My dad yelled into the farmhouse at Wyatt to tell him that I had Sam and that she was safe. Wyatt has to be used to this by now honestly this girl is always getting into trouble.
"Ooooo Jakey what have you got there? Swept our little Sammy off her feet?"
"Shut up Quinn, she's asleep." Agitated Jake handed Sam down to Bryan who had come up to Jake while Quinn was teasing.
"Can you put her on the coach? I got to put Witch up," Bryan nodded at Jake with a wink and a smile and walked off with the auburn beauty who stole Jake's heart.
"Come on Witch," Jake said dismounting and leading her towards the pasture. Quinn followed Jake to the fence examining his love-struck little brother who was completely oblivious to the world around him.
"Jakey-poo when are you just gonna tell our little Sammers that you are head-over-heels, ga ga in love with her? Save us the pain of watching you drool all over her and trying to hide it please!" Quinn said in a teasing tone but he meant every word of it. Jake knew it too.
"I don't know Quinn… I just don't want to wreck anything, as pathetic as that sounds… I don't want to lose the one person who actually gets me." Jake sighed shaking his head. He was so confused! He put Witch's tack on the fence next to him and turned to face Quinn.
"Brother of mine you need to get over it! Man up and tell her how you feel before she becomes the one who got away," Quinn exclaimed. They are both so oblivious to the other's feelings its disgusting. Seriously and why does Jake have to be so dang stubborn? He should just give in to his all-knowing older brother! I mean seriously I'm awesome… Quinn shook himself so he wouldn't get too distracted by his charming, perfect self.
"What do I say? How do I say it? Quinn I can't just drop a bomb like this on her when I doubt she feels the same. It's just… ugh!" Jake leaned his head against Witch's side clearly frustrated at the whole thing.
"Write her a letter Jakey, that way you can't pull that annoyingly awkward quiet that you're so good at. Sound good?" Quinn rolled his eyes. Pathetic. Jake just stared at his brother in awe.
"Did you come up with that yourself? I'm impressed," the shock in his voice apparent. Quinn was offended, how dare anyone doubt my brilliance!
"See if I ever aid you in dealings of the heart ever again brother of mine," storming off. Quinn always was one for dramatic exits.
Sam woke up to find herself on the couch in her living room and not quite aware of how she got there. Last thing I remember is falling asleep on Jake's shoulder… Oh God! Sam turned bright red out of embarrassment. As suddenly as she turned red she paled. Oh no he must know I like him now, what if he never wants to talk to me again? She heard a voice coming from the armchair next to the couch.
"Sammy, my one and only little sister, you turn the most amazing shades of color. You're like a Technicolor show." Quinn then proceeded to fall out of the armchair laughing hysterically at his horrible joke. Sam just stared at him. At least he thinks he's funny.
"Samantha the way you fall out of the saddle makes me wonder how you ever took to barrel racing. Makes me wonder if the gift we got you was a good idea." Wyatt, Sam's dad, said from behind her.
"What gift dad?" Sam asked puzzled. There are no holidays nor is my birthday here and she said so to Wyatt.
"I know it's not a holiday but Riverbend has been doing very well these past couple of years and I know you've wanted to get more on the rodeo scene and well…" Sam's dad shifted awkwardly looking to his wife, Brynna, to continue from her place in the doorway.
"What your father is trying to say is your gift is in the barn if you want to go with us and Jake to see it," she spoke with an excited smile. Whatever it was it must be good. "Come on Sam I want to see your reaction," Bryanna eased herself off the couch a little sore from her earlier tumble and headed toward the front porch where Jake was waiting.
"Come on brat let's go," he smiled shoving her out the door. "By the way brat what spooked Ace earlier?" he questioned. Sam thought for a moment before she spoke.
"There was a flash of sunlight off this piece of metal, I don't know what it was though," she looked at him curiously.
"I'll go check it out tomorrow," he smiled down at her. Gosh he's been smiling a lot, wonder why… not that I mind he looks even better with his white teeth flashing against his dark skin. Yet again Sam went bright red. I've been blushing way too much, he's going to figure it out if I keep acting like this. Then Sam heard a loud neigh that startled her out of her thoughts.
"Well you going to see what it is or not? Bryanna asked grinning widely. Sam walked into the barn to see a dapple gray mare who had to at least be 16hh. She had a dark gray mane with white socks and a white blaze on her face. Sam's jaw hit the floor.
"She's gorgeous," breathed Sam as she walked towards the horse. "What breed is she dad?" she asked turning to Wyatt.
"Quarter horse, she's for you to compete in barrel racing on."
Launching herself at her dad she chanted, "thank you, thank you, thank you." Her dad chuckled and patted her back in response.
"What are you going to name her?" Wyatt asked when Sam finally released him.
Sam turned to the mare ignoring the feeling of a certain someone watching her. I can't believe she's mine! The mare bobbed her dapple mane towards Sam shaking a dark gray mane over her pure white blaze on her face.
"Can I call her Cloud?" Sam looked questioningly at her father.
"Of course you can," he smiled, "me and Bryanna will leave you to get acquainted with her." Bryanna and Wyatt left leaving Sam with Jake and Cloud.
"She's a pretty mare Sam. Deep chested for plenty of lung expansion, she's built to be fast and agile. That's obvious." Jake said stepping forward to place his hand on Cloud's withers.
Sam smiled up at Jake as she stroked Cloud's neck, "Yeah I can't wait to try her out!"
Jake chuckled, " wait til tomorrow Sam, she just arrived two hours ago."
"I know Jake, I'll wait til she's settles." Sam looked away from jake and back to the sweet mare, trying her best not to blush.
"Come on Jakey-poo!" Quinn screeched from the drive. " I risked life and limb to tack Witch up for you! Plus Dad and Bryan have already left in the truck so we need to go."
"I'm coming Quinn," Jake sighed. "I'll come by tomorrow to help with Cloud." Swiftly Jake hugged Sam tightly and left leaving Sam in a state of shock. When did he start calling me Sam? What did that hug mean? He never hugs me! May be it means… She shook her head, no that would never happen… Sam sighed.
"I'll see you later Cloud," and left the barn to ponder her feelings about a certain best friend.