Love Wilson twitched her skirt nervously. She should have worn a T and jeans instead of a blouse and skirt. She didn't want to look too desperate for the job but she also didn't want to look like she didn't want it.

 Of course one usually didn't wear skirts when around horses, at home looking threw her meager clothing the skirt had seemed the best she had but what had she been thinking? A skirt when she was interviewing to work the horses out in the morning. She knew there was a name for those people but hey she couldn't remember everything she could ride and she loved horses that had to count for something, hopefully.

  Ben glanced into the office to get an idea of what he was dealing with. He figured it would be another Texas brunette in cut off jeans and a plaid shirt. He visibly jumped when he saw the women in his office. She was moderate height around five; six and she wore a flannel skirt that swirled around her legs hinting that they were long and muscular instead of slim and trim. A white blouse hugged her like a second skin her hands were long and slim currently twisting the material of her skirt with nerves. She had high cheekbones and a full mouth. Her nose was small and delicate and her eye brows curved gracefully. Long thick ebony black eyelashes covered deep sky blue eyes. Her hair was Auburn, long and thick falling to the seat of her chair. The hair around her face was cut shorter and curved in to surround her face.

 Ben shook his head, there was no way in hell she would get the job. She looked as if she'd faint being introduced to a pony much less a thousand pound Arabian racer. Maybe she had gotten lost on her way to a modeling agency. He thought to himself

 Love took a deep breath as some one started to open the door, she could only guess it was Ben Wright the man she had come to see. She braced her self.

 As Ben entered the room he was once again startled this time by the dramatic change that had over came her. Her hands instead of twisting in her skirt where folded in her lap her back was straight and her shoulders were determinedly set. Her gaze was level and steady as he entered the room never leaving him, making him slightly self conscious. Maybe his first impression had been wrong she now looked as if she could face a charging elephant with out flinching.

 Love studied Ben in silence. He was tall probably around six foot, he had sandy blond hair that naturally swept back, making his slightly receding hair line even more noticeable he had chocolate brown eyes and an easy smile, he was also deeply tanned from spending so much time out doors most likely with his horses.. 

 "Hello, my name is Love Wilson." Her voice was low and soft yet it carried, when this woman started talking people stopped and listened.

 "Hello, Miss, Wilson my name is Ben Wright." She smiled at him slightly. "Please Mr. Wright call me Love." His eyebrow's rose. "Only if you call me Ben."

        She nodded her head in consent. "Very well Ben." Ben took a seat behind his desk and settled back. "So you here for the job opening... Love?" There was a slight hesitation before he said her name. He shifted uncomfortably. Love sensed his discomfort at calling her Love even thou it was her name. Her respect for him grew a few notches. "If you would prefer you can call me Wil." Ben nodded gratefully. "So Wil, do you have any previous experience with horses?" He was slightly surprised when she nodded her head but hid it by scratching his cheek. "My family and I used to live a few blocks from a racing stable, they let me work some of the older more placid horses. When I got older the owner of the racing stable gave me a horse to tame for him named Night Shade. The owner eventfully gave Night Shade to me in exchange for working his horses in the morning."

 Ben nodded his head slightly, thou he couldn't see this women in a corral with an angry animal that didn't trust humans. "Do you still have this Night Shade?" Love was a little taken aback by this delve in her personal life but shrugged it off, what did she know maybe it was perfectly normal how would she know? "Yes, I do."

"Is he fast?"

Loves eye's flashed before she lowered her lashes to hide them. "He wont race, if that's what you're thinking."

Ben shrugged a shoulder. "No offense met just business." Love nodded her head as if she understood but in truth she was lost. She could already see in his eyes that he wasn't going to hire her, so why keep the meeting going?

"Maybe if you introduced me to some of your horses you could get an idea about how I work with them." Ben hesitated and Love delved ahead afraid that given time he would refuse. "Just the one's in there stalls if that works out maybe we could lead one out so you can see how I handle them."

 Ben nodded warily; it was obvious this crazy woman who looked like she would get blown away by a strong wind was determined not to get sent away with out trying to prove herself. 

