"Hey" said a voice behind me. I squeezed in the last few flicks of the body brush on Big Mac's bay coat and then turned to discover the owner of the voice.
It was Nick. He was leaning over the polished oak half stall door dressed in a casual shirt and jeans.
"Hey" I said, and we exchanged a quick kiss.
I returned to preening my thoroughbred gelding.
"So what's up?" I asked. Macca flicked his tail, and knowing that he was getting impatient, I let myself out of his stall.
"Nothing much" Nick said as we walked to the tack room to return the grooming tools.
"But I do have something important on my mind" he persisted. My curiosity flared.
"Ok. Shoot" I said. I wanted to seem casual but I hungered to fulfill my growing curiousity.
"Curiosity killed the cat Holly" I said in my mind.
Nick took a deep breath and his hands slipped into his pockets.
"I don't know how to put this" he said. He scrathed his head and we stopped, leaning against one of the white paddock rails.
"Just say what's on your mind, right now" I encouraged. I felt bad that he was having such difficulty with whatever this thing was.
I was still labouring over the previous thought when Nick took my advice and blurted out the thing that had anguished him.
"Holly, will you marry me".
As soon as it sank in- which took about two minutes- I was speechless. I was taken aback and it must have seriously comprimised Nick's confidence that I hadn't said anything for five minutes now.
"Um...." I began, but no words would come out. I thought and thought and thought as fast as I could think but then my mind swelled with the thought that I had to say something right now, or challenge our relationship.
"I love you" he said, and I smiled absently.
"I love you too" I replied.
"Let's see" the voice in the corner of my mind said, and I knew I was in for a pros and cons lecture but I attended.
"You love each other. You live together." Two pros.
"You haven't said yes yet" A con. If I hadn't said yes yet that meant that I was having second thoughts.
But did I really want to spend the rest of my life with Nick? At the moment, yes.
But was I ready to get married? I felt really young at that question. I would be turning 23 in about two weeks, and that did seem young to be getting married in my opinion.
My parents had gotten married when they were in their late twenties.
"You're not you're parents" my mind told me.
"Yes Nick" I said.
He slipped the diamond engagement ring on my finger and I kissed him.

Holly~

It didn't take long for me to spot the diamond engagement ring on Holly's finger.
"Holly!" I said, calling to her as she walked past me into the stables.
Holly stopped and turned. "Yeah?"
I smiled and lifted up her left hand.
"What's this?" I asked her, indicating her ring finger and smiling widely.
Holly blushed.
"Well?" I persisted.
Holly smiled and responded. "It's an engagement ring. From Nick."
I grinned. "Holly, that's great! Congratulations!" I hugged her.
"Thanks," Holly replied.
"When did that happen?" I asked.
"Just now actually," Holly replied. "I feel awful for Nick though. It took me so long to reply. I was just running through thoughts in my head..."
"I know how you feel," I empathized, "I can hardly decide on what colour curry comb to buy."
Holly smiled.
"Well, Hol," I said, "Congrats again. If I can do anything to help you out with the wedding or anything just let me know."

-Scarlet

"Actually Scarlet, there is something you can do for me. I'd be very honored if you would be my bridesmaid"

Holly~