I jumped away from Ace's side, the little Mustang snorted in the voice's direction. I moved myself so I was between Ace and the Phantom. I felt the grey horse come up behind me and place his head over my shoulder as if to get a look at who else was in the cave. I felt around until my fingers came across my saddlebag. I pulled out the torch and turned it on. I scanned the cave before me; nothing was there. There was a path that leads deeper into the cave but I didn't go near it.

"The Phantom led me here for the night, I'm sorry to disturb you. I'll go." Sam's voice quivered in the darkness as she tried to find the source of the noise.

"The Phantom ay?" Came the voice again from some where in the cave, the voice was echoing.

"Yes, the Phantom. Show yourself!" Sam was close to running out of the cave and into the mountains she was that scared.

"But if I showed myself to you…everything would be ruined." The deep voice seemed to come from above her. Sam quickly shone the torch light above her but came face to face with a group of bats.

Squealing in fright as the bats flew around her head; Sam ducked and buried her face in the Phantom's neck. He seemed to turn his head to the side saying…Don't be such a wimp. Sam jumped as a rock fell to the cave floor.

"What would be ruined? Please come out and show yourself." Sam's voice was close to cracking, she kept looking around for the voice.

"Everything…everything would be ruined Samantha Forster." Squealing in sheer terror, Sam grabbed Ace's reins and turned for the opening of the cave; her torch lighting the way.

A silhouette appeared at the opening, screaming again Sam pulled Ace to a halt. The Phantom walked up behind her and gave her a light nudge. Quickly Sam tied Ace's reins around his neck, she signaled him to follow her. Sam vaulted easily onto the Phantom's back and urged him out of the cave. By now she had turned the torch off and was relying on the horse's sight. The Phantom broke into a lope, the person jumped to the side in surprise; away from the animal.

"Don't come back Samantha Forster. Don't come back!" The voice echoed behind her; Sam felt waves of terror continue to pulse through her body.

The Phantom snorted to Ace who seemed to be trailing lazily behind, picked up his pace so he was right next to his friend. Sam clung to the stallion as he made his way up the mountain, his feet finding the right places. Sam had never been so petrified in her life; she had never encountered anyone like that in her life either. The Phantom started to weave in between rocks and cliff faces. Sam turned on her torch as the stallion slowed to a walk. They came towards a band of trees, right there in the centre of the mountain. The soft sound of rushing water came from somewhere in those trees. Using her leg aids Sam asked her horse to move forward, he did so willingly. As he weaved in between the trees, Sam didn't notice that someone had been following them.

---

Meanwhile, back on River Bend Ranch; Witch knew something was up since Sam hadn't come and fed her or her foals yet.

Wyatt walked into the barn to find Witch's stall door wide open, the mare and two foals no where in sight. He ran towards the barn entrance again and looked out to where the range was. 3 black figures were getting smaller and smaller by the second. He figured Witch was going after Sam and walked back into the barn. Normally he would've called the ranch hands and saddled his horse to go after the mare but that mare was special…and not only because both her children were strong and healthy. He didn't go after them because those foals were the offspring of the Wild Stallion himself and Witch could protect them better than any other mare.

He knew that Sam needed time to herself, like he did just after Louise passed away. He packed her saddle bags with things she might need while out there and placed a horse tracker in a fold of the saddle bags so if he needed to he could locate her quickly on the computer. He knew that Sam had changed while over in San Fran and how she changed from the little girl she was to a young adult at the age of 15. He knew that Bryanna was treating her unfairly and that his mother didn't like her at all. The truth was that he was starting to see the real woman underneath all the lies and deceit. He knew the Phantom was Sam's old horse Blackie by the way he pranced and the way his eyes rolled when he was fed up with something, Wyatt knew the accident was an accident and that the horse simply spooked. Without dropping any hints, he kept a tab on the stallion so he could claim the horse just incase something went wrong at the BLM or one of his mares escaped him.

