𝓕𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕-𝒎𝒆-𝒏𝒐𝒕

𝓒𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝓔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

Sam and Storm were in the barn working on the engine of the mower when she heard the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside.  Wiping her hands clean on a rag she walked outside and saw George getting out of his truck.  "You start early" smiled Sam.

"I can see I'm not the only one.  I'm impressed Sam.  Now let's see what we're working with."

Sam tucked the rag into her pocket and walked with George to the stable block.  "I have room for four but to start with I just want one."

George went into each stall and examined them closely.  "It looks like these stables have never had horses in them.  They look brand new."

"I'm hoping that's a good thing" asked Sam.

George looked over at her and smiled.  "Sweetheart that's a very good thing.  You don't have any repairs to do in here at all.  Yes it's going to need a damn good clean out but that's it.  Now where's the storage area?"  Sam led him to the back room and George looked that over too.  "Nice and watertight.  No damp at all.  This is perfect.  Now come with me because I have a gift for you."

"A gift for me" asked Sam looking confused.  She followed George back to his truck and he gestured to the back.  Sam looked inside and smiled.  "Saddles and tack?  George you didn't have to do this."

George lifted out one saddle and Sam grabbed the other.  "These were mine and Olive's.  We only go out in the buggy these days so we talked it over and we want you to have them."  He walked inside the stable block and rested the saddle down on one of the stands in the little tack room.

Sam followed with the other one and set that down too.  "At least let me pay for them George."

"Olive wouldn't hear of it" smiled George as he went back to get the rest of the tack.  Sam helped and soon it was all hung up.  "Right then Sam, what did you have planned today?"

"Nothing really.  I was going to get some decorating supplies in so I would have something to do when it snows.  All of the rooms could do with sprucing up a bit."

"Do that another day.  If you get the store room and the stables cleaned out this morning then I'll take you to get some supplies after lunch, only there's a horse sale tomorrow that I wanted to take you to."

Sam couldn't help herself.  She ran to George and hugged him.  "Oh thank you."

George hugged her back and let her go.  "Well get to work.  I'll be back at one."

"I'm on it" laughed Sam as she ran back towards the house with Storm closely following her.

George got back into his truck and drove back to his own ranch.  "So what did she think" asked Olive as he walked into the kitchen.

He sat down at the table and smiled at her.  "She loved the saddles and tack.  She even hugged me."

Olive smiled while she stirred her soup.  "She is so sweet just like her mother was."

"I know what you're thinking woman but she's not your daughter."

Olive turned around and glared at him.  "She has no parents and we lost Andrew.  You can't tell me that we're not supposed to look out for her."

George got up and wrapped his arms around her waist.  "Of course we're going to look out for her but Sam is a strong girl.  I can tell that she's going to be fine.  Anyway she knows that we're here if she needs us."

Olive rested her head on his shoulder.  "Yes we will be."

❧
Sam spent hours cleaning the whole stable block out and by lunchtime she was just finishing.  She headed back to the house and took a quick shower before making herself a sandwich.  Hearing the truck outside Sam gave the last of it to Storm while she grabbed her purse.  Sam locked up the house and ran to the truck.  "Is Storm okay to come too?"