The Phantom Stallion, Reunited

Chapter 1

"You'd better get to bed, Samantha. No doubt you two'll be riding all over the desert in the morning." Gram calls from the kitchen, I set my jaw, glaring out towards the road. Jake was on his way, he'd called not ten minutes ago, asking if he could stay the night after five years being gone. I'd been the one to answer, and had nearly torn the phone from the wall in anger before Gram had taken the phone. Suddenly the red cloud rising even in the storm, the familiar grey truck sped over the bridge, lights shining at the house. I turned, jerked at the door knob before I heard the crazed whinny of the horse I loved. The Phantom stood in the road, rearing, facing Jake's truck.

"Zanzibar." I whisper, walking slowly off the porch into the rain. The horse calms some, watching with wide eyes as Jake opens the door of his truck. I curl my fingers into the horse's mane, not ready to face the man Jake had grown into.

"Sam." Jake mutters, walking towards us. Taking its cue, the stallion races into the night, leaving me in the dirt. Rain pelting my shoulders. I can't bear to look at him, storming into the house, letting the door slam, knowing no ones in the house but Gram. Dad, Brynna and Cody are gone for the week, down to rodeos in Kentucky. She stands in the kitchen, staring past me as Jake comes in the door, silent as a cat. Jerking clothes from shelves, I stuff them into a backpack, moving just as quickly back out of the house.

"Where on earth-" Gram starts, her voice lost in the storm. Lightning cracks overhead, I don't flinch, continuing towards the barn. I'm nearly halfway there when a warm hand grabs my arm, spinning me around. I glare up at Jake, rain dripping off the brim of his hat.

"You'll freeze." Typical Jake, never saying more than he had to.

"You left." I snap, jerking out of his grip. I'm scooped off my feet, carried back to the house, I try to wiggle my way out of his grasp, but he's gotten stronger, too, holding me tight against his chest into the living room. "You put me down this instant Ely!" I scream. He lets me go, and I land on my feet.

"Samantha Ann." Gram waves a rolling pin at me.

"Guess I'll be heading home, then." Jake mutters, heading toward the door.

"Get out of here, Jake." I tell him, still staring at Gram.

"Don't you dare think you're off the hook, young lady." Gram says when I walk up the stairs. "He'll be back in the morning to do chores for your father, and you'll be helping him." I groan, falling back on my bed.

It's nearly five by the time I wake up, wandering through the house in the dark. I make coffee, taking a mug of my own before going out to the barn. Within the hour, Jake's here, looking for his old chores and finding them already done. I'm cleaning stalls by the time he's finished exploring, throwing soiled straw into a wheelbarrow.

"What're you so mad about?" He asks quietly. I stay silent. After a few minutes, I turn around, just as I thought, he's gone. By noon, I've finished the chores, going into the house for lunch.

"What'd you say to him?" Gram demands.

"Nothin." I shrug.

"Don't go tearing his little ole heart up, little lady." I freeze at the familiar drawl of Linc Slocum.

"What is it, Linc?" Gram asks. I escape out the back door.

By the end of the week, I still haven't spoken a word to Jake Ely. I'd even started leaving chores for him to do. Dad and Brynna come home with Cody, I don't talk with them either. Dad stares at me for a good minute before telling Gram about a welcome home party for Jake over at the Ely's. I grimace at the thought, having words only for Cody. I decide to bring my guitar along, stowing it in the back of the truck, I'd played and sang many times with the Ely boys while Jake was gone, and Mac, Jake's grandfather, enjoyed it. Gram insists that I wear a flowy green dress that has nearly no back, rises to my knees in front, and hangs to my ankles in the back. Shaking my head, I go out to the Ten acre pasture, where Tempest gallops. Luring her in with peppermints, I spring onto her back, riding back to the house. Brynna smirks, Cody squeals, running across the yard to get to me.

"I wanna ride." He begs, reaching up for me. I reach an arm down, lifting him up in front of me. Tempest quivers, shifting beneath us.

"Easy, girl." i whisper, patting her neck.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Dad asks, walking over to us.

"I'm going to ride Tempest over to the Ely's. It's not far." I shrug, Dad shakes his head before climbing into the truck beside Gram and Brynna and driving away. I squeeze tempest with my calves, and off we go. The Kenworthy's are just pulling in by the time we get there, filling up the porch.

"You gonna sing for us tonight, Sam?" Quinn calls, standing at the porch steps, Dad's already at my side, taking Cody from Tempest's back.

"Course I am." I tell him, swinging down from Tempest and leading her into the corral. Someone whistles, I glance up, Jake smirks and disappears into the house.

"He hasn't changed one bit." Quinn shrugs.

"Debatable." Kit walks towards us, a fresh bruise darkening his cheekbone.

"What happened to you? Get in a fight with the teddy bear again?" I laugh.

"Naw. Jake didn't take too kindly to the news." Kit smiles, shaking his head at me. A little girl peeks out from behind his legs, long black hair hanging to her waist. "This is Tia."

"Kit-? When-? Why didn't you-?" I stammer. The child smiles shyly, and I feel small hands wrapping around my own legs, Cody. Quickly, I regain my composure, I have to. "Tia, this is Cody, my little brother. Would you like to play with him?" Tia nods hurriedly, taking Cody's hand and running to the tree.

"That was quick." Kit nods after the children.

"You kids ready?" Luke Ely, Kit's father calls. Jake comes out of the house, rubbing the back of his neck, nervous. As if he might actually stand up for something for once. Yeah, right. The five Ely boys excluding Kit and Jake play along as I sing for nearly an hour before our little show ends. The crowd claps, I swing the guitar from my shoulder, placing it back in it's case.

"Thought you'd enjoy the praise." Jake's voice comes too close, whispering in my ear. I ignore him, putting the case into the truck again along with the heels I'd been wearing. "Sam."

"Let her go, Jake. She can find her own way home." Kit shouts from the porch. Jake persists, grabbing my arm, turning me away from the corral. I slap him across the face, hard. He stares at me, dumbfounded. Tempest prances in the corral, I fling open the gate, swinging onto her back as she gallops through.