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Alpha's Gift From the Old Gods
Alpha's Gift From the Old Gods
Author: Kimmie Ann

Rituals at Sunrise

The bright sunrise slowly peeked it’s way through the black out curtains, creeping across the hard wood floors of the tiny studio apartment. The cell phone charging next to one of the beds began to play a scheduled alarm, the theme from Boondock Saints piercing the silence. Slowly, the loud Irish tune drew a groan from under the heavy purple comforter, as a small arm crept out from the warm depth, searching in vain for the off button. 

“Ugh! All right, all right, I’m up..I’m up!” moaned a disembodied voice as the comforter flew back, revealing the sleepy owner. In a pale pink tank top, with several thin leather bracelets on her slender wrist, a young blonde haired, 18 year old girl struggled out of her warm cocoon of her blankets. She yawned, looking around, the haze of sleep lifting. 

Samantha Collins smacked her hand against the phone, effectively silencing the obnoxious noise as she picked it up and checked the screen for any missed messages. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes, trying to remove the sleep from them. She then ran her hands through her unruly blonde curls, pushing them back as she absentmindedly blew her long bangs off her face before tucking them behind her ears. Slowly she stretched her long tan limbs extending as she let out a dramatic squeal. She then made her way to the curtains, throwing them back, she smiled, taking in the warmth of the sun’s rays. Eyes closed, she lowered her head and knelt on her right knee in reverence as she had so many mornings before. Sam placed her palms up, reciting the prayer taught to her when she was a child by her mother.

Freya, Goddess of Gold

Inspire me today,

Teach me to walk through my day, with pride in my own being,

with confidence, with power,

Goddess of Fiery Passion,

bless me with the insight, to the marrow of my bones,

that I am a person of worth in the eyes of the Gods,

the eyes of my ancestors, and of myself.

May I radiate this and transform all I meet

That is my prayer for this day, oh Great

and Powerful Goddess,

That I may mirror Your presence throughout my day.

In return, I shall praise You always, and lay amber before your Image,

consigning it to the sacred fires that burn when the day is the longest.

Hail Freya, shining Goddess of Gold. I praise you.

After finishing, Sam smiled, lighting a small golden candle near her window with several small figures on it, one for each God or Goddess in Asgard, as her mother had taught her many years ago, Odin, Freya, Frigg, Thor, Loki, and the Valkyries. It was a promise that Sam made and would continue to keep. Until her dying breath. 

“Ugh...Do you have to do that every morning?” Her room mate yelled, throwing a pillow from across the room. It collided with Sam, playfully knocking her backwards. Sam laughed, jumping up from the floor and racing towards her friends bed. Her eyes twinkling mischievously as she held the pillow above her head.

“NO NO NO!” But it was too late, Sam tackled her, slamming the pillow down with a thud.

“Come on Dani, you promised!” Sam pouted as her best friend and room mate finally emerged from the covers, her caramel hi lighted  brunette hair now effectively a huge mess about her head. “We were supposed to leave today! You said you were going to come with me. You aren’t going to back out this time!” Sam pestered her friend, acting like a whiny teenager trying to get their way.

“Fine, go start the coffee, I need a shower.” grumbled Dani, pushing Sam out of the bed with a thud. Samantha laughed, rubbing her rear as she made her way to the kitchen to make some coffee. 

Samantha flipped on the radio, American Kids by Kenny Chesney echoing through the kitchen causing her to smile and sing along. She continued to sing and dance as she made a quick breakfast of fresh fruit and oatmeal, one bowl for her and one for Dani. 

“Growin’ up in little pink houses...” she danced around, shaking her hips to the beat of the music in her little boy shorts, her long tan legs moving to the beat.  “Makin’ out on living room couches, Blowing that smoke on Saturday night...”

“A little messed up but we’re all ALL RIGHT!” Dani joined in, laughing as she took a cup of The Nectar of the Gods, as she called it, from Sam. She made her way to the dresser holding her towel in one hand and sipping her coffee in the other.  She was always in a better mood after a shower and her coffee. Unlike her dear sweet friend and room mate, Danielle Morgan was not a morning person. 

“I’m going to hit the shower,” Sam threw her pajamas in the dirty hamper by her bed and sauntered towards the bathroom, naked as the day she was born. 

