Disclaimer: I do not own PS. I do own the fantastic plot though.

I kept the cursing to a minimum.

ENJOY!

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Waiting

Jake had been pacing for an hour wondering when Sam would get back from her ride with Jen so he could attempt to salvage their friendship. He felt absolutely horrible about what he had said to her. He didn't mean any of it; he simply said it in the heat of the moment. He was also worried about her because a big storm was rolling in.

Jake had always felt like he was a big brother to Sam. They'd been through so much together.

When Sam had her accident Jake had felt personally responsible. If he hadn't tried to rush her through that gate, Blackie wouldn't have felt trapped, and Sam wouldn't have fallen.

Despite her reassurances that it wasn't his fault, Jake still felt immensely guilty. That's why the fight with Sam was such a huge mistake. He had promised that he would protect her always.

Also, those brotherly feelings toward Sam had begun to change into something stronger. Jake was falling for her and he might have just ruined his chance with her.

He checked his watch and was amazed to see that another thirty minutes had passed.

A few minutes later Gram came out of the house and interrupted his pacing.

"Jake dear, I heard the fight that you and Sam had earlier and I'm concerned," Gram said hesitantly.

"I'm concerned too," Jake confessed to her. "I don't know how to fix this. I got mad and said horrible things to her. I don't think that she will ever forgive me. Heck, I wouldn't even forgive me."

I felt good for him to get all of this off of his chest. After saying all of this Jake could breathe easier. All of his feelings and thoughts had been suffocating him and he didn't even realize it.

"Oh sweetheart, she will forgive you. Sam has always had a very forgiving nature," Dram said soothingly.

"I know that but……" Jake stopped short because Ace had just ridden into the ranch and Sam wasn't on him.

Jake heard Gram gasp. "Oh dear!" she cried.

Jake ran over to Ace and grabbed the reins. He smoothed his hand over Ace's neck. It was damp with sweat. He looked at Ace's eyes and they rolled so that you could see white. Something had scared this horse.

"Gram," Jake said without looking away from the horse, "could you bring Ace into the barn and calm him down while I call Jen?"

"Of course Jake," she said taking the reins from his hand.

Jake ran into the house and dialed Jens number. While he waited for someone to pick up he thought about what could have happened to Sam. She might have fallen off again and she could be walking home right now. But she might have gotten hurt and she could be stranded out there. The thought terrified Jake.

Finally Jen answered the phone. "Hello."

"Jen its Jake, why aren't you with Sam? You were supposed to be riding together."

"Oh hi Jake," she said with a sneer in her voice. "Sam and I were riding together, that is, until she told me what you said about me. I'm surprised that you even have the nerve to call me."

"Where were you guys riding?" Jake asked starting to panic.

"Why do you care? After all you said that you didn't want to be friends with her. She was quite distraught when she met up with me. You know, you really should work on your temper."

"God damn it Jennifer! Just tell me where the hell you guys were riding!" Jake exclaimed. He had no time for this.

"We were riding in Arroyo Azul. But I left her an hour and a half ago, after she called me a bitch and ended out friendship. Why are you asking anyway? Isn't she home yet?"

"No Jen, she isn't. About five minutes ago Ace rode in and she wasn't on him. He's pretty shook up about something. If what you say is true, then she's been out there alone for an hour, if not longer," Jake told her putting as much venom in his voice as possible.

"Well, she probably just fell off again. She's probably on her way home right now," Jen said but she sounded like she was getting worried.

"With how rocky that terrain is she could have broken her neck!So you had better hope that shes okay because if anything happens to her I'm holding you personally responsible," Jake threatened.

Then he hug up before they started arguing and wasting more time. Jake ran back outside and saw Gram exiting the barn. He ran over to her.

"I put Ace back in his stall," she said. "He seems to be calming down."

"I called Jen she said that they were riding up in Arroyo Azul but they had a fight and she left about an hour and a half ago. You should go inside and call Brynna and tell her that Sam has been missing for an hour. She'll know what to do. In the meantime I'm going to ride Witch out there and see if we can find her."

Jake ran over to Witch and mounted. He turned her around and galloped out of Riverbend.

As he galloped he thought of all of the horrible things that he said to Sam. Horrible things that he hoped that he could take back when he found her.

Jake was halfway across War Drum Flats when it started raining. At first it was a light drizzle but seconds later it was downpour. He was having trouble seeing ahead of him but he pushed on trusting Witch to keep her footing.

After five more minutes Jake was nearing Arroyo Azul. As soon as the canyon walls were around him everything became more visible.

Jake slowed Witch to a walk and kept moving forward. After another five minutes he saw her. But she wasn't the only thing he saw. Jake also saw the Phantom.

He was standing over Sam protecting her from most of the rain. Sam was on the ground. It looked like she was out clod. Jake wouldn't know more until he got a good look at her.

Jake moved to dismount Witch. When he did and started walking towards Sam the Phantom bared his teeth and snapped them at me. But he kept moving towards them. Jake had to find out if Sam was all right.

When Jake was about three feet away the Phantom started backing away. Maybe it was out of fear or maybe he knew that I was just trying to help. Jake didn't know and it didn't matter.

He quickly walked over to Sam and knelt beside her. The first thing that Jake did was see if she had a pulse. She did! But it was faint.

Thank God! Jake thought in relief. Next he gently probed her body for broken bones. Jake didn't feel any but it was hard to tell with the sodden clothes in the way.

The last thing he did was look at her head. Jake didn't dare move it because you aren't supposed to move fall victims. That's why the paramedics put a neck brace on. Just in case something was broken.

He looked at her head and saw that she had a huge gash, and although the bleeding had slowed Jake could tell by the Blood stained ground that she had bled a lot.

Half a minute later he heard the ambulance. Jake was happy that they were here because if she lost anymore blood she might die. He couldn't let that happen.

Jake stood up and walked about fifteen feet and shouted as loud as he could. "Hey! We're over here! Hurry the heck up, she's lost a lot of blood!"

Half a minute later they were in front of him telling him to move aside. He moved over and let them pass. He saw the paramedics look at the wound. Then the put a neck brace on her and put her on the stretcher.

As they moved past Jake grabbed Witch's reins and followed them. When Jake emerged he saw the paramedics load her into the ambulance and watched as the jumped in after her.

Jake watched as the ambulance sped away as fast as it could risk going without getting suck or flipping over.

While Jake was watching all of this happen the shock of what he saw caught up to him. Oh my God! He thought. What if she dies?

Jake's eyes welled up with tears and he silently cried. No one knew that he was crying because he was soaking wet because of the rain.

Jake just stood there in the rain crying, because for him, time stood still, and all he could think was What if she dies?

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So how was chapter 2?

R&R

Ciao for now!