Horses
I chose horses to do my report on. In my report I will be talking about,
1. The History on the Horse
2. What Are Horses
3. Behavior of the Horse
4. Palominos
5. Why Horses Were Extinct?
History on the Horse
It’s hard to believe with the horses population today that horses were once extinct from North America and the Western Hemisphere. The around 16 Hands High horse today all goes back to the 10-20inch Hyrocotherium also known as the Eohippus. He lived fifty-five million years ago. The prehistoric horses had arched backs, three toes on the back and four on the front, they looked more like racing dogs then horses.
The next ancestor to the Hyroctherium is the Mesohippus. The Mesohippos lived thirty-five million years ago, the Mesohippus stood 20 inches tall and had long legs.
Every horse eventually gave away to the horse we have today, but the horse three million years ago was the first horse that looked exactly like the horse today.
Fossils proved that horses lived on every continent except Australia, you could also find herds of horses all over North and South America.
Horses were rode 5,000 years ago and used in war and sport in 1400B.C.
Horses were extinct for a period of time (I’ll talk about also) Christopher Columbus brought horses back to North America.
Horses played a important part in the exploration and development of North America by pulling trains, but the were replaced in 1830.
What is a Horse?
What is a horse? You may ask, well a horse is an odd toed Ungulate mammal one of eight of there species. The horse has come along way as you may have noticed. From a 20inch all the way up to 221/2 hands high which is also known as 86.5inches.
Horses come in thousands of breeds.
Horses have been the most useful animals for thousands of years. Horses were used in battle fields, for transportation in the late century, now they are used for farm work and leisure riding. Now horses are also used in circuses, rodeos, Horse Racing and Show Jumping.
Horses have the best memory of a animal. Horses also have awesome eyes, smell and hearing.
Some people also call Horses four legged wonders!
Behavior of the Horse
Horses react in different ways then any animal. Horses give warnings with their ears, tail, and facial expressions.
For instances if a horse has their ears pinned back against there head then this means there mad.
If their right ear is pointed to the right and their left ear is pointed to the left then this means there confused.
When a horse’s ears are pointed in front this shows that the horse is friendly, or alert.
A young horse’s ears are usually moving constantly, because they are focusing on their new surroundings.
Their tails are another warning sign, when a horse’s tail is pinned right up against their hind legs this means anger.
Now for facial expressions. When a shows the whites of their eyes this means there are extremely mad, so stay away! If a horse’s mouth is pinned tight and their eyes are tight it means a form of anger and pain.
Behavioral problems aren’t always a form of aggression, it could be paint too.
Did you now that a horse’s legs and teeth are their weapons? Now you do. A horse’s kick could seriously injure a human.
Now horses aren’t all mean a dangerous. If a horse has proper training and care it can be the friendliest horse ever. Just look at how many horses work as therapy for disabled humans!
Palominos
Palominos are one of the most beautiful horses. With the golden coat, light blonde mane and tail.
Most Palominos have white on their face, legs, and below their hawks and knees. Stripes and the face and white stocking are also a common feature on a Palomino.
Just because a horse has a golden body and all the features of a Palomino it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a palomino. If it has a black mane and tail then it’s a Buckskin.
Although Palominos are popular it’s not classified as a breed. It’s a famous colour. Palominos belong to every breed except the Thoroughbred. In the United States they are trying to make a Palomino classify as a breed.
When a Mare(female horse) and a Stallion(male horse) reproduce, the Foal(baby horse) will not be a Palomino. It may eventually grow up to be a Palomino, although it’s rare.
Palominos were discovered by Americans in California during the Mexican, American War.
Palominos are now popular Parade and Show Horses.
Palominos often have Thoroughbred and Arabian features. Palominos stand 15hands high and are Light Horses, so they weigh 1,100 lbs.
Why Horses Were Extinct?
Did you now horses were extinct for a period of time?
Horses in the past and today were killed for fun and sport.
In the 18th century there were very few horses around in North America, but by 1879 there was one left, a mare but it fell. For a couple months horses were believed to be extinct.
In Bialowieza in a forest around the straddling border between Belarus and Poland horses were spotted grazing. Eventually this small herd grew to be a few more and horses were no longer classified as being extinct.