“Thanks for the breakfast!” Dani called, as she shook her head at Sam, as long as she has known her, that girl has always been the crazy one. The adrenaline junkie, the first to do anything or try anything. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

The two had met in High school. Samantha was the popular one. Blonde hair, perfect skin, bright smile and crazy eyes.  And by crazy eyes, All the kids in school talked about them. They were two different colors. Dani couldn’t believe it when she saw them for herself. Sure enough, one was bright blue almost like a sapphire and one deep green like an emerald. Then there was Dani, the new kid. Dark brunette hair, with natural caramel highlights, light almost copper colored eyes, and a quiet personality...at least that’s what everyone thought. Sam took a liking to her almost immediately, and they stayed close friends ever since. It helped that they shared a common bond. The two were “Rodeo Super Stars” as Sam liked to say. Racing barrels, poles, and they even managed to make a name for themselves when it came to breaking and training horses. It had seemed to come as second nature to the two. They could almost talk to the animals, no matter what the problem was, the girls could work it out and take an animal bound for the slaughter house because of problems and turn it into a champion. Their horses were winning jackpots for people in all areas of the Rodeo circuit. But this time the jackpot was for them.

This weekend was a big event in Wyoming. Tonight was the first night of the three day Rodeo Tournament, winner take all, with a jackpot of $250,000. The girls were told they were a shoe in. With their earnings at this event, they would finally be able to buy out Sam’s Dad’s training facility, and take over the family business. He had offered to just give it to her, but Sam refused. That’s not how she wanted her life...to be just handed to her. She was a hard worker. She wanted to prove herself. 

Dani dug around in her dresser for a second and decided on a matching pair of blue satin panties and bra. It made her feel more confident. Then, after looking through a pile of clean clothes, she found her favorite jeans, the ones with the arrows and bling on the back pockets. She wore them every time she rode. She paired it with a white racerback tank top and a red checked button down top. 

“Hey, have you seen my boots?” Dani yelled, tossing clothes over her shoulder, searching everywhere in her closet as Sam walked out of the shower, a towel on her head to dry her hair. 

“Yeah, check under your bed,” Sam went to her dresser and pulled out a matching black lace thong and bra. She slipped in them quickly and pulled the towel from her head, her golden hair falling below her shoulders as she combed it out.

Dani scampered to her bed and threw up the comforter as she looked underneath. She pulled out her boots, the spurs clinking as she pulled them on.

“What are you gonna wear?” Dani asked, making her way to the mirror, staring at herself. She reached for her tan leather belt with the gold and silver buckle from the last Rodeo to complete her look.  She smiled as she eyed herself.

“Probably the Cruel girl jeans, you know the ones with the crosses on them, and the blue top, why?” Sam walked to the dresser, pulling out her outfit of choice, and two pairs of thick knee high socks. Sam always wore thick soccer style socks for doing barrels because her horse liked to “brush” against them on the turns, the multiple bruises on her shins proving how close her “little buddy” liked to get. 

“Just wondering. You never know who you might meet there...” Dani teased her friend as  she twisted her long brown hair up and into a loose bun at the back of her neck, placing a light grey cowboy hat on her head. She applied some mascara and a hint of nude lipgloss to her lips. “When are you going to be ready? It’s like an hour there ya know and we still have to go pick up the boys.”

“I’m coming I’m coming..” Sam braided her long hair behind her and placed her tan hat on her head. She applied light natural make up and nude lipgloss. She sauntered over to her makeshift altar and blew out the candle that was still burning, silently asking for protection and maybe a little luck for their endeavor this weekend. 

“You taking the guns?” Dani asked as she grabbed a black case out from the top shelf of her closet. She reached inside and strapped on a leather thigh holster.

“Well, Momma didn’t raise stupid...” Sam giggled as she slid her Ruger into her holster behind her back and her slid her small little LCP .380 into her ankle holster, pulling her jeans over the top, concealing it with ease. 

