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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 16, 2023 12:24:03 GMT -8
Morgan would smile " nice to finally put a name to the face" he said as he looked at Avalynn. He realized where he had seen her before they had both met when they were kids at a cattle drive. "Umm I'm not sure you know this but in Texas we actually met at a cattle drive when we were kids" he said. He then took of his cowboy hat and muttered about dust under his breath, he then put it back on. " You don't have to help search for him unless you really want to" he said slightly worried of what might happen if they all went searching for Aim. He was going to find Bud soon and make him pay for all that he had done and what he had made him do just to end up with nothing except his name and his past.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 16, 2023 12:56:37 GMT -8
They had met before? Avalynn had to jar her memories to remember that far back. She was only 6 at the time. Her mother did not agree with her going on the cattle drive because it was not "lady-like."
"Oh, come on Evelynn...Just let her go this once. After this, you can start her Lady Training or whatever it is you call it," Avalynn's father, Glen Marshall had begged as he stood at the door, all dressed in his chaps and everything he would need for the cattle drive.
"Glen, it is not just the fact that it is not lady-like. But what if Avalynn gets hurt? There is no doctor out there for miles! I do not want to lose my only daughter. And it is not called Lady Training. It is called Etiquette. I want Avalynn to become a lady so that she can marry a fine young gentleman one day," Evelynn answered as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Are you sayin' that I am not a gentlemen?" Glen asked with a smirk on his face.
"Glen, that is not what I am saying. When I met you, you were and always will be a fine gentleman. My father may not have been happy with my choice to marry a rancher. But he soon warmed up to the idea since he found out about the fine horses that your family bred," Evelynn said as she walked over to Glen and hugged him tightly. She sighed after a moment. "Alright. You can take her. But make sure that she is safe. She can ride with you on Lightning. But as soon as she comes back, her etiquette training begins. I want our daughter back in one piece."
"I am glad I could talk you into it. And I promise to keep a good eye on her," Glen announced before he kissed Evelynn.
Avalynn had remembered that she was hiding behind her door in her room listening in on the conversation. She was excited about going on the cattle drive with her father. She remembered her mother helping her up in front of her father on Lightning, a silver bay gelding. She remembered falling asleep in his arms while riding on the cattle drive. He would hold her close to him so that she did not fall out of the saddle. A few ranch hands did complain about a child coming along on the cattle drive at first, but she won their hearts over within hours.
Avalynn had to look away for a moment to wipe away the tears that were forming at the memories she had of her father. She wondered how much they missed her.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 17, 2023 11:59:44 GMT -8
Fernella wouldn't touch the wild mare she was still wild and could react to her at any given time but that rope burn on her neck that couldn't wait it could get infected and lead to this horse's death. Hmm maybe if Bandit could distract her she could put a ointment on the mare's neck she quietly sneaked into the pasture and lead Bandit over to distract the wild mare she stood still allowing Fernella to touch her neck, wait she knew this mare she wasn't wild she was tame, her diamond shaped star reminded Fernella of the pattern on a rattle snake. She was a bait horse for illegal capture of wild horses, she was glad the mare had somehow escaped, she could only imagine the fury in her eyes being seprated from other horses. " Why did you come to me you could have gone free girl without man to hold you back" she spoke softly to the mare. It was then that she noticed the mare's belly, she was pregnant. She did a mental check in her head of the number of stalls. There was a seprate stable for broodmares maybe she could put the mare there. She had already given the mare a name in her head, Risk why that name because she had chosen to take a risk coming here. She put Risk into the broodmare stable next door to Marilla the mare she named after her mother. She watched the two mares check each other out they would be fine.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 17, 2023 12:13:44 GMT -8
Morgan would notice the tears running down Avalynn's face " I miss my parents too especially my younger brother and sister Carol ann but we have are own life now no one can force us to marry here were free" he said as he was then brought back to his time as a 6 year old riding with his father on a buckskin horse called Tex, it was probaly the last time he ever saw his father as a day later his parents decided to seprate and he was left with a horse hating step father, who forbid him from riding a horse. He said no son of his was ever going to be a ranch hand he wanted Morgan to be a doctor or a inn keeper. Like that was ever going to happen, his mom said he was born to ride, shame his step father never saw what he became.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 18, 2023 19:58:48 GMT -8
