This is My Life
Chapter Seven "Magic is Gone"
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my made up characters!
Friday, October 26th (Same Day)
I watched out of the kitchen window from the Ely's house. Outside Nate, Quinn, and Bryan were helping Dr. Scott and their father load Magic's body into Dr. Scott's trailer from their stock truck. Dr. Scott had advised me to put her down, I mean there was really nothing else anyone could do. A horse being paralyzed couldn't live, as a horse needed to there was no other way.
I felt cold, so cold even with my most warm, comfortable sweatpants on and Nate's sweatshirt over my t-shirt. The fire was blazing in the living room and plenty of heat flowed through the house but I was still so cold.
I guess in a way I felt numb. I just couldn't believe what was happening and it was all happening too fast. I could hear Sam, Jen, Maxine, Brynna, and Lila's voice around me but didn't pay attention to what they were saying. I just stared out the window, watching them move her lifeless body. Maxine had urged me gently to call my parents, to call Jody and Andy, to tell them but I couldn't. How could I tell them that the horse they birthed and gave to me was dead?
Tears filled my eyes and my heart ached. Magic was gone forever. There was no bringing her back, no way to save her. I felt arms go around me and turned to see Maxine. "How are you holding up Honey?"
I shrugged because I knew I couldn't speak. "I'm here for you honey. Here, drink this." Maxine handed me a cup of hot chocolate and I stared into the cup, not even feeling like myself. "Why don't you go lay down? You don't need to watch them…"
She led me back to my bedroom and I laid in my bed with the curtains closed and the lights off. I must have dozed off at some point because I woke up when I felt someone sit down on the bed. I looked up to see Nate sitting there in a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt. I knew this meant that Magic's body was long gone and I had slept through it.
Tears blurred my vision and Nate put his arms around me. Sobs tore through me and Nate rubbed my back as I cried. "Oh Jade, I'm so sorry. So, so sorry…"
"She's never coming back." I wailed into his chest. "She's gone."
"I know baby, I know." He murmured as I cried. "I wish there was something I could do. I would do anything to stop your pain."
Nate stayed while I cried and Maxine knocked on the door to let us know that dinner was ready if I felt like coming down. "You should eat." Nate brushed my hair back.
"You can tell I've been crying." It was a statement, not a question.
"Jade, no one expects you to hold everything in. Any of us would be upset if we lost our horse."
I let him lead me down to the kitchen and everyone turned silent as I entered. That wasn't awkward or anything. I sat down in my usual seat between Bryan and Nate. Talk resumed slowly as I grabbed some salad.
While everyone else was talking, Bryan reached over and squeezed my hand in support. Our eyes met and I saw the sympathy, the understanding. It meant I wasn't alone in this.
…
Friday, November 2nd
It had been a week since Magic was put down and I was barely making it through. I avoided Gold Dust like the plague; Jed understood that I couldn't work this past week. I stumbled through my classes, trying to pay attention but often Bryan had to let me check his notes and help with my homework.
My mind just wasn't able to focus on anything else. I missed Magic. Dad and Mom kept telling me it was only a few weeks until Thanksgiving Break, just to hang in there. Jody sent me a text message every day seeing how I was.
I had received a flood of flowers from Mr. Slocum, saying how sorry he was for the loss of Magic. I would have threw every single one in the trash but Maxine insisted on putting them around the house so I let her. Mr. Slocum was also still paying me even though I wasn't working. I had a feeling that Ryan had something to do with that. His note also insisted that buy me another horse or reimburse me the cost of Magic and the vet bills.
I couldn't believe it. I couldn't just go out and buy another horse. Magic was special and we had a bond together. There was no replacing her ever.
Pain ripped through me as the thought came across my mind and I pulled to the side of the road. I was driving back from Alkali to Three Ponies. I had just picked up Magic's ashes from Dr. Scott. He had convince me to have her cremated instead of buried so I could keep her ashes with me. I sat back in the seat as rain poured around me. Sobs racked through my body as I thought about Magic and held on to the beautiful box that somehow had a picture of Magic and me together on the top. In it, her name was engraved with the words Our hoof beats were many, but our hearts beat as one.
I couldn't do it. I couldn't deal with her being gone thousands of miles away from everyone I loved. I couldn't continue to work at Gold Dust knowing that Linc and his stupid cattle were to blame for the loss of my horse. I couldn't stay in Darton any longer. I had to leave.
