Jacob had been in Nevada for three weeks now. He and James were asleep in their room when they heard their sister Ginny burst through the front door. She had been out on a date with her boyfriend Shawn that night, So David had stayed up waiting for her. She began to shout excitedly. Hearing the commotion, the twins ran down stairs to see what she was excited about. David was grinning, and Alex was crying as she was holding Ginny's left hand.

"What the heck is all the noise about?" They heard Peter groan behind them. He pushed past the twins and stopped dead in his tracks.

"No." He said staring at Ginny. James and Jacob pushed past him and stopped when saw the glittering diamond on Ginnys ring finger.

By this time, everyone was awake and crowding around their oldest sister. Ginny was beaming from ear to ear.

"We've never met this 'Shawn' How do you know we can trust him?" Peter asked folding his arms.

"You'll get the chance to meet him tomorrow night. The Johnson's are throwing a shin dig to celebrate." She said smiling. Peter glared at her.

"Peter, you're to be nice to him." Alex said glaring at her oldest son. She then told everyone to go back to bed, and that they'd discuss it all in the morning. All of them grudgingly went upstairs back to bed.

"Have you met Shawn?" Jacob asked his twin as they laid there in silence. He heard James scoff in the darkness.

"No, but I know his sister. They live down the road. If Shawn is anything like Daniella, we're in for a big surprise." He said. Jacob bit his lip and rested his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.

"Well, I guess we'll meet them all tomorrow."

***

They set out to their chores that morning, finishing them quickly so they could have time to play. Ginny was already fussing about getting ready. She had somehow turned into their mother over night. She yelled at James at the table to not slouch, and at Jacob to brush his hair, saying it looked like a rats nest. Peter was ignoring her all that morning, until she told him to take a shower and he began to yell back saying she wasn't in charge of him. They refused to speak to each other the rest of the day.

That evening, the whole family piled into two of the cars they owned, and headed down the road a few miles to the Johnson's barn. Lights were strung up inside the barn and they could hear music playing and people chatting. Jacob stuck close to James as they all left to join the crowd of neighbors gathered around the huge bonfire that was lit in their front yard next to the barn. Jewel refused to let Jacob's hand go, so he sat down on a log with Jewel on his lap as Shawns father stood up on a mounting block to speak to the crowd. They all quieted down and focused on him.

"Tonight, we are gathered to celebrate the engagement between..." Jacob heard nothing after that. His eyes wandered over to the side of the barn, where a girl around sixteen was leaning up against the wall. Her gaze was focused on Mr. Johnson, but she couldn't help but glance over at Jacob. The second she did, she blushed deeply and looked away. Jacob smiled as he saw her blush in the dim lighting. She had brown hair that hung in curls over her shoulders. She had a slightly buttoned nose and her nose and cheeks were lightly dusted with freckles. Even from the distance, Jacob could see her sparkling brown eyes. She wore a brown cowgirl hat the shadowed half her face, and a blue plaid shirt that she had tied up around her waist, showing her flat stomach, She a pair of brown cowboy boots that matched her hat. And to tie it all together, her cuttoff jeans showed her tan legs.

Jacob was dumbstruck by her beauty. Normally he would have never thought he would fall for a country girl, but she was beautiful. He didn't realize he was staring until Jewel nudged him with her sharp little elbow.

"Why are you staring at Brook?" She whispered. Jacob could feel himself blushing as she followed his gaze. He turned back to Shawns dad, but couldn't help but think about that girl, Brook.

"...So let's party!" Jacob heard Mr. Johnson yell. Everyone cheered and headed into the barn, where the music started playing songs Jacob had never heard of. He had occasionally heard Ginny listening to them in her room, and his mother played them on the country station in the car. He'd never be able to get away from this music! This song was pretty catchy though. Everyone began to line dance, and Jacob stood off to the side watching as his family joined in. Jewel grabbed his hand and pulled him into the dance.

"I don't know how, Jewel!" He said to her over the music. She smiled.

"Follow my lead!" she said back. This was unbelievable, He was learning how to dance from his nine year old sister. He guessed it could be worse, it could be Alex teaching him, which would be down right embarrassing.

Towards the middle of it, he finally caught onto it all. The next song was called Cotton Eye Joe, and Jewel said if he didn't pick this one up fast, he was a slow learner, which hurt coming from her. But lucky for him, he picked it up super fast. By the end, Jacob was exhausted, and so he and Jewel sat down on some hay bales around the outside of the barn.

"You're in love with Brook, aren't you?" Jewel asked grinning. Jacob rolled his eyes, but blushed still.

"I don't even know her!" He said.

"Well James knows her. Don't twins have mind connections so you know everything he knows? Meaning you've technically met her too?" Jewel asked. Jacob stared at her for a moment.

"Although that would be awesome, no." He said bluntly. Jewel folded her arms and stuck her chin up higher.

"Then you need to go meet her!" She said standing. She took his hand and dragged him across the dance floor over to where Brook was talking with two other girls. They were pretty, but Brook caught his eye more. Jewel stopped in front of them and gave them a grin showing her missing front teeth.

