On Christmas Eve, I stood in the doorway of the kitchen, gazing at my parents uncertainly. They were both engrossed in a card game and they hadn’t noticed my arrival yet. I cleared my throat, and they both turned to look at me. “I was wondering if you guys wanted to come watch me ride Justice tonight.”

            They were speechless for a few moments as they absorbed what I had said. Then they both got to their feet quickly, the card game forgotten. “Of course, if you’re sure you want us to,” my mom said.

            “I’m sure. I want to try jumping him tonight, and I want you both to be there.” I turned and walked away before they could say anything else. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to deal with it if either of them got emotional on me now.

            We walked down to the barn together, with me picking my way carefully around the ice. When we reached the stables, I went to Justice’s stall immediately. Like every night, he stuck his head over the door and nuzzled me. “Hey boy. I hope you’re ready for this tonight.”

            My dad moved off to the tack room while I brushed Justice. When my dad returned, he was laden down with tack, which my mom quickly helped him set down. He’d also grabbed my helmet for me, and I smiled at him in thanks. I got Justice ready, and I was pleased that my parents didn’t offer to do it all for me. I didn’t mind if Chase helped me, but that was mainly because I was teaching him what to do, rather than needing his help.

            I led Justice out of the stall, my cane making its usual rhythmic tapping sound as we went down the aisle. Once in the arena, I put my helmet on, placed my cane against the wall and then maneuvered Justice by the mounting block. I climbed on and got myself settled, then squeezed with my legs to move him forward.

            My parents stayed silent the whole time I warmed him up, but I could tell by the looks on their faces that they were incredibly happy that I’d allowed them to watch this. When Justice was sufficiently warmed up, I looked at my dad. “Think he’s ready for me to take him over a small jump?”

            He nodded and walked over to where two standards were set up with a bunch of poles lying beside them. He set up a low cross rail and then stepped back. “Okay, take him over it.”

            I urged Justice to a trot, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. I knew this was the true test of my new bond with this horse. My parents had said that he wouldn’t even jump tiny jumps like this without knocking them down. I kept my eyes up as we approached the small obstacle. Justice didn’t even hesitate as he deftly leapt over it, easily clearing it and landing in a canter. I grinned as I brought him back to a trot and took him around and over it again. When he cleared it effortlessly once more, I gave him a pat. “Good boy,” I crooned to him.

            I slowed him to a walk and approached my parents again. My dad smiled up at me. “Well, he obviously still knows what to do, at least with you up there. Are you going to keep jumping him?”

            I was quiet for a moment as I thought of the plan I’d come up with a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t sure what my parents would think of it, but I decided to tell them anyways. “I want to enter him in the first show of the season.”

            Both of them froze in place. My mom opened and closed her mouth a few times before finally speaking. “Y-you want to go to that show?”

            I nodded and looked down at my hands. “I want to ride in Luke’s memory,” I whispered. “I think that’s what he would want me to do.”

            My dad stepped forward and laid one of his hands over mine. “I think you’re right.” He looked over at my mom. “What do you think?”

            “I think as long as her physical therapist clears it, then it shouldn’t be a problem.” She moved up to stand beside my dad, and placed her hand over both of ours. “Thank you for letting us watch you. It’s the best Christmas present I could’ve asked for.”

            I didn’t say anything else after that, and I got off Justice and put him away. We all went back up to the house and my dad lit the fireplace in the living room. My mom made us some hot chocolate and we sat around the fire, all of us lost in our own thoughts. It felt weird sitting around the fire on Christmas Eve without Luke there. We’d done this every year for as long as I could remember, and it felt empty without him.

            After half an hour, I couldn’t handle it anymore and I went to bed. I called Chase and talking to him made me feel a little bit better. When I hung up, I settled down into my pillows. Sleep eluded me for nearly two hours, but eventually I drifted off, only to wake up an hour later with my heart pounding and my breathing rapid. I’d had a nightmare, but I didn’t remember what it was about.

            I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to get myself a drink of water. Then I went into the living room and curled up on the couch. For some reason, I didn’t want to go back into my room tonight. I tried to fall asleep on the couch, but I didn’t have any luck. I was dead tired when my parents eventually woke up in the morning and came down, but I tried to hide it from them. I don’t think I did a very good job of it, but they didn’t comment on it as we opened presents before they went to the barn to do chores.

            I sent Chase a text, asking if he could come over earlier than his foster parents. He replied back right away saying that he could come over now, and I was more than happy to agree. He showed up twenty minutes later, took one look at me, and dragged me into my room. I was a little startled, but then I smiled slightly. “You do know that my parents will be back in the house shortly, right?”

            He rolled his eyes. “You look like hell, Dana. I didn’t bring you in here for that.”

            Hurt flashed through me and I yanked my arm away from him. “Gee, thanks,” I said sarcastically. “If you’re just going to insult me, maybe you should leave.”

            He looked surprised, but then his eyes softened a bit. “Sorry, that came out wrong. You just look really tired and I want you to have a nap.”

            I lowered my eyes. “Oh. I didn’t really get to sleep last night.”

            He cupped my cheek in his hand. “What happened?”

            I sighed and sat down on the bed, then explained everything that had happened. “I think there were just too many things running through my mind. And the nightmare made me afraid to go back to sleep.”

