To Tame her Heart

The accident

Xander POV

Five years ago.......

I was getting ready to go spend the night at Jake's , I was super excited because dad had agreed to let me help birth one of the new fouls. Whenever that happens the Ranch had a tradition of letting the caregiver name the horse. I already had a name picked out and was anxious to get there for the whole thing. Mom and grandma were almost ready but it felt like time was dragging on. 

 My house always felt like home. There were toys everywhere and my artwork hung from almost every available fixture. I loved to draw. Especially animals. Probably because I spent so much time on the ranch during the summer helping Jake and his family and my dad. I loved it there as much as I loved this house. Mom and grandma finally were ready and dad put Luna in the car. My sister was the cutest baby ever she was about six months old and I just couldn't get enough of her. I loved the way she smiled at me when I made her play peek a boo with me . Or the way she laughed when I tickled her. 

" Dad are we ready to go yet" , Jake said we are getting close. " I was pleading with them all to go I wanted to be there for everything. I spent all my free time on the Ranch . Not just because my dad worked there. I loved it there. If I had my way I would grow up to live on a ranch and just enjoy nature the way God intended. 

My family had been making plans to move and I wasn't sure why or what my parents had planned just that we were supposed to be moving soon. Dad and I were just getting settled in the car when mom and grandma came out. I got out and opened the door for grandma. She was my favorite person other then luna. We are a tight knit family. We do everything together. Grandma has lived with us as long as I can remember.  

We all buckled in and dad turned to face me . " Son I have some news and I don't think I want to wait to share it with you anymore. " He paused and then continued " at the end of this month we are moving as you know. But I wanted to tell you we are moving onto Rosemont Ranch to live with Jake and his family. We finished the guest houses we were working on and we want to do more with the tours so I'm going to need to be available more to help. I know you love the ranch so we are also giving you the horse so you can start to train and help around the ranch as well. When your not at school that is . School always comes first. What do you think bud?"

I was so excited I yelled loudly" yippee". I quickly apologized to my grandma and Luna but I just couldn't contain my excitement. 

While we were sitting in the driveway it started to rain . Dad turned to mom and said " see I told you he would be ok with it. Everything is going to be fine honey." They shared a quick kiss and dad started the car.  Never knowing that they would not make it through the night.

(Flash forward to present)

I was tossing and turning in my sleep . When all the sudden I let a yell. " Noooooo. Please be ok . Mom, Dad , Luna... "  I woke with a start . It was still pitch black out. My body was covered in cold sweat and goose bumps. I leaned over and my clock said 3:30 am. In big red numbers. Groaning I decided to get up and hop in the shower. I let the water poor over me and let all the nightmare wash away. It wasn't the first time over the last give years that it happened. The doctors said I had some residual trauma from the accident. It took me three weeks just to talk after it happened . Everyone still makes sure they avoid the subject just so I don't break down again.  I got out of the shower , dressed and made my way downstairs. I now lived in the house on the ranch that was intended for my family . I lived in the big house with Jake and his parents till I turned 18. At 18 they gifted me this house. It was only fitting it belonged to me they insisted. I cried as I walked through the doors the first time . It had remained untouched for four years except for the maid that came in and dusted and precleaned the  week beforehand to prepare for my moving in. My parents had designed and paid for it according to Jake's dad and had built it in secret as they knew I would love to live on the ranch. And they weren't wrong. Sometimes this big empty house made me sad but other times it was the best gift my parents could have given me without even being here. 

I ate after cooking a quick breakfast and had a couple cups of coffee. By the time I was ready to go the sun was coming just over the mountain ridges to the west of the ranch. I made my way to the barn to feed the animals. Then I fed the last one. My horse  midnight. He was jet black with a single white star shaped patch on her forehead. She neighed at me as I approached. Waiting for her breakfast. " Hey midnight, " I said to her as I got her breakfast and snuck her an apple. She happily accepted from my hand. I was about to leave the stables when I heard a noise. I turned around just in time to see her . That girl with no name walking out. How long had she been here? Had she seen me interacting with midnight?  I followed her and just caught up " hey , what's your name? "

She turned around and said" Sorry, I didn't mean to bug you. I was just having a hard time sleeping and I love animals. And my name is Zoe. Sorry I was rude before. "  And just like that I was left alone as she rushed back to her cabin.