"Brook, Lily, Daniella, this is my brother Jacob." And with that being said, Jewel ran off too Peter, leaving Jacob standing awkwardly in front of the three girls.

"Sorry, about that..." He began, but Brook smiled, showing her perfect teeth and two dimples. All Jacob could think was, she was perfect.

"Don't be, we all love Jewel." She said. Jacob smiled a bit.

"I'm Jacob." He said. She nodded.

"Brook." She said simply. Unknown to the two of them, Lily and Daniella slipped away, leaving them alone. "So, You're James' twin?" She asked. He smiled a bit.

"How'd you know?" He asked sarcastically. She let out a small giggle and smiled.

"Maybe it's the fact that you have the same faces, but it could be because James wouldn't shut up about you last time I saw him." She said. He nodded a bit.

"He's a cool brother. I didn't even know I had siblings until three weeks ago, So I'm pretty excited I have seven." He said. She nodded a bit.

"Yeah, I bet. I have one sister. She's in college right now. But She's coming back for Ginny's wedding." She said. He nodded. Just then, a new song started and Mr. Johnson stood up with a microphone.

"Grab a partner!" He said. Brooks eyes lit up as she glanced over at Jacob.

"Do...do you want to dance with me?" He asked. She smiled and nodded.

"Do you know how to square dance, city boy?" She teased. He shook his head and she let out a small laugh. "Well, it is my job then to teach you." She took his wrist and dragged him over to the dance floor where they all got into groups of four pairs. The girls were all on the right side facing the boys who were opposite of them. Jacob stood next to James, who was partnered with Brooks friend Lily. Mr. Johnson started it off telling them to bow to their partner. Everyone in the barn bowed to their partner and then it all began. Jacob followed Brooks lead, although Mr. Johnson was calling out all the moves, some he had no idea what they meant. By the end of the song, the two of them were laughing at how bad he was. The two of them sat down on the hay bales and laughed and talked about their lives. Towards ten that night, Alex left with the younger kids, much to Jewels dislike. But Mil, Jacob, James and Peter got to stay with David and Ginny. About ten minutes after Alex left, Jacob saw David get a call on his phone. He looked pale after talking to who ever was on the phone. He then came over to where Brook and Jacob were talking.

"Jake, we gotta go." He said. Jacob stood.

"Does Mom want us back at home?" He asked. David shook his head.

"I have to go into town. Two mares got too close to Spanish Springs. They both got hit. I have to go assess the damage." He said. He then looked to Brook.

"Your father has asked me bring you with me. He's on the scene

too." He said. Brook nodded and stood. David went and rounded up the rest of Jacobs siblings, accept for Ginny. He wanted her to stay with the Johnson's until they returned. They all piled up into the truck. They were all crowded in so Jacob was squished inbetween Mil and Brook, though he didn't mind.

It took them forty five minutes to reach the site where police tape was everywhere and they could see a car that was crumpled and there were ambulences and police cars everywhere. David stopped the truck and hopped out, bringing his gun with him.

"What does David acctually do?" Jacob asked. James looked awefully pale.

"He works for the BLM or the Bureau Land Management. If something happens to the mustangs, like getting hit by a car, for instance, it's his job to look at the damage, and take care of it. Whether it's shooting the horse, or bringing it in and taking care or

it." He explained. Jacob felt his stomach drop as David looked over the two mares that were lying on the ground.

"By the look of these two, they're goners." Peter said bitterly. Jacob shivered as he felt Brook slip her hand into his as they watched David examine the two mares. He turned back to the truck and waved his hand, beckoning them to come out of the truck. Brook was still clinging to Jacobs hand as they approached the police tape.

"James, go get the black halter and lead rope out of the bed of the truck." David said. Jacobs twin nodded and ran off, so returning with the halter and lead rope. David indicated for him to approach the bay mare. James slipped under the tape and slowly approached her as if she could attack him at any moment.

"Hey! Kid, get outta here!" Yelled an officer.

"It's alright, officer Clark, he's my son." David said. Officer Clark nodded once and went on his way. "Be nice and easy, Jay." David said to James. James had obviously done this before. He threw the lead rope over her neck and she let out a warning neigh. She tried to stand, but her wounded leg refused to let her get up. James took a step closer and she snorted, pinning her ears back and let out a low growl. "Careful, Jay." David said. He took another step towards her. With each step, they all got more and more nervous. Brook was squeezing Jacobs hand so hard he couldn't feel his fingers anymore,but he was just as nervous, so he said nothing. Even though the mare was warning him against it, James still put on the halter. She was too tired to fight. James stepped back as she jumped to her feet, favoring her right hind leg. She let another snort and looked around. One of Davids partners stepped forward to grab her lead rope, but she wouldn't have it. Within a flash, she kicked him with her front leg and all of them could hear as his leg shattered. He let out a scream and fell to the ground.

She then turned to James.

***

The picture on the side is of Logan Lerman who plays the twins in the book. James and Jacob are both identical, and it's kinda hard to find twin actors with specific traits, so I went for one person. Plus, Logan Lerman is cute! LOVE YA!

~Avis