Hey things are going crazy and I've been trying my best to keep you all updated. I know Jake was posted at the back of the herd in previous chapters but he's at the front of the herd in this chapter.
Chapter 4
Shocking Surprises, New Neighbours
Sam wiped her forehead for the fourth time; she was hot riding drag and had finished her water half an hour ago. No one had come to see how she was for three hours and she was starting to get worried. Ace slowed even more he was to tried to even raise a trot, can someone please come and check on me with a bottle of water Sam thought as she wiped her forehead once more.
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Jake was riding back towards Sam when he noticed that she wasn't there, more than that half the herd wasn't there, Jake spurred Witch around and rode back to Wyatt.
Jake rode up to Wyatt. "Wyatt, we have a problem" Jake started.
"Jake what is it, were almost back to the truck's so can't it wait" Wyatt said.
"No it can't. Sam not at the back of the herd and half the herd is missing" Jake finished his sentence.
Wyatt swore under his breath "You get Quinn, Bryan, Nate and Jen. I'll get Luke, Dallas and Pepper" Wyatt said, turning Blue towards Luke. "Hurry" he said and went to get Luke. Jake rode towards Quinn and Bryan.
"Hey Jakey, you checking on us" Quinn said to his brother.
"Sam's missing and so is half the herd, are you two going to help find her" Jake said quickly.
"We love Sam like a sister so why wouldn't we" Bryan answered, and turned Tonks around.
"I coming, who else do you have to get Jake?" Quinn asked, turning Chip around to follow Jake and Bryan.
"Jen and Nate" Jake said quickly.
"I'll go get Jen" Quinn said, riding past Jake and Bryan.
"I'll go get Nate" Bryan said and let Tonks jog after Quinn.
God Sam, are you ok Jake thought, he asked Witch to quicken her pace and followed his brothers.
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Sam was about to faint, she was so thirsty she could drink from the lake at War Drum Flats. No matter how many horses had drunk from it. Ace stumbled; Sam looked around and saw a flash of silver. What was that Sam thought to herself, she saw it again.
"Blackie?" Sam called, stopping Ace.
She heard a sound behind her and twisted in her saddle, Sam was relieved that it was the Phantom. He slowed from his lope and stoped beside her.
"Hey Zanzibar" Sam whispered. She dismounted and moved around to pat him. "What are you doing out here, huh" Sam said, doing circles with her fingers. The Phantom snorted and turned his head, Sam followed his gaze. He turned his head around and pushed her to his back, Sam slapped Ace rump before scrambling onto the Phantom's back. The Phantom burst into a gallop heading for the outskirts of the herd.
"Go Zanzibar, go" Sam whispered, leaning forward even more than she already was.
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Jake was at the back of the first part of the herd with Nate, Bryan, Quinn and Jen; when Wyatt, Dallas and Luke showed up.
"Jake, Bryan and Nate follow the tracks from where we've been. Quinn and Jen, Go and search left of the tracks. Luke, you and I'll go right. Dallas ride drag till we're back" Wyatt said, turning Blue to the right of where the herd had been.
"Come on Quinn" Jen said turning Silly to the left of where the herd had been.
Jake turned Witch around and headed back to where the herd had been. Sam are you alright Jake thought.
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Sam looked over her shoulder again, he was still there.
"C'mon Zanzibar" Sam encouraged. The Phantom put on some more speed and launched into the bushes.
"Zanzibar, where are you going?" Sam whispered, crouching lower on his back. Braches scrapped Sam and snagged at her clothes. Sam could see the end of the deer trail up ahead; they burst out of the opening. Sam had no idea where she was, but kept on encouraging the Phantom to run. Sam could still hear him chasing her. Sam could see a horse about five miles away and maybe a rider, "Zanzibar can we go towards the horse?" Sam asked but Zanzibar was already turning. Sam looked over her shoulder he was still following her.
