Wounded Legacy Chapter Three

Sam stepped into the barn quietly and stood very still, listening for any sound she could hear. The sound of a horse breathing in the stall next to her was the only sound she heard. Walking quietly through the barn, she checked each stall, finding nothing. Heading back to the stall the foal was in, she noticed a gum wrapper beside a bucket. Picking it up and sniffing it, she realized it hadn't been there long, it still had a peppermint smell to it, the kind Jake always chewed. She stuck the wrapper in her pocket and went into the stall. The foal was standing up and licking the empty bucket hanging on the wall. Sam laughed and stuck the bottle of milk she had with her, in the foals mouth. He quickly devoured the warm milk and began to lick Sam, greedily begging for more. "Alright little one, we'll get you back to your mama tomorrow after one more round of meds." Sam told him as she stroked his soft nose.

Cutting off all the lights, she headed into the house, tired to the bone. Her parents had already gone to bed and she cut off the kitchen light and went up the stairs. Tossing and turning for better than an hour, was getting Sam nowhere, so she got up and went down to the kitchen for a glass of milk. Not wanting to wake her parents, she didn't cut the lights on, she left the fridge door open for light. Glancing out the window as she poured the milk, she saw a light going across the yard. Quickly shutting the door on the fridge with her foot, she continued to look out the window and followed the light to the porch. Her hand went to her mouth to cover the gasp that was about to come out, as the door handle turned.

The flashlight was peeking in through the glass on the door and skirting all over the room. Sam backed up against the sink, watching the light slink across the floor, almost touching her toes. She curled them up as tight as she could, so the light wouldn't find them. The door opened a crack and then wider, a figure stepped into the room and Sam thought she was going to scream, fear building inside her chest. The light from overhead turned on and Sam was facing..her father. "Dad! You scared me to death!" she said, leaning on the table. Luke was a little taken aback himself, not expecting to find anyone in the kitchen either, "Sorry honey, I thought I heard something out in the barn, like a radio." Sam flopped into the chair, "I thought the same thing earlier this evening. I have a feeling it's Jake, holed up in the loft out there, actually I 'm sure it's him. He already spent everything you gave him, so he has nowhere to stay." Sam looked away, not wanting to meet her father's eyes.

Luke leaned against the door and rubbed his head, "What should we do Sam? I can't hardly stand for one of my children to be hungry." Sam felt her fathers pain and looked at him, "Dad, Jake got himself into this mess. If we keep feeding his addiction, he won't stand a chance and we'll go broke in the process. He has to suffer Dad, before he can find the other side, if he can find it." Her father went up the stairs, back to bed. Sam cut out the lights and went up to her room. She stood at the window, staring at the barn until the first rays of daylight began to creep across the mountain. Almost ready to lie down for awhile and let go of the useless vigil she had kept through the night, she noticed a truck driving through the pasture behind the barn. Finally satisfied that she had been right, Sam laid on the bed, totally exhausted.

She was awakened suddenly, with Robbie calling out her name and shaking her. "Mom, what's wrong?" Robbie touched her forehead as Sam pulled away, not understanding what was going on, "Are you sick honey? I was worried when it got so late and you were still in bed." Sam rolled over on her side, "I'm ok, I just couldn't sleep, so I decided to stay in bed for awhile. I'll be down in a bit mom." The shower poured over her still tired body and Sam just stood under the water, waiting for the warm fluid to get her body motivated. Finally, she was dressed and went down to the kitchen, where her mother had kept her breakfast warm for her. "Mom, you don't have to wait on me anymore, you have other things to do now. Go, have fun. I can get my meals all by myself, just like a grownup." she said, smiling and winking at her mother. Robbie just smiled back at her, happy that her daughter understood her needs too.

Sam walked the foal out to the coral where his mother was drinking from the water trough. When the mare saw her foal, she ran to it and nuzzled it from head to tail, dancing around and creating a cloud of dust. Sam stood leaning on the gate, watching the mother's happiness at finding her foal again. After she locked the gate, Sam walked over behind the barn. She found the familiar tire tracks she had thought would be there. Bent down on one knee, touching the track, she heard a noise behind her. Jumping to her feet and turning around, she was face to face with her father. "Dad!" she laughed. "You scared me. Stop doing that!" Luke looked down at the track she had been looking at and shook his head. "Jake." "Don't worry about it Dad, I think I have a plan. Let me take care of it." she told him gently. His worried face made her want to take the burden from him, almost the way a parent allows a child to not worry about the hard stuff, even if it is always there in front of you. Luke turned and went back to the house calling out, "Lunch is ready." Sam smiled and brushed the dust off her jeans, before heading in the same direction as her father.

