3835 more words still the second day. *headshake*

Sam nodded and they started walking, kept to her slower pace. “You know you could go faster if you would let him take you. My legs just don’t like to move fast yet. They are getting better, but have a ways to go.” Windsong tossed his head. “I know you don’t care, but he might.” Windsong snorted, causing Samantha to laugh. “That is not very nice, Mr. Just how do you think you get that grain and fresh hay you like? You could show a bit of care.” The man laughed as did some others behind them cause Samantha to turn and blushed, as her father was there with another man. Grant said. “Say what did you say about not being found on a horse by the end of the week? Looks to me like you are off to a good start there, Sam.” Sam said. “Well, I’m not riding Windsong, just walking with him. I would be but he happened to blot out of the stable as I came out of the maze and so I was in the right place to stop him. He now insists that I am to take him to his stall.” Grant shook his head, but the other man spoke. “Just how did Wind Run come to be out of his stall, little own out of his stable and how did you catch him?” The first man said. “We are still looking into Mr. Robbles but it appears that the stable had I caught with the whip tired to saddle him and got his foot stepped on, Wind then bolted and the man went for a whip. I was unaware we had a loose horse until I entered the stable to find this young lady sitting on the bench holding the reins. However I am sure she had nothing to do with him being out. Wind seems quite taken with her and started shying when I went to take the reins so it seemed best to let her take him back to the stall.” Samantha had ducked her head a bit. This wasn’t a good way to meet her father’s boss, but she had kept the horse from getting hurt. “Windsong stopped when he saw me sir, and I remembered the Jockeys would talk softly to quite a frightened horse at the track, so that’s what I did. And once he looked less scared I moved a bit closer, until he let me get the reins and convince him to walk back to the stable. I was intending to find someone to see to him, but my legs were to tired to let me go any further then the bench. I was hoping to get a look at the stables, but I meant to ask before touching the horses.” Windsong nosed her. “Yes I asked you, but I should have asked one of the workers in the stable as well. It has to upset them to find a stranger among the horses they are to care for.” Mr. Robbles smiled at her, he hadn’t meant to scare her but clearly had. “I was just troubled that he had gotten out child. I can tell easily you weren’t involved in it. I am just alarmed that he came to be running out of the stable. However for the record you are clearly not scared of the horses so are welcome to pet any of them, but check with Jack there before trying to ride one. Some are touchy. He will need to see how well you do before letting you lose with them.” Samantha smiled. “I expected to have to show I know what I was doing. It has been three years since I have been on any sort of horses, and long since I was on one that wasn’t engineered for the city. However I learned to ride at a race track, on real horses, for all it terrified my Uncle Al. I think he spent an hour tell Dad how sorry he was for not watching me closer. The jockeys didn’t mind so I didn’t realize there was a problem with me be around the horses. I was five at the time and truly didn’t see any danger.” Windsong danced a bit. “Easy boy, yes I know your grain is waiting, but I can’t walk faster. You could let Mr. Jack take you, then you would be able to get there faster.” Windsong shook his head and snorted again, causing her to laugh. Jack shook his head a bit as the girl was heading to the right stall, clearly Windsong was telling her where to go, but best not say it. “Just two more and we are at his, lass, and Jack is fine. And yes Lass anytime you want to come in and play. Just make sure to get one of us to help if you want to tack one as some need special gear. I can tell by Wind here that none of them will give you any problems.” Sam blinked. “He has never been led before lass yet is perfectly happy to walk next to you. That tells me they will respect you, and you will respect them. There we are now then do you know how to take the reins off him? Don’t worry he is hungry and thirsty, so he is going to be more interested in the food and water then to run.” More like he is promising you and me that he won’t but I don’t want to scare you, and you don’t need to either, boy, she doesn’t understand yet. Samantha said. “I’m not sure, sir, these are different then any others I have seen. I would feel better watching you then trying it. He has been frightened enough without suffering my fumbling. So Windsong kindly let him show me how they should come off then another time he can show me how to put them on. If not done right it can hurt, and no one wants that.” Windsong huffed a bit but turned his head so Jack could reach it. Laughing Jack removed the head gear, making sure that Sam could see the order he did it in. “There you go boy now go on and eat. Lass there is a bench just over there, and you look like you need to sit a bit. Now don’t mind Nelly, she just wants to see if you have an apple, she is a bit spoiled.” Sam jumped a bit as a tan head came over the door of the stall near the bench she had been directed to. The horse neighed and shook her head, clearly disagreeing with him. Sam laughed. “My name is Samantha sir, I didn’t mean to be rude. I was just worried as you seemed to think I was trying to run away with Windsong. I am sorry Miss. Nelly, but I don’t have any apples to offer you. I will try to remember a few carrots next time as well as Mr. Bird’s bread. Though I don’t see why you want it with the grain you are seeking, sir bird.” The bird chirped at her, causing the others to jump as they hadn’t noticed him. “I didn’t say they minded if you took a bite just that I didn’t see why you wanted bread as well.” The others looked at her odd she shrugged. “Well it seemed like he was scolding me, so I answered him. He has been a bit chatty, he started it at the first bench and seemed to be racing me to them, just to ball