I don't own anyone in this story, Terry Farley does. : I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

Beep, beep, beep… Screamed Samantha Forster's alarm clock straight into her ear. She then groaned, sat up from her warm bed, and slammed the noisy machine off. She was about to go straight back to sleep, if only her father didn't start banging on the door.

"Sam?" he asked, "Sam? You up? Hurry – we're about to go on that cattle drive I was telling you about the other day... Remember?"

"..Oh yeah," Sam muttered to herself, "yeah – I'm getting up. Just give me a few minutes…."

"Okay," he replied. Once Sam heard his cowboy boots walk down the hall, and slowly fade away, she finally got up and stretched. Her muscles were still sore from the fall she got last night from Ace while Jen, Sam's best friend, and she were goofing off with their horses. Knowing that today was going to be warm, she found a decent light pink blouse that she used when riding, and threw on her barn jeans. After fixing her hair a little, she was ready to go.

By the time she got downstairs, Wyatt and Brynna were finishing their sausage while Gram was making Sam a gourmet breakfast: Pancakes, with a side of two fried eggs, along with a piece of toast. Her mouth watered at the smell of all of the wonderful foods being made in the kitchen, and so, she quickly took her seat at the kitchen table.

"Good morning, sweetie," Brynna said cheerfully to Sam as she poured herself another cup of coffee.

"Good morning," Sam replied back to Brynna under her breath. She didn't get much sleep. So, she didn't feel like talking.

"I hope you're ready for the cattle drive, Sam," Wyatt announced, "Jake will be here any minute to help out."

"Great…." Sam muttered. Jake Ely, her best friend since she was ever born, was just like her brother. Sometimes too much like a brother. He always gets super protective about such minor things around Sam, that sometimes it just made her want to scream. Besides that, Jake was a great 3-year-older role model to Sam (according to her father and Brynna, anyway..).

By the time Jake arrived, Sam was almost done with her breakfast. When he came through the door, Sam just rolled her eyes and went back to eating her meal.

"Hey, Brat," he said right away to Sam, giving her a pat on the back. "Watcha been up to?"

"Jake," Sam replied, "it's only 9:00 in the morning. How can I possibly be up to something this early? I barely have enough energy to eat."

"Okay, jeez," Jake said back with his hands up as if to pretend he was innocent. He then laughed and stole Sam's piece of toast that Sam never got around to finishing.

"Hey!" she grumbled. She was ready to fight back for it, if only she had more energy... And if Jake didn't already stuff it in his mouth whole.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he muffled through the bread in his mouth. "Want it back?" he then proceeded to go and take it out of his mouth to put it back onto Sam's plate.

"Ew! Not anymore," she said in disgust as she fumbled her cowboy boots on. She then headed for the door, Jake following close behind.

Once outside and almost to the barn, she saw Ace in the ten – acre pasture. He whinnied to her, and then galloped to the door of the fence.

"Hey, baby," she said to Ace as she kissed his velvety nose. "Ready for the cattle drive?"

He bobbed his head in response. Obviously, he meant yes.

Sam quickly brushed Ace's coat until his natural bay color gleamed. Then, she got all of the tack on. She then grabbed her Stetson and mounted up on Ace, bending over to reach for her canteen she almost left behind.

Then, someone tickled her sides from behind her. She squealed, and shot up right away, causing Ace to prance a few steps. She looked behind her, and noticed that it was Jake, on his horse, Witch.

"Jake!" Sam screamed, "you jerk!" She grabbed her Stetson form her hat and whipped his left arm. Hard.

"Ouch!" he yelped, still gasping for air from laughing too much. Sam's cheeks flushed red once she noticed that Dallas saw the whole scene. With that, Sam just shoved her Stetson back on the top of her head, and then walked off with Ace to follow the other cowboys that already started off for the cattle drive.

Hey, guys! This is my first fanfic ever. No, this isn't a oneshot. This is the first chapter, and I just wanted people's opinions about my writing before I continued. Please comment, and PLEASE no flames!!