Gift Horse (Phantom Stallion, No. 9) by Terri Farley

Author:Terri Farley
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9780060561574
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2003-10-21T00:00:00+00:00

“Are you teasing me?” she asked finally. “Because I really don’t get what you’re saying.”

“Turns out you’re some slick horse trader, Samantha,” Dad said. He pushed back the brim of his Stetson and smiled. “Because you’ve already got a buyer for this one.”

Chapter Ten

Sam tried to speak, but her lungs burned with words she didn’t dare say.

I won’t let him go! I have to keep him here! How can you be so happy?

Another, quieter voice whispered, I want the Phantom to meet him. Some instinct told her the two horses would get along. For one crazy minute, she even dreamed of releasing Tinkerbell to run wild with the Phantom’s herd.

But she didn’t utter a single syllable. Silence expanded and filled the barn.

Jake blurred, but she still saw the way he was rubbing the back of his neck in discomfort. Her eyes had no reason to fill with tears. Her lips parted, trembling, as she tried to make an excuse. She couldn’t.

When Jake touched his hat brim and left the barn, she felt ashamed and immature. Jake hated to see her cry. If he thought she needed his help, nothing would keep him from staying beside her.

But Jake was leaving. That meant he didn’t think the situation was worth her tears.

“This is what you wanted, right?” Dad asked, when Jake was gone.

“I—I—” Sam tried and still couldn’t answer in anything but a stupid whimpering voice.

Dad’s smile drooped and the cheer in his blue eyes faded. “You said you wanted to rescue this horse and find him a good home.”

“Is it a good home?” Sam managed. It was the wrong thing to say. Dad would never sell a horse to someone he didn’t trust. Her question was an insult.

“Samantha,” he said, “there’s just no pleasin’ you.”

“Dad!” Sam caught his arm before he could leave.

Dad let her stop him. He didn’t look angry, just exasperated. She released her grip on his sleeve and took a deep breath.

“It’s just…I’m getting attached to him already. I know I’m not supposed to and I know you warned me not to do it. But he’s really a great horse. I didn’t expect him to leave so soon.”

“You’re better off that he is,” Dad said. “You can’t adopt every stray that comes along.”

“I know. And I really am glad he’ll have someone to look after him.” Sam stared at Tinkerbell.

The draft horse was completely unaware that his future had changed. He only cared about finding the little bits of bran mash that had fallen into the straw. His big velvety lips sorted through his bedding, snorting every now and then as he searched.

Suddenly Sam got up the nerve to ask, “Who wants him?”

“I was down at the bank this afternoon and happened to see Mr. Martinez sittin’ there behind his desk.”

Mr. Martinez was a bank officer in Darton. He loved horses and rode every chance he got. He was especially fond of unusual horses, which was why he’d bought Teddy Bear, a young, curly Bashkir gelding.

“I asked him how Teddy Bear was doin’…” Dad began.

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