The Phantom Stallion, Reunited

Chapter 2

Tempest prances in the corral, I push open the gate, reaching for her halter as lightning strikes. She rears knocking me back before running into the storm. I swear under my breath, headed for Dad's truck.

"You're not going out there alone, Samantha." Dad tells me, lightning strikes again, lighting up the Ely's yard. Tia comes running from behind the barn, screaming her head off, headed straight for me. I look around for Cody, he's not here.

"What happened? Where is he?" I ask, crouching down next to her.

"Cody, went down, b-by the wat-ter." She sobs. I straighten, looking at the house.

"Your father's in the house, Tia." I tell her, pointing at the porch. Brynna catches my eye, hope rising on her face, stomach swollen beneath the dress she wears. Rain starts to come down in sheets, but it doesn't block my view of the Phantom. White as the moon, rearing only feet from me. I hold out my hand, he presses his head against it, dancing on his feet before me. I climb onto his back, barely getting a good grip before he goes racing into the storm. The road blurs beneath his hooves, but I can hear the river even from here, it's roar echoing in my ears. A truck revs somewhere behind us, and we veer off the road onto the riverbank. It's swelling with all the rain we've had, rising up the banks. A flash of red catches my eye, floating towards the bridge, I dig my knees into the Phantom, urging him onto the bridge. The truck stops at one end of the bridge, Wyatt and Jake climbing out. "We'll get him, Samantha." Jake tells me. I slide from the Phantom's back, backing up to face downriver, I wait until I see the red shirt again, then run, diving into the water. It flows over my head, loud as the thunder. My hands search the water, pushing aside sticks and stones as I hold my breath. My hand catches the red fabric, pulling Cody to the surface. I plant my feet in the muddy bottom, swinging toward the bank. Something knocks into my right shoulder, hard enough to nearly make me lose my grip on Cody. I switch hands, hauling him up the bank left handed. I don't get far, Dad pulling Cody from my arms, Jake lifting me off my feet. I wince at the pain in my shoulder, locking my jaw against it. I'm set inside the truck, squeezed in between Jake and Dad. I'm shaking so hard by the time we get home, I can barely see straight. Brynna and Gram are dropped off by the Kenworthy's, taking Cody to bed while I'm left alone with Dad. He paces from the kitchen to the living room and back again, his jaw set.

"What were you thinking? Were you thinking?" He asks, stopping in front of me.

"What would you have done?" I counter, he stares at me for a moment before continuing his pacing. After nearly an hour, I go up to my room, curling up beneath the covers, careful of my shoulder. I don't get much sleep that night, or the next, tossing and turning in vain, no position is comfortable with my shoulder. On the third day, Jake shows up, schooling one of the new horses in the corral. I saddle Ace, taking him out into the yard before mounting. I'm just about to leave when I hear Jake talking with Pepper.

"What's got her madder'n a hornet?" Jake asks quietly.

"Dunno. Ask her." Pepper shrugs. I pull Ace a halt, waiting for Jake.

"Didn't Wyatt ever tell you not to ride lopsided?" He asks, a lazy tomcat grin on his face. "You're protecting your shoulder."

"I'm fine." I bite out.

"Sam, please. Just let me look at it." He pleads. I sigh, swinging my leg over Ace's back. My traitorous arm doesn't hold my weight, dropping me into Jake's waiting arms. He puts me down, my back to his chest, holding my bad arm out.

"You know, I should just tell Wyatt and take you to the hospital for this." He whispers in my ear, a warm hand sliding between my back and the shirt. I turn my head, watching him. His hands jerk, my arm snapping back into place as his lips meet mine. I struggle against him, pain burning through my arm. When he finally releases me, the pain has been reduced to an ache. "Better?"

"You distracted me." I sputter.

"Worked, didn't it?" Jake smiles beneath the dusty Stetson. "Take it easy on that shoulder." Frustrated, I stare at his back as he walks away, but I do as he says. For a whole week, I take it easy, somewhat, but it's the next week that ends my cooperation. Cody doesn't stray far anymore, afraid to go near the river. My shoulder bruises over, and I have to hide it beneath my shirt collar. Jake goes with Dad almost every day, riding out on the range, only coming back late at night. I still hardly talk to Jake, even when he follows my every step when he is here. On Saturday, we start packing for the big roundup. The Kenworthy's and Ely's come over to help, and by seven in the morning, we're headed out. I ride hard, my knees digging into Ace's sides. Jake keeps up easily, Witch galloping beside Ace. I've learned her tricks though, and as we cross a small stream, let out a sharp whistle, Witch stops, throwing Jake over her head into the shallow water. Laughing, I pull Ace up, letting him drink at the water's edge.

"Real funny, Sam. Real funny." He slaps his hat against his leg, water droplets creating ripples on the water's surface. "I leave and you go messing with my horse."

"What?" I ask, trying to keep a straight face. Witch rolls in the dust.

"How many more tricks did you teach her?" Jake spits out, if looks could kill. Witch gets up, walking to him when he whistles, her once black coat now a dusty brown.

"No idea what you're talking about." I shrug, turning Ace around again as Dad comes around the corner on his horse, Tank. We hear the herd before we see it, hundreds of cattle grazing across the plain.

"Take the north side, you two." Dad sends Jake and I off around the herd.

"No funny business today, Sam." Jake says once we're out of hearing distance.

"I'm not the one who thought he'd take a bath in the creek on the way here." I tell him, riding off around the herd before he has the chance to answer. It's dark by the time we get back, Darrel and Ross already nighthawking. I take Ace for water, untack him, and leave him in the on with the other horses. Jen hands me a hot mug of coffee when I've finished, sitting next to me in the grass.

"You and Jake alright?" She asks quietly, glancing over at Jake as he leans against a tree at the the of the circle.

"We're fine, Jen." I tell her shortly.

"It's okay. You don't have to tell me, he's just been asking me about you, too." Jen whispers.

"He leaves for five years and then-" I'm cut off by a stick flying towards my shoulder. I whip my right hand up, grabbing the stick, thorns stab into my palm, blood trickles down my wrist. Pushing my mug at Jen, I stand up, stalking away from the bonfire. "I have something to take care of." I go to Gram's wagon, find a small roll of gauze, and wrap my hand, the deep cut stretching when I open my fist. "You just don't get it, do you, Ely?" I slam the drawer closed, walking back to the horse corral. "You broke up with me. You left for five years, and left me here alone. You never came back to visit, not once." I pull Ace from the small herd, riding him bareback to join the cowboys nighthawking.