot." He said. As the girls watched the horse promptly raised the opposite foot!" as the girls snickered, Connor rolled his eyes and looked down his nose at his horse,

"All right, wise guy," he said, "you know which foot I meant." Paladin nickered in satisfaction with his own trick and switched feet. The girls were laughing out loud at this point. After inviting Connor to go on a hack later they headed off to their own horses.

A little while later, as the girls were busy tacking up their horses Veronica and Kristy came walking by.

"Did you see that new boy Connor," Kristy was gushing, "He's so cute, and I just know we'll connect on a deep spiritual level."

"What about Red?" said Veronica

"Oh Red was just a schoolgirl Crush." Said Kristy, "What Connor and I have is the real thing."

"Kristy he doesn't even know who you are." Said Veronica, "You haven't even introduced yourself yet."

"I know," said Kristy, "But some connections are beyond words, you just feel them." At this point the Saddle Club who had been listening from behind their horses could no longer contain themselves they burst out laughing.

Kristy heard the laughter and just harrumphed.

"That's something the Saddle Club is too juvenile to understand." She sneered

"Oh, so Lisa, Carole, and Stevie are the Saddle Club that I've been hearing about." Said a Voice behind them.

The two girls turned to see Connor walking up leading a fully tacked up Paladin.

"See," Kristy sneered quietly at the Saddle Club when Connor turned to double check paladin's girth strap, "we do have deep spiritual connection he has already come to take a hack with me."

"No," said Connor almost immediately, "I've come to take a hack with the Saddle club." Kristy's mouth dropped open as Connor smile and turned to the Saddle Club.

"Shall we ladies?" he said motioning toward the door.

"We shall," they replied in unison as they began leading their horses outside. Soon the four horses were walking leisurely up the trail. At one point during their ride Connor entertained the girls by taking his feet out of the stirrups, swinging his legs around and reclining on Paladin's back with his hands behind his head. Paladin never batted an eye and kept right on walking. All too soon it was time to start back. As they started back down the girls suddenly became aware that Connor wasn't with them. They stopped and turned in the saddle to see Connor sitting astride Paladin at the top of the hill. He and his horse were looking out across the valley toward the Pine Hollow stables. Connor, had, not a sad, but a deeply thoughtful expression on his face.

The girls turned around and rode back up the short distance to where Connor was.

"Are you okay, Connor?" Stevie asked Connor turned and flashed a smile.

"Yeah," he said, "I've just realized what this feeling I think Paladin and I have had ever since I got here is."

"What?" said Lisa

"It's the feeling of having come home," he smiled, "There is just something about this place."

Meanwhile at Cross County…

Phil Marsten was in the middle of brushing down Teddy when he was approached by another rider. This rider was decked out in a very expensive riding get up. He had short curly blonde hair and green eyes.

"Hey Phil," said the boy in an almost arrogant tone of voice. Phil turned found himself face to face with the most disliked boy at Cross County Reginald Van Forsythe II.

"What do you want, Reggie?" said Phil less than cordial tone of voice that Reggie completely ignored.

"You take lessons every weekend at Pine Hollow, Don't you?" said Reggie

"What's your point?" said Phil feeling impatient.

"I'm going to meet you over there Saturday, There's a girl there that I want you to introduce me to." Phil felt apprehensive

"Who?" he asked, half afraid of the answer.

"That Cute brunette, Lisa Atwood!"

TO BE CONTINUED….

Well there it is the first chapter. If you like it please review it!

What secret is Connor hiding?

What will happen when Reggie shows up at Pine Hollow with his eye on Lisa?

STAY TUNED and Review, Review, Review, thanks!