A/N: I made a mistake in the last chapter. I said that Cody was one, scratch, he'll be about four months I think. Sorry about that.

Chapter Three

Sam didn't know how long she had been crying for, but she suddenly became aware of the fact that she was crying into Jake's shirt and the sun had started beating down on her back. Sam straightened and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Sam said, trying to regain her composure.

"It's okay," Jake replied, rubbing her back.

"No, no it's not," Sam said getting up. "She's been gone for years, I shouldn't be upset, I shouldn't be..." her hands balled into fists as anger started to fuel through her. Jake quickly stood up, seeing that look in Sam's eyes.

"Sam, no," he told her.

"I can't let him get away with this," Sam stated starting toward the house, but Jake stepped in front of her and grabbed her arms.

"Going in there by yourself won't help the situation," Jake argued. "In fact, it's agood way to get yourself killed."

"Jake, please, she's my mother," Sam pleaded, on the verge of tears again. "I have to do something."

"I know," Jake said, in his calming voice. "But this is not the way to do it."

Sam knew he was right, but she was desperate, she wasn't thinking clearly. She had just found out that her mother was alive to have her taken away again. It wasn't fair. Something had to be done.

"Sam, Sam!" Jake snapped out of her thoughts. "Get that look off your face, and let's go." Jake dragged her back to the horses.Sam didn't fight him, she knew that she was no match for Caleb, with or without a gun. Jake held Ace's head while Sam mounted up and then he mounted Witch.

"I don't want to go back just yet," Sam said suddenly.

Jake just nodded.

She had already missed the bus and it would take them an hour or so to get home and then head to school. Plus, Sam wasn't quite ready to face anyone yet. Instead, they turned their horses away from the ranches.They rode in silence for awhile until Sam just had to ask.

"How did you know where I was?"

Jake shrugged, paused for a minute and then answered, "Just a feeling,"

Sam didn't push him in detail and turned back to Ace. She twirled her finger around a strand of black mane. Finally, she was able to say, "I'm glad you did," Out of the corner of her eye, Sam saw Jake look over at her. She couldn't see his eyes from under the brim of his Stetson, but Sam could have though she the beginnings of smile on his face. When he turned back to the front, however, it disappeared.

Suddenly, Ace pricked his ears and he broke into a trot. Sam pulled back on the reins, bringing the gelding to a halt and looked to where he was looking. A herd of mustangs were grazing up ahead. Two blood bay mares stood out from the herd and Sam's heart thumped in her chest. She searched desperately for the silver stallion. Witch's loud whinny made Sam turn to the left.

There he was.

The Phantom stood watching them. He didn't make a move toward them and Sam knew it was because Jake was here. Ace shivered in excitement, wanting to go to his old herd leader, but Sam held him back. Sam wanted nothing more than to go to him, hop on his back and ride off to his secret valley. But she couldn't. Not with Jake here.

Zanzibar.

The Phantom pricked his ears, as if he heard her.

Thank you.

The stallion nickered and tossed his mane. He pawed the ground and snorted. It was like he was trying to tell her something and Sam knew what it was. Then the Phantom turned on his haunches and galloped toward his herd. A buckskin mare, who Sam recognized as Dark Sunshine, led the herd away toward the secret valley. Sam watched them, until they had disappeared.

"That was weird," Jake said, his voice was just above a whisper.

"Yeah," Sam replied, a determined expression was on her face as she looked at Jake. "But I know what I have to do."