Although winter wad hard because the horses struggled to find grass to feed on, with very little fat in their bodies they also struggled to keep warm.
There are several reasons why horses were extinct, but today horses are killed for pet food and glue. In the past they were killed for meat and their fur.
Conclusion
As you can see horses were very important for the development and exploration of North America, and to our ancestors. Almost every human in the old days had a horse for transportation.
Today horses work as great therapy and companies. I hope you enjoyed my report on horses.
By: Jessica
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
“I’m home!” cried Amy once she entered the house after another boring day of school. “Mom? Grandpa? Grandma?” Amy called into the dead silent house.
Amy and her mother Isabella live with her grandma, Mary and Grandpa, Jake on a horse ranch just outside of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Amy has long brown hair and brown eyes, and loves horses.
“Ahh!” Amy screamed.
“Got’cha! Boy are you jumpy,” Mary laughed. “I saw the bus leave and figured you came up to the house, come on lets go watch your mom in the ring, she got a new horse to train.”
“Really?!” Amy asked.
“Yeah now come on,” Mary said turning to walk out the door.
“Hey Amy! How was school?” Isabella asked.
“What do you think?” Amy laughed sarcastically.
“I see, so do you want to help me with this cutie?” Isabella asked “The names Star.”
“A baby could figure that one out,” Mary laughed, joined in by Amy as she walked into the ring with her laughing mother.
“What’cha making for supper sweetie?” Jake asked Mary.
“Oh something, you’ll just have to wait and see,” Mary answered mischievously as she covered the pot with her hand to block Jake’s view.
“Alright then” Jake sighed and made his way upstairs to get cleaned up.
“I think we should call it a day,” Isabella exclaimed. Amy nodded her head in agreement and said, “I can put the saddle and bridle away if you can turn Star out.”
“Okay,” Isabel agreed.
“Smelling yummy,” Jake announced when he returned back downstairs.
“It better,” Mary teased. “You can go get Isabel and Amy if you like.”
“Sure thing.” When Jake got outside he called, “Suppers ready,” into the barn.
“Okay coming,” Amy and Isabella called back.
Once Isabella and Amy came in for supper they all dug into a noodle casserole, meat pie along with a Caesar salad.
“That was fantastic!” Jake said. Amy and Isabella nodded in agreement.
Amy awoke at 3 a.m. to clattering downstairs. Are they still cleaning up? Amy asked herself. Amy walked downstairs quietly being careful not to frighten whoever was downstairs. Except they weren’t cleaning up it was her grandpa and mother fighting about a bill. What does that mean?
“I’m really sorry Isabella but we can’t keep the ranch and you now it, rules are rules,” Jake whispered very sternly.
“Can’t we keep part of the ranch and keep another part?” Isabella cried facing out the window.
“No! we can’t the ranch is getting taken away! We have no chose what we do!”
“You didn’t tell me that! You told me we had a week to come up with the money or decide what we were to do!” Isabella yelled anger rising in her throat, as she spun around.
Amy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. No one had told her about this, she felt like she was going to scream and anyone who was in on this secret. How could they keep such a big secret from her, she was 14 after all, she was old enough, wasn’t she? What where they going to with the horses? No they couldn’t take them to auction!
“Isabella! I’m sorry I didn’t want to hurt you….”
“Hurt me!? Hurt me!? Oh dear god! Don’t you think your way past that?! What about Amy!? That’s who you should be more worried about!” Isabella yelled.
“Okay Isabella Mary Anderson! Settle down. We don’t want to wake up Amy and your mother.” Jake said frustrated.
“Well then,” Isabella sighed trying to calm down. “What’cha going to do when the bank comes and Amy sees?”
“I’m not sure, we have a week to pack your things, so we have a week to break it to her,” Jake answered, breathing a sigh of relief now that the yelling was done with.
“She’s going to be furious with all of us,” Isabella said worry rising in her voice.
“Yes indeed but we just found out two days ago that the farm was being sold,” Jake explained.
That was the last straw, everybody included her grandma. Amy screamed and jumped off the stairs and out to the barn.
“Oh no!” Isabella and Jake whispered running out the door. “See I told you this would happen!” Isabella yelled.
“How could they do this to me Rosie?” Amy cried to her horse. Rosie nickered as if to say, “I don’t now” as she wrapped her neck around Amy.
