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PROLOGUE

"Brat. Why are you following me?" Sam wasn't paying attention and ran into Jake's back when he stopped suddenly.

"Jake! Why did you stop?" Jake took a step forward before turning around.

"Because Brat. Now, why are you following me?" Sam sighed and tossed her ponytail to her back. Jake snapped his fingers in her face when he noticed that she had spaced out.

Snapping back to reality, Sam placed her fists on her hips and glared at Jake.

"What was that for Jacob?" Jake scowled at Sam for the use of his given name.

"I don't know Brat. Maybe because you spaced out when I asked you a question?" Sam sighed and quietly apologized.

"Are you coming to my birthday party?" Jake sighed, not really wanting to go to her birthday party; knowing that it would be mostly six and seven year olds and his family. Seeing the disappointment on her face when she noticed his hesitation, he slightly smiled and nodded his head.

"Sure Brat. I'll go, but only if you go to mine." Sam grinned brightly and nodded her head enthusiastically. Seeing her nod, Jake turned back around and continued to the barn, aware that Sam was still following him. Snagging the reins of the horse he received for his eight birthday, he swung up and galloped across the bridge towards home.

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Sam's birthday dawned bright and cloudless. Louise, Sam's mother, knocked on her door before opening it to see a grinning Sam. Louise chuckled, knowing the reason for the joy shining on her face.

"I see that you're already up little one. Should I assume that there's a reason for it?" Sam grinned at her mother's teasing.

"Mama! Don't you know what today is?!" Louise pretended to think about what the date was.

"Umm, is it Nevada Day? No? How about-oof!" Louise glanced down at her seven year old daughter who was clinging to her legs.

"Mama! You know what today is! It's my birthday!" Louise grinned lovingly at Sam. Gently brushing back Sam's hair, she thought back to when Sam was first born. Even then, she could tell her daughter would be lively and beautiful. Coming back to the present, Louise saw Sam still looking up to her, waiting on a hug and a kiss. Louise knelt down to Sam's height and drew her into a crushing hug.

"Happy birthday baby. I hope everything you wish for comes true." Sam beamed radiantly into her mother's face and gave her a sloppy kiss on her face.

"Thanks mama. Want to go riding with me? Jake said he'd be here for the party, but that won't be for hours!" Standing up, Louise took Sam's hand and walked to the door. Sam quickly figured out her mom's answer and started pulling her to the door faster. Louise obligingly went, laughing the entire time.

When Strawberry and Bunny were saddled, Louise led Sam past the bridge and turned towards War Drum Flats. A light touch sent the horses racing across the playa, laughter trailing behind the riders. Breathless and glowing with happiness, they pulled their horses up and laughed together while the horses happily tossed their heads and nickered at each other.

"Thank you mama! That was the best ever! I love you! Race you back?!" Louise quickly reached over and snagged the bridle before Sam could get away.

"Hold on little missy! We have to walk the horses for a bit before going back. You know that you can't run them right away after that. Besides, don't you want to spend some time out here before the party?" Sam smiled sheepishly at her mom and nodded her head 'yes' before looking back down again.

Louise grinned at her daughter and turned their horses around to face the direction of their home. They walked the horses for a bit and talked about their day, well what little of it they had. Louise happened to glance down at her watch and saw that they had spent too much time on the playa. Looking at Sam, she smiled mischievously and kicked her horse into a gallop. Sam caught on and quickly followed with Bunny's short legs kicking up dust behind them.

Racing over the bridge, Sam saw Jake talking to her dad near the barn. She quickly pulled up her pony and dismounted at the hitching post. Jake and her dad turned around when they heard her and her mother coming over the bridge. Jake started walking towards Sam when he noticed she was trying to lift the saddle off of Bunny's back. And then it dropped on her foot. Jake started running towards her as she screamed in pain.

"Brat! What have you been told about trying to lift the saddles?!" He kneeled down beside her foot and took it into his hands, twisting back and forth. Sam whimpered and tried to pull back her foot, but he held fast. Wyatt came up behind Jake and gently took Sam's foot into his hand. He checked it for swelling or bruising and, finding none, he gently set it back down and picked Sam up.

"Sam, you've been told not to lift the saddle until you were a little older, right?" At Sam's sulky nod, Wyatt sighed and took her into the house, Jake and Louise following. Gram was busy taking the cake out of the oven when they walked in and almost dropped it when she saw the pained look on Sam's face.

"Sam! What happened?" Gram was told the story of the falling saddle and, tsking her tongue, she set a cold cloth over her foot to help with the pain. Louise checked on Sam and quickly went upstairs to get a heating pad. After warming up Sam's foot a bit, she gently took the foot into her hands and started rubbing it, trying to get the pain to go away.

"Do you feel better Sam?" At her nod, Louise gently smiled and asked the dreaded question.

