Mustang Moon

book 2 info

Blurb
Sam and the mysterious mustang known as the Phantom have become friends, and Sam is determined to defend his freedom on the open range. But the mustang has been accused of stealing tame mares from local ranchers. Sam knows the Phantom isn't to blame, and she races to prove his innocence.

Then, a local rancher offers a reward to anyone who can capture the wild stallion. A price on his head means it's not just the Phantom's freedom Sam is fighting for — it's his life.

Summary
Summer vacation is nearly over but Sam still waits up at night to see if the Phantom will return to her. One night she hears a horse approach River Bend Ranch, but is confused when it is not the Phantom, but an unknown, dark stallion. Sam goes out onto the porch to watch the horse, and the stallion kicks at the pasture fences like a dare. Sam later tells Jak e about the encounter, and he asks if she has two horses talking to her now. When Sam corrects him by saying three horses do, including Ace, the cowpony approaches but is harassed by Strawberry and Banjo. Sam shoos them off and Jake points out that Ace is on the bottom of the hierarchy and is getting thin from not being allowed to eat. Wyatt approaches, agreeing, and they decide to put Ace in a different pasture and turn Buddy out with the rest of the horses. While Sam debates which horse to move with Ace to keep him company, her finger is slammed against the fence in time for Gram to see, and she remarks to Wyatt that she doesn't think a mustang is a good horse for Sam. They all reflect on the time a few weeks ago when Sam rode Ace down from the BLMs corrals leading the Phantom, and the danger she had been put in. With the topic on the Phantom still, Gram and Wyatt warn Sam to stay away from him and keep in the house at night, but Sam interrupts them by picking Sweetheart as Ace's new stablemate. Wyatt agrees and Sam and Gram go to Darton for school shopping. On the drive there, Gram warns Sam that if she doesn't stay inside at night and keep her distance from the Phantom, she'll be grounded and banned from riding Ace as well.

At the mall, Sam selects a new backpack and several new clothing items, but also begins to realize her haircut is growing in badly. In the display for a western ware and tack store is a crafted headstall that Sam thinks would look beautiful on Jake's mare Witch. As they drive back towards River Bend, they spot the Phantom on War Drum Flats. Gram pulls over and notes that the stallion is Sam's colt all grown up. However, while they watch a rival stallion appears and Sam realizes it's the same horse she saw on River Bend. After a brief challenge, the Phantom wins, and Gram asks why Sam calls her colt "the Phantom" if she believes it is Blackie. Sam points out he doesn't look like a "Blackie" anymore and Gram counters by saying if he's her lost colt, he's not the legendary Phantom. Sam tries to persuade Gram to allow her near the Phantom, but Gram refuses and tells her that she remembers praying Sam would live after her accident and promising that she'd never let Sam ride that horse again.

While they are pulled over, Sam notices Linc Slocum's car approaching and implores Gram to move so they don't meet him, and so he doesn't see the Phantom. The mustangs flee, but Slocum stops in the road, waving his arms to ensure the Forsters stop. Slocum is having problems with a tire on his car, and asks if they can follow him back to Gold Dust Ranch to make sure he arrives safely. As they follow him, they discuss their finances in comparison to Slocum's enviously, and Sam begins to worry that Buddy might be sold for market to help with money. When they arrive at Gold Dust, Slocum beckons them inside and asks if they'd have a second look at one of his horses. Sam notices the River Bend brand on the mare's side and Gram tells her it is Princess Kitty, who was sold right after Sam's accident. Sam realizes this is the Phantom's mother. Gram and Sam realize Kitty has the same bite marks as Ace and Slocum claims the Phantom was trying to steal Kitty. When Sam and Gram disagree, Slocum insists, hinting at his plan to have the Phantom declared a nuisance and relocated - or worse, put down.

When they return home, Sam does some last minute chores and is about to go for a ride on Ace. Wyatt asks her to look for Baby Huey, a calf who constantly scratches his nose on blackberry leaves trying to get berries when she goes out. Wyatt goes on to say Baby Huey won't be their problem for long, as he will be headed to a calf auction; Sam asks in a roundabout fashion if all the calves will be sent to market, but Wyatt misses the question regarding Buddy. Sam and Ace go for a ride on the trail and Sam has the feeling she is being watched. She considers Slocum following her again, but realizes Ace is not concerned, and suspects it is either the Phantom or the blue roan stallion.

