The Challenger Read Online Free PDF Page A

waiting for Mom to return.
    She needed to talk with Gram or Dad about her mother. She always felt better after she did. She’d bet, though, that Mom wouldn’t want Dad to stayalone if he could be happy with someone else. True love wasn’t selfish.
    Sam quit singing because of the hard lump in her throat. The altar’s harvest leaves and candles blurred before her eyes.
    â€œSamantha?” Gram asked quietly as Sam quit singing.
    Sam rubbed her eyes. “I might need glasses or something,” she mumbled. “I can’t see too well.”
    If Gram didn’t buy that excuse, she didn’t mention it.
    Â 
    Two hours later, Sam mounted Ace. He danced with impatience while Brynna finished saddling Jeepers-Creepers. A rangy, flea-bitten Appaloosa with a skinny rattail, Jeep wasn’t the prettiest horse on River Bend Ranch, but he was a quick, dependable mount.
    Ace swung his head around and peered up through his forelock at Sam.
    â€œReady to get going, pretty boy?” she asked.
    The gelding tossed his black mane. The star on his forehead shone extra white in the cold, cloudless afternoon. He hurried Sam with a low nicker, then nudged the toe of her boot.
    â€œIn a minute,” she told him, but Ace didn’t want to wait. He watched the other horse and rider. The instant Brynna’s jeans hit the saddle, Ace stepped out.
    The cold boards of the bridge gave the horses’hoofbeats a hollow sound as they left River Bend.
    Sam wanted to let Ace run, but Brynna kept Jeep at a jog and she seemed determined to start a conversation.
    â€œI wanted to ride Popcorn,” Brynna said as they approached War Drum Flats. “But since you’ve had him under saddle for such a short time, I’m not sure it would be fair.”
    Sam nodded, feeling Ace bunch beneath her.
    â€œTaking him where there might be a wild herd, I mean,” Brynna added, in case Sam had missed her point.
    â€œYeah,” Sam said, nodding. “You’re right.”
    Judging by the way Brynna’s lips pressed together, that wasn’t a great response.
    â€œWhy don’t we let them run here?” Sam suggested. “Ace is ready to stretch his legs.”
    â€œI haven’t had a good run for a while, either,” Brynna agreed.
    For five minutes, the two horses ran together. Galloping into the frosty air, Sam wished she’d worn something heavier than her fleece jacket. Once they were in Lost Canyon, though, stone walls would block the wind, and she should warm up.
    After they’d crossed War Drum Flats, Ace was willing to settle into a jog. When Jeep slowed to match Ace’s gait, Sam glanced at Brynna.
    Strands of red hair had blown loose from Brynna’s braid and they straggled over her flushedcheeks. She looked happy. Sam knew she was lucky to be getting a stepmother who loved to ride.
    Mountain mahogany flanked the path up to Lost Canyon. Its branches rattled, although Sam couldn’t feel the breeze. She couldn’t feel her fingers, either, curled tight around her reins. She really should have worn gloves, like Brynna.
    As they started up the path to Lost Canyon, the two horses tried to walk abreast.
    Brynna was an expert rider. She must have noticed there wasn’t room for the two horses side by side, but she seemed more interested in talking.
    â€œHave you been over to Mrs. Allen’s place lately?” she asked.
    Sam shook her head and reined Ace in behind Jeep.
    â€œI hear she’s calling her new venture the Blind Faith Mustang Sanctuary,” Brynna said over her shoulder.
    â€œGreat,” Sam answered.
    She was being as uncommunicative as Jake, but she couldn’t help it. Brynna was such an experienced rider, she could concentrate on something else while the horses worked out who ranked higher in this herd of two. Sam wasn’t that good.
    Just ahead, Jeep whisked his tail in irritation. Was he about to kick? Ace didn’t want to lead,