Chapter 1
Title: Same Time Next Year
Author: seyheystevierey
Disclaimer: If we did this for money we would change the names to protect the innocent. A lot of these stories could be sold. There are some really talented people who do this for their own reasons and I thank you for that. Everyone else knows who the main characters are and who owns them. Since it's all fiction to start with, I had an idea that went with the show, sort of. As the story unfolds you will see which ones. Thanks to You Tube and Angelfire where I found a show synopsis for all three seasons I was able to actually do some research and learn about the characters and get a feel for some of them. Not trying to bore anybody but I'm a roll here. Thanks to all who came before and shared such wonderful thoughts. I will try to keep up the good words.
The Attic:
A lot of things transpired in the attic that day. There was more than a kiss, there was more than a sweater and ever so much more than a letter. Some things were decided and some things were set in stone. A bond between three high school girls in different ways, that would touch the lives of so many people. Forever sealed in those smiles of departure where love and friendship never leave one another. These things have a way of working themselves out, but nobody said it was going to be easy.
Chapter one:
Twelve years later:
International Horse Park
Conyers, Georgia
Home of the 1996 Equestrian Olympics
"It looks like another banner year Dr. Sammler."
"Thank you Robert," Jessie says and thinks to herself, thank god for name tags. "It looks like things are coming together. Thanks for all your help. Without all of you volunteers we wouldn't be able to do all of this."
"Word has it you were just a volunteer once upon a time" he grins.
"Don't let all of those lofty titles go to your head, I'm still just a volunteer" she says as she reflects on what it was to be a volunteer back then. Or what she was as a volunteer.
"By the way, I've got a message for you from your sister Grace."
"Thanks, I am walking to big arena now are you heading that way?"
"No, I'm going the other way. I was handy to pass this message on to you. Do you need me to take anything over there for you?"
"Not at the moment, but thanks for asking."
"O k, hope to see you later," and with a wave he was outta there.
She looks at the card with a grin and shakes her head. Typical Grace, I don't know why she thinks she needs my opinion on this when she has all of this taken care of. Ever since they have been doing these events Grace has successfully handled all of the scheduling and coordination. She was a natural take charge kind of girl that way ever since high school. As she starts thinking of simpler days, her thoughts are interrupted by a group of girls wearing STAFF t-shirts.
"Hi Miss Jessie"
"Hi girls, do you have everything you need?"
"Oh yes maam," says a blond haired girl. "We just want to thank you for letting us work the whole weekend."
"Well about working the whole weekend I've got good news and bad news. I was going to talk to you later about this later, but now is as good a time as any."
"The bad news is your crew isn't working the entire show," Jessie says as she raises her hand to stave off a riot. She looks at panic stricken faces and says "The good news is another crew volunteered and Grace set them to do clean up and loading. That frees your group in time to clean up and change for the concert. You'll be in the reserved section so make sure each one of you has a nice outfit, "she said and started on her way.
The look on those stunned faces was worth the price of admission. You would have thought each one of them had been crowned queen for the day.
"Thank you, thank you! We won't let you down," as they rushed off to their duties.
Two years ago that was a group of troubled young girls heading in the wrong direction. A different type of therapy helped point them to a better way. Jessie knew about therapy. At one time it was an embarrassment. Now it was her life.
As she rounded the corner of the big covered arena she slowed down to look up at the huge banner hanging down.
Welcome To The 6th Annual Rescue Benefit
Six years here, but for Jessie it started a lot sooner than that. Thinking back was easy. The road ahead wasn't quite so simple.
As she started up the stairs to the press box she heard a bunch of noise coming from one of the other arenas but figured it was another hoorah and kept climbing. Grace was waiting inside to finalize the schedule of events that were to start the next day. From inside she heard some music playing but couldn't put her finger on the style.
"Grace, what in the world is song?" she asks as she walks in.
"Jessie this is another one of Eli's discoveries, it's a Gospel, blues and bluegrass band. He says that they are a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughn and Flat and Scruggs with a lot of soul searching in between. I'm reading this off the demo cover of course. Take one with you and give it a listen later on because they are on the schedule."
"Ok, I'll check that out. In the meantime I wanted to thank you for organizing all this again. I don't know how you do this every year" and gives her a hug.
"You know Jess, back in the old days when we had to worry if people would show up and if they money for a ticket? That was hard. Nowadays all we have to do is pick and choose who we want working here for free. The shows are almost all sold out in advance and how do I do it? I have learned to delegate in my old age" she laughs "and besides, nobody wants to face the wrath of Grace" as she gives a mock glare.
"It's good to see some thins never change in that regard" she grins back.
They get quiet for a moment and reflected on past moments.
"I don't know what you are thinking about, but I know who you are thinking about. You have that faraway look Jess."
"Oh hush," Jessie giggles," I was just thinking what a lousy role model I would be if every body knew that 2 girls skipping school was how this all started."
"You mean…?"
"Yes I mean. That day that Katie and I went to my mom's house when she was in the hospital and we got caught by your mom. Katie was asking about which room I liked better and somehow we got on the subject of ranches and lofts and anyone would have said dream on if we would have told that this was the result of that afternoon."
After another quiet moment Jessie looks towards the outside.
"Grace did you ever think about some of those huge major defining moments of your life that don't seem so big when you add up all of the insignificant things that really matter," she says while gazing out at the empty seats.
"I know what you mean. We do create a lot of drama, don't we?" she answers." So Jessie, as a founding member of all this, just whose idea was it anyway."
"Well. That spring before the summer of our first doing this Katie just decided one day that we needed to go horseback riding. I told her I haven't been in a long time and she said that if she was going to come visit me on my ranch she need to brush up on her horsewoman ship skills."
Grace has one of those I can't believe you just said that look on her face.
"Oh listen, this gets better. Then she goes on to tell me about how one of her brothers used to date a girl who was friends with a girl who dated a guy whose mom owned a stable" after that mouthful Jessie takes a breath.
"That is so typical Katie Singer." Grace says.
By this time they are laughing so hard, neither one of them can say anything. When they can't laugh anymore and they are wiping their eyes, Grace looks over at Jessie and sees that look again.
"How are things with you and Katie? We haven't had much time together this year what with you doing seminars and me on my book tour. I haven't seen Katie since last year. We've talked a few times and she seemed really exited about the show this year, said she had a surprise design."
"I've heard about that but I have no details. As far as things with us? I guess we are in the off again stage for right now. But something tells me that's going to change. I can't pinpoint it because like you said, we haven't seen much of each other this year. I've been on seminar tours and training and lord knows where Katie has been. Her Concepts take her to some weird places."
"That's the truth. I got a hug, a good to see you and we'll talk later when she got here this morning and then she was off again. I didn't see any entourage or camp followers either. Looked like she was on her own from what I could see.
Jessie stomps her foot and says "That's what I got! She said she had to help set up a booth but didn't say what for. I guess we'll find out later."
" So Jess, what's this about skipping school?"
Just then a radio blares out, "Grace, Grace are you there?"
"Go ahead, Zoe."
"Do you know where Jessie is, I can't get her on her radio."
"She's here with me sis, what's up, you sound stressed."
"You need to get over to the Dressage Practice Arena, there's been an accident."
"Ok, we're coming now. What happened?"
"I'll tell you what happened when you get here, but please hurry. Katie's unconscious and she might have a broken bone or two."
Jessie grabbed the radio, "Has any one called 911?"
"The EMT's are her from the first aid center."
"We're on our way!"
End of chapter one: tbc
Please feed me back. This is my 1st attempt and I have a lot more in the can.I'm just the slowest typer in the world so bear with me.