“Amy can I talk to you?” Isabella asked softly, motioning for Jake to stay back. Amy didn’t answer she was to mad to talk to anyone.
“Sweetie I didn’t agree with grandpa,” Isabella said walking closer to Amy.
“You still did,” Amy replied sharply still looking at the wall of Rosie’s stall.
“I know, and that was a bad idea but I learned from that mistake, that’s why people make mistakes,” Isabella explained.
“It still doesn’t tell me why you guys didn’t tell me!” Amy yelled spinning around to face her mother. Rossie lifted her head in surprise and nudged Amy’s shoulder as if to say “settle down.” “I know Amy said turning to pat Rosie. It was quiet for a couple seconds then Amy spoke, “ three weeks mom, you all knew for three weeks and your saying you couldn’t tell me?”
“Yes,” Isabella said shortly, looking down at her hands. “We thought if we kept it a secret we would hopefully be able to pay the bill and it would be over with, never to be heard of again.”
“That sure worked hey? Your guy’s brilliant plan got our farm token away mom! Maybe if you were smart enough to tell me this wouldn’t have happened! I’ve got tons of money that could have helped!” Amy yelled. “But I wasn’t important enough for that, right?” Amy yelled storming off, not even stopping to jump into her grandpa’s outstretched arms.
Jake walked slowly up to his daughter who had tears streaming down her face. “Hey, you’ll be okay, she’ll get…..”
“This all your fault! Your idea to keep it a secret! I shouldn’t have listened to you!” Isabella screamed pointing at Jake.
“I know, and I can’t say how sorry I am,” Jake comforted.
“Well sorry sure isn’t going to cut it this time, Amy is furious with me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she never speaks to me again!” Isabella yelled and ran right past Jake.
Four days has passed since that horrible day, and Amy hadn’t spoken to anyone, along with Isabella.
“So Amy I was thinking I would start work with Star today, would you like to help me?” Isabella ask Amy with crossed fingers. Mary looked at Amy with a urging look.
Amy was about to ignore her mother but then she said, “I’m busy,” and with that she grabbed her apple beside her plate and walked out to the barn.
“Oh mom!” Isabella cried to her mom for the first time in four days. “I’m so sorry I know you barely had anything to do with this mess, please forgive me.”
“Absolutely, how could I stay mad at you?” Mary answered. “Don’t worry about Amy she’ll get over it”
“Mom she’s never not talked to me for more than two days,” Isabella sobbed.
“You now what? When you were younger you did the same thing to me, because I accidentally threw your favorite halter out.”
“Really I did that? How old was I?” Isabella asked.
“You were Amy’s age, fourteen.”
“I bet I wasn’t known for keeping grudges for more than two months though,” Isabella replied.
“Your right on that, but I don’t think you want to start now,” Mary added and heading upstairs.
“Mom?” Isabella called. Suddenly she heard slow footsteps coming downstairs. Then here dad’s white haired, and slightly wrinkled pace peaked around the corner.
“How was your breakfast?” Jake asked cautiously
“Why would you care? Are we getting that taken away too!” Isabella snapped. Then she took it back when she saw the shock and hurt in her father’s eyes. “I’m so sorry dad! I’m taking my anger out on other people.”
“No! it’s my fault I should have agreed to letting Amy now three weeks ago,” Jake confessed.
“I’d have to admit yes, but I guess what’s done is done,” Isabella said hugging her dad.
“Now where is Amy?” Jake asked searching the kitchen.
“Oh she snapped at me and ran out to the barn,” Isabella replied looking down at her hands. “What am I going to do? I can’t continue like this anymore!”
“Hey all you can do is what you are doing, trying to communicate with her, eventually she’ll realize that this is life. Yes it could have been prevented but mistakes happen,” Jake said reassuringly.
“Hey Rosie! Look what I’ve got!” Amy shouted out to Rosie’s pasture. All a sudden Amy heard a familiar nicker, and the clattering of a evenly paced gallop. Amy laughed and said, “You could smell the apple hey?”
“Hey!?” a male voice shouted making Amy jump. “I’m looking for a Isabella Anderson?”
