A/N: This chapter is a little confusing. The first part is just telling you about what the characters are up to and the second part takes place thirteen hours before the explosion. Hopefully that will clear up any confusion in this chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter One
The blue roan mustang whinnied and reared up. His heavy hooves slammed down onto the ground and he galloped around the round pen. He gave another trumpeting whinny, turned on his haunches and started galloping the other way. Then, he came to the center of the corral and stopped. His ears were pricked forward and his nostrils were flaring. He stood his ground and watched the human on the other side of the fence.
Suddenly, as if he was offended somehow, the mustang neighed a challenge and picked up his reckless gallop again, this time right toward the fence. At the very last second, the mustang turned slightly and slammed his whole weight into the fence. The boards shook from the impact of his weight, but kept their places in the ground.
Jake Ely didn't even blink. The two stared at each other for the longest time. Until, the blue roan, as if disgusted, snorted and trotted to the far end of the corral.
Samantha Forster stood on the porch of the ranch house watching the whole scene unfold. She had been holding her breath the whole time and let it out slowly once the mustang had trotted confidently away. Sam stepped off the porch and walked over to her fiancé. She had gotten engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Jake Ely, three months ago and still neither one of them had made any moves on planning a wedding or at least setting a date.
"Doesn't act like a gelding much, does he?" Sam asked teasingly as she approached.
Jake turned at the sound of her voice. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was fresh off the range," he told her.
Sam nodded, "That's basically what he was for the past two years," she paused. "His owners just left him in a field all day and dropped in on him every once in a while." She shook her head disgustingly. They watched the mustang gelding in silence for a few minutes until Sam remembered the reason she came out here.
"Hey, guess what?" Jake just looked over at her. "Well, I'll tell you. You know that place called Heartland, in Virginia, right?" Jake nodded. "I called and told them the problems we've been having and they've agreed to fly out and help us. Isn't that great?"
"With what?" Jake asked.
"With Shady," Sam answered taken aback. "I described him to the girl, Amy, and she said she'll..."
"You agreed to have some stranger train our horse?" Jake questioned her, his brown mustang eyes boring into hers.
"Well, basically yeah," Sam answered, a little confused. She had no idea where he was going with this.
"So, you're trusting a complete stranger with our horse instead of the man you're supposed to be marrying. Is that right?" Anger and hurt were evident in his voice.
"I didn't mean it that way, I was thinking about the horse," Sam said defensively, her voice had risen.
Jake didn't say anything, instead he looked off to the ten-acre pasture where most of the horses were grazing at the far end.
"Jake, listen to me," Sam pleaded, grabbing his arm and trying to turn him around. She failed miserably. "It has been over two weeks and we still can't even get near him. Why is it so hard for you to admit you need help?"
At that, Jake spun around. Her hand fell to her side as she braced for his attack. It looked like he was going to say something, yell at her, but then it seemed like he stopped himself.
"Whatever," he mumbled and turned away. Jake stalked off to where Witch, his black Quarter horse mare, was tied. He swung up into the saddle and wheeled the mare around into a lope across the Riverbend bridge.
- - -
The dark bay Quarter horse gelding followed his handler around the schooling ring with his muscle on his shoulder. He stopped, turned to face the gelding and rubbed in between his eyes.
Amy Fleming smiled at the scene. This was one of those moments that made it all worth it. Seeing horse and human working together like they were the only ones in the world. Amy hurried over to the ring and her boyfriend.
"Sorry about that," Amy apologized.
"That's okay," Ty said patting Moose's chocolate neck. The gelding had come to Heartland after his sweet personality turned into aggressive behavior. It had started after the owners bought a small Shetland pony as a companion. "Who was on the phone?"
"Oh, a Samantha Forster," Amy explained. "She had just bought a mustang gelding, who's been off the range for two years, except no one can get near him."
Ty nodded, "Is she bringing him here?"
"Well, here's the thing," Amy said. "She lives in Nevada and I kind of told her that I'll fly out and see him."
"So, you'll be leaving soon? When?" Ty asked fiddling with the lead in his hands.
"As soon as I can get a flight," Amy answered.
"But you just graduated, you should take some time off before you start anything big," Ty told her.
"I know," Amy said. "But she sounded desperate on the phone and you know how I can never turn away a horse in need."
"Yes, but I was hoping we could spend sometime together before you got too busy," Ty replied.
Amy smiled, "That's why I told her that we'll both come and take a look at him."
"What?" Ty asked disbelievingly.
Amy wrapped her arms around his waist as she said, "What do you mean 'what'? We're going to Nevada together!"
Ty's arms came around her, "Really?"
Amy nodded eagerly as Ty lowered his head toward hers. Their lips met in a sweet and passionate kiss. It was short, but only because Moose had decided that they were a scratching post and started scratching his head. They broke apart.
"Do you still want me to go get Sugarfoot?" Amy asked.
"Of coarse," Ty answered, smiling down at her.
Amy turned away to go get the pony from the pasture. She turned to throw a smile over her shoulder before continuing up the path. She couldn't wait to spend time alone with him.
---
That night at dinner, Amy and Ty told everybody the news. They were excited and thought it was good that they go away together. Amy had called Soraya, her best friend, earlier and told her all about it. Immediately, Soraya became jealous and she started talking about how her husband, Matt Trewin, never takes her anywhere. Amy finally decided to invite them both. At least, it was only two people.
"I've always wanted Holly to see the wild mustangs," Lou was saying. This brought Amy back to reality, and she knew where this was going.
"Well, somebody has to stay and take care of the horses," Amy told her, hoping she got the hint.
"Well, I'm sure Grandpa and Nancy can help out and Joni and her boyfriend, David, is here all the time anyway," Lou replied.
