Natalia smiled looking as a familiar fence came into view. Her eyes looking over the abundance of mountains in the distance and the sun setting over them. She rolled down the windows to the truck allowing the familiar scent to envelope her. A grin seizing her lips from one ear to the other. Checking the rearview mirror, she finds Jax looking around as well. Turning  to her passenger seat, she nudges Cass who has fallen asleep. 

"Cass, wake up"

Cass begins sitting up while rubbing her eyes. Her eyes taking in all the details around with a look of wonder. The blonde couldn't believe how beautiful this was. Her friend really has made something for herself. The wood post with a heavy sign coming into view. Nat turns on her light signaling to turn. Jax following in suit as Nat began pulling into her driveway. Cass' eyes looking all around making Nat giggle gently. Her eyes reminding her of a kid at Christmas time. She notices a few horses in the corral and a familiar figure standing on the fence watching. She continues driving the rest of the way up to the house. 

"Holy Shit" Cass says under her breath. 

Stopping the truck. Both girls get out as Nat looks around. Cass' jaw is slacked looking at the masterpiece her friend calls a home. All stone work. It has the true feel of a southern ranch. It was beautiful but not in an overbearing way. 

"Guys, welcome to my home"

Cass snaps her mouth shut and looks over to find Jax also looking on in awe. They go to question her but a young man runs up to them before they can. Nat turns to find Miguel running to her. He has been a good friend of the family for so long and recently moved here. 

"Mrs., Shadow is.." He leans over taking a breath while pointing over his shoulder. Nat understands without words and walks around the winded young man. Cass and Jax trailing behind. 

She is leading them to the barn where Nat can hear the familiar nays of her best friend. She also can hear some of the workers trying to soothe the creature. She gets to the entrance and holds her hand out signaling the two following to not move forward. Jax and Cass look at each other in confusion but listen regardless. A high whistle escapes Natalia's lips before everything goes silent. She does it one more time and that is when they see it. A black very large stallion standing at the other end. Nat stands still as Shadow looks to her in question. 

"Nat, what are you-"

Cass' questions dying on her lips as the large beast charges towards them. Her feet wanting to run but her muscles remaining frozen. Jax goes to step in front of Nat but a hand grabs his arm. He turns to find the young man shaking his head repeatedly at him. He turns back just in time to see the large dark beast about to plow Nat. 

Nat keeps her eyes locked on Shadow as the angry boy charges at her. As soon as he gets right in front of her, he stops. His hooves freezing him less than a foot away from her. His face only an inch from her own. Nat does not bow and looks directly in his eyes. After a minute, he finally gives in placing his head to hers. Nat gently raises her hands to clasp her boy's face securely in her palms. 

"Damn"

Jax says not meaning to but he has never seen a horse behave like this one. He stopped directly in front of Natalia. The beast could have easily over powered her but he didn't. Nat had obviously made a connection with the stallion. His size easily double hers. He continued watching as Nat rubbed his neck before hugging him. The horse huffing out his nose. 

Cass couldn't believe her eyes. Jesus! She was terrified and yet her friend didn't even sweat it. Nat looked over her shoulder to her with a small smile holding out her hand, Cass slowly reached out for it while eyeing the gigantic horse. 

"Cass, this is Shadow... my baby."

Cass watched as the horse eyed her carefully. Cass had to breath to keep herself from fainting as her shaky hand reach up to the terrify creature. Her hand touching the hair of his neck. She kept looking at it before gently stroking it. 'Shadow' allowed her and didn't move making Cass relax slightly. 

Jax stood back but those hypnotic chocolate eyes turned to him next making him fall into their never ending depths. Her lips pulling up into a soft smile as she reached out to him next. He allowed her to pull him to the horse before he stroked it as well. 

"Thank you Mrs."

Miguel said breathing easier. Nat turned giving him a smirk and a nod. Nat walked around clicking her tongue making both of the newcomers look to her. 

"I'll be back in a moment. Miguel, will you help with my guests bags. Put their things in the guest rooms closest to mine. I'll show them around."

"Yes Ms. Thornton" 

She braced both hands on Shadow's back before jumping and throwing her leg over effectively straddling the dark beauty. Both Cass and Jax step back looking to her. 

"I'll be right back guys, just need to grab something"

With that she takes off like a bullet leaving them to watch the dust kick up. Jax began walking back towards the car as his eyes went to the stallion and it's riders backside. Cass following behind slowly still looking around. 

"Miss?"

She turns to the man named 'Miguel'. "Yes?"

"Ar-Are you Cassie Lyndel?" She nodded gently as the man seemed to have become star struck. "It's an honor to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you to Miguel."

The young man blushes and turns to open the tailgate of the truck. Cass goes to the passenger seat to grab her purse. Miguel then goes back to the car to help with Jax' bags whose eyes are still set elsewhere. 

Nat smiled as the wind whipped her hair around. She basked in the feeling as Shadow led her to the corral. He coming to stop a few feet from a dark brooding figure. 

"Hey Stranger"

"Who you calling stranger?" Nat grins as the man turns around crossing his arms looking up at her. "Pretty sure I've met you before."

