Chapter 1

The blonde removed her worn Stetson and wiped her sweaty brow with the rag in her pocket, she took a moment to catch her breath using the hat to shade her eyes from the harsh setting light of the North Carolina sun, She gazed out across the flat land that surrounded her family's ranch, the rolling hills beyond that and great mountains that took up the horizon.

"Don't even think 'bout it Kara"

The blonde smiled to herself as she dragged her eyes away from the towering peaks in the distance, she looked to her father, he too was wiping the drips that ran from beneath his hat with the back of his heavy duty work gloves

"I see you spying those mountains" he added, rolling up his sleeves as he turned away to move the last few bales of hay from the carriage to the barn "Have done since ya'll were no higher than my boot"

Kara supressed a laugh as she tugged the hale bale and heaved it, following her father

"Always runnin' off" Jeremiah continued, grunting as he threw down the bale, over the fence that joined to the back of the barn "Always lookin' for trouble"

He helped Kara lift the final bale over, they rested their tired limbs against the fence as the large cows came over, closely followed by the horses

"Can't blame me for lookin' for adventure" the blonde shrugged, patting the broad side of one of the black and white milking cows

"Na" Jeremiah agreed, squinting out across his land "But you did steal my hunting rifle when you were barely ten, almost blowing of the lawman's head when he brought you back"

The pair of them laughed

"Nobody's perfect" Kara countered, taking another glance at the ever setting sun, it casting a beautiful glow on the ranch house, the heat was still intense and would be well into the night

Jeremiah knew the look in his youngest daughter's eyes, he pushed himself up from the fence and rolled up his sleeve, he started back towards the house

"I'll save ya some dinner" he glanced back at her, removing his gloves "Not too late, and for the love of God don't go near the Black Mountains"

Kara grinned broadly at him as she swung herself over the fence and into the corral, she yanked open the shed door, whistling as she did so

"DAKOTA" she called out

There was a whinny and heavy hoof falls approaching from behind, the blonde lifted a heavy saddle from the shed, she lugged it out and faced the dark, dappled grey Andalusian

"Hey" she greeted to her horse, he came to a stop obediently in front of her, the soft, low grumbled from his throat, a horse way of greeting

"We goin' for a ride" Kara huffed as she flung the saddle onto his back, she quickly tightened all of the straps, having done this almost every day of her life, she glanced around, not even needing to look at what she was doing, her fingers knowing the way

Next she took the bridal, placing it carefully over the tall ears, stroking his soft, velvety muzzle when she had secured it, Dakota bumped her gently with his head, nickering again, she leant her head against his for a moment, she had had Dakota since he was a foul, they had practically grown up together, he was a loyal and braved horse, never once thrown her

"Let's go" she urged as she swung her leg up and mounted the large horse

Then they were flying, Dakota's large hooves, feathered with jet black hair, pounded against the dry ground, sending a dust cloud billowing behind them, faster and faster he galloped, the blonde grinning ear to ear, unable to hide the happiness of the freedom of riding over the open plains, feeling the power of Dakota beneath her, his strong legs moving swiftly

Glancing to the west she could see the tobacco plantations endless expanse, reaching as far as the eye could see, enclosed by the pristine white fence, her gaze followed it like a line until the dauntingly large house, three storey red brick manor that housed the estate owners, a family by the name Luthor, they were the richest family from Frisco to Raleigh and one of the most powerful

Kara tore her gaze away, feeling the sense of dread just by looking in its direction, the Luthors were not a family to be trifled with

Instead she focused back on the wind rushing through her blonde hair as it was coming free from her loose plait, she inhaled the fresh air deeply, letting it fill her lungs, clear her mind away from the Luthor Manor

She could now hear the river that snaked it's way through the state, she rode alongside it, following her usual path, taking it upstream, she slowed to a walk when she entered the trees, Dakota breathing deeply, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled, filling his lungs. Kara patted his shoulder

"Good boy" she said, ducking under a low hanging branch

A little further on through the forest they came to a stop at the lake's edge, it's crystal clear water turning orange with the reflection of the setting sun, Kara dismounted and dropped to the grass, she glanced around, she had never seen anyone this far off the beaten track but she always checked first.

