Abby stared at the sky, watching the clouds move against the fading blue colors. She wished someone loved her right. Gavin was just for show. He was evil on the inside. She texted him, telling him she was done in the nicest way possible, because that was just how she was. She didn't say "I'm done " and leave. She gave them time. "I think I need to restart. New me. I need some time. Can you give me that?" His response was "anything sweety. Call me when your ready" she shook her head. "That will never happen" she whispered

Ryker finally got up, finding some hamurger helper and frozen meat. He started the noodles to boil in pan and the deer meat in a seperate pan, turning on the burner. After that he went to go get changed into something more comfortable- a simple black t-shirt and dark blue pajama like pants... he wouldn't be leaving his humble abode again, anyway. After everything was done cooking he dished himself up a plate and sat down to eat, memories running through his mind.

Because Abby was in the silence of the oncoming night, she sang softly. Her heart raced as she continued on, her voice growing louder and louder as she sang. She loved singing, but was extremely insecure about her voice.

Ryker finished eating quickly, washing his dish and cleaning the table. Afterwards he was at a crossroad... he wanted to go outside and get some cool air, but he was a weird guy that was quite insecure about his body which meant... the mere thought of going outside in his pajama pant things was utterly unacceptable. However, he needed fresh air, especially to think about if this was the right stable for him or not. It wasn't like he didn't have a shirt on or anything. Plus no one would be awake at this time. Ryker made up his mind with a small sigh, opening the door silently and going to sit on the small porch. He stared into the starry sky for a while, silently, before he heard a small noise that quickly grew louder... his adept hearing helped him understand what it was. A rather beautiful female voice, slowly singing into the night. He tilted his head slightly to listen.. whoever it was they had a good voice. No one could seem to get over his thick country voice with his weird southern accent... whenever he sang it sounded like a Toby Keith concert. Raised in the south- wasn't his fault. Ryker closed his eyes to listen to the medley, the dark night hiding both him and the singer. At this point he didn't really care... it was helping his thoughts slide away into nothing.

Love me some Toby Keith!!!)

-

Abby sighed at the end of the song, doing a weird yet beautiful round of notes, each fading into each other in a perfect sound that even she was surprised at. She let her voice go until she couldn't breath. She got up and jumped around, her sweatshirt flopping around like a fish. She took off running towards the barn. "I did it Fly!" She said. The light hit her just right as she came into the barn. All of the other horses were asleep, but Fly was wide awake, listening to every note. She sighed. "Need a lullaby again tonight baby girl?" Abby let herself into the mares stall, settling down on the hay, preparing for another night in her stall. Fly wouldn't go to sleep without her sometimes, and if she tries to leave, she would wake back up. It all started because when Cast Away was born, he was taken to be cared for because of his health. Fly had a time and the only one willing to stay was Abby. Since then they had a strong bond. Abby laid her head on Fly, who had settled into the hay. Abby sang softly, careful not to wake anyone else. She smiled through the song. "Twinkle twinkle little star". She sang it slower and sweeter, giving it a calming type sound

(I know. In my opinion, he is one of the best country singers EVER)

+++

Ryker let out a slow breath at the melodious sound... he was quite surprised with how the notes perfectly blended together. He was much more of a country song guy... singing Should've Been A Cowboy was probably the best voice thing he had ever done. Almost drifting off to sleep, even after the voice disappeared... well, grew very faint, Ry suddenly heard a loud banging. "Nooooo Serpant! You'll wake up the whole stable!" He groaned, jumping up and running up the hill. He jogged into the barn, not even seeing Abby, and opened the stallion's stall door. "Hey dude, shhhh. You're okay." He quietly soothed the stallion, who was throwing a fit. "I know you don't like new places. Hopefully this one will be semi-permanent, though.. I know we've been moving around a lot." The sound of Ry's voice seemed to calm Serpant, who settled down and stopped spinning around frantically. Ryker let out a sigh of relief and sank down against the stall, but as soon as he did Serpant started pawing again. "Hey, bud.. calm dooowwwnnn..." The man groaned a little, resigning to his fate. "Should've been a cowboy... should've learned to rope and ride.. I'd be wearing my six shooter ridin my pony on a cattle drive... stealin them young girls hearts... just like jean and roy, singing those campfire songs.. oh I should've been a cowboy..." His soft, southern voiceslowly went through the chorus before switching. "Nibblin' on sponge cake... watching the sun bake ... all of those tourists, covered in oil.... strumming my six string... on the front porch swing... smell those shrimp hey they're beginnin to boil. Wasted away again in Margaritaville.... searching for myyy lost shaker of salt.. some people say that there's a women to blame.... but I know.... it's all your fault..." Ryker smiled a little at the end, for Serpant was out like a lamp. "All your fault buddy. Have a nice rest." He murmured, sinking back against the stall door again and letting his head rest against it.

Abby heard the horse explode and shrieked. She stayed pressed against the stall, breathing heavily. Fly was awake but didn't move. Abby slowed her breathing when a deep country voice began singing. She was almost asleep when the song changed. She took deep breaths, calming herself down. She stood, and she second she did, Fly Away did too. The mare pushed her head over the stall door and nickered to the stallion. Abby peeked over the door in the direction that the voice was coming from. The new stallion's stall.

Serpant sleepily lifted his head and quietly whinnied back to the mare, to which Ryker opened one eye and frowned. "Some people say that there's a woman to blame... but I know... it my own fault....." He voice trailed off after the simple sentence. The stallion had fallen asleep for real this time, but Ryker sat, awake, thinking about the last words. "it's my own darn fault.." he repeated in a whisper, his mind flashing back to the years of being told it was his fault. Everything that happened was his fault, apparently. He dropped his head between his knees and closed his eyes, wishing he could just.. slip away into the darkness of his mind, fall asleep, forget all the memories.

Abby looked around when the voice appeared again. "Is anyone there? Stupid question. Who's there?" She kept her eyes just above the door frame so she could see. Fly seemed to dot eh same, pulling her head half way in and lowering to Abby's height. She giggled at the mare and kissed her muzzle, temporarily forgetting that someone was in the barn. When she remembered, she dropped back down to her watching position.

Ryker's head jerked up and smacked into the stall door as he was IMMENSELY startled by a voice. "Youch!" He yelped, rubbing the back of his head as he stood, immediately 100 percent embarrassed that someone had been in here while he was singing those songs. When he saw Abby's face in the other stall, his face practically drained of all color, like there was a plug in the bottom that was suddenly pulled out. "Oh it... is you. Sorry for the terrible singing I just needed Serpant to go to sleep... um.. when he was a foal there was a big barn fire and I got him out but he was terrified so he doesn't like to go in new barns now but there was a radio outside and it played those 2 songs and they calmed him so whenever I want him to go to sleep I sing them because I don't own a radio. I apologize again for the annoyance- I'll just.... go." He tried to explain quickly, stepping out of the stall and turning to leave, his head ducked.