Peach Cobbler

Stark Ridge

Bailey felt the gentle rocking of the car in her half asleep state, only allowing her eyes to timidly flutter open when the car slowed to a stop in a gravel driveway. She sleepily rubbed her eyes, hugged Mitzi close and gazed out the window, greeted with an old, but very well taken care of farm house on the edge of Stark Ridge, the rural western town they would be living in from here on out. Cows, horses and sheep grazed in the pasture next to the house, only looking up momentarily before returning to their business.

The family wasted little to no time and started to unload all of their packed belongings into the mostly empty house, stacking a good portion in the kitchen and living room. Bailey decided to take a break and explore, tiptoing up the first flight of stairs. There was the master bedroom, a full bathroom and a sewing room, then at the end of the hallway stood a steep pair of stairs. "Huh, that's strange? Aren't attics usually covered?"

Curiosity got the best of the young mare and she cautiously climbed the stairs like a latter and into the attic, which wasn't very attic like at all. There were two large windows towards the back of the house and a little porch with glass doors towards the front. She walked over to the doors and swung them open, walking out onto the little porch and squinting as late sunset glinted into her eyes. "Wow." She spoke out softly to herself, realizing everything could be seen from up here. The entire town, including the few little shops and one dinner, a saloon.. and a sheriff's office.

"Must be a pretty old fashioned place, huh girl?" She spoke to the old cat who had followed her up and begun sniffing around. It was in this moment that a tall, blonde, strikingly handsome stallion wearing a cowboy hat and a sheriff's badge rode by on a broad horse. She had never seen a man quiet like him. He looked tough in his stature, but gentle in his eyes and the way he tilted his hat at people who walked by. She took a step two many forward and toppled right over the railing with a shriek as she barreled toward the ground.

Everything happened so fast, Bailey squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for impact from the two story fall. Dust kicked up into the air just as fast as she fell and a pair of muscular arms caught her, holding her close as she shook from the initial shock of falling. When she opened her eyes, she was met with the most mesmerising sky blue eyes that made her heart skip a beat. She couldn't talk, she couldn't move and she found herself holding her breath in this moment.

The blonde stallion curtly lifted his hat off of his head and held it to his chest. "That was quite the fall, little lady. Are you alright?" He asked softly, eyes adorned with worry. "I don't reckon I've seen you around these parts either. Sounds like you're having an unlucky first day in Stark Ridge, huh?" He swung both legs to one side of the horse and slid off the saddle with the stunned mare still gently caressed in his arms. He lightly set her to her feet again and made sure she was steady before her let go. "I'm sheriff Carlisle Hudson, it's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful blossoming flower such as yourself." He set the hat back atop his head and mounted the back of the horse once more. "If you ever find yourself in a pickle again, you can reach me at the sheriff's office, miss...?"

She shook her head to try and snap herself out of spell he had put her under with those beautiful baby blues of his. "Bailey, Sir." She said softly, a rosy red blush having flushed her beautiful pale cheeks. "Thank you very much for saving me." She said gratefully, offering a timid smile to him. "Let me make it up to you sometime. I worked at a bakery before I moved here, so I could.. bake you something?" She asked as if it were a painfully stupid question and that there was instant regret in asking. However, the stallion looked pleased with this.

Chapter 2 to be continued