 "Fine I will show you some of my horses." Love fallowed Ben out the office and into the stables, where grooms scurried around feeding, grooming, and chasing horses. Love took it all in stride the only time she lost her composure was when an odd man walked by her fallowed by a large mare. The mare was clearly pure Arabian with the curved neck, dished face, and high tell yet she was about three hands taller then she should have been hinting that some kind of draft horse was in her breeding record thou her size was the only thing that supported that theory.

 Love didn't get a chance to see the man's face and by the time she turned to look for him the mare hid him from view, but she could hear his voice, he was talking to the mare. A separate level of her mind noted that the mare wore neither bridle nor halter fallowing the man of her own accord.

 The man's voice was gentle yet extremely strong it worked its way threw the stables the other sounds paling in comparison. The horses all pricked there ears as the man walked past all conversation stopped as people self-consciously paused to listen to his voice.

 Ben stopped to look over his shoulder sensing that Love was no longer with him. Walking back he noted that she stared at a large bay mare. "That's Love Struck, she's fast real fast." Love coming back to her senses from Ben's voice gave him a faded smile. "Kind of ironic ain't it? My names Love and the first horse I see is named Love Struck."

 Ben smiled back. Turning he started to lead her threw the stables again. "I wonder; why did your parents name you Love? Isn't that just grounds for you to be teased your whole life?" Love shrugged a slim shoulder although he couldn't see her. "My parents never gave me a straight answer when I asked that question but I believe they named me after their wishes." 

 Ben glanced over his shoulder and shot her a questioning look. "My parents didn't like each other very much," She tried to explain. "But neither would consider a divorce, so I think they both feared my life would turn out the same way. So they named me Love so I could never be with out it." Ben shook his head. "That's stupid."

"Yes," Love sighed. "But I can't help but appreciate the fact that they tried to help me even if it had absolutely no grounds to do so."

 Ben continued to lead her in silence, after a few minutes Love started to wonder weather the stables ever ended. Ben finally stopped in front of a stall door, the bottom half was closed but the top was left open so the horse could stick his head out and so fresh air could circulate threw out the stall.

  Ben whistled shortly, a chestnut gelding peeked his head out from inside the stall. "This is Sand Man, he's not pure Arabian so he's not raced on the track but he does do cross country races when ever we have the time to allow it."

 Sand Man had the height of an Arabian small and compact, but his main was thin and short and his face wasn't as dished as most Arabians also his eye's were smaller. He wasn't a classic beauty but he had a kind of rustic charm about him. "Sand Man." Love repeated like a parrot. Holding out her hand she stood perfectly still as he smelt her hand then up her arm until he snuffed at her face, seemingly contented with what he found he pulled back slightly stopping his exploration. As he moved back Love moved forward. Gently grasping his muzzle with both hands she brought it up so she could blow gently into his nostrils. His nostrils quivered as he took in her scent. Blowing in his nostrils accomplished two things, first it was like saying hello when two horses met for the first time they would touch muzzles and exchange breath second it taught him her scent and many animals relied heavily on scent.

 Love laughed as Sand Man butted her chest with his head. "O, he's just a sweat heart. I thought racers were supposed to be mean and high strung."

 Sensing uneasiness around Ben she turned to face him. He gave her a tight lipped smile then nodded to Sand Man. "Yes most racers are like that and so is he." Love frowned not understanding, then was almost sent to her knees as Sand Man butted her back playfully. Reaching back to pat him on the muzzle she deepened her frown at Ben. "What to you mean? He's completely loveable. I bet you could put a three year old on this boy with out any danger."

 Ben shook his head slowly. "Sand Man in the few cross country races he has been in he has crossed the finish line first ever time but has never gotten first place. Can you guess why that is?"

 Love shook her head but was caught none the less so she didn't stop him when he went on. "Sand Man always crossed the finish line first but his rider was never with him. He put them all to sleep."

 "Temporarily," Ben hurried on at Love's dismayed squeak. "Some bruises a few broken bones and hurt pride but that's it. They all regained consciousness after a few hours."

