Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made.

This story is set fifteen years into the future from my current storyline “Big Blue”.

Cast of characters:

Parents:

Malcolm Reynolds 51

Inara Serra-Reynolds 44

Allan Bryant 68

Zoë Bryant 48

Simon Tam 43

Kaylee Tam 40

Jayne Cobb 52

River Cobb 36

Kids:

Jefferson (Jeff) Reynolds 15

Emma Reynolds 10

Sara Bryant 14

Rebecca Tam 15

John (Jack) Tam 11

Rachel Cobb 8

Jesse Cobb 6

Heritage-Chapter Four

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Allan rolled over in bed. Instead of Zoë's sleeping form, he found one hundred pounds of german shepherd.

“Sam... What have I told you about the bed.”

The big dog wagged his tail and swiveled his ears. With a chuckle, Allan slid out of bed and grabbed his robe. Looking at the clock, he swore under his breath. It was after eight.

After heading to the bathroom, Allan padded downstairs. His nose following the smell of coffee and bacon. Sam trotted behind him. Upon entering the kitchen, Allan spied his daughter behind the stove scrambling some eggs while Zoë poured her husband a cup of coffee.

“And how are my girls this morning?” Allan asked as he planted a kiss on each of their cheeks.

“Morning daddy, Sara chirped.

“Mornin baby,” Zoë said from behind her coffee, “I see Sam got you up.”

“You know, I am trying to break him from getting onto our bed, hon”

“He's a dog, if he knows he can get on Sara's bed, he figures he can get on ours too.”

“I'll have Rachel explain it to him,” Allan muttered.

Rachel, besides being able to read minds like her mother, had some kind of connection with animals. A few months earlier, Mal was having trouble breaking one of his horses. After a frustrating day in which Jimmy, one of Mal's ranch hands had been thrown twice. The little girl walked up to the horse, spoke to the young stallion for a moment. She then smiled at Jimmy and told him to try again.

Tentatively, the hand had