AN: This chapter is dedicated to missprincess13, for being my first reviewer!
"Jake, it's getting dark," Sam complained. "Are you sure you know where you're going?"
The trail through the aspen trees was thinning, casting darker shadows through the twilight-colored darkness.
"Uh…yeah. Jen's house is just through here…oh, that's a tree." Jake sighed. "Um…" he contemplated. His hand rose to the back of his neck to rub it.
Sam knew how embarrassed he must be. He could track anything from horses to bees. It must be a disadvantage trying to find your way back in the dark. "Are we lost?" she couldn't help the words from tumbling out of her mouth.
"No!" Jake answered with assurance. His tone turned quiet. "I'm just…not exactly sure where we are… at the moment."
"Yeah, we're lost," Sam said dryly. She reined Ace to a stop. "Maybe we should just stay here 'til morning."
Jake stopped Witch, then watched her in disbelief. "Stay out here? All night?"
"What other choice do we have?" Sam argued.
"Mmm…" Jake began sarcastically. "Keep riding until we find help…" he started pitching ideas.
"Okay, okay!" she interrupted. "Then let's keep riding." She kicked Ace into a gentle jog and Witch followed a step behind at their side. Sam squinted through the half-moon blackness, trying to make out the path ahead. She stole a sideways glance of Jake, wondering if it was difficult for him to see also. Stifling a yawn, she stared forward again.
"You hungry?" Jake's tone was stiff, but not sarcastic this time.
The duration of the trail ride Sam had ignored her empty stomach and now she agnologed it. "A little," she admitted.
In minutes, Ace and Witch were ground tied, wood was collected, a fire was ablaze, and a small shelter was built.
Sam and Jake sat cross-legged in the lean-to, watching the flames dance amid the sticks and leaves. "You know, you're really good at this "Indian stuff,"" Sam complimented, chewing on a stick of beef jerky.
"Thanks," he mumbled. He picked up a stray stick from the ground and started to stir the fire.
"You still haven't told me your big plan for the summer," she begged gently.
"It's still a surprise," Jake answered. Sam couldn't help noticing the small twitch of his lips. He was trying not to smile. "Jen and Ryan should be here by now," Jake added as an afterthought.
Sam's eyebrows were drawn down in confusion. "I thought you said we were going to get them."
She watched Jake freeze under her glare. He remained silent.
Sam let an exasperated sigh escape her tight lips. "Tell the truth," she insisted. "Did you even ask them to come along? They know nothing about this, do they?" The firelight made her wide eyes glow with fury.
"No," Jake whispered a sigh.
"Then why did you bring me out here?" her voice was gentle when she spoke.
Jake faced her, his mustang eyes soft and glittering.
Sam blushed, aware that he was closer to her. "Close your eyes, cowgirl," he whispered.
She did, then felt his warm lips on her. Her skin grew hot and tingly—a reaction to his kiss. Then, she kissed him back. She'd always had a small crush on him, but tried to ignore it. But now, there was no denying it.
When it ended, his face still insanely close to hers, she said, "That was nice."
Jake replied with a crooked smile. Sam melted under it, suddenly breathless. Questions still swirled in her mind, but she couldn't say them.
When Jake finally unlocked their gaze, the duration of silence between them grew longer. The fire crackled, spewing ashes around the circle of rocks they were using as their fire pit.
Sam didn't stop smiling the whole time, caught in a daze. She stifled another yawn, refusing to let Jake know she was tired.
Finally mustering up enough courage, she asked the first question on her mind. "Did you really bring me all the way out here just to kiss me?" Sam tried not to sound smug; sweet and flattered is what she was aiming for, but she failed at trying to make it work. It was different being tolerant of his big ideas.
Jake made a show out of clearing his throat, before saying, "Where did you expect me to do it?"
Sam didn't anticipate that response. She was silent a while longer, listening to the crickets sing. "Why couldn't you just"—she swallowed, trying to get used to saying it—"kiss me at my house?"
"Heaven sakes, brat," Jake's voice was barely above a whisper. "Your father is my boss. How would that make me look kissin' the rancher's daughter?" The intensity in his eyes grew as he stared hard at Sam.
She suppressed a giggle inside her, and came up with her second question. "See? There you go again," she observed. "You're always calling me 'brat' and teasing me…"
"because I like you so much," he finished for her at a full whisper. "I guess it's kind of a weird way of shown it…" his soft voice drifted off into the darkness.
Sam found it strange that she could relate to him. "Yeah, I tease you a lot, too," she realized. She couldn't help smiling as the next question crossed her mind. "How long have you had a crush on me?"
Jake bowed his head bashfully. "Uh…how long is forever?"
She allowed a short, involuntary chuckle to escape her lips. "Should've guessed that. Since you've been teasing me forever."
Then it was Jake's turn to laugh, sending a shiver up Sam's spine. "Brat," he chuckled jokingly.
She drew up a clenched fist and socked him playfully in the arm, laughing once more.
Aftre a while, the laughter was settled and only slow breathing filled the long silence. Sam's forefinger and thumb circled her small wrist. She longed for her watch. It lay on the dresser oher room, neglected to be put on this morning. All the excitement packed in her during the early hours, made her made her preoccupied, resulting in wonderment at this moment.
Her brown eyes wandered up to the sterling night sky, glazed in moonlight. She sighed with contentment, knowing how lucky she was.
"Tell me something," Jake suddenly whispered, breaking through her silent thoughts.
"Huh?" Sam asked, blinking in confusion.
"Something I don't know about you," he clarified, still not turnng his head to look at her.
"Um..." she pondered, staring into the fire pit, which was now only logs and glowing embers. "I don't know how to crack my knuckles and I can't stand the sound of anyone doing it, either."
"Really?" Jake's eyebrows raised, he fake stretched, then cracked his knuckles.
"Stop it!" Sam giggled. She got controll of herself, then said, "Tell me something I don't know about you."
"Okay," he answered, still looking into the orange sparks in the fire pit. "I find it funny how you look even prettier when you're in trouble."
Sam could see him grinning from the corner of her eye. Fighting back a smile, she continued. "My biggest pet peeve is when people call me something other than 'Sam' or 'Samantha.'"
Jake's smile fell. "Sorry for always calling you 'brat,' he said stiffly. "Hey, maybe I'll call you something nicer, like...pest?"
"Plese don't call me that," Sam persisted. "I know I always act annoyed when you say 'brat,' but I think I'd miss it if you stopped.
His smile was once more alight on his lips, and he was finally looking at her. "Brat," he whispered.
Her stomach fluttered. For the first tie, she wasn't fuious when he said it, but breathless. Unintentionally, she yawned again and lay down on the ground.
"Are you tired?" he asked, but before she could answer him, she was fast asleep.
He smoothed down her hair before laying down himself to sleep.
In the 24th book, Sam and Jake don't hold hands.
