Golden Ghost by Terri Farley

mingled with the thud of hooves.
    It had been a long time since she’d played horses with girlfriends on the elementary school playground, and it had never been like this.
    Today, the land of make-believe was a wonderful place to be, and Sam never wanted to leave.

Chapter Six
    W hen Sam’s lungs began to burn and her legs turned wobbly, she slowed, and the horses began drifting away.
    She leaned against the corral gate, watching them go. Amigo and Strawberry returned to the far end of the pasture, Popcorn trailing a few steps behind them. Buff snorted and stamped a front hoof, and Sam wondered if he was thanking her for the workout.
    Only Dark Sunshine lingered. She faced the house, pretending interest, while one ear swiveled to hear Sam catch her breath.
    When Sam’s breathing had returned to normal, the mare was still there.
    â€œHey, pretty girl,” Sam called.
    The buckskin swished her glossy black tail, gave a little buck, and then trotted off to join the others.
    She’s happy, Sam thought. Although the mare had been neglected by her first owner and abused by her second, she was settling in at River Bend.
    Suddenly Sam knew it wasn’t wishful thinking to imagine Dark Sunshine’s foal with the Phantom might grow to be hers. Really hers.
    Sam pressed her hands over her lips to keep from yipping in delight and scaring the young mare.
    If only she could stroke Dark Sunshine and speak to the colt or filly inside her, it might be like it was with human babies. In a TV documentary, she’d seen newborn babies turning away from the voices of doctors and nurses to focus on the voices they knew—those of their parents.
    Even if that day was far off, Dark Sunshine had trusted Sam enough to dawdle behind the other horses. That was progress.
    Sam had latched the gate behind her and she was heading for the house when Dad’s truck bumped over the bridge. A glimpse of red hair told her Pepper was driving. The young River Bend cowboy braked to a stop. Both he and Ross got out. Ross slammed the door and headed for the barn, while Pepper just stood there.
    He wore a heavy gray coat over a couple of other layers of clothes. Sam knew he hated the cold, but she thought something more than that hampered his movements as he approached.
    â€œHey Sam,” he said. His boots scuffed as if hewere dragging them to slow him down, and though his voice was cheerful, his mouth looked tight with worry. He watched the ground as he walked and his hat brim hid his eyes.
    â€œHey, Pepper,” she replied.
    He stopped and nodded for no apparent reason. “When’s Brynna comin’ home? Do you know?”
    According to Sam’s watch, it was already three o’clock, but Brynna had left late. Besides, she didn’t know Brynna’s working hours yet.
    â€œI don’t,” she said. “It’s her first day back at Willow Springs, and she thought there might be a lot of work stacked up.”
    Sam couldn’t imagine there was something Brynna could handle and Dad couldn’t.
    Unless it was about mustangs.
    Sam had to ask. “Is it something to do with wild horses?”
    Pepper exhaled. He sounded like a weary old man.
    â€œWell, yeah,” he said. “Don’t take this to heart, but I found a dead one.”
    Sam’s head spun.
    Not the Phantom, please don’t let it be him . But then she thought of Moon, the Phantom’s night-black son. And a pair of blood bays that had run with the herd since the beginning of last summer, too. She’d grieve for any dead horse.
    â€œDo you think we should call Brynna or wait for her?” Pepper asked.
    Sam couldn’t focus on Brynna until she knew more.
    â€œWhich one is it?” Sam managed.
    On purpose, she called the horse it, not him. And Pepper hadn’t spoken, so maybe the horse was unfamiliar.
    Maybe it wasn’t a mustang at all. Suddenly irritated by Pepper’s cowboy habit of deliberating