“Your point is,” Amy snapped, still angry at everyone. Rosie nudged Amy for more apple, Amy took it as a smarten up nudge after she saw the surprise in the man’s blue eyes. “I’m sorry, my names Amy Andereson,” Amy replied walking up to the man.
“Names Luke, Luke Stilton, and no problem” Luke said offering his hand for a shake.
“What’cha here for?” Amy asked.
“Ummm…..well I’m your mom’s boyfriend’s son,” Luke answered slightly embarrassed.
“What!?” Amt shouted. “My mother has no boyfriend!” “unless that’s another thing she’s lied about,” Amy muttered. How could she do this to me?
“Hey I’m sorry I had no idea,” Luke said raising his hands in defense. “So is that your horse?” Luke asked trying desperately to change the subject.
Amy nodded. This week just kept getting worse and worse.
“She’s defiantly a looker,” Luke complimented.
“Oh no!” Amy whispered and ran over to the bush.
“Hey John what……Oh Luke….what are you doing here?” Isabella asked.
“Oh ummm…John just wanted me to tell you he wont be able to come tonight because he is sick,” Luke stuttered.
“Oh my! What’s wrong?” Isabella asked.
So he was coming here tonight and mom sounds really worried about him, maybe Luke was right.
“He’s got a cold so he said he would give you a call about another night,” Luke informed.
“Tell him I hope he gets better soon.”
“My pleasure.” Luke walked slowly to his truck.
Amy motioned for Rosie to leave, but Rosie just looked confused a stayed put.
“Amy?” Isabella questioned looking in the bush. “What are you doing in here?”
“How the heck could you not tell me about the farm, but now how the heck could you not tell me your dating!” Amy yelled trying to run past her mother, but Isabella caught her.
“What are you talking about? I’m not dating,” Isabella exclaimed bewildered.
“Luke said……”
“Urgh! John’s done it again, he wants our friendship to be more but I prefer not,” Isabella explained.
“How do I now your not lying because you lied about our bill for the ranch being fine!” Amy argued and then ran past her.
“Hey what’s the rush?” Luke laughed as Amy ran past him into the barn. Luke followed. “Amy what’s wrong?” Luke asked.
“First off your going to tell your dad that my mom is not his girlfriend!” Amy shouted.
“Okay I didn’t now I was as surprised as you when I heard about it, last time I heard they were friends, next thing I now there dating,” Luke confessed.
Was it possible that mom wasn’t lying?
“Amy? Are you alright?” Luke asked touching her shoulder. Amy jumped and pulled here shoulder away.
“Oh! Are you alright? You look stressed.”
Amy shrugged and said, “I think you should be going.”
“Oh okay talk to you later,” Luke said waving bye.
“Yeah right,” Amy muttered.
“What?” Luke asked turning around.
“Oh umm yeah,” Amy lied.
Luke smiled and waved.
It was 9:00 p.m. when Mary cam upstairs to ask her if she would like some beef soup that they had for supper.
Well grandma’s sure trying to make everything okay, maybe I should forgive her, she really had no part in this.
“Amy would you like some soup?” Mary asked.
Amy nodded but couldn’t get herself to apologize. As Amy ate her soup she thought about how she would survive in the city. If only I could do something to pekersuade to bank to let us keep to ranch, Amy asked herself. “That’s it!” Amy smiled, and ran over to here desk to phone Luke. Hopefully he’ll help me. “Krap I’m going to have to go downstairs to get the number.” Amy thought out loud.
Amy slowly crept downstairs and looked in the kitchen to see if the coast was clear. Yes! Amy thought and walked into the kitchen. Where was everyone? No one was in the living room, or their rooms. All a sudden Amy heard whispers coming from the porch, so she ducked quickly and found the phone book and ran upstairs
“Luke?” Amy asked.
“Nope John,” John answered.
Oh great Amy thought, “well I need to talk to Luke,” Amy snapped.
“One second please.”
“Hello Luke here,” Luke said.
‘Hey Luke, Amy here I need to ask a favor.”
“Oh Amy! Okay then ask away.”
Amy explained her plan that she they would take her money, which would put them just over half then money they need, and try to raise the rest.
“Yes I would help! I could even put my money towards it as well,” Luke suggested.
“Great lets start tomorrow,” Amy said.
