TIMELESS 11
Chapter 1
"I'll be home tomorrow," Jake told Sam.
"Yeah?" Sam's voice held her excitement.
"Yeah," Jake said. "Mom's having your party this weekend and of course I'm coming home for that."
"She is?" Sam asked.
"Darn," Jake muttered. "I think it was supposed to be a surprise."
"I'm surprised," Sam laughed.
"Well act surprised when you come over," Jake laughed with her.
"Okay," Sam agreed. "We're not going to have much time together are we?"
"Prolly not," Jake responded. "We'll make it up another time."
"I'm happy just to see you," Sam insisted.
"I can't wait to see you, Brat," Jake said.
"I miss seeing you," Sam murmured.
"You'll see me tomorrow," Jake reminded her.
"Yes, I will," Sam's voice held excitement again.
Jake laughed. "So what's going on with Linc?"
"Uncle Bob filed for payment of his attorney fees and the judge ruled in his favor," Sam told him. "Plus, he filed for defamation of my character and slander."
"Good," Jake's voice was hard. Though he hadn't been at the trial, his family had told him all the gory details that Sam hadn't. He ended up thinking it was a good thing he hadn't been there. He'd have been tempted to do to Linc and his attorney what he had done to Linc's horse.
"He's going for over a million," Sam still couldn't believe it.
"You prolly won't get that," Jake responded.
"I know," Sam nodded, even though Jake couldn't see it. "It's the whole idea of a million dollars. I can't comprehend that much money."
"No, me either," Jake agreed. "Anything that makes Linc hurt some is okay by me."
"Me too," Sam said. "He's an evil man."
"Just remember that and stay away from him, Sam," Jake warned her.
"I know," Sam told him. "Dad and Uncle Bob said the same thing."
"Stay away from his ranch and ranch hands too," Jake said.
"You mean Flick," Sam murmured.
"Yes," Jake replied.
"Oh guess what?" Sam yelped. "I can't believe I forgot this."
"What?" Jake asked.
"Jen saw him riding a buckskin," Sam responded.
"You're kidding," Jake yelped.
"Dad told Sheriff Ballard," Sam went on.
"You were right," Jake said.
"It just made sense," Sam shrugged her shoulders. "Why were we losing cattle, but Linc, the richest man in the county, wasn't?"
"You would think he would be more of a target," Jake agreed.
"Exactly," Sam said. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to pin all the cattle theft on him too? So besides losing money to me, he'd go to jail."
"Don't get your hopes up," Jake was realistic.
"I'm trying," Sam told him. "It's hard not to sometimes. If there's a way Jen's family could get the ranch back…"
"Try harder," Jake laughed.
"Oh shut up," Sam laughed with him.
"I need to get some studying done," Jake sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay," Sam sighed too. "I love you."
"I love you too, baby," Jake murmured.