Wyatt sighed; he looked around before he pulled something out of his pocket. He opened his wallet and pulled out a picture that was behind Bryanna's. It was Sam when she was riding her first pony, Rebel. Louise had taken the photo without him knowing. Sam was holding onto the dapple grey pony's mane with both hands while he was holding her around the waist. Rebel was specially trained by himself so the horse responded to word commands so he didn't need to be led around like any other horse or pony. A wide happy smile was etched on his and Sam's face. He had placed his own hat on Sam's head which made her look like a real cowgirl. That photo was taken two years before Louise passed away.

Wyatt ran his thumb over the Sam in the photo, tears pricked his eyes. He was loosing that little girl, she was slipping away from his grasp. A tear fell down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away, hoping no one was around to witness it. A true cowboy. Wyatt put his wallet away and began the evening feeds.

Bryanna waddled across the ranch yard to find her husband; she stopped in the barn door just in time to see him wipe away something on his cheek. She hid behind the door just as he looked up. While exhaling softly she heard his footsteps retreat into the feed room. She waited 10 seconds before she walked into the barn, calling for him.

"Wyatt? Have you seen Witch? She isn't in her stall or the foaling paddock." She called, rubbing her belly at the same time. She had been experiencing cramps for the past 2 months or so for some odd reason and she didn't know why.

Wyatt came back out holding a whole stack of buckets.

"She got out of her stall to go find Sam, the foals went with her." He replied as he walked into a stall to feed one of the horses; completely unfazed.

"Aren't you going to go after her? The Ely's are gonna kill you if she or the foals get hurt." Bryanna mumbled as a wave of slight pain passed through her abdomen. She hadn't told Wyatt about the cramps and started rubbing her tummy again.

"This behavior is unacceptable. How do we know that Sam isn't running off to meet some boy? She shouldn't be running out onto the range like that. She is just 15 year-"

Wyatt turned to his wife, annoyance written on his face.

"Bri, Sam is responsible. She has proved it to me on numerous occasions. Witch will be fine once she reaches Sam and Sam will come back when she is ready." Wyatt finally noticed Bryanna was rubbing her stomach.

"Something wrong with junior?" He asked as he walked into another stall and dumped the feed.

"No, of course not baby. Just jumpy today." She masked her face and turned to go back inside.

"Your mother wants to know where Sam is by the way. What do I say?" Bryanna leaned against the stall Wyatt was in now.

Wyatt sighed softly and looked up at his wife.

"Tell her that Sam has gone to think out on the range and that she will be fine since Witch has gone to find her."

He turned his back to her to hide the annoyed look he had.

"Ok then baby." Wyatt cringed on the inside, he didn't like be called baby; even if it was his wife calling him that.

---

Sam dismounted from the stallion and landed on her feet. Ace pulled up beside her. Sam removed his saddle and the blanket she used as a saddle cloth. She walked towards a fallen log and placed the saddle against it. Sam ground tied her gelding and waited for the Phantom to run away like he normally did. When he didn't Sam frowned slightly; something was either wrong or different about him.

Shrugging Sam looked around the small clearing. There was grass for the horses to graze from and a stream for them to drink. She walked around collecting branches and things to make a fire with. She went to the river and collected rocks to form a fire area. After she had lit a fire and it was glowing brightly did she walk towards the stream to clean herself up.

Sam stripped out of her clothes in the moonlight and placed them at a safe distance away from the water. Sam washed her underwear in the clear water so she would have a cleaner pair for tomorrow. She washed away the dirt and grease of the day. She lay down in a particular part of the stream and let the water wash away the stresses of her life. She now understood why Jake normally went a few days out on the range with Witch, just to escape everything and become one with the land.

After she had soaked for a reasonable amount of time, she crawled up onto a boulder (still completely naked) and enjoyed the warmth it was letting off from the day. She dried quickly and pulled on her jeans and her shirt on without the bra and undies underneath. Sam pulled on her socks and boots before making her way back to the horses. As she was walking she picked up more fallen branches she would need later that night. As she came into the camp site, she found the Phantom lying down on a soft patch of grass that was close to the flames. His dark eyes watched her as she approached. Smiling at the scene before her, Sam placed her underwear near the fire to dry and approached the wild horse. He bobbed his head slightly as if saying yes, come closer and sleep. Sam grabbed some food from her saddlebags and the blanket from on top of the log. Sam leaned against the horse and felt the warmth coming from him and the fire. She placed the blanket over her crossed legs and listened to what was going on around her.

