Author: WillowFever
Rating: PG to R
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the Wild Horses thread on the Kitten Board.
Disclaimer: I don't own Willow and Tara, if I did I would set them free...

The rain had left nothing but a mud pit in the horse arena and Tara decided not to take the horses out. Instead, she opted to spend the first part of the day feeding and brushing and then spend the afternoon in the office making phone calls in preparation of the Oktoberfest.

She smiled as she walked through the stalls. The horses were putting on weight and not quite as fearful, as they were when they first came in.

"Hi little mama..."

Blue eyes raked over the skinny horse.

"How could someone do something so horrible..."

The horse snorted and walked closer to the blonde. Tara reached out and scratched a curious nose.

"No treats today little lady... just a good brushing..."

The horse snorted again.

"Okay... maybe some treats after your rub down..."

Tara began brushing the horse down and her thoughts started to drift to the red head that was in the house.

<I wonder what Willow's doing... she might still be asleep... nah... she's probably on her computer making some big bucks...>

Tara straightened and looked the horse in the eye.

"Maybe I should go over and say good morning..."

Tara waited as if the horse was about to spew out some ancient wisdom.

"Maybe later... I don't want to wear out my welcome..."

Willow sat at her computer going over the final details of the contract with her latest client. She was very proud of herself. In less than three weeks she had developed, presented and now closed the deal with this latest account.

<What a payday... This calls for a celebration...>

As she expected, Mr. Paine asked her to fly out and meet personally with the client. He thought that was just the icing on the cake; adding a personal touch to the whole deal. It would be a two-day trip to Phoenix and Willow wasn't exactly excited about it.

<I wish Tara could go... maybe I could ask...>

Willow contemplated that idea before scolding herself mentally.

<Get a grip Willow... you don't want to run her off...>

Willow closed the meeting and told her client that she would be coming to Phoenix to sign the papers in three days. Now, she just needed to make flight and transportation arrangements to and from the airport.

<I really need to get a vehicle...>

Willow looked for a phone book. It was time to find a dealership and go get some wheels.

Tara heard the barn doors open and close and yelled down stairs.

"Hey Dougie... I'm up here... come on up..."

The blonde flipped through the pages of her planner trying to find the number to the vendors who had come last year to the camp out.

"Dougie do you know what we did with the list of bands from last year... ?

Tara whirled around expecting to see Doug standing in front of her and was pleasantly surprised to see a grinning Willow.

"Ummm... hi..."

Willow watched as a beautiful smile lit up Tara's face.

"Hey you..."

Tara crossed the room and hugged Willow placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"I wasn't expecting to see you... especially up here... did you sprint past the stalls?"

Willow grinned and felt a blush cross her cheeks.

"Actually I was so scared... I'm not sure how I got by them..."

<She is so cute when she blushes...>

"Well... you are safe and sound..."

"Yep..."

Tara watched as Willow shifted from foot to foot.

"Is everything okay?"

"Oh yeah... I just... I can't find a phone book... and I need to get a car..."

Tara nodded her head and walked towards her desk.

"Well here is a Chillicothe phone book... there are a few dealers listed... what did you have in mind?"

Willow thought about it for a minute. She really didn't know what to get.

"Well... I guess since I'm new to Ohio... I should get something that goes in snow..."

Tara leaned against her desk, shaking her head in agreement.

"Yeah... 4x4 is the way to go."

The two girls stood smiling at one another. Willow would have bought a pogo stick if Tara had suggested it.

"You're beautiful..."

Tara quickly ducked her head. She wasn't prepared for such sweet compliments from the gorgeous red head.

"Thank you..."

Willow walked over to where Tara sat and reached out her hand. She gently lifted the blonde's face and placed a tender kiss on her cheek.

"You're welcome..."

Tara reached out and pulled Willow closer to her. She couldn't help herself. She claimed the sweet lips in front of her oblivious to the world around her. All that existed was the two of them. Lost in each other... floating in the moment.

"Mac... you up there?"

Both girls jumped as heavy footfalls climbed the stairs.

"Did you get those..."

Doug froze when he got to the top of the stairs and found two smiling bright red faces.

"Oh... hey... I didn't... I can go... I..."

Willow stopped the babbling young man.

"Actually... I need to go..."

She held up the phone book and Doug just looked at it then at Tara. A slow smile spread across his face.

"Right..."

Willow swallowed hard and glanced over at the blushing blonde.

"Thanks for letting me borrow this... I'll bring it back... or you can stop and get it..."

Tara just nodded her head. She knew that Doug was never going to let her live this moment down.

<Oh well... he's just jealous...>

Willow headed down the steps and let out a deep breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

<What difference does it make if he knows... maybe Tara doesn't want him to know... by the look on his face it's a little late for secrets... oh well... he's probably just jealous...>

Willow took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and crossed the barn in record time. She didn't want to take any chances.

<I need both my arms to hold Tara...>

Doug crossed his long arms and smiled at the blonde.

"Not a word Douglas... not one single word..."

The tall cowboy just shrugged his shoulders and kept on smiling. Tara shuffled some papers on her desk, trying to get back into work mode but it was impossible; especially with Doug staring at her with a devilish grin.

"Looking for the phone book?"

Tara slumped her shoulders in defeat. The teasing had begun; it was going to be a long day.

<Might as well take it like a woman Maclay...>