me out.” Jack said. “I did sound a bit to accusatory, but he had just come in and wasn’t to be out. Therefore it was a bit alarming to see him there, even though it was clear you were not trying to runaway with him. There are a number of birds that come after the grain, but most stay to the pasture for it. I am not used to finding one in the stable do to the cats that claim it. Your friend there must have an agreement with them. Nothing wrong with talking to the animals most who work with them much do so. They can make their selves clear when they want to.” Mr. Robbles said. “I am glad to see that at least one of your children isn’t scared of the horses. I was worried they would be, it has to be a big change for all of you.” Grant said. “I don’t think any of mine are to scared at all, you are likely to find them posing with any animal that will let them here soon. They want to show my parents just how wild it is out here. I told them to make sure it was alright before getting to close to them, but they are likely to forget that a few times. Don’t worry you will be seeing more of them before long. I just hope they don’t make to big of pest of their selves they are eager to explore.” Mr. Robbles said. “I am sure my tribe will be happy to help with the pictures. They do enjoy shocking their relatives and will be delighted to have more to alarm. I just hope they don’t cause you to get to many calls. Sam coughed, but realized that she should warn him. “Grandma called me and was a bit upset so she might just try and talk to you. I fear she is concerned about my classes, and that I was reading Fishers’. Then I said I was going to walk to the stables after I fixed some lunch. She was a bit pale when we ended the call. It didn’t help any that she was looking for mom. She was muttering about being able to find a safe job.” Grant laughed. “Now I thought it was Roger you were going to tell about the book not her. she might just be worried enough to call me. Did you tell her that you and Max are not going to the same school?” Samantha shook her head. “No, I did hint at it, but I thought that she had enough to deal with in learning I was alone in the house and was taking classes that had been demanded to be above me. I wasn’t going to say anything of the books. However I just couldn’t resist when she got so upset over my classes. Roger didn’t answer my call so I just sent him a message about my classes. It felt a bit sill to say anything of the book, but I did say that maybe we would be able to help each other with homework. That should do just as well.” He laughed. “That should do it all right. I will be surprised if there are not a few messages waiting on you. We should head back, Will wants you there as he talks to Mike and Edith. I will bring you over when we get back from the mall tomorrow so you can check on Windsong and Mr. Bird.” Samantha laughed at that. “Well we can have Windsong breaking out to find you, so it is best you come check in with him.” Samantha shook her head but stood up. “I don’t see why Will is so convinced that they want to see me, not talk to him about the canes, but likely he is wondering just why we aren’t back yet. I am sure Windsong will be fine, but I will be happy to come visit. So Windsong I will be back tomorrow.” Nelly tossed her head and stomped, Samantha shook her head. “Yes I will remember a carrot or two Miss. Nelly.” She walked back over to Windsong’s stall and reached over to touch him. “You be good, and try not to run away again. I am sure they will let you out in pasture behind you before long. It is safe to run there, but running out front could get you hurt. They just want you to be safe, they know that new places can be scary.” He nodded and she laughed then turned to start to the door. Stewart said. “I expect I will find you on him before long. He is not going to like seeing you on other horses. He does seem taken with you. That is the thing about the ones with a bit of unicorn blood, they can get attached to a person.” Samanthalooked at him oddly. “Yes I know unicorns are just a myth, and there was a time that was so. However about hundred years ago a few people with to much money decided to play creator and used the knowledge of DNA to bring a few mythical animals to life. It was just supposed to be for a park, they were never to exist out of it or to be able to reproduce. Evidence say that they both escaped the park and have presented in the years since. There is some work by nonexistent researchers on it. You can find some at the library, if you are interested. Just ask about Makanmer and they will show you where his books are. They are legal out here but decidedly not so in the east. I just want you to know before you see one of the mythical animals as you are likely to. We do get a unicorn in field now and then. Sam is just positive that there was a gryphon out by the caves, which are on a riding trail. That said don’t let it stop you from taking pictures. Any mythical items will just get written off as art works. It will be frowned at, but we are wild out here and so let Myths be shown in art works.” There were likely better ways to tell them, but it was best they hear it. Sam had been attracting some attention already and it was likely just to get more, even without Samantha here to help draw them in. They were going to have to adjust fast to the fact that saying something was imposable didn’t make it so. A lot of the government laws were lies, but then it looked like they did know that, given how little fear they showed being around untamed plants and animals. Samantha looked at him. “Now that is not something a person expects to hear from their government law instructor. However I was hoping to find more of Gamble’s work. I have never heard of Makanmer. Is he along the same line or does he deal with the outcome of the changes Gamble saw?” It was Stewart’s turn to look at her. “Some of Gamble’s work on the changes that were done was legal as they support the dangers of unchecked nature. Granted I should have seen them, being far too impressionable, but well. There was no such thing as a shelve to high for me to reach when it came to a book so by the time I was eight they gave up trying to hide any from me and just saw