The hot summer sun was beginning to cool off as it sunk below the horizon. Upon a tall, bay gelding was Casey Parks, only this Casey was 19 years old with a much younger face- and much shorter hair. He galloped across the open field, holding onto his cowboy hat as he shouted happily. Beside him was palomino mare carrying perhaps the most beautiful lady he'd ever seen; a tall, fair faced woman who's long, blonde hair blew violently in the wind. She looked at Casey and laughed playfully before tapping her horse to go on a little faster. So, she wanted to race.
Casey kicked the barrel of his own horse and they were thundering through the field faster than ever. Finally, they gave the horses a bit of a rest and slowed down, all four of them panting wildly.
"I win," Casey said, sitting tall in his saddle.
"Your horse has longer legs!" Elizabeth retorted with a giggle. Casey chuckled. After a few minutes of breath-catching, Elizabeth spoke again. "Let's go back, Case, I'm getting hungry."
"I've got a better idea," Casey said as he hopped off his horse. "C'mere." Elizabeth dismounted from her mare and they led the horses over to a couple of trees and tied them up. Casey came up behind Elizabeth and playfully hugged her shoulders before putting his hands in front of her eyes.
"What are you doing!?" Elizabeth giggled.
"I'll show you," Casey replied as he carefully led her to his well thought-out location. When he removed his hands Elizabeth was able to see what Casey had done. On the ground before her there was a quilt, pressing down the grass. On top of the quilt there was a cooler with a bottle of champaigne, two glasses, and a wicker basket.
"Oh my God, Casey!" Elizabeth turned around, eyes wide with a smile and she embraced him tight. Casey grinned.
"Where'd you get this?" Elizabeth asked as Casey popped open the champaign.
"If my daddy found out I had champaigne..."
"Don't worry about it," Casey chuckled. "We won't have that much. Here." He opened the basket and made her a plate of cold fried chicken and pasta salad. "Made it just before you came over."
"You made all this?" Elizabeth asked. Casey nodded. "Well I should have guessed. You're not exactly the type to drive through KFC."
"Yeah, you know me better than that," he reponded.
They had their dinner and champaigne, both lying on the quilt side-by-side, talking peacefully as they watched the sunset, horses close by.
"Hey, can you get me another piece of chicken, babe?" Casey asked. He had strategically placed the wicker basket behind her.
"Sure thing, Cowboy," she responded. She turned her back to him and reached in the basket, pulling out a chicken leg. When she turned back to face Casey her heart leapt and a happy squeal escaped her lips.
Casey was lying next to her, a smile on his face, casually holding out a gorgeous ring. He didn't need to say anything, the way he looked at Elizabeth and his smile said it all. A tear slipped down Elizabeth's face.
"Yes!" she yelled happily before practically jumping on Casey. They both laughed as they embraced on the blanket. Elizabeth was practically sitting on Casey as he slipped the ring on her finger. It was one of the most memorable nights of his life as they lay there into the night, watching the stars.