“Wow was that a day!” Luke said collapsing on Amy’s bed. Amy and Luke had just got back from town, were they had just finished doing different fundraisers for people around the community to raise money to save Amy’s ranch. Amy had finished exercising and grooming horses. Luke finished walking dogs, he also helped a old lady get her three cats out of a tree.
“How’d we do?” Luke asked Amy.
“Where’d you get a hundred dollars?” Amy asked.
“From the old lady, along with these,” Luke said holding up two more hundred dollar bills. “When I told her we were raising money to save your ranch she gave me one for each cat.”
Amy nodded and counted the other bit of money on the calculator, and showed Luke.
“Whoa!” Amy and Luke chorused. “This is more than we need,” Amy said.
“We’re even more convincing then,” Luke pointed out.
“You now what? Your not that bad,” Amy said. “Now lets get on the phone.”
So today’s the day, Amy thought. The bank was scheduled to be here and 9 a.m. and Amy was as nervous as could be. Amy pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt, then went downstairs.
“Were are your bags?” Isabella asked.
Amy shrugged and answered, “I’m not going,” and ran outside.
“There here!” Amy shouted nervously to Luke.
“It’ll be fine,” Luke reassured her and put a hand on her shoulder, Amy jumped but didn’t refuse the comfort.
“You Luke Stilton?” the man in black asked.
Luke nodded and handed the man the money, “the whole nine yards and more.”
“What’s going on?” Jake asked followed by Mary and Isabella
Luke and Amy explained what they did.
“All that packing for nothing,” Mary sighed and lugged the bags in the house.
“Mom,” Amy said nervously. “I’m sorry for freaking out on you, I should have accepted what was done.”
“No, I should have convinced grandpa you were old enough to now, I’m so very sorry,” Isabella apologized, giving Amy a hug. Isabella pulled away and left Jake and Amy alone.
“Sweetie I’m sorry, you were old enough and you just proved it even more,” Jake said.
“I’m sorry too. For freaking out,” Amy exclaimed hugging Jake.
Later that night they all celebrated by having a bonfire, with John and Luke.
“So that was a pretty busy few days,” Luke said to Amy in the barn.
“Yeah,” Amy agreed, and then there was a awkward silence. Next thing Amy knew was they were snuggled up beside the fire. Suddenly everyone was smiling at them.
“Hey were old enough,” Amy laughed joined in by Luke.
“Okay then to Amy and Luke for saving the Ranch!” Isabella shouted.
“To Amy and Luke!” echoed the crowd.
Amy and her mother Isabella live with her grandma, Mary and Grandpa, Jake on a horse ranch just outside of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Amy has long brown hair and brown eyes, and loves horses.
“Ahh!” Amy screamed.
“Got’cha! Boy are you jumpy,” Mary laughed. “I saw the bus leave and figured you came up to the house, come on lets go watch your mom in the ring, she got a new horse to train.”
“Really?!” Amy asked.
“Yeah now come on,” Mary said turning to walk out the door.
“Hey Amy! How was school?” Isabella asked.
“What do you think?” Amy laughed sarcastically.
“I see, so do you want to help me with this cutie?” Isabella asked “The names Star.”
“A baby could figure that one out,” Mary laughed, joined in by Amy as she walked into the ring with her laughing mother.
“What’cha making for supper sweetie?” Jake asked Mary.
“Oh something, you’ll just have to wait and see,” Mary answered mischievously as she covered the pot with her hand to block Jake’s view.
“Alright then” Jake sighed and made his way upstairs to get cleaned up.
“I think we should call it a day,” Isabella exclaimed. Amy nodded her head in agreement and said, “I can put the saddle and bridle away if you can turn Star out.”
“Okay,” Isabel agreed.
“Smelling yummy,” Jake announced when he returned back downstairs.
“It better,” Mary teased. “You can go get Isabel and Amy if you like.”
“Sure thing.” When Jake got outside he called, “Suppers ready,” into the barn.
“Okay coming,” Amy and Isabella called back.
Once Isabella and Amy came in for supper they all dug into a noodle casserole, meat pie along with a Caesar salad.
“That was fantastic!” Jake said. Amy and Isabella nodded in agreement.
Amy awoke at 3 a.m. to clattering downstairs. Are they still cleaning up? Amy asked herself. Amy walked downstairs quietly being careful not to frighten whoever was downstairs. Except they weren’t cleaning up it was her grandpa and mother fighting about a bill. What does that mean?
