Chapter 13

Hey guys I'm back with another chapter! Thank you so much for all your reviews last chapter! You guys are so sweet. :) Thank you to all my guest reviewers, sorry I can't reply to you because that's how it's set up but, thank you all the same. PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless.

-Vegter999

Ruth's POV:

The next morning Torsten was extremely agitated. He constantly shifted in his chair, would hardly touch his breakfast, and didn't even hear me the first time when I asked if he'd pass the scrambled eggs.

I glanced knowingly over at Erik, who had obviously ascertained the reason for the change his behavior as well, as he grinned to himself while taking a sip of milk.

As the clock ticked towards two pm Torsten seemed to be becoming more and more stressed like a wound up clock about to ring.

Finally, I suggested an activity that I knew would relax him.

"Torsten why don't I get Sarie out and you can ride him."

In addition to training Sarie to accept Erik and the kids we'd also trained him to respond to verbal commands and to pressure on the reins for when Torsten rode him because Torsten obviously could not use his legs. The commands were in Arabic, seeing as that was the language I had first spoken to Sarie in and therefore the one he was most familiar with.

Torsten had taken to riding with great joy whenever he had visited us and he'd even mastered jumping three obstacles in a row.

"I think that would be wonderful Ruth" Torsten heartily agreed.

I led him outside after helping him put his coat on while Erik remained in the house to supervise the children, seeing as he could work from home today as there was nothing at the office that needed his attention.

I pushed the barn door open, and pulled Sarie from his stall, quickly saddling him while Torsten waited outside.

I led him out of the barn, his hooves clacking on the cobblestone floor, which I had always found to be a strangely soothing sound.

When we came out into the sunlight Torsten's face lit up at the sight of Sarie.

"Hey my friend" he patted Sarie's nose. Sarie head-butted him affectionately in return.

"You ready?" I asked.

Torsten only nodded.

I led Sarie to a platform that functioned like a mounting block, yet instead of steps there was a ramp leading up to a flat spot from which Torsten could usually lift himself from his chair onto the horse using only his arms. Though sometimes he would still require Erik's assistance.

Torsten wheeled up the ramp, while I held Sarie still and when he reached the flat area he sat there still for a moment, seemingly uncertain.

"You alright Torsten? You want me to get Erik?"

"No. I can do this" he responded firmly.

I nodded and waited for whenever he was ready.

He took a deep breath and grabbing both sides of the saddle, he swung his body over the horse. It took a little maneuvering but he eventually managed to get himself into position.

Once I was sure he was settled I led Sarie to a large fenced-in arena and had Torsten sit there for a minute while I closed the gate behind me.

"Alright Torsten if you just wanna take it slow and warm him up first you can do that."

Torsten nodded, and taking the reigns he said clearly to Sarie "Syr!" (Walk!) Sarie snorted and obediently began to pad around the arena.

###

Erik's POV:

"Daddy what are you doing?" Katarina asked, coming up to me as I sat on the couch, shuffling through the recent bills and other mail that had come in while Jakob, Maryam, and Annalise sat on the floor, engrossed in watching cartoons.

"Katarina shut up we're trying to watch the movie!" Jakob snapped irritably.

Katarina blinked and all of a sudden began to burst into tears.

"Jakob Skandar Anderson! I never wanna hear you talk like that to anyone ever again. Go to your room because you are grounded from watching TV for the next two days" I said firmly.

"That's not fair!" he complained.

"Neither is hurting your sister. Now tell Katarina your sorry."

Jakob got up and looking away from her, mumbled "I'm sorry."

"Jakob look her in the eye and say you're sorry and tell her what you're sorry for."

Jakob huffed, but gazed at Katarina directly.

"I'm sorry for being mean to you Katarina."

"Good, now..." before I could finish that statement the doorbell rang.

"Jakob, we will continue this conversation" I waggled my finger at him before heading for the door.

I tugged it open to find Kate standing there.

"Hi Erik. Um...it's alright if I call you Erik right?" she asked.

"Hi Kate. Yes of course it is. Um...Torsten is out back if you wanna come in and follow me through the backdoor I'll take you to him."

She nodded and followed me into the house. As we passed the kids lounging in the living room I stopped to introduce them.

"Kate these are mine and Ruth's four children. Jakob, Maryam, Katarina, and my youngest Annalise" I pointed to each of them in turn as they all glanced at Kate curiously.

"Hi you guys" she gave them a small friendly wave.

"Can you all tell her nice to meet you?" I asked.

"Nice to meet you" they all murmured.

"Good now I'm taking Kate out back for a few minutes. Do not leave the house without asking me and if anyone comes to the door do not answer it but come and get me. Jakob go to your room and stay there until I say you can come out."

Jakob groaned and begrudgingly made his way to his room.

"The rest of you be good ok" I admonished patiently.

I led Kate out the back door and she soon caught site of Torsten, who was currently cantering around the arena.

"Your brother can ride?"

"Yeah and he's pretty good at it too."

"I can see that but how does he do it if he's in a wheelchair?"

"Watch" I said, simply.

Torsten was now heading for a set of three jumps, his eyes narrowed in concentration. When Sarie neared the first obstacle he called "Aqfz!" (Jump!) to which Sarie responded by clearing the first obstacle and then the second and third within rapid succession.

"Wow" Kate said in awe.

"We taught Sarie, that's the horse, to respond to verbal commands which are in Arabic."

"Why Arabic?"

"Sarie is Ruth's horse. Ruth is from Iraq and when she got him that was the first language she spoke to him in because it's her mother tongue so we figured it might be best to use it for the commands because it was the language he was most familiar with."

