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

wasn’t a very hard choice.
    Sam picked up her boots and stood in her doorway. She gave her mind one more chance to reveal the bracelet.
    â€œIt’s not like it’s magic.” In a hushed voice, she belittled her own streak of superstition that just wouldn’t go away.
    But she and Jake would be in wild horse country. Even though Monument Lake wasn’t the Phantom’s usual territory, she might see him. He might sense that she wore the bracelet, a token he’d given freely.
    It didn’t make sense, but neither did the link she had with the wild stallion who had once been her sweet colt, Blackie.
    â€œSamantha,” Dad’s whisper carried up the stairs, so Sam went.
    She’d find the bracelet later.
    Cougar seemed determined to trip her on the stairs. He hopped down two steps, then back up, down one more, then ran between her ankles. Once, she couldn’t avoid stepping on his little tail with her stockinged feet and he gave such a tremendous screech, Blaze woofed and came rushing to the kitten’s rescue.
    â€œYou three plan on wakin’ everyone up early?”Dad asked as Sam came into the kitchen.
    â€œBlame them,” Sam said, pointing at the animals before she settled into her chair at the kitchen table and began pulling on her boots.
    Dad had made her milky coffee with lots of sugar and two pieces of buttered sourdough toast.
    â€œIt’s too much,” Sam said, sipping the hot drink.
    â€œYou don’t know these old timers like Mac,” Dad said, taking a drink of his own black coffee. “I do. They figure if horses only eat morning and night, that’s all they need. That can be hard on you kids.”
    Sam laughed. “Isn’t that what we did on the cattle drive? Ate a big breakfast, dinner, and nothing in between?”
    â€œNot the same thing at all,” Dad said. “You carried jerky and string cheese in your saddlebags. That and canteen water makes a fine lunch.”
    Sam ate a piece of toast, noticing he’d put on a lot more butter than Gram usually did. She licked her finger, then asked, “Do you know why Mac wants me to go along?”
    â€œDon’t you want to go?” Dad lowered his coffee cup slowly toward the table.
    â€œYes, of course. It just seems like something he’d want to do with Jake alone, though, doesn’t it?”
    Blaze’s toenails scrambled on the linoleum as he bolted toward the kitchen door. He pressed his black nose at the crack between the door and its frame, then sniffed loud and long.
    Seconds later, a car bumped over the River Bendbridge. Sam bounded up out of her chair.
    â€œFinish it,” Dad said, pointing at a last triangle of toast.
    She groaned, did as she was told, then grabbed her fleece-lined leather jacket and brown Stetson and stepped outside.
    Although the sky was starting to lighten, Dad turned on the front porch light.
    Jake’s grandfather drove a battered red Scout. Shaped like a square Jeep, it looked like it had suffered a patchy sunburn.
    When Dad chuckled, Sam could see his breath on the frosty air.
    â€œOld troublemaker,” he said, pointing at the rear of the car. Just to the right of the trailer hitch was a bumper sticker that read, “Columbus Didn’t Find America; It Was Never Lost.”
    Sam gave a surprised laugh. She loved Mac Ely’s spirit. How could Jake think he was “weird”?
    Sam climbed into the backseat as Dad went around to talk with Mac at the driver’s side window.
    â€œExpect us between noon and dark,” Mac told Dad. “Early enough to do that ‘forgotten’ homework.”
    Sam sighed and Jake gave a faint shake of his head. She guessed he’d long since decided it wasn’t worth the effort to try to convince adults it really was possible to forget you had homework until Sunday night.
    â€œHave fun,” Dad said.
    â€œSure, boss,” Jake replied.
    â€œBye,” Sam