"There they are." Grampa Lawyer shared noticing the two heading their way. "I want to see the trophy." Jessie squealed. "Oops. I forget it." Jessy gasped. "I have it sweetie. You seemed a little overwhelmed so I took it from you." Walker shared. "Thank you Daddy." Jessy sighed gazing at Zac. "Come here babe, you look beat." Zac said reaching for her hand and helping her to the seat beside him. "I'm pooped. But I'm more hungry than I am tired." Jessy moaned cuddling into his arms. "Food it is." Grampa Lawyer exclaimed starting the van and heading to a restaurant. "Look it's so big." Jessie squealed showing the trophy to her mother. "My my my. Our little girl, winner of the Nationals. Well done sweetie. You ride so well." Diana said turning in her seat, adding, "So tired." "I think it's more the press and attention than it is the riding Mom." Jessy said opening her eyes and smiling at her, adding, "Whoever sent me Daddy, thank you." "You're welcome sweetie." Diana said. "Should have known. Love you Mom." Jessy smiled reaching for the hand caressing her face and squeezing. "We love you too sweetie." Diana repiled as Jessy kissed her hand. "Jessy do you think I'll ever ride like you?" Jessie asked. "You already do sis. I mean not as well but that's only because I've spent more time riding than you have. Heck by the time you are my age you will probably be better than I am." Jessy answered. "Really?" Jessie gasped. "Yes really. Remember how we talked about riding with the horse not against it?" Jessy asked. "Yeah you're suppose to become part of the horse when you ride." Jessie answered. "Right. That's how you ride now. That's how all of you ride. Some people never learn that. Daddy do you have those cards from the people interested in buying Sir William?" Jessy asked. "Sure sweetie they're right here." Walker answered, reaching in a pocket and handing them to his wife, adding, "Here dear." "Here they are sweetie." Diana said passing them along. "Let's see. " Jessy said sitting up, thumbing through the cards, adding, "Ah ha. Knew it. See this card here Jessie. This man will pay more for Sir William than any of the rest. He uses his money to buy his daughter an edge because she has never learned what you already know." "What? You mean she doesn't know to be part of the horse?" Jessie asked. "That's right. She rode fourth today on the big black gelding. Do you reember her? She almost fell off on the triple jump and then again on the high wall." Jessy shared. "Oh I remember her." Diana gasped. "Yeah I was a little vocal over her ride wasn't I? I shouldn't have been so... so..." Jessy replied. "She sucked." Natalie gasped. "Yeah that's the word I was looking for." Jessy giggled. "Well he doesn't get Sir William then." Diana exclaimed. "Sir William isn't for sale anyway." Zac declared turning to Jessy adding, "You wouldn't sell him would you?" "Yes I would Zac but he's not mine to sell, he is yours." Jessy answered. "What? You would sell him? Why babe? You two are so good together." Zac asked totally in the dark. "Yes we are good together but mostly because Sir William is such a magnificent animal Zac. You really have good taste in horses." Jessy answered kissing his cheek. "Well I bought him for you not to sell him to someone with the most money." Zac replied, adding, "What will you ride in the Olympics?" "Olympics? Where would I find time to ride in the Olympics? Did you forget I'm getting married? I won't have time for the Olympics and my husband. Nope, not for me." Jessy declared. "But..." Zac argued. "No buts Zac. I can see why you think that's what I want. It's my fault Zac. I've been so determined to prove you all wrong for doubting that I could double Sir Williams value. I mean I've put everything I've had into winning tonight but it wasn't for anything but to make Sir William more valuable. It wasn't to get a seat on the Olympic team." Jessy explained. "Are you sure sweetie?" Walker asked not convinced. "Yeah Daddy I'm sure. I mean the guys are going to record again. There's all the promos and then touring. No way will I have time to be riding a horse. I'm plan on going with my husband." Jessy answered. "So who are the rest of these people?" Zac asked taking the cards from her hand. "This one is with the Olympic Committee and this one is a benefactor for the guy in fourth place. This one I think represents the US Equestrian Club but I'm not sure. Zac if you're thinking of selling him which I think you should, I would talk to the Walters. They know all these people, I'm sure." Jessy answered. "Good idea. I think I'll go visit Bud and Julie and see what they think." Grampa Lawyer said making it back to his neighborhood, asking, "So what will it be, pizza, Rex's?" "Grampa I would love a sweet, gooey, fattening, sundae. No a banana split. No I want cake. No.." Jessy replied moaning at the thought of each sweet. "Whoa you got it bad babe. How about we go see the Davis's? I bet you Mrs Davis can