Chapter 27

Sam was disappointed that she and Jake couldn't go to the round-up or rodeo,

but she wasn't mad or anything. It turns out that Dad didn't want Sam riding or

doing anything for a week or more. Luke talked to Wyatt and didn't want Jake to

do the rodeo either, because it turns out that Kit was coming back to Nevada to

visit; with Darby Carter!

Sam stretched until her feet touched the end of the couch and picked up the

phone. She couldn't wait to tell Jen about her adventure!

Just then, Sam heard someone open the front door. "Hey." Jake said, coming

into the living room where Sam was. "How's your fingers?"

Last night at the hospital, Sam had found out she had fractured her

already-broke pinkie, (Really don't know if that's possible) and a

compound fracture in her pointer finger. Her entire hand was bandaged up. "Okay.

How's your arm?" Sam asked. Flick had managed to stab Jake in the arm with his

knife.

"It's fine." Jake said quickly. "Ya know how I was talkin' to ya yesterday

evening?"

Sam remembered. "Yeah." she said.

"I wanna finish what I was gonna say..." he said. "Um,

doyouwanttobemygirlfriend?"

"Huh?" Sam asked. She was pretty sure she knew what he said, but you never

know.

"Sam," Jake said, not looking at her. "Do ya want to..." he paused. "Do you

want to be my girlfriend?"

"Really?" Sam said, smiling. "Uh, I guess so. I mean, "just friends" don't

kiss."

Jake smiled a tiny grin. "But we can still be friends too, right, Brat?"

"Sure, Jake the Cake. Just let me go tell my dad!" Sam said, jumping up.

Jake looked horrified. Before he could say anything though, Sam laughed and

lightly punched his unhurt arm. "I was joking."

"You'd better be."

Sam threw her arms around Jake.

"You are so cute!" Sam groaned when she heard a familiar voice she let go of

Jake, as a grinning Brynna and Gram came in. "So cute together!" Brynna

repeated.

Sam glared. Gram and Brynna giggled and skipped out of the room, closing the

door behind them. "Give them some privacy." Sam heard Gram tell Brynna.

"Ugh." Sam said. "Talk about nosy."

Jake just grinned and hesitantly kissed her. Sam shyly kissed him back and

they stayed like that for...awhile.

Later that night after Sam finally got around to calling Jen, Sam snuck out

of bed and crept down the steps. When she met the warm summer air, she grinned.

Then, she jogged toward the Phantom that awaited her, the moon shining down on

his silvery back.

"Zanzibar." Sam said, hugging his neck. "I'll never let anyone ever hurt you.

Not ever, Zanzibar."

The End