//.Chapter Six.\\

I didn't get home from Rachel's until five o'clock, when most of the afternoon chores had been finished, the only thing left to do was bring the horses in and prepare the evening feeds. I also had some homework to do, but geometry was nowhere amongst my thoughts. I was still thinking about what had happened at Clairedale Ridge, Rachel had asked me if I could hang out the next day after school so we could go and try to find the horse, but I said I'd let her know tomorrow at lunch.

When I had walked in Amy was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee and a catalogue for wedding dresses in front of her. She looked at me and then glanced at the clock, I knew right then that I was going to get a lecture.

"I'm sorry I came back so late, I didn't keep track of the time.."I trailed off, I knew excuses wouldn't help, but I had apologized.

Amy looked away from the magazine and watched as I walked over ot the table and set my textbooks down, sitting across from her I began to open my geometry book. We had been assigned to do seven problems on Proofs, oh joy.

I looked away from the book and at Amy, she looked tired, and worried, I felt a bit guilty.

"I just wish you would have called me first and let me know where you were going, this way I could have told you what time to be back," Amy told me,"Just next time, ask me, okay?"

"Okay,I'm sorry,"I told Amy sincerely," You seem kinda down, is something up?"

Amy glanced down at the catalogue,"Oh, it's just that the wedding is kinda stressful, I finally got all the save-the-date cards back, Ty and I want to have the wedding here, so we've been looking at tents too. There hasn't been any progress with Tex yet, I still can't figure out what might have truamatized him. Between the wedding and the horses there just isn't enough time in the day."

I watched Amy, listening to her and I tried my best to give her a smile," Well, as for the wedding, if you need any help with invitations or anything like that I'd be happy to help, and I'll take some more chores in the barn this way you can work with Tex and the other horses."

I felt inclined to help Amy, she was letting me stay here, after all.

A small smile formed on her features,"Thanks, Jess."

I shrugged a little and began to start my homework,"What are friends for?"

Later that evening I helped bring in the horses, and went into the feed room, beginning to start the feeds early. I did Byron's share of the feeds as well, feeling a little bad that I had went over Rachel's and had left him with more work to do. After I finished handing out the feeds I paused by Lido's stall, his tack was sitting on the door, and Byron was standing inside with him, rushing to finish grooming.

"You don't have to rush, I did your share of the feeds,"I said, watching Byron.

He stopped grooming and looked at me,"Huh?"

I sighed slightly and reapeated my sentence,"I did your share of the feeds."

"Oh,"Byron said, he blinked, then looked at me and smiled,"Thanks."

"Don't worry about it, I went over Rachel's and you had to do some of my chores, so I'd might as well return the favor."

Byron stroked Lido's neck and gave me another smile.

I returned the smile, but more hesitantly, and then continued walking down the barn aisle.

Ty was carrying a few haynets already, he had stopped and had been watching me and Byron.

I looked at him curiously and quirked an eyebrow slightly,"What?"

"Nothing,"He said, then he kept walking. He looked as if he was trying not to smile though.

Well, some people are acting peculiar.

I helped Ty finish handing out the hay nets, then I stopped by Tex's stall and rested my elbows on the door, simply watching him for a while, going through my own thoughts. The gelding glanced at me curiously, but went back to pulling at his hay net. I looked over his confirmation, his arched neck, his powerful hindquarters, the long legs. He was an amazing show horse, I could just imagine him in the arena. But why wouldn't he let ayone near him with a saddle?

Soon, Tex became bored with his hay net and walked over to me, pushing his nose against my chest.

"Hey there,"I murmured, stroking his velvety muzzle. His ears flickered at the sound of my voice and whickered softly. Tex clearly wasn't afraid of people, he was fine when being handled. But what was the problem then? What was he scared of?

If only horses could talk.

Or maybe they could.

My gaze lingered on the odd bite mark on Tex's leg, hmm...I remembered the peacock that had been walking around Rachel's yard. And that is when I got an idea. Yep, you read that right, I got an idea. Who woulda thought?

It wasn't completely planned out though, just an idea, a guess, so don't get excited. I'd need to verify it first, and for this I'd need to ask Rachel at school tomorrow.

"Is something wrong?"Amy asked, she was carrying some herbal remedies in her hands.

I turned to look at her,"..I don't know, I need to make sure first."

In reply to this she gaze me a puzzled look, but before she could say anything I walked out of the barn. My mind was whirring with thoughts now, and for the first time for as long as I can remember, I was actually looking forward to going to school tomorrow.

"Rachel, I need to talk to you,"It was the next day at lunch, I put my tray down and sat down across from Rachel, whom had just put down her drink.

Byron looked at me curiously, and then Adam said with a mouth full of pizza,

"What happened Lassie, did Timmy fall down the well again?"

