Desiree had stopped by to see Jacy at the PEG, but she wasn't in, so she decided to go see Samantha at the livery. Samantha was brushing down a horse when Destiny arrived. "Hello Samantha."

"Hello Desiree." Samantha and Desiree had become close friends ever since Elena had hit Destiny. She watched out of the corner of her eye and saw Samantha shuffling her feet. "Is something the matter?"

"Well, I . . . it's . . . well, have you noticed anything different about Jacy since she's been back?" Destiny wasn't quite sure how to discuss Jacy with Samantha. She knew they were close friends and didn't want to say anything that might alienate her from Samantha. She didn't have very many friends in town, real close friends that is, except Walter, Ivy and Samantha.

"No, can't say as I have, but then again I haven't really had a chance to spend much time with her. I've been very busy with work. I was going to try and make time to go over and see her today." She put down the brush and came out of the stall. "Why do you think something's wrong with her."

"Well . . . I guess not. I guess she's just has a lot on her mind since she's come back." Desiree didn't want Samantha to think that she was trying to say anything bad about Jacy. It could be that Jacy was just too busy right now to spend any time with friends.

"I'm glad she's back. I just wish my brother would return now." Samantha said as she went to another stall to brush down Reflections.

"Have you heard anything from him?" Desiree knew that Samantha missed and worried about her brother.

"The last thing I heard from him was that he thought he had a lead on Jacy's whereabouts, and he was going to check it out. I hope it leads him back here, and that he doesn't get into any trouble." She gave Reflections another long stroke down his neck and then turned around to face Desiree. "Do you want to go visit Jacy together?"

"That would be great." Desiree thought that with Samantha with her then maybe Jacy would be more receptive towards her this time.

"Let me finish brushing Reflections and then we'll go." Samantha stated as she continued to brush him.

"Well, I just stopped by there and she wasn't there." Desiree informed her.

Samantha thought a few minutes before replying, "Alright, then she must be out at her home. We'll ride out to see her." Desiree agreed. After Samantha finished brushing Reflections she led him out of the stall and saddled him up for Desiree. Next she saddled up Cabalero and they rode out to Starshine Ranch.

Samantha's hunch had been right, Jacy was there. Samantha knocked on the door and after a few times of knocking Jacy finally answered the door. "Good morning," she said as she opened the door. "I wasn't expecting any visitors. What brings you here?"

"I . . . I mean we were . . . we wanted to visit with you Jacy." Samantha had expected a much warmer welcome.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but this isn't a good time for a visit. In fact I was just heading back to town. I have lots of work to do at the paper." She came outside, shutting the door behind her. "I'm sorry, but maybe we could have lunch some time." She gave them a quick smile and then walked off the porch. Samantha and Desiree followed.

"Well, we can at least all ride into town together." Samantha suggested. Desiree thought that she saw a glimpse of a frown cross Jacy's face, but it was so quick that she couldn't be certain.

Jacy swung on up into her saddle, and Samantha and Desiree imitated her action. Then the trio headed for town.

"Where did you get that horse, Jacy?" Samantha admired the black steed as they rode. It was a really fine horse.

"Uh . . . ummm . . . well, a friend gave him to me," she answered.

Desiree gave Samantha a suspicious look. Samantha didn't like it and continued to talk to Jacy, "So what's his name?"

Thinking she meant her horse's name, she replied, "His name is Justice."

Samantha looked at Desiree and then back to Jacy. "Just Justice, is that it?"

"Yep, that's it." She thought it was strange that Samantha would think that her horse had another name. Well maybe not that strange. Some people did give their horses a two name title.

"So where did you meet him?" Desiree wanted to get in on the conversation.

She thought it was a silly question, but if Desiree wanted to know where she had met her horse who was she to question why. "In a barn. He prefers barns more than the pastures. I have yet to understand why."

"Maybe he prefers to be around horses." Desiree tried to be helpful.

"Yeah, but there's horses out in the pasture," she replied.

"Yeah, but maybe he can relate to horses better in the barn than he can in the pasture." Desiree said. "I much rather deal with horses in the barn than in the pasture."

She couldn't understand why they were so interested in her horse, so she decided to change the subject. "I prefer the pastures, the fresh air, the open space, freedom. That's the life for me. At least he doesn't mind when we're out riding."

"Well, that's good. At least he gets out some and doesn't spend all his time in the barn." Samantha said.

"What do you two like to do?" She asked to change the subject from her to them.