The sun-baked ground intensified the heat as Samantha Forster walked across the yard towards the barn, Blaze dancing around her feet. She leaned over and scratched him behind the ears, smiling. Even at seven in the morning, it was already ninety degrees outside. Dad and Brynna had gone into town for a movie, and Gram was volunteering with Sweetheart for the week.
A familiar neigh echoed across the yard. "Hold on, Ace!" Sam called to her gelding, but didn't go directly to the barn yet.
Something seemed wrong. Even though it should have been a normal Saturday morning, and although it seemed like one, there was definate tension in the air.
Sam's suspiscions were only hightened as she saw Pepper and Ross riding back towards the house at a breakneck pace. She frowned, folding her arms and watching. They shouldn't be running the horses that quickly, especially in this heat. Pepper saw her standing there and waved urgently. She opened the gate swiftly as the two cowboys blasted through it.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked as Ross dismounted swiftly, rushing into the house. Pepper turned to her, looking hesitant. Sam's spirits dropped even further.
"It's Hotspot. Linc Slocum's old mare. She's taken a pretty bad fall and it looks like her canon bone is broken." He said quietly. "The Phantom is standing gaurd over her."
Sam was puzzled. That wasn't good news, but it didn't explain why they had come running home. "So why is-"
"Sam," Pepper cut her off. "The Phantom has killed a bull and a calf from your father's herd when they strayed too close to Hotspot."
Sam's eyes widened. "He wouldn't do that!" She said sharply, but something told her it wasn't true. If the Phantom had thought the bull was threatening one of his favorite mares... She thought of the one time her father had spoken of getting down the rifle. It had been when the Phantom's herd was eating the cattle's hay, and she knew he hadn't meant it, but their cattle was her father's life. If they were in danger...
"Wyatt is on his way." Ross said, coming back out of the house. "And so is Dr. Scott." He added, swinging back up onto Tank. Pepper still hadn't dismounted Jeep. Ross turned and started back through the gate, and Sam rushed into the barn, saddling Ace as quickly as she could. When she returned to the yard, both cowboys were clouds of dust in the distance, galloping the horses once more.
When Sam finally reached the place Hotspot had fallen, she saw several people had beaten her out there. Ground tying Ace, she rushed over to where Dr. Scott stood, several feet away from the Phantom, whose head was lowered in agression. "Do you have the gun?" He asked one of the men gathered.
"What?" Sam yelped, her eyes widened as she started forward.
"Easy, Brat." A voice from behind her made her jump. She turned to find herself face to face with Jake. Taking a step back, she glared at him.
"Don't sneak up on me." She muttered out of habbit, but turned back to Hotspot and the Phantom. "Who are they going to shoot?" She asked Jake as he stepped up beside her, Witch tied a few feet away.
"They need to sedate the stallion if he won't move." Jake said bluntly, arms folded and his black Stetson pulled low over his face.
"They can't do that!" Sam said urgently. "What about his herd? He won't wake up for hours and some bachelor band could-"
Jake cut her off with a look. "They can take care of themselves." There was a small twang in the air, and when Sam turned, there was a dart flying towards the Phantom's neck. She started forward, but Jake grabbed her arm. "No, Sam." He said.
She glared at him, about to say something, then stopped as she saw her father's truck pulling closer. As he got out and his eyes fell on the dead cattle, then to the Phantom, then finally stopped on Sam. She saw the fury in her father's eyes, and for a moment, was sure he would shoot the silver stallion who now staggered slightly, then started galloping away. He vanished swiftly around the side of the mountain, and Dr. Scott moved towards Hotspot.
Wyatt was talking in a low voice to Dallas, but Sam could still hear the anger in his voice. She only caught the last part of their conversation. "-Get that stallion out of here or get 'im put down."
Then Jake pulled her a few feet away. "Don't eavesdrop." He said, although she could see the worry in his eyes.
"Jake, i've never seen my dad this angry before." Sam said urgently. "We have to go find the Phantom in case-"
"Don't be stupid, Sam, you can't wander off after some horse for no reason! The dart didn't even stay in his neck. He'll be drowsy for a bit, then good as new."
Sam ignored him and started towards Ace, but Jake held her arm tightly. "Promise me you won't go after him, Sam, you could get hurt!" He hissed.
"Like you care!" Surprised by the words that came from her mouth, Sam knew she meant them.
Jake's eyes softened slightly. "What are you talking about?"
"You don't care if I get hurt! You just have some sort of deal with my father to make sure I don't die or something!" Sam tried to jerk away from Jake, but he simply reached out and took her other arm as well.
Understanding blazed in his eyes, and Sam hated him for it. "Sam, you know that isn't true. The Phantom will be fine. Don't worry about him." He whispered, and when she made eye contact with Jake, Sam believed him. A strange feeling raced through her stomach that caused goosebumps to rise on her arms.
"Mustang eyes." She murmered.
"What?" Jake's expression grew puzzled and slightly skeptical.
"Nothing." Sam said, pulling away from Jake and walking back to Ace.
"Brat!" She heard Jake calling after her, but mounted her gelding anyway. "Hey, Brat!" She turned and rode towards home.
((Yes, I know it doesn't seem like much now, and yes, Jake and Sam are going to realize their feelings soon enough, but I don't want it to go faster than it needs to. Please R&R Spartanica))