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we thought you were done
riding when we saw Mr. Terry leave. Can Tina and I ride Tory and Sloppy while
you finish up?”
    “Sure, go ahead and get ’em saddled. Maybe a good
long ride will help you two burn off some of that wild attitude you got going
on.” They both laughed, and ran out of the barn to fetch their horses.
    By the time Shane and the kids made it back to the
house, Jen’s mom, Helen, and her sister, Abby, had arrived and were helping Jen
put dinner on the table. As usual, the two would be staying all week, until New
Year’s Day.
    “My babies,” Helen screeched as the two kids ran
over to her with open arms. She hadn’t seen them in over six months, which made
the reunion very enthusiastic. After they were through with Grandma they ran to
Aunt Abby, whom they often saw because she lived so close.
    “Merry Christmas, ladies,” Shane said as he waited
his turn, and then welcomed them both with a warm hug.
    The house was always decked out to the hilt both
inside and out. Each year, it would consume the best part of a week to take
down all the decorations.
    This season a light snow came on Christmas Eve,
which put everybody in good spirits. Later that night, Tina jumped out of her
bed and scampered into the living room. She was shaking as she shouted, “Mommy,
Daddy, I heard a noise on top of the house. I think its Santa’s sleigh landing
on the roof.” After that, getting her to sleep was damn near impossible.
    Shane looked at Jen, and rolled his eyes when Tina
got out of bed for the third time. He leaned over and whispered, “I know all
this seemed cute earlier, but it’s already ten thirty, and I still have two
bikes to put together!”
    “Come on, baby girl,” Jen said as she took her by
the hand and walked her back to her bedroom. “You know Santa can’t put presents
under the tree until you’re asleep.”
    “I’m trying Mommy, but I’m just too excited! Will
you lay with me for a while?” Jen lay down alongside her and rubbed her back
until she finally went out.
    Jacob had exhausted himself with the exhilaration of
the day and was already asleep.
    At ten years of age, he was kind of on the fence
about the whole Santa thing. Even so, he was easily convinced by Jen that the
older kids at school were wrong.
    “Santa Claus is as real as the nose on your face,”
she swore to him. They both wanted to give him one more year of believing in
the fat man in the red suit before their little boy grew out of this short, but
memorable time of his life.
    Christmas morning the kids were up by six, and by
seven the house was a total wreck with torn wrapping paper and open presents
strewn everywhere.
    Shane always took a break between Christmas and New
Year’s Day. Every year it blew him away at how fast it went by. This year was
no different, and soon it was time to get back in the saddle and resume earning
a living for his family.

 
    The next four weeks flew by and the kids had all but worn out their
Christmas bikes.
    It was Wednesday, hump day on the farm, and it was
unusually warm weather for the beginning of February. Shane had just finished
with his fourth horse of the morning, and glanced at his watch as he climbed
out of the saddle. Terry hustled out of the barn to meet him. “Which one do you
want next?”
    “It’s only eleven, so I should have time for one
more long ride before lunch,” Shane replied. “Why don’t you bring me that big
sorrel filly? She only has about sixty days on her, but she’s calm and easy
going.   I think she’s ready for her first
ride out on the trails surrounding the farm. If I’m not back within an hour,
come looking
for me.”
    “No problem, I’ll keep checking my watch till I see
you ride back in.” Terry assured.
    A person can never tell how a young horse will react
to this kind of exposure for the first time. Even with a nice one like this, he
would have to be very careful to stay out of trouble. The ride was going
extremely well, and soon he