Rain Dance Read Online Free Page A

getting to be such a good photographer, I thought you might like to paste in your favorite pictures, so there’s no chance they get lost,” Brynna suggested.
    â€œCool,” Jen said with an owlish look. “And you could write captions under them and have a history of your life.”
    â€œThanks,” Sam said. She stood and gave Brynna a quick, one-armed hug, too. “It’s a great idea.”
    Her hand hovered over the big white box, battered and clearly recycled from some other gift. It was from Dad. The new chaps he’d given her for the Superbowl of Horsemanship race were supposed to be an early birthday present, so she hadn’t expected anything else. She wanted to save this for last.
    She picked the decorated envelope from Jen and found it was a gift certificate to her favorite Darton bookstore.
    â€œI feel a shopping trip coming on,” Sam said as she hugged Jen.
    â€œHere,” Jake said, shoving a box toward her. “This isn’t what I wanted to give you, but it was the best thing I could think of.”
    â€œWith such short notice,” Jen murmured sarcastically. “I mean, where did Sam get the idea she could have a birthday every year ?”
    â€œJennifer Kenworthy!” Gram’s reprimand hid a laugh.
    â€œSorry, Jake,” Jen said, but the way she tossed one blond braid over her shoulder said she wasn’t at all contrite. “How were you to know?”
    For the thousandth time, she wished her two best friends would quit their sparring. At least they no longer expected her to take sides.
    â€œWow!” Sam said when she saw the box was filled with rolls of film. “I’ll never have to worry about picking which shot I should or shouldn’t take.”
    â€œThat’s what my mom said,” Jake told her. “She said film comes out of the factory by the mile and a photographer should always take every shot she wants to take.”
    When Sam stood as if to hug him, too, Jake slammed his spine against the back of his chair. Sam laughed. Jake wasn’t into hugs.
    At last, she opened Dad’s gift, lifting the lid with reverence. For some reason, she knew this present would be special.
    It was the tiniest leather halter she’d ever seen. The noseband was so small, Sam didn’t think it would encircle her wrist. She knew Dad had made it himself.
    â€œThis is the softest leather I’ve ever felt.” Sam ran her fingers over the pale tan straps and looked at the careful stitches Dad had used to fasten them to glittering brass circles.
    â€œLike satin,” Brynna said, reaching past Sam to touch it. She looked at Dad with such awe, Sam wassure this gift was a surprise to Brynna as well.
    But this meant…
    Sam didn’t ask, but her heart was pounding as hard as if she’d been running. Did this mean what she thought it did?
    â€œIt’s nothin’ to fuss over,” Dad said, and his cheeks reddened under his dark tan. “Pretty impractical, but I figured you had your heart set on keepin’ that foal—”
    Yes, yes, yes!
    â€œâ€”and that bein’ the case, you’d better start workin’ with it early to keep it from actin’ like a jug-headed mustang.”
    Sam ignored Dad’s criticism and tried to think past the sound of her heart’s pounding. Dad was giving her the foal.
    The Phantom’s colt or filly would be hers. Forever.
    Suddenly, her decision to stay or go was simple.

Chapter Three
    S am looked up from the miniature halter. Framed with lines caused by thousands of days of squinting into the Nevada sun, Dad’s eyes were dark brown and serious.
    â€œI’m staying,” Sam said with determination.
    â€œThought you might,” Dad answered, and though Sam knew he’d feel better having her where he could watch over her, Dad looked satisfied with her decision.
    â€œThis calls for a celebration!” Gram said.
    Sam laughed aloud. So