The Challenger by Terri Farley Read Free Book Online Page A

her feelings for jealousy and found only a tiny crumb. She was starting to like Brynna.
    Dad stood at Jeep’s head, preparing to steady Brynna as she swung down from the saddle, then he kissed her.
    â€œYou guys are embarrassing me,” Sam said. Dismounting from Ace, she felt her cheeks heat in a blush.
    Dad and Brynna laughed.
    â€œSpare yourself by moseyin’ down to the barn and putting up Ace and Jeep,” Dad said.
    Sam didn’t protest, just took the reins Brynna held out to her.
    â€œThanks.” Brynna gave Sam a quick hug. “I really do have to work on that report. It wouldn’t be a good idea to lose my job before we’re even married.”
    â€œThat wouldn’t bother me much,” Dad said.
    Sam bit her lip to keep from asking what the heck Dad meant. Between drought and flood, River Bend Ranch was often short of money. Dad had even sold his horse, Banjo, to help make up losses. Brynna’sincome from the Bureau of Land Management would be a big help.
    Brynna tucked a wisp of hair back toward her braid, then stood a little straighter. She drew a breath as if she were about to say something, then didn’t.
    â€œNo dating service would match up a cattle rancher and a lady from BLM, I bet,” Sam said. She was joking, but she knew Dad’s and Brynna’s differences would spark some lively arguments.
    â€œWe’re working on that,” Brynna said.
    â€œLucky we met the old-fashioned way,” Dad said at the same time.
    Sam remembered how irritated she’d been the day Dad and Brynna had met up at Willow Springs. From the first, Dad’s scorn for the BLM hadn’t tainted his attraction to Brynna. He’d been amused by her attempts to talk him into adopting a wild horse.
    â€œShe may not be working forever,” Gram said. “For the BLM or anyone else.”
    Gram’s tone was sly. Could she be hinting that Dad and Brynna might have a baby?
    Sam’s stomach flipped over. Having Brynna move into the house was one thing, but becoming a big sister while she was in high school was something else.
    â€œI wish,” Brynna said, as Sam braced herself, “that the HARP program would be approved and I’d be hired to manage it.”
    â€œThat would be kind of cool,” Sam said.
    The Horse and Rider Protection program matchedabused mustangs with at-risk girls. Mikki Small, the first to try out the program in Nevada, had worked with the albino mustang Popcorn at River Bend.
    Mikki had started out as a rude, destructive kid with a record of breaking the law. Popcorn had been “shown who’s boss” far too often before he was taken away from his adoptive family. But anyone who’d seen Mikki bid farewell to the shy albino would know the program had worked miracles.
    â€œWhen will we know if the program’s approved?” Sam asked.
    â€œWe’re supposed to know before Christmas,” Brynna said.
    â€œMy report went in months ago and they’ve interviewed Mikki and her social worker.”
    Dad gave a satisfied nod. “Both of them had good things to say, I figure.”
    â€œThat’s what I hear,” Brynna said. She held up both hands with fingers crossed, then prepared to go. “Thanks again, Sam, for riding out with me. I’ll keep watch for Moon.”
    Half an hour later, Sam had cooled out the two geldings, curried them, and checked their feet for pebbles. Ace was in his corral rubbing necks with Sweetheart, and Sam was leading Jeep to the ten-acre pasture, when a battered green camper pulled into the ranch yard.
    Jeep’s steps skittered nervously at the barks coming from the camper, and Blaze dashed growlingacross the yard. He’d allowed the truck to pull in, unannounced, because he recognized it.
    So did Sam.
    Jen Kenworthy, her best friend, sat in the truck’s cab next to her father, Jed. Two years ago, the Kenworthys had been forced to sell their ranch to Linc