Post by yukitamashii on Jan 17, 2008 18:47:47 GMT -5
This fic is actually complete, as many of you know, but I won't be posting it all here at once, don't have the time right now.
Chapter One
Ashleigh approached Samantha in the stable as the redhead was grooming Wonder's Pride. Just looking at her beloved mare's first, fine descendant--one of many great horses she'd been sure was to come--made her feel sick. It wasn't that she didn't like the colt--on the contrary, she loved Pride as much as she loved Wonder. And she felt awful that she had to tell Samantha what she did, because she knew the girl loved the horses just as much.
"Sammy--" she called, her voice breaking.
Samantha turned with a smile, but then frowned worriedly when she saw Ashleigh's face. "What's wrong?"
"I feel terrible," Ashleigh managed to say, still feeling sick to her stomach. "I've just come from Mr. Townsend's office. He thinks he's going to have to sell his half-interest in Wonder...and maybe Wonder's Pride!"
Samantha gasped. "No!"
"I...I don't want to believe it either. He says he's had some very bad financial news."
Samantha looked as upset as Ashleigh felt. "How can he sell Wonder? She's a champion. She's the best mare on the farm!"
"She also hasn't had a foal in two years."
"But--but--"
"He doesn't want to sell her," Ashleigh explained. "It's just that he may have to raise a lot of money fast...and Wonder is worth the most."
She went on to further explain the situation to Samantha, that she'd need around a million dollars to buy out Mr. Townsend's half-interest, and that she didn't think she'd be able to raise that amount, even with other peoples' help. When she left to meet Mike--whom she'd called first thing after talking to Mr. Townsend--she promised to call Samantha after she talked to Mr. Townsend again. But privately she doubted a second talk would change anything, though she couldn't bear not to try.
*************
"Maybe it's not as bad as it seems," Mike said softly as he drove Ashleigh home later that afternoon. She'd spent an hour with him, alternately despairing and feeling angry, trying to think of any way she could raise the money she needed. Mike had offered what comfort he could, but he could do little but hold her and let her grumble and rant and pour out her frustrations to him.
Ashleigh sighed and leaned back against the seat, shaking her head. "No, it is, or Mr. Townsend wouldn't have said anything to me. Grrr! There must be *something* I can do!"
Mike didn't say anything more as he pulled into the driveway of her parent's breeding farm. He kissed her good-bye, gave her a hopeful smile, and drove away. Ashleigh went straight up to her house and called Mr. Townsend's office, thinking hard as the phone rang about how to make him reconsider.
***************
"Keep hoping," Ashleigh said to Samantha as she drove them to Townsend Acres later that day, after Samantha had gotten home from school. They headed toward Mr. Townsend's office side by side, with Samantha biting her lip and Ashleigh practicing her argument not to sell in her head.
Mr. Townsend had told her to stop by his office when she'd called him earlier, because he'd like to speak to her in person. Ashleigh had brought Samantha along because she knew that the younger girl would be just as effected by Mr. Townsend's decision as Ashleigh.
He saw them and waved his hand towards two chairs. Ashleigh took a deep breath.
"I...I'm not sure if I can raise the money to buy out your interest, Mr. Townsend," Ashleigh said. Samantha looked sideways at her.
'Why did I say that?' she wondered. 'I *know* I can't raise the money to buy out his interest.'
Clay Townsend nodded slightly, resting his arms on his desk. He looked a little disappointed, though like he'd been expecting this. After all, Ashleigh was only a freshman in college, and didn't exactly have money pouring out of her ears, or she wouldn't be so worried right now.
"Mmm. Well, I wanted you to have the first opportunity. When can you tell me if you have the sufficient funds to buy my half-interest?"
Did he sound just faintly desperate? Did it matter--what could she say?
"I--how quickly do you need the money?' she asked.
A tired frown came onto his face. "With the way things are going, Ashleigh, it looks like I'm going to need the money in a month or two."
"Or you'll lose the farm?" Samantha gasped.
Mr. Townsend gave her a weary smile of reassurance. "No. But we would be in a terrible position if I couldn't get the money I need."
Ashleigh thought quick and hard. 'Can I stall? Will it matter? What can I do?'
"I'll be of course looking into other means of--of guaranteeing the farm's financial security, but if you can pay for the half-interest, you'd be given it without question," Mr. Townsend said.
