Sequel to iAm at Home on the Range.
Chapter Eleven; Police Calls and Top Notch Arrivals.
Disclaimer; I don't own iCarly. I only own my own characters/animals as they are completely made up by me. And… I own this plotline and this story, since they are my own ideas and my own writing.
"Stolen!" Amanda shrieked. "But we've never had a horse stolen from this property! It's completely secure!"
"Not completely." Sam sighed. "We need to call the police." Amanda nodded turning around.
"This doesn't make any sense!"
"I know… but it'll make more sense when the cops have a look round."
"I guess your right." Amanda pointed to the barn. "Get Freddie and Carly up to the house… and tell Addie and Lee to go home. I'll meet you up at the house." Sam nodded and took off for the barn. The barn door was shut when she reached it making her raise an eyebrow. Shaking her head she pushed open the barn door and stared head on at Addie who was leant up against the stable door, pitch fork in hand. Lee wasn't that far away from her and she could also see Carly stood in Apollo's stable, running a brush over his body.
"Ooh.. Hitler's back." Addie deadpanned, gripping the pitchfork tighter.
"Did you seem to forget out little convocation from earlier, Addie? Does Foot. Up. Ass. ring any bells?"
"Fuck you, Puckett." Sam was about to slap her when she felt a hand grasp her shoulder. Her first thought was Freddie, until she saw him stood ahead of her, in the tack room doorway. So, that only left one other person.
"Ladies, Ladies! Enough with the fighting." She could almost hear his smirk. Carly stepped out of the stable, confused.
"Get your hand off of my shoulder you good for nothing, piece of crap.. Before I plummet you so far into the ground you'll be buried alive." He pulled his hand back in a retreating manor, which pleased Sam.. Until he resumed his touching in other places.
"You know.. It seems like you get hotter every time I see you…." He trailed off, running his hand down her chest. Sam span around, shoving his hand away.
"What the fu-"
"What the FUCK do you think your doing!" Freddie.
"Relax Dork, it's not like she'd be getting anything from you… besides, you're a phase… she'll realize what a waste of time you are…"
"Excuse me.. I'm still here!" Sam snapped at him, annoyed by the fact that he was talking straight through her. "Did you not get that very subtle hit I threw out to you last summer when I knocked you back? I don't want you!" This caused Lee to turn slightly red as Addie snorted.
"You were knocked back by Puckett? Better yet, you asked Puckett out!" She burst into laughter.. Also acting as if Sam was not stood a few feet from her. "You are so not my brother."
" Both of you, just get out now!" Sam shouted, making them both turn to her.
"What?"
"No way!" Freddie said to his girlfriend. "He was touching you, I'm not done with him yet!"
"Yes you are Freddie…" Sam looked at Freddie, her eyes no longer holding that regular sparkle that he loved the most. That was when he realized something wasn't right.
"What do you mean, leave?" Lee asked her.
"Exactly what I said! Get out of my barn, right now!"
"And how exactly are we going to get home!" Addie asked, baffled. Sam narrowed her eyes at her.
"I don't know! Walk.. Hitch Hike! Does it look like I give a damn!" Sam shouted. "Just get out!" Sam shoved Addie backwards, towards the barn door and was followed by a very confused Lee. Sam pushed them out of the barn door, watching as they stumbled up the lane, heading for the gate.
"Are you okay?" Freddie asked her, running his thumb across her rosy red cheek.
"I'm fine."
"What's going on, Sam?" Carly asked confused.
"It's Jasper." Sam sighed.
"What about him?"
"He's been stolen."
Carly, Sam and Freddie ran up to the house, bursting through the door in time to hear Amanda ending a phone call.
"Yes." Pause. "Okay. " Pause. "Someone will be waiting." Pause. "Could it be within the next hour?" Pause. "Okay, thank you." Pause. "Goodbye."
Amanda slammed down the phone and sighed. She was about to say something regarding the phone call when she suddenly noticed the boots on Sam's feet.
"Samantha Puckett! What have I told you about coming into this living room with those dirty boots on!" Sam looked down at the dust and dirt filled boots and then glanced back up at her aunt, smiling sheepishly. She took off into the porch where Carly and Freddie were pulling off there boots. This summer, since last year they had to borrow boots, they had remembered to buy their own pair. Freddie had a regular pair of brown male ones.. But Carly. Carly had to be girly and different. She had bought a pair of bright pink, girly cowboy boots. The first time Sam had seen them, she had simply burst out laughing for around ten minutes straight. Carly remembered her exact words.
"If you think you'll keep those boots clean on the farm… your so wrong."
"We kinda' forgot to tell you that you still had your boots on."
