Chapter 1

Inspired by the songs 4:35A.M by Gemma Hayes and

Wild Horses by Natasha Bedingfield

"Hey Brat, come on, get up," was the first thing Sam Forster heard on this slightly warmed morning. Sam rolled over to face the boy standing over her bed. She grunted and swung her legs out of her bed. The blanket slipped off of her. She squeaked and stumbled for the covers. She was only wearing her underwear. Luckily the boy wasn't fazed. "Get out Jake!" Sam quietly exclaimed. He laughed and slunk out of her room. Sam smiled and stood up. "Great way to wake up." She dressed as fast as she could. As she tip-toed down stairs, she heard Brynna in Codys room. Grabbing her hat and boots at the front door she looked out side to see Jake waiting by Aces paddock. With her boots on she ran over the dust covered ranch yard. Jake ttook her hat and slipped in on her head. "C'mon," came from the quiet cowboys lips. "I wanna show you something." Sam grabbed Ace and took him into the barn. Jakes horse Witch was silently munching on her hay. Sam slipped a dandy brush over Aces soft coat and went over to the tack room. By the saddle racks she sighed with frustration. Who put Aces saddle on the top rack! She tried reaching it but her arms couldn't reach. She heard a light laugh and whipped around to glare at the figure standing in the door way. Jake walked up and lifted the saddle off the rack with ease. Sam grabbed her horses bridle and saddle blanket.

As the pair rode out to the Nevadan desert a neigh came out from the direction of The Calico Mountains. Only Sam heard. Sam urged her horse on to a even paced lope. Next to Ace, Witch snorted a warning to the bay not to get too close. Sam breathed in the smell of dust and horse sweet. Jake slowed down to a jog and then a walk. He turned to look at Sam. "Sam. Look, we need to talk." The girl looked at Jake. "OK," Sam nodded. Jake started, "I'm going to be going to college soon. And I'm not going to be here to watch out for you when you go off and do stupid stuff. I cant be here to stop you going out to see The Phantom. So... So you need to promise me something. Promise me that you will listen to your dad and Brynna and your Gram. OK?" It was probable the longest string of words he had ever said. Sam nodded. She didn't want to think about what would happen at the end of summer. "Yup. But you need to promise me that you wont be calling every 5 minutes to check up on me ok?" Jake laughed and nodded. They turned their horses around and went back to the ranch.

"Mhh there you two are. Off wandering the desert were you," Sams dad said as the pair walked through the front door. "I swear they know that desert better than me," he joked to Gram. Sam and Jake sat down with Brynna, Cody and dad at the table. Gram came over from the stove with a pile of bacon and eggs on a plate. "Dig in," Gram said as she sat down herself. When everyone was done, Sam went up stairs to the bathroom. She turned on the hot water and stepped under. The water was slightly scorching. As she washed herself, Sam thought about her and Jakes earlier conversation. She really did not want him to leave. He was right though. She had to be sensible. She needed to grow up. She was almost 15 for gods sake! And she was always wandering into trouble. With a sigh, Sam stepped out of the shower. She wrapped the towel around her and walked out of the bathroom. Before she could even step foot on the carpet of the hallway, she heard footsteps on the stairs. Quickly, so no one saw her, Sam dashed into her bedroom. The door slammed behind her as she slumped onto her bed. She couldn't even fathom the idea of having to get dressed and work on the ranch. "I don't want to," she whined to no one. She just wanted to sleep. She heaved a big, dramatic sigh and jumped of the bed. "Life goes on," she said. She picked up her jeans and shirt and got dressed. "God this shirt is itchy," she said to herself. She had just sat on her bed when she heard a giggle from her door. She sprang across the room and opened the door. Outside stood Brynna who looked like she was trying to hold in a laugh. She put on a straight face when when she saw the blushing girl in front of her. The smile reappear on her face as she said, "I guess your are crazy, talking to yourself and all." Sam glared at her and stuck out her tongue. Brynna turned serious. "We need to talk," she turned around and walked into her and Wyatts room. Sam sat on the bed and fiddled with the duvet. The new golden leaf pattern had replaced the tacky and outdated floral duvet that had been on the bed for most of her childhood. She liked the new pattern but missed the warmth and comfort of the blanket that she had snuggled up in with her mother when she was sick. She came back to reality when she heard Brynna repeated her name. "Sorry, what?" Sam said. Brynna smiled and said, "I guess I shouldn't tell you, but there is a horse, a mustang, that I'm bringing here in a few days. Jake is going to work with her. But you need to pay attention. You'll be taking over soon." Sam thought it would be fun. She didn't know how wrong she was.