She turned and removed Dakota's heavy saddle, his back sweaty from the heat, she pulled off her own boots and ranch wear, leaving her in just her drawers, taking a hold of Dakota's reigns and leading him into the water, he whinnied in delight at the cool liquids, Kara to was enjoying it as she dived under, staying there until she had no more air in her lungs, she breached the water and gasped for air with a smile on her features

She floated there on her back until the light was almost gone, she didn't want to leave but the roads were dangerous during the night, she sighed and swam to the bank, drying herself as best she could with the blanket she kept attached to Dakota's saddle.

By the time she had dressed and re-saddled her horse the moon was shining high up in the night sky, stars littered the immense space, the tips of the Black Mountains stood so high that they almost punctured the sky, Kara often found herself wondering what lay beyond those mighty summits, geographically she knew it was the state of Virginia, but what adventure did it hold and even further, her mind couldn't comprehend, the word was too vast, all that she had known was the ranch and the town of Jamesburg, which was where the Danvers sold their faming goods

She mounted Dakota and they began their journey back, her mind wondered as it always did when she was alone, she had only seen the ocean once when she was young, it was so wide that it stretched out before her, endless

But alas she was just a simple ranch hand, she had no illusion in her mind that she would live out the rest of her days on the family ranch, like her grandfather did and no doubt her father would also, she was kept busy at the ranch helping her father, but in these quiet moments she longed for adventure, knowing she would never have it, her family was everything to her, there was nothing she loved more

"OUT OF THE WAY!"

Kara blinked ad whirled around to see a carriage thundering towards her, she spurred Dakota and was narrowly missed by the large wooden wheels as they sped pass her

She gasped as she steadied the spooked Dakota

She glared after the carriage, watching as it turned into the large gates of the Luthor estate, why wasn't she surprised, if you were not rich then you were nothing in the eyes of that family, they would care more about any damage to the carriage than anyone they might hit and they would probably make you pay for it as well

Kara shook her head and kept riding, wanting her bed after such a long day

She trotted into the carrel and freed Dakota of his saddle and reigns, she quickly brushed him down before heading through the stables

Sudden voices made her stop in her tracks, they were not ones she recognised, she walked slowly to the entrance, staying slightly hidden in the shadows as she peered around the door frame, it took her a moment to see where they were coming from

Her father's strong frame was unmistakable, he had his back to the barn and was facing two large men, both in black shotgun coats and matching waistcoats, the distinctive glint of revolvers on their hips

They were having a heated discussion with Jeremiah, but Kara couldn't make out the words that were being uttered, but the blonde could see how her father's shoulders tensed, he pointed to the entrance of the ranch, the two men not looking happy, never the less they back away from Jeremiah and mounted two horses

"Consider yourself warned Danvers" one called out before both rode away at high speeds

Jeremiah watched them go, before turning away and stalking towards the house

"Father?" Kara jogged to catch up with him

Jeremiah whirled around, shocked at seeing his youngest there

"Kara" he sighed "Thought you'd already be inside"

He turned to continue his way into the house, Kara caught his arm

"What was that about?" she asked, gesturing to the road the men had taken

Jeremiah's jaw tightened a little, but he forced a smile

"Nothin' folks were lost is all"

It was obvious to Kara that he was lying, he was hiding something from her and he never did that, he was an honest man

"Father" she started

"Kara" he countered in a warning tone, turning to face her, his features hard "Get to bed, gotta early start"

It was clear that he was going to say nothing more on the matter, he sighed and kissed her on the top of the head

"Night" he said before going into the house, leaving Kara standing outside, her eyes going to the hills where the men had ridden over

She entered the house and moved to her room, creeping in as her sister with whom she shared a room was fast asleep, Kara changed into her nightwear before collapsing onto her own small bed, the encounter she had just witnessed playing on her mind, it sounded as though the men were threatening her father, but why? Nobody had ever had an issue with the Danvers, they were liked by most if not all of the townsfolk and their neighbours, she couldn't possibly think that Jeremiah had upset anyone

She sighed and closed her eyes, her exhausted body winning out over her curious mind and she fell into a deep dreamless sleep