Later, Sam sat in the chair opposite Tim's desk and admired the way he had decorated his office, with the large water color prints farms and ranches. The art work gave the dark paneled walls a lighter feeling, which it desperately needed. The building was old and needed a good make over. Tim walked in, "Hi Sis, what brings you in today?" Sam smiled, "To invite you and Selena to a cook out." Tim raised one eyebrow, questioning what Sam had said. "Don't look so quizzical! It's high time we had a family cook out. I don't ever remember our family doing anything like that, and I want to start." Sam told him. He laughed and held up his hands, "No problem. At least not from me, I think that would be..interesting." "Tim! Could you get on board with this? I have a two fold reason, actually." She waited for Tim to comment, but he just put his chin his hands and waited with a silly grin. "Fine, be that way, I'm pretty sure that Jake is holding up in the loft at night, and sneaking out at daylight, actually I've seen him leaving at daylight. So I figure he is spending the day somewhere within sight of the barn. He might be up in that old cabin we used to play in. Anyway, I want him to see that we can be a family and have fun together. Even if he only sees it through binoculars, which I am sure he is using to keep an eye on things. Watching." Tim laid back in his chair and frowned, "I don't get it. Why would he care now? He's never cared about anyone but himself, even as a kid."

Sam knew she was in deep waters now, "He never has, I know. I want him to see that we can get along without him, better than with him actually. I want him to leave on his own, just go away. I know how bad that sounds, but Tim, you know as well as I do, that Jake is a walking explosion now. I just thought that this might be a way to get his back up and then he would huff away on his own." Tim smiled wryly at her thinking, "So you want Jake, our brother Jake, to get his "feelings' hurt, so he will go away without any more trouble? Huh, I think the cookout is a great idea, but don't think for a minute that it will have any effect on Jake. Feelings aren't exactly his strong suit." Sam looked out the window at the clouds rolling in fast, "I gotta go, storm coming!" She went flying out of the office and headed out the door to her truck. Leaving town in a hurry and traveling the two miles home at a speed frowned upon by local cops, Sam arrived just as the first drops of rain were spattering in the dust.

Luke was heading to the house from the barn, "Go on in the house Sam, I got everything taken care of out here." Sam went in and left the door open for him. To her surprise, a large dog came in with him. The yellow lab came to her and looked up at her with a giant tongue and eyes wide open. "Oh...who are you fella? Where did you come from?" she cooed at the dog. "He's been following me around all morning. I don't know where he came from, but he sure is good company, doesn't bother the livestock at all and obeys pretty darn well too." Luke told her, grinning all over, as he reached down and patted the dogs head affectionatly. Sam turned the collar around on his neck, finding there was no tag. "Well Dad, looks like you got a dog. What are you going to call him?" Luke smiled, "Dog." Sam laughed, "You can't do that to the poor thing, he appears to be quite mannerly, come on Dad, pick something that fits him."

Naming the dog would have to wait as a loud crack of lightening struck somewhere close by followed by rolls and rolls of thunder. Luke headed out the door with Sam on his heels, worried that one of the horses had gotten struck. They stood together, searching through the downpour of rain to see if anything was burning. Almost at the same time they saw the giant fir tree, starting to blaze now, even through the rain. "Go in Sam, there's nothing we can do, it won't fall on the barn." Luke told her. He went over to the barn and stood in the door, waiting to see if the tree would fall and making sure that the livestock didn't get scared by the storm. If they were scared by the lightening they could break through the fence and it would take days to get them all rounded up again.

 Sam made coffee and changed her wet clothes, assuming her father was upstairs doing the same. As she took the towel off her hair and shook it out, her mom came in from the den, "Where's your dad? I thought the two of you came in together." Sam was only mildly disturbed that he was still not in the house. She went out on the porch and looked over towards the barn. The tree had burnt out and the rain had almost quit, but there was no sign of her father.
Slipping into her barn boots by the door, she headed over to the barn at a jog. Opening the door to the darkness, Sam had to adjust her eyes for a moment. There in the ally was Luke, lying on the floor of the barn and unconcious, the dog lying beside him, with his head on Luke's chest looking up to Sam as if asking for help. "Dad!" she cried out!
　
　
　

