Post by Queenie on Aug 1, 2008 10:00:45 GMT -5
A while back, before television and forms of X-Box and Wii were invented, there was a small settled area nestled at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. There was only twenty cottages, built from the cut pine trees and stones that were harvested from the very same mountain. This place was called ’Wethington Hills’. It was quite a town yet, only because the two men that had found it couldn’t agree on who was to claim it.
The first man, standing 5 foot 5 inches, was an honorable man. He actually cared for his the people of the town and would do anything for his wife and son. He loved horses almost as much as his son did, that’s why he bred and raised them. The family owned only about three to four horses, but that was considered “rich” to the people of Wethington.
The other man shared his love for the horse by making a living being a groom at the other man’s stable. Oh how he loved horses! He almost thought about buying one, if it wasn’t for their costliness though. Yes, horses were more expensive than a house in these parts of West Virginia back in the late 1900s.
One day, a very late October day, the official census of West Virginia was sent. They had wonderful news that Wethington Hills was going to be an official town now! They weren’t going to be called just a settled area, but an actual town! Everyone threw parties, if you call dancing in the town square a party. Yes, it was all merry and fun for the next week in that town.
The only problem was, they needed an official founder. The first man declared he was to be the founder because he was the richest and that only makes sense. The other man, the groom in his stable, said he was to be the founder of Wethington Hills because he actually did “find” it. He and his family were the first ones to build a house here.
The two men couldn’t agree on whose name to put down on the census. Back and forth it went, from the first man to the second man. Finally, the wife of the groom said that the way they should decide it was to be a challenge. A three-day eventing challenge to be more precise. The men could chose any horse they wanted to ride, but they were to be wise because this was going to test the rider and the horse’s strength, stamina, and ability. So, who was going to win? The rich, honorable man or the groom?
On the first day of the challenge, a dressage ring was made from the logs of the cut down trees. Everyone gathered around to see who the winner would be.
First it was the groom’s turn. This was his chance to prove his ability with horses. He did well, only getting one error.
Next it was the stable owner’s turn. He also did well, but finished behind the groom. So there it stood, day one was over, the groom leading by 1 point.
The next day was cross-country. A course that raveled all through the mountains was set up. This was going to take all day, but that’s okay because no one really had a job. The men competed, and again the groom won.
On the last day, there was show-jumping. This was something the rich man was excellent at. And, of course, he won for the first time. The groom didn’t care though, because he had won by one point, making himself the founder of Wethington Hills.
The rich man, named James Holcomb, was angry but still resided in Wethington Hills. He died, eventually, and his great-great grandchildren, Blake and Odesa, still live here.
The groom and official founder of Wethington Hills, was named Erik Ryder. His great-great grandchildren also live here.
There is still tension between the Holcomb and Ryder families. Everyone in Wethington Hills still takes sides on what happened some 100 years ago.
Which side will you choose?
Ryder or Holcomb?
[/size][/center]Ryder or Holcomb?
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