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Wendy Forest unsaddled her black Quarter Horse stallion Lewis, watching him wander a bit before rummaging through her saddlebags for lunch and sitting down. Lewis threw his head up and snorted, "Lew what is it?" Wendy said reaching for her gear and whistling for Lewis before saddling him up, She mounted and let Lewis go where he needed to.
Sam could see a rider coming towards her, "Help" she screamed.
Wendy urged Lewis into a gallop towards Sam [A/N Sonya doesn't know Sam just yet]. She pulled her shot-gun out of the scabbard; she didn't know why she just did.
"Help, this guy's following me" Sam said shaking.
Wendy looked behind Sam and saw the guy who was following her.
"You stop that horse now or I'll blow your leg to the next state" Wendy yelled, drawing the shot-gun to her shoulder.
"Oh please, chicks can't shoot" He said, his horse dropped to a jog.
"Don't think I won't" Wendy yelled and fired, "Next time I won't miss". The bullet whizzed past his head.
"Fine" he said turning his horse away from Sam and Wendy.
"That better?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, thanks. I don't think I've seen you around here before?" Sam asked, the phantom tossed his mane and let out a snort.
"Wendy Forest" Wendy said reaching over to shake Sam hand.
"Samantha Forster from River Bend Ranch" Sam said shaking Wendy's hand.
"Yeah, I've bought Ryan Slocum's share of Harmony Ranch and Deer Path. Are you okay to go back to where ever you came from?" Wendy asked.
"No. I don't want to run into him again" Sam said.
"Well it might be a good way to meet the neighbours" Wendy said, clicking Lewis towards where Sam had come from.
Sam sat on The Phantom surprised, 1 for the fact that The Phantom wasn't running away from Wendy or telling her to get off. 2 That Wendy's tracking skills were almost as good as Jakes.
"C'mon Sam, you want to go back sometime?!" Wendy yelled over her shoulder.
"Coming" Sam yelled back, clicking to The Phantom. Zanzibar settled into a smooth lope towards Wendy, he had figured that Wendy wasn't a threat and so was her horse.
"Sam, you said something about River Bend, is it a ranch around here?" Wendy asked, letting Lewis have his head.
"Yeah, my dad owns it. Why?" Sam asked.
"Is it next to a ranch called Three Ponies, by any chance?" Wendy asked looking to the ground and back at Sam.
"Yeah, it is. Its run by a family called the Ely's" Sam answered.
"Ely?! Is there a boy called Nate err... Nathan?" Wendy asked.
"You know Nate?" Sam asked, wide eyed.
"If it's the Nate I'm after, then yes I do" Wendy fiddled with her reins.
"Why do you want to see him?" Sam asked.
"That's not for you to know" Wendy answered, they had reached the deer trail.
"Sam, do you want to go first. Your horse might know they way threw it back to the track" Wendy asked.
"Yeah, sure" Sam answered, The Phantom plunged into the deer trail.
Wendy was following behind, dreading the conversation if Sam's neighbour was the Nate Ely she was looking for.
Sam sat on The Phantom, wondering why Wendy was asking about Nate. She probably knew him in school but then why would she asked if he lived here, It doesn't add up Sam thought. The Phantom snorted and her attention went back to the trail.
"I think we're almost at the end of the trail Wendy" Sam called.
"Okay" Wendy called back.
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"Bryan, Nate did you hear that?" Jake asked pulling Witch up.
"If you mean that snort then yes" Nate said.
"What snort?" Bryan asked.
The Phantom and Sam burst through the bushes.
"God am I happy to see you guy's" Sam said. The brothers were looking at her eyes wide; Sam realized that they were staring at The Phantom.
"Sam, are we happy to see you" Bryan said.
"Sam, are you going to be okay now?" Wendy asked as she emerged from the trees.
Nate's eyes flew straight to Wendy's.
"Thanks Wendy, I am" Sam said.
"Sam get off The Phantom now, you're going to be riding double with one of us" Jake said, Bryan nodded in agreement.
"Fine then Jake" Sam spat out, and dismounted.
"Thanks boy" Sam said; The Phantom nuzzled her hands before turning around and loping off.
