Prologue

Ilived in my own perfect world, with my perfect family, and my perfect house, I went to the perfect school, and had the most perfect friends. Until the that summer day when a terrible tragedy struck my family. It wasn't anything like my parents divorce which was the first thing that destroyed my perfect world, this… this was a million times worse. My whole world began to crumble, I didn't talk to anyone and they didn't talk to me. I didn't look to anyone and they no longer looked to me. I began to have nightmares and would begin screaming, and cursing in my sleep. I had no one to blame so I took it out on myself, while my parents watched me fall apart piece by piece. I didn't eat and became depressed. When my parents suggested therapy I went. But in the end nothing helped, nothing would ever help, nothing would ever heal this hole in my life. I really didn't even think the one thing that made me happy would ever make me happy again, but in the end he surprised me and the hole began to close ever so slowly. But every once in a while that hole is reopened, but Joseph is always there to pick up the pieces and put me right back together again. The only happy memory I can bare to remember is that last summer day I spent with her, and that's how her Last Ride was more important than any other ride she had ever ridden.

Chapter 1

Virginia

I live in Lexington, Virginia at my families stable, I have been around horses longer than I can remember. My mom and dad use to be on the Olympic riding team and now they are just trainers. Me and my sister Juliana have been riding since we could walk. My parents both wanted my sister and I to ride on the Olympic team when we grew up, and we were both all for it. Until that winter when my dad left us, I was so angry I quite everything I was ever good at. I only went to the barn to do the chores and see my horse, but I never rode and never got back on a horse again. My mom was always complaining about me giving up riding she said it was my passion it was a gift my sister and I had. My sister never stopped and always wondered why I stopped. When I graduated I got tons of acceptance letters and scholarships to many schools, every school in the country wanted me on their riding teams, but like all the rest as they came in I threw them away. The only thing that made me happy and the only moment I ever had was that thirty minute grooming time I had with Schones Pferd, that's German for "Beautiful Horse". He is the only thing in my world now that makes me happy, except for my sister she always makes me laugh.

After my chores I went to see Schones as I greeted him he gave me a welcoming whinny. " Hello beautiful boy how are you this evening" I said. As I entered his stall he gave another low nicker, as I groomed him I talked to him as I usually do. We mostly talked about my day and any problems there were or what work was like. " so boy how was your day?" he nudged me softly usually meaning he had a boring day I'm guessing. He nudged me again as if to ask how was yours. " mine was fine", I finished grooming him and walked out of his stall to go and put my brushes up. As I walked in the tack room my sister came running in to the barn calling for me, "Kaley, mom wants to see us in the living room before supper she has to talk to us about something". I was already dreading this from the sound of it, my mom usually called something like this for a family meeting to have us have family time with her new fiancé, Jack. I hated him from the first time I met him, he tries so hard to be my friend and I want nothing to do with him.

As I walked in to the living room I noticed that jack wasn't there, that was a plus. But right when I sat down, he walk through the living room door and came to sit right beside me. As soon as he sat down I got up and walked to the chair on the other side of the room. He stared at me until I said something, "why do you keep staring at me, its really getting annoying!" he answered with " kaley what have I done to make you hate me so much, all I am is nice to you" I replied with " Um… lets see you came in to my family, tried to replace my father, which by the way you will never do. And your trying so hard to fit in with my family when you obviously don't." " look kaley just tell me what you want from me, I'm trying hard to be a good father figure for you." he said. " what I want from you is I WANT YOU TO LEAVE, I don't like you and never will ok!" I shouted as my mom walk in the living room. " Kaley, what is all of this about?" she said. " I'm not just going to sit around while you and him… try and make a big happy family, cause I will never be happy." I shouted back at her. " you know kaley the world doesn't always revolve around you, you know." my mother stated. " I never said it did! If its revolving around anyone its you and him!" I shouted.

" kaley how could you say something like that." she said. " because its true mom, you never try and spend time with me and Juliana. Your always running around with your little boyfriend, showing him off." I said with a acid tone to it.

While we were still fighting Juliana walked in crying. " why are yall always fighting? I hate it when you fight." she said almost at a whisper. I ran up to her and gave her a big hug, and kissed her cheek. " I'm so sorry Juliana, you shouldn't have to hear this please forgive me." I said. " it's ok kaley, can we go say goodnight to the horses after dinner?" she said wiping the tears from her face. "of course sweetie, as soon as dinner is over we will." I said softly. I knew right then everything was better because a big smile came across her face. That's how you could always tell Juliana was happy she always had a big smile on her face.

After I consoled Juliana, my mother stood up and announced we would have this discussion after dinner. So she led us into the kitchen, and ordered us to set the table and for him to pour the drinks. As we sat down to dinner no one said anything. All you could hear were our forks hitting our plates. I knew right away that I wasn't going to like what she was going to say. As we finished our dinner and cleaned up it still was silent. My mom finally broke the silence and asked us to go sit in the living room.

Me and Juliana oh and him walked into the living room to sit down. It was ten long minutes before my mother walked in. she was very quiet as she walked to the sofa and sat next to him. She sat their almost three whole minutes before she said anything, which was driving me crazy. Then she began " ok I have put this off and put this off for weeks now. And I feel its time I tell you, kaley and Juliana you both are going to spend the summer with your father." she stared at me more than she did Juliana, knowing I would react the most to this news. And she was right, my mouth dropped open and I tried to speak but words wouldn't come out. When I finally found my voice it all came out at once " I am not for one second going to even consider going anywhere near my father. He left us and why would I want to see him after that. And why would I want to spend my whole summer with my father. I refuse to go, and you cant make me!"

" Now come on kaley you don't plan on hating your father forever do you?" she said. " oh yes I do, and I'm not changing my mind, I'm not going." I shouted. " kaley why are you acting like this, why are you ruining your life. You hate your father, you refuse to ride the very expensive horse we bought you, and you refuse to go to college to do what you were born to do." she stated. "I don't care about going to school or dad, I only care about Schones because he makes me happy. I don't ride because it reminds me to much of you and dad, and yall ruined this family." I shouted.

After I finished screaming and shouting, I stormed out of the room to go to the barn. Soon after I go in the barn Juliana came running after me. " kaley, wait up." she shouted. I stopped in my tracks, I had forgotten all about Juliana. I wonder what she thinks about all of this, I hadn't even considered her thoughts, she had been so quiet. I shouldn't have shouted in front of her, it always upsets her. When she caught up I asked her " Juliana do you want to go for a walk?" " sure anything to get away from this house for a while." she said. So we walked out to the paddocks where our horses were grazing.

When we stopped at the fence to talk to andie and Schones, who had wondered up to the fence snooping for treats. I asked her the question I had been waiting to ask. " Juliana, what do you think about all of this?" she was silent for a few minutes before answering. " the truth?" she asked. " yes, of course… the truth." I said. She was hesitant. " yes… I do really want to see dad, I miss him kaley. I feel like apart of me is missing without him." and I knew right then that I was going to have to spend the whole summer with the man I hate the most. The look on her face was unforgettable, she was sad but pleading that I go with her. So like any good big sister I agreed to go, but only on her account.