Chapter 1

It was midnight when Sam heard him call to her.She got up and out of bed,trying not to wake up anyone.

when she finally reached the river,he was there,waiting for her on the other side.

She met him in the middle,she made slow movements as not to spook him."Zanzibar,hey baby boy.Haven't seen you in a while huh"

His reply was just a nod of his head.She smiled,she felt like it was a dream,the moonlight was perfect,the water was warm,and her horse seemed calm."do you think you would let me ride you,"she said as she move closer.

"Midnight moonlight shinen though the curtain lace,"she thought maybe if she as sang it would calm him,

"paints a perfect picture on your perfect face"she continued to sing as she got ready to mount,

"one sweet angle in my arms," she was a bout ready to swing on,

"you are the promise I new God would keep,"her horse was calmer as he heard her voice sing the lullaby,

"you are the gift that makes my world complete"she moved her leg slowly up,

"and you'll never know how much I love you,

but ill keep on telling you your whole life through

now I believe in miracles,

and your the reason why,

so dream on,as I sing you my angles lullaby."as she finished her song,she swung her leg up,but the phantom reared and she fell in the water,when she stood up all she could see was him running in the distance.

She walked to shore drenching wet,and daybreak was coming on the horizon.She walked Back to the house,to eat breakfast,and get started on her chores.

When she finish collecting the eggs from the chicken coop,she walked into the barn to grab Ace's halter,she was supposed to meet Jen,her best friend,at War Drum Flats in one hour.

She walked over to the ten acre pasture and called to her little bay mustang.He looked up at her for a moment,grass sticking to his lips from grazing,and then continued,ignoring her.She walked into the pasture,put his halter on and led him out to the hitching rail."you know,you can be a brat sometimes."She said to her horse.

"funny,the horse matches his owner."said a voice from behind Sam.She turned around and the was Jake Ely,one of her best friends.

"What are you doing here,"she asked as he dismounted his black mare witch.

"Got a new horse coming today.Didn't Wyatt tell you?"Jake responded as he tied Witch next to Ace at the hitching rail.

Sam walked into the barn to get her tack,why didn't dad tell me about the new horse,She wandered as she got the tack and brushes.

"what horse is coming?"she asked as she got Ace ready for a ride.

"Some bay mare from off the range"he answered

"BLM brought in a herd in yesterday,I'm surprised Wyatt or Brynna didn't tell you.Its the new HARP horse since Sunny ran away."Jake said.

"I know that were getting a new horse,but I thought it was coming next week,not today."she said.

"what do you know about the horse"she asked after a moment

"All I know is her and her herd were found up by the Indian territory,BLM brought her in before they crossed onto their land."

"Wait that could be the Phantoms herd!Did you see the herd,do you recognize any of his mares or foals,Was he there,is he o.k.,tell me!!!"

"Calm down Brat,jeezz,I haven't seen the herd,but Brynna says its to small to be his herd,but she's not she.She said some look like his mares,but some look new,she also said she was surprised because there was no lead stallion,it was all females besides the babies.Which doesn't happen very often.Especially with winter coming.Wait where are you going"he asked when he looked up and noticed she was riding toward the bridge.

"I'm going to check on him tell my dad Ill be back later."

And with that,she kick Ace and galloped toward the range.

When she finally reached the tunnel,it was about 2 in the afternoon.She ground tied Ace and walked in.A couple minutes later,her worst fear was realized.The phantoms half herd was here,and he was nowhere in sight.