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Sam set her jaw, jammed her pocket knife blade under another lid, and leaned down with all her weight. She knew she could break her pocket knife, but she was sure the lid would budge first.
    â€œI…will…”
    Had it moved?
    â€œâ€¦get…”
    Was it coming loose?
    â€œâ€¦this stupid thing…”
    With a pop and a creak, the lid flipped off, just missing Sam’s nose.
    â€œHa!” she celebrated. “I got it.”
    Sam painted, trying to finish three sections of the fence before she took a water break. She glanced up when thunder grumbled in some far-off part of the sky, and the hair on her arms stood up with static. She kept painting as the temperature climbed.
    She’d forgotten her watch at River Bend Ranch, but Sam figured she’d been working for at least two hours when the crunch of tires turning onto gravel made her look up to see Callie driving slowly into sight with the trailer and Queen.
    It must be nearly lunchtime. She deserved a break. Besides, she couldn’t wait to see the mare.
    Sam tapped the lid back on the paint can, caught Ace’s reins, and swung into the saddle. He groaned, unwilling to jog with a full belly, but his long-reaching walk got them to the ranch just as Calliewas backing her horse from the trailer.
    Slim as a Thoroughbred, with barred legs, a stripe on her spine, and a coat the color of cinnamon, the mare tilted her black-edged ears toward Sam and Ace.
    â€œShe’s sizing you up,” Callie said.
    Sam agreed. The red dun mare looked every inch a mustang queen. She’d been a worthy partner for the Phantom.
    â€œShe hasn’t forgotten she was the lead mare,” Sam said.
    â€œIt’ll be interesting to see how she does out there,” Callie said, nodding toward the huge pasture where the adopted mustangs roamed.
    â€œAre you sure you want to turn her out? I thought she’d probably stay in the saddle horse pen. That’s where I’m putting Ace.”
    â€œThat’s what I’d do if I could ride her, but I can’t,” Callie said. “So I might as well let her have some fun.”
    Sam drew a breath. She admired Callie’s faith in her relationship with Queen, but could Callie catch the mare after freedom’s energy had surged through her legs once more? Would the other mustangs welcome her? Or would they shun her as an intruder?
    Sam smoothed her hand over Ace’s shoulder as her eyes strayed to the bite scars on his hindquarters. For a long time, Ace had been the lowest member of the saddle horse herd and he’d paid with strips of hide and hungry nights.
    â€œI don’t know anything about the herd hierarchy, except that Roman thinks he’s the boss,” Sam hinted.
    â€œShe’ll hold her own.” Callie rubbed her cheek against Queen’s neck and the haughty mare leaned closer.
    Since last winter, Callie and Queen had definitely formed a bond, Sam thought. The mare was an adult—probably a four-year-old, at least—and had never known human companionship, so their friendship was amazing. It just showed what could be created out of patience, love, and curiosity.
    â€œLet me tie Ace, and we’ll turn her out,” Sam said.
    As she led Ace toward Mrs. Allen’s barn, Sam heard Angel and Imp barking inside the house.
    â€œPoor little dogs,” she mumbled to Ace. They wanted to come out and see what was going on. “They’ll have to wait until Queen’s out in the pasture, though.”
    Ace glanced over his shoulder at the mustang mare and gave a snort that said he agreed that Queen wouldn’t tolerate the yapping uproar of little dogs.
    Sam hurried. She loosened the saddle cinch, removed Ace’s headstall, and replaced it with the halter she’d brought from home. Next, she tied him outside Mrs. Allen’s barn.
    â€œSorry, boy, but you’re not done for the day,” she told him when his head swung around with