"Grab Oakley, we have guest." 

Keith turns back around and whistles making the brown mare lift her head before trotting over to him. He opens the gate allowing her to step through to him. He swings his leg over her back before they both take off to the house. Keith raising a brow at the slick car parked behind the familiar blue truck. 

"I see Luke made the trip"

"Haha" Natalia says dryly causing Keith to smirk. 

They both get close enough to swing back off the horses patting them as a worker leads them back away. Shadow resisting slightly until Nat clicks her tongue. They then walk into their home where Nat leads Keith upstairs to the bedrooms. Miguel walking by them giving a nod before heading out. Keith follows her wondering who came home with her. Nat gently presses the door open across from her own. Jax lifting his head from his bag. 

"Jax, this is my brother Keith. Keith, this is Jackson Fillmore"

Jackson walks around to take his hand. They have some similarities but not as many as he predicted. His hair the same thick dark brown but where Natalia has chocolate eyes, her brother seem lighter. He is tall and has a defined jaw. While he inspects Keith, he does the same. Keith was surprised that this city slicker was in their home. He doesn't look like he belongs. It was when he looked at Natalia that he understood why he was here. 

"Nice to meet you Keith."

"Same here Mr. Fillmore."

The men shook hands but Keith still stayed on the defensive side wanting to see this further. Nat nudged his shoulder before turning around. Both men continued looking at each other for a moment before Keith turned and followed his sister out. 

Cass squealed as she turned to find Nat walking into the room. The blonde bundling over to her hugging and jumping at the same time. Nat rolled her eyes but was still smiling. It was when Cass froze that Nat turned to find both men standing in the door way. 

"Keith this is Cassie-"

"Lyndel... I know who she is." Keith extends a hand out to her while Cass remains frozen. Nat laughing at her. She is practically drooling. "It's nice to meet you."

After a hard nudge from her side, Cass stepped to the model before her. Only thought she had was the pictures did NOT due him justice. "Cassie"

He smirks at her making her practically collapse on the spot. He takes her hand shaking it while rubbing the back of her hand. "Keith"

"Alright Cass... how bout a tour of the house."

Cass nods but keeps looking at Keith. Jesus, she was going to faint. Nat took her hand chuckling as she pulled her towards the door. Her eyes finally leaving his however his eyes remained locked on her. Nat takes Jax' hand as well leading them around the estate. Cass felt amazed by the home and the feeling it gave of comfort, and love.

They settled down in the kitchen where Jax and Keith sat at the table drinking a beer while Cass sat at the bar watching Nat whip up something. It smelt heavenly. Nat stirred the rice while checking on the chicken. 

"Talia, how much longer sis?"

"Soon Keith" She says amused. Her brother never had any patience. 

"Alright, how is everyone related here?" Keith ask gesturing his hand between them all. Cass grins turning back around to the food. Jax looks to the girls who are only smiling but not saying anything. He turns back to Keith. 

"I am Cassie's agent."

"So you are here for her?" 

"Not entirely." His eyes glancing to Nat who winks and turns back to the oven. A small smile tugging at his lips. 

"What he is trying to say is that he is also dating your sister."

"CASS!"

Nat whips her head to her friend. The room going quiet. Nat doesn't look to her brother knowing he is already staring at her. Jax looks to Keith who slowly turns his gaze to him. He stays silent and sitting while Keith stares at him before gulping the beer. No words being exchanged. 

"Me and Nat met in university years back. She has been my best friend ever since." 

Cass says trying to break the silence. After a moment Keith turns to her. 

"So she was telling the truth?" Keith gets up allowing Jax to exhale slowly and swig his beer. Keith comes to stand up beside Nat who continues to look at the dinner. Keith leans back against the counter while leaning over to his sister. "We will talk about this later."

His words low making Nat nod as he kisses her head in return. He stands back up getting the plates out. Cass getting up to help if needed. Keith goes back to the table as a silent stare continues between the two men. The girls quickly make the plates bringing them over. Both men thanking them as they all sit down. They all dive in while Keith ask more questions. None of which involve both Nat and Jax. He plans on talking to his sister in private before discussing this further. 

After dinner, Nat leads her guest back upstairs before coming back down to help Keith with the dishes. Her falling into place beside him. He washes, she rinses and dries the dishes. A few moments of silence passing between the pair. 

"Care to tell me what's goin on between you and Mr. City?"

"Don't be like that Keith..." She exhales the words in a low voice. "He has taken me on a date, and that's it... currently."

"So you are hoping for something further?" He pauses looking to her. She shrugs. 

"He lives a completely different life from me... I can't hope for anything."

"You like him" Keith says going back to scrubbing. Nat doesn't say anything further for a moment. Keith sighs, "I won't intervene sis."

"I appreciate that."

"Just... be careful. You're still my baby sis."

"I will always be your baby sis."

Keith chuckles as he drains the water turning to her. She rinses the final dish before laying it down and facing him. He pulls her in for a hug before kissing her forehead. Nat sighs and lays her head against his chest. 

"Love you Talia"

"Love you too Keith"