This is My Life

Chapter Six "Cows and Cougars"

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my made up characters!

Sunday, September 16th

"Nate seems like a nice young man." Mom said to me as we sat down in Clara's diner for breakfast. Nate had been invited too but he had to decline because he had to help his dad then finish a paper that was due by midnight. Sometimes he could be a real procrastinator.

I smiled. "He is, all the Elys are. Maxine and Luke have raised them well and being raised on a ranch taught them all about responsibility."

"What's he majoring in?" Chris asked.

"Agricultural science." I told him as my eyes skimmed the menu. I hadn't had breakfast before at Clara's. I think I was going to go with the egg, bacon, and sausage sandwich with a side of home fries.

"Does he too want to have a ranch?" Dad asked but before I could answer, Clara came over.

"Hey Jade, happy belated birthday, I heard all about your party!" Clara greeted me with a smile. "This must be your family." I smiled and introduced everyone to Clara then she took our order. "I'll be right back with your drinks and Jade yours is on the house."

I thanked Clara and turned back to my dad as she walked away. "I think so although I think he wants more than cattle like his dad has. He talks about getting sheep and pigs, possibly goats. Cattle are a good income for his family."

"And you said his brother, Bryan, is in your classes too. He wants to have a barn someday." I nodded at dad's words.

"Yeah, he likes the idea of a boarding barn with western riding lessons." I took a drink of my orange juice. "We have like all of our classes together. Nate, Bryan and I ride together to the college too."

Our food came and we talked and caught up as we enjoyed our food. "So you seem to be settling in good." Mom pushed back a strand of my hair as Chris went to the restroom and Dad went to pay.

"I am. I have many great people around me and school is going good so far. I love my classes and I love working at Gold Dust. It gives me security because it reminds me of home. I really like living with the Elys. They're a fun and close family. It's just like being at home just louder and more boys." I smiled thinking of how all the boys acted with each other.

"And his parents don't think it's weird that you two are dating and live in the same house?" Mom asked and I could sense a bit of hesitation, a bit of disapproval. I winced.

"No. They've had a talk with us both and we have to be in our own rooms by a certain time but that's it. They told us they both trust us to act like responsible adults." I blushed. "Mom, there's nothing going on between Nate and I. We like hanging out, riding together and we go out on dates but that's it. I want to save myself for marriage, you know that."

Mom sighed. "I know. It's just I remember being your age. Hormones are going crazy and sometimes pressure is put on you to do what your friends are doing. Then there's college parties where there's ton of drinking and your judgment is off."

"I made it through high school with pressure and I can make it through college without giving in to pressure." I assured her. "And Nate would never put pressure on me to do anything I didn't want to do. He's a good guy."

"I just worry about you being more vulnerable since you're not at home. But I see you're handling it well." She pushed more of my hair back. "These next four years are going to go so slow."

I gave her an understanding smile. "It's going to feel that way but before you know it, I'll be graduating and moving back home."

…...

Saturday, October 6th

As the middle of the semester approached, I felt confident about my classes. I had A's and B's in all my classes and I knew the campus now. I was even making friends outside of people from Darton. There was Lucy, a girl from California, Jackson, a boy from Reno, and another girl named Jessica that was more Lucy's friend than mine but we talked.

Nate and I kept going on dates together, having fun as we always did. I enjoyed my time with Nate and he told me he enjoyed being with me. We spent a lot of our nights either texting each other from our separate rooms or talking in our rooms, or the barn together.

Today we were supposed to be going to a party on campus that one of Nate's class buddies was hosting. I was a little nervous never having been to a "real" party. I dressed in jeans and light sweater with the weather getting colder. I said goodbye to Magic before we left and we drove with Bryan. Quinn had tried to persuade Nate into letting him come but he wouldn't let him since he wasn't a student at the college.

When we arrived, there were already tons of people. It was being held at a frat house on campus and they were definitely partying. Music thumped loudly out of a speaker and multicolored lights flashed, bodies danced to the music. Nate stopped Bryan.

"We meet up and leave here no later than eleven thirty. Don't want to get home too late." Bryan gave us both a smile and went off to find some friends. Nate turned to me. "I'm gonna get a drink, do you want one?"

"A soda or water please." I told him and he went off to find some drinks for us. As I stood there, I looked around to see if I recognized anyone. I didn't. A tall, blonde guy came up to me with a smile and leaned against the wall I was standing by.

"I haven't seen you around here before, are you a freshmen?" He almost shouted, trying to talk over the music. I nodded.

"It's my first year." I told him. He leaned a little closer and I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"I'm Victor. What's your name?"

"Jade."

"Well Jade, why don't we ge—" Victor cut off when Nate showed back up with our drinks and he pulled back from me.

"Victor, this is my boyfriend, Nate." I smiled as I introduced Nate and watched Victor's face change.