“I’m really sorry Isabella but we can’t keep the ranch and you now it, rules are rules,” Jake whispered very sternly.
“Can’t we keep part of the ranch and keep another part?” Isabella cried facing out the window.
“No! we can’t the ranch is getting taken away! We have no chose what we do!”
“You didn’t tell me that! You told me we had a week to come up with the money or decide what we were to do!” Isabella yelled anger rising in her throat, as she spun around.
Amy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. No one had told her about this, she felt like she was going to scream and anyone who was in on this secret. How could they keep such a big secret from her, she was 14 after all, she was old enough, wasn’t she? What where they going to with the horses? No they couldn’t take them to auction!
“Isabella! I’m sorry I didn’t want to hurt you….”
“Hurt me!? Hurt me!? Oh dear god! Don’t you think your way past that?! What about Amy!? That’s who you should be more worried about!” Isabella yelled.
“Okay Isabella Mary Anderson! Settle down. We don’t want to wake up Amy and your mother.” Jake said frustrated.
“Well then,” Isabella sighed trying to calm down. “What’cha going to do when the bank comes and Amy sees?”
“I’m not sure, we have a week to pack your things, so we have a week to break it to her,” Jake answered, breathing a sigh of relief now that the yelling was done with.
“She’s going to be furious with all of us,” Isabella said worry rising in her voice.
“Yes indeed but we just found out two days ago that the farm was being sold,” Jake explained.
That was the last straw, everybody included her grandma. Amy screamed and jumped off the stairs and out to the barn.
“Oh no!” Isabella and Jake whispered running out the door. “See I told you this would happen!” Isabella yelled.
“How could they do this to me Rosie?” Amy cried to her horse. Rosie nickered as if to say, “I don’t now” as she wrapped her neck around Amy.
“Amy can I talk to you?” Isabella asked softly, motioning for Jake to stay back. Amy didn’t answer she was to mad to talk to anyone.
“Sweetie I didn’t agree with grandpa,” Isabella said walking closer to Amy.
“You still did,” Amy replied sharply still looking at the wall of Rosie’s stall.
“I know, and that was a bad idea but I learned from that mistake, that’s why people make mistakes,” Isabella explained.
“It still doesn’t tell me why you guys didn’t tell me!” Amy yelled spinning around to face her mother. Rossie lifted her head in surprise and nudged Amy’s shoulder as if to say “settle down.” “I know Amy said turning to pat Rosie. It was quiet for a couple seconds then Amy spoke, “ three weeks mom, you all knew for three weeks and your saying you couldn’t tell me?”
“Yes,” Isabella said shortly, looking down at her hands. “We thought if we kept it a secret we would hopefully be able to pay the bill and it would be over with, never to be heard of again.”
“That sure worked hey? Your guy’s brilliant plan got our farm token away mom! Maybe if you were smart enough to tell me this wouldn’t have happened! I’ve got tons of money that could have helped!” Amy yelled. “But I wasn’t important enough for that, right?” Amy yelled storming off, not even stopping to jump into her grandpa’s outstretched arms.
Jake walked slowly up to his daughter who had tears streaming down her face. “Hey, you’ll be okay, she’ll get…..”
“This all your fault! Your idea to keep it a secret! I shouldn’t have listened to you!” Isabella screamed pointing at Jake.
“I know, and I can’t say how sorry I am,” Jake comforted.
“Well sorry sure isn’t going to cut it this time, Amy is furious with me, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she never speaks to me again!” Isabella yelled and ran right past Jake.
Four days has passed since that horrible day, and Amy hadn’t spoken to anyone, along with Isabella.
“So Amy I was thinking I would start work with Star today, would you like to help me?” Isabella ask Amy with crossed fingers. Mary looked at Amy with a urging look.
Amy was about to ignore her mother but then she said, “I’m busy,” and with that she grabbed her apple beside her plate and walked out to the barn.
“Oh mom!” Isabella cried to her mom for the first time in four days. “I’m so sorry I know you barely had anything to do with this mess, please forgive me.”
“Absolutely, how could I stay mad at you?” Mary answered. “Don’t worry about Amy she’ll get over it”
“Mom she’s never not talked to me for more than two days,” Isabella sobbed.
