Read Online Red Feather Filly by Terri Farley - Free Book Online

This is turning into ‘anything you can do, I can do better,’ isn’t it?”
    â€œNeither of us is that juvenile, Jennifer,” Ryan said, but he didn’t take his eyes from Jake’s.
    â€œYeah, Jennifer,” Jake echoed.
    â€œWait,” Sam said. “I know those horses, Ryan, and you don’t have much to choose from. There’s Faith’s mother. She’s a great horse, but still nursing. There’s a sickle-hocked bay, another bay with a ewe neck. They might settle down for you,” Sam said dubiously. “That little sorrel is beautiful, but her legs.” Sam shook her head at the memory. “Thatpermanently cranky black and that tiny paint with the allergic condition—forget it.”
    â€œActually, you’ve forgotten the horse I’m thinking about.”
    â€œThe liver chestnut who thinks he’s still a stallion,” Jake said.
    â€œIndeed,” Ryan said. “Mrs. Allen is calling him Roman because of his rather dramatic nose.”
    Sam remembered. The liver chestnut had led the “unadoptable” mustangs down the hill from Willow Springs adoption center. He’d stayed up front, too, until they reached Deerpath Ranch. She couldn’t remember his conformation well enough to decide whether it was suitable for the race.
    â€œHe has the attitude to win,” Sam allowed. “But that attitude is going to get you pitched off plenty before he accepts a rider.”
    â€œWell then there’s a first time for everything, I suppose,” Ryan said.
    He wouldn’t sound so unconcerned if he’d crashed into the ground face-or seat-or even shoulder-first, Sam thought. That reeling, helpless feeling was nothing to shrug off.
    â€œJen, we’re riding out,” Jed Kenworthy called.
    â€œWhy are we always the first to leave?” Jen whined, but her father continued striding toward the barn corral where Ross had turned out their horses.
    While Jake and Ryan stood sizing each other up, Lila pulled the girls aside.
    â€œThe party’s breaking up,” Lila said, “and we’d like to get across the bridge and on our way before the cars start stampeding out of here.”
    It made sense to Sam, but Jen had to try for a little more time.
    â€œRight, Mom,” Jen sighed. “Just when things are getting interesting.”
    â€œFive more minutes,” Lila said. “I’ll saddle Silly and have her waiting for you.”
    â€œShe only does that to make me feel guilty,” Jen said as she watched her mother hurry after her father. Then she grabbed Sam’s shirt and hauled her close enough to whisper in her ear. “Have you noticed neither of these two jerks has given a thought to the fact that they need a partner?”
    â€œArrogant, bigheaded creeps,” Sam agreed. “They think they can just whistle and some girls will agree to ride with them.” Before she went on, though, she noticed Jen watching the guys again.
    â€œYou’ve never been thrown from a horse?” Jake was asking incredulously.
    In a flash of memory, Sam recalled arriving home after two years in San Francisco. Her first glimpse of Jake, after all that time, was his blurred form sailing over a horse’s ears and landing in a swirl of dust.
    â€œNever,” Ryan confirmed, but Jake wasn’t buying it.
    â€œNo horse ever stopped before a jump and you kept going? Not one ever took off when you justhad one boot in the stirrup?”
    â€œActually, both of those have happened. I’ve just been fortunate enough not to have fallen.”
    Jake rubbed the back of his neck and stared off into the darkness. A slow smile curved his lips as if he was looking into the future and what he saw coming amused him.
    â€œWhat I figure is, you just haven’t been challengin’ yourself, pardner,” Jake said with a phony drawl.
    Sam wanted to shriek when Jake pulled that fake cowpoke twang, but