Chapter 2
"Where are we going?" Sam asked from behind Jake. She ducked her head against his back as a gust of wind blew in from the mountains. It was starting to snow and she pulled her wool hat further down on her head.
"Maybe this was a bad idea," Jake said, shouting to be heard above the wind.
"Well, you didn't know it was going to turn into a blizzard," Sam tightened her arms around his waist, her hands going up under his coat to touch the shirt covering his belly.
Jake wanted to groan at the feel of her hands on his body. It didn't take much for him to respond to her, even when she did it innocently. He knew she was just warming her hands.
"Let's turn around," Jake suggested. "It's getting cold out here."
"Getting?" Sam squawked.
He whirled Witch and nudged her into a gallop. Sam gripped Jake tighter around the waist so she wouldn't fall off. Jake's hand came down to grasp one of her arms for a moment to make sure she was steady behind him.
"Where are you taking me?" Sam asked when they didn't take the turnoff for River Bend.
"Three Ponies," Jake answered over his shoulder.
"Why?" Sam wondered.
"You're eating dinner there, remember?" Jake chuckled.
Sam took one hand out from under his coat to swat him before putting it back under his coat again.
"Jake, I have too many clothes on," Sam complained.
"You can take some off," he gave her a grin over his shoulder.
"I'd swat you again, but my hand will get cold," Sam stuck out her tongue.
"You don't want to freeze your tongue off either," Jake's grin grew.
"I'll just flip you off under your coat," Sam told him.
Jake felt her finger under his coat and he laughed. Sam giggled behind him.
Suddenly, Jake pulled up his big black mare. He heard the bawling of cattle over the sound of the wind.
"What's wrong?" Sam asked, hearing nothing.
"Shhh," Jake was trying to peer through the blowing snow.
"Don't shush me," Sam complained.
"Brat," Jake whispered, his voice urgent.
"What is it?" Sam whispered back, hoping he could hear her above the wind.
"I think they're stealing cattle," Jake whispered, turning his mare and sending her forward.
"What are you doing?" Sam hissed. She was pulling at his waist underneath his coat. "You can't just ride over there."
"You're right," Jake nodded. "Maybe you should get off for a few minutes."
"In a blizzard?" Sam's voice started to rise.
"Shhh," Jake whispered again.
"You're not leaving me anywhere in a blizzard," Sam told him. "If you're going, I'm going."
Jake gave a curt nod urging his big black horse forward. Sam gripped him tighter around his waist as she tried looking through the snow. As they got closer, she could now hear the cattle bawling. How did he hear it so far away?
"Whatever you do, don't let go of me," Jake whispered, not looking at her. He felt her nod against his back.