take care of that craving." Zac suggested. "Mmmm Mrs Davis's cookies." Natalie moaned. "Mmmm Mrs Davis's cake." Jessy moaned. "Mmmm Mrs Davis's cooking." Walker moaned. "Hello. Oh wonderful you're still open. Diana Hanson here. Can I beg you to stay open and feed the family?" Diana asked picking up her cell phone and dialing. "Has the number memorized after all these years." Grampa Lawyer teased. "Memorized. Dad we have their number programmed and use it often still after all these years." Walker shared with a chuckle as he pulled out his cell phone and showed him the restaurant's number. "Got to get me one of those." Grampa Lawyer replied. "It's about time Daddy." Diana gasped, adding, "They were just closing but invited us all to dinner. Mrs Davis said she'll figure out what you need sweetie." "Mmmm Mrs Davis's cooking." Jessy moaned. "Well I personally think your cooking is as good as Mrs Davis's." Zac shared kissing her cheek. "Yeah but Mrs Davis's cooking isn't as much work." Jessy sighed laying her head on his shoulder. "Here we are." Grampa Lawyer declared turning in and parking the van. "Bathroom is mine." Jessy squealed racing into the restaurant and headin to the bathroom. "Wow where'd that energy come from?" Walker asked. "Dear she hasn't been since she came to sit with us. Now Walker you tell me you could sit that long, then ride and win the Nationals without a pottie break." Diana teased. "Bathroom is mine." Walker hollered racing to the door. "Look at him move." Grampa Lawyer teased with a hearty chuckle. "I'm next." Taylor called out racing after him. "Only if you out run me." Zac said racing ahead. "Well well well. Come on children, my Zoe." Grampa Lawyer said escorting the rest of the family inside. "She said hello, excuse me I really got to go and whoosh she was gone." Mr. Davis said as they entered. "And then your hubby races right past us too." Mrs Davis added. "A little too much excitement. Our little girl the winner of the Nationals. Mr, my, my." Diana said shaking her head in disbelief. "She was wonderful. James so good to see you again." Grampa Lawyer said making his way inside, shaking his hand. "Won the Nationals. Oh my. Dear we have a special star among us today. What do we have fitting the winner of the nationals?" Mr Davis declared. "She's got a bad sweet tooth right now Mrs Davis but she's got to eat something good for her too." Zac shared. "Worries about her just as he should. You're a good boy Zachary." Mrs Davis said taking his hand and patting it, adding, "You know I made this pot roast for tomorrow, should be about done." "Mmmm that sounds so good." Jessy said making her way across the room. "Really? With potatoes, carrots, onions sweetie?" Mrs Davis asked turning her way. "Wow that sounds great. Zac I want that." Jessy said making her way to him wrapping her arms around his waist. "Sounds good to me too Mrs. Davis." Zac replied. "Me too." Mackie moaned. "Well seems to be a favorite dear. Anyone want anything besides pot roast?" Mr Davis asked. "Are you kidding. Mrs Davis's pot roast is the best." Isaac answered. "Well let's put the tables together here and we'll eat family style. Mother I think you made pot roast for the family not for tomorrow's menu." Mr Davis said and the guys gave him a hand lining up enough tables to seat them all. "Our little winner will sit here and we'll all celebrate what she's done." Mr Davis said moving her to the end of the table, pulling out the chair. "I'd rather not. Here Grampa you sit here. I want to sit next to Zac." Jessy suggested. "We want to celebrate your accomplishment and you want to sit next to Zac. Seems like you like that young man." Grampa Lawyer teased. "Uh huh.' Jessy said making her way back to Zac. "Everything is almost ready. I put a cake in so we can celebrate." Mrs Davis said bringing drinks for everyone. "Oh than you. I am so thirsty." Jessy said reaching out her empty glass. "She'll have milk." Diana and Zac said in unison. "I guess I'll take milk." Jessy giggled, raising her filled glass adding, "Thank you both for caring. Thank you all for caring and being there for me this past month. I never could have done this without all of your support." "What did we do?" Jessie asked. "You guys went to ride with me time and time again without complaining." Jessy replied raising her glass their way. "Natalie without all of your help planning the wedding I never could have devoted the time to this. Thank you." Jessy then said turning to Natalie and raising her glass again. "Mom, Dad, my Grampa. Thank you all for loving me. Every time I got down you were right there with just the right words. Thank you." Jessy said turning their way, raising her glass and smiling so big. "To the winner of this year's Nationals. Way to go Jessy." Zac said raising his glass as they all raised their filled glasses. "To Jessy." they all toasted. "Dear I could use a hand. I'm sure it's done now." Mrs Davis said. The two disappeared