Chapter 11
The week after the dance dragged for Sam. Jake had told her he was going to try and get home the following weekend, since it was his birthday.
She went over to ride Witch one day after school and saw Bryan, Nate and Quinn saddling up their horses.
"What's going on?" Sam asked as she got out of Dad's truck.
"Deer took down some fencing," Nate told her, tightening the cinch on his Appaloosa Bramble.
"You coming with us?" Bryan asked as he bridled Rocky his big Paint.
"Sure, let me get Witch ready," Sam nodded and went to the pasture to call to the big black mare.
"I still can't believe that mare lets her ride her," Quinn said as he swung up on his gelding Chip. "She'd kill any of us that tried."
"Then aren't you glad that Jake asked me to do it?" Sam sassed him as she tied the mare to the rail before going into the barn to get her tack.
"I can't believe sometimes that Witch is related to Chip," Quinn shook his head, patting the neck of his gelding.
"Girls just have a bit more personality sometimes," Sam said, coming out carrying Jake's heavy saddle.
"Here, let me," Nate took the tack from her and put it on Witch's back while Sam bridled the mare.
"Thanks," Sam smiled at him when he was done. Jake's saddle was a lot heavier than hers and it took all her strength to carry it. It was too big for her too and she always slid around in it once she was mounted.
Nate noticed as Sam tried to get settled into the saddle.
"Maybe you need to gain a bit of weight," he teased.
Sam rolled her eyes as she gathered the reins.
Bryan mounted Rocky and Nate swung up on Bramble. The four of them rode their mounts out of the Three Ponies yard, across the road and onto the range.
"Your hay looks just about ready," Sam commented as they rode.
"Which is why we have deer in it," Nate grinned at her.
"Oh shuddup," Sam grumbled, earning more grins.
"Our hay doesn't look like that," Sam continued. "Ours kinda looks like straw right now."
"What kind did your dad plant?" Bryan wondered. "Ours is timothy. We cut it later than most other hay."
"I have no idea what ours is," Sam admitted. "I guess I should ask, huh?"
"Only if you want to become obnoxious about agriculture like Jakey is," Quinn teased.
Sam shot him a look.
"Jake is the one who suggested we switch to timothy," Quinn explained to her.
"Sounds to me like he's just smart," Sam grinned at him.
"You would say that," Quinn laughed.
"Of course I would," Sam said.
The two grinned at each other.
"I told him how much fun we had at the dance," Quinn went on.
Sam groaned, causing Quinn and Bryan to chuckle.
"What did I miss?" Nate asked.
"Only Sam dancing like she had a pole again," Quinn teased.
"I. Did. Not!" Sam exclaimed.
"Only once," Bryan laughed.
"Not even once," Sam insisted. "It was Quinn who, uh, got, um…"
"Yes, Sammy?" Quinn teased. "What exactly did I do?"
"You know what you did," Sam frowned.
"Now I have to know what I missed," Nate laughed.
"I'll tell you later," Bryan promised under his breath. "Jake's gonna kick Quinn's butt if he finds out."
"That bad, huh?" Nate said.
"Well I don't know," Bryan chuckled. "We kinda enjoyed it."
"Oh Lord," Nate groaned knowing it could be anything with the twins.