She felt herself start to drift off into sleep. Sam placed her stuff back into the saddlebags and called Ace over. He came closer and grazed near her and the stallion. Sam placed a few more branches on the fire before she curled up again next to the phantom.

"Good night Zanzibar, good night Ace." Sam whispered as she started to feel sleep take her.

Ace nickered softly and the stallion placed his head close to hers.

Little did she know that someone else whispered good night Samantha.

---

I walked up the track towards the cave, my friend had returned. I was carrying firewood because I had run out during lunch time. My friend Chris had come out onto the range with me because we wanted to get away from everything. As I looked closer at the tracks, a different horse was with him this time. I heard my friend's voice echoing inside and quickened my pace.

"Everything…everything would be ruined Samantha Forster." I heard the girl squeal in absolute terror, I stood at the cave's entrance; trying to get my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the cave.

"Don't come back Samantha Forster. Don't come back!" Chris's voice echoed behind her; I saw a flash of dark brown hair in the moonlight before they vanished around the bend.

I dropped the branches near the cave opening and found my torch.

"Way to go mate, scare her off why don't cha." I scanned the cave for Chris. I heard his laughter but because of the echo it was hard to pinpoint where it came from.

"Naw… come on Jake, it was just a bit of fun. Besides she was riding that horse of yours and I remember what you told me to do if she ever found us." Chris appeared from the deeper part of the cave, I rubbed the back of my neck in annoyance.

"Yeah that was about a month ago you dipshit." I replied, walking towards that part of the cave.

As I approached where Chris was standing, I picked up my camping backpack.

"Where ya going this time?" Chris leaned against the cave wall, turning on a solar powered lamp.

"To find her." Was all I replied as I stashed a few clothes and other items into my pack. I grabbed the halter and lead rope before stuffing another jumper into my bag. I figured Sam might have been a bit cold. Finally I attached my sleeping bag to my pack.

"Don't know how long I'll be but there are branches just inside the entrance." I picked up my rifle and hoisted it over my shoulder along with my back pack.

"You're gonna run after her I take it?" Chris asked as me he walked with me to the cave's entrance.

"No I'm going to fly after her." I replied sarcastically.

"Seeya mate, remember the cougar up near batman's cave." Chris replied to me as I followed the Phantom's tracks.

It took me about half an hour to finally catch up with them. I had been running the entire way and I felt my legs start to get tired. I hid myself behind a few boulders as I watched Sam walk towards the stream. I snuck further down and hid behind a few clumps of tall bushes. The Phantom looked up from where he was standing and whinnied to me softly. I smiled and looked at the little Mustang beside him. Ace. He had come a long way in the space of 5 months. Normally he would've run away by now or tricked Sam into falling off. I made myself comfortable and turned my eyes towards the stream.

My eyes bugged out of my head. A very naked Sam was wading into the water. I felt my cheeks go warm and I ducked my head. I had feelings for Sam that I needed to sort out, feelings I couldn't face her with until I had sorted them out myself.

I let my mind wander, my eyes occasionally drifting over to where Sam was resting on the boulder. I was an 18 year old guy. Name one who wouldn't look at a naked girl even though he was her best friend. I felt something harden and I quickly removed my gaze. I listened to the world around me as I let my mind go back to roundup. I wanted to tell her then but something was stopping me. My brothers couldn't help me because…because they are my brothers and…yeah.

I heard a twig snap and I looked up, Sam was lying down next to the stallion and had just told them good night. I never thought I would actually say it out loud but I did. I said good night to Samantha.