Avalynn forced herself to sit up a little bit more. But it caused immense pain in her ribs as she sat up. So instead, she decided to lay back down in bed. She thought about those words Morgan had said. no one can force us to marry here were free. "It's funny that you say that. I have been running away from just that for a few years now. My mother wanted me to marry this rich businessman named Mark Wolfe. If I did marry him, he would have forced me to move back east with him. Away from the ranch. At first I thought I was in love with him...but he showed me his true colors. He was controlling and always thought a lady should be seen and not heard. She should only speak if spoken to. I did not like that. So, I hired James and his brother to fake my kidnapping when I was 16. They sent letters to my father and Eli stating that if they did not get $5,000, they would kill me. Then, we found a woman who had died that looked almost like me and pretended that I had died. I left Texas and never looked back. I was now part of James' gang. I did things that I wish I never had to do..." Avalynn explained as she looked down at her hands. She balled and un-balled her fists for a moment before speaking again. "For 4 1/2 years I wondered if I did the right thing by faking my own death. I wondered if my parents ever thought about me. I would look up at the stars and wonder if they were looking at the same stars I was. But then during a train robbery, I was shot. James and the gang left me for dead. They thought that if they came back for me, they would hang for the crimes that they committed. Now, I sit here wondering again, did I make the right decision? What would my life be like if I stayed home?" Tears continued to fill her eyes as she closed them. She looked away again, not wanting Morgan to see her in a weak moment. Avalynn sniffed as she spoke, but still looked away. "Now, I need to right what I have done. I need to at least try to bring James and his gang to justice. They even killed the man I was in love with. All because he wanted to leave. He wanted to take me with him. I begged Justin to stay. I wanted him there to protect me. But he said he needed to choose the right path. He could not stay. So, I finally decided to go with him. To leave. But James saw us as we were riding away from the hideout."
Avalynn stopped a moment to collect herself and then continued on with her story. "James followed us to the county line where he shot Justin and threatened to kill my entire family if I left the gang. He said killing Justin was just a warning to me. If I did anything out of line, my family would be dead. Justin died in my arms that night. I would have married him if he asked. I never asked him how he joined the gang. But I am glad I never did. I never want to know the Demons he went through when he joined James' gang. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I was shot during that robbery. Maybe it was Justin telling me it was time to leave. To do what he couldn't."
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 19, 2023 11:56:42 GMT -8
Fernella would check on Spade one of the ranch hands horses, he had gotten injuried chasing a runaway cow, she ran her hands down his legs "Hmmm the swelling has gone down but I think it's safe to wait a few more days till i'm sure your sound" she said to Spade's owner the ranch hand called Zeke nodded his hand. "Thanks Fernella how is that teen girl Rina working out" he said she looked at Zeke "your welcome and as for Rina she is doing amazing where ever she came from were experts with horses" she said, before going over to check the pastures. She greeted Grace,Bandit,Outlaw and Creek and made sure they had water in the pastures. Then went back in the house she had to file some paperwork for her quarter horses, she made a new one for her current new horses, she had no idea what breed Risk was but it was pretty clear she wasn't a paint or any other breed with markings.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 19, 2023 12:14:39 GMT -8
Morgan would listen to her story he never would have imagined what it was like living in a wealthy family. His own childhood was a mix of memories some good others bad, he had fallen in love once but the girl he liked didn't love him, she was too busy hanging around rich guys to notice him. Ever since then he had refused to fall in love again until he found the right woman to lay his heart upon. "I fell in love once with a girl called Monica Denver but she fell out of love with me because she only ever saw one thing money, which I never had much of" Morgan said. He then remebered the first fight he ever got into, why couldn't he ever control his temper around other guys. Was he just a copy of his father or was he diffrent and could control his temper when he wanted to.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 19, 2023 12:31:33 GMT -8
Avalynn took a moment to collect herself as she sat up, ignoring the pain. "I never knew how truly alone I felt after I lost Justin. I only stayed because of the threat that James promised if I did anything to leave. It felt like blackmail. I am sure after we saw him he is going to go after my family," Avalynn announced as she scrunched up the blanket for a moment. She then looked at Morgan. "I didn't mean to spill everything out. I guess I feel a little better knowing that someone knows what I have been going through. I am sorry what you had to go through as well."
