I'm back! Yay! So sorry for the extremely long wait...I bet some of you guys have probably forgotten about this story, huh? Well, I wouldn't blame you, it's been a while. I'm really sorry, but that's what happens when college gets in the way. But now that it's winter break I have a whole month to finish this story! Hoorah! And I promise you I WILL finish it. Now, onto chapter eleven...it's a bit short, but I need time to reorganize my thoughts on this story and figure out where I'm going. Next chapter will be longer, and don't worry, I'll be updating much sooner than last time. Enjoy the chapter! =D

Chapter Eleven

"You're the best thing that's ever been mine."

Taylor Swift

"What do you mean, engaged?"

Jake squeezed Sam's hand from underneath the table they were both sitting at, glancing up at Wyatt who was trying his very best not to spontaneously combust due to the extreme amount of shock that had transpired in a matter of seconds after hearing the couple's unexpected declaration.

"I am asking for your permission to marry your daughter," Jake replied, seeming entirely unfazed by Wyatt's reaction, "If that's alright with you, sir."

"Alright?" Wyatt repeated, his eyes widening and his mouth opening as if he were about to let lose a long line of profanities – instead, he broke out into a mile-wide grin and exclaimed, "Of course it's alright! It's about time, if I do say so myself."

Sam lifted her head and blinked at her father in confusion. "Wait…what are you talking about? You knew this was going to happen?"

"Well of course I didn't know. No one can predict the future, Samantha. But it was pretty obvious by the way you two have been acting that it would happen eventually."

"We acted like we hated each other," Sam said with even more confusion in her tone than before.

Wyatt smiled at his daughter. "We all knew that you didn't. Heck, you two have been best friends ever since you first moved here. Several years away from each other would never have changed the relationship you two had forged. It just took a little bit of time for you two to realize that your love for each other was still there, all along."

Sam felt tears start to build up in the back of her eyes. She met Jake's eyes with her own and offered him a small, loving grin.

"So does that mean we have your blessing?" Jake questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Stepping forward, Wyatt placed a hand on Jake's shoulder, looked down on him and said, "I've always treated you like you were one of us – you marrying Sam will only confirm that fact. You're already a part of our family…you don't need my permission, and yet I will stand here today and give it to you, trusting that you will take care of our Sam."

Sam stood up from the chair to hug her father's neck. "Thank you," she whispered, her face positively glowing with happiness. "I knew you'd say yes!"

Gram chuckled softly from behind them. "Took you two long enough," she teased lovingly, her eyes glowing with affection.

"I've got to tell Jen!" Sam exclaimed, jumping up from the table and then turning around to glance back at Jake. "Are you coming?"

"Sure. But first…"

Trailing off, Jake stood up from the chair then got down on one knee and took Sam's hand. "I want to do this the right way."

Sam's eyes widened as Jake reached with his other hand and took out a small black velvet box from his back pocket. She literally felt like her heart was about to explode when he began to speak, gazing up at her with the most passionate, enamored expression on his face.

"Samantha Forster, from the moment you stuck your tongue out at me when we were kids after I first called you a brat you've stolen my heart. No other girl has made me angrier or crazier and has ever been capable of making me feel so much frustration and aggravation than you have."

Sam raised an eyebrow, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly in amusement.

"But most importantly, no other girl has made me happier, a better person, made me feel more blessed and full of life than you have. And for that I'll always be grateful. So, with that said…"

Sam's breath hitched as he opened the box with a single flick of his thumb, revealing a stunning blue carat diamond ring, the tiny stone glinting profusely in the sunlight which filtered through the window.

"Oh…my…"

"Samantha Forster, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Jake murmured, staring deep into her wide, tear-filled eyes. His hand that was still holding hers shook slightly as he patiently waited for her response, and fortunately for him he didn't have to wait long.

"Yes," Sam whispered, letting out a soft, tearful laugh. "Yes, yes! Of course, Jake Ely, I'll marry you. I'll follow you till the end of this earth, and don't you forget it."

Gram and Brynna let out a joyful cry of delight at the same moment Sam flung herself into Jake's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Grinning handsomely, Jake stood up and swung her around, Sam's feet nearly knocking Wyatt straight across the face.

"Hey now!" Wyatt warned, but couldn't help grinning himself as the newly engaged couple continued to dance around the kitchen, immersed in each other's love and triumphant happiness. It was most certainly a day that they would never forget.

In the very midst of all the noise, Wyatt heard the phone ring. Tearing his gaze away from Jake and Samantha, he walked over to the phone and picked it up.

"Forster residence, this is Wyatt speaking."

After a minute of listening to the voice speak on the other line, Wyatt's smile turned into a deep, troubled frown. Noticing her husband's grave expression, she walked over to stand beside him, curiously watching his face as he began to respond.

"I understand. I'll get a couple of my boys to ride over there and check it out. If it's serious, we'll do the best we can to mend the situation. Yes, I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for letting us know. You have a good night…thanks. Bye."

"What is it?" Brynna questioned anxiously, almost immediately after he'd hung up the phone.

Letting out a sigh, Wyatt turned towards her and murmured softly, careful that Sam wouldn't hear, "It's one of the Phantom's mares. She's in danger. Somehow she had broken away from the herd and not too soon after a lion had gotten a hold of her. She's badly injured…and lucky to still be alive."

Brynna pursed her lips in a frown. "That's odd. Usually a mare wouldn't break away from the herd, unless…"

Wyatt stared at her, and then suddenly he let out a groan when he realized what Brynna had been thinking.

"You don't think she's…?"

"That's exactly what I think," Brynna said anxiously, running her hand through her hair. "She's pregnant."

"Who's pregnant?" Sam piped up from behind them, tilting her head slightly to gaze at them in a questionable manner. Jake strode up to stand next to his fiancé, his eyes suddenly turning wary after having picked up on the tension.

"Er, Sam, I don't think now is the time to-"

"Dad," Sam stated firmly, crossing her arms and giving her father a long, stern look. "Tell me."

Sighing, Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck with his hand as if to relieve some of the pressure, before saying slowly, "One of the Phantom's mares is pregnant."

Sam's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? Oh, that's wonderful!"

"We're not certain it'll survive though. Not after…" Wyatt stopped and grimaced.

"Not after what?" Sam demanded, stepping forward. She glanced over at Brynna and raised an eyebrow. "What is it? What happened?"

"A mountain lion got her, sweetie," Brynna murmured, reaching out to gently touch Sam's arm. "She's severely harmed. She's lost a lot of blood and-"

"What are we all standing around here then?" Sam exclaimed, whipping around to face Jake. "Come on! We've got to go to her."

"Now Sam," Jake said patiently, putting a hand on her shoulder and fixing her with a calm, steady gaze. "Why don't you let the ranch hands take care of this? I'm sure they'll be able to handle it. Didn't you want to tell Jen the good news?"

"That can wait. I have to go Jake. This is the Phantom's mare we're talking about." And his foal! Sam thought, clenching her hands into fists. I must save them…I WILL save them.

Jake sighed, staring at her for a moment longer before nodding his head in understanding. "Okay. Let's do it."

Lifting her head, Sam kissed him softly on the lips, whispering a grateful 'thank-you' before spinning around to ask Wyatt and Brynna, "Are you guys coming?"

"Of course," Brynna replied before Wyatt had a chance to answer. "We'd love to help you save the Phantom's mare."

"Right," Sam said, and with a face set with hard determination, she grabbed Jake's hand and headed towards the door.

"Let's go."

So, whadd'ya think? Let me know with a review!

~Mystic

P.S.: I have a picture of Sam's engagement ring on the bottom of my profile if you wanna check it out. :)