Chapter 6 up! As you can see, I did decide to extend this story a little longer. Hope you enjoy! Terri Farley owns everything, blah, blah, blah.

Chapter 6

Nothing at the moment could seem so desirable as a cool breeze, but no such luck was to be had. The high noon sun beat down mercilessly, causing a small bead of sweat to roll off Sam's forehead. She wiped it away tiredly with the back of her hand. She deeply wished Jake were there so they could ride out to the lake to cool off in the cold, refreshing water.

Once again, no such luck. This morning Jake had come to River Bend to tell Wyatt he wouldn't be able to work the horses that day and would only tell Sam that he had to go into town. When she asked, he refused to tell her why.

Images of the River she had first rode Ember in consumed her mind. She went up to her room and put on a pretty green bikini - one of the most girly articles of clothing she owned.

Wearing only her bathing suit and a pair of plain, white flip flops, she trudged downstairs and began walking to the river.

She was too hot to care when Ross looked at her like she was completely insane for taking off towards the desert in her current state of attire.

When the river was in sight she sprinted towards it with more enthusiasm than she had shown the entire day.

The cool water rolled over her body soothingly when she leaped into its gently flowing waters. After she was thoroughly refreshed she crawled over to the sandy bank and laid there, half in and half out.

It wasn't long before loud, noisy splashing approached her from behind. She sat up to discover the source of the noise.

Ember stood there, his gleaming white coat radiant in the intense sunlight. He nickered a low greeting.

Sam's face broke into a broad smile. She ran to him, throwing her arms excitedly around his neck. One thing about Ember was that he was like her horse away from home. There was none of the reservation or danger that she occasionally experienced with the Phantom.

"Why on earth did you travel all this way to visit me when it's so hot outside?" she asked him playfully. His hooves splashed her with water as he pranced around her.

"That's right," Sam realized, "you've got the blood of true desert horses running through your veins." The heat probably did little to phase him.

Grabbing a fistful of mane, she swung up onto his back. They trotted back and forth down the river together, just like they had the first time she climbed upon his back.

Sam knew of a spot a ways downstream where the water was really deep. It was a place they normally avoided for driving cattle. She cantered him along the bank to the spot, and squealed delightedly as he sprang into the air and they crashed into the water with a giant wave emanating from their point of contact with the cool, blue liquid.

It was more deep than she had ever speculated. She realized with shocked enthusiasm that her contact with Ember's back was unusually light - he was swimming! Sam let out a whoop.

It wasn't long before the white stallion's strong back broke from the water's surface and they were cantering away. Sam let him choose the way.

Unsurprisingly, he brought her to Three Ponies. Often he visited her there, usually when she was riding Tempest home from dinner with the Ely's, trusting her mare to get them home.

When her feet met the ground with a soft thud, she patted the drenched stallion on the neck and watched him fly over the Nevada earth towards the secret valley. With a sigh, she walked up to the front porch and knocked on the door.

Sam was grateful that Maxine was the one to open the door, as she was still wearing her green bikini.

"Sam!" Maxine smiled. "Jake isn't home yet. Did you go swimming today?"

"Yeah, I did," she replied. "I figured he probably wouldn't be. I hope you don't mind, but I was hoping I could change into some clothes? Ember left me here."

"Of course, Sam," Maxine waved her inside. "You're welcome here anytime."

Sam smiled at her appreciatively. "Thanks, Maxine."

It was strangely quiet. Maxine seemed to sense her curiosity and explained. "As you know, Jake went into town and the rest of my sons and Luke went to visit their grandfather Mac on the reservation."

"I don't think I've ever heard this house so quiet," Sam chuckled.

"Tell me about it," Maxine agreed. "This is a rare treat for me."

"Sorry to interrupt your peaceful alone time."

"No, no! I'm glad you came," the blonde woman assured her. "You know, I love all my boys," she continued, "but Jake was always the most reserved of all of them. Sometimes I worried that he would never be able to really open up to anyone. But with you, Sam, he doesn't have to. You've always been able to read him, and he you. I've seen how you two just look at each other, and the rest of us have missed an entire conversation. I've never seen him so happy. And that makes me happy for him." Maxine pulled her into a hug. "I consider you my daughter, you know."

Sam looked at Maxine, tears brimming in her eyes. "I know I have Brynna now, but I've always felt that you are the closest person I have to a mom."

Maxine smiled at her, and pulled away from their embrace. "Do you need to borrow some clothes?" she asked.

"Actually I have some here," Sam admitted with some embarrassment, but Maxine just smiled and nodded. "It's just that situations like this seem to occur pretty frequently, so I thought it would be easier to have them."

She and Jake hadn't actually done anything, but Sam realized with a blush that Maxine was convinced otherwise.

"If you want to take a shower feel free to use mine. Who knows what condition the boys' is in."

Sam went upstairs and showered, and then headed to Jake's room. Pulling open one of his dresser drawers, she found an outfit of her own clothes. Once she had changed, she headed back down stairs and found Maxine holding some car keys by the door.

"Luke and the boys are going to stay the night with Mac tonight. I'm going to drive up to visit a friend of mine, but you're welcome to stay here or I can drive you back home."

Sam decided she should probably head back and explain where she had disappeared to all day before anyone began to worry. When Sam got out of the car, she turned to the older woman.

"Thanks, Maxine," she said sincerely. "For everything."

"Anytime."

Sam shut the door and walked back to her house as Maxine drove away, the tires of the car spinning trails of dust behind them.

More to come! As per usual, the more reviews, the quicker the update.