This is my first fan fiction piece ever. I would also like to say that Terri Farley owns the rights to all the characters of Phantom Stallion.

Chapter 1

Sam squinted her brown eyes to see her surroundings as the snow began to fall fast around her. Her auburn hair whipped her face in the wind as she shifted in the saddle. Ace gave an impatient snort as she tried to figure out the best path to take to get home. She wasn't quite sure if she should try and get home or try to find shelter. Unfortunately Sam didn't have the chance to make the decision as Ace spooked and threw Sam off. Before she had a chance to get back on her feet Sam saw Ace running back towards River Bend Ranch. Quickly Sam looked around at her surroundings to see if she could find any shelter. Sighing in disappointment Sam slowly rose to her feet. It didn't taker her long to notice the burning pain that ran through her knee and down her leg. When she tried to take a step she felt her knee start to give at her weight.

Slowly Sam hobbled her way over to a rock. Sam could feel that her knee was started to swell as the pain felt like it was being bounced up and down. Quickly she gathered up some snow and placed it on her knee. She didn't mind that her jeans were starting to get wet from the snow but just enjoyed the easing sensation the ice was giving her knee. Sam then tried to figure out what she should do when she heard something behind her. Not seeing anything Sam gently backed away from the rock. Even though her eyes couldn't sense any danger, her body sure sensed it. The hair on her neck rose as a shiver ran through her body. Sam had learned the hard way that she should listen to her body in these situations after a cougar attacked her years ago. At this point Sam didn't care about the pain in her knee as she started to follow her horse back to River Bend Ranch.

Sam's knee finally gave out on her as she made it out of the Arroyo Azul. She knew that there was no way her knee would allow her to put any weight on it for a while. Just as she realized it was starting to snow harder she saw a figure start to approach her. Relief washed over her as she realized that the Figure was Witch.

"Jake!" she couldn't help herself from yelling.

When he was finally close enough to Sam he stopped Witch. With one swift movement he dismounted her and left Witch ground tied. Even though his black Stetson covered his brown mustang eyes Sam knew they were filled with laughter.

"Even at the age of twenty you still fall off your horse," he said stopping in front of her.

"Maybe it's something I like to do so that I can have some alone time with you." Sam smiled glad to see her boyfriend of five years come to her rescue once again. She kissed him lightly on the lips before pulling back.

"Well you're just lucky that I happened to see Ace come back home without you," he said grabbing her hand and lifting her to her feet. "Why would you go ridin in the snow when no one is at your house anyway?"

"I just needed to clear some thoughts," she said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Come on, let's get back to River Bend," Jake said shaking his head.

Sam unwrapped her arms from around his neck as she went to follow him. It wasn't until the felt the burning sensation in her knee that she remembered how sore it was. A yelp escaped her lips as she started to fall forward. Jake quickly turned around and caught her before she could do a face plant into the snow. He could tell with one glance of her favoring a leg that she was hurt. Scooping her up in his arms he carried her over to Witch and set her down in the saddle. After Sam swung her leg around Jake got up on Witch behind Sam. She then laid her back into his chest as he steered Witch towards River Bend Ranch.

"How did you know I hurt myself and not trip?" Sam asked as Jake wrapped an arm around her waist.

"I can always tell when you're hurtin Brat."

"What gives it away?"

"Everythin."

"That's not fair," she whined looking over her shoulder.

"Not my fault that your easy to read," he smirked.

"Well, I'm just glade that you found me," Sam said as she reached back to run her hands down his thighs.

"At least I'm not stupid to go riding when it's snowing out."

"Hey it was hardly snowing when I left, and I only meant to me out for a short bit." Sam didn't need to turn around to know that Jake was shaking his head.

By the time they got back to River Bend Ranch the snow was really starting to fall. Jake slid off Witch before he helped Sam down. Ace was patiently waiting for Sam by the water trough. Before she could take one step toward her horse Jake grabbed her hand.

"I'll be fine," she said taking a couple steps, "See, I just needed to rest a bit."

"Fine," he mumbled as he started to untack Witch.

When both of them were done putting the tack away they could barely see through the snow.

"I think we should move the horses into the run-in shed," Sam said to Jake as she led Ace into his stall.

Jake just nodded his head in agreement as he locked the stall door that Witch was using. As Sam grabbed the last horse from the pasture she was starting to stumble as she walked toward the shed. She bit her lip to keep herself from crying out as she walked Jeep, but stopped walking when she started to feel her leg shake. Without a work Jake picked her up in one arm as he led Jeep the rest of the way to the shed. Sam hatted the fact that she had to rely on Jake to finish his work, but also glad to be in his strong arms. After locking up the shed Jake carried Sam bridal style to the house.

"So, why isn't there anyone around?" Jake asked as he set Sam down.

"They went into town to do some last minute Christmas shopping," Sam said taking her jacket off and hanging it up on the wall along with her hat.

"Hmm, shoppin on Christmas Eve is unlike your family," he said wrapping his arm around Sam's shoulder.

"Well, from what I overheard there were really good sales going on today, so they wanted to buy the presents today." Sam said as Jake helped guide her to the stairs. "Anyways, can you help me up to my room so I can get out of these wet jeans?"

Jake slyly smiled as he threw Sam over his shoulder.

Sam laughed as she said, "I didn't mean it like this, although the view isn't that bad."

He then brought Sam right side up so that her face was level with his. Sam wrapped her arms around her neck as her legs wrapped around his waist.

"By the way you never told me what you were thinkin about when you went for a ride," Jake said as he pushed open the door to Sam's room.

"I was thinking about us." Sam blushed as Jake paused for a second before setting her down on her bed.

"What about us?"

"Well, I was wondering if you would possibly want to get our own place in Darton after I graduate in the spring or even possibly just living in the spare bunkhouse," she said still holding him tight around the neck.

Jake squeezed Sam tighter before letting her go. Sam slowly unwrapped her arms from around Jake as he knelt on one knee in front of her.

"Jake?" Sam said in hopes that he would reply to her suggestion of living together.

Jake calmly grabbed something out of his pocket before his mustang eyes caught Sam's.

"Well, I was plannin this for tomorrow as part of a gift, but I guess Christmas Eve will do," he said opening the small velvet box. "Samantha Anne Forster will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she squealed as she leaned forward to kiss him. Jake then put the ring on her finger as he sat down on her bed. Sam moved onto his lap before she held her hand out in front of her. Even though it was a simple silver band with a diamond in the middle, she couldn't stop smiling. He always knew that she liked simple jewelry, which made the ring even more special. "Jake, it's beautiful."

"You're beautiful," he whispered in her ear.

"I guess this answers my question about us moving in together," she said kissing him again. "But where will we live?"

"We have months to figure that out Brat," Jake replied kissing the ring on her finger.

"Then who should we tell first?"

"How 'bout whoever get's home first."