"Jake who am I going to ride double with, since you are going to be at the front of the herd? Bryan's two place's down and I have no idea where Nate's usually is" Sam said crossing her arms.
"Sam, you could ride back to River Bend with me or I could go with you three" Wendy spoke out.
Jake looked up from battling with Sam, it was the first time he had noticed Wendy. Bryan looked at Jake and then noticed Wendy as well.
Hells bells she's hot! Bryan thought to himself.
"Jake, Bryan and Nate, this is Wendy Forest she bought Ryan's share of Harmony Ranch and Deer Path" Sam introduced.
"Hey" Wendy said nodding towards Jake and Bryan. "Nate, can I talk to you please?" Wendy asked; Bryan's eyebrows rose.
"Sure Wendy" Nate said turning Chance and clicking him on.
"Who is that, Sam?" Bryan asked.
"Her name's Wendy, she was asking about Nate when we came in" Sam said.
"I think I've seen her before" Jake said. "When Nate and I went to a Quarter Horse convention, she was there. They went out a few times" Jake finished.
"Wow, she better not have a grudge" Bryan said.
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"Wendy the last time"
"Nate shut up, I need to tell you something" Wendy stopped him.
"What is it?" Nate asked.
"I'm… I'm… I'm pregnant" Wendy said, bitting her lip to stop tears flowing.
"Wendy, when did you find out?" Nate asked and dismounted.
"I've only known for a couple of weeks" Wendy answered dismounting from Lewis.
"I couldn't find your number so I could only pray that I would see you again" Wendy started "and it came true" she finished.
"I can't believe it, are going to keep it or are you going to terminate the pregnancy?" Nate asked, putting his arm around her.
Horror struck her face and Nate wished he could take back what he said.
"How could you think that?" She screamed at him, "I want to have this baby whether you like it or not. That way I know that I have your support and help through this" she finished and rushed over to Lewis.
"Wendy, I want to do the right thing by you and the baby" Nate called, Wendy's face softened but she still mounted.
"We'll talk about this more when Sam's back with her parents" Wendy said and clicked on Lewis.
"Wendy, what's your horse's name?" Nate asked mounting Chance and asked him to walk on.
"Lewis, do you have any mares that need a service?" Wendy asked.
"He's a stallion!?" Nate exclaimed, yikes she can tame any horse Nate thought to himself.
"Yes, he's a stallion and only I can get near him. For some reason he hates everyone else" Wendy answered, as to agree Lewis snorted and started nodding his head. Wendy snorted and Nate started laughing.
"Well at least he's got a personality" Nate said.
"Oii, you two get over here" Bryan called.
"Coming Bryan" Nate called back, Chance burst into a gallop and Lewis followed suit.
"Catch us if you can!" Nate yelled over his shoulder, Wendy snorted.
"What?" Nate asked looking at her.
"I don't want to know the tricks you can do on that horse" Wendy said.
"What tricks do you want to see?" Nate said looking at her.
"Can you do this?" Wendy said she stood up in her saddle.
"You shouldn't be doing that considering" Nate said.
"I've done trick riding before" Wendy said.
"Brat hop up" Jake said extending a hand.
"Thanks Jake" Sam said once she was safely on Witch's back.
"Hold on" Jake said, Sam was about to ask why when Witch burst into a gallop after Nate.
"Ha, Bryan tries to catch up" Jake yelled to Bryan.
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"Dallas has anyone come back yet?" Wyatt asked when he and Luke came back to the herd.
"No, but Ace has, he's in the middle of the herd" Dallas answered.
"Wyatt, I can hear galloping hooves" Luke called to Wyatt. Wyatt turned Blue around and saw four horses coming towards him.
Nate could see his father and Wyatt up ahead and slowed Chance down, Wendy saw what he was doing and did the same.
"That was awesome" Wendy said to Nate.
"It can be" Nate said back.
"Nate, Chance certainly can gallop" Bryan called to Nate slowing Tonks.
"Yeah so can Tonks but if we were having a flat out gallop across the playa, I think Lewis would win" Nate said.
