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and Ice. She and Jen daydreamed about growing up to run River Bend and Gold Dust, living next door to each other.
    Trust a Slocum to mess everything up. Unless…
    Sam shot Ryan a calculating look. Maybe there was another way. Not as good, but if Jen and Ryan officially became boyfriend and girlfriend, she supposed they might get married. Jen would have her ranch back.
    What would be even better, since she didn’t really trust Ryan, was if they got engaged, then Ryan fell in love with someone else. Then, out of guilt he might just give Jen the ranch. Sam smiled at her tangled fantasy. Of course it was far-fetched, but it could happen.
    As if he’d noticed her mind drifting, Ryan added, “Learning the ways of the West are college enough for me right now.”
    Sam knew it wouldn’t do any good to tell Ryan that most successful ranchers had attended college.Many continued their education through classes on the Internet or agricultural extension programs, too. If his daydream came true, he’d find out for himself.
    And there was another reason Sam didn’t argue with him.
    The dark horse’s silhouette was clearer now. Its size, strong gait, and fluttering tail—probably black—looked familiar.
    â€œAre you telling me Jake Ely doesn’t know where to find that mustang stallion?” Ryan blurted. “Your Phantom?”
    â€œI’m not saying he doesn’t know. I’m afraid he might,” Sam admitted. “But if he knows, I sure didn’t tell him. And if he knows, I doubt he’d tell you or anyone else.”
    Jake didn’t love the Phantom like she did, but he respected the horse as he did all wild things. Besides, she and Jake were friends. He knew revealing the stallion’s hidden valley would end that friendship.
    â€œI only want Hotspot.” Ryan pronounced each syllable in the sentence. It was annoying and Sam was already running out of patience when he added, “Why can’t you just take me at my word?”
    â€œGee, I don’t know, Ryan. Maybe it’s because the last time I did, I ended up in a police car?”
    Ryan drove in silence and Sam told herself she shouldn’t feel a bit bad for reminding him that he was to blame for hiding Hotspot and Shy Boots near Cowkiller Caldera. It was his fault Hotspot wasrunning with the mustangs and pure luck Shy Boots hadn’t died without her.
    Sam sighed. If she punished Ryan by making him do this on his own, she’d be punishing Shy Boots, too.
    Besides, she was pretty sure Hotspot would be happier at Gold Dust Ranch. The last time Sam had seen her, the mare had still worn her leather halter and she’d been trying to decide whether to graze alongside the Phantom’s wild mares or the captive mustangs in Mrs. Allen’s pasture.
    Sam felt her stubbornness melting. “I’ll help you get started,” Sam agreed, but she cut Ryan’s thanks short when she realized the dark horse on the horizon was Witch. “That’s Jake’s horse.”
    â€œWhy would he be running alongside it instead of riding?” Ryan asked, and Sam saw he was right.
    Jake’s sweat-shiny arms swung in a relaxed rhythm. His long strides kept him running in the shadow of the black Quarter Horse mare.
    â€œHe’s in training for the cross-country team,” Sam said as she noticed Jake’s green-and-gold Darton High shorts and T-shirt with hacked-off sleeves.
    â€œSo we shouldn’t stop and offer him a ride?” Ryan asked.
    â€œNo, he hates to be interrupted,” Sam said as she lowered the car window. “We’ll just wave as we go past.”
    â€œIf you say so,” Ryan answered.
    Hot sage and sand scented the desert air thatinvaded the car. As Sam leaned from the open window, she wondered what caused the surge of satisfaction at the heat hitting her face.
    Jake ran at the roadside, just ahead. She heard his shoes pounding pavement and his steady