I took one of my fries and threw it at him jokingly. Rachel watched with mild amusement,

"Shoot."

"Well,"I began, glancing at Byron," You know about the new horse we got, Tex?"

Rachel nodded, Byron and Adam were listening intently now.

"He has this wierd bite mark on his leg, and I think it might have to do with why he won't let anyone tack him up,"I continued," Do you let dogs wander around the farm?"

Rachel shook her head," No, the dogs might attack the animals, and plus some of the animals we have are scared of dogs."

Byron was catching on,"So you think a dog must have bitten Tex?"

I nodded,"It's too big for anything else, but more specfically, it's when he was bitten."

Adam added to the conversation,"You're suggesting that Tex was bitten when he was being tacked up?"

Rachel was quiet, then nodded,"Dog bites can be very traumatizing to horses. If Tex was bitten at a young age, then he'd assosciate being bitten with being tacked up."

Bryon was smiling now,"If the dog came up from behind him, then he might not have seen the dog at all, so Tex would assosciate the pain with the tack, and he'd lose trust in his owner."

"Wouldn't the owner know that though?"Adam asked curiously.

"Some people won't keep thier patience with horses that don't want to be tacked up, so the owner must ave dropped him off at an Auction without fully giving his medical history,"I explained.

"So someone, or Nick, in this case, would buy Tex without knowing about the dog bite,"Rachel finished, smiling,"It's definitely possible."

" It wouldn't be about Tex's back or girth, it's mental,"I said, nodding.

Byron was grinning, watching me,"Good job, Jess. We'll tell Amy and Ty when we get back, and then we'll ask Scott if he can come over and look at the bite."

I looked at him and smiled,"Thanks."

I'd had an idea, and a good one at that. See? Miracles do happen.

"Oh,"Rachel said, suddenly remembering,"Did you ask Amy if you could come over today?"

I frowned a little,"Nah, I can't, I'm sorry. You can go ahead though, if you find anything you can call me."

Adam quirked an eybrow slightly,"Um, care to explain?"

"They're girls, even if they explain it won't make sense,"Byron joked.

Adam laughed, but Rachel made as if to push Byron.

I decided to explain,"Rachel and I went up to Clairedale Ridge yesterday, and we have proof that there's a horse up there."

"Did you see it?"Byron asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"No, but know it's there,"Rachel said.

Adam shivered a little, thinking about Clairedale Ridge,"That place is creepy."

"I agree,"I muttered, thinking of the dilapidated house.

"Maybe the horse got loose,"Byron suggested.

Adam shook his head,"Nope, my dad is chief of the police force, and there haven't been any reports on missing horses."

"Someone must have left him there,"Rachel frowned, seeming to have the same thoughts that I'd had yesterday about a neglected horse.

Byron nodded gravely, then his brown eyes met mine,"We should tell Amy."

I nodded in agreement, but it seemed that afternoon, we wouldn't have to tell Amy at all.

"Yep, it's definitely a dog bite,"Scott said, standing up fully. I was standing near Tex, holding his halter while Scott had been inspecting the bite, Tex side-stepped nervously as Scott moved away, as if relieved that Scott had left his leg alone. I murmured quietly to Tex and stroked his muzzle.

Ty was standing just outside the stall, watching silently.

Scott looked at me and smiled,"Good thinking."

Byron gave me a thumbs-up sign from behind Ty, I looked at him and smiled.

Amy walked back over to the stall, nodding,"Nick says that he bought Tex anonymously from an auction. It's definitely possible."

Ty watched Tex carefully,"We should give him mimulus to help him get over his fear, a jar of geranium scented oil wouldn't hurt, either."

Scott nodded,walking out of the stall,"That would definitely help."

"Would you like to come inside for some coffee?"Amy asked Scott.

"Really, I think we've left Lou inside for too long, who knows what she's up to,"Ty joked.

Amy looked at Byron and I,"Are you guys coming?"

"I think I'll stay out here for a bit,"I replied, stroking Tex's neck.

Byron nodded in agreement,"Same here."

"Alright, but don't stay out too long,"Amy said with a smile, and then the three of them walked out of the barn.

I walked out of Tex's stall, looking at Byron,"So do you think I'm fitting in?"

Bryon shrugged,"Oh..I don't know, more or less."He smirked jokingly.

"Gee, thanks,"I replied, walking down the barn aisle with him. The barn was quiet and peaceful, almost comforting.

"Do you like Heartland?"Byron asked, watching me calmly.

" 'Oh..I don't know, more or less' ," I mimicked his answer, grinning a little, but then I said,"Actually, at first I had my doubts, but it's alright."

Our eyes met for a few moments, and that's when I realied how dark Byron's eyes were, they were deep, calm. He began to say something, but then Amy came running to the barn.

