Hey there everyone. I must say, I had every intention of deleting this story I was about to many times but the reviews kept poring in and I felt it to be so mean to do so. I then thought, perhaps I just won't update it for a while and I haven't been planning to at all until the reviews became so persistent.
So here's the deal. I will finish off this story but you must forgive me for the much too long wait and you must also be patient. I haven't updated this story for a long time and I have quit reading the Phantom Stallion books so I really don't remember them too well.
Actually, I believe I gave the books away to my little cousin because she loves horses as much as I do. And as always, I am a horrible speller so please do ignore and if there are any mistakes with names or places etc. please tell me.
Thank you to all the reviewers and to all those who had been waiting for my story, please forgive me.
Now without further adieu here's the next, long awaited chapter…
Jake watched Sam through the downpour of rain, not too confident in their whereabouts. The Phantom had taken his place in the front of their party, not about to be stuck behind a gelding and a mare. Jake could only hope that he was leading them back to the ranch and not away from it since Ace and Witch were refusing to take any other course.
Sam was slumped forward in her saddle, Jake wasn't even sure that she awake until the Phantom stopped suddenly and Ace braked. She sat straighter and tightened her hands on the reigns, looking around them as the Phantom stared straight ahead.
Jake steered Witch up to Ace's side, looking at Sam.
"What's goin on?" He asked. She shrugged, obviously still upset about their argument and stared forward, as unseeing as he did. "We have to get goin Sam, make him move or we'll have to walk these horses back."
"I can't make him do anything!" Sam snapped.
The Phantom looked back at them, hearing the anger in Sam's voice. He made a soft whinny that, if could have been translated, would have said, 'stop it you two'. Jake was about to reply to Sam when both he and the Phantom gazed back across the prairie.
"What was that?" Jake asked, straining to see through the darkness.
"What?" Sam asked, anger now replaced with fear as she heard the seriousness in his voice.
"I thought I heard-" Before he could finish Ace neighed, rearing in the air and taking several steps back. Witch as well, puffed out her chest threateningly and backed away despite her masters demands.
"Jake!" He turned at Sam's scream, and followed her horrified gaze. A large, growling mountain lion approached...
The Phantom neighed in anger and stepped forward, pawing the ground in a threatening manner and shaking his silvery next from side to side. Jake stared dumbly at the scene for a moment before his eyes fell over a faint light in the background. Looking intently at it, he could just make out the bridge that led to the ranch. "Jake!" Sam demanded in a horrified voice, her eyes wide and disbelieving.
"Sam, get out of here. now" He said urgently and at his words, she looked even more afraid. The same words he had spoken in her nightmare. "Sam!"
"No..." She whispered as the large cat moved closer, stretching low to ground.
"Now Sam! Go to your house!" He demanded.
"Not without you!" She was not about to leave him, nor the phantom, not this time. She would rather die than to allow her dream to come true.
"Sam-"
"No!" She yelled stubbornly as Ace began to whinny in fear. Jake knew it would not be long until he became so frightened that he would take off, with or without Sam. Witch, who had been more disciplined, was a bit calmer, still trusting her masters judgement. The Phantom was snorting at the oncoming predator, showing that he was willing to fight.
Without another thought Jake rode up to Sam's side and quickly grabbed her arm, half pulling, half picking her up and into his saddle so they were both now on Witch. With one loud yell and a slap on the rump, he sent Ace into a gallop, flying past the mountain lion and running for the only safety the gelding saw, the glowing light of the ranch.
Jake had hoped that the mountainlion would have followed the gelding but it wasn't the case. It still focoused on the three of them, it's paws outsrteched with the claws shinning in the same eerie light as it's eyes."Jake-?"
"Hold on tight!" He instructed and without a further reply kicked Witch into a full out run.
It was the only chance they had. Hopefully the mountain lion was too distracted with the Phantom and would not notice that they had taken off. Unfortunately, it was too much for Jake to hope for. The moment they passed, the yellow, slitted eyes fell on them and then the large cat followed closely behind. Witch neighed, now completely horrified while the cat raced just paces behind them.
"Jake!" Sam screamed. His jaws tightened and as he looked over his shoulder he saw the Phantom, chasing them with his ears flat and muscles bulging.
The lion pounced at that moment, sailing into the air as they made it to the bridge of River Bend. Jake pulled on the reigns, turning the mare her to the right and into the water, away from the attack. It wasn't a moment too soon, the lion, skidded to a stop on the wooden planks.
The Phantom charged at that moment, rearing up and slamming his hooves down. The lion darted out of the way, turning away from Sam and Jake and to the Stallion. He darted under the Phantoms legs, weaving it's way under the silvery stomach and behind him, clawing the silvery back legs.
"No!" Sam screamed as Jake steered Witch to the front of the house and tied her to the porch post, pulling Sam down behind him. "Jake, the Phantom!"
"Stay here!" Jake demanded as he hurried inside, returning a moment later with the Wyatt's shotgun in his hands. He raised the barrel, taking aim, only for Sam to grab his arm. "What are you doing!" Jake demanded.
"Don't shoot! You could hit the Phantom!"Jake knew she was right, but at the moment he had only been thinking of how the mountain lion had attacked them, how she had screamed his name. How he had heard the fear in her voice. It was suddenly clear to him that she had dreamt this exact thing, that she was never afraid for her own life, but for his and the Phantoms.
They looked back towards the bridge where the Phantom was now rearing in the air, a godlike presence around him as he danced backwards, away from the moutain lions threatening claws. Jake could see teardrops mingling with the raindrops across Sam's ghostly face. There was nothing he could do, nothing either one of them could do except watch the match between horse and lion.
He knew he should take Sam inside. She already had a fever, what this would do to her state of health, he wasn't sure. He also knew however that she would never leave the Phantom fighting alone, even if she could not physically help, and as a horseman, he didn't want to make her. Instead, he walked over to her and pulled her to him, feeling her trembling body in his arms.
She laid her head against his chest, positioning herself so she could watch the Phantom.
As the stallion reared again the lion jumped upward and slashed the Phantom's shoulder open. Sam covered her mouth with her hand and felt the tears pouring over her eyes.
Ahh poor Phantom! I'm so mean, but here you guys go. Please R&R! I'll update as much as possible. I promise I won't give up on it until it's over. Thanks again to all my loyal reviewers!