 Love turned to face Sand Man. keeping her distance from him for the first time. She was instantly dismayed with her self. He had done nothing to hurt her or even shown any inclination to. Stepping forward again she ran her hand down his face to his soft muzzle, he licked her hand tasting the salt from her nervous sweat he licked it again. Love grinned she just couldn't see this teddy bear hurting anyone. Hmmmm.... Maybe grizzly was better suited.

  "Come in tomorrow morning." Love was jerked out of her thoughts. "What?" She asked incoherently. "Come... In... Tomorrow... Morning... Say around five." She blinked. "Just like that? You don't even want to see me ride?"  Ben rolled his eyes. "That's when I want to see you ride, or did you think you would do it in the skirt? Even thou it looks great on you it's not the kind of riding gear you need." Love blushed witch surprised her she hardly ever blushed. She nodded her head silently. A groom grabbed Ben's attention momentarily leading him away to talk to him about something. As Love settled back next to Sand Man she had on over whelming urge to run and never look back.

 This surprised Love who pushed her self away from the stall and started to search for the reason of her discomfort. Gradually the feeling grew until she was shaking with dread. Threw her life she had an ability to since things. She had known when Wind Shell the stables owner's prized mare was foaling even thou she was at her house. She had known when an earthquake was going to rock there town and she had felt the hurricane that hit Florida. She new when the stray dog was hit out side her house she had taken him to the vet then left, she knew when he died she didn't bother to go to the vets to confirm it, she knew.

 Behind her Sand Man snorted and kicked at his stall wall. Love turned to comfort him. His ears were flat and the white if his eyes were showing in fear. He quieted immediately when Love put her hand reassuringly on his muzzle. "Something's wrong boy." She whispered to him he snorted as if in agreement.

 About half an hour later Love found her self walking down the high way the wind was blowing hard and her skirt would have been all over the place if it wasn't completely soaked weighting like twenty pounds sapping Love's strength along with the cold. Ben had offered her a ride home but it had been sunny with only a light breeze then the weather had changed very drastically and Love wasn't about to go crawling back soaking wet and shivering begging for a ride home after all.

  Each time a new set of head lights appeared she stuck out her thumb hoping they would see her and stop. Glancing tiredly behind her she noticed a set of head lights. With out thinking she stuck out her thumb not even consciously knowing she did so. There was a screech of tires and next thing she knew she was staring at a pair of tail lights stopped in front of her.

 It took a few minutes for the lights to burn a whole threw the fog in her mind; grinning tiredly she picked up her skirt and picked up the pace not wanting the driver to take off with out her. The Truck was some kind of Ford who new what kind? Who cared?

 Opening the passenger door she hauled her self inside. Sighing gratefully she turned toward the driver. "Thanks for picking me up." The driver grinned at her, and her breath whooshed out of her lungs. He was the same height as her their eyes level, his hair was golden brown sweeping down to the nape of his neck were it was held by a leather thong. His eyes were the color of melted caramel and his smile was dazzling. An air of happiness and content surround him, making Love relax even thou she didn't know him.

 "No problem can't just pass up a beautiful woman when she's held out to you on a silver platter." Love found that remark odd but it soon slipped her mind as he started the truck and pulled off the side of the rode. "Where you going?" Love sighed with happiness. "Home, take the next exit then turn on Mirk Ave. I'm the first house on the right." He nodded.

 "What you doing out in this weather?" Love flipped her hair over her shoulder and started ringing as much moisture out of it as possible. "Just got done with a job interview." The man frowned. "Don't you have a car?" Love shook her head. "I don't have a job, so I don't have the money for a car. I wouldent have the house except it was part of my inheritance." 

  He accepted that in silence. Love was silent then gasped. He looked over at her in surprise. "We just missed the exit." He twisted in his seat to look behind him. "Hmmm..." he murmured. "I guess we did, don't worry will take the next exit then work our way back to your house." Love even in her distress noticed the man's satisfied smile. Suddenly she wished he hadn't stopped to pick her up. All of a sudden she wished some one else had any body else. Even a cereal killer or a rapist even the devil him self. The dread that she had felt in the stables was back and Love started to shake with fear. "My name's Arith," When Love didn't respond he glanced over and noticed her shivering. "Still cold?" He asked sympathetically. Love nodded her head grasping at the excuse that had been laid out in front of her. Arith frowned then grinned.

