"Melanie, you spend entirely too much time here on the farm. It's time you got out, you know, started making a few friends."

"I'm happy the way I am."

"Well, I don't think so. I'm going to do something about it."

Melanie hated when her father acted this way. It seemed like he was trying to make up for her mother's death.

He was always blaming himself for her sickness, something that he really couldn't have done anything about.

He felt it his duty to play two roles with her, one as father and the other as a surrogate mother.

She hated him when he tried to assume the role of mother. He wasn't any good at it. What man was?

"Are you going to get me the saddle for Lightning."

"I'll give you anything you want except that."

"But that's what I really want."

"You're too pre-occupied with things here on the farm. I'm throwing that party for you and you're going to enjoy yourself."

He looked at her defiant expression. When her face assumed that frowning countenance she reminded him so much of her mother.

Her pert little nose raised up and her small nostrils flared out in rebellious defiance. Her high cheekbones flamed red.

Her chin was slightly raised and she drew in her cheeks just a fraction. She seethed with a fury she could barely control.

But she did because no matter what she still respected her father. He had been good to her, though he sometimes overcompensated for things he had no control over.

When he assumed his authoritative stance she knew that it was impossible for her to argue with him. And right now he was quite adamant.

He had it up to here with that fuckin' horse. She spent too much time with that damn thing. It was getting way out of hand.

"All right, for you daddy, I'll do it."