Rain Dance Read Online Free Page B

did Jen and Brynna.
    Under his breath, Jake joked, “I’ll say.”
    â€œNot because you’re staying home, dear,” Gram amended, giving Sam a kiss on the cheek. “Because Idon’t have to ruin your party by telling you to high-tail it upstairs and start packing!”
    â€œI’ll help you with the pie,” Brynna said as Gram started toward the kitchen.
    â€œI’ll make coffee,” Dad volunteered.
    Once they had the living room to themselves, Sam and Jake and Jen sprawled on the chairs and couches.
    Cougar, Sam’s tiger-striped cat, joined them, sniffing Jen’s shoes and rubbing on Jake’s jeans before settling on Sam’s lap.
    â€œI sort of envy you,” Jen said. “By being the only one here, you’ll get the kind of vet experience I should be getting. Have you read those books I loaned you?”
    â€œCover to cover, more than once,” Sam said, glad she’d accepted Jen’s library on horse husbandry. “But I won’t really be alone. Don’t forget, Mrs. Coley’s coming over.”
    â€œThat’ll be perfect,” Jen said. “She’s lived on a ranch all her life, so she could help if you needed it, but she’s not the sort to get in your way.”
    Jen was right. If she had to have a baby-sitter, Mrs. Coley was a good one.
    Helen Coley was a friend of Gram’s. They attended the Darton Methodist Church together. Although Mrs. Coley was housekeeper for Gold Dust Ranch and chauffeur for Rachel Slocum—who was a princess in her own mind—Mrs. Coley neverlet any of the Slocums dim her smile.
    Mrs. Coley had made Brynna’s wedding gown and Sam’s bridesmaid dress, but Sam admired her most for another reason. The older woman liked mustangs. In fact, she’d named the Phantom’s coal-black son New Moon one day when she’d seen him running with two other young stallions in a bachelor band.
    â€œCould be worse,” Sam admitted, then rose to take Jake’s empty pie plate. “Let me get you seconds,” she said. “You know you want more, and you’ll never go ask.”
    â€œYou are so bossy,” Jen said, laughing.
    â€œAm I wrong?” Sam asked Jake.
    â€œNo,” he said, but he tightened the rawhide string holding his hair back, as if he had to maintain control over something.
    Sam heard Dad quietly talking to Brynna, so she paused before going through the swinging door between the living room and kitchen.
    â€œThat mare just isn’t settling down,” Dad said. “That’s all that worries me.”
    â€œYou don’t have to—” came Jake’s voice from behind Sam when she stopped walking.
    She motioned for Jake to stay quiet while she eavesdropped.
    â€œSome mustangs don’t,” Brynna told Dad. “Her captivity hasn’t been a happy one. The first person who adopted her all but ignored her. Then, as soon as she had the title, she sold the mare to that rustler….”Brynna’s voice was hard and angry.
    Then, because Brynna remained quiet for a few seconds, Sam leaned closer to the door, closing her eyes to listen more intently. She barely had time to jerk her head out of the way when Brynna opened the door.
    â€œSam, come in, for heaven’s sake. I can hear you breathing.”
    â€œIt’s not Sunny’s fault,” Sam said.
    â€œDidn’t say it was,” Dad answered calmly.
    Sam felt herself blush. Dad had just given her the best present of her life. There was no way she’d quarrel with him. At least not tonight.
    â€œSometimes she seems content,” Sam said. “Like today, she was rubbing her head against me and she actually wanted me to pet her.”
    â€œI really think that this time next year, she’ll be fine,” Brynna said. “We’ve got two things working for us. First, the foal. I’ve heard from adopters that difficult mustang mares develop a