Chapter 2
Sam wiped the last of her tears away before heading down stairs. She went into the bathroom to reapply her mascara. She lightly brushed her eyelashes with the gooey gunk until she was satisfied with the finished product. She stared into the mirror thinking to herself how she used to look. Before she was skinny, but now too skinny, but what she saw in the mirror shocked her. Sam was as pale as a ghost and looked like a ghost from a haunted house. She could easily scare a little kid because of how her huge eyes and shrunken down face. She posed sideways only to find that she looked like a super model from one of those get skinny quick magazines that she saw in San Francisco. She was a walking, breathing, living, skeleton.
Sam dropped her gaze from the mirror and headed down stairs. The first few stairs creaked as she stepped down, but Sam stopped. She heard a deep booming voice and a petite voice talking to one another. It was Wyatt and Grandma.
"Wyatt, we can't let this go any farther. Next thing you know we'll be digging her grave. I mean she's so sickly looking. We have to do something. She keeps telling me that the chickens are scratching her and that's a lie. Then again, Samantha has never lied before. Those chickens are as docile as a fawn. They've never scratched me before so much. Wyatt, I think she's cutting."
Sam heard Wyatt groan.
"I hate to do this, but I think we have to go to our last resort. She needs psychiatric treatment."
"Wyatt are you sure? I think Sam just needs some time to cope with all these changes in her life. She's been tossed around a lot this year. Just give her some time and I think she'll make it. All she needs to know is that we're all here for her if she ever needs us." said Mrs. Ely
Sam gasped. She never thought that they would go to such extremes. Sam had to cover her mouth before she started to wail and scream at her father which was so out of character. Sam walked down a few steps. They barley creaked under her light body. Now, Sam could make out some of the expressions. Grandma and Daddy looked so grave, but there was a fourth person. Brynna!
"Why are you all getting into my business? I never did that to you guys and yet you feel as thought I am a child that can't take care of myself. Well I can so stop it all of you. Just leave me alone!"
Everyone looked at Sam in surprise. Chairs creaked as four bodies raced to Sam to wrap her in a hug, but she didn't want sympathy. Arms flailed around as Sam ducked down trying to make her great escape.
"Samantha Anne, stop that! We wouldn't have to do this if you would just be your old self." said Grandma
"No, no, no, just leave me alone" Sam wailed. She quickly grabbed her boots and headed out to the barn, her safe haven. That was a place Sam could just get out of this chaos and be all alone without watchful eyes. She tore out of the house and skipped the steps on the front porch. Then, while running blindly, sam tripped, but quickly brushed that off and ran even faster as hands tried to grab her and haul her away. Sam finally reached the barn and took a lead rope and a halter in the other and quickly caught a paint horse. Sam just mounted from the ground not knowing which horse she was riding. Sam jumped the paddock gate and galloped away into War Drum Flats.