Chapter 28

"So, what was bothering you today?" Jake asked Sam as they rode.

Sam gave him a look. "You hate it when I tell you things."

Jake shrugged. "You're my friend."

They rode along while Sam debated with herself. She guessed it couldn't hurt to ask him a boy question. She stole a look at him, but he wasn't looking at her. Sam knew he was treating her like a skittish horse and she snorted.

Jake did look at her then.

"Why do boys like girls with blond hair?" Sam blurted out.

She could tell Jake was surprised. His jaw dropped a second before it tightened up again.

"I'm not sure they do," Jake shrugged.

"Seems like it," Sam murmured. Jake looked at her sharply.

"You thinkin' of dying your hair?" Jake asked.

Sam shook her head. "Your mom is blond."

"Which means what?" Jake wondered.

"Your brothers like them too," Sam pointed out.

"You like one of my brothers?" Jake yelped.

It was Sam's turn for her jaw to drop. "No!"

"Then why do you care?" Jake asked.

Sam looked away. Jake rubbed the back of his neck, out of his element.

"They're so pretty," Sam barely whispered. "Everyone notices them."

"You want to be noticed?" Jake inquired. "By who?" This was totally foreign to Jake who hated to be noticed.

Sam shrugged.

"Brat, what's going on?" Jake asked.

She didn't answer.

"Is this why you were so sad today?"

Sam looked over at him and he could read it in her eyes. Jake sighed.

"Remember when we met?"

Sam nodded.

"Know what I noticed?"

"What?" Sam asked him.

"Your hair was the same color as my horse," Jake said.

Sam looked at him.

"Then I noticed you weren't afraid of frogs," Jake grinned. "The important things."

Sam snorted.

"He's my horse now," Sam responded.

"And your hair is still the same color," Jake pointed out.

"I'm still not afraid of frogs," Sam said.

"Or turtles," Jake replied.

"I wonder if Jake is still in the river," Sam mused.

"No, I'm on my horse," Jake joked.

Sam looked over at him and smiled, knowing what he was doing.

"Wanna run?" Jake asked.

"Nah," Sam said just as she urged George to start to gallop.

George shot forward, leaving Jake laughing as he urged his horse to follow. George held the lead for a short time before Jake's horse, with his longer legs and bigger stride, went by Sam's horse.

The two of them thundered over the playa, shouting insults to each other and laughing as they did. They ended up near War Drum Flats and both pulled up their horses as if they had discussed it earlier.

The horses waded into the small lake and drank their fill.

"A blond wouldn't have done that," Jake told her as he relaxed on his horse.

"No?" Sam responded.

Jake shook his head.

"Maybe it's a good thing I'm not blond then," Sam mused, looking out over the lake.

"You're different," Jake said to her. "Different is good. Being the same as everyone else is boring."

For Sam, it was good enough for now. Leave it to Jake to make her feel better and wanted for herself.

"How's your leg?" Sam asked him.

"Okay," Jake said.

"Was it the Phantom that bit you?" Sam wondered.

"Yeah," Jake nodded.

The two of them started back. Jake would ride with her to River Bend before turning for home.

"Where did the Phantom come from?"

Jake shrugged. "Grandfather says there's always been a gray stallion out here."

"Really?" Sam asked.

"That's what he says," Jake responded. "I don't know for sure, but if Grandfather says so, it's usually true."

"He knows a lot about horses, doesn't he?"

"Yeah," Jake nodded. He looked over at Sam as if he were holding in a secret.

"What?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Jake asked.

"Of course," Sam nodded encouragingly.

"You know Quinn's getting the foal our mare is carrying," Jake said.

Sam nodded.

"Dad says I can have the next one when he breeds her back," Jake continued.

"Oh, Jake!" Sam was excited for him.

"I'll train it myself," Jake told her.

"It will be a great foal," Sam predicted.

Jake nodded, hoping her prediction came through for him.