Ashleigh's mind was whirling. A million--hah--ideas swam in her head, each less practical than the one before it to come up with a million dollars. But she put on a bright, if strained, smile. "I'm sure I'll be able to pay for it by then," she said, well aware of the surprised look Samantha was giving her.
Mr. Townsend looked relived. "All right then. Tell me when you have the money and we'll get full ownership of Wonder and Pride transferred to your name."
The girls rose and left the office silently. Ashleigh could practically feel Samantha's curiosity.
"I don't know how I'll raise the money for Wonder and Pride," she said.
"But you said--" Samantha began.
"I know. But...on, I'll think of something! I have to. I can't let someone else get half ownership of Wonder, and especially of Pride. They'd never listen to me or Charlie, I'm sure, and it would be such a big hassle. It would ruin Pride's racing chances, I'm sure." Samantha was quiet a moment. "But what will you do?" she asked softly.
Ashleigh bit her lip. "I don't know."
***************
Linda gazed worriedly after Ashleigh the next day at school as she went down the hall. It was only their first period of the day, but Ashleigh looked like she was walking under a rain cloud. She probably felt that way, too.
Linda turned to her friends Corey and Jennifer. Corey was practically crying for Ashleigh, and even Jennifer looked sympathetic. "Guys we have to do something!"
"What?" Corey and Jen asked at the same time.
"I don't know--fundraise, put an ad in the newspaper, something!"
"Do you really think we can raise a million dollars with--what, carwashes, in a month?" Jennifer asked doubtfully.
But Corey was sucking on the cap of a pen thoughtfully. "Do you think it can be done?" she asked. Then, before Linda could answer, she went on with a list of ideas. "Cute girls and guys in swimsuits doing car washes on a hot afternoon, yard sales, ad in the school newspaper for donations, a 'donation dance,' bake sales...and maybe Mike will chip in, and surely Ashleigh's parents will help. And there are Goddess’ winnings. We might be able to do it!"
"What?!" Jen said. "Are you guys crazy? We'll never raise enough--"
"Great!" Linda said, anticipating the activity. "How many people can we get to help and who wants to organize the first car wash?"
Chapter One
Ashleigh approached Samantha in the stable as the redhead was grooming Wonder's Pride. Just looking at her beloved mare's first, fine descendant--one of many great horses she'd been sure was to come--made her feel sick. It wasn't that she didn't like the colt--on the contrary, she loved Pride as much as she loved Wonder. And she felt awful that she had to tell Samantha what she did, because she knew the girl loved the horses just as much.
"Sammy--" she called, her voice breaking.
Samantha turned with a smile, but then frowned worriedly when she saw Ashleigh's face. "What's wrong?"
"I feel terrible," Ashleigh managed to say, still feeling sick to her stomach. "I've just come from Mr. Townsend's office. He thinks he's going to have to sell his half-interest in Wonder...and maybe Wonder's Pride!"
Samantha gasped. "No!"
"I...I don't want to believe it either. He says he's had some very bad financial news."
Samantha looked as upset as Ashleigh felt. "How can he sell Wonder? She's a champion. She's the best mare on the farm!"
"She also hasn't had a foal in two years."
"But--but--"
"He doesn't want to sell her," Ashleigh explained. "It's just that he may have to raise a lot of money fast...and Wonder is worth the most."
She went on to further explain the situation to Samantha, that she'd need around a million dollars to buy out Mr. Townsend's half-interest, and that she didn't think she'd be able to raise that amount, even with other peoples' help. When she left to meet Mike--whom she'd called first thing after talking to Mr. Townsend--she promised to call Samantha after she talked to Mr. Townsend again. But privately she doubted a second talk would change anything, though she couldn't bear not to try.
*************
"Maybe it's not as bad as it seems," Mike said softly as he drove Ashleigh home later that afternoon. She'd spent an hour with him, alternately despairing and feeling angry, trying to think of any way she could raise the money she needed. Mike had offered what comfort he could, but he could do little but hold her and let her grumble and rant and pour out her frustrations to him.
Ashleigh sighed and leaned back against the seat, shaking her head. "No, it is, or Mr. Townsend wouldn't have said anything to me. Grrr! There must be *something* I can do!"
