AN: ok so i had time to write another chappy!
Sam woke up early on Christmas morning, quickly turning the alarm on her phone off before it awoke anyone else. She jerked her jeans on and then pulled on a t-shirt and a brown hoodie. She rummaged through her dresser and found some socks to wear. She pulled them on also then quietly, yet hurriedly, made her way through the hall and down the stairs, avoiding the steps that creaked.
Once down the stairs, she grabbed an apple from the kitchen then went to grab her hat, coat, and boots. She held her apple between her teeth as she pulled her boots and coat on. She set her brown Stetson on her head as she softly closed the door behind her and ran through the pre-dawn darkness to the barn, noticing Jake's truck in the yard.
She blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the light in the barn then saw Jake leaning against the barn wall, grinning at her. She smiled back, noticing that he was holding reins that led to an already tacked up Witch. "Mornin' cowboy," she said through her smile.
"Mornin' to you too," Jake said, then added a good-natured insult. "Thought I'd have to wake you up."
She blushed, knowing that she was known for not being a morning person. Jake's grin broadened when she blushed, which made her roll her eyes. "Merry Christmas." She grinned before saying, "jerk."
He laughed as he replied, "Merry Christmas to you too, Brat."
She rolled her eyes, but walked over to him to give him a hug. "Thanks for taking me for a ride," she muttered into his chest.
"Mount up or I may be the only one riding," he teasingly whispered in her ear. She released him from her hug and he helped her up onto Witch, swinging up after her. He wrapped his right arm around her and took the reins in his left hand before guiding Witch out of the barn.
As the black mare trotted through the snow, the two talked about different things while Sam munched her apple. "Come on," Sam begged, "please sing it with me?"
"Cowboys don't sing." Jake stubbornly informed her. "Especially sissy songs like 'Jingle Bells'."
Sam huffed, then started singing it by herself, changing the words.
"Jake is mean,
Jake is mean,
Jake is mean to me!
Be-e-cause he-e won't,
Sing this song with me-e!"
Jake couldn't help it and snorted.
"Oh, please, Jake," she continued, biting back her laughter. "Won't you sing,
With me, oh pretty please,
Be-e-cause I will die,
If you do no-ot si-ing."
Jake started laughing, making Sam laugh. "Oh come on Jake!" Sam begged again once she had stopped laughing enough to speak.
"Fine." Jake caved in with the one word. He thought for a moment then started to sing.
Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas Day,
Driving the cattle over snow covered plains.
All of the good gifts given today,
Ours is the sky and the wide open range.
Sam leaned back against him, eyes closed. She sighed contentedly and smiled as he hugged her slightly.
Back in the cities they have different ways,
Football and eggnog and Christmas parades.
I'll take a blanket, I'll take the reins,
It's Christmas for cowboys wide open plains.
Witch snorted as if to say, "Silly city folks!" Jake and Sam's smiles both widened in agreement with her.
A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night,
The stars overhead are Christmas tree lights.
The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray,
It's Christmas for cowboys, wide open plains.
Jake gently kissed Sam's head as she snuggled deeper into his chest.
It's tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day,
Driving the cattle over snow covered plains.
So many gifts have been opened today,
Ours is the sky and the wide open range.
It's Christmas for cowboys, wide open plains.
Sam wiggled out of Jake's arms just enough to turn her head to see his face. "Jake, your gonna have to sing for me each time you come home. That was beautiful."
Jake blushed under her gaze and muttered, "Beautiful wouldn't quite be the word I'd use."
She laughed softly and he smiled at her. "We've got to spend every Christmas tall in the saddle. Together." She grinned.
"Sure, Brat," he replied with his lazy tom cat smile.