“You now what? When you were younger you did the same thing to me, because I accidentally threw your favorite halter out.”
“Really I did that? How old was I?” Isabella asked.
“You were Amy’s age, fourteen.”
“I bet I wasn’t known for keeping grudges for more than two months though,” Isabella replied.
“Your right on that, but I don’t think you want to start now,” Mary added and heading upstairs.
“Mom?” Isabella called. Suddenly she heard slow footsteps coming downstairs. Then here dad’s white haired, and slightly wrinkled pace peaked around the corner.
“How was your breakfast?” Jake asked cautiously
“Why would you care? Are we getting that taken away too!” Isabella snapped. Then she took it back when she saw the shock and hurt in her father’s eyes. “I’m so sorry dad! I’m taking my anger out on other people.”
“No! it’s my fault I should have agreed to letting Amy now three weeks ago,” Jake confessed.
“I’d have to admit yes, but I guess what’s done is done,” Isabella said hugging her dad.
“Now where is Amy?” Jake asked searching the kitchen.
“Oh she snapped at me and ran out to the barn,” Isabella replied looking down at her hands. “What am I going to do? I can’t continue like this anymore!”
“Hey all you can do is what you are doing, trying to communicate with her, eventually she’ll realize that this is life. Yes it could have been prevented but mistakes happen,” Jake said reassuringly.
“Hey Rosie! Look what I’ve got!” Amy shouted out to Rosie’s pasture. All a sudden Amy heard a familiar nicker, and the clattering of a evenly paced gallop. Amy laughed and said, “You could smell the apple hey?”
“Hey!?” a male voice shouted making Amy jump. “I’m looking for a Isabella Anderson?”
“Your point is,” Amy snapped, still angry at everyone. Rosie nudged Amy for more apple, Amy took it as a smarten up nudge after she saw the surprise in the man’s blue eyes. “I’m sorry, my names Amy Andereson,” Amy replied walking up to the man.
“Names Luke, Luke Stilton, and no problem” Luke said offering his hand for a shake.
“What’cha here for?” Amy asked.
“Ummm…..well I’m your mom’s boyfriend’s son,” Luke answered slightly embarrassed.
“What!?” Amt shouted. “My mother has no boyfriend!” “unless that’s another thing she’s lied about,” Amy muttered. How could she do this to me?
“Hey I’m sorry I had no idea,” Luke said raising his hands in defense. “So is that your horse?” Luke asked trying desperately to change the subject.
Amy nodded. This week just kept getting worse and worse.
“She’s defiantly a looker,” Luke complimented.
“Oh no!” Amy whispered and ran over to the bush.
“Hey John what……Oh Luke….what are you doing here?” Isabella asked.
“Oh ummm…John just wanted me to tell you he wont be able to come tonight because he is sick,” Luke stuttered.
“Oh my! What’s wrong?” Isabella asked.
So he was coming here tonight and mom sounds really worried about him, maybe Luke was right.
“He’s got a cold so he said he would give you a call about another night,” Luke informed.
“Tell him I hope he gets better soon.”
“My pleasure.” Luke walked slowly to his truck.
Amy motioned for Rosie to leave, but Rosie just looked confused a stayed put.
“Amy?” Isabella questioned looking in the bush. “What are you doing in here?”
“How the heck could you not tell me about the farm, but now how the heck could you not tell me your dating!” Amy yelled trying to run past her mother, but Isabella caught her.
“What are you talking about? I’m not dating,” Isabella exclaimed bewildered.
“Luke said……”
“Urgh! John’s done it again, he wants our friendship to be more but I prefer not,” Isabella explained.
“How do I now your not lying because you lied about our bill for the ranch being fine!” Amy argued and then ran past her.
“Hey what’s the rush?” Luke laughed as Amy ran past him into the barn. Luke followed. “Amy what’s wrong?” Luke asked.
“First off your going to tell your dad that my mom is not his girlfriend!” Amy shouted.
“Okay I didn’t now I was as surprised as you when I heard about it, last time I heard they were friends, next thing I now there dating,” Luke confessed.
Was it possible that mom wasn’t lying?
“Amy? Are you alright?” Luke asked touching her shoulder. Amy jumped and pulled here shoulder away.