Dani shook her head as she placed her M-17 in it’s home on her thigh and put her own tiny blue LCP in her tank top holster and buttoned her shirt. “uh huh..well, Daddy tried...”  Sam growled as she playfully punched her friend in the arm. Sam’s father always insisted the girls protect themselves while traveling alone, and Dani and Sam went to the gun range on his property at least 4-5 days a week just to keep up on their target practice. Sam might be a blonde, but as she always said, I’m not stupid. She knew that the Rodeo scene was a “man’s game” and that some cowboys still needed a little reminder that “no” still meant no. 

The girls tossed extra ammo in their gun cases and grabbed their duffle bags, heading out the apartment door, pausing long enough to lock it. They laughed as they made their way out the front of the complex and into the bright sun towards their truck.

Sam smiled raising her hand, pushing the button on her key fob, unlocking her baby. It was a gift from her father when she had graduated high school last year. The large black Dodge came with all the bells and whistles. He even went as far as to have a large Vegsivir, the Norse compass that keeps all travelers from getting lost on their travels, detailed and placed across the hood in a dark grey. It helped her remember her mom. Amanda had Norse blood, being a descendant from Vikings. Sam even had a Valkyrie tattoo in honor of her mother. Just a simple set of Valkyrie wings that extended from between her shoulder blades to about her bra strap. She had it completed on her 18th birthday, and was surprised when her father didn’t argue or lecture her on it. She noted a quick glimpse of concern in his eyes, but all he said was “your mom would have loved it,” and hugged her closely. Then he handed her the keys to the truck.

  Her baby could pull a 5 horse trailer with living quarters with ease and still have enough left in her to kick anyone’s ass who got in her way. Sam and Dani had called her “Black Betty” after one of the girls’ favorite songs. They even had the name printed and place in her rear window in large old english black letters.  

The two girls jumped up into the cab and Sam fired her up, the diesel engine growling to life. They rolled the windows down and cranked the music up, laughing and singing along. There was a rule in Black Betty. Music was always 80’s music and it was always loud all the time. Samantha drove the quick 20 miles to the barn on her parent’s property to pick up the horses and the trailer for the rodeo.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sam slowed Betty down as she approached the familiar dirt drive surrounded by weeping willows on both sides. The sweet guitar licks of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama started on the radio, causing Dani to reach forward and turn it up on cue, “Turn it up!” called out the band. Sam smiled as she slowed down, letting her truck rumble down the long drive. Dani rolled down the window, sitting out the window on the edge, yelling the words out as they approached the house. “BIG WHEELS KEEP ON TURNING....”

“CARRY ME HOME TO SEE MY KIN” called out Sam smiling as she pulled up to the barn, turning the truck off but keeping the radio going. It was a sin in their books to interrupt Lynyrd Skynyrd. 

“Hey Sam! Hey Dani!” called out a familiar voice as the two hopped out of the truck. Sam turned around and smiled, waving at a gentleman with silver hair on the front porch of the house. “You two ready for this weekend?”

“Hey Daddy! We are just picking up the horses. I’m thinking we should be gone for about 3-4 days. I will let you know how it goes...Fingers crossed!” Sam called out, walking towards the barn. She really didn’t want to have the same conversation with her father again. She needed to focus. She needed to concentrate on the task at hand...winning was all that mattered. She was so close that she could taste it. But she knew that if she let her father in, she could lose focus. 

Samantha had spent her entire life trying to make her way out from under his shadow. It was hard enough being Kevin Collins’ daughter. But it was even harder to be Kevin and Amanda Collins’ daughter. Kevin Collins was a celebrity in these parts. He had made a name for himself as a Bronc and Bull rider, even winning the World Championship twice before he was crushed by a bull, crushing his pelvis and leg, effectively ending his career. He had spent almost a year learning to walk again, and even now had to use a cane to help him get around. 

Sam’s mom had made her own name in Rodeo circles as quite the trail blazer herself. Amanda had trained, broke, and even raced poles and barrels with some of the best horses on the circuit. In fact, that was how her parents had met. Her father had said that her mother was the fastest thing on four legs. He told her so many stories of how they would go to rodeos together and cheer for each other. Sam could remember sitting and watching her mom “turn and burn” around the poles and barrels, seeming to almost fly. As soon as she could walk her parents had her up on horses. Growing up, Samantha became used to the whispers and stares. Some circles just accept you, and others will shun you before even giving you a chance. 

