Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket

Jaxson walked along the street with Danza by his side. After a day out trotting around a meadow, Danza was ready to be reigned back in at the stables, and honestly, so was Jaxson. Wiping his hand across his forehead, Jaxson made his way closer to the stables. Jaxson patted Danza's side, strolling alonside the horse. Soon he found himself hearing the voice of a girl asking a question. Turning around, Jaxson turned to look at her.

"Well," Jaxson began, If you make your way down the street a little bit, and take your first left, you'll make it to market." Looking more closely at the girl, Jaxson noticed something was off. "You alight?" he asked her calmly. He stopped Danza and tied the horse to the nearest fence post. Taking a step towards the girl, Jaxson looked at her with a half-smile.

Jaxson attempted to lighten the mood when she mentioned the horse. Laughing slightly, he spoke. "Yea, that's Danza. He's my friend," he said with laughter in his voice. Stepping towards the horse, he placed a hand on the creatures neck, "Ya can pet him if ya want," he offered. Jaxson waved her towards the horse, stroking the beast's neck. "He ain't shy or nothing." Jaxson looked at her, "So what was gettin' you to market so quickly?" he asked. Jaxson could defiantly sense something was off, but he wasn't quite sure it would be a good idea to mention it.

"I don't do anything to him, just a couple of brushes during the week," Jaxson replied, stroking Danza's neck. Jaxson found himself staring at the girl in front of him, just a few years younger than himself. Not bad looking either. He was beginning to place a hand on her shoulder when she spoke again, forcing him to drop his hand. Chuckling, Jaxson looked at her. "Well, most of the places in the market's liable to be closed by now," he said. Listening a bit more, "Jaxson," he said with a smile. He extended his hand out to her, "Jaxson White." He looked her face over once more. Smiling, "I don't think I'd feel right if I just let you wander around on your lonesome. How's about I help you find your way?" he asked, hoping to stay with her a bit more.

Jaxson chuckled. "Ya might not need the place open, but it'd be better if it was," he teased her. His hand was back at his side and he was looking past her and towards the sunset. "Trust me, Stacey, I ain't got nowhere to be," he began, "Perks of livin' on your own." Jaxson heard her ask the way again. Seizing the opportunity, he walked around to Danza's tie. Undoing the knot, he gripped Danza's lead. Walking the horse behind him, he stood beside Stacey. "Ya know something? I could tell ya the way, or I could have you let me take ya there," he said, patting Danza's saddle. "Best way to get 'round here, ya know?" he said, noting her blushing.

Jaxson shrugged, she didn't seem to want to ride, so he stayed feet-on-the-ground as well. Standing beside her, with Danza on his other side, he took a step forward and began walking ahead. Staring at the sunset, he muttered, "Well ain't that beautiful?" Keeping his pace, Jaxson turned to look at her, while simultaneously passing the road he told her to go down prior. "Somethings defiantly wrong, girl. I'm not quite sure what it is, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious. You don't have to tell me, I know I'm a stranger, but I'm just here to listen if ya need it," he explained to her. Still walking, Jaxson wad prepared to talk the long way, or another route, to the market.

Jaxson raised he hands beside his face as a sign of 'don't kill me.' Staring ahead, he shook his head. Looking around, Jaxson looked for the next street. Although he wanted to stay around Stacey, he wasn't quite in the mood for the attitude she was handing out. Finding the next street, he turned left onto it and led Stacey along it. Looking ahead, he saw the lights of the shops that remained open grow brighter. "There's your market," he said. He walked with her until they reached the edge of the houses and the market. "I better get home," he said, mounting onto Danza. He nodded at her, "Take care now." Pulling Danza's reins, Jaxson turned to face the way he came.