Whew! A moment to breathe! And what am I doing with it? Typing. I'm supposed to be cleaning my room…but don't tell anyone!

Chapter Four is coming soon! For the moment, take in chapter Three!

Chapter Three

Sam's POV

I climbed out of my father's truck, and took in the sight before me. I spun around in a circle with my arms spread wide, like I hadn't done since I was 14. Now I'm 16, and I had been away, in San Francisco, for two years, like last time. I took a deep breath of mountain air. It was exactly how I remembered it. Everything. The house. The barn. The bunkhouse. The river. The pasture.

Immediately I headed towards the barn to see my now two-year old filly, and my gelding Ace, when I was called back by my father.

"Sam?"

I turned around. "Yes, Dad?"

"The horses will have to wait. We've gotta be going over to Jake's…"

Jake.

Two years away had done nothing except force the crush I had on my best friend to grow larger.

Not that it mattered now.

Flashback

Letter to Sam

Dear Sam,

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if I don't, no one will. And if you like you Jake as much as you say you do, then you should know.

Dani Mattews, remember, the girl with the racehorses, hooked up with Jake a few months after you left. You told me she couldn't leave him alone, and apparently, he can't resist her. They've been together ever since. I could tell you that Jake looks miserable but I can't do that to you. He seems really happy as far as I can tell. I'm so sorry Sam.

Luv ya lots,

Jen.

End Flashback/Letter

I always knew I hated Dani. Never did like her. And now she's got Jake. The only guy I want. The guy I dream about at night, is the guy she is dating! Err.

"Sam?" My dad snapped his fingers in front of me.

"Huh?" I snapped out of my thoughts.

"Did you hear a word I said?"

"Uh-no" I confessed.

"Teenagers," My dad mumbled, then said, "We're going to Jake's. He's having some sort of hoopla over at his house. Returning from college with that girlfriend of his. It starts in," He paused to look at his watch. "5 minutes, we really need to go."

"Okay, then, let's go." I climbed into the truck and Dad drove over to the Ely's.

End Sam's POV

"Bryanna!" Sam cried out, hugging her stepmother as best she could in her stepmother's condition. She was pregnant. Again. Sam bent down to look at the little girl holding Bryanna's hand. "Is this her?" Sam whispered. Bryanna nodded. Sam gazed fondly at her little sister.

Flashback/Letter to Sam

Dear, Sam,

I have great news for you. Your little sister has been brought into the world. Her name is McKenna Grace. Both the baby and Bryanna are doing fine, but the labor was a difficult one. Without the C-section, we could have lost them both. But don't worry, my dear, everything went fine. I trust you're having fun in San Francisco?

All my love,

Gram

End Flashback/Letter

"Hello, there." Sam told her little sister. "Are you Kenna?"

The little girl nodded, leaning into Bryanna.

"Well, I'm Sam. How old are you?" Sam tried not to scare her little sister.

Kenna held up two fingers. "Two." She whispered.

"Well, Kenna, I'm coming to live with you, Mommy, Daddy, and Gram. Will that be alright with you?"

Kenna nodded. "Alright." She mumbled.

Sam laughed and stood back up. "I can't believe I have a little sister!" she exclaimed to Bryanna.

This time, Bryanna laughed. "You're about to have a little brother too." She patted her stomach with her free hand.

"I can't wait." Sam motioned towards the house. "I'm gonna go see Gram." Sam waved bye to Kenna, and Bryanna.

Knowing Gram, she's probably in the kitchen, cooking something wonderful. Sam thought, jogging towards the house.

"Sam? I hardly recognized you!" Gram said as she pulled Sam into a hug, when she walked through the front door.

Sam closed her eyes and breathed in Gram's powdery scent. "I've missed you."

"Sam here, honey." Gram pulled away. "But I've got to get these cookies in the oven. We'll talk later."

Sam nodded. "Hello, Mrs. Ely." She greeted Jake's mom.

Without looking up from the dough she was rolling, Mrs. Ely said, "Good to have you back, Sam."

"It's good to be back." Sam said walking out the door.

Outside, she was greeted by a familiar voice.

"Well, if it isn't Sammy, all grown up."

Sam turned toward Darrell. "Hey, Darrell." She said.

Darrell nodded. "Yessiri. All grown up and looking very nice."

Sam swatted him. "Shut it." She scolded.

Darrell laughed. "Good to see you too."

Sam ignored him. "Listen, have you seen-" She stopped when someone poked her shoulder. Turning around, "JEN!" she cried hugging her friend.

"Look at you!" Jen pulled Sam away from the hug and held her at arms length.

"Look at you." Sam said.

Both girls had changed a lot in the two years Sam was away. Sam had grown taller, and delvopled a nice, slim figure. She was naturally tan, and her shoulder length hair looked great.

Jen had grown taller too. She was slim, and still wore her crazy clothes. Instead of pigtails, her wavy, blond hair was down. She looked wonderful.

Arm-in-arm, the two girls walked over to the side of the house where there were no people and they could talk alone.

"So," Jen asked. "Do you still like Jake?"

Sam sighed. "Is the sky blue?"

Jen laughed. "That much, aye?"

"More than ever." Sam's eyes took on a dreamy look, but she shook her head. "But he's with Dani."

"Man, she really is evil!" Jen exclaimed. "A Rachel Slocum wanna-be!"

Sam shuddered. "I wish. She may be around you, but not any where near Jake."

"Why not?"

"I know I haven't seen him for a few years, and he's bound to have changed, but Jake would never ever go out with anyone like Rachel. He couldn't have changed that much."

"But, she's so much easier to hate if she's evil." Jen said. "I still don't like her."

Sam looked at her friend questionably. "Just because I hate her, doesn't mean you have to." She said.

Jen gave Sam a one armed hug. "I know, but she makes my friend unhappy, I want to hate her."

"Aww." Sam laughed. "So, how's your love life?"

It was Jen's turn to laugh. "I have a love life?"

"That bad?"

Jen shrugged. "Me and Ryan, tried something for awhile, but, didn't work out so well."

"And, why not?"

"He's a Slocum." Jen shrugged again.

Sam gave her friend a playful shove. "Careful," she warned, "You're starting to sound like me." For years, she had distrusted Ryan, just because of his relatives.

Jen laughed again. "But it's true."

"So, is there any special someone you're crushing on now?" Sam asked her friend.

"Actually," Jen's gaze drifted over to the front of the house.

Following Jen's gaze, she gasped. "Darrell?"

Jen laughed. "He's too funny. I can't help myself."

Sam shook her head as if she was disappointed in her. "He must have changed a whole lot, since I last knew him."

Jen shoved her.

"Fine." Sam sighed, changing the subject. "Where's Ryan now?"

"Back in England. Wasn't cut out for Cowboy Country."

"And Rachel?"

"As snotty, snobby, and evil as ever." Jen shuddered.

"What about Linc?"

"Same."

Sam sighed. "Some things never change."

"Amen to that." Jen said.

"They're here!" "They're here!" Shouts came from the front of the house.

Sam turned towards the driveway, where she saw a pick-up truck pulling in. Dani climbed out the passenger's side and Jake Ely began to hop down from the driver's seat.

When Sam saw him, she stopped in her tracks.

Whew. Long Chappy. At least to me. Well, this was a little hard to write, but this is the best I could come up with. Please review! PLEASE! I need to here wat u think! Thanx in advance, MND.