The Apple Grove - Part 4 - The End
By Moose
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3rd Nov 2011 •
3,035 views
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11 comments
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Jenifer woke up in the pouring rain, as her father dismounted and carried her off his horse. She helped him untack without a word. Once his horse was inside and dry and fed, her father left her in the barn. As soon as Jenifer heard the house door shut, she slid to the ground and fell apart.
Jenifer’s trembling hand touched the heart necklace around her neck. She closed her eyes in a deep concentration, her heart grew tight and tears were forced through her eyelids. She gripped the tiny golden heart tightly between her fingers and held her breath, tightening her throat in concentration. She gasped desperately in an attempt to avoid tears again. Her stomach ached, pangs of emptiness filled her, she felt steel butterflies hit the sides of her guts, and a pulse in beat with her heart through her eyelids, faster and faster.
Finally, a tear escaped through the barrier of her thick eyelashes and rolled down her sharply defined cheek bone. The tear was Jenifer’s breaking point, just as she felt its tiny tickle down her face she let go. Swallowing hard, she broke into short, gasping cries. Her heart tightened even more, as if a thousand pounds of weight was laying flat on her chest. She choked up and let out another shaking whimper. A feeling of hopelessness washed over her like a breeze, her body became clammy and hot. She realized the pain in her hands from the tight grip on the necklace; Jenifer released it and let it fall to her chest with a thud. Her hands wiped her eyes helplessly, once a tear was smeared away another swelled at the rim of her waterline. The tear sat at Jenifer’s eyelashes, blurring her vision until finally it teetered off the edge of a lash and fell to the ground.
Jenifer tried to steady her sharp gasps of breaths into slower, deeper breaths; but then came the hiccups. Her whimpering stopped short, broken by a loud hiccup, and continued into another cry. She pulled her thick chestnut curls behind her ear and wiped the last of her tears. Jenifer stood with trembling legs and crossed the empty barn isle and out into the pouring rain and wind. She stared up at the lighting as it split the sky and gulped down another cry. She frantically wiped yet another tear and ran her fingers through her hair. She started to walk and tripped over the barn hose. She fell to her knees weakly and into the mud. Jenifer stood, still trembling and grabbed the wood fence for support.
She clumsily staggered over to the old screen door of the house and threw it open with the last of her strength. She threw herself through the doorway and gulped loudly. With a weak, shaky body, she stumbled up the wood stairs to her bedroom and threw herself into bed where she didn’t move again.
The second Jenifer’s eyes opened the next morning she rushed to her window and scanned the ranch for Luke. He was no where to be found. She sighed and rummaged through her dresser for fresh clothes. She bundled all her clothes up and rushed into the shower. She was caked with mud from last night, and so was her bedding. She was glad this morning was sunny; otherwise she would have nothing to keep her spirits up. Jenifer’s father had taken the only thing she wanted from her. She had no idea where he was now.
Jenifer turned the shower on and closed her eyes, enjoying the steamy warm water. She couldn’t help but wonder about Luke. Was he fired? Was he banned? Was he thinking about her? Did the kiss mean something? She quickly showered and changed into fresh clothes; a pale blue tank top, fitted but worn jeans, and a pale pink quarter length, button up, collared shirt. She looked in the mirror at her long, thick, defined curls tumbling down her back and over her shoulders. She took one and pulled it straight, but it popped back into place as soon as she let go. Jenifer sighed and pulled it into a braid and threw it over her shoulder, but it always seemed to want to lie over her shoulder. Jenifer played with the loose curls that didn’t stay in the braid and gave up.
She glanced down the stairs and into the dining room. Her father was eating breakfast and her mother was reading. The room was silent. Jenifer sauntered down the stairs and carefully past them. She pulled her riding boots on and waited for any words from her parents. Just when she thought she could get out, her father gave her a glare. Jenifer’s face went pale.
“I did the chores, there’s no reason you need to go outside today.” Her father said without looking at her.
“Thank you Papa, but I was hoping to ride today.” Jenifer replied, hoping to get by.
“Your grounded for what you did.” he stated “And that means no riding.” He added, picking up his coffee cup.
Jenifer shook her head in anger. He didn’t understand. He didn’t give her the time to explain what she did and the reason she did it, but he wasn’t going to buy that. He wasn’t going to let her explain. She ran across the room, her boots stomping loudly, and back up to her room. It was a completely unfair punishment for what she did, but she didn’t regret doing it. She didn’t expect what happened with Luke, but she was glad she did it.
Jenifer tried to imagine what would have happened if she went riding without Luke. She could have drowned in the falls, or blown away by the storm, or even killed. She was grateful Luke was there, and she hoped he wasn’t punished for it too. Jenifer sighed and threw herself down on her bed, face first into her pillow with anger.
After a long pause, she lifted her head and looked to her window. A rebellious thought crossed her mind. She stood and crept towards her window and breathed in the tempting fresh air. Jenifer opened the window even more and peeked outside. She saw her escape.
