“Where the hell are ya all going?” Logan growled.
The group halted quickly.
“Hey, Logan. Would ya like to join us?” Marie asked.
“What for?” Logan asked with no enthusiasm and not taking his sights away from the football game that he was engrossed in.
“We’re goin’ out to the Big E,” Bobby said.
“Big E? Oh, that big festival thingie in Massachusetts. Ya don’t need me,” Logan stated.
The young adults huddled together.
“I bet I know how to get him to come along,” Bobby said snidely.
“Oh? How then?” Jubilee asked.
“Hey, Logan. I really think you should join us. We could get into all kinds of trouble without your supervision,” Bobby said.
“Why would I want to hang around with a bunch of kids when I got a perfectly good football game on the TV to watch?” Logan stated.
“Danielle will be there,” Bobby replied.
“Yeah. Actually, she is on exhibition,” Marie added.
There was a long silence as the young adults watched Logan’s expression. He looked deep in thought and it could very well be assumed it was not about the football game.
“Exhibition? Doin’ what?” he asked.
“She’s one of the competitors at the dressage show. You know she rides horses,” Jubilee stated.
Logan turned off the TV with the remote and got up.
“Change yer mind, Logan?” Marie asked.
“Get yer coats on,” Logan snarled.
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There was an immense crowd – something Logan hadn’t experienced in a long time. He was not one for crowds and avoided them whenever possible. Logan was for the most part still a loner, so this was an unusual undertaking for him.
The young adults ran to the ticket booths and paid for several tickets. Jubilee returned to where Logan was standing and cautiously offered him a ticket. The group entered the fairgrounds and promptly found in which direction the dressage show was being held. Attaining a group of seats, they sat down and waited for the show to begin. Logan fidgeted and fussed until Marie pointed out from the program that Danielle was up next. Bobby’s transponder began to sound.
“Yeah...Ok,” Bobby answered. “Come on. Scott got us in,” Bobby added. They made their way through the crowd with Bobby leading the pack.
Scott and Jean met with the young adults.
“This is so exciting! I have never been to a real horse show,” Kitty said with great enthusiasm.
“Yeah. And we have ring side seats!” Marie added.
“Ok, folks. Here she comes,” Jean said.
Logan remained in the back of the group but his full attention was in the direction of the arena. Danielle entered the ring aboard a big bay gelding. Her exhibition was of complete perfection and the entire crowd cheered happily at the conclusion of her round. She and her horse were awarded top honors and she paraded around the ring in a freestyle version of her dressage test. After which, Danielle exited the ring. Her horse was taken to cool down and rest.
http://www.dressagedaily.com/2003/dd_200304/dd_20030403a.html
Danielle ran over to her friends and pulled off her riding helmet freeing her mane of long hair. Jean, Scott and the young adults all crowded around her as they hugged and cheered her win. Logan backed away hiding within the rest of the crowd, but his eyes never left her. He grew jealous of all the attention she received from several males he didn’t know. These men were not from the school, and he hated seeing her being hugged strongly by them. He could feel the alloy itching beneath his skin wanting release to show his strength and courage. The more he watched, the angrier he became and he realized how much he wished he could tell her what he was feeling.
Somehow, Danielle sensed his presence. His scent was in the air and she knew he was close by. As she looked around, Marie instantly realized someone was missing.
“Hey, where did Logan go?” Marie asked while looking around.
“Logan’s here?” Danielle asked stupidly.
“Yeah,” Bobby replied.
As Danielle looked around again, Logan approached slowly. He stood before her awkwardly looking into her eyes. Danielle waited and he cautiously wrapped his arms around her. Danielle instantly responded holding on to him tightly. Logan closed his eyes silently enjoying the warmth of her embrace, the sweet smell of her skin mixed with the earthiness of the horse she had been riding, and how much he didn’t want the moment to end.
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It was Logan’s night out with the boys – guys he made acquaintances with from the nearby bar he frequented.
“Where ya goin’?” Danielle asked.
“Me and the guys are goin’ to a hockey game. I never went to a pro game before,” he replied.
“Never? Geez, with all the hockey up in Canada, I’m surprised,” she giggled.
“Was too busy runnin’,” he said.
“Used to go to them quite often. I followed the Rangers and my friend and I would go see them kick the Whaler’s asses,” she started. “Got to meet John Vanbeezbrook one time.”
“Yer kiddin’. He was my favorite pro goalie,” Logan said with heightened excitement.
“Well, that’s cool that yer goin’. It’s so different to actually be there,” she replied.
“We’re tryin’ to scrape up three more people to go. Jimmy got a bunch of free tickets from some radio station,” he said as he leaned against the wall.
“Did ya ask Bobby and John? I know they both like hockey,” she asked.
“Suppose I could ask them. But, since you seem so into hockey, maybe you would like to go?” he asked shyly. He handed her one of the extra tickets.
“I could do that. Hell, it's been years since I went to a game. Tell ya what, I can meet ya there. I gotta finish a training session with Duke before our competition next week. Cool?” she replied.
“Cool. Ya, that’s like really cool,” he said and headed off.
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The rink was packed with fans from all around to see the Rangers play the Bruins. Logan sat down eagerly awaiting Danielle’s arrival. Jimmy, Dan, and Russell were already two beers in as the game started. Logan tried to watch for her – his senses working double overtime trying to catch sight of her. His ears were useless to him with all the shouting and cheering of the fans and there was too much in the way of beer and food floating in the air to make catching her scent nearly impossible.
“Hey, Logan, man – what are ya lookin’ for?” Russell asked before taking another gulp of beer.
“Never been to one of these games in person. Just catching all the sights,” he replied.
Just then, Danielle found her seat and plopped down with a soft thud. Logan eagerly looked her over as the edges of his mouth began to curl up into a smile.
“Whoa, Logan, dude. Who’s the babe?” Jimmy asked while poking Logan in the side with his elbow. Logan didn’t respond.
“Ya thought I wasn’t gonna show? Shit, man – traffic was a bitch,” she said and sipped her beer.
As play went on, Danielle was yelling at the bad plays by the Rangers and Logan thoroughly found her entertaining. His buddies found it entertaining to watch Logan watching Danielle, and as guys would do to each other, they started harassing him.
“Oh, sweet thing – why not pour a little of that sugar on me?” Dan asked. Danielle leaned across Logan and stared Dan in the eye.
“Honey, ya ain’t enough man fer me,” she replied. Russell and Jimmy poked Dan in the sides and snickered loudly. Logan snickered then stretched back puffing his chest with pride.
The game turned out to be a major beating for the Bruins as the Rangers won easily. As everyone stood up to cheer the win, Logan’s eyes shined brightly as he grabbed her hand with excitement - the contact making his adrenaline rush through his veins. He looked into her eyes as she did him. Logan's friends started harrassing him again.
"Logan, dude. Looks like you two need a room," Jimmy said.
As Logan turned and glared at Jimmy, Danielle pulled Logan's hand.
"Come on - let's get outta here," Danielle said.
"OOOO, Logan! Maybe the games ain't over yet," Dan joked.
"Go home and sleep off the beer," Logan snorted.
Logan and Danielle walked down to the parking garage of the arena. They drove home in silence, but the entire time Logan's heart was pounding. He would glance over to her every now and then and she would look to him and smile. How he wished she knew what his heart was wanting.