Sam glared against the sun as she wiped the sweat off her forehead. Holding a woven lead rope, she leaned back against causing the rope to become tight and creak in protest.
"C'mon Ace! I won't be able to do this everyday, just let me wash the soap out of your mane."
Currently, Samantha Forster was given a rare five minutes to give her horse, Ace, a spray off. Sam fished inside her pocket for a slice of apple and grinned in victory when Ace lessened the strain on the rope. Slowly, Sam crept to Aces side and stretched her arm out and away from Ace. Ace who was too preoccupied with the tasty morsel, didn't notice Sam spraying all the slick mud off his coat. Sam barely suppressed a 'Yes' and gave her beloved horse the apple slice. She heard a chuckle behind her and Sam whipped around, already guessing who it is.
"If the only way to have your horse listen to you is to bribe it…good luck."
Growling at Jake, who was leaning casually against the fence, she picked up the hose and sprayed him causing Jake to sputter in anger and scramble for cover.
"Awww Sam. No need to get all defensive."
Sam rolled her eyes and barely suppressed the urge to stick her tongue out. Only one more day of this around the clock teasing and I will only have to deal with him for three hours after school ends.
Sam has long ago decided to be as quiet as Jake and annoy him as much as possible. Why? Well, Jake has to appreciate me for what I am. No, maybe I just want him jealous and less protective. What he did not know, is that she was planning to give him a shock tomorrow at school.
Last week, she felt something different. A rebellion, a thrill. There was a foreign ache inside of her that wanted her dad to tell her how beautiful she was. Sam wanted to feel noticed. She wanted to date guys. Of course, she blamed it on nerves due to school, but she certainly wanted to do something. Her heart fluttered as she imagined people not thinking she was a boy or an ugly little cowgirl.
Resuming to the task in front of her, she patted Ace on the neck and began squeezing the water out of his shiny bay coat and mane. She brushed him and turned him out to the 10 acre pasture. Ace stayed rock still and nudged her through the top of the gate.
"Oh okay, you can have the rest of the apple."
Sam spoke quietly and began giving him the rest of the apple piece by piece while muttering to him in the ear.
"They won't know what hit them. What do you think Ace? I hope Gram could see me before she leaves with….Wait! They are leaving tomorrow for the cattle auction! Am I going to stay here or to a friend's house?"
She frantically searched her mind for any mention from her family as to where she was going to go as her Gram, father and step-mother went on the Autumn cattle auction. Sam begged to go the moment she heard about the trip but her father, Wyatt, firmly said "No" and lectured her on her education.
Sam turned and ran to her home and yanked the door open.
"Gram, am I going to stay here when you leave?"
Gram smiled and wiped her hands on her apron and cocked her head to the side,
"Honey, I just got off the phone with Mrs. Ely a couple of minutes ago, she said she needed company since she was stuck with the men all the time and wanted some help with cooking. I told her you can sleep over there and help out. Oh, and she said to bring Ace so if you forget or need anything, then you could get it without any trouble."
One word escaped Sam's mouth as Gram finished speaking,
"Wha?"