Sam does chores early the next morning in time to watch Jake and Witch arrive for the day. Wyatt asks them go out picking berries to make pies and cobblers instead of working horses. Wyatt suggests taking Banjo out to work out some of his orneriness. While picking berries, Sam begins to think of the new school year and asks Jake who she can hang out with at school, and Jake confirms that her elementary friends and their families are all gone. Jake doubts she would fit in with Rachel Slocum's crowd, but suggests she could hang out with Jen Kenworthy, who lives on Gold Dust and used to be home schooled, and that they would be using the same bus stop.

On their way back to River Bend, they see a man with a fancy horse trailer pulled over with a flat tire, on his way to deliver Slocum's new filly from Florida. When the man asks if they could take the filly out to stretch her legs, Sam agrees, but Jake refuses, returning to River Bend with Banjo. Sam lets the filly Apache Hotspot walk while the delivery driver repairs the tire, and the Phantom appears, and approaches Sam. Hotspot reacts the the Phantom, catching the attention of the driver, but when Sam looks back on the range, the Phantom was gone.

The day before the first day of school is met with a thunderstorm and Sam goes out with all the River Bend hands to move all the cattle out of the canyons and onto flat ground to avoid flash floods and potential drownings. When they return, Gram worries over the shortage of eggs - six eggs from fourteen chickens - but they are not sure the reason why they are having little production. Sam then goes to try on her clothes that Aunt Sue shipped from San Francisco, noticing that they no longer all fit, and begins to fret over her bad haircut again. Sam returns to the kitchen to announce that she is cutting her hair off again but Gram informs her that Brynna Olson has arrived and wants to talk to her about the Phantom.

Miss Olson asks Sam to confirm that Slocum suspects the Phantom is stalking his mares, and states that she is putting him off as long as possible, as she doesn't believe his claims. She also suggests the possibility of a renegade stallion, possibly not a mustang, and informs them there is a prized stallion from California missing, presumed stolen. They discuss what evidence could be used to prove the Phantom or another stallion were entering Gold Dust Ranch, and Miss Olson hints that the BLM pays trackers very well when Wyatt and Jake are brought up. Miss Olson fixes Sam's haircut and once again asks Sam to call her Brynna. As Brynna is leaving, Sam notices Wyatt watching from the barn with a smile.

That night Sam lies awake in bed and when midnight comes, she goes to look for the Phantom, and sees that he has returned to the river for the first time since his capture. However, she is caught by Wyatt when she tries to sneak out of the house. The next morning Sam is nervous for school and aware that she is going to be grounded and likely lectured on her drive to the bus stop, and learns she is forbidden from riding Ace for the next week, and will not be riding again in time for the fall cattle drive. Thinking she is already in trouble, Sam asks Wyatt if he is going to sell Buddy, which stuns Wyatt but he tells her Buddy is a pet and will not be sold. Sam offers to get a job after school to help with money, and Wyatt says he will think about it.

At the bus stop, Sam meets Jen Kenworthy for the first time in years, and they fumble over conversation, but seem to have a fair start at friendship. Sam suggests the two go riding sometime with Ace and Jen's mare Silly. Sam shares a morning English class with Jen, but they don't make plans to meet for lunch, and Sam doesn't see Jake until after lunch break. However, he sees her new haircut and reacts badly, and doesn't even greet Sam as he passes by with his friends.

Sam makes it to her Journalism class, her favorite from California, and meets her strict new teacher Mr. Blair, but manages to impress him and is given a story. Sam's story is assigned by Rachel Slocum, and Rachel immediately makes her distain for Sam known, but Mr. Blair interrupts. However, Sam hears Rachel and her friend Daisy making fun of her as she leaves to get an interview.

After school Sam walks home, Jen going in the opposite direction on the bus stop, and thinks of the Phantom. When she is nearly home, she sees Buddy running up to her and Ross, riding Tank, chasing after her, claiming she got out. Ross heads back to the ranch and Buddy follows Sam home. At home Wyatt and Gram question Sam on her first day of school, then go on to discuss Buddy getting loose. Wyatt decides that Buddy needs to be branded so she can always be identified as a River Bend cow, and that they will do it over the weekend when Sam can comfort her.

