Chapter 10:

Later that week Sam spent two days working and riding with the cowboys. They checked the cattle in the summer pasture and rounded up strays. Sam enjoyed spending her time in the saddle on Ace as they rode the range, learning tips and tricks from the boys. Sometimes it made her forget all the pain she suffered within the last few months. But each day when they rode home her heart would break over and over again at coming home to an empty house

Late at night she tossed and turned in her bed. A nightmare of the wreck flashed back in her mind. She glanced at the clock. 4:25 am. She slipped out of bed and silently tip-toed her way downstairs. Normally she had to worry about waking up her dad but now she had a less tolerant 2 year old instead.

She slipped on her boots and headed out the door quietly. She placed the baby monitor on a rock as she sat by the water. The sound of the rippling water soothed her as she closed her eyes and took in a breath. After what felt like forever she opened her eyes and gasped. There, by the moonlight stood the Phantom, her beautiful silver stallion. He puffed his chest and held his head as he trotted down into the river towards Sam.

Water splashed as he met Sam halfway in the water and stopped. His long forelock fell over his dark eyes. Sam slipped off her boots and waded into the water to meet him.

"Zanzibar," she whispered his secret name when she was close enough to touch him. She cautiously held out her hand to him. The Phantom stretched his nose out and sniffed her hand. Sam smiled. She had only seen him out with her herd in the last months but he hadn't come to the river to greet her. He bickered softly when she ran her fingers through his silver mane.

"Do you want to ride, boy?" She asked him. With his permission she vaulted onto his back. She sat perched there, enjoying the moon light as it hit the water. Reaching down to hug his neck she laid her head against him. "I wish I could but I can't," she said, disappointedly. "I have to watch Cody now, I'm sorry." She kept holding his neck, wishing the moment could last forever and wishing she could ride him back to his secret valley but instead she knew she had a commitment to make with her brother. She couldn't leave him alone.

The Phantom began walking in the river slowly. Sam sat up and clung to his mane as he went up and down the river twice. Then, as if to tell her the ride was over, he gave a big buck and Sam went flying through the air, hitting the water with a splash. She sat up and spit water from her mouth. The stallion reared over her and took off out of the water and dashed for the hillside. He disappeared behind the sage brush without a glance back.

Sam stood up in the river, drenched from head to toe. She only wore a short thin sleeveless nightgown and was freezing in the water. A shrill whinny broke through the night, catching her attention. Sam grabbed the monitor off the rock and raced for the barn. Without turning on the light she found her black filly Tempest pacing around her stall.

"It's okay, girl," she cooed as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. "It was just your dad. He got tired of me," she chuckled. Sam entered the stall and began to sooth Tempest by rubbing her neck. Although she was still wet from her fall she didn't care, she felt like the old Sam for the first time in a long time. She had the Phantom to thank for that.

"I'll stay here until you calm down, sweetie," she said, still rubbing Tempest. "Just for a little bit longer."

After a few more minutes the horse began to drift off to sleep and so did Sam. She propped her back against the stall wall and slid down until she was sitting in the straw. Soon she was fast asleep as the black filly stood guard over her.

Two hours later Sam awoke when a dark shadow fell over her. She refused to open her eyes and snuggled closer to the warm fur she was wrapped in.

"You gotta be kiddin' me," she heard the quiet voice say. Then she felt two strong arms wrap around her and lift her up off the ground. Instantly she clung to the neck and smelled leather as she was carried out of the stall.

She poked one eye halfway open and found herself in Jake's arms as he carried her to the house. It was still dark outside but the sun was trying to come up to the east.

"What time is?" she yawned.

"6:30," said Jake. "Brat, do not tell me you slept in that stall snuggled up to that horse all night? Do you know how dangerous that is? You were laying on her by her feet, that's just asking for trouble." She almost gave him a heart attack when he found her in the stall.

Sam mumbled into his t-shirt but he couldn't understand what she was saying. The nightgown she had on was very thin it made him nervous to carry her. It was damp like her hair and she was covered in straw. Although she smelled like a horse it made Jake go crazy for her.

All of a sudden her head popped up in sudden urgency, "Cody!" She squealed.

Jake held her closer as they approached the house. "He was fine when I got here, I checked on him fifteen minutes ago."

Sam grunted and rubbed her eyes as Jake put her down on the porch. She plucked some straw from her hair and kicked off her boots.

"Let me guess," he began as they entered the house, "You just happened to magically fall into the river last night."

Sam shrugged as she grabbed two mugs and poured herself and Jake a cup of coffee.

"You don't want to know," she said, hiding a smile and handing him a mug.

Jake sipped it and put it down, "You better be careful around him, Samantha," he said sternly, knowing darn well what she was really doing down by the La Charla river at night. He knew she met the Phantom occasionally and that horse would literally sweep her off her feet.

Sam rolled her eyes, "Jake, I can't sleep anymore. I have nightmares," She hesitated and hugged her hips. "I haven't slept a whole night since…" she cut off and they both knew what she was about to say. Since he held her, sleeping with her that first night of the accident.

He nodded, knowingly how troubled she was. "You should probably try go get some more sleep," he motioned his head towards upstairs. "I can watch Cody for a few hours."

Sam shook her head. "No I'm good," she swore. She finished off her coffee and put her mug in the sink. Barefoot, she walked towards him and met his eyes. Jake felt his heart skip a beat at how gorgeous she looked, even if she was a mess. "Plus," she smiled innocently, "I remember a cowboy who promised me he'd teach me how to rope this summer."