It was just the two of them in the kitchen now. Although they all made different excuses, everybody just wanted to be out of the way of the pending sister fight. Amy didn't want to fight with her sister and she knew she was right. Heartland would be in good hands for a little while. So, reluctantly, Amy agreed to have Lou, Scott, and Holly join her, Ty, Soraya, and Matt to Nevada.
She sighed, this was nothing like she planned.
13 Hours Earlier–4:00 pm
"Are sure you're up for this?" Sam asked her best friend, Jennifer Kenworthy, now Slocum, as the two girls got ready for a night out.
"Hey, I'm the one who asked to you to come, didn't I?" Jen commented.
"Yes, but you're six months pregnant, are you aloud to be going out?" Sam asked looking over her friend with worry.
"Sam, please don't start hovering over me," Jen pleaded. "I already get it from my husband and now my mother and I don't need it from you. Besides, Ryan's going to be there too."
"Which brings me to my next point," Sam said. "Are sure it's okay I'm going out with you and Ryan? I really don't want to intrude."
"Sam, I already told you, it's fine," Jen replied. "You have been working yourself to hard since your argument with what's his name, you need some fun and as your best friend, I am the one to give it to you."
"You?" Sam questioned looking at her friend's bulging stomach.
Jen hit Sam playfully, "You know what, now I'm going to be so harsh on you when you start showing."
"Shhh," Sam immediately hushed her.
"Sam!" Jen groaned. "Are you telling me you haven't told him or anyone yet?"
"How am I supposed to?" Sam questioned. "We haven't spoken since that day,"
Jen looked like she was about to say something, but shook her head, stopping herself and turned around.
"Oh okay, Miss Paternity Secret," Sam said. "When are you going to tell Ryan the truth?"
Jen spun around fast despite her size. "You know, that is completely different," Jen hissed.
"Oh really, seems the same to me," Sam snapped. "You know, he deserves to know the truth, it's better for everyone, including that baby!"
"I have a very good reason for my secret," Jen told her. "Unlike you, who can't even tell her fiancé, she's pregnant, all because of a stupid argument."
Sam turned around to face her bedroom window, not wanting her friend to see the tears that were blurring her vision. She sniffed and tried to blink back the tears. Jen was right, she should tell Jake the truth, but how was she supposed to when he wouldn't even talk to her. Sam growled in frustration.
"Sam, I'm sorry," Jen apologized. "That was insensitive of me. Even I know how Jake Ely can be, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
Sam turned back around, dabbing at her eyes. "It's okay," she smiled through her tears. "And I'm sorry too. I get that you don't want anybody to get hurt and that's exactly what you would be doing if this secret ever got out."
The two friends smiled at each other and hugged. When they pulled apart, Jen asked, "So, how's Shady coming along?"
Sam smiled, "Great, he actually ate some grain out of our hands today. Amy really has a way with horses."
"That's good," Jen said. "Now, we have to hurry, Ryan's going to be waiting for us."
---
"I can't believe how far you've gotten with Shady in only a week," Lou commented as they drove to the hotel they were going to for a celebration dinner. She, Scott, Amy, Ty, and Holly were squeezed in one car while Soraya and Matt were in another. Both were rentals.
"Well, we still have a long way to go," Amy said looking at Ty. She couldn't have done it without him. He smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Well, still," Lou said. "The Forsters seem to think it's a miracle and that's why we're going out to dinner to celebrate."
The rest of the car ride was silent except for the occasional three year old babble coming from Holly, Lou and Scott's daughter. Finally, they reached the hotel and they all headed inside not knowing what would happen.
---
Meanwhile, Jake Ely sat upstairs in the restaurant at the bar with the person he hated the most. He pulled at the tie around his neck and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He didn't even know why he had come.
"Why am I here? I don't even you like you?" he asked Ryan Slocum, who sat next to him.
"Do want part in this business deal or what?" Ryan asked him back.
"I don't even know if I want to or not, you haven't told me," Jake answered.
"You'll find out as soon they get here," Ryan said.
"As soon as who gets here?" Jake asked, a curious look on his face. Ryan didn't say anything. Jake sighed. They sat there for a few minutes until Jake got really impatient. "That's it," With that he got up and headed for the elevator. He didn't even know why he came in the first place.
However, Jake didn't get very far because the elevator doors opened and two girls came out. A very pregnant blonde and a girl with auburn hair. His brown mustang eyes caught her green ones. They stayed like that for awhile before she stepped forward and spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was just leaving," Jake answered.
Sam crossed her arms over her chest, "Good, the elevator's that way,"
Neither one of them moved.
Sam waited for him to say something, anything about why he hadn't talked to her for days. Knowing Jake Ely, he wasn't going to say anything and being as stubborn, she wasn't going to be the first one to say anything either.
Suddenly, Sam couldn't take it anymore and fled the restaurant. She hurried onto the elevator before anyone could catch her. Reacting immediately, Jake ran after her and without even looking at her husband, Jen followed him.
"Sam!" Jake called when he reached the lobby. She still hadn't left yet. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Jen right behind him and farther behind her he saw Amy, Ty, and the rest of the people of Heartland just enter the lobby.
Sam spun around, her greens eyes blazing, "What?"
Before he could say anything, however, the doors to the hotel lobby banged open and men dressed all in black appeared. Shots were fired toward the ceiling.
"Everybody stay where you are!" the man in front yelled. "This is robbery, cooperate and this will be over in five minutes!"
A/N: Dun Dun Dun... How's that for a cliff hanger? If you want to see what the girls' dresses look like, they're in my profile. Now if you want to know what happens next just review!
