- Prelude

I stood and watched them push the dirt over his body. With every load I could feel the weight on my own shoulders bearing down heavier and heavier. It was an extraordinary feeling of numbness to watch twelve years of my life being buried. I know he was just a horse to most people, but to me he was a best friend. I didn't have any other friends. He loved me as I am and never complained. In return I put my heart and soul into our partnership. In the show arena we were unstoppable. It hurt. It hurt real bad. My mother ushered me away from the grave site as my dad manned the bobcat. She had tear tracks on her cheeks and even my dad had tears in his eyes. For being 'just a horse' he was going to be sorely missed.

It had been an accident pure and simple. It didn't make losing him any easier, it was just the facts. With him gone I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I had a lot of extra time on my hands all the sudden. I retreated deep within myself to nurse my broken heart and lick my wounds. All of my shy tendencies showed back up at school. My mind just didn't even register when someone would say hello. I secluded myself and flatly refused to even talk to the shrink my parents took me to.

While it never crossed my mind that I wouldn't be all right my parents grew extremely worried. Apparently I was over reacting. I didn't see how mourning my best friend was over reacting. Sure I was depressed. The majority of my life had been uprooted and shaken. I was desperately attempting to right it. I still think my parents are the ones that over reacted. Not that I'm complaining, but just as I was beginning to step back onto some stable ground they decided to go into the mission field. I'm still convinced they were simply looking for an excuse to send me to my daddy's brother. All the way in Breeze Hill, Montana.

That's how I found myself standing in a crowded Montana airport feeling just a little lost. A part of me was sure this was a really bad idea. When I saw my uncle Rod any doubts disappeared. Even in his mid thirties he was a handsome man. His kind blue eyes and calm ways put me at ease immediately. We fell into easy conversation and by the time we were turning from the narrow gravel road into the narrow gravel driveway of the ranch I had told him everything.

Unlike anyone else, he truly understood. The bond formed in a partnership with a horse is something that cannot be explained or understood without the experience. Uncle Rod knew. When the truck topped the ridge the lead in to the valley where the heart of the ranch was I felt the urge to ride. It had been absent for nearly six months. My uncle had accomplished in three hours what my parents had been trying to accomplish for six months. Maybe the Diamond S Bar Ranch spread had something to do with it too.

The main house was a majestic two story log number with what looked like two large barns and an indoor arena. The whole spread was surrounded by pastures filled with gleaming quarter horses and big multicolored cattle. Soaring blue mountains cradled the ranch. A flawless blue sky only served to magnify the awesomeness. I wanted nothing more than to stand and groom a horse and soak in the therapeutic scent.

As we got closer I saw three figures lounging on the wrap around porch of the main house. Uncle Rod parked the truck and I jumped out. I wanted to go explore. Instead I eyed the three men from the porch as they approached. The tall skinny bean pole of a man and the shorter bulldog like man loped toward us while the tall distinguished looking man followed at a slower pace. I could only assume he was the owner of the Diamond S Bar.

The next half hour was spent getting acquainted with Tony and Ross, the ranch's two cowboys, and Johnathon Spencer, the ranch's owner. Tony was the tall cowboy with an ornery gleam to his eye and a ready grin. Ross was no taller then my own five feet ten inches, but his shoulders were wide and beefy and his biceps strained against his shirt sleeves. Johnathon was my uncle's boss. He was as tall as Tony but his shoulders and chest were wide and filled out. There was no doubt in my mind he was the boss. I put him in his mid fifties. His dark hair was silver at the temples and the corners of his welcoming gray eyes were crinkled, but he was a very handsome man.

They were all warm and welcoming. For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, I felt like I belonged. In a situation where I would normally be very shy and intimidated I instead welcomed their greeting hugs and eager introductions. For once my worn out jeans and boots fit right in. Between the four of them I felt quite dainty which was not the norm.

I was ushered into the room that was to be mine. It was in the wing behind the kitchen where the ranch hands lived. The family's living space was upstairs. Uncle Rod carefully set my single suitcase and duffel bag next to the door. I looked around the room and was assaulted by an extreme sense of contentment. I didn't have time to unpack. It was dinner time and Tony had spent all afternoon making a special meal. With that I was flung into ranch life and I never looked back.

a/n

This is a REALLY tentative story. It's completely finished. It's only about 31,000 words. I'm kind of hesitant to post this one for some reason. It's a little close to home. Okay. It's a lot close to home. In a way this story has allowed me to finally say good-bye to my horse Justa Snazzy Guy. So please be nice with the feedback. I am so sorry about Underdog. My inspiration ran out with the end of the football season for some reason. Look for updates as the football season is starting up. I may take it down and totally redo it. I've grown up a lot this past year and I hope my writing is starting to show some of the maturity I've gained. So here's my latest project. I'm posting it in memory of my best friend of nine years. He was taken from me all too soon and I will always miss him and always have a soft spot for blood bay horses with white socks and a blaze, but I wouldn't have had the opportunities I have had since his passing if I hadn't stepped out of my comfort zone with my new horse. Rest in peace my sweet Snazzy.

Thanks,

AJ