…
Nate POV
I stared at Magic's halter hanging in the tack room and just had to stop for a moment to reach out to touch it. She was gone and never coming back, I just couldn't believe it. Jade was taking it very well either. She was barely making it to classes, hadn't been to work since the accident, when she was home, she was usually cooped up in her room, and she absolutely refused to come down to the barn
I was very worried about her but Mom told me to give her time to heal, to mourn Magic's loss. We were all supposed to go to Grandfather's house tonight to visit but I worried about Jade. I already knew she wasn't going to come; she'd make some excuse or just flat out refuse. I didn't want to leave her alone because today she had went to pick up Magic's ashes from Dr. Scott so I knew she would be a mess. Sam had been the one to think of putting her and Magic's picture on the box and the quote. The expense didn't really count since Ryan was making Linc pay for the cost of the cremation and the box for the ashes.
I looked at the time on my watch and frowned. Jade had been gone for over an hour now. I pulled out my cell phone and called her phone.
"Hello?" Her voice was thick with tears as she answered.
"Hey, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You've been gone awhile." I said hesitantly.
"I just…I had to make another stop." She replied blankly. "I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Oka—" I started to say but the call ended abruptly. She had hung up.
I hoped she got home soon and maybe I'd have Sam stop by to check on her while we were gone.
…..
I waved to Nate as he got into his truck with his brothers and his parents drove off. I was staying behind as they went to visit their grandfather, Luke's father. I knew if I was going to follow through with my plan, I had to do it shortly after they left. I went back into the house and went straight to my room. In my closet, my bags were packed and ready to go. Grabbing them, I took them to my truck and loaded them up in the backseat. I reluctantly went into the barn and grabbed my tack, throwing it into the back with my bags.
The trailer took a few minutes to hitch but not too long thankfully. I entered the house again to grab an energy drink and a protein bar for the drive. I looked at the picture of Bryan and me standing together on our first day of school, of Nate and me riding together. I knew my actions would hurt all of them and I hated doing it but I couldn't stay here.
It would be better if I went home, where I had my family, I could attend a local school, change my major. I didn't think horses were for me anymore. Not without Magic. This was going to hurt Nate. Possibly end our relationship.
I sighed and went out to my truck, started it and slowly pulled out of Three Ponies.
….
Sam POV
I drove into the ranch yard with Jen and parked beside Jake's old truck. "I hope Jade is okay. I know Nate is really worried about her. Even Jake said something to me."
"I can't imagine if I lost Silly." Jen shook her head with a sigh. "She's hurting. It's understandable."
"It's also understandable that Nate is worried about her." I said as we opened the door to the house. "Jade! It's Sam and Jen; we thought you'd like a little company while everyone is gone."
The only answer was Gal, the ranch dog coming out of the living room to greet us. "Maybe she's back in her room." Jen said with a frown.
"I'll go check." I replied and walked down the hallway to her room. I knocked, getting no answer. I opened the door and found her room empty. The closet was wide open and a look into the dresser showed it was empty. "JEN!"
Jen ran into the room and stopped as she saw my panicked face. "What's wrong?"
"She's gone. All her stuff is gone."
We went out to see if her truck was here. It was gone, along with her trailer. Her tack was gone. "I guess we have to call Nate…" Jen whispered in shock.
I shook my head. "I'll call Jake. He'll know what to do." I grabbed my phone and went to call Jake.
…
Maxine POV
I glanced anxiously at my son, Nate. Jake had come to Luke and me while we were at Mac's and we decided not to tell Nate until we got home. He was walking straight for the house, determined. I knew he worried about Jade while we were gone.
"Hey Nate? Your dad and I need to talk to you." I called out to him. He stopped and turned around with a frown.
"Can it wait? I really want to check on Jade…"
"Nate, honey, it's about Jade."
"What is it?" He asked walking towards us. I looked up at my husband panicked. I couldn't tell him.
Luke sighed. "Well when Samantha and Jennifer came to check on her, everything of hers was gone. She was gone."
"What? Are you sure?" Nate sounded like someone had punched him and I felt my heartache. I knew Jade wasn't coping well with Magic's loss but I didn't expect this. But I knew she was hurting and she wasn't thinking straight.
I watched in sorrow as Nate took off for the house.
…
Nate POV
I ran through the house to Jade's room. I pulled open her drawers they were empty. The closet was empty and when I got to the tack room, all her tack was gone. I noticed a piece of paper on my saddle and I grabbed. I saw it was a note from Jade.
Dear Nate,
I am so sorry for what I'm about to do to all of you. I don't want to hurt you but I just can't do it. Magic was such a big part of my life and me… she was my everything. I know you knew I wasn't coping well. I think I need to go home, to go somewhere familiar to grieve her. I need my family. I'll also be finding another college and major. Having a barn doesn't seem like what I want anymore. I don't even know what I want anymore. I feel…lost. I don't know who I am or what I want. It's weird how losing someone you love can do this to you. I'm so sorry Nate, I hope you don't hate me after this. I know this might destroy us, I can only hope it won't. I still care for you. I didn't want to hurt you ever. But I can't stay. I'm sorry. Please give your family my love. I will miss you all and the place I've been calling home for the past few months. You all were my family away from home.
