"Thanks again for the pie. It was delicious," Zach smiled at Gram. When she blushed my mouth nearly dropped to the floor. What a little charmer...

"Anytime, sweetheart," she waved off his thanks.

"I should get home...it was really nice meeting you all," he nodded to Wyatt and Jake; saving another smile for Gram and I. "See you later Sam," climbing into his car he gave a little wave as he drove off.

Gram turned to me, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Oh my word!"

I couldn't help but smile either, getting excited with her. "I know! Did you see that car?" I shook my head, still unable to believe I had ridden in one of my dream cars.

Jake and Wyatt snorted while Gram looked confused. "What about those eyes? It's a shame his hair was hangin' in them because they were gorgeous!"

Okay, it was really weird to hear Gram talk about a boy like that...especially one my age. She obviously didn't know the new fashion trend. Hair in the eyes now was considered 'totally hot'...according to Jen. She had mentioned something about it since Ryan had grown his hair out some. Honestly...I could give a rat's ass.

"That thing had a hemi...," I was still in shock. Wyatt ruffled my hair chuckling and Gram shook her head.

"Oh you are just hopeless!" She huffed into the house and I stared after her confused. What got her granny panties in a bunch?

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked dad. A little confused by Gram's reaction.

He smiled and shook his head. "No, you just said everything right." He too walked away, still chuckling.

Leave it to my family to be crazy. We could go from a day of total disaster and then the next everything normal. Well almost, I was still really, really confused...and my head was starting to hurt a little.

"So what did he black mail you?" Jake asked walking towards the barn.

And so the confusion continued...

I jogged to catch up with him. "Huh?"

"He's the kid from earlier..." when I just stared at him he sighed frustrated."In the bathroom?"

Click. "Oh! Right...no. Why?" I forgot temporarily that that had been him.

"I was just wondering why he was hanging around with you," he said nonchalantly pushing open the barn door.

"Yeah it's totally weird that somebody would want to maybe be my friend. How bizarre," sarcasm dripped from each word and Jake rolled his eyes.

"Don't get feisty with me Brat. I was just curious," he stepped into the feed room and started dishing feed...which was one of my chores.

"Well you don't have to be so insulting. I know it's crazy to think someone would actually choose to hang out with me," my sarcasm was dying but was still there.

Jake scooped up some more grain and poured it into a bucket. He closed the lid to the grain and turned to face me. He shrugged. "Just didn't really seem like your type."

I had a type? What the deuce would it even be? A smart-ass cowboy, nerdy know-it-all, and a slimy man whore? Yeah, I really didn't think I had a 'type' seeing as all of those were totally different.

"What's my type?" I asked, curious to know what he thought.

He picked up the buckets of grain and stepped pass me. I followed him. He dumped the grain into each horses stall, trying to think of an answer. Finally he sighed. "I don't know...just not a pretty city boy from Connecticut."

I snorted. "You're quick to judge." It was my turn to walk away. Who'd of thought Jake was so judgmental? I heard him set the buckets down and his boots slapping the dirt aisle as he followed me.

"I wasn't judging him," he said stopping me. I turned to face him.

"Really? Then how would you know he was a pretty city boy? Last I checked you don't even know him." I raised an eyebrow, hoping it would prove my point.

"In all fairness you don't really know him either."

Touché.

"Well I know him enough to know you are way off."

"So what's he like?" Jake leaned against one of the stalls.

I pursed my lips. "Why do you care?" Why was he being so annoying about this? I don't ask about all of his friends.

Again, he shrugged casually. "Curious."

I sighed. "I don't know...there's just something about him."

"Gunna have to do better than that, kid."

Kid? "Haven't you ever heard of 'curiosity killed the cat'?" What a pest. He didn't answer, instead he just stared. Just waiting for an answer patiently. Damn his patience!

I growled. "Ugh! I don't know...he's funny...smart...interesting," I rattled off the first things that came to mind.

"Do you like him?" Jake raised his eyebrows and I stared at him confused, my head starting to hurt more.

"Yeah, sure."

He smirked. "Do you think he's cute?"

I rolled my eyes but felt my cheeks get a little warm. "Oh my god. I'm leaving," I turned and marched out of the barn, I could hear Jake laughing from inside.

Jerk.

I walked to the field and starting filling the water trough. I sat and watched the water slowly fill it up; wondering why I had felt myself getting frazzled. Why would I be embarrassed about Jake asking that question? Was it because it was true...?

Ha! Of course not. Because, that just wasn't right. It was probably just the question coming out of Jake that embarrassed me. Never in my born days would I have expected him to ask such a ridiculous question. Those things were suppose to come from Jen. But still, it was weird. Jake was weird. It was just a really weird day. So I shut off the water and thought maybe I'd go inside and quit while I was ahead...or before anything else weird happened. I wasn't sure how much more weirdness I could take.

I trudged up the porch steps, not bothering to go say bye to Jake. He was a freak, he didn't deserve my goodbye...jerk.

When I reached the screen door I paused. Gram and dad were in the kitchen, whispering to each other fiercely again. I peeked through the screed, Gram was standing by the sink drying off a dish and dad was standing beside her, leaning against the counter. His head was hung low and Gram turned on him.

"Just take the offer Wyatt. No need to be prideful," Gram hissed, sounding aggravated.

