Saving You
Chapter Eight "Invite"
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my made up characters!
Monday, November 20th
"You want me to come with you?" I asked Ross the question nervously. Ross had just come home an hour ago and over dinner told me that he had received an invitation to his cousin's wedding on December 2nd. Then he told me he wanted me to go with him. To say I was nervous was an understatement. Meeting Ross's family…that was big. Sure, he knew Gabe and had technically met my father and aunt, but that was because of Grandma's funeral.
Well I guess I couldn't say that for too much longer because my dad and aunt were coming down with Gabe for Thanksgiving this Thursday. So he'd be meeting them all over again, this time as my boyfriend. Should be interesting.
"Yes." Ross smiled. "I'd like you to meet my family. My mother really wants to meet you."
I blushed. "You talk about me?"
"Yes, to my parents."
"And they know how young I am?" I pushed my food around my plate. Ross chuckled.
"My parents do."
"But no one else?" Ross shook his head. I hoped my age wouldn't be an issue with anyone but Ross had just turned thirty and I was twenty-three.
"I don't care what other people think." Ross grabbed my hand and spoke softly. "I like you Charlie. Age is not an issue with us and it shouldn't be with anyone else. We're both consenting adults in a relationship."
"I know, I know." I waved it off.
"So you'll go with me?"
I sighed. "I have to see if someone can watch over the ranch while we're gone."
We finished dinner and we did the dishes together before heading outside for our nightly check on the horses. Ross held my hand as the motion lights flickered on as we passed them. The mustangs were in the smaller pasture where I usually kept the older horses but tonight, the older horses were in the barn.
I locked the feed room door and gave a pat to each of the horses as we left the barn. Ross made sure all the doors were locked and I set the alarm before we went up the steps. Before we reached the door, Ross pulled me in close and kissed me gently.
"I just can't get enough of you." Ross smiled as he pulled back. I laughed.
"I don't mind." I pulled him into the bedroom. "But you know we'll have to go back to sleeping in separate rooms while my dad and aunt are here."
Ross groaned as he entered the bathroom to change. "But I'm getting used to having you next to me."
"Well I don't think they'd appreciate it too much." I climbed into bed after changing quickly and covered up. Grandma's—well my house now—house still got chilly even though I had heaters going. There was a fireplace downstairs but we had furnaces with propane heating throughout.
Ross came out of the bathroom in a pair of flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt, sliding in beside me. "No, I don't think your father would. So I guess I'll sleep in the guest room with Gabe or the guest room downstairs."
"It's just from Wednesday to Sunday." I reminded him. He looked at me with a frown.
"Easy for you to say." I chuckled quietly.
"You could always sneak into my room after everyone is asleep and leave before anyone gets up."
"I'll think about it." Ross kissed me slowly. "We should get some sleep."
…
Wednesday, November 22nd
I was just helping Peter with Malachi when my phone beeped. I backed away slowly from Malachi and Peter to check it. My front gate was opening. It was Gabe's truck with his trailer and Aunt Cynthia's car behind him. Gabe got until next Thursday off from college so he was staying with me until next Wednesday and of course, he had to bring Firefly.
A grin overtook my face and Bryan noticed. I waved my phone at him, he knew it meant Gabe and my father was here. "Go on, I've got it covered with the guys." I gave him a quick hug as I passed him then took off running towards where they parked once I was out of the newly built arena.
"DAD!" I shouted as he got out of Aunt Cynthia's car. I jumped into his arms and he caught me, stumbling back a step.
"Hey there Char, did you miss me?" Dad's soft voice sounded great to my ears.
"Tons, Dad." I gave him a squeeze before he let me go. "And Aunt Cindy! It sucks being so far away from the both of you."
"You seem to be doing okay." Dad took in the ranch, the newly built arena, and the new security installations. "You really got this place locked down. Are those the inmates in there?" He gestured towards the arena.
"Yes! Wait until you meet them. They're really great, Dad. They've made so much progress in the week or so they've been working with their mustangs. They already have them halter broken and starting to lead. It's great."
"I guess I get to show my mustang off a little bit." Gabe smiled and I gave him a big hug. "Firefly is glad to be coming to his homeland for a few days."
"Well we're glad to have you all." I opened the trailer where Firefly was waiting and backed him out myself. "Do you mind if I take him over to show to the guys and tell your and his story? It should help give them some hope for their mustangs. That it's possible to do this with trust and hard work."
