Ok, so this story is going to be VERY AU. I don't know how much more I can express that. If you're not a fan of AU's, leave now. I myself do a lot of riding and thought it might be fun to incorporate the western feel of my most favorite hobby into a skimmons fic. Also, please take a minute to appreciate the cover photo of this story, because it took me FOREVER to make it.

*I'm sorry for the confusion about the posting of this story, some bug happened the first time, I had to delete it and re-post it*

Jemma squinted as she stepped out of the cab with her bag. She immediately scrunched up her nose when she inhaled the smell of horses. Or more specifically, horse manure.

Her parents had used the excuse that she studied too much as a reason to send her out here, to her uncle's ranch, for the summer. This would seem odd to any other family, but not the Simmons's. She had A plusses in all of her classes but still holed up in her room with her best friend doing schoolwork that was specially assigned by their teachers just so they would be quiet and content.

They didn't even let her bring any of her science gear. She might have found it interesting if she had been able to study something. She was sure there would be nothing the least bit entertaining to her.

"For someone who studies life, you haven't seen much of it." Her mum had told her. And naturally, when she suggested her staying out here, in the-middle-of-nowhere, United States, for the summer, her father just went along with it. Who cares what she thought, right?

Jemma had taken a plane and then a cab from there to get her to where she was now standing, at the entrance to Wild Wood Ranch, owned by Phil Coulson, her mother's brother.

Jemma gave the cab driver the appropriate (and very expensive) fare money and coughed as he drove away down the unpaved road, spinning up dust.

She pulled up the handle of her suitcase and started the walk down the seemingly endless path to her uncle's house. It was mostly dirt, but the occasional rock tipped over her bag and she had to stop where she was to flip it over again.

Jemma was convinced. She was going to hate it here, hate every second of it. She grumbled to herself as her suitcase flipped for the fifth time. She was positive her books wouldn't make it back home at the end of the summer in the same pristine condition they were in when she packed them.

She was going to be miserable the entire summer, all two months of it. There was nothing for her to do here and only her uncle to socialize with... who was that?!

Jemma's jaw dropped when she saw a tan female about her age riding a brown horse, speeding through the right field. The girl's brown hair flew behind her like streamers in the wind and her beaming smile could be visible from miles away. Jemma stopped where she was to watch. When the girl spotted her, she clicked her tongue and the horse changed directions with the movement of her hand, headed straight towards her.

Jemma let out a little screech when the massive horse stopped with its head a few feet from her, whinnying softly and snorting.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you not to yell near a horse?" The girl asked her. Honestly, Jemma never knew what she actually said. All she could focus on was that accent. That light, fluent, sexy American accent.

"What's your name?" She asked. It took a moment, but the words finally registered in Jemma's brain.

"Jemma. Jemma Simmons." She blushed. What was wrong with her? Here she was, standing in front of this extremely attractive girl. She felt very overpowered, she obviously thought herself too geeky, and it didn't help for the intimidation factor that the girl was sitting on a horse and was much, much higher than her. She had to completely look up to make eye contact.

Jemma couldn't help but notice the way the sweat on her forehead underneath her cowboy hat made her skin sparkle, and the way her tank top was form fitting underneath the thin purple flannel she wore unbuttoned. She must have been out here riding a while to work up such a sweat in weather that could hardly be considered hot.

"You must be Phil's niece. I've heard a lot about you." Ok, so that's why this girl was here. She knew her uncle. Jemma was startled when Skye dismounted with a graceful sweep of her right leg and grabbed the horse's reins in one hand, offering her left to shake in greeting. Jemma started to hold out her right hand, but realized halfway that it wouldn't work. She was used to extending her right hand, but the girl appeared to be a lefty.

The girl knew Jemma's mistake and smiled knowingly as Jemma quickly switched hands to shake hers.

A bolt of electricity shot up Jemma's arm when their hands touched, but the other girl didn't seem fazed. They shook hands for just a split second longer than necessary. The stranger's hand was rough and soft at the same time, and clearly strong, yet gentle, but in a firm way. It was all very confusing.

"Are you going to give me the pleasure of knowing your name?" Jemma was proud she finally strung words together to voice a complete sentence.

"Skye." She answered with a smile and finally released Jemma's hand. Skye. Beautiful name, Jemma thought. Never mind. There was something very entertaining on the ranch after all. Forget about biology, Jemma decided it was time she learn a little more about chemistry. Jemma mentally recoiled in horror when she thought about using that cheesy, punny pickup line with this girl who was clearly way out of her league and was probably into dudes with trucks who drank beer.

"Let me get that." Skye offered, picking up the suitcase Jemma had struggled to lug on wheels by one handle. Jemma could see Skye's muscles flex, even underneath the flannel. She swallowed a lump in her throat. Oh, what Fitz would do if he could see her at this moment.

She could almost imagine him right there beside her, embarrassing the crap out of her.

Skye made the same exotic clicking noise she heard earlier and the horse followed behind her in suit.

"Coming?" Skye asked. Jemma blushed, immediately thinking about the that's-what-she-said that Fitz would have whispered to her. Jemma nodded and walked on Skye's left, making sure to stay a few yards away. She was very weary of the big beast that kept nibbling at Skye's hat.

"Calypso's a big teddy bear. He won't do anything to you." Skye informed Jemma when they arrived at the front porch and she returned her bag to the ground.

"See, look." Skye took hold of Jemma's wrist and slowly brought her hand closer to the horse. Jemma closed her eyes tight, still pretty terrified. Then she felt something velvety press against her palm and opened her eyes to see that Calypso was sniffing away at her hand, looking for food.

Skye smiled brightly and released Jemma's wrist. Jemma patted the horse's nose a few times before discretely wiping her hand across her skinny jeans, which were much cleaner than Skye's baggy ones, which appeared to be coated in dust. She wondered what color they were originally.

"I guess I'll be seeing you." Skye tipped her hat and jumped back into the saddle. Before Jemma could put in another word Skye pressed her legs against the horse's side and made a strange noise with her mouth.

It wasn't like what Jemma had imagined when she thought of people riding at her uncle's ranch. She'd never actually been here, only heard about it. When she imagined horseback riding she pictured people yelling 'yee-haw!' and kicking at horses' sides with spiked boots. It wasn't like that though, it looked like Skye and the horse were one entity and they communicated with tiny signals that each understood.

Jemma watched as the horse walked away, but mostly watched the way Skye's hips swung with the movement. Jemma was whipped, and she knew it. But she had something to do. She made it her goal this summer to get to know Skye. She had nothing better to do.

"Jemma!" Her uncle opened the screen door and walked outside with open arms.

"Hey, Uncle Phil." Jemma greeted him, giving him the hug he obviously desired. He still had the same masculine scent she remembered him having every time he visited.

"I can't believe I get you for the whole summer." He smiled at her and picked up her bag, walking her inside with an arm around her shoulders. Jemma couldn't help but try and sneak another glance behind her as they went inside, but Skye was nowhere in sight.