He shook his head. "I can't."

Gram's face turned a little red. She wasn't happy and for I minute I thought about heading back towards the barn after all. When she caught my attention.

"For heaven's sake Wyatt! We would be able to stay," Gram choked a little, probably trying not to yell or cry. I crept back up towards the door and stood out of their line of site.

"No Grace. I can't, not for him," he sounded older, like he had just aged fifty years in those few minutes.

Something touched my foot and I jumped a little bumping my head against the house. I glanced down to see Blaze wagging his tail at me, a stick at my feet.

Oh, hell.

I shook my head at him but he crouched down in a playful position, nudging the stick with his nose.

"What about River Bend? What about Sam?" Gram asked, her tone softening.

Blaze's body wriggled with excitement. I glared at him. "Not now Blaze," I whispered as quietly as possible. His ears perked and he nudged the stick again, this time though he barked. And barked, and barked.

"What's that dog barking 'bout now?" Gram huffed and I froze, hearing her footsteps nearing the door. Thinking fast I ran as quietly as possible to the railing off to the side and threw myself over it just as Gram opened the door.

I landed in her garden and made a small 'oomph' of a noise and hoped Gram hadn't heard me. Pain seared through my back and I grimaced. This probably wasn't one of my best ideas.

"C'mon in," Gram said, tiredly. Blaze's nails scratched the wood as he trotted his way inside the house. The screen door bang shut again and I let out a shaky painful breath.

"You should really consider going into gymnastics."

Jake smirked down at me, clearly amused. Why was he still here? He continued to smirk but still looked serious. "So you get an earful Brat?"

I groaned as I pushed myself up. I brushed myself off and shoved past him; heading for the house.

"Sam?"

I ignored him and went inside. Gram and Wyatt were now in the living room and I headed straight upstairs mumbling something about homework. As I fell onto my bed I thought about what Jake had asked.

"Did I ever." I mumbled to myself more confused than ever.

x-x-x-x

Of course I was stuck doing my homework on the bus. Seeing that I couldn't even bring myself to think about it last night. My mind replayed the conversation between Gram and Wyatt over and over. What were the keeping from me? Was there a way to save River Bend? If there was why wouldn't my dad do it? I always thought he would give anything to protect River Bend. But apparently 'not for him'. Who was he even talking about?

"Sam?" Jen waved her hand in front of my face and I blinked coming out of my thoughts. She stared at me, looking a little concerned. "You haven't even written your name," she said, nodding to my paper on my lap. It was math homework...my favorite.

"Oh," I scribbled my name down, looked at the first problem...and let my mind wander again. I was hurt...not physically—well sorta—but emotionally. Again, they were hiding things from me. What for? To protect me? Yeah, well look how that turned out last time.

Jen huffed. "Give me that," she snatched the paper off my lap and took my pen. She quickly went through the worksheet and handed it back. "Do me a favor?"

I put the paper in my bag. "Sure."

"Come back from your world for a bit."

I had been stuck in my own little world recently. Stuck inside my own thoughts, which was never good.

I mustered up a smile. "Right. Sorry...there's just been a lot on my mind recently. My brain isn't used to it."

Jen giggled and I was happy I could still make a joke.

"You need to clear your mind...do some sun salutations."

Sun say-what? I stared at her stupidly and she smiled.

"It's yoga," she clarified.

I could see that now. Me trying to do yoga. That would end up in all sorts of disasters. Jen seemed to be thinking the same thing because she laughed.

"Okay, sorry I just pictured you doing yoga."

She had just confirmed my very thoughts. She laughed again and I did too—genuinely.

We pulled up to the school and I filed out of the bus with the other kids. Jen and I walked together, talking about nothing in particular. It was nice to just talk again. Even if it was about nothing in particular.

"Ryan asked me to go look at a horse with him!" Jen said excitedly.

I suppressed a groan. Sure, I might not like Ryan all too much, but I could pretend to be excited for Jen.

"Really? Where?" I asked, truly curious.

"Somewhere right outside of Reno…I hope my mom lets me go."

Her mom didn't really like the idea of her hanging out with Ryan either. "What kind?"

"A Warmblood…I think he said it was a Trakehner. An amazing jumper. He competed in the FEI World Cup!"

Wow. I was impressed. Leave it to Ryan to find something ridiculously out there. "I bet he's cheap."

Jen's voice lowered to a whisper. "Get this…apparently he's for sale for three hundred grand."

That was enough money to make me freeze, my mouth gaping.

"That's a freaking house! Not a horse…," I shook my head. People with money made me sick.

Jen shrugged the price or the way they spent their money clearly not bothering her. "Apparently his dad told him it was a gift."

"What for?" That was one hell of a gift.

"He something about his dad getting this great business deal…," again she shrugged. "I didn't really ask."

She had probably been too excited that Ryan had asked her along that she toned out everything else.

I rolled my eyes. Slocum was always doing some sort of business deal. How much business was there actually out there?

"Oh and he wanted me to tell you sorry about your ranch."

To hell with his pity and his three hundred thousand dollar horse. Well, actually to hell with just Ryan. The horse was probably too cute to send to hell.

Jen frowned at me seeing that I was upset. "We'll figure something out. Don't worry."

I wish it were true. But by the way Gram and Wyatt had been talking…I highly doubted things would be working out.

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