Chapter 25

"How tall is Jester?" Sam asked as she mounted the grullo paint.

"About fifteen two," Jake answered as he swung up on Witch. "Why?"

"Your brothers were saying I needed a horse about fifteen one," Sam settled into the saddle.

"Oh really," Jake murmured. Sam saw the brief frown on his face.

"What?" Sam wondered.

"Nothin'," Jake shook his head. "Just wonderin' why they thought that I guess."

Sam tilted her head at him, not sure she was buying his explanation, but he urged Witch forward and Sam followed on Jester.

"They were saying Ace is too small," Sam continued.

"He is small," Jake acknowledged. He looked over at her. "But then again, so are you. If one of us rode him our feet would drag on the ground."

Sam laughed, knowing he was exaggerating since Jake had been the one to break Ace for her.

"If you're happy with Ace, then why do you care what my brothers think?" Jake asked.

"Well, it's not like I'm getting a new horse anytime soon," Sam agreed. "Though I think Cody's going on roundup this year so Dad might want to put him on Ace."

Jake glanced at her. "How will you be with that?"

Sam shrugged. "Ace is mine, but he's a good size for Cody too I guess."

"You can ride one of ours or one of your other horses," Jake said.

"I know, but there's nothing like having your own horse," Sam responded. "You know that."

"Yes, I do," Jake nodded. Sam tilted her head at him again, studying him. There was something she was seeing in his face.

"What's going on?" Sam asked.

"Huh?" Jake looked over at her. "Nothin'."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Jake smiled at her. "Want to go to dinner?"

"Now?" Sam teased.

"Sure," Jake laughed. "We'll make a day of it."

Sam went white hot at his words. Jake could see it in her face.

"Don't look at me like that or we'll be riding back to Three Ponies and heading into town," Jake warned her.

"Is that supposed to be a threat?" Sam squeaked.

"Not much of one, huh?" Jake laughed. "I really need to do this today though. I feel bad leaving the work for my brothers all the time."

Sam took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay. Let's finish the work, then we'll go into town."

"I promise you that waiting will be worthwhile," Jake's voice dropped to almost a caress.

"Jake," Sam groaned. "In a minute I'm going to say the heck with your brothers."

Jake laughed. Then he yipped to Witch who broke into a run. Sam was a half step behind on Jester. There was no way the grullo paint was going to be able to catch the swift black mare.

Sam watched Jake ride as she followed him. He was part of his horse, his body moving in symphony with the mare's. She'd never ride that well, not in a hundred years.

Witch running full out was a thing of beauty. Her long black tail strung out behind her on the wind as if she dared anyone to try and catch her.

They saw Jake's brothers up ahead and pulled up their mounts.

"That was fun," Sam patted Jester's neck. "Maybe I do need a taller horse."

"Maybe," Jake's voice and face were vague.