Okay here's my new chapter. Because of the huge gap in my writing a few things weren't lining up but I THINK I fixed them…please let me know if anything's not making any sense. Also thanks for the reviews those are awesome

Why was it so dark out? And why was Jake shaking me?

"C'mon Sam. We gotta get going."

I rolled over and let out a loud snore. The shaking continued.

"Saaaaaam."

Damn, he was being persistent. I waited a few more seconds before turning to look at him and fixing him with my best icy glare.

"We are leaving at 5:45 to get out there before the heat does. I'll meet you downstairs."

Oh yeah, we were riding out, I remembered. I grinned and shot up from bed, grabbing my nearest pair of jeans and a tank top.

I was downstairs in record time. Jake was the only one left in the kitchen and he was holding a banana out towards me for breakfast.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"They are out in the barn getting the horses ready. Are you all set?"

I nodded and practically skipped out the door. I couldn't wait to see what we would get to do.

Ten minutes later I trailing the rest of the Ely boys as we headed out to 'mend some fences.' Whatever that was. I looked down between Ace's ears and smiled again. I couldn't believe I was really riding again after all this time. When we got to an area where there was a break in the fence Quinn gestured for me to hop down.

"I'll teach her how to do it here. You guys ride on," He told them. I smiled at the kindness in his voice. Quinn was definitely big brother material.

Not long after the rest of the brothers had rode away Quinn began talking.

"So how you liking it here Sammy? Everyone treating you good?"

"Yeah, I love it," I answered. "Everyone is really nice. I can't believe I have a family again."

"And how's everything with Jake?"

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"The other day you guys were kind of in a disagreement or something?"

"Oh yeah," I hadn't really thought about it today. Jake had seemed normal but we hadn't talked much. "I guess we are okay. He's just hard to understand."

Quinn snorted.

"That's an understatement." He answered me.

Three hours later I stopped again to wipe the sweat from my brow. It was hot, and I was hot, and hungry, and sore. This must have been what Jake was talking about when he said I would see.

"Are we almost done?" I half-jokingly whined to Quinn.

"Yeah, we are. Just gotta ride home now," He told me.

I smiled and gazed ahead, realizing we were riding up behind and around River Bend. I looked at the way the fence had worn down from nobody caring for it. The barn looked nice because of the recent repairs and chills ran down my spine as I remembered what I knew from my last visit in there. I had managed to block the thought of the key out of my mind for the several days Christy had been here and now it crashed down on my head in a way I knew I wasn't going to escape anytime soon.

As I looked into my ranch's yard I realized there were several big trucks there and some workers walking around with paperwork.

"Who are they, Quinn?" I asked him.

"Oh man," He responded, "I didn't think Linc would ever try this."

"What do you mean?" I asked. Linc, Linc…who was that? Hadn't Jake mentioned he was Rachel's dad?

"Well, Linc is a pretty wealthy man. But he's always looking to make more money. And I think that he had this new idea is to build some condos. I just didn't think he would do it here."

"What!" I exclaimed. "They can't do that Quinn, this is my ranch. They can't sell it. Its all there is left…" My voice drained off at the last word.

Quinn sighed.

"There's not much we can do Sammy. This ranch is gonna cost a lot of money. We just can't stop him."

I shook my head. I could figure something out.

Soon we were riding back into the ranch yard of Three Ponies. It didn't look like the rest of the boys were back yet.

"Hey Sam, you look exhausted. Let me take care of these guys and you go on in and eat something."

I smiled gratefully at Quinn's offer. I was going to refuse but I feared I actually wouldn't be able to walk after I dismounted from Ace.

After hobbling into the house and eating a quick pb & j I collapsed into my bed. I finally had some time to think. Unfortunately my body disagreed and I was soon drifting into sleep…

I watched as Gram backed up as far as she could against the sink.

"Back off, Wyatt," I had never heard such venom in her voice. "To steal from your own daughter. I'm disgusted with you."

My dad backed off a step, shocked at her words. Gram took the opportunity to stumble weakly around him and shuffle towards the door. She was so frail looking…

I woke up to a shifting weight near my feet. Jake was gazing solemnly at me.

"Jake?" I whispered, "What's wrong?"

My mind immediately tried to think of anything that could have gone wrong.

"Is everyone okay?" Fear was evident in my voice.

"Shh," he motioned with his hands in a calming gesture, "everything's fine."

"Oh jeeze, you scared me Jake."

"Sorry. But I need to tell you something."

"What?"

"You know when you asked if I knew anything about the key?"

I had an idea where there was leading. "Yeah?"

"Well, when I said I didn't, I was lying."