 Arith turned at the next exit then took a left. Loves teethe started chattering. He should have taken a right. "My house is the other way." Love saw a flash of irritation go threw his eyes but he quickly covered it with a reassuring smile. "Just taking a shortcut. Don't worry I don't plan on killing you or anything."

 That did nothing to reassure Love. Fallowing a broad river north bound the truck suddenly sputtered and started to slow. Arith cursed and pulled over. Smoke started leaking out from under the hood. Love pressed herself farther back in the seat. "Look, I don't know what's going on but if you could get the flash light out of the glove department and hold it well I look under the hood maybe we could figure it out."

  Love reluctantly grabbed the flashlight and fallowed Arith out of the truck. Arith opened the hood of the trunk and Love was momentarily blinded from all the smoke. Arith grabbed both her wrists and jerked her arms behind her. "Hold still love and you'll live longer." Love snorted, he didn't know her name was Love she hadn't told him. Usually she was quite to the point of being shy but when she got nervous, irritated, or angry she became sarcastic and crude in this case she was nervous, irritated, angry, and scared out of her mind.

 "Love," She repeated "That is so old school, every bad guy calls his victims love couldn't you come up with something a little more original?"

 Arith pressed her forward over the hood of his truck; Love wrinkled her nose at the fumes, and winced at the pain. Arith was much stronger then he looked and he didn't even seem to be trying.

 "Quite, now." He murmured. Love snorted again this time louder. "Why should I be quite? What reason do I have to be silent?" Arith leaned forward and pressed his face into her hair then breathed deeply as if taking in her scent. "Be quite and you'll live longer that's why."

 Love rolled her eyes. "Well from the sounds of it you're going to kill me any way, if I'm quit that just means I'll have the pleasure of your company for a little longer. And just to let you know that's not something I want to do so I think I'll keep talking so you will hurry up and kill me. Did you know you're a liar, you said you wouldent kill me. See cant trust you anyway, even thou you said you wouldent kill me you plan on killing me any way so you may have told me that if I'm quite I'll live longer but you're not trust worthy besides talking make's me feel better so no I'm not going to be quite now. And will you get your god damned face out of my hair and stop smelling it that's freaky and sick."

 Arith chuckled in his throat then whispered hoarsely. "I'm not smelling you hair, I'm smelling your blood." Love went rigged and when she finally moved it was to start shivering. "What you some kind of vampire or something?" She asked trying to put some sarcasm in it but failed miserably.

 He chuckled again, but this time it sounded like nails being dragged across a chalk board. "Yes, I' am," At that moment Love remembered his odd comment in the car.  No problem can't just pass up a beautiful woman when she's held out to you on a silver platter. Love had thought the remark odd before but now she found it down right freighting.

 "So what?" She asked trying to keep her voice light. "You going to suck my blood?" Love used her best Count Dracula voice.

 "Yes, I' am." Love thought fast. "Vampire's don't exist," His grip on her tightened. "Yes, love they do and you've met one."

   "Stop calling me love come up with something all your own, that makes it much more interesting. And no they don't, you've given me no proof that you a vamp besides your word and like I've pointed out before that's not to be trusted."

 "Well," he murmured into her neck. "I would give you some reassurance that I'm in fact a vampire but I assure you when my fangs pierce your neck and I start drinking your blood you'll know that in fact I'm what I tell you I' am."

 Love had never doubted the existents of vampires. Hell she believed in witch's, warlocks, dragons, unicorns, Bigfoot, Werewolves, to her they all were real she just had the misfortune of seeing a vampire instead of a cute little fairy like Tinker bell, dam her luck.

 "Why couldn't you be a pixie?" She asked. He laughed a full throated head thrown back laugh. "That was funny," He murmured in her ear. "But it's time to stop talking, I will regret on a certain small level draining you dry but be comforted that your life blood will sustain me for one more night so I can feed on another."

 "Fuck Off!" she yelled as loud as she could, for a few moments she thought that he had listened to her as he was no longer holding her in place but as she turned she found him and another man fighting and the other man looked more vampire then Arith ever could.