　

　

　

Update

Chapter Three of Wounded Legacy ready to post on Monday July 18th, bright and early!

Chapter 4 & 5 are almost completed too. Anybody looking forward to more chapters ??

Leave me a comment:

Thanks, Carole

Wounded Legacy Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Two months had passed since the day Jake left the farm and not a word had been heard from him. Robbie put off going to the mail box everyday, afraid there would be a letter form Jake, or worse. She loved her oldest child, but life had been so much easier since his departure and Luke seemed to be having a second childhood, all by himself. He laughed and joked all throughout the day, picking Robbie up and swinging her around in the kitchen, just for fun. She laughed with him and felt as though a boulder had been lifted from them. It had been years since they felt free to laugh and joke around. Sam was delighted to see this side of her parents, for the first time in her life. Suggesting they go see a movie and have dinner one day, Sam thought she would have to shove them out the door. To her surprise, they jumped at the idea and left right away, leaving Sam on her own.

Sam had spent most of her time on the ranch, with all the extra work and the bookkeeping to do, she didn't have the energy to go into town. Tonight she sat on the porch trying decide if she had the energy to fix herself a bite to eat. Sam wasn't used to preparing her own meals and was missing her mother's touch in the kitchen. Robbie had decided to join a ladies book club and spent more time in town than at home these days. Sam loved the smile that had attached itself on her mother's face along with the bright and cheerful personality that came with it, but she missed her being in the kitchen whenever she came in for coffee or a meal, selfish child that she was.

Sam had taken on the responsibility of weaning and vaccinating the foals this year, in Jake's absence. The job had proven to be almost more than she could handle on her own. Her horse Major, worked as hard as she did, taking off after the foals as they tried to get away from the horse and rider barreling down after it, sliding the rope around it's head to slow it down. Once the foal had been roped it would follow the horse to the new corral, away from it's mother. The mother would be herded into a pasture far enough away from her foal that she couldn't hear it whinny and call to her, causing her agitation. She would await the birth of her next foal in the lush grass of the new field, until time for her give birth. When the time got close, all the mares would be transferred to a pasture next to the corral. Sam kept a close eye on them and watched for any signs that one was ready to deliver. Day or night, she checked on them every few hours. If a horse got in trouble delivering, she needed to be close by in order to help the mother out. Sometimes, the foal needed more help than the mother could give, to find that first glimpse of light. Some were born in the barn, if they needed to be watched, but most were born out in the pasture, standing on their wobbly spindly legs, almost as soon as they were born.

Sam had delivered enough foals she was almost as talented at it as the vet. Dr. Hendricks had been their vet for thirty years, before Sam was even born. She hadn't had the occasion to call him for many months, since things were going pretty well on the ranch. Today, she had a sick foal and she didn't know what else to do for it. She had tried everything she knew of and he was no better after twenty four hours. Not wanting to take a chance that he would become dehydrated, she called the office. Nancy answered and told her that Dr. Hendricks was away on vacation, but Dr. Ned could take a look at it for her. Sam asked her who Dr. Ned was. Nancy and Sam had gone to school together and were good friends, but Nancy had a family of her own, so they didn't see each other too often. She was happy to give Sam the lowdown on the new Doc that had joined the practice. "Sam, he's so cute and just as nice as can be. If I wasn't happily married...anyway, all the ranchers are really quite happy with him. You know he's taking over the practice when Dr. Hendricks retires soon, why it's only a month away now. We're so lucky to have found him." Nancy told her happily. She assured Sam that Doc would be by sometime later in the day. Sam hung up and looked over at the foal, shaking and unable to hold his head up. She sat down in the straw beside him and stroked his back, talking to him and singing a low tune, close to his ear.

Sam got up and began to brush the straw off of her jeans, when the door to the barn shut abruptly. She looked up to see Jake standing in front of her. "Sam." he said flatly. "Jake! What are you doing here? The cops are looking for you." she said backing into the stall, suddenly afraid. Jake stepped closer to her, "Did they say why?" he asked in almost a whisper. Sam shook her head, no. Jake turned to walk out of the stall and then turned back toward Sam so quickly, he knocked her down. A loud umph sounded, as she hit the barn floor and Jake stuck his hand out to help her up. Suddenly he came flying over Sam's head. She ducked and rolled out the way of his large frame, her eyes landing on a pair of muddy boots in front of her. She leaned back and looked up. Standing in front of her was a tall man holding a doctors bag in his hand. He reached out to help her up.