"Of course I don't mind. Let's get on over there." Gabe said eagerly. I led Firefly into the arena where Bryan and the officers watched the guys with their horses.
"Hey guys! I have a special horse for you to meet." They all turned to face me. "Keep a good hand on your horse's lead ropes in case they decide to act up seeing a new friend." I saw them all put both hands on their lead ropes and not one of them twisted them around their hands. They were learning! "This is Firefly," I patted his neck and then pointed towards my family. "And this is my cousin and co-owner, Gabe, my father Jared, and my Aunt Cindy."
"This is Henry, John, Peter, Jamie, and Michael. They're here for our Last Hope Inmate and Mustang Program, as you all know. Then their officers are…" I introduced the officers. "Now, back to what I was saying. Firefly is special because he was born here in Nevada and was a free running mustang until he was hurt in a freak accident in a brush fire on this very ranch that traumatized him. He would have strange attacks where he would start freaking out and sweating a lot. He needed help before he could be adoptable."
I looked over at Gabe and smiled. "That's where Gabe, his owner, comes in. Gabe was a soccer star, sixteen, and he went on a road trip with his friends…" My eyes traveled to his. We both remembered the pain through that rough time.
"I had it all." Gabe picked up where I left off. "Until I got into a car accident that left me paralyzed temporarily—though I didn't know it at the time. I was just as messed up as Firefly then. I came out here to spend some time with our grandmother and that's when I met Firefly. No one had been able to get through to him but during that week, something in us clicked and almost four years later, we're the best of friends. I ride him all the time and we've never had a stronger bond. We healed together. It was hard work, but it was more than worth it. I trained him myself too."
"Gabe's story is a good one and I want you all to kind of take something from it. With hard work and with you building a relationship with your mustang, you can train them too. Help them heal from them losing their range and help them get a good, loving home that they can spend their days at."
"I know how rough it is to lose the sport you love." John spoke up. "I busted up my leg in high school, lost my chance at college ball. Wish I had a program like this to get me through."
Gabe smiled at John. "I am very grateful for Firefly and while I am sad I don't play soccer anymore, I love riding."
I looked down at my watch. "Alright guys, we have a half an hour left, let's work some more on leading with your horses. Remember that this is as new to them as it's new to you. So patience is very important."
I handed Firefly back to Gabe. "You can stick him with the saddle horses if you'd like, I just have to help them finish."
"I think we'll stay and watch over here in the corner so we don't get in your way." Gabe led Firefly over to the corner with Dad and Cindy following. I went back to help Peter, I tried to help one-on-one with a different guy each day, and realized he wasn't the one who needed my help. Malachi was exceeding my expectations and was following without any issue, so I went off to help Jamie with Wildfire. She was a bit nervous today for some reason so I just walked along with them, reassuring them both quietly.
As we were putting the mustangs into their stalls for their evening feed, Henry stopped me. "I guess we're not coming tomorrow."
I smiled sadly. "I wish you guys could. But I'm sure the jail won't approve it or none of the officers with the program will be working tomorrow."
"Actually I'm scheduled for tomorrow. Volunteered." Alicia, also known as Officer Meyers, spoke up. "I know one of the other officers Ramirez is—he owns horses, Officer Juneau, and McGraw too. I could speak to my supervisor and see if it's allowed if that'd be something you'd want."
"I'm available 'til about two, that's when Mom gets our dinner ready." Bryan added. "I wouldn't mind coming over and working with them until then."
My smile turned happy and bright. Everyone was more than willing to work on a holiday. "I'm up for it if everyone else is!"
So it was decided that Alicia would talk to her supervisors when they got back and would give me a call. I couldn't wait to hear back from her.
….
I smiled nervously at Ross as he walked up onto the front porch. "Everyone is here, I see."
I nodded. "Yeah, they got here this afternoon. Firefly was a hit with the guys. Gabe and I told their story; it seemed to reach the guys."
"That's good, Charlie." Ross gave me a gentle, quick kiss on the lips. "I guess we should get in here and meet some people huh?" I nodded again.
So I walked in with Ross, not touching each other, and re-introduced him to my dad and Cindy. I told them how he had been staying with me, to make sure I wasn't alone. They already knew he would be joining us for dinner tomorrow along with Pepper, Dallas, and whatever deputy was on duty at the time. I didn't feel right to leave Dallas and Pepper alone on Thanksgiving without Ross and I knew it made him happy to have them there.
Ross as usual was very quiet unless spoken to directly, then he only answered with short answers, which I would then supply a bit more. Gabe, thankfully, moved the conversation towards the new additions to the ranch and the program.
