Sam Forster waved the dust from her face as she finished brushing her horse Ace and put him back in his stall. She grabbed her red sweatshirt from a post and put it back on. It's soo cold today. I hope there won't be a storm tonight like the weather channel predicted. But Sam knew that the weather channel was usually right. She gave Ace a quick smooch on the nose, then went to look for her dad to tell him she had finished all of her chores for the day. Coming from behind the barn, Sam heard her dad and Jake talking.
"How's Witch doing?" Dad asked.
"Good. I'm gonna spend the night in the barn while the rest of my family goes away on a trip. I don't wanna miss it when she has her first foal," Jake said, smiling at the thought.
Excitement rushed over Sam. Witch was finally going to have a baby! They had all been waiting for this moment to arrive.
"I wanna come!" Sam squealed as she revealed herself from the shady barn. Jake and dad both jumped.
"You mean...to sleep in the barn with her?" Jake asked hesitantly.
"Yes! Please? I'm very excited for Witch. I mean, this is her first foal."
"I don't know, brat...," Jake said, looking at dad for help.
Dad looked around the ranch.
"Have you finished all of your chores?"
"Yep," Sam said, forgetting that was the reason she was here.
"Well it seems like you have done a pretty good job. Jake, she can go."
Sam clapped her hands in excitement.
"Thank you dad!" she said, hugging him.
Jake sighed. "See you at 9:00." Sam watched him get in his car and drive away.
Sam hurried to get her things. It was almost 9:00, and Jake would be mad at her if she held up time. She knew Jake was really excited and anxious because his mare was having her first foal, and she didn't want to let him down. She remembers how she felt when Sunny was having Tempest.
"It's so cold," Sam complained as she took off her dirty red sweatshirt and put on a clean light blue one.
Sam heard someone come in.
"Hi Honey," Brynna chirped as she walked over to the kitchen table and got a glass of water. "Where are you going?"
"I'm waiting for Jake to pick me up. I'm gonna spend the night over at the Three Ponies Ranch and watch Witch give birth for the first time."
Brynna smiled. "So that sassy mare is finally foaling?"
"Yeah..I wonder what her foal will turn out to be like," Sam laughed. Probably like Tempest, she hoped.
Right then the doorbell rang. Sam grabbed her things and opened the door.
Jake wore jeans, chaps, an a dirty jean jacket, with his long hair tied with a leather thong. He looked at her with sleepy mustang eyes.
"Hey," Jake said. "Hope you don't mind ridin' in this weather."
"..What?" Sam looked out the window. "Oh great the weather channel was right."
As soon as Sam stepped outside, she saw Chocolate Chip ( One of Jake's brother's horses) ground tied by the porch. Jake grabbed his reins and hopped on his back. He looks so natural when he does that, Sam thought.
"You know...We could just take your car? It's raining and I don't feel like tacking up Ace right now."
Jake looked up at her, like he just wanted to get this over with. "We're ridin' cause my car is gone. My brothers took it when they went off on their trip. Now hurry up and get your horse," Jake said, re-adjusting his stetson. Wow. Even in the rain he wears it.
"Okay," Sam said. Even though she felt like kicking him with all her strength in the shin, She didn't bother to complain. It seemed like the mature thing to do.
Sam took out Ace. "Good thing I brushed you earlier. Saved time." She got out his blanket and saddle, tacked him up and, last, put his bridle on. He didn't refuse at all. "You're such a good horse," Sam said, and kissed his nose.
"Stop baby talkin', brat, we gotta hurry," Jake yelled.
"Coming!" Sam jumped on Ace and gave him the signal to lope. Just like she expected, her bay gelding was more than happy to work, even in the rain. "That's my boy," Sam told Ace and gave him a pat.
They both rode in silence for a few minutes. Jake decided to speak up.
"When you're in there, be quiet. I don't want her getting all nervous, and she will when she sees that you're in there watching her."
Sam glared at him. Ugh..he's being protective of my already. And doesn't he know I already know this stuff?
"Of course i'll be quiet. Remember? I handled Dark Sunshine just fine when she was having Tempest."
"Yeah. Just remember...Witch is a one-person horse. You know how mean she gets when other people are around. Imagine how she will be tonight, with a foal to protect," Jake warned, slowing his horse down as they got closer to Three Ponies Ranch.
"That is if she gives birth tonight," Sam corrected. Here he goes again, being all protective of me.
But Sam knew she should be nice to Jake. After all, he was letting her do this.