Samantha Forster looked out at the herd of horses in front of her. A black filly played with her twin brother around the field, Witch watched over her children as they played.

Witch belonged to Jake Ely. No one knew where he vanished too. Sam was the only person Witch allowed close to, so Sam took care of the mare.

--

Jake had been Sam's friend from the very beginning. They both met after Sam's mom had died in a car accident when she was five. Maxine, Jake's mom; had been a motherly figure in Sam's life until her father got remarried to a woman called Bryanna. Sam personally didn't like the woman because of the way she treated her. Bryanna constantly looked down on Sam and what she believed in. Bryanna was constantly grounding her and influencing Wyatt to do the same. Sam's Gram also didn't like Bryanna but she kept her mouth shut and had a ranting spree with Sam if everyone was out.

Wyatt and Bryanna were expecting their first child; she was now 5 months pregnant. It was 5 months since Sam arrived home from San Francisco. She was now 15; Jake had vanished 2 months ago.

--

I looked out at the herd of horses in front of me, thinking of him. He vanished for a reason, and that reason I didn't know. I tried searching for him, I asked Witch so many times where her owner was but she never seemed to understand. I cried my eyes out every night in hope he would come home. I felt as if my heart had been ripped from my chest.

I loved Jake Ely and now he is gone. My life ceased to exist after he left. I lost weight, my grades got worse, I was pushing myself more and more with my work. I slept and cried, I worked and I went to school. I blocked everyone out, everyone including Maxine. The only person I seem to talk to is Witch. She was my confider. She knew the pain I held in my heart because she lost the same thing.

For the past month I have always found myself sleeping in Witch's stall, along with the two foals that don't seem to mind the extra company. (Hey they normally considered me a hot water bottle; I tended to seem to have an extra weight on my legs every time I woke up.) Witch didn't seem to mind, she normally woke me in time to do my chores. I guess she was in a way looking out for me. It was nice waking up to the mare, instead of my father walking in, banging on the door and threatening to dump a cold bucket of water on me if I didn't wake up.

I only ate when no one was around. I was also fighting more and more with my dad. His eyes seemed to close when Bryanna walks in. She says something and he goes along with it.

For example on roundup when I first got back. I was talking to the Ely brothers and giving them lots of hugs. I missed my older brothers so much. Jake stood there like he was invisible due to his shyness but now that I think about it, something seemed totally different about him; I guess I just brushed it off and thought nothing of it.

But Bryanna seemed to mention it to dad, dad got over protective and refused to let me be alone with the older boys. I over heard her talking to him. Normally, I don't eaves drop, but with my dad and Bryanna its different.

"I don't think you should let your 15 year old daughter be around the boys on her own or let her hug them. It isn't appropriate for a girl her age to be around so many hormone crazy boys. I refuse to stand on the sidelines and watch a beautiful girl turn into a slut."

I gasped and walked the other way; I walked straight past Jake, past Quinn, past Luke and past everyone else on the roundup. I went straight to my horse Ace and barebacked him to the river. That night everything changed for me. I did as she asked and refused to talk to anyone. I shut myself off from those who loved me.

Sometimes I blame myself for Jake's disappearance. If I hadn't have pushed him away that night, If I had opened up to him; maybe he would be here right now. Here instead of where ever he was.

I changed my attitude fast. I did as I was asked and worked hard. My grades slipped but I didn't care. Even though I did hear Jake's voice in the back of my head, I still blocked it out and continued to let my life fall apart around me.

I haven't seen any of the Ely's since that night. Ok, I see the occasionally but when they try to speak to me, I ignore them and try and get out of there fast. It hurts me to do that but in the long run it is for the best.

--

I sighed and climbed off the railing. Today would've been Jake's 18th birthday. Tears filled my eyes. I ran to the barn, despite the fact I heard my dad calling me. I grabbed Ace's bridal and put it on him. I swung up onto his back and pressed my heels to his side. I galloped out of the ranch and over the bride. I raced as fast as I could to get away from everyone, everything, every trouble I had. Every fear and worry. I let my mustang gallop until we got to the playa. That was where I let the tears fall. I slumped on my pony's back and sobbed.

Ace nickered and started walking forward; I gave him the reins and didn't care where he went.

As I was lost in my misery, I didn't notice the grey stallion walk beside Ace until I felt his muzzle on my thigh.

I sat up surprised, then I calmed when i realized it was him. I stroked his sleek neck and whispered his secret name. I smiled when he rubbed his nose against my palm, he remembered me.

"Where do I go from here Zanzibar?" I stopped Ace and looked the Wild Mustang in the eye. His eyes bore straight into mine, he asked me to follow him. I gave Ace his head and let him follow his wild friend.