"No kidding." Sam mumbled back at Freddie, who simply laughed, watching Sam whip off her boots. Then, she ran back into the living room, where her aunt was still sat on the couch. "Was that the cops?"
"It was." Amanda nodded.
"And..?"
"There sending someone round now.. To look at damage and for any trails to finding them… plus, they've sent out a search looking for him." Sam nodded.
"Well at least people are looking for him."
"It's not that Sam.."
"Huh?"
"It's his value.." Amanda mumbled, turning slightly pink. Sam sighed, knowing exactly where this was going.
"How much is he worth?" She said softly, almost not wanting to hear it.
"That horse is worth $15,000." And that was when Sam Puckett, The girl who could handle anything, promptly fainted.
"She's coming round…" She heard in a whispered tone.
"Urgh…" She groaned, shifting slightly.
"Sam?" She recognized that voice…
"Freddie?" She said back, slowly.. Almost in a slurred voice.
"Are you okay?" She heard him ask her as she cracked open her bright blue eyes. She let out a groan as she tried to sit up. "I tried to catch you.. But you fell so quick.." Sam shook her head.
"I'm fine." She smiled, softly at him. Then, she turned her head towards her aunt. "That two year old nut ball is worth fifteen thousand dollars!" She looked up at her aunt, completely confused. "Where'd you buy him!"
"I told you, I didn't buy him. A friend of mine had to sell off a couple of her horses.. Her barn was too crowded and the little ones weren't much use to her at the moment."
"And who was this 'friend'… Ellen Whitaker!" Her aunt shook her head, but Sam knew she wasn't far off the mark. They locked eyes for a second and Sam could almost read her mind. She nodded, understanding. "Tara Kindling."
"Yeah."
"Why was Tara Kindling just giving away her horses.. There goldmines! Look at Apollo… he's an amazing horse. Why would she just give them away like they're nothing?"
"She didn't."
"But you said-"
"She didn't give away any of her racers. Only the young stock she'd just bred. "
"Why though? If she didn't want them, why'd she breed her mares."
"Let me explain Sam.. And I'll tell you!"
"Oh, right. Sorry."
"Tara has big plans to expand. She wants to hold a summer camp.. For eventing."
"But, what about the race horses? Surely she won't have kids from a camp riding her horses.. Some of which are worth of millions!" Amanda shook her head.
"No.. she's keeping the race horses, after all.. They're her life. But she's keeping an on-the-side business too. Which also revolves around horses."
"I'm still confused."
"Sam, she'll be buying in more horses… so, she had no use for youngsters like Jasper. He wouldn't be ready in time plus, she's needs reasonably bombproof horses… did Jasper look bombproof to you?" Sam laughed at that.
"Well no.."
"Exactly. He's not even backed yet! And Tara doesn't have time to back him, the other six youngsters she just sold, work with her racers, race her racehorses and set up the side businesses." Amanda explained. "Now do you understand?"
"Yeah, I understand now." The blonde nodded slowly.
"The police should be here any minute… maybe you three should go make a start on lunch." Sam nodded again. "I'll let you know as soon as they find anything."
Sam sat in the armchair closest to the large bay window, a far away look in her eyes. Her stomach now full with baked potato, she was beginning to worry. Freddie and Carly both seemed to notice this, as they took a seat across from Sam on the couch.
"Sam, are you okay?" Carly asked her, earning a simple shrug. Freddie sighed.
"Sam, it's going to be okay. They'll find him." He told her, in a comforting manor.
"What If they don't?"
"They will." Sam was about to speak back, but the door creaked open before she could. Sam jumped up from the chair, running to the door to meet her aunt who was yanking off her old boots.
"What did they say!"
"They found some hoof prints leading into the back forest. Who ever took him, obviously had a horse box parked on the main road. They said they were going to follow the tracks and see where it lead them and then ask around, see if anyone saw anything."
"Why would anyone have seen someone throwing a temperamental grey youngster into a horsebox at five in the morning?"
"You never know," Amanda shrugged. "You know a lot of the people around here are early risers…"
"I guess…"
"Anyway-" Amanda was cut off by the loud honking of a car horn. She span around, looking out of the window.
"You've got to be kidding me." Sam groaned. "I've only just gotten rid of their snotty kids!"
"Sam!"
"Sorry."
"They're here to drop off the horses."
"Great." Sam muttered, sarcasm dripping from her voice. Sam walked to the door, pulling on her boots before twisting the doorknob and pulling it open.
"Samantha!" Lauren yelled, a large smile on her face. Sam scowled slightly, standing on the porch. What was with this woman? Calling her by her real name…
"Hi Mrs Hunter." Sam said as polite as she could muster.
"We're here to drop off the big three!" Sam rolled her eyes.
