King of the Herd Book 1: Running Midnight

Chapter Two: Forever Pine Ranch

"Where are they? Are they ok? What happened?" She asked frightened.

"I'm sorry to say, your parents were killed." he tried to say in the nicest way. Her heart dropped right down to her stomach. She tried to hold her tears, but she couldn't. Her heart felt like some just pierced her heart with a sword of sadness. Bill motioned her to sit down. At first, she refused, but, her legs felt like Jell-O, and she sat down.

"How.... Where...?" She asked as if that's all she could say. She was crying so hard and so much that it felt like her tears were choking her.

"It looks like they were on their way to pick you up. When they pulled over and...were shot." said Bill. Riley felt like she had been punched right in the stomach, she put her arm around her stomach and closed her eyes tight; Bill put one arm around her shoulder. "So, your saying my parents was......Murdered?" She said as if the idea was totally insane.

"I'm afraid they were. Please know that you have my dearest sympathy for your lost. If there is anything, you need. All you have to do is ask." said Bill.

"Thank you." She said, and then she thought for a moment. "What's going to happen to me now?"

That is why Riley is on her way to Forever Pine Ranch. The Government believed that who ever killed her parents was after her too. For over a year, she moved from one family to another. Most of the families she stayed with was in the military or retired from the military. She went all across the country, from Maine to Arizona and Florida to Washington, not staying more then three weeks with the families, for her own protection. Nevertheless, The Government promised her that this time would be different. She would be staying on a ranch for at least four months. She never been to Utah before, she was really excited. When she stepped outside the airport all she could see was country side and could smell the fresh air. She could not wait to get to Forever Pine Ranch! They have been traveling for more than two hours without speaking a word to each other.

"So, are you nervous that you going to a ranch?" said the driver. He stood nice and tall, when he picked up Riley at the airport. He wore a brownish police uniform, with leather boots and a cowboy hat, he looked like he was in his fifties but still ready to chase down whoever had broken the law. Riley was so nervous and so excited at the same, that she forgot that there was another person next to her and the voice startled her that she practically jumped.

"A little," she replied, "I'm excited too! It has been so long since I touched a horse." Riley has loved horses all her life. But, her dad was allergic to 32 different things, and animals were one of them.

"Are you going to be a real cowgirl?" he said with a grin.

"I kinda hope so. But, I don't think you can become a cowgirl in a short amount of time. Plus, I think you have to born a rider to be a cowgirl." she said with a smile.

"Well, were almost there. We made really good time, I estimated three hours and we will probably get there about two and a half." said the driver.

"Now, you have your cell phone right? Just in case you need to get a hold of us."

"Yep I do." The government gave Riley a cell phone just in case she got into trouble.

"I live about three hours away." said the driver, "But, if you need me I'll be there in less than an hour! It's kind of nice being a police officer and be able to do that." he said with another grin, "This is a small town. There is no restaurant except a small diner about an hour after the Landers' house, that's the folks you'll be staying with, and the only mall around here is actually by the diner, but there is only couple of stores in there. The main attraction around here is the cattle, neighbors, and wild horses."