"On the news today..."
The t.v. spoke throughout the house of Aunt Sue's San Francisco apartment as Sam dug through a bag of doritos and typed away at her laptop, writing an article for the school newspaper about the horse slaughter. Hopefully the whole class was doing the same thing, Sam thought, taking a bite off a chip.
Aunt Sue walked into the room wearing a big smile on her face. "I take it you're working on that article?"
"Yeah," Sam said, absentmindedly.
Aunt Sue sat down on the couch next to her. "Well, good for you."
Sam didn't respond, her attention was now totally focused on her article.
"Hey, Sam?" Aunt Sue said.
"Yeah?"
"Look at the t.v...isn't that.."
Sighing, Sam forced herself to look up from the laptop.
To Sam it looked somewhat familiar, showing a place in the country. Suddenly a band of mustangs ran across the screen. It took a while for Sam to realize it was familiar because she had been there before.
"Oh my god isn't that Nevada?" Sam exclaimed, standing up. "That looks like the playa!"
But Sam's smile faded when suddenly it showed a big helicopter bobbing up from behind, trailing them.
The newsperson spoke, "The people in that helicopter are chasing the mustangs to capture them and put them in corrals for horse slaughter or adoption. And it's foaling season, so a lot of the mares are pregnant and will probably die along with their foals. Fortunately though, this was earlier today and the mustangs were just too tricky and fast to be caught. But are these Nevada mustangs off the hook? Or will the chasers be just too mesmerized by the beautiful grey stallion to ever stop until they've finally succeeded?"
Sam gasped. "No!" Those were the same mustangs she had seen when she lived there, although probably some were different. The grey one probably was too because she knew the legend of the Phantom Stallion, and when her dad called her a few months ago he said that he was new and the old one died.
"Sam, everything is going to be fine."
"Fine?" Sam snapped, close to tears. "Didn't you hear what she said? They probably aren't even done yet! They'll probably keep going until they've finally captured them all. Everyone who sees the Phantom Stallion is immediately in love!"
Aunt Sue shook her head, trying to calm her niece down. "Don't worry. But just in case, maybe you should call your friends and ask if they've already called their representative and written an article. Tell them what you saw just now on the news."
"Good idea." Sam walked back to the couch, grabbed the phone and dialed.
After she'd called everyone who had answered, which was about 3/4 of the class, and learned that each one of them had done their jobs and were appalled at the news, Sam closed her eyes and thought.
There had to be something else she could do. Obviously writing articles and calling wasn't enough.
Her eyes immediately shot back open when they replayed it again on the news.
Even though it wasn't, when the Phantom ran across the screen leading his herd to safety, it seemed like it was being played in slow motion. Sam shivered. The new Phantom seemed strangely familiar, and when he whinnied in despair, Sam could've sworn it sounded just like Blackie. But that was very improbable. Although..didn't black foals turn white around the age of five? And while Sam had spent a year and a half in San Francisco, he had been running free across the range...
No, Sam thought, shaking her head. It was unlikely. But still...
Just then the phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. Sam groaned and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey."
Sam hardly recognized the deep voice on the other end.
"Who's this?"
There was a hesitation. "Jake. Remember me?"
"Oh my gosh!" Sam squeaked, accidentally dropping the phone on the wooden floor, ending with a loud bang.
Sam barely noticed. Her heart was beating too fast. She just sat there, staring at the phone, her mouth open in shock. It was Jake. Jake Ely. It was actually Jake Ely.
Quickly, Sam counted in her mind how long it had been since they had seen each other. Okay, a year and a half, but it seemed way, way longer than that. And his voice was deeper. He was what, sixteen now?
Embarrassment swept over her as she bent down to pick up the phone. She wondered if he had hung up. Probably, she thought.
"Um..hello?" Sam managed.
"What was that about?"
"Um, oh, sorry..I've just been really clumsy lately."
"Oh."
Was there a reason to why he called? Because the Jake she knew never said anything unless he really had to. Or unless he wanted to pick on her.
Squinting her eyes, Sam suddenly felt angry and changed the tone of her voice.
"So why'd you call?"
"'Cause the horse slaughter."
He knew too?
"I see you were watching the news too."
"Yeah, but Sam..I have a feeling these mustangs aren't gonna get away. especially 'cause of the Phantom."
Sam's eyes widened. "Speaking of the Phantom, could you maybe tell me more about him?" She asked casually.
"You mean the legend or the actual horse?"
"The horse," Sam said.
Jake sighed. "Well, He's new, about five years old, short, yet really fast, and is really good."
"But that's what all of them are like!" Sam whined.
"Yeah...," Jake said.
Sam hesitated. "Well..I just wanted to know, that's all. I really miss Nevada. San Francisco kind of stinks."
Jake gave a short laugh. "Well brat, when are ya gonna come back out here?"
"The end of this year," Sam said, resentfully.
"Honest? 'Cause I really doubt the mustangs will still be around by then."
Panic rushed through Sam. He had been thinking the same thing she had. "Well I would come sooner..but..do you think they'll let me?"
"C'mon, Sam, you've stayed there for a year and a half. The injury has probably worn off by now."
"I know," Sam said. "Okay, I'll try to convince Aunt Sue. Have you talked to my dad yet?"
"No. I'm leavin' that up to you too."
Sam groaned. "Fine. Bye."
"Bye brat."
Rolling her eyes at his nickname for her, Sam hung up.
Right now her mind was mixed up with different thoughts but she knew she had to do something. Jake was right. She had to go home and save the mustangs and, possibly, her beloved Blackie, before they all became meat.