Jake had gotten his senses back and was standing up, looking at the guy like he was going to kill him. "So sorry, I missed my footing when I came in the door." the stranger said. Sam had gotten to her feet and took a better look at him. "Ned! What in the world?" He began to laugh, "Hi Sam, long time no see." Sam began to laugh, "So you are the new doc? I never put it together that it was you, when Nancy told me there was a new doc in town." Jake interrupted this little reunion, "What do you want here?" Ned wasn't too keen on Jake's tone and answered, "I was called to come out and look at a foal. Who are you?" Jake looked a bit taken aback and replied, "Jake, I own this place." Sam's mouth twisted into a grim smile at this remark and said, "No Jake, you don't. You don't have any interest in this ranch at all. Now listen Jake, don't even think you can intimidate me anymore, it won't happen. I don't know why you are here, but I think you better get gone." Jake had taken on a look of pure anger. "What do you mean I don't have any interest? I have as much as you do!" he yelled at her.

Sam let her hands brush over her jeans and looked down with a grimace, "Jake, do you want me to call the cops? I'd really like you to be gone before Mom and Dad come home." Ned stood quietly beside Sam and listened to this exchange with interest, but not willing to interfere, if it could be avoided. Jake shot her a menacing look and huffed out of the barn. They heard his truck taking off down the road, spraying gravel in his wake. Sam looked up at Ned, "Sorry, it's a long story." He shook his head as if to forget the scene that he had witnessed and said, "Let's take a look here." After a while he gave the foal a shot and reached into his bag. Handing Sam a bottle of electrolytes and instructions he prepared to leave. Sam didn't really need instructions, but she was glad that the foal wasn't any sicker than he was. "How about a cup of coffee?" she offered. Ned nodded and they headed to the house.

Sam smiled at him while she poured the coffee and he laughed, "I know, you are wondering what in the world possessed me to come out here to practice." She laughed, "You are the ultimate city boy to me. I was sure you had set up practice in "downtown somewhere", with a cute little wife and three kids by now." "I take offense at that!" he laughed. "I guess that is the impression I left you guys with at school. But you know, we all deserve the the chance to grow up and find our calling. Marriage was almost, almost.. in the cards for me, but I blew it." he told her with a little sadness in voice. Sam looked at her old friend with kindness, "You aren't the type to blow it." He smiled and took a deep breath, "I was so wrapped up in myself and where I wanted to go, and how quickly I wanted to be there, I forgot to take care of other things. She got tired of waiting." Sam poured him another cup and he leaned closer to her, "What about you, a special guy somewhere waiting for you tonight?"

Sam laughed out loud and almost snorted her coffee through her nose, "Not hardly. I don't get off the ranch anymore, no time for romance or even friends anymore." She shook her head and her lips were tight for a moment. "No, I can't even remember the last time I had a date." Ned laughed, "With that hair do, I can see why." She smacked him in a brotherly fashion and patted her hair. Laughing she said, " I think I brushed it this morning, but I wouldn't swear to it." Ned shook his head, "You are too pretty a girl to languish here on the ranch. What do you intend to do about it?" Sam stood up, "Not a thing. I have all I can handle right now. The only think I'm looking for is a new horse, or a few cows. That I can handle just fine."

Ned stood up with her and said, "Why don't you go with me to the Steak House tonight? We can talk over old times and get a good meal to boot?" Sam smiled, "I'll meet you there, after my shower." Ned went to the door to let himself out, "Do something with that hair!" He laughed and ran to his truck, knowing full well she might throw something at him. Sam watched him pull out of the drive and sat back down, to think about Jake. She was unsure whether to tell her folks yet, or just Tim. She picked up her cell and called Tim, no answer. She went out to check on the foal again before taking her shower. He was resting better so she knew the meds were beginning to take hold and he would recover in a few days.

Heading in to town to meet Ned, Sam passed Jake on the highway headed back to the ranch. She did a U'ee and headed after him. He had already gone into the house by the time she got there and was getting back in his truck. She hurried around to his truck, "Jake, what are you doing back here?" She noticed the large book of checks on the truck seat. "You know, I can stop payment on any checks you write, before you even get them written." she said between clenched teeth. "You have no right to keep everything and push me out, Sam. I belong here too. So, if I can't be here, I need money to keep me going." Sam looked up to the sky, "Jake, Dad gave you ten thousand the last time you were here, to keep you going. Did you blow it all gambling?" Jake laid his head on the steering wheel, "I can't seem to stop. I just can't." "Hand me the book Jake." Sam said wearily. He handed it over to her.