"I see the horsebox." Sam nodded. "Do you need help getting them out?" By now, Amanda, Freddie and Carly had joined her outside.
"No no… we have our grooms for that." Lauren explained and Sam watched as the back door of the large and very expensive looking horsebox, was pulled down. A single whinny was heard and Sam found herself dying to see these horses… of corse, she already knew Aztec.. But as for the other two? She'd never seen them before. A petite woman who must have been no older than twenty five, ran around the back and stepped inside, making a crinkle in her crystal white jodhpurs. She then emerged with the first horse, who was as crystal white as the jods on the groom's legs. Sam was star struck.
"That's Addie's horse, Dream."
"She's beautiful." Amanda praised, staring at the cremello mare in awe. Sam shook her head slightly. She couldn't believe this beautiful animal was owned by that snooty bitch. Cremello's were the albino's of the horse world. They were not a white horse, as many believe there is no such thing as a white horse.. Any other horse looking white could only be called a 'grey'. However, this was not true. The only white horses around were those of a Lipizzaner breeding. A horse breed from a Spanish bloodline. Those horses, once properly aged were crystal white. This horse however, was not. Cremello's colouring did look white, but in truth, this horse was a very pale cream colour. He stood at around 16.2hh and was a well built Warmblood. He had a slightly pink tinge around his nose, making him look even 'whiter' than before, but what stood out the most to Sam was his lightly pigmented blue eyes. Cremello's were often born with blue eyes due to there colouring and in Sam's opinion, it made them look even more beautiful. She watched as the groom lead the mare away.. Into the stables. Then, another groom popped out, hearing the sound of hooves walking down the ramp Sam turned to face it. And when she did, She saw Aztec, Lee's large brown thoroughbred being lead down. Aztec was a gelding, a gelding in great form at that. He was brown, but the way his summer coat had came through, it made him look almost black. He had snippets of white on his back feet, that elongated his strong legs. He stood no higher than 16hh, making him smaller than both Apollo and Dream. Watching a male groom walk him away, Sam failed to notice Lee stepping out with his other horse. Freddie did though, and immediately his hands tightened into fist. It was only when Lee walked his other horse in Sam's eye line, she immediately felt nervous staring at him. He smirked at her, winking.
"Like what you see Puckett?" Lee cheekily asked.
"Cute horse." She said back, acting like he was actually talking about the horse. She saw Robert Hunter place a hand on his son's shoulder.
"He should be cute, considering the price I paid for him. Best barrel racer in the business, Pirate is." The elder man said, his voice loud.
"Pirate?" Carly asked.
"The horse's name is Pirate.." Lee explained. Pirate turned out to be a bright bay gelding, his mane and tail jet black , same as the bottoms of his legs. The muscles he held in his hind quarters looked unreal… but It was perfectly normal for a barrel racer.
"Oh!" She giggled making Sam and Freddie roll there eyes. How could Carly not see what a creep Lee was?
"Anyway… where do you want the horses put in the barn?" Lauren asked, looking at Sam.
"All of the taken stables have name plates. Put Pirate and Aztec in the very top stables, and Dream can go in the spare stable on the opposite side of America."
"Okay." Lauren nodded and went back to instructing her grooms. She saw Lee give her one last smirk before he lead Pirate into the barn. Sam groaned inwardly. This would be a long few weeks…
Shattered from being out on the farm all day, Sam was glad to finally flop down onto the couch. The sun had just set and the stars were all out making Sam smile. It was a beautiful, clear night outside. Sam felt the couch dint beside her and she looked around seeing Freddie smiling at her. She grinned back as he placed an arm around her shoulder. She flicked her feet up onto the comfy couch and leant against him, her left hand gripping his t-shirt. She saw Carly collapse into the chair nearest the window leaving the chair beside the kitchen door free for Amanda to sit in. That was when Jade bounded in, Pyjama' clad and followed by the two dogs. Jade jumped up onto the side of the couch beside Amanda. A yawn escaped her, making Amanda raise an eyebrow.
"Think someone's a little tired?" Jade shook her head.
"No! I'm not tired!"
"Yeah, don't believe that for one second Jadey… think it's time you hit the sack."
"Aww!" Sam laughed lightly, cuddling further into Freddie. She shut her eyes, loving the feeling of his arm around her. Just as she was getting comfy, her eyes shot open, suddenly remembering something.
"What's wrong?" Freddie asked, shocked as he girlfriend practically leapt off of him.
"Charcoal!"
I did tell you guys you would have to bare with me.. because i'm moving. My internet isn't on properly till' friday so i'm using a connector.
Pictures of the three new horses I've introduced are on my profile, including a couple other horses that are YET to be introduced.. and that's all i'm saying for now ;)
Please review!
See you guys next update!