King of the Herd Book 1: Running Midnight

Chapter Six: The Invitation

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I am so sorry for the late, late, very late update, with my new full time job as well as two part time jobs things got crazy. Thank you so much for the comments and votes. I really appreciate it! Please keep writing to me and telling me your opinion. Because it's been so long and you guys have been very patient I'm going to put up two if not more chapters. Keep voting and commenting. :D

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It's been almost two weeks since Riley walked across the bridge and into her new life. She got up early every morning and did her chores; her chores was to feed the chickens and make sure they have water, help Alex feed hay to the horses, keep her side of the room clean, wipe off the kitchen or porch table after they eat, and sweep the kitchen. They weren't hard chores but, she didn't mind help out her new family. Ever since she came to Forever Pine Ranch, she felt like part of the family, she even found out the Landers were Christians too! They don't go to church that often, but they do sit down together every Sunday and does a Bible study together. She would even helps out with everyone on the ranch including Jake, who now walks with her every day out into the woods and shows her something new.

When she woke up on a Thursday morning, everything was normal for her now; she didn't feel like an intruder when she woke up earlier then Chuck and Kelly. They wake up pretty early most days, Chuck's in charge of the ranch; he has to, in order to get all the work done. Kelly's a bookkeeper at a vet's office; she has to, in order to be able to go to work. They vet's office opens pretty early because most ranchers do and its good business. Riley and Alex woke up at 4:00am, because Jake told them to meet him at the bridge by 5:00am. They got all ready by 4:30am; they grabbed a quick breakfast and sneaked out the front door and they went out to the barn. Lately they have been letting her ride Pocahontas, the paint filly, she didn't mind. Pocahontas always seemed glad to see her; she would go to the gate of the twenty-acre pasture, which the Landers like to call "The Big Field", and call out to Riley every time she walked out of the house. She and Alex got Pocahontas and Shadow, Alex's horse, the one she rode the first day Riley arrived, and they went into the barn to saddle their horses. "Where do you think Jake is going to take us?" Riley asked.

"I don't know, why do you think he wants me to go?" she asked like she was trying to get her to confess something.

"Because he's your friend and he thought that you might enjoy it too!" she exclaimed.

"I just thought you guys would want to be alone." she said jokingly and shrugged her shoulders.

"Ha ha very funny." she said as she put on Pocahontas saddle on her back.

"What?! Lately you guys have been sneaking into the woods spending time with each other."

"Alex, you know we invite you to and the others, they refuse because Chuck has them doing something and you come up with an excuse on why not to go."

"Me, now why would I do a thing like that." they both laughed as they hopped on to their horses' backs and rode off side by side to meet Jake. It was getting a little bit lighter when they reached the bridge, Jake wasn't there yet, and they were a little bit early. "So..." Alex started to say, "Do you love him now that you know him for two weeks and you see each other every day?"

"Not like that, we are still friends nothing more, and like you said I only know him for two weeks..."

"But, do you LOVE him?" she interrupted.

"Alright, I'll tell you if you promise not to mention it to anyone, not even the chickens." she said

"My lips are sealed" said Alex as she pretended to turn a key on her mouth and throw the key over her shoulders. Riley leaned over in the saddle so Alex would be the only one to hear her secret.