AllFreeNovel
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She stopped for a moment to make sure she was still headed in the right direction. It’s funny how things look different when you’re on foot instead of the back of a horse. She recognized the trees and the big mountain across the valley. She just needed to keep heading for the middle peak. She’d get home sooner or later. She checked her phone again. Still no service.
When she heard something, then saw three riders crest a hill in front of her, she started waving her hands. “Dad?”
Jake spotted her and spurred his horse into a gallop. He reined in Chief and dismounted as the horse was still coming to a stop. Sage ran to him and hugged him.
Jake stepped back and put his hands on her arms. “Are you okay?”
She nodded as J.T. and Sawyer rode up. “Yes. And I’m really glad to see you.”
“What happened?”
“Shadow spooked and was running toward a stand of oaks. I had to jump off of her or be knocked off by a tree.”
Jake looked her up and down again. “But you’re not hurt?”
“Believe it or not, no.”
Jake pulled her in for another hug. “You had us worried.”
Sawyer looked at her. “So, we came all the way out here for no reason?”
Sage pointed at him. “You came out here to give me a ride back.”
J.T. smiled. “Do you want us to look for Shadow?”
Sage shook her head. “She’ll probably beat us back to the barn.”
Jake nodded. “You’re probably right. And it’ll be dark soon. Let’s get back. If she doesn’t come home, we’ll go find her in the morning.” He mounted Chief, then held his hand out to Sage. She got up behind him and put her arms around his waist.
“Thank you, Dad.”
“For what?”
“Coming to get me.”
“Did you think we wouldn’t?”
She laid her head against his back. “Is there still dinner left?”
“Yes. We left before we ate. Other than a quick sandwich Dad threw together for us.”
Sage closed her eyes and moved with the rhythm of the horse. She loved her dad. And she loved her brothers. But mostly she loved that they found her.
When they got back to the barn, Shadow was standing in front of it. She looked at the four riders as if to say, “What took you so long?”
Sage slid down from Chief and went to Shadow. “I should be really mad at you.” The horse whinnied and nodded her head. “You’re ashamed, right? Letting a silly old elk scare you.”
Jake looked at Sawyer and J.T. “Put these horses away, then come in and eat.”
“Yes, sir.”
He put his arm around Sage’s shoulders. “Let’s go get some supper.”
Dinner was a blur. Sage was tired and as soon as she was done eating, she excused herself to go home. She made the short drive to the house, took a shower, and was in bed by nine.
Her phone woke her. She checked the time, eleven o’clock, then sat and reached for her phone. It was Sawyer.
“You woke me up.”
