Chapter 8
The blizzard and its aftermath kept Sam at Three Ponies for two more days. Jake loved having her there and the rest of the family could see it on his face.
At night, he slipped into the room she was sleeping in to spend it with her. They spent the night making love, then sleeping for a while only to make love again a short while later.
Making love to Sam was all Jake was thinking about with her there. Since she only had one change of clothes, she spent a lot of time in a pair of Jake's sweats without anything under them.
Jake knew he was becoming obsessed with wanting her.
Jake knew his family either knew or had guessed at how he and Sam were spending their nights. His brothers smirked at him, but he found his mother looking at him, a speculative look on her face at times. His father seemed oblivious though Jake knew his mother would have discussed it with Dad.
Finally, his mother asked to talk to him on the sunporch the second night after dinner. Jake followed her out there and waited.
"Just tell me you're being safe," Maxine didn't waste any time. She watched her son darken and rub the back of his neck.
"It's that obvious?" Jake had to ask.
Maxine gave a short laugh. "Jake, you're rarely two feet from her at any given time. I'm not so old as to not remember what it was like."
Jake darkened deeper.
"Yeah, we are," Jake told her.
Maxine gave him a hug. "Not that I would mind if she became pregnant, but she's still very young and not graduated from high school. I'd hate to see Wyatt's reaction if she did."
Jake shivered and Maxine felt it. She reached up to kiss her youngest son's cheek. "Just be careful. I love you and I love Samantha."
Jake nodded and got out of the sunporch as quickly as he could. Sam was cleaning up in the kitchen when Jake came in. She saw on his face that something was up.
"What's wrong?" she asked him.
"Nothin'," he shook his head.
"I'll try going home today," Sam told him.
Jake gave her a surprised look.
"Or not," Sam murmured.
"That's not it," Jake assured her. He glanced back the way he had come. "I'll tell you later, okay?" His voice had been just above a whisper.
"It's something about me, isn't it?" Sam asked. "Does your family want me gone?"
"No," Jake insisted. "Well, yes, but no."
Sam tilted her head at him. With a longsuffering sigh, he took her by the arm and pulled her out on the front porch where they wouldn't be overheard.
"Mom knows we're spending the nights together," Jake told her.
"We're that obvious?" Sam squawked.
"Yes," Jake chuckled. "I'm not surprised. Making love to you is all I think about lately."
"Yeah?" Sam asked with a smile.
"Yeah," Jake laughed.
Sam took a step towards him, but he held her off. She took a deep breath and nodded in understanding. She had to admit, she was loving being with him like this and didn't mind a bit that she was stranded away from home.
"Is she mad?" Sam had to ask.
"Nah," Jake shook his head. "She just warned me about being safe and not getting you pregnant."
Sam blushed.
"You blush when we talk about you getting pregnant?" Jake's mouth twitched. He couldn't hide his amusement.
"It's different," Sam murmured, not looking at him. She felt his arms go around her.
"I do adore you, Samantha Anne," Jake kissed the top of her head. "Come on, let's get in before we both end up sick."
They went back into the house and Sam rubbed her arms. It was cold outside and it felt like more snow was on the way.
"Is it supposed to snow some more?" Sam asked.
"I think tomorrow night," Jake responded.
"Maybe I should try and get home tomorrow?" Sam wondered, looking up at him.
Jake frowned. "Maybe you should stay here and get snowed in even more?"
"I have a feeling Dad would walk here to rescue me if I did," Sam told him.
Jake nodded slowly. "You're probably right."
"I'll miss being here with you though," Sam stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. "It almost felt like we were married."
"We are married," Jake said.
"In our hearts and souls," Sam nodded.
"That's all that matters," Jake refuted.
"Not to Dad," Sam reminded him.
Jake sighed. "I guess I'll have to chance the snow to come see you, huh?"
"Maybe you'll get stranded at River Bend," Sam suggested with a smile.
"Wyatt would sit in a chair in front of the door to your room with a shotgun," Jake laughed.
Sam laughed with him, knowing he was right. Things would be very different if the circumstances were reversed.