After dinner, Sam goes to check on Buddy, but then brushes Ace, confessing her worries to the gelding. Sam notes that she wishes she could confide in Jake about the blue roan stallion, but Jake is too protective. Sam tells Ace she thinks Hammer, the hammer headed blue roan, is trouble.

Sam and Jen wait at the bus stop when a Mercedes drives by carrying Rachel. Sam feels offended on Jen's behalf that they don't offer to drive her to school, but Jen doesn't seem to mind, and tells Sam Slocum insists Rachel drive alone because that's when she does her homework. Jen confesses her deep dislike of Linc Slocum and Rachel, and shares physical hardships that were placed on her home and family due to Slocum. Instead Sam changes the subject to math, which delights Jen.

Sam's first week of school goes well and the fall cattle round up, which is much smaller than the summer round up, is completed by the ranch hands in a day, with Dallas taking many to market. Sam is also given permission to ride Ace again starting Sunday. In celebration, Sam and Jen plan a ride on War Drum Flats while waiting for the school bus. However, as the bus pulls up to them, it is suddenly cut off by Slocum in his car. Slocum gets out of the car shouting and waving his fists as he approaches Sam, yelling that Apache hotspot has been stolen by the Phantom and that Sam needs to summon the Phantom. As Sam prepares to bolt, the bus driver leaves the bus, informing Slocum he's radioed the sheriff, allowing Sam and Jen to board the bus safely. Sam and Jen worry about gossip, and a boy on the bus asks Sam what had just happened, opening the door to other questions about Slocum and the Phantom legend.

As Sam gets home, Gram informs Sam that they barely broke even selling the cattle and that Wyatt and the ranch hands are out cutting hay before rain can ruin it, one of Wyatt's largest fears of the year. He called to the Elys' to ask if Jake and his brothers could also lend a hand. The grass is cut, and if it can be baled, they will be alright, but Gram worries that when hens go off laying eggs, they predict hailstorms. Sam attends to the animals, greeting Jake as he drops by briefly, who asks if she was alright after the Slocum incident that morning. Sam also tells him they are branding Buddy tomorrow, but he offers no extra sympathy before leaving to help with the baling. It begins to hail when Sam helps Gram make dinner, and though the hay will be baled and covered in tarps, there is no chance it will dry, and will either need to be fed or sold immediately.

The Ely brothers and Luke Ely arrive after helping bale the hay for dinner, stopping to treat their bruises from the hail. Sam tries to catch Jake's eye to see how bad the situation is, but his brothers and Luke notice every time. Luke asks for any hay if they come up with extra, and one of the Ely brothers says he has a friend near Lake Tahoe who would buy high quality hay. As the Elys get up from dinner, Wyatt thanks them, and says it's not so embarrassing to be bailed out when it's with good friends, though Luke denies he's helping. With the Elys leaving, Sam finally musters up the courage to ask Jake to be the one to rope Buddy for her branding the next morning, despite the audience of his brothers, who tease. When Wyatt tells him the fire will be ready at seven thirty, Jake agrees to do it.

Sam wakes up the next morning to sagebrush smoke and sees Wyatt start the branding fire. Jake arrives and ropes Buddy perfectly the first time, and Buddy is given her brand. Sam gives Buddy a bottle to sooth her, and Wyatt tells Sam she can sleep in the barn that night to comfort her. Sam stays with Buddy in the barn through the morning and naps, waking up and leaving the barn to see Wyatt with Brynna Olson along the fence, standing very close to one another. Sam listens to them and hears Brynna offer Wyatt a seasonal job with the BLM but Wyatt refuses, frustrating Brynna. Brynna admits that she needs to leave for work in Washington soon, and that a replacement from Las Vegas will fill in during that time, and that she wants someone around who won't treat horses like machines. Wyatt still declines, as he does not want to work for someone else. Jake sneaks up behind Sam, calling her out for eavesdropping, but Wyatt notices and calls the two out. Wyatt has since learned that Slocum threatened Sam and is angry. Sam asks if she and Jake can go to Alkali to buy chicken-scratch to avoid the conversation, but as they leave Sam hears Brynna confess there's some suspicion that Slocum might be accusing Sam of stealing Hotspot. Jake pulls Sam away before she can get too angry.

