Angela's POV
After I get the boys settled and eating I head out to my office in the barn to look over Michael's file his parents sent me from a previous psychologist's review of him. I think I'll talk to Asthon first today. He seems like the leader of the group, so I think it would be best to get his thoughts before I approach Michael. I also think Calum has more issues then he lets onto, and I think it's more then obvious Luke has some form of anxiety and or depression. I write all this down in each of the boy's files, and then I pick up Michael's.
'Clifford, G. Michael.
Patient suffers from substance abuse. Including drugs and alcohol. In my professional opinion these issues have surfaced due to an internalizing of depression and anxiety. Patient also has a history of self harm. Medication may be required to help stabilize mood swings. Nothing has been able to get through to him.'
And that's all they had. According to his parents he went to this doctor for two sessions before Michael had a huge fit of rage and refused to go back. This is gonna be interesting. I hope I can get through to him. I want to help him, and right now I think the key to that is ignoring him. I think for this week if I focus on the other boys and let him just get into the swing of things without any pressure or special attention, which I'm sure he's expecting , he'll be surprised and more open. So my plan is to talk to all of the boys except Michael today and see what his response to that is. He might be relieved, he might get angry but however he responds will tell me how I need to continue. I also write down a note to go through his bag and his room for any sharp objects. Kids always try and sneak their addictions in here, so I wouldn't be surprised I found a couple bags of weed or a drink with some sort of vodka mixed into it either. After opening a file fore each of the boys, and attaching Michael's to one of mine, I go to check on which horses are in the pasture closest to the barn. Jake said he's bring in my lesson horses last night, I just wanted to double check. As I'm headed out there, I hear one Jake yelling at someone and turn to see Luke giving Calum a piggy back ride down the hill, with Ashton, who's carrying Michael, following closely behind them. They're all laughing, though Ashton seems to be giggling. Jake us chasing behind them yelling at them to stop. I laugh.
"It's alright, Jake! Just come on over here to the pasture!" I yell at them, and then see the two boys that are doing the carrying turn towards my direction. When they're almost here, Luke face plants, which causes Calum to fall on top of him. And then, in the midst of laughing at them, Ashton falls too. And then all four boys are on the ground laughing, giving Jake the time to catch up with them.
"I told you not to do that! Are you guys ok?" He asks, very concerned. I laugh and walk over to them.
"They're fine Jake, relax." I look at the four laughing boys in front of me and smile. "Come on, get up. You guys have to go get the horses." That stops all of them laughing as they look at me.
"W-we have to, like, get them? Like, alone?" Luke stutters out. I smile and nod at him.
"Yeah. There are six horses out there. You four are gonna each go out with a halter and chose the horse you want to ride. Once you've chosen, that's the horse you're gonna ride all summer. After today, we'll keep them in the paddock attached to the barn so they'll be easier to catch. The halters are hanging up over there on the fence, have at it guys." Ashton is first to get up and head over to the gate, which soon causes Calum and Luke to follow behind, but Michael just stays sitting on the ground. I sigh and squat next to him.
"Come on Michael. Just go get a horse." I say gently trying to coax him into it. He rolls his eyes at me.
"No. I don't want to ride a horse." I sigh.
"Michael, It's a lot of fun. You're not gonna be working hard, just leaning." He just shakes his head, and then it a cures to me, maybe Luke isn't scared of horses, maybe Michael is. "Look, Michael, they're really docile creatures. There's no need to be afra-"
"Afraid? Of horses? Please, who would be afraid of a stupid animal?" He interrupts, and then gets up and storms back towards the house. Jake looks at me, waiting to see if I'll chase after him. But that's exactly what he wants, so I won't. I shake my head no at Jake.
"You go after him. If I go after him, I'd be leaving these three alone and focusing on him, which is what he wants. You go make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anything like that, I'll stay here and make sure these boys don't hurt themselves." He nods understandingly, then turns and jogs after Michael. I turn back around and see that Luke has gone after our most dead-headed horse. She's a fifteen year old sorrel mare named Willie, whereas Calum has gone after our craziest training horse. He's a gelded blue roan named Sisco. And he's running from Calum, so Calum has been chasing him around the pasture the entire time we were talking. Ashton has gone after our little bay, Echo. She's twelve and the perfect horse for him. She's a little challenging but super smart. Both Echo and Willie are caught within the first two minutes, but Sisco still hasn't been caught. That takes Calum ten minutes to catch him, and then all three of them walk their horses out. So begins our first day.
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A/N Sooooo an update two days in a row! Yay!! XD Don't forget to vote and comment! :)
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Wittshome Ranch
Fanfiction****ON HOLD***** I'm currently writing a Stranger Things Fanfic called 'Just Be Held', so please go read that! Until that is finished this book will be on hold! "How do you destroy your demons without destroying yourself?" Pain. That's all Michael s...
