Chapter 9
The Phantom, in all of his majestic glory, stood in the barn. Sam, who had had a death grip on Jake's wrist guiltily let go.
Jake was just as speechless as Sam was, but when the lead stallion only curiously leaned toward, Jake just shook his head. "Jeez, Sam, he's too tame."
Sam, whose mouth was still agape, just stared at Jake blankly. "But-" she started dumbly. Zanzibar was not that domestic, something was wrong. Very wrong.
"Blackie." Sam said, reaching for the horse. Jake's expression looked like he was going to stop Sam from doing that.
The Phantom Stallion snorted angrily when Sam stepped forward, but gave a feeble unfamiliar neigh.
Then Sam spotted his side. Even in the dim barn light, she could see that there was dried blood all over his silver flank. Something pointy and sharp stuck out of a wound, and Jake, noticing this too, flipped on light.
"Oh, my gosh, Jake!" whisper- yelled Sam, going to Blackie's side, and inspecting it. Jake wordlessly stepped over, his jaw tightening.
"It looks like someone purposely shot him with a tranquilizer. We've got to get a vet." Jake announced grimly, "It's infected."
The last thing Sam noticed before she blacked out was Jake's arm steadying her, and the Phantom's wild eyes, looking at her with trust. Only you can save me this time, he seemed to be thinking.