Please forgive me. –Jade
I slid down to the cold tack room floor, holding onto the note tightly. Bryan appeared at the door. "She's gone isn't she?"
I nodded and handed him the note. I got up and shoved past him walking out to the pastures. She wasn't thinking this through she couldn't just up and leave. She would lose her scholarship and once she was done grieving, she'd regret doing it. She just couldn't see it now through her grief.
I had to find her.
…
Jade POV
I laid in the backseat with a saddle blanket covering me, thinking about Nate and the other Ely's. I knew leaving was going to hurt him but I couldn't help it. I honestly hoped he didn't hate me now.
As I thought that, my phone rang. Nate. Should I answer or let it go to voicemail? I sighed. I owed it to Nate to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" He almost demanded. "Jade, please don't do this."
I closed my eyes and I could hear the panic, the pain in his words. "Nate, I thought I could handle it staying there after Magic died but I can't." I held back tears. "I can't go back to work, I can't go back to school. I don't even know who I am anymore!"
"You are Jade Underwood. You are a brilliant girl who loves horses and wants to own a barn after college. You love your family and you love riding. Losing Magic didn't change any of that. You're just too lost in grief to notice."
"Nate…"
"Jade, if you leave now you'll lose your scholarship."
"I don't care." I whispered. Nate sighed on the other side of the line.
"Jade please, where are you?" Nate pleaded. "Just let me come see you. Where are you staying? Do you have money?"
"Nate I'm fine." I shivered as cold wind shook the truck. Poor time to have to sleep without a hotel. "I'm in my truck off of the highway."
"You're in your truck? Jesus Jade! It's supposed to get down to almost zero tonight! You can't sleep in your truck!" Nate shouted and I flinched away from the phone.
"Nate, I'll be fine." I pulled the blanket closer to me. I could hear an engine revving in the background. "Are you driving while you're talking to me?"
"I'm coming to find you." Nate said sounding almost desperate.
"Nate, I don't care if you find me, I'm not coming back." I was determined.
"Look, I have a deal for you. Will you listen to it please?"
I sighed. "Fine."
"Just stay until the end of the semester in December. Then you can transfer to whatever college you want back home. Just please don't screw up your scholarship and education. You will regret it in the end and I don't want to see you do that. Please Jade."
He was making a bit of sense. "Fine but just until September."
Nate sighed in relief. "Okay, that's fine. Please tell me where you are. I need to see you."
"I'm off of highway fifty-eight by exit eighteen." I mumbled.
"I'll see you soon." Nate hung up and I groaned as another cold wind shook the truck. I hoped he got here soon.
….
I opened the door to the hotel room that Nate had purchased for both of us. It had two double beds so we would still sleep separate. I quietly went into the bathroom to change into my pajamas. When I came out Nate was in a t-shirt and boxers watching me.
"We're not going to talk about it tonight, but we're going to talk about you up and leaving at some point." I could hear the hurt in his voice and I went over and hugged him.
"I know." I whispered into his chest. "I'm sorry."
Nate pulled my chin up and kissed me hard for a moment. "Get some sleep; we're leaving early in the morning. I've let mom and dad know we're both safe."
I got into the bed and cuddled deep into the covers. I hoped everyone wouldn't be too upset with me and I hoped I wasn't making a mistake by staying.
…
AN: Hey readers! I'm sorry this has taken so long to get up! At first I couldn't get past the few hundred words then my computer screwed up everything! Once it shut off to do updates and I thought I lost my story, well thank goodness for auto-recovery feature. Well this is where I am so pissed at my computer… Earlier I was almost finished but still needed to do the end of the chapter but had to fix dinner…so I thought after I put my son to sleep, I would do the end, post it, and start on the next story update. I turned on my computer (apparently it was off…) and it erased over seven hundred words! So I had to finish it again. Ugh stupid computers!
Anyways, I hope you like the chapter. Let me know what you think. I would love some more reviews :)
To my reviewers….:
Katrina the Unicorn: Well thank you for continuing to read even though you were unsure of whether you liked it! I'm glad you came to like it! I like to focus on more than one person especially with my OC/the PS story character. I hope to continue to make you like the story!
Missing Arizona: Thank you! I try to update as soon as I can, it gets hectic with sixteen active stories! I should have 2-3 stories done in a few months and can focus more on these other, less developed stories!
As always, thanks for reading! -Quinnandseth'sgirl15. My Next update should be: Racing Hearts. But I'm not making any promises because if I feel stuck, I might update another story. I will try to post the chapter today(Friday the 19th of June) because if I don't, I won't be updating til Sunday evening/Monday.