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 20, 2023 11:38:34 GMT -8
Fernella would sigh Marilla was due to foal in a few days and she was still worried about Morgan's horse no one had seen the sturdy black gelding since he had been stolen. She would finish up in her ranch office in the main house, only to find herself facing Amos he wasn't the same guy she had met before no this time he was changed. "What the Demons have you done with that mare you know the chestnut with the diamond shaped star" Amos said his voice was angry. "Why do you need her that poor mare had severe rope burn on her neck that could have killed her, now get off my ranch Amos your no longer welcome here" Fernella said. She was going to protect that pregnant mare now that she knew she had been mistreated by the mustang wranglers. "You will take me to her or so help me god I will put a bullet through you and every one on this ranch" Amos demanded. She considered her options very carefully "okay fine just promise me you will take care of her or else I will tell the law about your illegal capture of wild horses" Fernella said. She made her way to the broodmare stable with a gun pressed to her back she could do nothing except obey .
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 20, 2023 11:49:44 GMT -8
Morgan shrugged "don't worry about it we both are much stronger from our experiances" he said. He then heard Fernella and a unknown male voice outside, "will you be alright for a bit i'm just going to get some air I will be back" he asked Avalynn. He couldn't shake a feeling that something very bad was about to happen. He waited for Avalynn to speak his eyes focused towards the outside. He wasn't sure why but his eyes drifted towards the pasture were Fernella's horse was, he was acting frantic in the pasture like he knew something was very wrong. He knew Aim used to do that when he was near Bud, was it possible he could sense whoever the mystery man was he wasn't worth trusting and was very dangreous.
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Post by AlaskaAirGirl on Oct 20, 2023 12:20:03 GMT -8
"Yeah, I am fine. I can sit here and rest before I eat the rest of my food," Avalynn answered as she laid her head back down on the pillow. As she lay there, Avalynn was not able to close her eyes. Every time she tried, all she could see was Justin. She could feel tears in her eyes as they welled up again. She wanted to be strong for him...but it was hard doing so when she felt alone. After a few moments, Avalynn finally forced herself to close her eyes so that she could at least get some more sleep. It was best for her body as she needed to heal.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 21, 2023 11:20:39 GMT -8
Fernella would lead Amos to the broodmare stable, she would check on the other mares, before heading towards Risk, she could feel Amos's anger. "Lead her out towards the main entrance I will meet you there" he said. Fernella would open Risk's stall and pet the mare "i'm so sorry girl I can't save you from people like him" she said as she put a halter and attached a lead rope to the mare and walked her out towards the ranch entrance. "...There is nothing left to say Fernella I did have fun with you and i'm sorry for what i'm about to do" Amos said. Fernella felt something hard hit her then she blacked out, she could hear a voice that sounded somewhat stange and feel herself being lifted into some kind of wagon. Was she being kidnapped or was this just a little insurance policy to make sure she never talked to anyone about what had just happened.
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Post by Canadian Sunfeather on Oct 21, 2023 11:35:36 GMT -8
Morgan would leave the room where Avalynn was and head outside. He was searching for Fernella he hadn't seen her since she and that strange man had talked. "FERNELLA" he shouted her name and waited for a response but nothing came. He then ran to the main stable "Rina have you seen Fernella lately Bandit is so spooked I can't help but feel something bad has just happened" he said asking the teen girl. "No Morgan I have not seen her I will try and calm Bandit down then check on our guest if that's alright with you" Rina said. He then pondered her words "no let's not bug Avalynn just yet she needs rest, calm Bandit down if he woun't calm down maybe I will ride him for a bit and see if I can find Fernella" he said his voice betrayed the worry he had, not only for Aim his missing horse but now for Fernella. The teen nodded her head and ran towards the pasture where her horse and Bandit and a unknown horse were. He then followed footprints on the ground they looked like Fernella's boot prints they were leading to the broodmare stable. He entered it seeing multiple heads turn to face him some curious others angry at being disturbed, he then saw a empty stall in the broodmare stable then saw hoofprints heading towards the main entrance.
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