When Sam and Jake get to Alkali Jake sees a wanted poster for the Phantom at Phil's Fill-up and Sam sees a poster at Clara's: five thousand dollar reward for information leading to the recovery of Hotspot and a five thousand dollar additional reward for the capture of the stallion responsible. Sam tells Jake that she will tell Brynna about the posters, as it should encourage harassment of wild horses - which is illegal, and that she and Jake will track the stallion responsible. Jake thinks Sam thinks it's the Phantom, but Sam insists it is Hammer, and Jake agrees. Jake agrees to help Sam if they agree to split the reward money, and Sam only has to worry about convincing Wyatt and Gram.

Sam sleeps in the barn with Buddy that night and is awoken by screaming horses. Hammer comes to claim Sweetheart but Ace puts up a fight, and is wounded by the stallion and Sweetheart is taken. Wyatt arrives with a riffle and warns Sam to get inside, and she comforts Ace, but the horses are already gone. Sam knows the stallion was Hammer but Wyatt is not convinced. Wyatt and Sam work on tending to Ace and Gram takes off after Sweetheart in the Buick. Sam cooks breakfast while they wait for Gram to return and Wyatt gets the Sunday paper to see Slocum's wanted poster on the front page. Sam tells Wyatt about her plan, and though he is not impressed, he gives Sam Brynna's home phone number to call her before Monday. However, she doesn't answer. When Gram returns she is angry that she could not find any signs.

Wyatt convinces Sam to take Strawberry to meet Jen on War Drum Flats instead of Ace, so he can heal. As they go to War Drum Flats, Strawberry acts nervous and they see Hammer and Sweetheart on the ridge above them. On Hammers approach, Sam fails to understand Strawberry's body language and nearly falls off. Instead of being thrown, she dismounts, holding the reins. Hammer approaches, intent on stealing Strawberry next, but the Phantom appears and challenges Hammer, defending Sam. The challenge escalates into a fight, leaving both horses injured and the Phantom with a wounded leg. The silver stallion allows Hammer to flee with his herd. Sam calls the Phantom by his secret name Zanzibar and he rests his head on her shoulder until the sound of a shoed horse approached, and the Phantom vanished again.

Sam sees Jen approaching, and Sam compliments Silly on her beautiful appearance. Jen half-heartedly scolds her mare for spooking at the smallest things, then notes that Sam's mount is not Ace and Sam tells Jen of the theft the night before and Ace's heroism. The two girls discuss whether the thefts were caused by the Phantom or Hammer, and what damage Slocum's advertisement will cause. Sam confesses that she thinks that the Phantom is Blackie grown up.

Monday morning, Darton High School is covered in school government campaign posters, including a poster for Rachel for treasurer. Sam and Jen discuss Rachel while they dress for P.E. and Jen reveals that Rachel's mom was the one who wanted the ranch initially, but after she and Slocum divorced, she remarried and lives in London. Rachel hears Sam and Jen discussing her family and warns them not to spread rumors or smear her campaign, though Sam holds her ground by stating she hasn't spread any rumors and would rather not deal with Slocum at all. In Journalism class, Rachel and Daisy hand out dollar bills to buy Rachel's vote.

Mr. Blair begins class by offering the class the change to become photographers with donated school cameras, threatening them that if they are damaged they are responsible for the money to replace them, and Sam is interested and borrows one in hopes to photograph Hammer with the missing mares. Sam struggles with her first several photographs and calls Maxine Ely, Jake's mom and Sam's history teacher, who has a passion for photography, for advice. Sam later realizes she forgot to call Brynna with news of the wanted paper, but Gram confirms Wyatt called her replacement, who will not take action. Sam fears Slocum will rehire Flick to recapture the Phantom.

