Chapter Four

When Sam and Jake entered River Bend, the ranch yard was empty and Sam was relieved. At least, she would have a little while before she was in trouble. They dismounted and Sam took Ace's tack off and set him free in the ten acre pasture, while Jake just slipped Witch's bit out and loosened the cinch, leaving her tied at the hitching post. Both turned, startled, when the ranch house door slammed open.

"Samantha Ann Forster!" Gram called from the porch. "Where have you been?"

Sam gulped and looked at Jake, who was busying himself with fixing something on his saddle. Taking a deep breath, Sam turned back to the house and started walking toward her grandmother. With each step she took, it seemed like the distance between her and the porch was growing longer. It felt like she was walking to her death.

When she was within earshot, Sam spoke, "I just had to go out for a ride...I needed to check on something,"

"What could be so important that you just had to miss school for, Samantha?" Gram asked her crossing her arms.

Sam didn't know what to say, what could she say. Caleb had made it very clear that she couldn't tell anyone about her mother. If she did, he would kill her mother before anyone had a chance to see if she really had survived.

"When your father gets home, we are going to have a very long talk," Gram told her, then it seemed like she just saw Jake behind her and said, "Thank you for watching out for her Jake,"

Jake tipped his Stetson to her and replied, "No problem, ma'am,"

Gram went back into the house and Sam turned around and headed back to where Jake stood.

"Well, at least I have a few hours of freedom," Sam said.

Jake didn't say anything, instead he turned and walked toward the round pen. From where she was, Sam could see that Sterling was peering through the fence slats at them. Jake must have noticed it too and wanted to build on that. The mare saw them coming and ran toward the other side of the pen. Slowly, but surely, Jake opened the gate, keeping his eyes away from the mare. Sam wasn't sure if should follow until Jake looked up at her. Taking that as a sign to follow, Sam walked into the pen. After closing the gate, Jake sat down in the dirt, opposite the mare. Sam did the same.

Sterling flared her nostrils, her ears pinned back. She didn't like these humans in her pen and she was making that very clear. The mare kicked out her hindquarters two times and broke into a trot down her side of the fence and back again, never getting to close to them. After about three minutes, Sterling stopped and stared off into the distance. Sam wanted to turn and see what the mare was looking at, but she knew if she did, it would startle the mare, so she stayed put. Sterling's ears were pricked, but after another minute they relaxed. She lowered her head to the ground, eyes watching them.

Sam risked a glance at Jake to see his reaction. His face was blocked by his Stetson and he hadn't moved she they had sat down. She didn't know about him, but excitement was welling up inside of her. But she didn't dare let a squeal or a whisper out, at this point anything could set the mare off.

Tentatively, the grey mare took a step forward. Blowing through her lips, she took another step. Then, she stopped and stared. Rewarding her bravery, Jake slowly got up and headed over to the gate. Although, she didn't want to leave the mare, Sam followed him. When they had shut the gate, Sam peeked through the slats. Sterling was still staring after them, her ears pricked, her eyes curious. Smiling, Sam ran after Jake.

"Did you see her when we left?" Sam asked excitedly. "It looked like she didn't want us to leave."

Jake only nodded and kept walking.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked him.

"Nothin," Jake answered as he bridled Witch and tightened the cinch. Witch pinned her ears as he did so and lashed out at the closest person, which happened to be Sam. Luckily, Sam jumped out of the way before she got bit.

"You're leaving," Sam said, surprisingly.

Jake nodded, as he mounted up, "I should check in with my parents before they worry too much,"

Sam nodded, understandingly. There was silence, neither knowing what to say. After a while, Jake said a quick good-bye and reined Witch toward the bridge. Sam watched him go, wishing she had something. She hated this change in their relationship.

Later that evening after dinner, Sam sat on the couch, hands clasped together on her lap as she watched her father pace the living room floor. Gram sat in the armchair, a book on her lap, but watching her son. Brynna sat on the other end of the couch, feeding Cody his evening bottle.

"What possible reason could you have for missing school?" Wyatt asked his daughter.

Sam opened her mouth and then closed it again. She really didn't know what to say. If she told the truth, then her mother's life would be in danger, but maybe they could get there in time before Caleb killed her. Sam didn't want to take the risk, so she stayed quiet.

"Nothing to say?" Wyatt questioned her.

Sam looked down. "I..just...I just had to check something," she whispered.

"Tell me it didn't have anything to do with that stallion," Wyatt asked.

"A little," Sam answered.

"Samantha, you are grounded until further notice," Wyatt told her. "Go to your room."

Sam didn't fight him, instead she did as she was told and went to her bedroom. She closed the door and flung herself down on the bed, tears overflowing her eyes. Sam didn't know what to do, she was only sixteen years old. Sam sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. She looked out the window. It was just starting to get dark out.

"Mom, what do I do?" she whispered.

Later that nigh, midnight to be exact, Sam awoke again from another weird dream. Like the other one, Sam felt pulled outside, to the river. She pulled back the covers, it couldn't be the Phantom, she had seen him two times yesterday and that was rare, but she got up anyway, carefully so the mattress didn't creak. She crept over to the door and peeked out.

Everything looked clear, so she took a step forward. All of a sudden, a loud meow came nearly giving Sam a heart attack. Sam looked down in time to see her cat, Cougar, dash down the hallway. She held her breath, waiting to see if the noise had woken anyone up.

When nobody came, Sam continued downstairs. However, she froze again when she saw the kitchen light. Maybe someone just left the light on, Sam reasoned. Feeling slightly more braver, Sam walked into the kitchen. Of coarse, Sam's thoughts were wrong. There was someone in the kitchen. Brynna. She sat at the kitchen table, paperwork spread out before her and a plate of cherry pie left uneaten beside her, she looked up when Sam came in. Sam turned back around to head back upstairs.

"He's waiting for you," Sam stopped when Brynna spoke. She turned back around and stared at her stepmother, but she was looking back down at her work. Sam took the chance and dashed out of the house.

Once outside, Sam looked around the dark yard. She could just make out the outlines of the horses in the ten acre pasture. They were all staring alertly toward the La Charla river. That was when Sam heard the snort. Curious as ever to found out why he had came again, Sam went to meet him.

He stood proud and majestic at the river's edge. His ears were prick to catch the slightest sound. He looked every bit a phantom. The stallion nickered when he saw her and Sam walked faster. She stopped at the water edge and rolled up her sweat pants and looked up when she heard splashing. The Phantom had moved to the center of the river. Sam met him there.

"Zanzibar," she murmured.

The Phantom snorted softly and lowered his muzzle to fit within her hands. Sam smiled and rubbed it. A great sigh erupted from his body as his head lowered more. They stayed like that for a few more minutes, each content being in the other's presence. Then a loud whinny came from somewhere on the range.

All at once, the mighty stallion was a wild mustang once again. He gave a small rear, water droplets drenching Sam as he landed. With one last glance at her, the Phantom wheeled around and galloped toward his herd. Sam watched him go, wishing that she could be going with him. Because it seemed like he was trying to tell her that she wouldn't see him for awhile.