"I'm telling you guys, they're great. They've been doing great with the horses so far and you can see the enjoyment and pleasure on their faces as they work with their horses. Heck, they even seem happy mucking stalls or mixing feed. It's something good for them." I was proud my group of guys already. They were all making such good progress with their horses and not one has one lost their patience or complained—well besides about the smell of manure—I was glad we were all doing good on our first trial run. "And Ranger here is my little buddy." I rubbed Ranger's head affectionately as he came up to me. "He sticks to me like glue, never letting me leave his sight."
"You finally got your dog." Dad said amusedly. I grinned at him.
"Yeah, after years of begging, I finally got a dog but not because of you!" I crossed my arms in mock-anger. Dad chuckled.
"You've got a ranch full of horses and a dog, what are you complaining about?" Dad joked.
"Nothing." I sighed contentedly. "I am very happy with the way my life is going." I looked over at Ross to make sure he knew he was included in that statement. Even though we'd only been dating for about a month, I couldn't ask for a better guy.
Later that night, I laid in bed, unable to sleep. I was nervous about helping cook tomorrow—I had no clue why I was so nervous—and feeling a bit lonely even though Ranger happily laid in Ross's spot. Ross was sleeping down the hall with Gabe in the room with two twin beds. Dad and Aunt Cindy slept in the guest room downstairs.
The wind blew hard against the house and I could hear the tree that was in the front yard hitting the house occasionally. Usually it wouldn't bother me but I just felt restless and not tired at all. Sighing, I threw back the covers and slipped on my light sweater, heading downstairs. I made a cup of hot chocolate and walked into the living room. I stared out of the big window by the couch—a nice comfortable, fluffy one I had gotten in town—and looked over the ranch. The moon was shining bright and I could see the Faith and Belle standing head to tail as the wind blew.
I turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Ross. He smiled sheepishly. "You can't sleep either?"
I smiled back at him. "No, just not tired somehow after a long day. I guess I'm too wired about tomorrow." Ross moved me enough that he could sit behind me with my back against his chest. I leaned back and we both watched out the window. "You know I have this crazy idea that won't leave my head."
"What's that?" He asked quietly.
"I want to try to train Faith." I admitted. It was a crazy idea. She was completely blind and not trained past being halter broken and lead trained. "She has so much spirit and she wants to please you so much that I think she'd make a good mount but it's got to be crazy because she's blind."
Ross shrugged. "Not crazy. Brynna has a blind mare named Penny."
"That's right she does." I remembered. "Maybe I'll talk to her and see what she thinks."
"Could pick another mustang." Ross suggested. I nodded.
"I could but maybe I'm looking to have a piece of my grandmother and what she started. Faith was really brought her back after so many years. Faith opened up a new world for her. It makes sense that I feel her in Faith."
"I'd be more than willing to help you and I'm sure Brynna would too."
"I know. I'm glad." I smiled up at him. "I'd like your help if I decide to do it."
"You know I'll be here for you." Ross gave me a squeeze. I yawned and finished the rest of my hot chocolate.
"We better get back up to bed before someone wakes up. They'll think we're up to something."
Ross chuckled. "Anything but."
"I know right?" I snorted. Ross walked with me to take the cup back out and held my hand going up the stairs. At his door, I reached up to give him a kiss and headed to my bedroom, hopefully to sleep.
…
AN: Hey readers! Sorry it took me a bit to get this up. For those who didn't know, I was on vacation from July 4th-11th and I finally had to come back (boooo—sad face!). I was way too tired to update that night so I did update Sunday—I ended up updating You Are The Only Exception (WHI fanfic). I did a little bit of writing down at the beach, it was so peaceful sitting on our deck listening to the ocean and feeling the breeze. Ahhhh, I cannot wait to go back—or move there!
Anyways! Enough about me. I hope you like the update—I know it's not much but I hope to get you up another chapter soon maybe! Tell me what you thought, I always love to see reviews!
To my reviewers:
Jessica: Thank you once again for your reviews! I wish you had an account so I could talk to you before my updates on stories because I'd love to reply to your reviews! I am going to try to develop more of their personalities, etc as we go along (the inmates) so you readers can get to know them better! I have a feeling you'll get to know one of them very well!
Guest: I'm glad you're enjoying the story! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reviewing!
Thank you for reading! –Quinnandseth'sgirl15. My next update will be: Savannah's Journey. This should be up tonight (7/14/15)
