Later that morning Sam decided to go visit her favorite horse in the world, The Phantom.
"Ugh!" she grunted, as her young mare Tempest tried her darn best to throw her.
"Fine, be a brat! I'll be one back!" Sam warned when Tempest didn't respond to any of her signals, and gave the mare a light kick. With an offended squeal Tempest settled into a smooth lope headed toward her father's valley. About half way there Tempest scented the herd and once again tried to unseat Sam in an attempt to race toward the other mares.
"Knock it off" Sam groan trying to ride out her temperamental mare's bucks. At the entrance Sam decided it'd be best to dismount and lead Tempest into the valley, instead of riding, an boy was she right. Tempest fought her the whole way, and once in the valley she almost became uncontrollable.
"Whoa girl, hold on a sec" Sam muttered before releasing the mare. Tempest was prancing proudly into the valley, when a joyous neigh of recognition split the air.
*That's Sunny! She remembers her* Sam thought deeply touched as she watched mother and daughter reunite. After several minutes of nuzzling and snorting, Sunny moved off and left her daughter to investigate her surroundings.
Sam was visiting the Phantom when she heard Tempest neigh, but not just any neigh. Tempest had just neighed a lead mare's neigh.
*Well that's going to get us into a predicament* Sam thought while Tempest continued neighing. All of a sudden she heard what she feared. Another lead mare's neigh split the air, as Sunny came racing out of the herd, intent on defending her rank in the herd.
Tempest was having none of it, as she returned the challenge and charged her mother, mouth agape, ears buried in her mane .
"Tempest no!" Sam screamed trying to get her horse's attention. She failed miserably. Tempest and Sunny were fighting for a rank they both wanted, and neither was going to back down. Sam couldn't pry her eyes off the battle even though she longed to.
About five minutes later, Tempest let out a victorious whinny and eagerly began circling the herd neighing her leadership. The Phantom just snorted and shook his head as if to say mares. Finally, Sam decided it was time to go. Giving a sharp cowgirl whistle, she called to Tempest, who came running.
"Time to go girl" Sam said while saddling the mare. Once mounted Sam gave Tempest a firm kick and gave the mare her head. At the sound of hoof beats following them, Sam glanced back to see the whole herd racing after them.
*Of course! Their going to follow their lead mare* Sam thought suddenly. The herd followed all the way to the bridge, and would of continued if the Phantom hadn't turned them and herded them back to the hills.
"Well that's a relief" Sam told Tempest while un-saddling her and turning her out in the ten-acre pasture. She was walking up the steps when she heard the pounding of hooves and the neigh of pissed off horses. "What in the world?" her Dad asked running out of the house towards the pasture.
"Sam! Get out here and get your jug-headed mare!" her dad yelled, causing Sam to race back outside to see what was going on. When she got there her dad was already in the pasture checking on Strawberry, who was bleeding from bites and kicks.
"What happened?" Sam asked horrified.
"Seems like your mare decided she was sick of being pushed around" her dad answered nodding at Tempest, who was looking mighty darn pleased with herself.
And with that, The Phantom's herd, and River Bend Ranch had a new Queen.
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