“Oh, never mind.  I am going out to help dad.”  I shot out the door with my shoes in hand before they could question me further.

I spent the rest of the day riding and helping my dad with the new horses.  A big buckskin gelding named Chance took a liking to me and I to him.  He is a big 3 year old that is sweet as could be.  I miss the trust and unconditional feelings I get from the horses at the ranch.  I was glad to be working for my grandma’s neighbor, Mrs. Davies, again this year.  She has a small farm with a 3 horses, they are too old to ride but it is a comfort just to be around them.  Mrs. Davies lives alone and has a hard time getting around but refuses to get rid of her ‘old friends’ as she calls them.  So I take care of them for her and she pays me with fresh avacodos and oranges from her trees.  I am a sucker for sweet, old ladies. 

I was exhausted after riding all day. It makes me really appreciate how hard my mom and dad work for what we have.  My parents riding set up is an amazing facility and it makes it pretty easy to work all day.  We had 4 riding arenas, two indoor and two outdoor.  One indoor was attached to the stable itself and had full climate control, heat in the winter and ac in the summer.  The horses were hella spoiled.  I love the outdoor arenas during the summer, fresh air and plenty of sun.    I got back to the house with my arms burning from having to keep a firm but gentle hand on the reins of young horses all day.  At least I was keeping in good shape over the summer.  I was ready for bed but then I realized I still had to pack my truck for the trip back to Davis tomorrow.  It is hard to believe how much crap I have accumulated just over the summer.   Somewhere around midnight I showered and crawled into bed.

Sleep came fast and hard…until the dream started.  It was not the dream I had hoped for.  I was longing for more conversation with a specific dark haired girl and any more details I could get. It was not to be.  My dream was of the flashing images and colors and gripping pain I dreaded.  The scenes were still shots that raced through my mind, like clicking a viewfinder wheel as fast as you can.  Images of him leaving the house.  Dressed so handsome in a tux.  A fist full of hand-picked flowers.  Car over turned in an irrigation ditch.  Shattered glass with blood.  Feelings of fear. Of pain.  Of loss.