Samantha had worked her tail off to make it on her own in the Rodeo circuit. Just her name set the bar, and that bar was high. Her mom was always there to help her. Teaching her tricks and tips, critiquing her runs and holding her responsible for training. Amanda taught her every day in their arena at home, and took Sam to the rodeos to watch and learn whenever she rode. But when her mom died in a Rodeo accident when Sam was 8 years old, things changed. Amanda Collins shot out of the alley, racing barrels, when suddenly in turn two her horse balked, crashing into the guardrails and landing on her...hard. Her father was by her mother’s side in seconds, Sam still can’t understand how he moved that fast, but it had to be the adrenaline. By the time Sam made it to her mother’s side, she was barely breathing. They said the horse must have been spooked by something in the stands. When it lost it’s footing in the loose dirt of the arena around the barrel, it had fallen, smashing down on her abdomen, crushing her. 

The medical crew tried everything. They loaded her into the awaiting ambulance, as Sam watched in tears. Sam reached for her mom, not wanting to let her go. Her last words to Sam have haunted her to this day. Sam didn’t understand them. Dani and her father blamed it on the injuries, saying the internal bleeding made her mom sound crazy. But Sam remembered her mother, clutching at her hand, her emerald green eyes sparked with concern and sadness as she mumbled,

“Need to...tell..you, Keep to...old Gods,...’member what..you..know... so sorry”...she died on the way to the hospital. The last thing Sam remembered was a bright white light, she thought it looked almost like an angel but with armor, hovering over the ambulance. Then her mother was gone.

Kevin had given her Amanda’s lucky necklace soon after her mother has passed. Her mother had worn it everyday, never taking it off. It was platinum, with a bloodstone tear drop pendant and a small round moonstone nestled right above it.  There was intricate swirls around both gems so they would never come apart. It was beautiful. At first Sam was afraid to wear it, but her father insisted, saying simply that,“It was Amanda proof.”

That was a little family joke. Amanda had been a rough and tumble kind of girl, never shying away from anything. And Sam had grown up the same way, Amanda had seen to it. She taught her everything, even allowed her to take Karate, and other self defense classes in case she needed to fight. Amanda was proud of the woman Sam was becoming. So when her father placed the pendant around her neck, Sam never took it off. Strangely it made her feel as if her mother was there, with her. Sometimes she could even hear her, in her head. When she felt like she needed advice, Sam would close her eyes, hold the pendant, and she could imagine what her mother would say, and she could hear her.

After her death, Sam’s dad became very over protective. Kevin had even tried to stop her from competing all together. Then when Sam met Dani in school, things just seemed to fall into place. Dani and Sam had a healthy competition between the two. When one set a time, the other tried their hardest to beat it. And when they worked together, it was like they could read each other’s minds. They anticipated each other’s moves, the commands, everything. Kevin wanted Sam to come off the circuit, to stay at home and just work the ranch with him. That angered Sam so much that she and Dani moved to an apartment in the small town about 20 miles away. She continued to return daily to train the horses, but would repeat her routine like this morning, make a brief conversation with her father, pick up her chosen rides, the trailer, and leave to compete. 

They continued on the Rodeo circuit, but her father continued to protest. It wasn’t until she sat down with him last year that he finally, yet reluctantly, agreed to support her. Dani agreed to stay by her side, “to keep her out of trouble”.  Good ol’ Dani, always there to help save the day. For some reason whenever Dani was around, her father seemed to feel better about her schemes and ideas. 

When Kevin even offered to allow her to buy the training facility Sam jumped at the chance. He knew she would never just accept it from him, but if she bought it, he could keep her close. He would be able to protect her that way. 

So they set a price, and negotiated the “Sam and Dani take over” and she called it.  Sam set out right away, knowing exactly how she could get the funds on her own. And this weekend would cinch it for her and Dani. 

“Just be careful...” he stepped down the porch steps, using his cane to help with his limp. He walked towards his daughter, smiling to himself. He watched as she readied the horses she was taking, Haltering them, checking them for any concerns and grooming them before leading them to the trailer and tying them and heading back for another. As he watched her, he couldn’t help but notice how much she resembled her mother. Sam was headstrong, independent,  and reminded him a lot of himself when he was that age. But she was also a lot like his late wife, sharp tongue, no filter, and brave...almost too brave. But he had promised his wife that he would keep her safe, and thank the Gods he had Dani to help. 

