A Chance for Change (now published so sample only)

Chapter 2- A chance of friendship

The day dawned bright and sunny like every day seemed to here. Chance glanced out of the window and thought about his first week in this new time zone. His jet lag had finally left him and he was finding that he had surprisingly enjoyed himself immensely.

Brandy had been really nice to him, though alarmingly possessive. Jim and Lydia were wonderful guardians to him. He had to laugh about their house rules in comparison to what was expected of him at home. He knew that at last his luck had changed for the better.

He only had one problem that existed and that was Sam. No matter how much he tried, Sam avoided him like the plague. Sam never came to meals or even acknowledged his existence and Chance couldn't understand why. Today he intended to work it out by talking to Jim to see if he knew what was going on.

He hurried down to breakfast, the waft of bacon giving his stomach a reason to complain. Sliding down the banister, Chance smiled, life was finally good. Shelley may have thought she was sending him to his doom, but she had been wrong.

"Chance is that you?" He heard Lydia call

"Yup." He answered as he walked into the dining room. The table was as crowded with food as it was with people.

Sam looked up at him with a scowl and pulled her hat lower. If he wanted a guy then that what he was getting, she thought. She picked up her toast, mumbled something about chores and left the room. She caught her father's glare and returned it just as fiercely as she left without another word. Chance glanced after her curious about the exchange; it was obvious Jim didn't approve of what Sam was doing.

"Chance do you want to go riding after breakfast?" Brandy asked interrupting his train of thought

"Uh...Sure. Yeah, where are we going?"

"Oh I thought we would go up the mountain a bit; there are some really nice views to see..." Chance half listened as Brandy babbled on. Well I'll have to talk to Jim later,he thought

After a gruelling ride up the mountain Chance had to agree that the views were spectacular. In all directions he could see the mountain range spread out before him, large eagles flying above him and he could breathe in air that was fresh and clean.

Unfortunately his legs were aching and he couldn't feel his backside anymore. It had been a long time since he had ridden.He needed rest as well as that quiet word to Jim. Mostly he needed to be with someone that didn't chatter on endlessly for absolutely nopurpose.

The horses trotted into the stable. Sam looked up from where she was cleaning the tack as Brandy and Chance entered and dismounted. She couldn't help but notice how good looking Chance was. She had been trying to avoid looking in his direction since he first arrived.

Now though, he took her breath away. His brown hair was windswept and tousled in an inviting way, while his eyes seemed to ooze chocolate brown warmth that sucked her in without her realising. He was so tall and lithe with a face that could rival any celebrity.

Brandy haughtily handed the reins of her horse to Sam, which snapped her from staring at Chance. She was glad her hat covered her blushing face. Sam ignored Brandy's insistence and continued her cleaning.

"Sam take these horses now!" Brandy demanded sharply

"You had them then you put them away. And Brandy do it properly, rub them down well and feed them.” Brandy glared at Sam, how dare she make her look like an idiot in front of Chance.

"How dare you!" Brandy hissed viciously

"Me?" Sam laughed at her hide "It's more like how dare you." Sam said gruffly as she fixed her sister with a scowl, about to totally lose her temper.