"Well if it isn't Nate Ely..." Victor said sourly. I looked between the two and realized they must have met before. "You're not done ruining girl's lives?"

My mouth dropped open at his words and Nate pushed me away from Victor and towards the outside. "What was that about?" I asked as we walked onto the porch. The cold fall wind blew around us.

Nate sighed. "That's Janelle's brother."

And I suddenly understood. "Ohh..." Janelle and Nate had obviously ended on horrible terms since she thought Nate cheated on her. Victor would be protective of his sister. I knew Chris was so protective of me since I was his little sister.

"Yeah, I'm sure she's painted a lovely picture of me." Nate snorted.

"Well she does think you cheated on her..and then you got with me just a few weeks later.." I said hesitantly. "Plus I'm sure she was really hurt."

Nate raised his eyebrows at me. "I'm not defending her! I'm just giving you a different point of view."

"I know she's hurt but I mean at some point she has to let it go." Nate said and I let the subject drop. I didn't want to cause problems between us because of her.

Later that night, we laid in my bed talking to each other. "There's a competition in a few weeks that I've been thinking about entering." I told Nate as I listened to the wind blowing outside.

He turned to look at me. "Oh yeah?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I just miss competing a bit. So I figure I can handle one or two shows every few months along with school and work. I've already talked to Jed and Ryan about it. I hope you'll come."

Nate smiled sleepily. "Of course I will. I'd love to see you compete."

"Go to bed sleepy." I whispered and Nate gave me a kiss before leaving the room. I fell asleep shortly after.

…...

Friday, October 26th

Ryan, Sam, Jen and I rode along on the trail that was on the ridge behind Gold Dust, Riverbend and Three Ponies. Jed had told us that were supposedly cattle that had somehow wondered up here. So we were sent out to round them up after Sam and Jen got out of school. Dusk was setting in quick and I wished we weren't out here.

The horses were all acting up. Prancing, head tossing, trying to turn back for home. Something was obviously spooking them but none of us could see anything or hear anything. Hotspot was the worst. Ryan had brought her along hoping it'd be an easy ride that she could get some miles on but it was obviously a bad idea. She was a handful for Ryan, nothing he couldn't handle, but still she kept trying to bolt for home.

"Cougars have been through here." Jen said, pointing at markings on a tree. I had never encountered a cougar, since Virginia—or at least the part I was in—had none. "That's probably why they're acting up. They can smell their scent, sense the danger."

"Of course we're out here right at dusk." Sam replied with a shiver. It had been Linc's idea for us(well me and Jed) to do this but then he had asked Jed to go with him. Leaving me with Ryan, Sam and Jen.

"We shouldn't be out here." I pulled Magic to a stop. "I know the cows are important but is the risk worth it?"

We all were silent for a moment as we thought about the safety of our horses—and ourselves. Cougars hunted at dawn and dusk. They were supposedly shy animals, not likely to attack. But if we walked up on them with a kill or possibly babies..it could take a turn for the worse.

"Yeah, getting attacked by a cougar isn't fun." Sam scowled and I remembered her telling me about Linc shooting an injured mother cougar and her yearling cub almost starving, at one point attacking Sam on her horse. I didn't want us to be the next one. I turned to Ryan.

"You're Linc's son. What do you think?" If one of us chose to turn back, it could turn back on me or Jed. If Ryan made the decision his father wouldn't be upset.

"I think we should be turning around." Ryan said, tightening Hotspot's reins as she again tried to bolt. "Even if we don't see a cougar, one of us is going to get hurt by our panicked horses."

It was when we went to turn around that it all went bad. I felt a weight hit me from the side and Magic whinnied as we fell to the ground. I briefly smelled a wet, dirty laundry smell and felt something scratch me. I slid off the trail and into some bushes. Magic thrashed wildly on the ground and that's when I saw the blood.

The weight that had hit me was the cougar. I bit back a scream and I could see the horror on the others faces. The cougar snarled at us with a bloodied mouth and fangs before looking back at Magic. "NO!" I screamed at it. I looked around frantically for something to throw at it. It hissed at me and that's when I felt an arm grab onto me. Sam pulled at me as Ace rolled his eyes but listened to his rider. That was loyalty and a good horse right there.

She pulled me back and Magic kept trying to get up but she couldn't. I heard a gun cocking and saw Jen had pulled a rifle from her saddle. Her father must have put it on there. She took aim and shot the cougar as the animal jumped onto Magic. I screamed as Magic did and the cougar dropped to the ground. Jen had killed it but Magic was still hurt.

After a minute to make sure it was dead, Sam released my arm and I took off towards Magic. There was blood coming from her neck and withers, there were scratches all down her legs and I could see where the cougar had bitten down on her neck and withers. Magic still thrashed wildly with her head and you could tell she wanted to get up but her injuries were stopping her.