“Oh! Are you alright? You look stressed.”
Amy shrugged and said, “I think you should be going.”
“Oh okay talk to you later,” Luke said waving bye.
“Yeah right,” Amy muttered.
“What?” Luke asked turning around.
“Oh umm yeah,” Amy lied.
Luke smiled and waved.
It was 9:00 p.m. when Mary cam upstairs to ask her if she would like some beef soup that they had for supper.
Well grandma’s sure trying to make everything okay, maybe I should forgive her, she really had no part in this.
“Amy would you like some soup?” Mary asked.
Amy nodded but couldn’t get herself to apologize. As Amy ate her soup she thought about how she would survive in the city. If only I could do something to pekersuade to bank to let us keep to ranch, Amy asked herself. “That’s it!” Amy smiled, and ran over to here desk to phone Luke. Hopefully he’ll help me. “Krap I’m going to have to go downstairs to get the number.” Amy thought out loud.
Amy slowly crept downstairs and looked in the kitchen to see if the coast was clear. Yes! Amy thought and walked into the kitchen. Where was everyone? No one was in the living room, or their rooms. All a sudden Amy heard whispers coming from the porch, so she ducked quickly and found the phone book and ran upstairs
“Luke?” Amy asked.
“Nope John,” John answered.
Oh great Amy thought, “well I need to talk to Luke,” Amy snapped.
“One second please.”
“Hello Luke here,” Luke said.
‘Hey Luke, Amy here I need to ask a favor.”
“Oh Amy! Okay then ask away.”
Amy explained her plan that she they would take her money, which would put them just over half then money they need, and try to raise the rest.
“Yes I would help! I could even put my money towards it as well,” Luke suggested.
“Great lets start tomorrow,” Amy said.
“Wow was that a day!” Luke said collapsing on Amy’s bed. Amy and Luke had just got back from town, were they had just finished doing different fundraisers for people around the community to raise money to save Amy’s ranch. Amy had finished exercising and grooming horses. Luke finished walking dogs, he also helped a old lady get her three cats out of a tree.
“How’d we do?” Luke asked Amy.
“Where’d you get a hundred dollars?” Amy asked.
“From the old lady, along with these,” Luke said holding up two more hundred dollar bills. “When I told her we were raising money to save your ranch she gave me one for each cat.”
Amy nodded and counted the other bit of money on the calculator, and showed Luke.
“Whoa!” Amy and Luke chorused. “This is more than we need,” Amy said.
“We’re even more convincing then,” Luke pointed out.
“You now what? Your not that bad,” Amy said. “Now lets get on the phone.”
So today’s the day, Amy thought. The bank was scheduled to be here and 9 a.m. and Amy was as nervous as could be. Amy pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt, then went downstairs.
“Were are your bags?” Isabella asked.
Amy shrugged and answered, “I’m not going,” and ran outside.
“There here!” Amy shouted nervously to Luke.
“It’ll be fine,” Luke reassured her and put a hand on her shoulder, Amy jumped but didn’t refuse the comfort.
“You Luke Stilton?” the man in black asked.
Luke nodded and handed the man the money, “the whole nine yards and more.”
“What’s going on?” Jake asked followed by Mary and Isabella
Luke and Amy explained what they did.
“All that packing for nothing,” Mary sighed and lugged the bags in the house.
“Mom,” Amy said nervously. “I’m sorry for freaking out on you, I should have accepted what was done.”
“No, I should have convinced grandpa you were old enough to now, I’m so very sorry,” Isabella apologized, giving Amy a hug. Isabella pulled away and left Jake and Amy alone.
“Sweetie I’m sorry, you were old enough and you just proved it even more,” Jake said.
“I’m sorry too. For freaking out,” Amy exclaimed hugging Jake.
Later that night they all celebrated by having a bonfire, with John and Luke.
“So that was a pretty busy few days,” Luke said to Amy in the barn.
“Yeah,” Amy agreed, and then there was a awkward silence. Next thing Amy knew was they were snuggled up beside the fire. Suddenly everyone was smiling at them.
“Hey were old enough,” Amy laughed joined in by Luke.
“Okay then to Amy and Luke for saving the Ranch!” Isabella shouted.
“To Amy and Luke!” echoed the crowd.
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