            Chase stretched out on the bed and held his arms open. “Lay with me and try and get some sleep now,” he said. “I’ll stay with you.”

            I didn’t have to be told twice. I laid on my side and put my head on his chest, curling my left arm around his waist. His arms came around me and held me snugly against him. I listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and it soothed me. My eyes grew heavy, and sleep finally overcame me.

            I woke up when someone knocked on my bedroom door softly. I pried my eyes open and realized I was still curled up against Chase. His eyes were open and he was looking down at me with a small smile on his face. “Good morning,” he murmured.

            I stretched and glanced at the clock beside my bed, doing a double take when I saw that it was almost two in the afternoon. “I don’t think it’s morning anymore.”

            He chuckled. “No, I guess it’s not. Are you feeling better?”

            I nodded and sat up. “A lot. Thanks.”

            He sat up as well and rubbed my back. “Anytime. We should probably get up. Your mom said that she would knock on the door when it was time almost time for Bev and Carson to get here.”

            I had started to get out of bed, but now I stopped and looked at him. “When did she say that?”

            “About an hour after you fell asleep, she came in here looking for you. When she saw that you were sound asleep, she told me she’d knock to let us know when we should get up.”

            I shook my head in amazement. “She never would have been okay if Adam had been in my room alone with me like that.”

            “Things are different now,” he said simply.

            “They definitely are.” I got off the bed and walked over to my dresser. I grabbed the envelope that was sitting there and handed it to Chase. “Merry Christmas.”

            He stood up and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small wrapped box. “Merry Christmas.” He handed the box to me and then sat back on the bed to open the envelope.

            I sat beside him and pulled the wrapping paper off the package. A small jewelry box was revealed, and I studied it curiously for a moment before opening it. A small gold heart shaped locket was nestled inside, and I smiled as I pulled it out. I opened it, and my smile faded as I gazed at the pictures inside.

            On one side there was a picture of Justice that I recognized as one that had been taken a couple of years ago. On the other side, there was a miniature picture of Luke with his trademark smile in place. I stared at the picture, remembering the day it had been taken. It had been our seventeenth birthday party, and we’d had a great day. It seemed like such a long time ago now, even though it was just over a year ago.

            Gentle fingers suddenly grasped my chin, and I turned to look into Chase’s concerned green eyes. “Do you not like it?” he asked worriedly.

            I threw my arms around his neck, nearly toppling him over backwards. “I love it,” I told him. “But where did you get the pictures?”

            “From your parents.”

            I stared at him in shock. “You actually talked to them?”

            A wry smile touched his lips. “Yeah, and I don’t know who was more shocked. Me or them.”

            I touched my lips to his in a long, gentle kiss. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”

            He blew out a relieved breath. “Good. I wasn’t entirely sure what your reaction would be.” He held up the two tickets that I had bought for him. “How did you manage to get these? They’ve been sold out for over a month.”

            I smiled. “That’s for me to know. All you need to know is that you’d better use the second ticket for me.”

            He laughed and hugged me tightly. “Who else would I use it for?”

            “Good point. Now let’s get up and go for a sleigh ride.”

            The rest of the day went by quickly. I ended up having a good time with everyone, and I think my parents were relieved to see me get out of the funk I’d been in that morning. We all went for a sleigh ride, and my parents had even put bells on Autumn’s harness, so it jingled merrily as we trotted along.

            When Chase and his foster parents had left for the evening, my parents and I once again sat around the fireplace together. I rubbed my left leg absently as I looked into the dancing flames. “You guys seem to like Chase a lot,” I said, breaking the silence.

            “We do,” my dad replied. “He’s been really good for you over the past couple of months.”

            “Is that why you didn’t freak out when we fell asleep at his place the one night? And why you were okay with us being in my room earlier today?”

            “You’re eighteen now, Dana. And you’re a lot more mature than most people your age. You’ve gone through something that no one should ever have to go through, and you’re dealing with it remarkably well now. Chase is part of the reason you’re able to do that. We trust you to be responsible with him and that you won’t do anything you aren’t ready for.”

            I nodded and continued looking into the fire. “Thanks,” I finally mumbled. “I know it hasn’t been easy for you guys either since Luke died. It was hard on all of us, but I just couldn’t deal with anything at first. You’re right when you say Chase has helped me a lot. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him.” I got to my feet, trying not to wince at the twinge of pain in my leg. “I love you both. Good night.”

            They both murmured their own goodnights to me, obviously a little surprised at my words. I went into my bedroom and got ready for bed. I was pretty tired still, so I didn’t think I’d have any problem falling asleep. Sure enough, as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

            But like last night, I didn’t sleep long. Only it wasn’t a nightmare that woke me up tonight. Excruciating pain tore through my left leg, and a scream ripped its way out of my throat. I heard a thud from upstairs and then the sound of feet running, but before my parents could reach me, everything went black.

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I love cliffhangers :-D. But somehow, I don't think any of you do lol. If you want me to put the next chapter up quickly, then vote and comment! The more I get, the quicker I will put the next one up. If I get enough tonight and tomorrow, then I'll work really hard to have the next chapter done in two days. Your reactions to my chapters really do play a big part in how fast I update.

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