The Challenger (16 page)

“Oh, Father, give it up!” Ryan snapped. Then he walked back to the mansion and left Linc to deal with the investors, alone.

 

Sam was ready to go home long before they hung the two gowns and finished off the snacks. She ached all over, and she was anxious to get to bed early. Tomorrow, after all, was Monday.

Just the same, when they pulled into the ranch yard, she was glad to see Jake's old blue truck parked near the bunkhouse.

Jake wore a bulky denim jacket, but no Stetson. He kept his hands buried in his pockets as he stood in front of the bunkhouse talking to Dallas.

As Sam pulled her aching body out of Gram's car, he turned to watch.

“Go see what he wants,” Gram said with a shooing motion. “I'll get dinner started. And don't worry about your chores. Wyatt's given you the day off.”

Sam sighed with relief, then straightened her shoulders. She did her best to walk without limping and must have done an all right job, because Jake didn't get fussy like he had yesterday.

He gave a nod to Dallas, then strode toward Sam.

“Got something I want to show you,” he said, turning toward the barn.

“I don't think I can ride,” Sam said. In fact, Sam
knew
she couldn't, but she wouldn't admit it.

“Don't expect you to,” Jake answered.

Sam glanced at Jake's face as she walked beside him. With his long hair tied back, gleaming and black, and the sun glinting on his dark brown cheekbones, he looked familiar and dependable.

She was sure Jake knew the truth, that she'd fall down whimpering if she even tried to throw her leg over a horse's back, but he didn't hint at her weakness.

But if he teased her, she was ready to respond. Once, Jake had told her he remembered Ryan Slocum as a jerk. She
could
tell him Ryan was back, and that he'd helped save the cougar. She
could,
but right now Jake was being a decent friend.

She'd let someone else tell him Ryan was back.

“Where are we going?” Sam asked as they passed through the old pasture and started up a path. It was nearly twilight. Gram would get cranky if she stayed out too long.

“Just to the top of the ridge,” Jake said. He slowed his pace a little, but didn't ask if she could make it.

Sam heard hooves and nickering before Jake held a finger to his lips. He continued on silent feet, but Sam could hear her own breathing. Then she tripped on a root, yelped, and would have fallen if he hadn't caught her.

Two dark shadows passed through the gorge down below, manes and tails streaming as they ran.

“Who was it?” Sam asked.

“Moon and some mare,” Jake said.

“Moon? He's got a herd?”

“I wouldn't call it a herd,” Jake said. “More like, he stole himself some company.”

“From who?” Sam grabbed Jake's jacket and gave him a shake. When he leaned forward, curling his arms across his chest and pretending she'd hurt him, she insisted, “Whose mare?”

“Can't say for sure. Both the Phantom and Yellowtail were chasing him down by Three Ponies. Then Moon herded her across La Charla and the other stallions stopped.”

A vision of the Phantom filled her mind. This time last year, she'd thought her colt was lost forever.

Sam wondered what the next year would bring, then shook her head and looked back down in the gorge. Moon and his mare had galloped out of sight.

“He knew he was safe on this side of La Charla,” Sam said. She rubbed her hands together, but she didn't need the warmth.

She was so happy Moon had found a family that she almost missed the small sound from inside Jake's jacket.

“Jake?” she asked. “What was that?”

He shrugged. Then, looking embarrassed, Jake unbuttoned his jacket with one hand.

“Since your mustangs are gonna be out of touch for the winter, I brought you a house pet.”

Jake's big hand withdrew a brown-striped kitten from the sheepskin lining of his jacket. Awakened
from its nap, the kitten blinked up at Sam and uttered a tiny mew.

“We've been calling him Cougar,” Jake said.

“Jake! You are the best!” Sam squeezed Jake's neck in a clumsy hug. It hurt her, and it probably hurt Jake, but she couldn't resist.

“Careful. You're squishing him,” Jake said.

“I love him!” Sam released her grip on Jake's neck and held the kitten next to her chest.

“It's no big deal,” Jake said, but the grin on his face said otherwise.

Sam led the way back toward the ranch house, and when the winter wind brought her the sounds of galloping hooves, she felt cozy and contented. She and Moon were both back where they belonged.

Cover art © 2003 by Greg Call

Cover © 2003 by HarperCollins Publishers Inc.