Red flag

Sparky grins. "Well, then... you should be okay."

Taking the leadrope, he loops it and ties it in place around the saddle horn. He checks the saddle girth again, making sure it's plenty tight. "Alright..." He slips her left foot out of the stirrup. "Put all your weight in the other stirrup, okay?"

Waiting until her weight is shifted, Sparky gathers the reins and reassures Twilight with a few calm words. Putting his own foot in the stirrup, he swings up behind the saddle, making it look so easy. Once on Twilight's back, Sparky shifts his legs back and puts his arms around Faith's sides. "Put your foot back in your stirrup," he directs.

Still grinning a little, he takes the reins in one hand, his other arm slipping around Faith's waist. "Comfy?"

Nudging Twilight with his heels, the mare moves forward at a walk again. Once they're around the ring once, Sparky leans his head a little closer to Faith. "Hang on... we're going for a ride."

Squeezing Twilight's sides and giving her a little more head, giving her the signal to lope. She obeys immediately, jumping into the rocking gait. Sparky holds Faith close, balancing himself behind the saddle, while keeping her from sliding loose from her seat.

Near the barn, Jim cleans up a broken hay bale with a pitchfork and wheelbarrow. Wiping some sweat from his brow, he turns around, seeing a horse in the corral. He knew Sparky was giving Faith her first ride, so he watches for a moment. But what he sees isn't Faith on the horse and Sparky leading. Instead, he sees the loping mare with them riding double.

So surprised, the pitchfork slips from his hand and falls to the ground. Jim blinks. Not only was the scene totally inappropriate and possibly dangerous for a new rider, but he couldn't believe Sparky would be doing that. Sparky? The level-headed one? Not only breaking riding rules, but putting his arms around a grown woman like that?

"Dang..." Jim blinks again, bending to pick up his pitchfork. But the red flag he'd sensed earlier was back and even bigger and brighter. Sparky? And Faith? It just didn't seem... right.

Close by, Trent is kneeling by some bushes alongside the barn, clipping out weeds and keeping to himself like usual. Glancing up just in time to see Jim drop the pitchfork, he furrows his brow. Then he follows Jim's gaze to the corral and sees Sparky and Faith. Looking back to Jim for a moment, he thinks for several moments before getting back to the shrubbery.

Forgiveness. Gage knew what it was, but he wasn't sure he'd ever felt it. Sapphire had talked about it before. It must be pretty powerful for Jamie to be friends with Carson. Could people have forgiveness for him too? Someone as bad as Gage was? He wondered.

Still holding Sapphire's hand, Gage tries to concentrate on lunch. He gives Jamie a little nod to let her know he understood and was thankful for her response, but he lets the subject go for now. It was a lot to think about.

And think he did. He doesn't join in much with the smalltalk at the table - not really used to it. He enjoys the food though, and being with Sapphire was always nice. Soon it was time to go to the theater, so the meal is wrapped up, and they drive across town. On the way, Gage seems so far away. Quiet and almost distant, but no more than normal when his mind's wheels are turning.

"Sapphire?" He looks out the window at the passing scenery. "When you go back to work later... can I come with you?"