to the kitchen returning with the meal. "Don't you dare think of not joining us. You two are family too." Grampa Lawyer insisted as the two finished and headed back to the kitchen. "That's okay." Mrs Davis argued. "No arguements. Isaac seat Mrs Davis next to you. Dad you take him." Walker declared, adding, "Now that we are all here. Let's thank the Lord for our blessings. Including this delicious smelling meal that Mrs Davis so kindly prepared for us. Did I say delicious? I meant heavenly smeeling meal." "Lord bless this meal. Amen." Grampa Lawyer interrupted, adding, "Short and sweet so the boy can enjoy this heavenly delight." "Does everyone have enough?" Mr Davis asked after serving the table. "Mmmm this is so delicious. Just what I needed." Jessy moaned taking her first bite. "I agree. Bravo Mrs Davis. I believe you have outdone yourself." Grampa Lawyer insisted. "This is so nice. You know dear this is just like being at home." Diana sighed leaning towards her husband. "Like. You are home and don't you forget it. None of you." Mr Davis teased. "Home. Me more." Zoe squealed lifting an empty plate. "Boy if that isn't familiar." Jessy giggled. "She hasn't licked it yet though." Zac whispered her way. "You speak too soon." Jessy whispered. "Mother I think that is the best testimony to your culinary talent." Mr Davis declred as everyone laughed including Zoe. "My, my, my. I had forgotten what appetites you boys have." Mrs Davis said as the boys finished plate after plate. "Isn't she sweet dear? She still calls you a boy." Diana teased as Walker reached out his plate for another helping. "And your father too." Walker teased back. "Here you go sweetie." Mrs. Davis said returning from the kitchen, placing a cake down in front of Jessy and Zac. "Thanks Mrs Davis." Zac replied. "Read the cake Zac." Jessy whispered. "What? Oh. You didn't bake this for me." Zac pouted, reading aloud, "Congratulations Miss Nationals winner." "To Jessy." Walker toasted raising his glass. "To Jessy." everyone replied. "Mrs Davis it looks delicious. Oh my, I think I'm done and ready for cake." Jessy gasped. "Me too." the others declared except a few of the guys who continued with dinner. "This is delicious. I'd love your recipe. How do you get is so light?" Jessy praised. "How sweet. My I haven't used the recipe in so long. Let me go see if I can find it for you." Mrs Davis replied heading to the kitchen. "I'm coming too." Jessy said rising and heading her way, adding, "Or I might eat the whole thing." "You better not. I haven't had my piece yet." Walker declared. "Or me." Grampa Lawyer added. "Babe what's taking so long?" Zac asked entering the kitchen. "We couldn't find it so she baked another cake and I wrote down what she did." Jessy answered. "Thank goodness." Zac gasped. "What? Oh you were worried about me." Jessy squealed making it to his arms, kissing him sweetly. "Love you too babe but I was worried about how I was going to tell you that we ate all your cake." Zac shared. "You pigs." Jessy squealed before laughing. "It's safe. She's laughing." Natalie called out from the doorway. "You too." Jessy squealed turning her way. "Come see the real culprit." Natalie said waving her way then pointing to the table. "Zoe how could you?" Jessy asked making her way back to the table watching as Zoe licked the crumbs from her plate, her face full of frosting and cake crumbs. "Me more?" Zoe asked holding out her clean plate. "Well that's what I've been doing with Mrs Davis. We've baked another cake and are waiting for it to cool so we can frost it." Jessy shared. "Me more. Me more." Zoe squealed putting down her plate then clapping. "Let's hear it for Mrs Davis and Jessy. Hip, hip, hooray." Walker declared and they all cheered the arrival of the cake. "Mmmm that was so good." Jessy moaned patting her fully belly and laying her head on Zac's shoulder, whispering, "I think I'll go out to the van and nap while you guys finish off the cake." "I'll go with you." Zac insisted. "I'll be okay hun. You stay and eat cake." Jessy insisted, rising, adding, "Daddy I'm going to go lay down in the van while you guys devour the rest of MY cake. Toss me the keys so I can open the doors." "Oh sweetie we can all go." Diana insisted. "Mom you are all having such a good time. I insist you stay and enjoy. I'll be okay. I'm just so tired now that my belly is full. I hope I don't snore. Zac says I snore when I'm over tired. I apologize if that's what I'm doing when you get done." Jessy argued. "Sweetie are you sure? You know we'll leave." Diana asked again. "I'm sure Mom." Jessy replied. "I'll take her out and make sure she is all right dear." Walker said rising and escorting Jessy to the van, adding, "Good my Nationals champion. Sleep tight sweetie." "Thanks Daddy. I love you." Jessy replied curling up on the seat she and Zac had sat in, taking a deep breath then falling to sweet. "We love you too." Walker whispered before heading back inside.