Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. My computer caught some virus and lost the folder that held the story. I had to wait for my dad to fix everything for me to update. I know ya'll don't want to hear excuses so I'll just move along. This chapter looks like it will be shorter than the last one. I'm sorry if it turns out that way. I hope you like it and will review. Now, how about that story?

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from PS or PJO that you may recognize. They all belong to Mrs. Farley and Mr. Riordan.

Chapter Three

The ground churned under the thundering hooves of a black mare and her guy and her friend, a bay gelding and his girl. The four companions were finally together again enjoying a nice race to the lake.

"We won! Ha ha! We beat ya'll," exclaimed Sam, "way to go, Ace. Great job, boy!"

"We let you guys win," stated Jake, "I just held Witch back so I could get the feel of riding her again."

Sam snorted. "Whatever! You don't need to 'get the feel of riding her again'. You never need to. You're a great rider, but an awful liar. I mean that is a lame excuse even for you, Jake." She grinned at him as she dismounted and ground-tied Ace. "I think someone is a sore loser," she teased.

"Well, I think someone is a sore winner," he retorted while doing the same with Witch, "Do over when we go back to the ranch, ok."It wasn't a question.

"Sure, but we'll just beat…"

"Brat, what is it?" Jake asked with concern as he walked to where she was standing by the lake. "Brat?"

"Huh? Sorry," she said. "I just thought I saw the Phantom," she apologized while keeping her hazel eyes on the mountains.

"You haven't seen him since Christmas, have you?" he asked sympathetically, putting an arm around her shoulders. He knew it was hard for not knowing how he was. The only answer he received was Sam shaking her head.

"Poor Sam," said Ace, "she has been kind of upset since Zanzibar won't come to see her. Having your boy Jake gone too college doesn't help either."

"I know," agreed Witch, "she so happy with Jake and anyone with two eyes can tell she misses him a lot. I wish he didn't have to go. I also wish Zanzibar would at let Sam see him. It's not fair to keep her worrying like he is."

"I agree. It isn't fair," he replied while getting a mouthful grass. "But I'm sure he has his reasons for not coming," Ace continued after he swallowed.

"Of course he does," Witch said, "I'm glad Jake will be here for the whole summer. There was a possibility that he might have had to go back a month early."

"No," breathed Ace shocked, "why would he have to do that?"

"Work," she said matter-a-factly, "they said there would be plenty of merchandise to be sold and stocked since families would be vacationing at the theme park this summer. It would have been good money, but he told them no. He had more important things to take care of besides earning a couple of dollars."

"How do you know all this?" he questioned her.

Witch rolled her eyes at him and said, "Gal told me. She heard him telling his family when they were inside last night."

"I'm glad he told them no. Sam would have been very upset if he left early. She is really happy with Jake," Ace noticed looking at the two humans staring across the lake in silence.

"Me, too," she agreed while also watching the teens, "Jake seems happiest when he is with her, too. I sure will miss him when he goes back to college. Though maybe not as much as Sam will." Ace nodded his head in agreement.

"Come on, let's head back," Jake said to Sam.

"Alright, and I'll beat you." Sam grinned at him while adding, "again."

With that the four friends were once again off happily racing across the range not worrying about a thing.

Author's Note: Well here it is. Hope you guys enjoyed it. I'm working on the fourth chapter as we speak. Please review and tell me what you think.