Sam hands in her camera to Mr. Blair before class so the photos can be developed, and Mrs. Ely asks Sam to show her the photos after class. Rachel arrives for class at this time to overhear where Sam will be after school. In Journalism, Mr. Blair approves of Sam's photos, including a cheesy one of Rachel, which embarrasses her. Mr. Blair gives Sam the camera for another night to continue practice. Sam meets Mrs. Ely after school to thank her for the help and Rachel is in the classroom. Mrs. Ely asks Sam to reach for a photography book, while Rachel offers to hold the camera, but she drops it, breaking it, though Mrs. Ely and Sam cannot prove it was done on purpose. Mrs. Ely gives Sam a ride home when Sam misses the bus, and offers to talk to her as a family friend and not a teacher, and believes the mirror is broken. They both then discuss if Rachel broke the camera on purpose, but Sam will still bear the responsibility. On the way home, they pass the school bus, and Sam waves to Jen through the window, though Jen believes she was ditched for a better ride. Mrs. Ely also promises to send Jake over later with another camera to borrow. Mrs. Ely notes that her favorite subject to photograph are windows, and Sam admits her favorite is wild horses at night.

Jen calls that night, and Sam tells her that Rachel broke the Nikon camera. Jake arrives with a new camera that evening and Sam learns Wyatt, Gram, Jake, and Mrs. Ely have arranged for Sam and Jake to go to War Drum Flats to take photos. Sam and Jake will arrive early and become part of the scenery before the horses arrive, and Sam realizes that Mrs. Ely had figured out Sam's plan to photograph Hammer. While they wait, Sam and Jake discuss old Shoshone Indian stories. While Jake shares the stories, the Phantom's herd arrives, initially missing the Phantom, though he arrives a few minutes later. Sam and Jake notice the Phantom is still injured from his fight with Hammer, and though Jake is nervous and reluctant, he gives Sam the first aid materials and the advice on how to treat his wound. Sam cautiously approaches the Phantom, but is allowed to treat his wound. When Sam gets back in the car, Jake drives her home. As he drops her off, he gives her Mrs. Ely's camera. That night, Brynna calls Wyatt, though Sam only hears part of the conversation.

Sam asks about the call the next morning, but Wyatt confirms that Slocum cannot be arrested until any animals are injured due to his advertisements. At the bus stop, Jen tells Sam that a stallion appears to have gone back to Gold Dust Ranch for Kitty the previous night, and Sam confirms the Phantom is injured, and it could not be him. While on the bus, they are cut off by a truck chasing after a horse, and Sam resolves to call the BLM again once at school. At school, Sam returns the broken camera to a sympathetic Mr. Blair, and Sam is made to work the school snack bar to begin repaying for the camera. Rachel comes to confront Sam at the snack bar, angry that a ranger had been sent to her house that morning. Before school ends, Mr. Blair asks if Sam is still interested in night shoots and gives a short lesson on how best to capture them. That evening, Sam is staying at Jen's house in hopes of capturing a photo of Hammer when he arrives for Kitty.

While waiting for the mustangs to arrive, Jen tutors Sam on algebra. Jen's parents are gone for a date night, which allows Sam to wait outside with the camera for Hammer. The stallion and his mares arrive and as they get close, Sam prepares her camera. Jen's parents arrive home, their car headlights startle Hammer and Sam runs into his path, taking several photos as the horses rear before running back out onto the range.

Saturday morning, Sam's photograph has made the front page of Darton's Review-Journal newspaper thanks to Mr. Blair and Mrs. Ely's encouragement for Sam to submit it, and to ensure Slocum does not weasel out of paying reward money. In the same article Sam's photo appears in, Slocum tries to word his way out of the reward. Meanwhile, the Forsters and Jake hear helicopters on the range, which indicates that the BLM is rounding up the renegade herd. Brynna calls and asks Sam to meet her at Clara's, congratulating Sam on her reward, and Sam suspects Brynna is holding something back.

At Clara's Hammer is in a horse trailer and there is a party inside. Hotspot and Sweetheart are confirmed to have been returned home and Hammer is revealed as the missing California stallion, Diablo, and reunited with his owner Rosa Perez. Slocum arrives and gives Sam the reward check, also informing them that Hotspot is in foal and suggests Sam take the foal after they're born. Sam uses her reward money to replace the school camera, the fence rails Hammer destroyed, the aging water pump, and to buy presents for Jake and Jen. The rest is sent to her college fund.

Sam goes to visit the Phantom in his hidden valley to ensure he is healed from his wound, riding Ace in hopes he'll guide her there. Sam sees the Phantom and that he is healed, and hugs him, before he flees again, but Sam is happy to know he is alive.

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