"You're not going to do that again, are you?" Sam sighed and shook her head 'no.' Louise laughed and pulled her in for a quick kiss. Standing her up, she gave a playful smack on her rump and sent her upstairs to get ready for her party.

Sam came back down ten minutes later, cleaned up in a new pair of jeans and a different shirt. Brush and hair ties in hand, she sat down in front of her mother and asked her to put her hair into braids. Louise agreed and had her hair done a few minutes later.

Horses began coming over the bridge and Sam ran outside to greet her guests. Maxine gave her a tight hug and whispered a quiet 'Happy Birthday' in her ear. Sam squealed in laughter when she was suddenly picked up and tossed into the air.

"Sammy! Happy birthday little one!" Sam laughed and smiled at the tan face smiling down at her.

"Thank you Unka Luke!" After being passed around for more hugs and congratulations, Sam was antsy and wanted to open her presents and eat cake. Not exactly in that order either. Louise noticed her daughter's growing impatience and turned to Wyatt, signaling that it was time. He smiled and walked over to where Sam was talking with Jake and her friend, Anne.

"So Sam, ready to open your presents?" Sam squealed in delight and ran to her dad. She tugged on his hand and began begging.

"Please Daddy please!" He smiled and began leading her back to her mother. Sam smiled and ran into her mom's open arms, giggling at the raspberry her mom gave her.

"So Sam, you ready? You have to go into the barn first before you can open anything!" Sam looked confused, but jumped down to do what her mom told her to do. She wandered into the barn and dropped down on a hay bale, waiting to be called back out. Jake came in a few minutes later and told her to stand up. He got behind her and tied a piece of cloth over her eyes. She stamped her foot impatiently and hearing an 'ouch' come from behind her, she started smiling and giggled.

"Not funny Brat. That hurt. I should leave you in here for that." Sam didn't wait any longer and started dragging Jake towards the direction where she knew the barn door was. Jake laughed and let her pull him out the door, quickly steering her away from the wall she was about to run into.

Sam continued on outside with Jake steering her. She came up beside someone and felt a hand grab her and pull her closer. She instinctively knew her mother's grip and leaned closer. Her mom took her hand and placed it on something warm and furry. Sam moved closer to the object and heard a whine then something licking her hand. She quickly pulled off the blindfold and saw a squirming puppy in her dad's arms.

"Do you like him sweetie? We thought you were old enough to take care of a dog. Besides, we need another one running around. What do you want to name him?" Sam looked back down at the golden pup that was wiggling around and licking at Sam and her dad's fingers. She saw an odd-shaped white spot on his chest and decided his name right there.

"I want to name him Spot." There was silence for a moment before it was broken with a snort from Jake. All eyes flew to him and he started laughing, which got everyone else started. Sam looked around confused and a little hurt because every one was laughing at the name she picked out.

"What's wrong with the name? I think it sounds cute. See! He has a little spot of white on his chest." Louise looked and saw the spot. She grinned and nodded at Sam.

"Spot it is. Now do you want to open the rest of your presents?" Sam nodded eagerly and opened up the rest of her presents. Gram got her a beautiful horse statue that could go on her bookshelf along with a book full of horse pictures. Jake and his family got her different puzzles that had horse pictures. Sam received a pretty shirt and jacket from Anne and her family. The rest of her friends pitched their money together and got her a gift card to anywhere in the mall. She thanked everyone enthusiastically and ran inside to put the stuff on her bed. When she got back outside, a big, beautiful cake was sitting on the picnic table surrounded by paper cups, napkins, plates, and some utensils and drinks. Sam ran to the table, picked up a knife and fork and demanded, "Gimme." Everyone laughed at her and moved in to sing 'Happy Birthday.' Once the well-wishes were done with, again, Gram cut a big piece of cake and set it on Sam's plate. She did the same for everyone else and finally ate a piece herself.

The party went on for a couple more hours before people started drifting off to go back home. Sam stood on the bridge and waved to them and they went home. Sam was shocked when Jake suddenly leaned down and gave her a hug.

"Happy birthday Sam." Sam smiled and hugged him back, taking advantage of the unexpected. When everyone was across the bridge and out of sight, Sam ran back inside and sat with her parents and grandma in the living room and played with her puppy.

"So Sam, did you have a good birthday?" Sam nodded her head 'yes' and jumped up to give everyone a big hug and kiss.

"Thank you mama, daddy, Gram! I loved it! I'm gonna go to bed now though. I'm sleepy."

"Good night little one. I'm glad you had a good birthday. I love you. Sleep well." Sam replied back to her mom and gave her a kiss before she went upstairs, Spot trailing her. She smiled as she shut her door and quickly got ready for bed. She climbed under the covers and shut out the light while Spot curled up at her feet. Sleep claimed her quickly and she didn't wake until the next morning when a loud cry and the crashing of plates woke her up.