Yes! Finally the fun part!!!
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I stretch my arms above my head and yawn. I'd just finished up what I now consider my daily chores, which was really just taking care of Melody and Chirp. Now I was working on getting my stuff ready to ship. I turn at the sound of hooves against the path and spot Georgia and Whisper coming up the lane.

"Whisper!" I shout, rushing up to them and looping my arms around her neck. I hear Georgia laugh and turn to her, grinning, "I thought you said I couldn't have her back for another week?"

"Yes, well she's been moody ever since ya left an I'd thought it best if ya be the one to help her heal." She pats the horses side and she neighs in agreement. "Besides she's not hurt to seriously, if ya go easy on her ya can still ride her, I bet she can even pull a small cart if ya careful. She's got spirit, it's not like she's resten like I told her to anyways."

I smile, yup, that sounds like Whisper, her attitude was bigger than my new house. "Thanks for taking care of her Georgia!"

"Of course, oh, and the mayor set up an old cart with what belongings could be salvaged from the crash. Ya should take Whisper up there, she should handle it just fine."

"Kay, I'll go check it out than, see you later Georgia."

"Bye!" She turned away and set off down the path again. Whisper let out a neigh of goodbye before bumping my shoulder with her snout.

"Yes, yes." I laughed, "I'll take you out in a minute! Patience my friend." She huffed and began nibbling on the grass. I finished packing up Melody's milk and Chirps egg, along with a few herbs and wild flowers I'd found to ship. Pleased with my load I swung up into the saddle Georgia had put back on. It was my favorite, a gift from a friend. It had pretty red flowers engraves on the soft leather straps. I smiled, completely at ease and feeling truly at home. I whistled and Whisper set off in a soft trot, hardly jarring me at all.

I listened as her hooves clip clopping on the hot coble stones baking in the noon day sun, a soft wind weaving though my hair. I stopped at the shipping bin to drop off my cargo before swinging back up and continueing.

"Hey, Lillian!!!" My attention jerks to the left and I spot Ash waving at me, "Care for a break?"

"Sure!" I guide Whisper to the fence and hop off not bothering to tether her down as I trust her completely.

I swing over the fence and find Ash eyeing her warily. "Whats wrong?" I ask frowning.

"Oh, um, it's just horses are, uh, kindofintimidating." He slurs the last three words together tugging his hat over his eyes.
I blink, surprised, sorting the words in my mind, "Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

He blushes, embarrassed, "No. Mom always said they were dangerous."

I nod in agreement and he looks up at me shocked, "Yes, some horses are dangerous. Whisper however would never hurt anyone and moves gentler than most. If you want, I could teach you how to ride."

"Um, I don't know, I'd probably just be a waste of your time." He hides his eyes again.

"Come on Ash, you love animals don't you?" He nods, wary of what I'm going to say. "Well than why don't you finish up a bit earlier today, I'll come by and help you clean up. Than I'll show you how to ride." I smile, trying to reassure him.

"Okay, I guess." he digs his one foot into the dirt, still unsure.

"Great! I'll go tell your Mom and convince Cheryl to let me steal you for the night!"

I hop back over the fence and pull myself up in the saddle before he can disagree, "I gotta go pick something up first- See you later Ash!" I set Whisper in a trot and hear him splutter behind me, stumbling over his words but I'm out of earshot before he can back out.

Grinning I swing off Whisper and step into the town hall.
"Hey, Rutger! Georgia said you managed to save some of my stuff?"

The old man glanced up from his papers, "Why yes I did, I know it's not much but we did find a few of your scattered belongings, I'm afraid some must have fallen into the river and been carried away, while others were just in shards."

"It's alright," I shrug, "I didn't really own anything important anyway." It was disappointing but I'd live.

"I'm sorry anyway, I everything is loaded on an old cart outside, you may keep the cart since yours was destroyed," He raised a hand when I opened my mouth to disagree about keeping the cart, "It's perfectly fine, consider it another house warming gift. It's not much anyway, practically falling apart and no one was using it."

"Thank you!" I run around the counter and hug him.

"Of course Lillian, if you need anything else just stop bye." He returned my hug before stepping back, chuckling, "Now, off with you, I'm sure you have more interesting things than chatting with an old man like me."

Giggling I waved goodbye, "Thanks again Rutger." The door swung closed behind me and I spotted the old cart, it wasn't in too bad shape and I hitched Whisper to it easily. I turned us around, touching Whisper's flanks with my heals to set her into a steady, strong trot, as I passed the café I glanced at the empty stand outside of it. Cheryl had said something about flowers and a Cam? I wonder where this Cam is....

I guided Whisper all the way back to my house, I'd talk to Ash's family after I unpacked, it was only around one o'clock now, I still had time. I unhitched the cart right in front of the door and began to unpack, letting Whisper graze with Melody.