I ripped off my sweatshirt and put it over where the bleeding was coming from, applying pressure. Jen appeared beside me and gently pushed my hands aside. "I have to assess her injuries. Ryan and Sam are going for help." I let Jen take over, knowing she wanted to be a vet and had been working with Dr. Scott, the local vet, as his assistant. She'd know more than I would. I went to Magic's head trying to calm her.

I looked at Magic's eyes and could see her panic and pain. "It's gonna be okay girl. Let Jen look at you baby, she's gonna help you." She was breathing hard and fast, obviously in trouble. I hoped Sam and Ryan brought help fast.

…...

Back at Gold Dust...Sam POV

Sam rode into the ranch with Ryan looking for help. "JED! Lila! Mr. Slocum! Anyone?!" I ran through the barn shouting names as Ryan ran up to the house. I hoped Jed was back with Linc. Magic needed help and fast.

"Samantha, what are you shouting about?" Lila, Jen's mom, came out of stall and frowned at her. I gasped in relief.

"There's been an accident!" I shouted. "We were riding and there was a cougar and it attacked Magic and we—"

Lila's eyes widened. "Was anyone hurt? Where is Jen and Jade? And Ryan?"

"Ryan is going up to the house to call for help and Jen is with Jade and Magic where they were attacked. Jen shot the cougar but Magic is injured badly. She isn't getting up." Sam said almost breathlessly.

Lila cursed under her breath but Sam knew she was upset. "Jed is still gone with Linc. Let me get a horse tacked up and we'll ride back out there. Go in the office and call Brynna. She's going to want to know about this."

I did as she asked and within a few minutes we were on our way to go back to Jade with Ryan. Dr. Scott was on his way and would meet us on the ridge, Brynna and Dad were riding to us as fast as they could with the hands. We were hoping to get Magic up. I hoped she would get up.

…...

Jade POV

I tried to stifle my tears as Magic kept trying to get up and failed. "Why isn't she getting up?" I asked Jen. Jen met my eyes and I could see the look of pity in them.

"Jade..." Jen started softly but she was cut off when Sam came riding back with Ryan and Jen's mother, Lila.

"Are you girls okay?!" Lila called as she ran towards us. She side stepped the cougar we had gotten off of Magic. "Jade look at you!"

I looked down at myself and saw scratches on my legs that had ripped open my jeans. Blood had seeped out of the wounds, onto my jeans and my upper body was covered in Magic's blood. "You're scratched up all over. Look at those scratches on your face too and that mark there is going to be bruised." Lila's hands gently moved my face side to side. "Are you hurt anywhere else besides your face and legs?"

I shook my head. "Magic can't get up." Lila looked at Jen and they shared a look. "What's going on with her?" I could hear my voice starting to crack.

"Jen what do you think?" Lila asked slowly. Jen looked at Magic's injuries and then at her mother, then at me.

"I think the reason she can't get up is because she's paralyzed." Jen spoke softly but I still felt the blow all over me. I heard a gasp behind me and a sob tore through me. I knew what this would mean. "Let's wait on Dr. Scott though. I'm not a vet..I'm just assuming by where the cat bit her and her inability to get up."

It felt like forever waiting for Dr. Scott and before he came, Brynna and Wyatt Forster showed up with Dallas, Ross and Pepper. Brynna and Wyatt hugged Sam and Jen, then Brynna crouched beside Magic and I. Her arm was gently placed around my shoulders. "We're all going to try to help Magic get up, okay?"

I nodded and Lila pulled me back as the men stepped forward, all of them putting their hands under Magic. They pushed but Magic flopped uselessly, her head falling to the ground. It was obvious her weight was all dead weight. She couldn't get herself up.

I heard the sound of an ATV and saw Dr. Scott riding up on it with Jed. He frowned seeing all of us surrounding Magic. I watched in silence with Sam and Jen by my side as Dr. Scott examined Magic. Brynna and him talked for a minute before he walked over to me.

His eyes were full of sorrow. I already knew what he was going to say. "Jade.." He started and took a deep breath. Tears filled my eyes. "Magic has been paralyzed."

…...

A/N: Hey readers! Sorry it took me so long to get this up to you! It's been hectic these past few days because I've been having to help out more with everything around the house, with our new fence and my brother. BUT here it is, finally!

I hope you don't hate me after this chapter! I will try not to leave you too long without an update to Magic's condition and the situation.

Don't forget to review!

Thank you to horselovr2000 for your review! Sorry I haven't gotten an update for you sooner, I just have a lot of stories to update!

Soon enough I should be done with Ripped Pictures and it'll be one less story I'll be updating til I start the sequel.

Thanks for reading! -Quinnandseth'sgirl15. My next update will be: Racing Hearts. It should only be a few days(let's say at the most, 3 days) for that update and then it'll be a few weeks before the next PS story update. I'll try to be quick!