The Phantom Stallion, Reunited

Chapter 4

Author's Note: Sorry I haven't posted a new chapter in a really long time. Senior year's been kicking my ass. I've got my schedule changed so I have study hall every afternoon so I'll be able to add more if you guys want me to. Hope you guys enjoy this!

We get Jake on the grass, using the blanket roll from his saddle as a pillow for him. Dried blood stains the shirt covering his left shoulder, and I have to cut it away with a knife. The wound, shaped like a horseshoe, is deep, and I clean it with water before wrapping it up with strips off an extra shirt from my own saddlebags. All the while, Dad stands off to one side, watching the wild herd below us.

"You can't tell anyone about this tunnel," I say, walking over to him. "Even if they're only 'scruffy wild nags'."

"And when someone else finds it?" He questions.

"You know how hard it was to get up here last night in the mud. That's the easiest it's ever been." I shrug, my shoulder throbbing with the pain. "You have to swear you won't bring anyone back here, it'll drive them away."

"Sam." Dad sighs, looking at me, and back at the herd. "Alright." Almost immediately, he looks as if he regrets the decision, but no words are said. The radio buzzes at his hip, I jump, surprised it's still working.

'You guys alright?' Darrel's voice asks, buzzing on the radio.

'Jake's been kicked, might take him back, get him checked out. Head back to the ranch, should be along in an hour.' Dad answers. We can hear a loud yell through the softening rain and know they've moved on. "I'll check on the storm. See if you can wake him." I walk over to Jake, taking the canteen from my saddle as I go, dumping it on his face. Jake coughs, moaning as he opens his eyes.

"Rise and shine," I smirk, rubbing his eyes with one hand, Jake holds out his good hand to me. I pull him up, holding him on his feet, wincing as it pulls on my shoulder. "You'd better be ready to ride. We got you up here and I sure as hell ain't carryin you back down."

We make our way to Witch, and, slowly but surely, I get Jake into the saddle. I grab Witch's reins, leading her over to Ace before swinging into my own saddle. We meet Dad and Tank at the other end of the tunnel, riding down the steep slope with them. After a while, Jake seems lucid enough to ride on his own, and I give him the reins. Dad rides on ahead, leaving us to catch up. I feel Jake's eyes boring into my back after a while, and pull Ace up short, glaring back at him.

"Don't you have anything else to stare at?" I snap, he jumps, finally, I've caught him off guard. A crimson splotch colors the shoulder of his once-tan shirt. Swearing under my breath, I ground tie Ace and go back to Jake.

"Get Wyatt, bandages, Samantha." He whispers about nothing, his eyes half-closed, jaw set against the pain.

"Can't fix it now. Have to wait. I ain't draggin you off that horse just to shove you back on up again." I tell him, walking back to Ace, Witch's reins in my hand. Leaving the men to the cattle, I take Jake into the barn, leaving him to sit in the back room while I untack the horses and put them out to pasture. I open the door, and Jake isn't where I left him. I search the room, he isn't there. Frustrated, I stomp back to the stalls, searching for him. I find Jake leaning against a stall gate, barely conscious. "You aren't worth the trouble," I mutter, pulling him towards the house. I get Jake onto the couch with Brynna's help and try to keep him awake while she calls a doctor.