My linens and red quilt were safe and I found my pot, pan, and cutting board bundled inside a spare blanket. I also found an old set of clothes I'd always used as pajamas but aside from that it looked like I didn't have anything else to wear. Thank goodness the Mayor's Wife made me a new set of clothes. I also found a few plates and bowls, but not as many as I had packed so these must've been the survivors who walked away with only a chip or two. I also found my old radio, a few books, and my calendar. I flipped though it and discovered Rutger must have put all the festival dates and everyone's birthdays in it for me.

I smiled at the act of kindness setting the tablet on a shelf inside the door. Surprisingly my flower vase also survived the crash, I'd find some flowers for it later. I dusted off my hands, this crash thing made unpacking a whole lot easier.

I went back outside out side and whistled for Whisper who shook her mane in mock irritation and trotted up to me. I slipped the saddle off, figuring Ash would do better bare back with me then in the small saddle alone. I swung up on her back and wove my fingers in her mane. Clicking my toung, I signaled that she could start. Whisper began prancing down the path. I could feel her excitement, she loved to be out of the saddle and free of a cart wasn't a bad thing either. I grinned, truthfully I prefer bare back too, it just felt like I was more connected to her. She had me back in front of Ash's home in minutes, I left her out front, not wanting Ash to see me so he could back out. I slipped inside and found them just beginning to clear off the counter to close up shop.

"Oh, Lillian! Did you need something sweetie?" Jessica turned away from tallying the day's sales, "I can squeeze you in before we close if you'd like."

"No, it's fine I don't need anything. I was just wondering if it was okay if I stole Ash for the evening, he asked me to teach him how to ride horses," sort of, "I can help him finish up his work and if he misses diner he can just eat at my house."

Jessica beamed at me, "That sounds fine, I'm not overly fond of horses but I'm sure you too can handle it."

Cheryl looked up at me, her eyebrows knit, "You said you wouldn't steal Ash." Her pig tails seemed to droop.

I kneeled down to her and put my hands on my shoulders, "I'm not stealing him," I leaned forward and explained how his schedule would work. She beamed at me when I finished. "So can I borrow him in the evenings sometimes?"

"Sure!" Cheryl turned a began to lug away the counter supplies to the shelf behind her.

I straightened and Jessica gave me a look.
"I have no idea how you managed to convince her to share Ash but I'm impressed."

I winked at her, "Oh, you know. I just worked something out. Ash might not like it though." I giggled and she shook her head.

"I had no part in this, I don't want to know."

"You got it." I waved to her as I went back out side.

"Hey Ash!" I called out as I pulled myself onto the top of the fence, "Ready to finish up?"

He glanced up at me, "You're serious about this?"

"Of course!" I say hopping down, "Lets finish up your chores so we can start."

"You got permission from my mom?"

"Yup, all settled." I smiled at him, "Now come on, lets finish your chores." I began helping him guide the animals back into the barn. The chickens had gone in by themselves and the sheep went in immediately. One cow, Spots I think Ash called her, didn't want to go in and it took both of us pushing and calling to finally get her in the barn.

I smiled mischievously at him when we finished, "Now than, lets go!" I grabbed his hand and hauled him over to the fence. He tugged his hat nervously but still followed me.

"Come on Whisper." I called out, "We'll practice by the tunnel, there should be enough space there."

"Okay."Ash squeezed his eyes shut before falling instep beside me, I had one hand on Whispers side so she'd know where to go.

"Hey, how did you tell Cheryl unscathed?" He asked, turning towards me puzzled.

"Oh, I just told her you'd spend the whole day Wednesday playing with her."

"You what?" He asked, startled.

"I promised her you'd spend your day off with her." I smiled at him, "Come on, isn't it worth it? I have you for the next couple of evenings, that should be enough time to catch the basics than you can try whenever you feel like it."

"I suppose it's okay, I do like a little time to myself on my days off but I'll live this one time."

"Don't forget next week!"

His head snapped up, "Next week too?"

"Yeah, better not let her down, she seemed really excited about it."

Ash jabbed my side with a finger, shaking his head at me, "You, you are pure evil."

I cocked my head in mock confusion, "I thought you'd love to play leap frog all day on your only day off during the week with your little sister."

Ash's shoulders started shaking with laughter as he tried not to let it out, in the end he failed miserably, "Fine, but you have to play with us."

My eyes widened, "You wouldn't."

He smirked, "Better not let her down." He said in a sing songy voice.

I sighed, "I should've made precautions against this."

"It's impossible, say goodbye to your next two Wednesdays."

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I had a lot of fun writing this part, hope you enjoyed it! As promised I worked to get this done so it can finally 'start'. Feel free to comment and tell me your thoughts!
Oh, and thanks for reading!