Chapter 24
"I'll pick ya up at 5:30." Jake muttered to Sam at lunch
"Pick me up to do what?" Sam said in her regular voice. Jake gritted his
teeth and kicked her shin lightly. Sam looked up to see Dad, Brynna and Gram
watching intently. "Oh, yeah." Sam laughed. "Dad- me, Jake, Jen and Darrell are
going to see a movie."
If Wyatt was suspicious, he didn't show it. Instead he said, "Fine, but you
better be back by 11:00 and no later."
"Okay." Sam agreed. Dad didn't go out much to the movies, and it was obvious.
The movie theater, in Crane Crossing Mall, was under construction. Sam prayed
Brynna or Gram wouldn't say anything- if they knew that.
"Where are you going to eat?" Gram asked, looking curiously at the two
teenagers.
"Um, we might just eat some hotdogs there or something." Sam said quickly.
"They sell pizza too, right, Jake?"
Jake nodded slowly. "Thanks for the meal, Grace." he put his plate in the
sink and hurriedly went outside.
"Please, Dad?" Sam begged, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Just a
little, bitty, ride out on the sweetest cowpony there is."
Wyatt crossed his arms. "Samantha- you can take a break from ridin' for one
little, bitty, day."
"Dad!" Sam cried. "Ace is lonesome. I promise you it'll be no longer than 30
minutes and I won't go out of our property!"
Wyatt sighed heavily. "Okay, but on your way I want you to look for any stray
calves."
After Sam was done saddling up Ace and mounted, they took off to the
Phantom's secret cave. "Good boy, Ace." Sam said to her horse, as they
galloped swiftly over the barren desert. "I need to be back in 30 minutes, so
we're gonna have to make it speedy."
Even before they reached the canyon, Sam spotted the herd of horses.
Zanzibar's herd. Even though Sam and Ace were half of a mile away, the Phantom's
ears pricked in realization. Sam pulled Ace to a walk, and the wild horses
barely moved as Sam came closer. It made her feel good. These horses trusted
Blackie and he trusted Sam, even if he was wild.
"Zanzibar." Sam whispered, as she saw the Phantom nicker in greeting. "Good
boy, Zanzibar."
Sam reached out and stroked the silver stallion's forelock. Zanzibar bobbed
his head and stepped away. Then, after he gave a loud neigh, the herd started
off; running over the terrain as one. Sam watched until they disappeared on the
horizon. Then, her and Ace turned away towards home.
"Oh my gosh!" exclaimed Sam after she took glanced at the kitchen clock and
noticed it was 5:15 pm. Jake would be coming in fifteen minutes and Sam had not
yet showered or changed. It was a good thing Dad was out on the range and didn't
notice that Sam had came back an hour later. "But Jake's always early..."
Sam muttered out loud, and if on cue, she heard the sound of Jake's rusty pickup
pulling in.
"Crap!" Sam gasped, and dashed up the steps. No time for a shower! Sam
thought. But what am I going to wear?
Sam slammed her door and looked in her closet for a half-way decent shirt.
One that didn't have dried mud and who-knows-what-else on it. Sam sighed in
relief when she found short sleeved white blouse; practically brand-new.
"Brat?" she heard Jake coming up the stairs.
"Uh, I'm almost ready." she said, stepping into her only pair of clean jeans.
Taking a look in the mirror, she hurriedly pushed a brush through her hat hair
and put some lip balm on. Sam didn't have time to put on mascara or
anything.
Grabbing her new leather boots, Sam opened the door. "Hi, Jake." she said
casually, putting on the boots. "How are you?"
"Good." Jake smirked. "'Bout ready now?"
"Yeah." Sam said, giving Cougar one last pet as she stepped off of the last
step. "I was kinda out riding."
Jake stopped in mid step. "What about your fingers?"
"They're fine." Sam replied.
Jake gave Sam a glance as he opened the front door. "Uh, you look nice."
Sam snorted, trying not to laugh. "Thank you, sir. You do too." she said in a
British accent. Jake raised his eyebrows. "Would you like a seat, ma'm?" he
said, opening the passenger seat door for her. As he did, a huge chunk of blue
paint fell off at Sam's feet.
Sam started to laugh. "What a high-class limousine." she said in fake
excitement. Jake shut the door behind her and got in, starting the ignition.
"Wyatt thinks we're goin' to a movie." Jake sobered up.
"I had to say something!" Sam argued. "And I for sure wasn't going to say
Clara's. He'd be a nervous wreck."
Jake's truck bounced as they crossed the bridge. "It's a good thing they
don't know what's playin' tonight then." he said. "Rated R specials."
Sam shuddered. "If he even looks at what's playing, I'll be in trouble then.
I can't watch anything over PG-13, and if the PG-13 movie has sexual content,
then I can't watch that either." Sam blushed after saying that. Think before
you speak, you idiot! she yelled at herself. That isn't something you
should say on a date, I mean, to a teenage guy. It's plain weird. Even if it's
Jake.
"Oh." even Jake's cheeks kind of turned red. And that, was a rare
happening.
They arrived at the 50s resteraunt about 10 minutes later and were seated by
a grinning Clara. "What would you two like today?" she asked.
Sam didn't even need a menu. "A cheeseburger, french-fries and a chocolate
milkshake."
Jake ordered the same, except his came with two cheeseburgers.
After Clara left, Sam wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. "Today I saw Za-
the Phantom." she told Jake. "His herd is looking larger and stronger. I don't
think the BLM has rounded up any of the herd since winter."
Jake nodded thoughtfully. Right then, one of Clara's waitress's brought the
food and Sam inhaled. "Yum." she said. "Nothing beats Clara's cheesburgers."
Sam and Jake chewed their food in silence. Sam heard the bell on the door
ting and looked to see who was coming in.
"Oh my gosh!" Sam whispered. " My Dad's here!"
Jake quickly glanced toward the door and saw Wyatt Forster putting his
Stetson on the hat rack. Just then, Wyatt glanced over and saw Jake and Sam at
the booth eating.
"Uh, hi, Dad." Sam said with fake cheerfulness. "What's up?"
Wyatt didn't look surprised to see Jake and Sam eating. "Where's Jennifer and
Darrell?" he asked, looking around. "Thought you four were goin' to the
movies."
"Um, they couldn't go..." Sam lied.
Wyatt nodded. "You two have fun now, and Samantha- no later than 11."
After he went up to the counter, Sam breathed a sigh of relief.