Sam and Ace galloped after a little calf that had strayed from the crowd. Ace did his magic and returned the baby to the herd, and then he trotted back to the back next to Silk Stockings as though nothing had happened.
"So how'd you sleep last night?" Said Jen, smirking.
"Hmph." Said Sam.
"What?" Said Jen.
"Nothing."
"Ok, fine. Hey, when we get back we should go to a party, you and Jake can double with Ryan and I. Ryan's friend is having one." Said Jen.
"Jen…I can hardly leave my tent at night, why would I be able to leave the ranch when we get back?" Said Sam, frowning and looking ahead of her so Jen wouldn't see her pained expression.
"Oh. Sorry I forgot." Said Jen.
Sam said nothing for ten minutes, but after a mother cow and her baby decided to stop and sniff the ground, Ace trotted up to them again.
A few minutes later Dad fell behind to talk to Sam. "You and Pepper are going to switch places in the back of the herd." He said.
"Why?" Sam said, pulling Ace behind, and saw that Jake was with Pepper in the back. "Never mind." She said.
She trotted Ace to where Pepper had been, next to Jake. She said nothing and just let Ace round up the lagging cattle. They went that way for the next hour; the tension building between them, but neither one said anything.
"Brat, watch out for the-" Jake began; there was a crack as Ace's front hoof fell through the quicksand.
Jake reached out and caught Ace's reigns and pulled him out before he could sink any lower, but he backed into Witch.
"Thanks." Said Sam. But Jake was trying to steady Witch who had shied away when Ace had backed into her. She reared, and took off at a gallop, Ace took off behind her, trying to catch up.
"Woah, Ace." Sam said as Witch stopped a few feet behind them. Witch gave Ace a nip on the butt and he bucked. Sam flew through the air and landed unmoving on the ground ten feet away. Jake jumped off Witch and ran over to her.
He turned over and frowned. Sam was laughing hysterically. "That w-was so f-f-funny." She managed.
He picked her up and carried her back over to Ace, ignoring her protests. "I'm fine. Put me down. Now. Jake, put me down." She tried to wiggle out of his arms but it didn't work. He set her on her feet, took her face in one hand and looked into her crystal green eyes.
She kept grinning, "Really, I didn't hit my head, it was just funny." She said.
"Sam, you're not fine, you're bleeding." He said.
"Oh. I guess so." She said, looking at her hipbone, where there was a line of blood dripping from her waist.
"Is everything ok?" Said Wyatt, coming over to them.
"No, Sam's gone and hurt herself again." Said Jake.
"Oh Sam. Well you and Jake gallop ahead, its only a few miles, you go get yourself cleaned up, we'll see you there." He said.
"Oh, fine." Said Sam.
She mounted with the help of Jake, and then they galloped ahead.
When they got to where Gram had parked and set up camp they let the horses out and went into the tent. Jake got the first aid kit and quickly explained to Gram what happened, then met Sam in the tent.
"Ok, lie down on you're back." Said Jake.
"I can do it myself thanks." Said Sam. But then lay down at Jake's look.
He lifted her t-shirt up a little to see the cut. Then he washed it with water and when he tried to put anti-biotic cream on it she squealed at the stinging and sat up.
"Oh gosh, Sam, here just hold on to my arm and squeeze it, it'll take your mind off the pain." Said Jake. He quickly cleaned it and put a bandage on it. "Ok. You're fixed."
"Thanks." Said Sam.
"You can let go of my arm now."
"Right." Sam said.
"You're still holding on."
"It still hurts."
He looked at her. "Can't help you there, but I know something that will make you forget about it for a minute."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
He leaned over and kissed her passionately pushing her back onto the pillows.