^.^
"So what did confucious say to Allie-son?" Tara asked nodding in the direction Allie was in. She was still cuddling with Popcorn, probably apologizing and Sam hoped; promising she would never do that again.
"That baseball is all wrong, man no walk with four balls," Sam replied smiling. Darrel started cracking up the others smiled too.
"Ok then, I'm sure she took it to heart," Tara said rolling her eyes and poking the fire with a stick. "I kinda wish we weren't going back to the ranch today...I kinda like it out here," Tara said surprising everyone.
She huffed. "Now don't go looking like that...geez. It's just...I don't know, peaceful," she said shrugging.
Ricky nodded, reminding Sam of his presence. He had been really quiet recently and Sam wondered what he was up to. Or if he was in some way being affected by the HARP program as much as Allie and Tara were.
One could hope right?
"Maybe could we stay one more night?" He asked leaning back against a rock. Sam looked at the others, they all shrugged.
Jen sighed slapping her hands on her knees before standing. "Alright, I guess I'll call everyone and make sure that's ok...since I'm probably the only one who thought to bring a cell phone."
"Um, actually I thought of it...I'm just not aloud to have one," Tara said throwing her stick into the fire which sent up sparks.
Jen shoke her head and pulled out her phone walking away. Jake bumped Sam's shoulder with his.
"Do you think they'll go for it?" He asked nodding towards Jen.
"I hope, it's been fun," she said smiling at him.
He snorted. "It's been something..."
"Hey Allie!" Tara said hopping to her feet as Allie approached. She hugged the girl and sat back down along with her. "So I was thinking maybe later you could introduce me to Popcorn?" Tara asked handing Allie a plate of food.
Allie smiled. "Yeah, of course. If it's ok with Sam," she looked over to Sam who smiled and nodded. Allie's eyes lit up and she began talking to Tara, they were talking about brushing the horses and braiding their manes. Sam shook her head and snuggled into Jake's side.
"The horses are going to turn into a bunch of prima dona's...," Jake muttered shaking his head but smiling also none the less. It was obvious everyone was pretty happy. It seemed like now that things would be easier...hopefully. Things seemed to be settling and finally working out.
"Hello."
Well at least before Sam heard that unmistakable British accent. She turned to see Ryan riding towards them on a horse she didn't recognize. He had probably gotten a new one...it wouldn't surprise her in the very least.
She forced a smile. "Hey, what brings you down this way?" She asked standing and walking to meet him. Jake followed close behind her.
"Well I was out riding and saw the smoke. Thought I'd check it out. What are you bunch up to?" He asked gazing around their cozy campsite. As if it weren't obvious enough...but Sam answered politely anyway.
"Camping," she said smiling and had to keep from laughing as Darrel snorted. Apparently he had left the fire to see what was going on also.
Ryan smiled. "I see."
Awkard silence fell over them and Sam finally cleared her throat, not feeling very comfortable. "So is that a new one of yours?" She asked looking at the horse.
"Yes. This is my jumper, Nava. It means beautiful in Hebrew," Ryan explained, obviously full of pride. Which, he had a right to be. Because Nava was truly beautiful.
"Wow, what her breed?" Sam asked offering her hand to the mare, who stuck her nose right into it and snorted.
"She's a Trakehner."
Sam ran her hand over Nava's muscled neck. She was sweating which made her muscles stand out more, her dark bay coat glimmered healthly and all Sam could think about, was how much she wanted to ride her.
Sam noticed that Jake couldn't help but admire her either. In fact, Jen was even gaping at her from a few feet away.
"You should come over and giver her a go sometime," Ryan offered as if reading her very thoughts. As much as Sam wanted to say yes, she knew it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
"Oh, I couldn't...," but boy, did she want to.
Ryan smiled. "Sure you can. I'll make you a deal."
Sam frowned and felt Jake step a little closer. "What kind of deal?" Sam asked cautiously.
"Come to my party tonight and you can come over and ride her anytime you like," he said grinning. She had forgotten about his party...and the fact that it was tonight. It figures he would have to find her in the middle of nowhere the day of his party...that she really didn't want to go to. But she really wanted to ride Nava.
"Um, I'm sort of in the middle of something here Ryan," she said motioning to the camp site.
"I think that they can babysit for a couple of hours why'll you are gone," he tried to reason...not realizing what an ass he was sounding like and how much he was making Sam not want to go.
"I can't do that Ryan, this is part of my responsibility too." Sam could feel Jake tensing behind her. He was clearly getting annoyed by Ryan also.
Ryan sighed. "Then bring them along." He was really pushing this.
"I can-"
Ryan held up a hand. "Before you say I can't...let me tell you this: Nava has shown Grand Prix level before."
Not that was cruel. He knew Sam would have a hard time turning that down...no matter how irresponsible it may be.
"I'll think about it ok?" Sam said hoping that will get him to stop pushing it.
"Please do. And I garuntee I will let nothing go wrong," he said pointedly looking towards the HARP kids. All of which, glared right at him.
Sam found her annoyance growing, he was lucky he had brought a horse or else she probably wouldn't have put up with him for this long.
Ryan cleared his throat and adjusted his position in the saddle. "Well, I should get going then," he gathered his reins and smiled at Sam. "Hope to see you tonight." He kicked Nava and she took off leaving a trail of dust behind her.
"What an ass hole." Tara said rolling her eyes and turning her attention back to the fire. Sam found she couldn't agree more but there was a nagging part of her that was considering going...for Nava's sake.
Now she had to figure out how to convince the others. She was having a hard time not finding it stupid, which she knew, it totally was.