“You know you will be in the Bennett territory. I don’t want anything to happen. Stay away from them. Those brothers are no good, especially Alex.”He stopped at the entrance of the barn, staring at his daughter, his heart swelling with pride. She looked so much like his Amanda. Same smile, blonde hair, even the way she handled the horses. She was her mother’s daughter. “You have your lucky pendant?”

“Of course Dad, I will be fine.” Sam sighed, patting her chest where her pendant rest, just between her cleavage, tucked safely below her tank top. Sam smiled, rolling her eyes as she led her favorite horse, a black and white paint, out of his stall. She stopped long enough to cross tie him in the alley way of the barn. Bourbon was her gelding, and when she says hers...she means hers. She was there when he was born, she trained him from birth, and had won everything on him. Her best time for barrels was on him. Her record breaking pole race was on him. And she hoped to win tonight on him again. She began to groom him, talking soothingly to him as he snickered to her, rubbing his head against her.  “You really worry too much. It’s just a rodeo.” Sam groaned internally. She never understood what her father’s obsession was with the whole “territory” thing. It’s not like there are battle lines or something. Geesh. 

“I will be there with her Mr. Collins,” Dani smiled, meeting Mr. Collins’ eyes briefly behind Sam’s back, “I’ll keep her out of trouble.” Dani slapped Sam’s butt as she walked by with her horse of choice, a red mare named Bacardi. Bacardi was a handful, but Dani would have it no other way. The two could speed down any alleyway, run through any pattern, and cut and sort cattle like lightning. The four of them were an unstoppable team. 

“Yeah Dad,” Sam stuck her tongue out at Dani as she continued grooming Bourbon, “What’s the worse thing that could happen?”

Kevin shook his head and gave Dani a knowing look as he turned and started back to the porch. “That’s what I’m afraid of” he murmured.  He sat on the porch, leaning back in one of the rocking chairs as he watched the girls going through their routine. 

Kevin watched the girls finish their horses, load them into the trailer, along with two others, a black leopard Appaloosa named Harley Quinn and a blue roan Quarter Horse named Rebel. Sam ran up to the porch, and hugged her father closely kissing his cheek before she stood up. 

“Dad, I will be fine, I promise. I’m there to compete, and that’s all.” She crossed her right fingers over her heart in the motion of an “X”, and held her left hand up, placing her right hand on her hip. “Scouts honor.” 

Kevin laughed, his grey eyes dancing at his daughter. “Just remember, Eyes on the prize sweetie.”

“Eyes on the prize” Sam’s eyes danced. Her blue eye sparkled, her green one lit up like Christmas. She knew what needed to be done, and nothing or no one would stand in her way. 

Sam smiled as she made her way back to her truck and fired it up, Dani in the passenger seat, windows down and radio up, Back in Black by ACDC blaring as they pulled out of the dirt drive. Kevin watched the 4 horse trailer disappear in the distance before entering the house. Once safely inside and away from prying eyes he placed his wooden cane along the wall near the front door, it’s intricately carved ivory handle balancing against the door jam.  Shutting the front door, he walked with ease into the main room, a large stone fireplace at it’s center. On the mantle sat a photo of Amanda. He walked over and picked up the wooden frame, a small tear escaping and running down his cheek. 

“She is growing up Amanda,” Kevin smiled at the picture, touching the smiling woman in the black and white photo,”I’m just not sure how much longer I can keep her safe without telling her.” He sighed deeply and placed the picture back on the mantle. He made his way into his office, pouring himself a bourbon before sitting in his leather chair behind his desk. He looked at the pictures on his desk, and the few scattered on the walls. Pictures of Amanda zipping around the barrels, he himself conquering the bulls or the broncs, and lastly Sam and Dani...keeping the tradition alive. The fire in Sam’s soul was contagious. Kevin just prayed she would make it out of the Bennett’s territory without being detected. He knew that Amanda’s pendant would keep her safe, as long as it stayed on. But Sam didn’t know about her unique heritage...or the things that truly go bump in the night.

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