Chappy one.
'Sam, Wyatt, Brynna!' Yelled Sam's grandmother from the living room. The 13 year old raced in first and sat on the fluffy rug. Then her father and step mother appeared a minute later. They all settled down to watch for the news they had been waiting all day for. The opening credits for the news program came on and a tanned presenter began to speak in a clipped, professional tone.
'Linc Slocum, of Gold Dust Ranch, rural Nevada has today been arrested for money forgery. The supposed millionaire has been found printing money in his basement, after a building inspector came to look at the foundations of his house. Mr. Slocum was about to build an indoor pool adjacent to his basement,'
Sam looked around at her family's faces. They all read different expressions of 'huh?' With an excited squeal, Sam Forster started babbling. 'Calling Jen. Might go out for a ride. Be back before dark. Promise!' She squawked.
Sam ran upstairs and grabbed the pink mobile phone from underneath her bed. She dialled her best friend's number on the keypad. 'Hey Jen! I heard the news, tell me everything. Meet you at the watering hole in ten minutes. I have no credit left on my phone and it's about to die,' she said quickly before her phone died.
'Sam, take your mare. Dark Sunshine hasn't been ridden for a week!' Her dad called as she grabbed her Stetson off the hat rack. Sam gave her dad a thumbs up so he knew she heard.
Racing out into the ranch yard, Sam patted Ace on the neck before grabbing Dark Sunshine from the 10 acre pasture. She crossed tied her and quickly brushed the mud off her gleaming buckskin coat. The pretty mare stood at around 13.2hh, a small but dependable mount. After Sam rescued her from Wild horse rustlers, she discovered the mare was in foal. Gentling her whilst the mare was pregnant was tricky. Gentling her after she had given birth was even harder. Mustang mares were known to be protective over their young.
Sam draped the padded black saddle cloth on her mares back before dumping the black saddle on as well. She tightened the cinch before grabbing her bridle. She put it on without any fuss. Mounting, Sam nudged her into a balanced jog. She shied slightly going over the bridge. 'Easy girl,' Sam said, patting her neck to reassure her. Sunny wanted to gallop, so Sam let her. The small mare stretched her legs and covered the distance to the watering hole quicker than if she was on Ace.
She spotted Jen straight away. Her best friend sat on Silk Stockings, a very skittish palomino. She wore purple jeans, a black t-shirt and black high top trainers. Her braids flew around her as she waved ecstatically. Sam grinned and waved back. Pulling Dark Sunshine into a lope, Sam settled deep into the saddle, ready to stop.
'So, did you hear the news?' Jen squeaked from excitement the second Sam halted Sunny. The buckskin bent down to drink. When she was finished, the two mares touched noses.