"Jake, I can't help you and we can't afford any more money to be spent on nothing. Nothin! You just throw it to the wind and come back for more. I hope you find a way Jake, but it's not here anymore." She went to her truck slowly and watched his truck go out the drive. Sam stood beside her truck until the red lights were out of sight. She sat in the truck for awhile, before leaving again to meet Ned. Worry had set in now, and she wished her mom and Dad were home. She laughed at herself, just like a child, always needing her parents to help her out.

Sam arrived at the restaurant at the same time Ned did, and they walked in together. Several people looked up from their table at them as they entered. They waved at Sam and openly wondered who she was with. Sam giggled and grabbed Ned's arm, "Let's give 'em something to talk about, a little speculation to nibble on with their meal." Ned looked down at her, "That's not nice, you know." He laughed at her attempt at comic behavior, something she used to be very good at, when they were in college. Sam had never acquired a taste for the sorority girl thing and preferred to hang out with all the ag guys. Her jeans were always filthy and her hands looked like a man's, but all the guys wanted to date her. She was a loner though, and never dated anyone that Ned knew of. They were best friends during their last two years together. After graduation they had called every couple of months and then every so often, until they stopped altogether. Ned hadn't talked to Sam in five years, but it seemed as though they had just finished cleaning the barn at school and had never stopped calling each other.

"What?" Sam asked. "You are looking at me as though you can see through me, what is it?" Ned smiled, "I was just thinking how long it's been since we talked."
Sam looked down at the table and fingered the stem of her wine glass, "I know. It seems like yesterday we were hanging out and having fun with all the other guys. I haven't talked to any of those guys in forever." She looked at Ned and grinned, "Let's call 'em!" He laughed and sat back in his seat. "I don't have any of the numbers. When I dropped my phone in a pond, I lost all the old ones." Sam looked miffed, "I wish I did." The evening was fun for Sam and it was quite a bit later than she had planned when they said goodnight in the parking lot. She had been up since daylight and still had to give the foal a bottle and his meds for the night.
Pulling up into her spot at the ranch, she noticed all the lights were on in the house. Sam ran to the door, afraid of what she would find once inside. Her mother was sitting at the table and her dad was on the phone in the hall. "Mom, what is it?" Her mother reached out for her, "We think Jake was here. The checkbook is gone and the desk was torn apart. We haven't been here long, Luke is on the phone with Tim, trying to decide what to do." Sam sighed with relief, "Mom, he was here and he did take the checkbook, but I got it back, it's out in the truck." She went to her dad and told him she had it and to not worry. Sam went out and brought the checkbook in. Her dad was seated at the table.

"Thanks Sam. Tell me what happened." her father told her, looking very tired. Sam told him what had happened with Jake and then how she and Ned went out to catch up. Her mother brightened when she heard about Ned, "Sam, you didn't tell us you were seeing some..one." She stopped as she realized that Sam couldn't possibly be seeing anyone, she didn't have time. Suddenly, Robbie was very saddened by that realization. Her daughter was almost thirty and hardly had a life of her own at all. If she didn't start to think about herself a little, it would be too late for her. "Mom! Are you there?" Sam was calling her to her and Robbie responded with, "Sorry dear, I drifted off for a moment." Sam looked at her mother lovingly, "Ned and I are old friends mom, and that's all. He is pining for his lost love anyway." she laughed.
Luke took Sam's hand in his own, "Sam, I'm worried that Jake might get out of hand. I'm going to take out a Restraining Order tomorrow. Tim said we should, just to be safe." Sam laughed, "Dad, what good would that do? Jake is gonna do whatever he wants, no matter what legal papers are filed. Let me handle him, my own way. He's out of money and desperate Dad, I'm sure he'll be back. But I think I can handle him." Luke stood up and put his hands down deep in his pockets, "No, I don't want you to handle him. He could be dangerous if he feels trapped." Sam headed out to the barn to take care of the foal, not really very confident that could handle Jake at all and wondering where he was staying.

She stopped just short of the barn door and listened. There was a radio playing, but she couldn't quite tell the direction it was coming from..
　
 　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　
　

Wounded Legacy A Mini Book

A family on a working ranch try to find peace among them, with an angry and now troubled son, in the center of everyone's struggle to keep the family and the ranch somehow in a workable relationship. The angry son keeps the family on alert for trouble, as his gambling debts threaten to take the ranch away.