Introduction:

They had met when she was 20 years old and he was 27. You wouldn’t have ever thought Ronnie and Dan would get together because they were always insulting each other. It was like a game to see who could come up with the best uncomplimentary remark. However, as time went by they found they had much in common.

It’s hard to say exactly when, but they fell in love. Or maybe they were born in love with each other. They became inseparable. They went everywhere together. They became extremely involved with Australian Shepherds. They bred and raised many champions and became a Hall of Fame Kennel. They also found they both had a great love for Quarter Horses and raised, bred and trained many beautiful horses.

They eventually got married and had a son named Nicholas whom Ronnie loved more than life itself. She would have given her life for his if need be. Life had finally started off good for them and they had their own ranch where they could breed dogs and horses.

Chapter 1:

The day was quite warm and the air still with no discernable breeze. The clouds were thin and silvery floating extremely high in the August sky. There was going to be a beautiful sunset when the day ended and the sun fell behind the hills.

It was still early and Ronnie decided she would take a walk along the road and do some stretching exercises. Dan noticed that she had just left the house and he decided to go walk with her. He had just caught up with her as she headed back toward the house. As she moved in front of him she made a slight moaning sound, stumbled and fell to the ground in a heap.
They had been together for twenty-two years. Their lives were finally beginning to take shape. But on this 13th day of August his love and soul mate had died along with all their hopes and dreams. A devastating heart attack had taken the only thing that made life worth living - his wife. She was only 42. It was like fate had said "There you are you two, I’ve been looking for you."

Ronnie had always told him that she never wanted him to die first. She jokingly said "If you go first, I’ll kill you." Just the day before she had asked "Do you think God will forgive me for the bad things I’ve done in my life?" Dan had answered "All you have to do is ask him, and he will."

He had promised her that if anything should ever happen he would pray for her. She seemed happy about that. She had always reminded him that if she should die she wanted to be cremated and have her ashes scattered over the San Francisco Bay.

They had always spent so much time in San Francisco and along Fisherman’s Wharf. They would sample the shrimp and clam chowder. Then later they would buy a loaf of sourdough bread and salami and make sandwiches as they walked along the beach just before sunset. Ronnie would always jokingly tell everyone they went to San Francisco to get their bread.

Dan knew the next step would be the hardest part yet of saying goodbye.