While her parents were in the dining room on the other side of the house, she could crawl out onto the roof and onto the garage which was shaded by the huge oak which stretched one, strong branch beside the garage roof which she could grab and lowered herself to the ground. Being on the opposite side of the house without windows, she could make it to the barn in a quick sprint. Once she gets in the barn, Jenifer would be safe again.
Jenifer lowered herself out of her window without thinking. She crept across the roof on her tiptoes. She stepped onto the garage and made a dash for the oak tree. Once the branch was in her arms, she swung herself off the garage and onto the ground, and in one swift move she was sprinting for the barn.
Her heart raced as she crawled in through the tack room door. She breathed a sigh of relief as she shut the door behind her and stepped into the aisle of the barn. There was no time to tack up, her father would be outside to let the horses in the pasture before she could even get a saddle on. Jenifer reached for the nearest hackamore and threw open Azure’s stall. She was surprised to see Azure freshly groomed and washed. A smile spread across her face. Luke.
She quickly slid the hackamore over Azure’s fuzzy little ears and tossed the reins over her back as she gripped a chunk of Azure’s mane to pull herself onto the filly’s back. Her heart pounded faster and faster as she kicked Azure’s sides and took off out the back door of the barn. The stall door was left wide open, and so was her window, but it didn’t matter now that Jenifer was racing along the edge of the west pasture and straight for the bunkhouse. She could hardly contain her nerves.
Jenifer slid right off Azure, before she could even come to a complete stop. She wrapped the filly’s reins around one of the deck posts and tied it loosely. She stepped onto the deck, practically shaking. She glanced back at the barn, praying her father wouldn’t come out now. She hurried to the door and knocked. There wasn’t an answer. Jenifer waited impatiently, frantically glancing back at the barn and scanning the paddocks. None of the horses were out, which meant her father hadn’t been in the barn yet.
“Jenifer?” questioned the voice from inside the bunkhouse. Jenifer turned back to the door, her face lighting up. The worried expression in her face disappeared.
“Luke?” she asked quickly stepping closer to get a better view.
The figure stepped outside, in awe “What are you doing here?” Luke asked with an astonished smile.
“I uhmmm.... escaped.” Jenifer said, “I wanted to make sure you were still here.”
“I’m banned from the house, but I haven’t gotten fired... yet.” Luke said, glancing over at Azure. “Your father will never fire me. I’m his only employee that works all year round.” He added.
Jenifer smiled a little but faded, “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, I take half the blame.” Luke said with a smile.
“If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t have made it home alive.” Jenifer laughed. “And my horse wouldn’t be clean.” She laughed.
“And I wouldn’t have lived another day if you had died.” Luke said sweetly.
Jenifer glanced at the farm and saw her father step out of house. Her heart raced frantically. Luke followed her gaze and understood immediately. “If he catches me with you-” Jenifer started to say.
“Run” Luke said as he untied Azure’s reins. Jenifer jumped onto the filly’s back in an instant. She stopped and looked at Luke with a smug grin. She held out her hand for him.
Luke smiled and took her hand and pulling himself up, grabbing Jenifer’s shoulder.
As soon as Luke was on, Jenifer let Azure go. The speedy little filly broke into a full gallop past the bunkhouses and followed the path into the pines, where they were invisible from the barn. Jenifer breathed a sigh of pure relief as she turned back to Luke as they slowed to a walk.
Luke reached for the little purple flowers climbing up the tree. He picked one off and put it in Jenifer’s braid and smiled at her. Jenifer giggled and smiled back.
No matter how much grounding she would get when she got home, she couldn’t have been more grateful. |
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Hoofz
LOVE! :D :D :D :D !!!
LOVE! :D :D :D :D !!!
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Nov 4, 2011
• 2,293 views
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Emmurr
That was an adorable ending! I really enjoyed reading this story, it was beautifully written :)
That was an adorable ending! I really enjoyed reading this story, it was beautifully written :)
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Nov 4, 2011
• 2,186 views
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All That Jazz
Great ending, loved the stories!
Great ending, loved the stories!
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Nov 4, 2011
• 2,179 views
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Topthorn Equestri
Loved it! You need to write another one! When I saw - the end. I was going noooo!
Loved it! You need to write another one! When I saw - the end. I was going noooo!
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Nov 4, 2011
• 2,201 views
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Nov 5, 2011
• 2,173 views
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Nov 5, 2011
• 2,225 views
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Madeirey
The ending stinks! ARGGGG!! LOL! You must make a sequal!
The ending stinks! ARGGGG!! LOL! You must make a sequal!
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Nov 6, 2011
• 2,173 views
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Spaztastic
I love this series :) Except, what's gonnna happen when they get home :/
I love this series :) Except, what's gonnna happen when they get home :/
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Nov 11, 2011
• 2,216 views
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Nov 17, 2011
• 2,180 views
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HaydenandWill
i loved it keep on writing the stories of"the withe rose"please!
i loved it keep on writing the stories of"the withe rose"please!
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43 days ago
• 2,190 views
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May 18, 2012
• 2,184 views
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