Dark Sunshine by Terri Farley

for humans, too?” Sam was sick of Jake acting superior. Why did he think he was so smart? she wondered. Because he was older, or because he was a guy?
    Sam started walking toward the barn corral, and Dark Sunshine must have seen her. The mare’s high-pitched neigh split the late-afternoon quiet.
    â€œIt doesn’t take an expert to diagnose that. Sam, look at her,” Jake’s voice softened.
    As they watched, the tiny mare moved down thefence and back again, not quite sidestepping, always keeping her face away from them and toward the darkened barn.
    â€œShe’s—” Jake searched for a word but came up empty.
    â€œTormented,” Sam said. “I’m going to sit with her now.”
    Jake shook his head. “Do what you want.”
    â€œShe’ll get used to me. She’ll see I won’t hurt her.”
    Wordless, Jake gathered his reins, stabbed his boot into Witch’s stirrup, and swung aboard. The black danced in place, eager to head for home, but Jake didn’t go.
    â€œSam? Give this some thought. If no one claims that horse and she keeps acting crazy, BLM’s going to put her down. I just—” Jake set his jaw as he always did when he’d talked too much, then added, “I don’t want you gettin’ your heart broke over it.”
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    Sam sat in the shady barn as she had before and studied the mustang. It wasn’t easy, with Ace and Sweetheart jostling for Sam’s attention.
    Sweetheart gave up as soon as she saw Sam’s hands were empty, but Ace gave Sam a hooded look meant to make her feel guilty. It did.
    Dark Sunshine stayed still. She gazed into the darkness. Beneath her shaggy forelock, Dark Sunshine had a wide forehead and shining brown eyes that expected the worst. Her conformationreminded Sam of Kiger mustangs she’d seen in magazines. Descended from Spanish Barbs, they ran wild in the rugged country surrounding the Kiger River in Oregon.
    Brynna said the woman who’d adopted the mare was from Wyoming, but the freeze brand on her neck could say she’d been captured in Oregon.
    â€œYou’re far from home, aren’t you, pretty girl?”
    The mare flinched as if Sam had tossed a handful of gravel her way, but she didn’t leave. One ear swiveled, listening for trouble, but the other black-edged ear cupped forward to catch Sam’s words.
    Amazed, Sam kept talking.
    â€œI’ve got another horse friend who likes it when I talk. His name used to be Blackie. He was my horse.” Sam took a breath, and the mare looked over her shoulder. “You saw him the other day, but you were busy having breakfast. You’re eating well now, aren’t you? And drinking, too. Except for all this crazy stuff, you’re doing good, Sunny.”
    She kept talking. Kigers were supposed to be friendly, but this mare had learned humans meant windowless stalls, whips, and blindfolds.
    Those symbols tied Sunshine to men as surely as kindness and his secret name tied the Phantom to Sam.
    Think . Sam knew she could turn this mare around. It was too late for a secret name. Nothing could make this horse her sister, but maybe theycould be friends. Just as she’d won the Phantom’s heart after he’d been roped and dragged back to captivity, just as she’d waited in just the right place for Hammer, Sam knew she’d discover the magic to win Dark Sunshine’s trust.
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    â€œIf only horses could give references,” Sam said to Jen as they entered the crowded halls of Darton High School the next morning.
    â€œReferences?” Jen pushed her glasses up her nose and regarded Sam as if she’d lost her mind. “Like when you apply for a job?”
    â€œSort of.” Sam stopped outside her history class. Jen’s classroom was right next door, so they could talk until the bell.
    â€œMore like a personal reference. If I could get Ace or the Phantom to write Dark Sunshine a letter,