---

A loud neigh rang through the clump of trees. I sighed and looked at my watch in the firelight. It was 4am. The sun was going to rise in 2 hours. I sat up and realized that Blackie was still lying next to me. I smiled softly and rubbed his withers. My eyes scanned the trees for the source of the neigh. Ace was sleeping comfortably just off to my right so it couldn't have come from him.

Two more neighs replied to the first one. My eyes scanned the trees quicker. I knew those three neighs.

"Witch?" I called out into the night. A neigh answered my voice. I stood abruptly and walked towards where the neigh was coming from. Little did I know that someone else was in the same clearing.

---

Jake watched as three horses came into view. He realized that it was his mare Witch and two foals. He thought she was having one foal…not two!

Sam stood and walked towards the trio, they neighed happily at their familiar friend. Witch snorted in the Phantom's direction.

"Not happy to see the one that made you pregnant ay?" Sam chuckled to herself.

"So that is their sire I take it?" Jake came out of the bushes, scaring the absolute shit out of Sam and Witch.

Sam squealed in fright and fell over backwards, Witch stood in front of her children as if protecting them.

"Shh easy Witch, it's me." Witch's ears changed from angrily laid back to pricked, she nickered and walked towards her master.

"JACOB GAVIN ELY! YOU'RE GOING TO WISH YOU WERE NEVER BORN!" Jake's eyes looked at Sam as she jumped up and ran for him. Jake's eyes turned from amusement to being scared. He turned and ran away from Sam like a little girl running from a group of bullies.

"Aw come on Sam it's only me! Quit chasing me." Jake pleaded as he put on a burst of speed, since when was Sam able to run that fast?

"JAKE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE RUN AWAY THEN." Sam's voice was still dangerously close to him. Jake put on another burst of speed to try and escape her.

"SAM STOP TRYING TO KILL ME!" Jake replied, the foals thought it was funny to see Sam running after the other person and joined in the game of tips. Jake smirked minus the situation he was in as the foals joined in, they were defiantly like Blackie when he was little.

"I'LL STOP TRYING TO KILL YOU WHEN YOU GIVE ME A REASONABLE ANSWER AS TO WHY YOU VANISHED!!!" A weight caught onto his ankles, making him trip.

With a grunt of discomfort as Jake landed on the dirt, Sam pinned Jake with her knees on his arms.

Jake started to struggle but Sam held fast, her horse riding skills officially paying off.

"When did you get so strong and fast?" Jake asked, turning his head to the side so he could look at Sam out of the corner of his eye.

"Since you ditched us Jake. Work around the ranch tend to does that to you. Not eating and working hard does this to you. Pain does this to you." Sam smacked the back of his head for extra measure.

Jake sighed and tried to throw her again. Sam held on and whispered venomously.

"Move and I'll cut your hair off." Sam flashed her pocket knife in his line of vision. Jake instantly stopped.

"Tell me why you vanished and I will consider letting you go." Sam felt his muscles relax and take a deep breath.

"I needed to confront myself before I confronted you or anyone else. Please Brat let me up so I can tell you properly." Jake said softly, so softly Sam strained to hear him.

Sam climbed off him, blanking her face more carefully; including her eyes.

She walked towards where the foals were playing and whistled softly. They pricked their ears and followed her to where their mother was grazing peacefully next to the Phantom. She was grateful that the babysitter was back.

Sam picked up the blanket and laid it on the ground so she could sit down. Ace was still sleeping, he must've been really tired.

Jake stood before Sam, the fire was playing on his face beneath his Stetson.

"Well start explaining cowboy." Sam said, looking into the fire. One of the foals came and lay down beside Sam, placing it's head on her lap.

Sam stroke the foal's face and tried not to show her happiness. The foals were like her own children since she had to help feed them; Witch couldn't supply enough milk for the both of them.

Jake took a deep breath and searched her face, he realized she had taught herself to blank it out. He felt his insides curl and knot; he caused her to change.

"Before you say anything the change wasn't entirely your fault." Sam said without even looking at him. She felt his gaze on her but refused to meet his questioning eyes.

The tables were turned.