"Byron, Jess! Grab a lead rope, we need to go, now!"

And that's how it all began.

Within a few minutes Byron and I had gotten into the car with Amy, a trailer hitched to the back, and we pulled onto the road. Scott had gotten into his jeep and was following us quickly.

"What's going on?"I asked, looking over at Amy, I was nervous, almost scared. I had never seen Amy look so anxious before.

"Your friend, Rachel, just called, she had been riding her horse on the trail and she found a horse tangled up in barbed wire,"Amy explained, keeping her determined gaze on the road.

I became silent and exchanged glances with Byron, I should have known, I just hoped we'd make it in time.

Soon we came onto the road that was alongside Clairedale Ridge, and Amy turned right, going off the road and onto the grass, the area where I was guessing there had been a driveway years ago. We bumped along the grass, and soon Amy turned off the engine and quickly got out. Byron and I did the same, Scott got out the jeep, grabbing a first-aid kit, he went jogging over to where a woman with red hair, Rachel's mom, was kneeling. Thier backs were to us though.

I could see Rachel standing off to the side with Charity, her arms folded, watching her mom, Scott and Amy, I could read the concern and sadness in her eyes. Then she saw us and gave a weak smile.

I walked over to her with Byron, stroking Charity's neck. Part of me didn't want to look over at the group, I didn't want to see the horse laying down in the brush, it's legs entangled with barbed wire, but I looked anyways.

It was the most beautiful mare I had ever seen, which made her fate seem much more horrible. She was a pinto, but not a skewbald or piebald, she was a light, golden cream, with medicine hat markings. Her mane and tail were long and unkempt, matted and filled with brambles, she had a bad case of rain rot, and was rather thin, I could have counted her ribs from where I was standing. Her head was elegant though, having a dip in her nose, which meant she was part Arabian. Her eyes were her most interesting feature though, they were an electrifying blue. There was a wild, untamed beauty about her that was both mysterious and elegant. I could easily picture her galloping in a field full of lush green grass, the November dawn behind her.

I couldn't stand watching her laying on the grass in that state, her legs were bleeding heavily, but the barbed wire had been removed. Scott and Rachel's mom were debating what to do.

"It's horrible, isn't it?"Rachel murmured softly," I found her running around with the barbed wire when I got here, she was trying to get it off, but when saw me she started to gallop, and then wire got even more tangled, and she fell."

"At least you got here when you did,"Byron said, his eyes watching the mare,"Imagine what would have happened if you didn't show up."

A silence fell between us after that, lost in our own thoughts. I would never understand people, and why they did what they did. Wouldn't the owner feel guilty? Didn't he think about her? I couldn't stand this, I couldn't stand being here and watching this mare go through this pain, this fear, and she had done nothing to deserve it.

I watched as Scott began to take something out of his bag, a revolver, it's black surface glinting in the cold November sunshine. The mare suddenly moved up on her side, tossing her head, but Rachel's mom pushed her down gently. My eyes widened in horror, they couldn't do this!

I suddenly ran over, sitting near the mare,"Stop, I won't let you hurt her!" My voice was breaking horribly.

The mare looked at me with her bright blue eyes and sighed, she didn't pull away or jerk her head, the fight was out of her. I warily placed my hand on her neck, stroking her fur, her neck twitched under my hand.

Scott looked at me, his gaze concerned, pitiful almost, the same look people gave me when they found out about Cody and my Mom. I hated that look, it was one of lost hope.

"Listen, Jess.."He began.

"You can't do this! It's not fair, give her another chance, she doesn't deserve this,"I cut him off, I didn't care, I just wanted him to put that revolver away.

Amy was watching me silently, without thinking, I began to move my fingers in small circles along the mare's neck.

"How much of a chance does she have of surviving?"Amy asked.

Scott put the revolver down, looking at Amy,"She's been out here for a while she's nearly starved to death, who knows what diseases she might get from the rust on the barbed wire, and the wounds are pretty deep."

Amy frowned a little, thinking,"Well, if she's been out here for a while, and survived as long as she has, doesn't she have a fighting chance?"

Scott shrugged, but nodded,"Yes, but a small one."

"I'll take her then,"Amy said, her brown eyes met mine, and I had never felt so much gratitude for someone.

Scott hesitated, but then put the revolver away,"Alright, but she'll need a tranquilizer, this way we can stitch up the wounds." Then he stood up and walked back to the jeep.

The mare rested her head in my lap, her bright blue eyes looking up at me, I let her sniff my hand, feeling her whiskers tickle my hand and her warm breath blow on my skin. I gently stroked her face and her neck, asking myself as a lump formed in my throat and tears filled my eyes, why? Why would someone leave such a fate for such a beautiful mare?