Chapter Fifteen - Minerva I run out of the café and race to the truck. I climb in and start crying, horrible, gut-wrenching sobs. I hear the door open and jump before I look over and see that it is Nick. He sits quietly next to me while I sob. “She’s a strong girl,” Nick says when I finally settle down and stop crying. “She’ll make it.” “I know she’s strong but I can’t help worrying.” I tell him looking at him. “I am scar...

I cannot bear to see youHurting in this wayCome here and let me comfort youAnd chase your fears away You must know I love youWhy do you doubt me so?I have been here by your sideWhen it matters most Don’t I show affection?Provide stability?Remember anniversaries?Furnish all your needs? The others? They mean nothingJust foolish wild oatsYou know I’m never gone for longI always come back home A fling and it’s all overYou’re...

Chapter Fourteen - Nick “I’ll do it,” Minerva says quietly. “I don’t want you anywhere near him,” Eliot says protectively. “If he did shoot Oasis that means he’s already hurt one of daughters I don’t want him to have the chance to hurt another one.” “I have to do this dad. I have to help the police catch him. For my sister,” Minerva says in a calm voice. “I’ll go with her if you want,” I say without hesitation knowing tha...

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said that. Ralph was so right. I’m visiting my family in Germany right now. I haven’t been back home in quite some time. I woke up at 11 a.m. But keep in mind, that is six hours earlier on my body’s clock which is still operating according to Eastern Standard time. So now my extended family...

Chapter Thirteen - Minerva I sit in the seat waiting for the doctors to come out and give us some news, any news. I sit there hoping and praying that my sister will be okay. I can feel the tears silently falling down my face. It’s been three hours since the nurse told us that they had to operate to remove the bullet and we still haven’t been told what has happened yet. I am looking at the clock on the wall for the thousan...

Chapter Twelve - Nick I find Oasis’ family in the stands and take my seat next to Olivia. She passes me a copy of the program and I see that Oasis is coming up after two other people. “I just seen Oasis and she was a bit nervous,” I say to Olivia politely. “She’ll been fine, Nick. She’s always nervous before she competes but once she gets in the arena is fine,” Olivia tells me with a smile. “She was so happy that you can...

Chapter Eleven - Oasis Juliet helps me unload Marina from her horse trailer so that I can groom her before I have to get changed into my dressage competition attire. I quickly and carefully start braiding her mane into button braids. When I’ve finished braiding her mane, I check that her tail is properly pulled and trimmed. Once her hair is all properly groomed, I make sure that her coat is properly brushed and shiny and...

Chapter Ten - Nick I sit at my desk working on my maths homework when my I hear my phone’s text tone go off. I check it and see that it is from Oasis. I need to talk to you, can we video chat later? I quickly reply and tell her I’ll be on at seven before setting my phone aside and getting back to my homework. I sit there looking at the questions on compound interest trying to figure them out but I can’t seem to concentrat...

Chapter Nine - Oasis I grab the saddle clothes off the railing, put them in place on Marina’s back before proceeding to put the saddle on her. Once I have everything put on her properly and have checked that everything is secure, I put her bridle, reins and the bit on her. Once I have her fixed up, I lead her through the stables and up to the riding pavilion. When she is next to the blocks, I throw the reins over her head...

Chapter Eight - Nick I feel a slow happy warm glow build up in me and when I pull back, I see that same happy glow shining from her eyes. She slowly leans back in and gives me a lingering peck on the lips, before pulling back and biting her lower lip. I slowly reach up, push a strand of hair out of her eye, before reaching down and grabbing her hand. “I hope this is a good movie,” I say to Oasis as the cinema starts to fi...

Chapter Seven - Oasis “So do you play any sports?” Nick asks me as we start driving to the cinema. “I do horse riding. I’ve been riding since I was five or six and I started competing when I was twelve. I’ve won a lot of competitions and I have a competition this weekend,” I tell him, glad to put the incident with Taylor behind me. “Do you own any horses?” Nick asks me curiously. “Yeah, I own a black thoroughbred mare nam...

Chapter Six - Nick I make my way over to the table and sit there quietly waiting for Oasis to return. I sit there for about two minutes before I see her exit the bathroom, she slowly makes her way over to the table and takes her seat. We sit in silence, while we wait for our dinner to arrive. After a couple of minutes I see my brother, Justin, making his way over to us with our food. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you, my name...

Looking at a picture, you are captured in time.So long ago, it sends good chills up my spine. You toiled together to make the bare land go.Made a home, a place for your children to grow. I never had a chance to meet either of you.Searching for my roots made me feel blue. Two children, a boy who would become my dad.The other one, a pretty girl, my auntie you had. I have been to the place known as The Ranch.Proud I am, on y...

Chapter Five - Oasis Once Nick opens the door, he gestures for me to go through ahead of him and I quickly move past him. When he ducks through the door he takes my hand and leads me to the front counter where a young girl is standing and waiting to serve customers. “Hello, Nick. Is this Oasis?” She asks with a grin on her face. “Yes, this is Oasis. Oasis, this is my sister Kendall, Kendall, this is Oasis,” Nick says, int...

Chapter Four - Nick I stand in the living room shifting nervously from foot to foot while I wait for Oasis to come down. I hear footsteps on the stairs and quickly look up, hoping that it’s Oasis, but end up seeing her father instead. “Hello, Sir,” I say, offering him my hand in greeting. “Hello. Nick, is it?” Mr Summers asks, shaking my hand. “Yes, Mr Summers,” I answer him, feeling even more nervous than I already am. “...