It was the middle of the school year, the part where it is really cold. Our house had no heater so it was freezing all the time. I live with my mother during the school year but see my father during the summer. I always loved living with my dad he made me smile all the time. My mom Deloris is a beautiful woman with long black curly hair and thin. My mom says I look like my father. I can agree with that. I was listening to music in my room when suddenly my mom came in and yelled, “Hey! Turn that music down! I can’t here myself think!”
“Ok” I yelled back. I was wondering why my mother yelled at me. She had never yelled at me before even though I had the music on very loud. I thought what she did was nominal so I ignored it. I finished up my homework and went downstairs. My mom look so depressed, I don’t know why. Was it her job? Me? Who knows? I walked into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich and sat at the table. “ Hey mom! What are you doing?” I yelled from the table.
“Oh nothing dear just looking at a scrapbook your father made.” She responded.
That’s why she was crying. She saw the memories in the scrapbook. Then the phone rang I picked it up and said, “Hello this is Amy. Whom am I speaking to?”
“Hi Amy its dad. I need to talk to you.” He replied.
“Sure dad anything.”
“Well there is suddenly a vacancy at your favorite school. I was wondering if you would like to transfer and move in with me and go to this school. Would you like too?”
“I would love to! I really miss you. When can this be done?”
“As soon as possible I guess. Just talk to your mother and let her know ok. I have to go because I have business to attend to.”
“I will call you as soon as I get an answer from mom.”
“Ok Amy take care.”
When I hung up the phone I ran towards mom. I said, “Mom dad said there was a vacancy at Holly B. High school in Wyoming. They have the best Medical program around. This is my big opportunity. Come on mom! Let me go!”
“Alright but promise me on your summer vacation you come and see me.”
Mom replied.
“Thank you! You will never regret this.” An hour later I called dad back and told him I was going. The next week he arrived to take me and brought the papers to transfer me out of my high school and into the one I wanted since I was little. I packed up everything I owned and stuffed into my 2007 Mustang convertible. That car was a birthday present last year from dad. My dad is awesome and I love him. When everything was packed I drove my car up to the airport and jumped on the next plane to Wyoming. When we arrived at Wyoming State Airport we hailed a taxi and drove up to our house 15 miles away.
When I got there it felt like I had a proclivity for this place. It was like I belonged there. “Hey Dad is my horse still here?”
“Yeah, oh course!” He replied. I ran to stable to grab a saddle and go out for a ride. I couldn’t ride bare back just yet. Once I saddled her up we were on our way. I knew I heard my dad calling me back but I had an uneasy feeling that I know why he was yelling for me. Now I know why mom was so upset! Dad has a girlfriend. I just didn’t want to come back because I love running through the fields. My horse name was patches because she had white patches all over her. Long ago when I was 12 I was walking through the fields in the summer and I found this mustang. She was beautiful. We had somewhat of a connection because we both were invisible. I could tell it in her eyes.
So when I arrived back to the house dad asked, “Why did you take off? Didn’t you here me yelling for you?” I lied, “No I didn’t here you.”
“I need to tell you something.”
“I think I know what you want to tell me.”
“I am kind of seeing another woman.”
“How could you? This is not what I intended to come home to!” Before he could say anything I grabbed Patches and jumped on her and ran away. I was crying saying, “How could he do this to me Patches? How could he see another woman? I thought he loved mother!” To make it worse there was a mountain lion in the distance and Patches went crazy. When she did I fell off and started to run toward her. I grabbed a rock and threw it and it hit the mountain lion and scared it away. I grabbed Patches reigns and started to calm her down and said, “Its ok. Don’t be afraid no more because the mountain lion is gone.” I heard another horse and my dad’s voice. I jumped onto Patches back and started off again. I was determined not to go back but he ended up catching me. “Don’t run away from me again Amy!” Dad said.
“I couldn’t help it. I just can’t stand you seeing another woman except for mom.” I sobbed.
“Things change Amy.”
“Tell me something I don’t know!”
“Lets go back, its getting dark.”
“You go ahead. I am going to stay out for awhile.”
“Fine just be careful. Be back before 9pm.”
