A Horse Tale Page #3

I'm gonna get my briefcase.

I'm sorry, Michael.

I promise you, your daughter

was in good hands.

And in my dad's defense,

he was on King,

doing a trick that no man

his age should ever attempt.

Look, I'm sure you're

all really nice people,

but this whole situation

isn't exactly what I was

told it was going to be.

I think you're right, Sam.

I think us city folk probably

don't belong out here.

Are you sure

about that?

She's pretty good, Michael.

She really took to riding.

She'd do great

with some training.

And didn't my dad

already give you

a down payment?

Yes, he gave me a retainer,

and I am happy to give it back.

-Wait a minute,

he's already been paid?

-Mmm-hmm.

Yeah, you think I would

drive all the way out here

in the middle of

no-man's land for nothing?

Okay, you can stay.

Chloe:
Really?

Wait a minute...

I'm the one who's leaving.

This is my decision.

Fine, but you've

already been paid.

So you can leave and ruin

your daughter's Christmas,

or you could stay

and do the job you've

been hired to do.

Your choice.

Sam:

Hey!

What are you doing, Dad?

Why are you awake?

Now, I gotta ask you

the same thing, little lady.

Ah, you know, spreading

my holiday cheer.

And you?

Well, you know, the usual,

just moving money around.

Make sure that

we don't have another

bounced check this month.

Isn't that what you hired that

city slicker accountant to do?

Yeah.

Why don't you go to bed,

Dad? Get some rest.

I will, I will, honey.

I just...

need a few more minutes

to make sure that I haven't

missed anything.

Hey, Dad...

you remember what Mom said

right before she passed away?

"I want you to spread

my ashes across that farm

so every piece of me

can protect and watch

over all of you."

Remember that?

Yeah, I remember, yeah.

Dad...

I'm not going

to let anything

happen to this farm.

I know, yeah.

-We'll figure it out.

-Yeah.

Okay.

Hey... I love you.

I love you, too.

What time is it?

What are you doing?

Why are you dressed?

I'm expecting someone.

What?

Morning!

-It is?

-It certainly is.

Chloe, are you ready?

-Ready... for what?

-Yeah!

Uh, jeans, warm coat,

everything you said...

Only I don't have gloves.

We'll get you some

work gloves.

"Work gloves"?

But, wait a minute.

How hard did I just

hit my head?

Ooh, Michael, I can see why

Sam thinks that you're hot.

Ew! If by hot

you mean tragic!

Ha-ha-ha!

Where do you

think you're going?

She's going to come work

with me and Jackson today.

Work?

Oh, come on, Dad,

give me a break.

Wait, it doesn't involve

riding horses, does it?

No, no, not until

you sign off.

But we're going to be

feeding horses.

We're going to be

mucking their stalls.

Mucking stalls?

Do you know what

mucking stalls means?

I can muck stalls.

Come on, before it starts

to get light outside.

-See you, Dad.

-Okay.

Yeah, you guys go muck.

I'm gonna go back to sleep.

- Chloe:
What does

mucking stalls mean?

You've gotta be kidding me.

What did you forget?

Good morning, sunshine.

I would hardly

call this morning.

Hmm.

What is it

with this place?

My daughter, who freaks

out when I ask her to

clean her room at home

just happily marched

down to the door

to go muck stalls.

Well, the farm does have

that effect on people.

Thank you.

Listen, I'm sorry

about yesterday.

Oh, really?

I know you're

trying to help,

even though you

don't know anything.

Nice apology.

No, I meant,

you don't know

anything about horses.

I'm sure you're

a wonderful accountant.

But I really wish you knew

how much this place meant

to us.

Yeah, Nikki gave me

a pretty good idea.

No, no, no, we're not

just a riding school.

Right, you board,

train, and breed, as well.

Cliff told me.

Yes, but did my dad

tell you how much these

horses mean to us?

Like... they're family.

And if we lose this farm,

we're going to be separated.

So...

my dad is right.

We're going to need

your help.

I promise that I am going

to try everything

to get this done for you.

Don't try. Do.

Got it.

As a peace offering,

I have brought you

my legendary eggnog muffins,

fresh from the oven.

-Legendary, huh?

-Mmm-hmm.

Come on, you cook, too?

Well, I'm full

of surprises.

These are amazing.

I know. Thanks.

They're my mom's recipe.

No, no, no. Seriously,

you need to give up

the horse business

and sell these, because

you'll make a fortune.

Sorry, that's--

I'm just kidding.

I'm just saying,

these are crazy good.

Have you ever been

on a horse, Michael?

I was in a buggy

in Central Park once.

Does that count?

No. I mean, have you

been on a horse?

Because I think you'll have

a real understanding of how

much this place means to us

if you could just get

your butt up on one and

you took a ride with me.

No, thanks. I'm good

right here on old terra firma.

Okay, well,

I'm not asking.

Okay? So...

I suggest you find

yourself some warm

clothes,

some jeans, if you got 'em.

Maybe lose those snowman

pajama bottoms.

What's wrong with

my pajama bottoms?

Yeah, I'll see you

in the barn in an hour.

This place is insane.

Oh, my God,

these are good.

Ugh, it stinks in here.

You get used to it.

I don't think so.

So where do you

go to school?

You're looking at it.

I'm homeschooled.

So, you don't get

to hang out with

kids your own age?

Well, sure I do.

Kids are here all the time

for riding lessons and...

I used to compete as well.

Compete in what?

Mucking stalls?

Ha-ha! I used to compete

in jumping and riding.

You know, my mom used to

compete, too, and Aunt Sam.

You know,

they were good.

Why don't you guys

compete anymore?

Running the farm

takes a lot of time.

My mom and Aunt Sam

usually take turns helping

my dad out with the horses,

or sitting in an office

yelling at each other.

What does your

grandpa do?

Not much

since he hurt his leg.

What happened

to your grandma?

She got sick.

Now, she was tough.

Even tougher than

Aunt Sam.

We thought she'd

beat it, but...

-That's got to be hard.

-Yeah.

But tougher than Sam?

I don't think

that's possible.

You ready?

Ready as I'm gonna be.

-Ho!

-Wow!

You clean up nice.

Oh, well, thank you.

You're just saying that 'cause

you want more of my muffins.

I'm not gonna

touch that one.

This is Miss Sally Jane,

and she will be your horse.

We're going to take a ride

around the farm, so you can

see why it's so special.

Why do I get

the little horse?

Let's go, city boy.

Come on.

Come on.

Want a helmet?

No, I don't

need a helmet.

Sam:
All right,

come over here.

You're not supposed to walk

behind the horse, right?

-No.

-'Cause they'll kick you?

It's possible.

Not her though.

She's harmless.

-Are you ready?

-Yeah.

So I'm going to put

the reins over her head...

and what you're

going to do is...

-And grab a little

bit of mane...

-Mmm-hmm.

All with your left hand.

-Okay?

-Yeah.

Stick your left foot

in this stirrup.

Try to put it on

the palm of your

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