"But Dad!" Sam whined, pacing around the kitchen table in frustration. "Why do I have to do that stupid favor for Linc?"

Dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he didn't say anything, Brynna spoke up.

"Sam, don't you think this will be the perfect opportunity to see if Ace behaves well?"

"But Ace already behaves well!" Sam said, throwing her hands up to the air. They came back down and she perched them on her hips. "I just don't see why this is such a big deal. You guys never really payed attention to him until now."

"I know, and We're really sorry," Brynna said as she glanced at dad. "We're doing this because we care about Ace and we don't want people to get hurt. If he doesn't behave well around kids, someone could get hurt, just like that little girl almost did."

Dad sat up straighter in his chair.

"What B said is correct. The other thing, is it's the neighborly thing to do. Now, I know that Linc Slocum is not the nicest person, but no matter how mean people are, it's always important to treat them how you would want to be treated," Dad said.

Sam sighed and shook her head. Why had she told them about this?

"How much is Linc offering?" Brynna asked.

Sam hesitated before opening her mouth.

"Four hundred dollars."

Dad and Brynna gasped in amazement.

"Four hundred dollars?" Dad echoed. "I'm sorry Samantha but I'm afraid you'll have to call Linc right now and tell him that you are definitely going to do this."

Sam gave a "help me" look at Brynna, who nodded toward the phone. Sam sighed and dialed his number.

"Hello, Mr. Slocum?" Sam asked, her voice hesitant.

A big, loud voice boomed through the other end. "Well, hello miss Forster! Have you made up your mind about my favor? Please say you'll do it," Linc said.

Sam looked at dad one more time. "Uh, yeah, my mind is made up. The answer is yes. I will bring Ace to Reno for Tiffany's birthday party."

"Thank you so much! I'll be waiting," Linc said, his voice sounding merrier. "You have a good day now. See you on Saturday." He was about to hang up when Sam spoke up.

"Um, Linc? Sorry, but my dad wants to talk to you for a moment." Sam handed the phone to dad and rushed out the door, slamming it behind her.

"Ace," Sam yelled, running across the ranch to the ten acre pasture.

Sam kissed to him. He lifted his head, grass falling from his mouth, as he watched her approach out of breath.

"Hey boy," Sam crooned. "It's a nice morning, huh?" Sam said, stroking the bay's soft neck. She leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"I'm so sorry. I tried to convince them not to let you go, but then, there they went, talking about how I have to be neighborly. I mean, I know it's good to be, but with Linc? I don't find that necessary, do you boy?" Sam asked.

Like a big dog, Ace gave his whole body a shake. Sam waved her hand and coughed as dust flew up everywhere. Even though Sam knew he was just trying to shake off the dirt from his coat, it looked a lot like he was agreeing.

Sam glanced at her watch. It was 7:15. That meant she had 45 minutes to wolf down breakfast before school.

"Bye, my good horse," Sam said in a sing song voice, kissed Ace on the nose and sprinted to the house.

Mr. Welshkin was giving an incredibly long and boring lecture about talking during tests in 2nd period history class. Sam continued doing what she bad been doing for what seemed like forever. Glancing at the clock, then out the window, clock, window, Mr Welshkin, window, and so on.

Boy were teachers boring when they gave lectures.

No matter how hard Sam tried to pay attention, she always found herself looking somewhere else, daydreaming or thinking of Ace. Poor Ace.

Riiiiiiiing. Yes! Finally, the bell. Running out the door, Sam approached her locker and dialed the combination quickly. Off to science, Sam thought, grabbing her science book and strutting off to her next class of the day.

Sam and Jen were sitting at their usual spot at lunch, gulping down their lunches.

"Do you see Jake anywhere?" Sam asked, looking around.

Jen did the same. "No.. Why?"

"I need to ask him if he can give me a ride to Reno on Saturday. My parents told me to ask him since they can't."

"Oh," Jen said. She took another bite of her sandwhich then said, "Hey..isn't that him over there with his friends?"

Sam looked to where her friend was pointing. She nodded. "Yep. I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to break him apart from his group. He hates it when I do that," Sam said, then started walking over to where they were when Jen shouted back.

"I thought you were mad at him!"

Sam whirled around. "Oh shoot I totally forgot!"

Great. now what would she do? It'll be okay, she thought. He's probably already forgotten about yesterday.

Looking down and holding her breath, Sam grabbed Jake by the sleeve and pulled him out of his group of friends. Jake was startled.

"Brat," Jake started, but Sam covered his mouth so she could talk fast.

"Dad and Brynna told me to ask you if you could drive me to Reno on Saturday. Tiffany is having her birthday party and told Linc she wanted Ace to give her friends "pony rides".

Jake hung his thumbs through his belt loops and looked down at the ground. He must have been thinking whether he was going to do it or not.

Please say no, Jake. Please say you won't do it!

Jake threw his head back up. "Pony rides?" Jake repeated. Sam could hear the laughter he was holding in.

"Yes, Jake. Pony rides," Sam snapped.

The corner of Jake's mouth rose up a little in what looked like the beginning of a smile. He looked around the campus, then back to Sam.

"I'll do it."

Sam groaned. "You're just doing it because you know I don't want to go!"

Jake shrugged. "Could be that," He said, grinning.

Sam rolled her eyes and began to walk off when Jake called back.

"So that's what you and Linc were talking about yesterday when you were with Jen."

Sam swung back around. How did he know that?

Jake read her expression and explained. "I was taking a ride on Witch and I sorta saw you guys talking to Linc, and that's when, uh, Witch got thirsty and I let her take a drink from the river," Jake said.

"Oh my gosh! You were eavesdropping! Witch wasn't thirsty you lousy liar!" Sam said, angry but talking quietly enough so other people couldn't hear their conversation.

Jake shook his head and waved a hand at her. "I gotta go. See ya after school," Jake said, and shuffled off to his friends. Sam stood their for a moment, processing everything.

So that's what she heard yesterday when Linc was babbling on about Ace. Sam sighed.

"She was not thirsty!"

"Um, what?" Jen asked, walking up to Sam.

"Nothing," Sam said. "Jake can drive me."

"Oh okay," Jen said. She took another sip of her chocolate milk. "I wish I could come, but I'm really busy all weekend. I kind of signed up to do this extra credit project thing for science," Jen groaned.

"It's okay," Sam said, walking back to their table. "You probably wouldn't want to go anyway. It might get ugly, you know, with Jake being there and all. I'm still mad at him."

"No surprise," Jen said, rolling her eyes and laughed as she and Sam finished their lunches and went on with the day.

Sam was sitting in the family room doing her algebra homework when the phone rang.

She went into the kitchen and looked at the caller ID. It said Kenworthy, Jed.

"Hey Jen," Sam chirped. "What's up?"

"Sam! Oh my gosh you will never guess what just happened!"

Sam was about to ask when the phone beeped.

"Hold on Jen I'm getting another call," Sam said, pressing the talk button. "Hello?"

"Hello, Sam? It's me, Ryan."