Mike didn't say anything more as he pulled into the driveway of her parent's breeding farm. He kissed her good-bye, gave her a hopeful smile, and drove away. Ashleigh went straight up to her house and called Mr. Townsend's office, thinking hard as the phone rang about how to make him reconsider.
***************
"Keep hoping," Ashleigh said to Samantha as she drove them to Townsend Acres later that day, after Samantha had gotten home from school. They headed toward Mr. Townsend's office side by side, with Samantha biting her lip and Ashleigh practicing her argument not to sell in her head.
Mr. Townsend had told her to stop by his office when she'd called him earlier, because he'd like to speak to her in person. Ashleigh had brought Samantha along because she knew that the younger girl would be just as effected by Mr. Townsend's decision as Ashleigh.
He saw them and waved his hand towards two chairs. Ashleigh took a deep breath.
"I...I'm not sure if I can raise the money to buy out your interest, Mr. Townsend," Ashleigh said. Samantha looked sideways at her.
'Why did I say that?' she wondered. 'I *know* I can't raise the money to buy out his interest.'
Clay Townsend nodded slightly, resting his arms on his desk. He looked a little disappointed, though like he'd been expecting this. After all, Ashleigh was only a freshman in college, and didn't exactly have money pouring out of her ears, or she wouldn't be so worried right now.
"Mmm. Well, I wanted you to have the first opportunity. When can you tell me if you have the sufficient funds to buy my half-interest?"
Did he sound just faintly desperate? Did it matter--what could she say?
"I--how quickly do you need the money?' she asked.
A tired frown came onto his face. "With the way things are going, Ashleigh, it looks like I'm going to need the money in a month or two."
"Or you'll lose the farm?" Samantha gasped.
Mr. Townsend gave her a weary smile of reassurance. "No. But we would be in a terrible position if I couldn't get the money I need."
Ashleigh thought quick and hard. 'Can I stall? Will it matter? What can I do?'
"I'll be of course looking into other means of--of guaranteeing the farm's financial security, but if you can pay for the half-interest, you'd be given it without question," Mr. Townsend said.
Ashleigh's mind was whirling. A million--hah--ideas swam in her head, each less practical than the one before it to come up with a million dollars. But she put on a bright, if strained, smile. "I'm sure I'll be able to pay for it by then," she said, well aware of the surprised look Samantha was giving her.
Mr. Townsend looked relived. "All right then. Tell me when you have the money and we'll get full ownership of Wonder and Pride transferred to your name."
The girls rose and left the office silently. Ashleigh could practically feel Samantha's curiosity.
"I don't know how I'll raise the money for Wonder and Pride," she said.
"But you said--" Samantha began.
"I know. But...on, I'll think of something! I have to. I can't let someone else get half ownership of Wonder, and especially of Pride. They'd never listen to me or Charlie, I'm sure, and it would be such a big hassle. It would ruin Pride's racing chances, I'm sure." Samantha was quiet a moment. "But what will you do?" she asked softly.
Ashleigh bit her lip. "I don't know."
***************
Linda gazed worriedly after Ashleigh the next day at school as she went down the hall. It was only their first period of the day, but Ashleigh looked like she was walking under a rain cloud. She probably felt that way, too.
Linda turned to her friends Corey and Jennifer. Corey was practically crying for Ashleigh, and even Jennifer looked sympathetic. "Guys we have to do something!"
"What?" Corey and Jen asked at the same time.
"I don't know--fundraise, put an ad in the newspaper, something!"
"Do you really think we can raise a million dollars with--what, carwashes, in a month?" Jennifer asked doubtfully.
But Corey was sucking on the cap of a pen thoughtfully. "Do you think it can be done?" she asked. Then, before Linda could answer, she went on with a list of ideas. "Cute girls and guys in swimsuits doing car washes on a hot afternoon, yard sales, ad in the school newspaper for donations, a 'donation dance,' bake sales...and maybe Mike will chip in, and surely Ashleigh's parents will help. And there are Goddess’ winnings. We might be able to do it!"
"What?!" Jen said. "Are you guys crazy? We'll never raise enough--"
"Great!" Linda said, anticipating the activity. "How many people can we get to help and who wants to organize the first car wash?"
I'm glad. I'll post more after my brief vacay.