Free Rain Dance by Terri Farley Page B

morning glories and scarlet runner beans.
    Was it their fresh green smell wafting on the breeze, or Gram’s English lavender, Sam wondered as she picked her way toward the dark house.
    She’d have to grab the flashlight from on top of the refrigerator as soon as she got inside, but outside the long summer dusk was just ending.
    Puddles the size of ponds reflected a blue-gray sky streaked with indigo clouds and sprinkled with stars.
    Shining overhead and reflected underfoot, the moon looked like a pearl.
    The balmy night and the new life in the barn behind her filled Sam with exhilaration.
    The Phantom’s foal had been born healthy and beautiful. Sunny had come through the birth, happy and strong.
    Sam held her arms out to each side and started to spin. No one was watching as she whirled, turning the ranch into a smear of colors as rainwater splashed her jeans.
    She’d stood guard over the horses, helped where she could—and she’d done it all alone. Dark Sunshine trusted her as never before. And the new filly was hers.
    Sam spun faster in a dance of wild celebration.
    â€œI did it!” she yelled as Blaze barked at the sky.
    She’d worry about her muddy boots tomorrow.

Chapter Nine
    T he ranch house kitchen was dark and still.
    Sam froze before closing the door behind her. Something was moving upstairs.
    She quietly lifted the telephone receiver. Still no dial tone, but she hadn’t expected any. She’d only hoped for it.
    Her elation forgotten, she grabbed the flashlight from the top of the refrigerator. She slid the switch to ON and a golden beam lit the kitchen. Thank goodness Gram always kept it filled with fresh batteries.
    Sam started toward the door into the living room, then stopped. Why should she go looking for trouble?
    The hermit of Snake Head Peak was mostly harmless, and he’d never been to River Bend Ranch,so she had no reason to think it was him. Flick, the wild horse rustler she’d stolen Dark Sunshine from, was in jail. At least, he was supposed to be.
    Sam listened intently. What she heard wasn’t footsteps. It was more of a slither. Gram had warned her to watch for snakes in the garden…
    Suddenly, the sound turned familiar.
    Sam pushed open the door and played the flashlight’s beam on the staircase. She heard padded paws jumping from one step to another. Cougar passed through the shaft of light, eyes glowing green.
    â€œMeow?” Cougar inquired as he came into the dark kitchen.
    â€œYou silly kitty,” Sam said, whisking him from the floor and into her arms. “You scared me.”
    Cougar gave Sam’s cheek one rough-tongued lick before he struggled to get down. Sam let him jump from her arms.
    He paced in front of the refrigerator.
    â€œI’ll get you some milk,” she said. “But if the power stays out much longer, it won’t be cold.”
    Sam pushed her soggy hair away from her face as she remembered Gram had left the refrigerator well stocked with food because she wouldn’t be there to cook.
    If Gram were here, she’d put the food into a cooler so that it wouldn’t spoil. Sam groaned. If the power wasn’t working, neither was the pump. Whatever water was in the pipes was all she’d getfrom the well until the power came back on.
    Was that her responsibility, too?
    â€œI don’t think Mrs. Coley is coming. Hotspot must be foaling,” she told Cougar.
    The brown-striped cat rubbed his face on the refrigerator, pointing out Sam’s tardiness in supplying his milk.
    â€œIn a minute,” she told him.
    Even if they were short on water, she’d use what they had for Dark Sunshine. She just had to heat it a little so that it would be tepid.
    Sam ran some water into the teakettle, set it on the burner, and turned a dial. A little blue-gold flame spurted into view, looking cheery in the dark kitchen. At least the gas stove worked when the power was out.
    Next, she opened the