Author Anon

“Is the baby coming, Doctor?” asks Rick.

“No.  She’s just having a few contractions,” says Dr. Ray.  “I think she’s just a little stressed.”

“So, what do we do?”

“Take her home and put her on bedrest for now.  We’ll see what happens in the next few days.”

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“Why are you wasting your time with me, Tara?” asks Phillip.

“I don’t consider it a waste of my time.  I love it out here.  You know I’ve been in love with horses since I was a baby.”

“Are you here for me or my horses?”

“Both.  I couldn’t get near your horses without seeing you first.”

Phillip laughs.  “Do you still show horses?”

“Sometimes.  But my priority right now is helping those disabled children overcome their handicaps.  Children are resilient but only if you give them encouragement.”

“I hear very good things about your camp.  What got you started on it?”

“When I was little, I fell off a horse and broke my arm.  I was very scared to ride after that, but I had a good trainer and she gradually got me to believe in myself and to trust a horse again.  She was my inspiration.”

“It’s easy to get children to believe in the future,” Phillip says.  “After all, they have years ahead of them.  It’s not so easy at my age to believe that there is much left to live for.”

“Oh, why worry about that?  I want you to show me your horses and tell me what you do here at the ranch.

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“What is happening at the Golde residence?” asks Carl.

“Not much, dad,” says Leslie.

“Yeah, it’s really gloomy there right now,” says Carrie.  “Everyone just sits around crying or whispering.”

“They’re with Julia all the time,” says Leslie.  “It feels creepy watching someone die.”

“Well, you girls stick it out.  Get close to the family.  Show your support.”

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Alex watches as Phillip shows Tara around the stables.  As Phillip is stopped by one of his trainers, Alex pulls Tara aside.

“Aunt Julia is not doing well,” he says.  “She’s not expected to last much longer.”

“I’m so sorry, Alex,” says Tara.  “Are you all right?”

 ”I’m fine, but it’s granddad I’m worried about.  You haven’t had much of a chance to work with him, and now we have to break this bad news to him.”

“Well, he’s not a man you need to use kid gloves on.”

Filed under: All That Glitters