Kate nodded in understanding.

"Alright Torsten walk him around a bit and let him wind down and then you can get off" Ruth called, as Torsten slowed Sarie to a walk.

"Sweetheart!" I called.

She turned in the direction of my voice and I gestured to Kate.

Ruth moved to the fence and waved at the both of us as we met her at the railing.

"Hi Kate, it's nice to see you again" she said.

"Nice to see you too Ruth. Sarie is a beautiful animal."

"Thank you. He was a gift from my husband."

"You have good taste" Kate glanced to me.

"Um...no from my first husband" Ruth elaborated, glancing at me awkwardly.

"Oh are you divorced?" she inquired, slightly confused.

"No...I was widowed" Ruth elaborated.

Sympathy and understanding filled Kate's gaze and I recalled how she'd mentioned that her own husband had passed.

"I'm so sorry. I know from firsthand experience that that can be incredibly difficult to deal with."

"Thank you." Ruth turned and called to Torsten, who had noticeably tensed up in his seat after he'd obviously become aware of Kate's presence.

"Torsten bring Sarie over here please. Kate is here by the way."

Torsten obediently directed Sarie over to Ruth, who reached over and grabbed one of the reins, directing Sarie closer to Kate.

"Would you to like to pet him?" Ruth asked.

"Yes absolutely" she said.

"Ok but no quick movements as he can be slightly skittish the first time he meets new people."

Kate followed her advice and slowly raised her hand, gently stroking Sarie's nose.

"Sarie is an Arabian horse right?" I noticed this time Kate directed her question at Torsten, who remained seated upon Sarie in a rather awkward silence.

Torsten cleared his throat.

"Um...yes" he replied.

"You're very good on him. I saw you jump."

"Thank you."

There was an awkward silence for a couple seconds until Ruth broke it.

"Torsten why don't I help you off and then you can show Kate around."

Torsten glanced at me.

"Um...Erik I'm gonna need a hand."

"Sure little brother" I made my way up the ramp while Ruth positioned Sarie and removed Torsten's feet from the stirrups.

"You ready Torsten? Erik?" she called.

"Yes" we both responded in unison.

Ruth then pushed Torsten's left leg over the saddle and I then helped to catch him and position him in his chair.

"You good?" I asked, as he shuffled around for a moment.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine" he grunted.

When he'd gotten sufficiently comfortable I watched him wheel down the ramp and, unsurprisingly, straight in the direction of Kate.

###

Torsten's POV:

I stopped a few feet in front of Kate.

"I suppose I'll have to start calling you the horse riding champion" she said playfully, flashing me a dazzling grin.

Wow she's beautiful when she smiles and those eyes...

"Torsten are you ok?" she asked, and I realized I had been silently staring at her without saying a word for several seconds.

Come on Torsten say something quick!

"Uh yeah yeah I'm fine. Just you know tired from the ride you know."

You said you know twice in that sentence. Good going you idiot, you sounded so incredibly intelligent. Not!

"Torsten, do you and Kate wanna feed Sarie some carrots before you both go?" Ruth asked, leading Sarie over to us.

I looked to Kate in a silent question.

"Sure" she said.

Ruth held out a bag of carrot pieces that were small enough so that the horse wouldn't choke but still decently sized enough to provide a good treat, to us and Kate and I each took a couple pieces.

"How do I feed him?" Kate asked.

"Just hold the carrots in your palm but, make sure your thumb is out of the way or else Sarie could accidentally bite it" I explained.

Kate raised her eyebrows.

"I'll definitely be sure to remember that."

She did as I instructed and soon Sarie was munching on his treats. When he was done he looked at her questioningly, beginning to sniff her pockets.

"No sorry Sarie I don't have anymore" she chuckled.

I then fed him my pieces before Ruth led him back into the barn.

"Well, I need to get back to watching the kids" Erik remarked, coming up to us. "But you two go have a great time." Erik then gave me a small wink and a pat on the shoulder. I returned it with a small scowl that said Cut it out Erik.

I watched him go for a second before turning back to Kate, beginning to feel my stomach tighten in a knot. Scratch that. A large ball.

"Shall we go?" she asked, gesturing towards the town.

"Sure" I replied, and we began making our way towards the main road. When we reached it we walked, well she did while I wheeled next to her, on the side seeing as there was never much traffic coming into a small town like this and if there was any it would be easy to hear if someone was coming.

"Your family seems nice" she remarked.

"Oh...yeah they are."

"Do you live with them all the time? I mean I'm not judging if you are, I'm just curious."

"No I usually live with my parents in Oslo. I'm just visiting Ruth and Erik for a little while."

"Needed a change of scenery?"

"Yeah something like that. What about you?" I asked, wanting to divert her from asking any further about my temporary move as the Magnus situation was the last thing I wanted to disclose.

"I'm living with John, my father-in-law right now. I felt he needed to be looked after with Matt's passing and all."

"Ruth and Erik told me about what happened...to your husband I mean."

Her eyes saddened and I immediately felt terrible for bringing up a bad memory.

"It sounds like he was a brave man."

Oh shut up Torsten that's just probably making it worse!

Yet to my surprise she smiled.

"He was. Just like you."

I was caught off guard by the compliment.

"I think your giving me far too much credit."

"And I think your being more than a little modest" she smiled at me knowingly. "Besides I know how to recognize bravery and fortitude when I see it."

Despite myself, my heart warmed at her praise as I proceeded to show her the town.

Wow was this a hard chapter to write but by the grace of God I did it! PLEASE REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter. God Bless.