Cherishing Memories

Chapter 1

"Hello, Three Ponies Ranch, Maxine Ely speaking?"

"Hi Maxine, this is Wyatt, is Jake there?"

"Sure, one second,"

"Jake! Telephone!"
"Hello?" Jake answered

"Jake, this is Wyatt Foster."

"Oh, hello sir, can I help you?" Jake asked slightly shocked

"I…can you… I think Sam could use your help right now," Wyatt hesitated

"Oh, how so?" Jake asked questionably

"Well Ace, just had to be put down, bad case of colic, and Sam is taking it… well actually she's not taking it at all because she isn't home yet from camp and doesn't know." Wyatt sheepishly admitted

"Wow… so… wow, that is not going to go over very well, is it?" Jake asked

"No, not at all, so I was wondering if you could be here, because Brynna and I have to take some orphaned calves to the vet, and take Ace's body to get cremated, I really don't want her there by herself anyway, but if you could just be there for her that would be great?"

"Sure, no problem sir," Jake agreed to take the job

"Thank you so much Jake, you have no idea how much this means to us, we will be back tomorrow afternoon." And with that Wyatt hung up

Evening

Sam ran into the house to drop her stuff off in her room before she went to see her horse. She had been at camp for two weeks and she was dying to see Ace. Sam ran threw the house and threw her stuff on her floor and ran back down stairs to see her horses, but before she reached the door someone pulled her to a stop. Sam screamed and then looked up and instantly relaxed.

"Jake? What the heck?" Sam asked still shaking

"Hey Sam, um… how was camp?" Jake asked nervously

"Yeah, great, can we talk about this later I want to go see Ace!" Sam hurried

"Wait… Sam, something happened today while you were on your way home from camp…something happened to Ace, while you were gone." Jake started

"What, is he okay?" Sam asked shakily while trying to run out the door, but Jake stopped her

"Sam, Ace had a bad case of colic…" Jake began

"…'Had?' so…. He is okay now?" Sam hoped

"No, Sam… um… Ace… he tried his hardest to fight it… but … it was just too much for him… I'm so sorry…" Jake explained and sympathized

At this Sam bolted out the door and headed straight for the barn, but when she got there Ace wasn't in his stall. She then bolted for the pasture flinging open the gate, but still remembering to close it behind her, but when she got to the pasture she only counted 9 horses… not 10. At this she panicked.

"ACE!!!… ACE!!!" She screamed

Soon she felt week and fell to her knees and let it all out.

"This cant be happening, no, no, how? Why? When?" Sam thought in her head

Jake had been watching all of this trying desperately to keep from letting all emotion brake loose from his body. He knew this would tear Sam apart, but he hadn't expected it to affect him this much.

Sam was still on her knees in the pasture when she felt two strong arms come around her and gently pick her up. She panicked a little not wanting to leave, but Jake murmur soft words to her like he did with young horses he trained. He carried her into the house and put her on the couch wrapping a blanket around her and held her while she cried.

"Sam?" Jake whispered

"Mhm?" Sam whimpered

"Would you like to come over and have dinner at my house. My mom has invited you." Jake offered softly

"Um… sure?" Sam quietly answered

Jake picked Sam up and put her in his truck and drove to his ranch.