Chapter 1: Hello

Today is my first day coming to Valley Rose Farm. I never thought that a city girl like me would end up turning country and owning a horse of my own. Ever since I was a little girl I always loved horses but thought the country life was outragous. I never actually planned on owning a horse until my older brother, Luke, decided he would surprise me on my birthday with one.
My horse's name is Excalibur, a solid black Arabian geilding. He was rescued and he isn't very fond of males. Though he is an Arab, he doesn't really have the look of one. In his past home a group of teenage boys would beat him because they didn't know how to break him for riding. They thought that beating him would work, but it only made him angry and afraid of the boys. One of the boys was sent to the hospital from being kicked by Excalibur. Surprisingly, he trusted Luke just enough to get him away from that horrible home.
Luke has issues. He has a very short temper and thinks he is a grade A badass, yet deep down he's a big softie. Everyone thinks he is just a rich kid who just needs to be taught some lessons, but with me being his lilttle sister I know the real reason he is the way he is. My dad has never had anything to do with him and my mom is always hard on him. It hurts me to see what he goes through but our little brother and I always try to keep his mind off of it.
Our younger brother's name is Daniel. He is very shy around females but is really sweet. I just can't wait to meet the woman he ends up falling in love with because I am sure she will be just amazing as he is. With the singing and guitar playing talent he has I am surprised he doesn't already have lots of girls all over him like Luke. Although Luke only has looks, he has no talent whatsoever.
"Rosalie, look," Luke said as we turned into the driveway at Valley Rose Farm.
I looked out the window to find horses grazing in the field, a big stables, and guys gathered by a catching pen with a white horse running around in it while another one was trying to catch it. When we parked the truck and trailer Luke got out and started talking to them. I just stood behind him with my arms crossed, looking at the ground.
"hey guys, whose horse is that?" Luke asked as he put one foot on the bottom rail of the pen and leaned against the side of it as the rest were.
"Well Marcy and Frank wanted us to break this mare for a friend of theirs. The only problem is we can't catch her to take her to the arena," said the guy to Luke's left.
"Oh, well I brought my little sister and her horse here to meet everyone," Luke said as he turned around.
All the guys turned around and looked at me.
"Hi. I'm Rosalie," I said as I raised one hand and blushed.
They all gave a tilt of their hat to me and turned back to the horse. Luke walked up to me.
"How about we take Excalibur to his stall and then I'll show you around," he said as he sat his hands on my shoulders.
I shook my head to say OK and we walked to the trailer. He lowered the ramp and I got Excalibur to back out. We hurried to get him to his stall in the stables because of all the men around. Once we got him in his stall he pressed his muzzle gently against my shoulder and nickered as I took off his halter and lead rope. I patted his neck and sat them on a hook. I turned back to Excalibur.
"I think we will love it here, what do you think?" I asked him as I pet his nose.
He shook his head as if he understood me. I smiled.
"I have to go now boy, but I'll be back," I said as I kissed his nose and left the stall, closing the door behind me.
He walked up to the stall door and looked out, watching me as I left. Luke was waiting in the entrance of the stables, leaning against the wall with his back.
"Ready?" he asked with a smile.
"Yeah," I said, smiling back at him.
We hopped in the back of his truck and sped off, leaving the rest of the guys in a cloud of dust.
"So uh, I see that you and Excalibur have already hit it off and are really close," he said.
I smiled.
"Well he does love women and he trusts me so, yeah,"
"I guess we will have to keep the mares and fillies away huh?" he said, winking at me.
I playfully punched his arm and he laughed. He showed me the head owener's house, his place, the arena and finally the place I would be staying. After that he drove us back to the stables and dropped me off.
"Hey, tomorrow I'm taking you to get a truck so be ready," he said as I opened the door.
I smiled at him.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Okay, thannks Like, you're an awesome big brother," I said, getting out of the truck.
"anything to make my little sister hapy. I put Ex's tack in the stables, you should find it,"
"okay," I said as I closed the foor and walked ino the stables.
I got some brushed and combs and took them to Ex's stall and began grooming him. I softly spoke to him and petted him.
"Nice horse you got there," said a voice at Ex's stall door.
It was a tall man with darnk brownish black hair, tanned skin, brown eyes and he had the cutest smile I had ever seen, other than Daniel's.
"Thanks, his name is Excalibur," "Mind if I- ?" He asked. "Go ahead, but he doesn't really like males," "Agh, just watch this," he said as he opened the stall door. "Hi Excalibur," he said as he held out his hand and let Ex smell it. Ex smelled it and gently sat his nose acceptingly into the man's palm. The man scratched Ex's forehead. "So what's your name, mister?" I asked. "Oh, I'm Troy. What's yours Ma'm?" "Rosalie, Luke is my older brother. He got me Excalibur and brought me here from the city." "Oh okay, well did he show you around?" "yup," "Good. Uh, wanna go riding? I can get my horse Apollo and I'll show you some trails and stuff you might like," "Do you think Ex would be up to it after just getting here?" I asked as I softly patted my horse. "Yeah! I'm sure he will love it," I looked to the floor. How do I tell him I don't know how to tack up? "What's wrong?" He asked. "I don't know how to tack up," I said as I looked up at him. "Oh! I'll show you! I'll go get Apollo, meet me near the tacking area. Hook Excalibur to the rings in the posts," he said as he exited the stall.