“Ok.”
When he left me and Patches were trotting along the trail towards home. It was about 8:30pm when I returned. I wasn’t even going to talk to his new girlfriend. I couldn’t wait to go to school because I wouldn’t have to see her. I didn’t really care if she was the nicest person in the world; I hate seeing dad with anyone else but mom. I was up all night crying. The next morning my dad had a surprised. I said, “Please no more surprises. I can’t handle anymore of them.” I said.
“Don’t worry it’s a good surprise.” I closed my eyes and when he told me to open it was another mustang. A mustang is a wild horse.
“She is for you to train and take care of like Patches. So what you going to name her.” Dad said.
“I am going to name her Alabama.” I replied.
“That’s a good name for her. I will let you spend time with her. Oh yeah my girlfriend Clara is coming over today. Can you please be nice to her?”
“Don’t worry dad. I will be riding Alabama or Patches. I won’t even be here.”
“Don’t you want to meet her?”
“Not really.”
“Fine. Have it your way. Make sure you clean the stalls today.” When he was finally done talking to me I started cleaning the stalls. Now our ranch has about 7 horses. Most of them are dads. He lets me ride his horses too. So I started training Alabama. She was not as loco as my first mustang Patches. I was determined to learn to ride like my dad. So I jumped onto her back and started to ride. I couldn’t believe it! I was riding without my saddle. Now I don’t need to use it all the time anymore. My dad was watching out the window. I know he was proud of me. So when I was ready I released the gate and Alabama and I were off. She was very fast, much faster than Patches. Since Patches is much older I would expect her to be faster. Once we came back I saw dad outside with his girlfriend and I saw him point at me to come toward him. I just nodded and turned back around to go out for more riding. He knew that I didn’t want to meet her. He said to me a while back ago, “Amy I promise to you I will never meet another woman. It might be a sacrifice to me but I don’t want to lose you.” I guess he forgot that promise, or he thought it was not important no more.
I could tell that the girl he was going out with is not a woman that lives on ranches. She is one of those girls who live in a big fancy house with lots of money. I can’t stand people like that. I will not let my father sell this ranch if it’s the last thing I do! When I returned the second time they were both inside the house. I quietly brought Alabama back into her stall trying to be unnoticed but I didn’t accomplish that goal. My dad saw me and walked outside and said, “Its time for dinner.”
“Is she staying for dinner?” I asked.
“Yes Clara is staying for dinner.”
“Then I will eat out here.”
“No you will not! I can’t stand you behavior no more! If you don’t come in and eat I will send you back home to your mother!”
I started to cry and ran inside to my room. I hate my father. He doesn’t remember anything about the promise but I remember everything. He thought I was strong. I am just not with family issues. I suddenly heard something outside so I ran toward the window and it was a mustang. Most of the horses were outside for some air and when the mustang came through she took all of our horses with her. I yelled downstairs, “DAD! MUSTANG!” I ran downstairs grabbed my boots and went to find a horse. I grabbed Yankee. It only took me a minute to grab everything. I heard dad come after me and he also grabbed a horse too. “What’s going on?” He yelled. “The mustang took our herd!” I replied back.
“We need to get them back! I will head them off at the cliff!”
“Alright! I will look over by the river!” Once my dad was by the cliff the mustang was arriving there. He grabbed the rope and captured the mustang. Once he has captured her he yelled for me and I met up with him at home.
“Thanks Amy!” Dad said in relief.
“No problem. This is what I do.” I replied.
When I jumped off Yankee I ran towards dad and hugged him and said, “I am sorry dad by acting this way. I just can’t stand you seeing another woman.”
“Its ok Amy. I know how you feel.”
“You probably don’t remember the promise you made me when I was 12.”
“I am so sorry. I guess I let love take me over.”
“I say so.” I laughed.
“Are you alright?” Clara interrupted.
“Sorry dad but I have to put Yankee away. I will be a few minutes.” I said.
“Alright Amy go ahead. Also can you put John back too?”
“Sure.”
Once he left to go back inside I started to place everything back in its proper order. Once I returned outside I saw the new mustang my dad saved. This girl was loco let me tell you.
