Chapter 10

"Samantha!" Gram's concerned but urging voice woke Sam up. Ow, Sam thought, rubbing her head in pain. She was disoriented. First of all, why was he bed so hard? And why were Jake and Gram standing over her?

"The Phantom!" exclaimed Sam in realization. "Someone shot a tranquilizer at him!" she looked around desperately. Ignoring Jake's steadying arm and Gram's grimace, Sam stood up on wobbly legs and sprinted out the barn door.

The regal silver stallion lay motionless on the ground. Sam's hand covered her mouth with shock. Never had the Phantom lain on the ground, so lifeless, in front of her. Blackie was a strong, ghost-like stallion. He'd been tied to a barrel of cement and a racing truck. He'd been forced into the gates of Karla Starr's rodeo. He had once been sick and Sam had to help him. But never, never, did Sam see him completely defeated.

"Tranquilizers do that." Pepper reassured Sam, gazing at the unmoving horse.

Everything's going in slow-motion! Sam thought desperately. But then she saw that Dad was striding to her, cell phone in hand.

"I called Dr. Scott." he told her, looking tiredly but sympathetically at Sam. "He said he's on his way."

Sam didn't notice that Jake was holding her hand until the veterinarian's car bumped across River Bend Bridge. "He's here!" Sam exclaimed in relief, running towards him.

Dr. Scott immediately began examining the horse. He even snapped a picture of the tranquilizer and the wound. He had Brynna help by getting disinfectant for the wound and cleaning it up. Sam knew she was riled up because the vet hadn't asked her for assistance yet.

"Hold your horses, Brat. He's just doin' his job." Jake reminded her.

Sam did a very naïve thing by narrowing her eyes and sticking out her tongue out at him. "Well," Sam hissed. "I'm probably not going to have any horses to hold. Dad's gonna probably be mad."

"Aw, no he won't. It ain't your fault some idiot shot Blackie…" Jake said. Putting his arm around her shoulders in a casual way, he added, "I don't know why he would, since he knows he'll hafta fight ya for him."

Sam grinned despite everything. A real cowboy never would compliment anyone, really, but things like that were better than compliments any way.

"Samantha?" Dr. Scott finally had his clip board and was ready for questioning. "Can you tell me how he could have gotten into the barn?"

Sam was truly stumped. Was the door open when she had come in with Jake? She couldn't remember.

Jake must have noticed that she didn't know. "Only a crack, Doc. I don't know how he could've gotten in."

Dr. Scott nodded thoughtfully and asked Jake this time, "Do you think that tomorrow you could track the blood? We need to arrest whoever who did it for illegal horse harassment and injury."

Sam went over to her grown-up wild horse. The puncture was little from the dart, but deep and at least five hours old, if not a day. The Phantom had probably went to the last resort. He'd came to the only humans he trusted; Sam and Jake.

Still, his closed eyes and sprawled out body gave her the chills. Oh, when she found out who did this…

"Sam, can you tell me where his herd of mustangs are now?" Dr. Scott asked.

Sam didn't have to think too hard. "They're always around, but I think they're closer here, like they are in the summer."

Brynna agreed with her step daughter. "They're in prime condition at this time of the year. Especially since there's been a perfect amount of rain."

Sam saw Dad telling the cowboys they could go to their bunkhouse. Gram was still outside though, shivering in the suddenly cool air, and the horse lay only ten feet away from the barn.

"What are we going to do with him?" Gram inquired. "We could never put him in the barn or even the ten-acre pasture."

"This tranquilizer is suppost to make them sleep for six hours. I figure he was shot at around two o'clock this afternoon. Since he fell asleep about ten minutes ago, he'll be awake and fine at 11:00. He's one strong horse." Dr. Scott said.

Thoughts whirled through Sam's cluttered brain. She was helping Brynna and Gram get ready for the picnic then, so she really didn't have any suspicions. Both Flickinger and Slocum were in jail, as well as other horse rustlers…So there must be someone new.

"I can almost see the wheels turning, Brat." Jake chuckled. "We'll figure it out tomorrow."

Dr. Scott was packing up to leave, and Sam's dad, Brynna and Gram were still looking at the regal.

Jake led Sam off over to the ten acre pasture, where Sam leaned against the fence and stroked Strawberry's forelock absently. Jake leaned on the fence right by her.

"Tomorrow morning, bright and early." Sam suddenly said, climbing up the fence and sitting on the top rail, so she could look down on Jake.

Jake's eyes widened. "Sounds like you remembered somethin'."

Sam ignored him about her knowing that the best time for tracking was early morning. "Anyway, you meet me, 'kay? I'll be there at 4:30."

"Tell Wyatt you're just out for a ride." Jake reminded her.

Sam shook her head slowly. "Gram is making him go to church with her and Brynna. But usually she doesn't make me. They leave at about 9:30, so Dad probably will be happy if I do the chores."

Jake nodded, his dark eyes blending in with the starless sky. "Don't be late, and, good luck with Blackie."

With that, he took off for his truck. Sam climbed down, still deep in thought.

Dr. Scott reassured Sam about leaving him alone. "He'll be wild when he wakes up." Sam just nodded.

But still, a nagging thought tugged in her mind. Who had done this and why?