"He might" Wendy said, rubbing Lewis's neck.
"Lewis! That's not really a horse name more of a human's" Bryan said as Jake was coming up on Witch, Sam poked her head out from behind Jake and almost fell off.
"Sam are you ok" Wyatt said seeing Sam.
"Dad, I'm fine" Sam said sliding off Witch. "Dad I'd like you to meet our new neighbour Wendy Forest she brought Ryan's share of Harmony Ranch and Deer Path" Sam said straightening her back and giving Witch a pat, before walking over to her father.
"Did you just pat that mare!?" Wyatt exclaimed.
Sam's eyes widened "she didn't bite my hand off".
"She must like you then, Brat" Jake said humour evident in his voice.
"Yeah right, if she liked anyone then someone in your family must be expecting to have a baby" Sam said.
Nate looked at Wendy before he burst out laughing; Bryan looked at Nate and snorted. "The way they go through woman anything could happen" Jake said, shaking his head.
"Dad what horse can I ride till we get back to the trucks?" Sam asked, patting Blue.
"I'm not sure, if Jen was here you could ride with her" Wyatt said.
"Shouldn't she and Quinn be back by now they had less ground to cover, than everyone else" Luke said, Bryan looked at Nate and wiggled his eyebrows making Nate start to laugh again.
"What's so funny" Wendy said looking at Nate and Bryan like they had lost their minds.
Nate mouthed an 'I'll tell you later,' Wendy nodded.
"Sam!" Sam turned around to see Jen and Quinn riding towards them.
"Hey Jen" Sam said.
"Jen, can you ride double with Sam in Drag?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, I can" Jen answered.
"Excuse me, err..." Wendy started.
"Wyatt" Wyatt said.
"Some guy was chasing Sam when she found me" Wendy finished.
"Do you know who it was, Sam?" Wyatt asked looking at his daughter.
"Yes" Sam answered, "It was Flick". Jen gasped, Jakes eyes had hardened.
"Are you sure it was him?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, dad I'm sure" Sam answered.
"Wendy, would you ride with Jen and Sam? If it's no trouble, we'll trailer your horse to where you live" Wyatt asked, spotting the scabbard on her saddle.
"Sure I can do that" Wendy answered.
"Thanks" Wyatt nodded.
"Dad. What about the cattle that was with me?" Sam asked.
"They are in the area we found them so we should be okay" Wyatt said turning Blue towards the front of the herd.
"I'll stay here a bit" Jake said to Wyatt, Luke, Dallas and his brothers.
"Ok" Luke said as he passed Jake a radio.
"Just encase you need us" Luke said turning his horse. Nate, Bryan and Quinn followed him.
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"So dad, what do you think of Wendy?" Sam asked on the way back to River Bend.
"There's something about her I'm not sure I like" Wyatt answered.
"Like what?" Sam said looking at her father.
"She's after something" Wyatt answered.
"Nate" Sam said.
"I say she after something and you say Nate?" Wyatt said looking at Sam.
"She was asking about him while we rode back to find you" Sam said.
"What's her last name again?" Wyatt asked turning into River Bend.
"Forest, why?" Sam asked getting out of the truck.
"Just wondering" Wyatt answered getting out of the truck.
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"Nate who's Wendy" Bryan asked bringing Tonks out of the horse trailer.
"A friend" Nate answered, too casually. Letting Chance go he turned to his brothers.
"I'll be back in a while" Nate said walking towards his truck.
"So what do you think of her Jake?" Bryan asked closing the gate to the pasture.
"She's okay I guess. With Flick around she should be watching her horse every minute" Jake said.
"No kidding, a horse like that would be worth at least thirty grand" Quinn said.
"Well since her horse is the reigning Quarter Horse Stallion he'd be worth more than that" Jake said.
"Quarter Horse Stallion?" Quinn said surprised
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What do you think? I know that most would have expected that from Quinn or Bryan never Nate, the next chapter will tell you more about Wendy and why Flick's there, also one character is going to be fighting for their lives who will it be?
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