Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom Stallion book series or any of its characters, settings or horses, that honor belongs to Terri Farley, I'm just moving the pieces on the game board around ;)

A/N: This is set after R.A.H.

Life Goes On

"Just when you think it can't get any worse, it can. And just

when you think it can't get any better, it can."

Nicholas Sparks

Chapter One

"Hey Sam, could you possible watch Cody today? You're dad and I need to get some shopping done in Darton and we're going to drop Grace off at her book club at the library while we are there." Brynna asked after breakfast as Sam was getting ready to head out to the barn for a ride on Ace.

"I can do that," said Sam who loved spending time with her three-month old baby brother, even if it meant postponing riding Ace. "When are you guy's leaving?"

"As soon as your Dad and Gram are ready, I'm sorry I didn't give you more notice, but I just realized we were running out diapers and such this morning and your dad wanted to pick up some jeans while were out."

"You know I don't mind spending time with Cody."
"Thank you Sam, why don't you come upstairs with me and you can go ahead and get Cody dressed and ready for the day, he should be waking up right around now. "As if on cue they could her Cody begin to cry as they were heading toward his room. "Guess he's up." said Sam as she quickly ran up the last few steps and down the hall toward Cody's room. "Don't worry about us, I'll take good care of him, you guys go ahead and get your stuff done, and have fun."
"Are you sure you got this Sam?" asked Wyatt as he passed his daughter in the hallway.

"Of course I'm sure I've got this Dad" said Sam, smiling and motioning with her hands.

"Okay, honey, I'll see you later," said Wyatt bending down a little to kiss Sam on the cheek.

"See y'all later." said Sam turning and continuing to Cody's room, where his cries were becoming increasingly louder.

"Thanks again Sam."
"Bye Sweetheart." came floating up the stairs from Brynna and Gram, in that order before the front door finally closed behind the trio, followed shortly by the sound of the truck starting up and heading down the gravel driveway.

"Well," said Sam bending over Cody's crib and smiling at him, "looks like it's just you and me, yes it is!" Cody just smiled and gurgled, calming down at the attention and a familiar face. Picking Cody up from where he lay in his crib, Sam smiled down at him before wrinkling her nose, "Uh oh, i think i know what the problem is, someone has a dirty diaper, don't they." After Sam had changed Cody's dirty diaper and dressed him in a cute little outfit consisting of jeans and a plaid button down shirt over a dark blue onsie she carried him down the stairs and prepared his morning bottle for him before heading out to the front porch and sitting on the swing to feed him. Putting him on her shoulder, but not before making sure his burping cloth was on her shoulder Sam headed out to the barn, she might not be able to go riding this morning but that didn't mean she couldn't go visit Ace.

Walking inside the barn she could her the last strains of Kenny Chesney's song "Don't Blink," The ranch hands had finally convinced her father to install a radio in the barn, and the local country station was always playing although Sam loved to switch the station to a rock and roll or even heavy metal station every once in a while, just to see the expressions on everyone's faces, it was hilarious. Greeting Pepper who paused in the middle of mucking stalls to make silly faces at Cody she continued on to Ace's stall, after spending some time showing Cody all the horse's and animals inside the barn Sam was getting ready to head back inside and put Cody down for a nap when the noon news on the radio cut to traffic. "and now traffic with Ann Scott: Well folks, if you're planning on traveling to Darton via Route 14 this afternoon plan on a delay, we just got a report of an accident on Route 14 that seems to be holding up traffic. The names of those injured have not yet been released, but I have been told that all involved in this accident are seriously injured and are being transported to the nearest hospital. now on to weather, Mark?"

Ignoring the rest of the newscast, Sam hurriedly walked back to the house, a sudden nervous feeling in her stomach.