As Jake walked into the barn, he wandered up the aisle, looking at all the horses. They were all tall, lean, young Thoroughbreds. He got to the end of the barn and walked through the door, and was surprised to find himself in an indoor racetrack. A man near him noticed his surprised look and said, "Because we're so far up in the mountains, it's cold for most of the year. The track's heated so it doesn't freeze, and it's covered so that the horses are sheltered from the cold and snow." Jake nodded then walked over to a bench to watch the horses being worked.
Sam
As Sam walked downstairs, she noticed all the trophies and pictures of racehorses, many of them famous horses as they were winning famous races and in the winner's circle with Dylan and Jordan. Races like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup. Who are these people? She thought. They obviously had money, so why live out here and help people like her and Jake? When she got downstairs, she saw Dylan pulling on boots to go outside. "Looking for Jake?" she asked. Sam nodded. "He should be in the barn. Come on, I'll help you find him." "Thanks," responded Sam. As they walked through the barn, Dylan pointed out some of the more famous horses, such as Party Favor, that year's Kentucky Derby winner. They got to the indoor track and went inside. Sam immediately spotted Jake sitting by the rail watching the horses. Even though it was awkward between them, he was the only person she knew here, and she had always felt safer around him. Jake turned and met her eyes, giving her a small smile. She went over and sat next to him on the bench. "Dylan said there's some horses we can ride. If you want to," Jake surprisingly spoke first. "Really?! I would love to!" Sam said enthusiastically. "Thought you would be excited for that," Jake said with a small laugh. "Let's go ask Dylan."
Jake
As he tacked up Storm, the gray quarter horse he was riding, Jake looked up to see the scariest dog he had ever seen standing in the stall door. It wasn't abnormally big, but it had amber eyes and it stared at him without blinking. About eighty pounds, with its ears pricked forward, the dog had huge shoulders and a look that promised death on its face. Jake was afraid to move. "Dylan," he called softly. "What's up," she asked as she came down the barn aisle. "The dog?" Jake said hesitantly. "Oh, that's just Ember, you and Sam's bodyguard." Jake look at her like she was crazy. "I don't know, but I think I should feel safe when around my bodyguard. Not scared for my life." Dylan just laughed. "You'll get used to it," she said. "Along with riding, one of my passions is protection dog training. I have fifteen dogs including Ember trained to protect me and whoever I tell them to protect. Right now I only have Belgian Malinois'. I've tried German Shepherds, Dobermans, and Rottweiler's, but none of them have the fire that the Malinois has. Sometimes I get a German shepherd, but that's only if I'm training it for someone." Dylan knelt down and gave ember a kiss on the head before walking back down the aisle. Jake stared after her, then looked up to see Sam standing across the aisle with her horse tacked up. "He's cute in an intense sort of way. You ready?" Jake nodded then turned to fix his stirrups before walking out of the stall.
Sam (First person)
As we rode through the woods, I couldn't help but admire how pretty it was here. In Nevada, it was more flat deserts, but here there were trees with sunlight streaming through and little creeks all over. Instead of playas, there were fields cover in grass and wildflowers that you couldn't help but want to gallops through. I was riding a little dark bay gelding named Leo. Leo reminded me of Ace, and I felt a pang of longing for my little mustangs. I wondered how Tempest was looking and acting, and if they missed me.