Chapter 10

"So did you talk to Quinn and Bryan?" Jen asked.

"Yes," Sam nodded. "I called Bryan on his cell and he'll take one of us and Quinn will take the other."

"How's Jake going to react?" Jen wondered.

Sam shrugged. "I don't see why he'd react at all. Jake doesn't dance."

"Hmmm," was all that Jen would say.

"What's that mean?" Sam asked.

"It means I hope for your sake that you're right," Jen shrugged.

"Jake would never go unless he was forced," Sam stated. "As far as I know he's never been to a dance. When we went to Reno, he sat at the table while the rest of us danced."

"And accused you of dancing on a pole," Jen reminded her.

Sam frowned. "Yeah. I wanted to blacken both of his eyes that night."

"You should have," Jen said.

Suddenly they heard the car engine over that of the bus and both girls turned in time to see Linc Slocum turn out in front of the bus to pull up in front of them. Both girls took a step back so as not to be hit.

"That's it, I'm telling you, I've about had it," he came out of the car screaming towards Sam. He was pointing angrily at her and Sam took another step back.

"Call that horse, I want him down here right now," Linc continued to yell.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Slocum?" Jen asked.

"That mutt of a horse," Linc shouted, still pointing his finger at Sam. He almost stabbed her with it.

"The Phantom?" Sam was confused. "I can't call him."

She met Jen's eyes, both girls thinking that Linc had gone insane.

"Now!" Linc did jab Sam with his finger.

Sam brushed his hand away from her.

"Either you get that horse down here now or so help me I will shoot him," Linc bent down until he was shouting in Sam's face.

"That's enough," the bus driver came out. "I've called the sheriff. You girls get on the bus."

Sam and Jen grabbed their backpacks and ran for the bus.

"What the heck?" Sam asked Jen as they ran.

"No clue," Jen shook her head as she climbed the stairs.

Sam noticed that every student on the bus was watching her. Sam ducked her head and followed Jen to a seat. Great! Everyone was going to think she was crazy again because of a Slocum.

"I'm warning you, Samantha," Linc was still yelling. "I won't stand for that stallion stealing my mares."

"One of his mares is gone?" Sam asked Jen.

"Not that I knew," Jen answered. "I'll ask when I get home of course."

"Wow, is that guy nuts or what?" someone said to the girls.

"Or what," Sam nodded. Sam wondered how quickly the story would spread.

"It's not your fault," Jen reminded her. "He's the one who's imbalanced."

"You know it will be twisted," Sam said. "Especially from Rachel. She won't admit her father is nuts. It will be all my fault because she's already told everyone that I am."

Jen didn't deny it. Sam sighed. Today was going to be a long day, she just knew it.