I knew what one I wasn’t to talk about outside of the house.” He looked at Grant. “Why do I think you had a bit more than his approved works?” Grant shrugged. “Well that does explain why none of you are worried about the lack of fences. I was expecting a bit more fear then I have seen. Your kids have stayed a bit close to your house, but they have been outside. I do hope they will start exploring more. There is nothing in the maze that will hurt them, and there are plenty of exists. They will get turned around, but will be able to get directions back to your place. No one here is going to mind a lost persons asking to put on the right path, as it is normal. I fear the maze is another bit of left over tinkering. Each time we think we have it figured out something changes. However Samantha the yellow path will always bring you to the stables and the blue to my house, no matter where you enter from. That is going to be the shorter way for you to get here, though unless Mr. Bird is willing to show you the way home you are best to wait for ride until your legs are stronger as the sure way to get there is along the road there, which is going to be longer. There are places to rest, but they are not evenly spaced and some might be to far apart. If your dad isn’t around one of the stable hands will give you a ride as soon as they can. I promise no one in my employ is going to cause you harm, I do complete checks before employing anyone.” Grant said. “That is one thing we didn’t have to worry about, Sam always knows when someone isn’t to be trusted. She might not be able to leave a book unlooked at, but she will just atomically make a detour around anyone that would be trouble.” He led her over to a four wheeler and helped her on. “I will take it slow, but let me know if you need me to stop. I know you don’t care fore these but it is the best way to get around the grounds.” He got on in front of her and Sam wrapped her arms around him. Sam said. “I think I will be alright this one doesn’t feel as tipsy as that one in Holt. I just know it was going to flip over at any moment.” Stewart said. “They haven’t tipped yet, but I did get rid of some that felt like they were going to go over each time they moved. Now remember Grant you are not working until next week. I can see I am going to have to watch you or you will never take your vacation.” He laughed. “Don’t be surprised if my Sam has invented himself over with the other two. I am surprised he hasn’t been hang out around your house. He will likely be before long, and your two will find their selves getting dragged over to my house with him more then they know.” He waved and Grant started the four wheeler. Grant smiled. “I was just getting to know the land a bit. It will help me know where to start on Monday. You have a good place here, but it will be better with a bit of work. I am looking forward to seeing it bloom.” He left Stewart standing there shaking his head, and thinking that it wasn’t only the grounds that would be changing. They got to the house and parked the four wheeler. Samantha was glad to be off it, but had to admit it wasn’t to bad. Still she would be glad when her legs would let her walk the road, though that was likely going to be a month at least as far apart as some of the stops looked to be. “It wasn’t too bad, but I will be glad when I can walk it instead of ride on that thing. However I didn’t feel like it was going to dump me off so I can ride on it.” Grant laughed as the back door was flung open and Will bounced out. “There you two are! Dad did you know your phone is off? Roger has been trying to get a hold of Sam for the last two hours and is a bit upset. I told him to try your cell as you were going to pick her up, but he called pack in a panic because it rent right to voicemail. So Sam just what did you say to him and why does Grandma think Tom was eaten by a wolf?” Grant had taken his phone out and said. “There it is on. I was wondering why you hadn’t called to check on us yet. I didn’t think about it being off. What was that about a wolf?” The reddish bird that had been flowing them landed on the four wheel, looked at Sam and started scolding her for being slow getting home. Will jumped and backed up a bit. Sam laughed. “Now Mr. Bird, no one said you need to follow is, if we were moving that slow I am sure you could have went on ahead.” The bird shook his head and chirped more, causing Sam to laugh. “Never argue with a bird you lose before you start. Will I just told him I was sorry I missed him and a bit about my classes. I don’t know why she would think anything had Tom, isn’t he still at school?” Will said. “That is what I said when she called. She also asked me if I thought you would be safe at school. I told her I didn’t know why you wouldn’t be. She then asked me what I thought of the teachers. I told her that mine were great and I was going to learn a lot from them. However if it was yours she wanted to know about I had no idea as all that I had meet was Mr. Robbles and that had just been a brief meeting. She then wanted to know just how big the school was, so of course I asked her which one. She told me that she would be talking to my father about my rudeness and hung up. I take it you found the stables, or did you just find a sassy bird? Does your bird have a name? Come on, before Mike eats all the cookies. Edith said she would try and save us a few if we didn’t take to long. It is going to be fun to paint his cane. I do like want he wants, but will have to make a few changes.” He opened the door and the bird flew in with a squawk. “Hay I wasn’t talking to you! You had better not steel my cookies either!” Grant shook his head. “So that is why I am to call her immediately.” He dialed. “Will, you mind showing Sam how to call Roger on your cell? She needs to place a call on one anyway, so she will be a bit less scared of hers. Looks I like I need to add bird food to list as I think he is going to be staying. Go on and see if you can find him something other than cookies, I just hope he won’t fight with Tom’s cat to much. Hi Mom, yes I said Tom’s cat and bird food.” There was a pause. “No, the bird followed Samantha, not Tom. You two go on and save me a cookie I am not far behind you.”