Chapter 10

Nate opened the door and waited for the others to go through ahead of him.

"Mom invited Grandfather and Sam's family," he whispered to Jake.

Jake nodded as he and Sam went into the house.

"Samantha!" Maxine was hugging her newest daughter-in-law. Sam started sobbing again.

"I'm sorry," Sam murmured to the other woman.

"Nonsense," Maxine insisted. "You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that."

"I hurt him so badly," Sam said.

"He's happy now," Maxine looked at her son over the shoulder of his wife. She could see the happiness. Sure, he had loved Dawn and Dawn had helped to heal him, but she could tell that Sam completed him. He would have survived with Dawn, but he would live with Sam.

"Come into the family room," Maxine started to steer the woman she had always considered her daughter towards the doorway.

Sam was shocked to see her family. She ran to her father and was caught up in a hug as she hugged his strong body. Next was Gram who seemed so frail compared to the last time Sam had seen her. Sam hugged Brynna then was reintroduced to Cody. She met her little sister Karen for the first time.

While Sam was getting reacquainted with her family, Maxine hugged her son.

"I'm glad you brought her home," Maxine told him quietly.

"It wasn't easy," Jake admitted.

"Kit told me," Maxine said. "She's all right?"

"She's better," Jake answered. "She's not taken care of herself and she ended up with a bump on the head when she saw us."

"She thought you were there with Dawn," Maxine sighed.

"Yes," Jake nodded.

Maxine touched her son's cheek. "You look better. More relaxed."

"I am," Jake's smile was soft as he glanced at his wife who was now hugging the other wives. They were welcoming her with open arms.

Maxine gave him a hug and let Mac approach him, giving the two of them some privacy.

"It is good to have her back," Mac said. "You're okay?"

"Yes Grandfather, I am," Jake smiled. "Thank you."

"I did nothing," Mac shrugged, tilting his head. "You are worried though."

"Not really worried," Jake clarified. "I'm sorry all of this had to be at the expense of Dawn's happiness."

"You are a good man to worry about her," Mac put his hand on Jake's arm. "She will do very well for herself. Don't worry."

Jake met his grandfather's eyes and nodded.

"You ended up with the woman you were supposed to end up with," Mac shrugged again.

"Yes," Jake murmured, watching Sam with his family and hers. He was thankful that they all welcomed her back as if nothing bad had happened. Almost as if the last two years hadn't happened.

He couldn't help smile as she met Quinn's twins then the rest of the Ely babies. She held Nate's and Vanis' daughter Nicole and Jake couldn't help but picture Sam holding their son or daughter the same way someday.

His attention was pulled from his wife by her father approaching. Wyatt stuck out his hand to his son-in-law.

"Congratulations, Jake," Wyatt told him.

"Thank you, sir," Jake shook the other man's hand.

"We can't thank you enough for bringing her home," Wyatt went on. "We tried for years to convince her to come back." The older man shook his head and Jake could see how Sam's taking off had upset him. "We worried so much about her."

Jake only nodded. They had no idea just how worried they should have been, that Sam had tried twice to kill herself. Which reminded him, he needed to remind her to cover the cut on her wrist until it healed.

"She's coming on roundup?" Wyatt asked.

"Yes," Jake responded.

He smiled as Grace joined them.

"I'm not sure we have enough viable tents for you and Samantha," Gram said.

"She'll stay with my brothers and me," Jake shrugged. "They won't mind."

"I'm sure Wyatt already thanked you, but thank you," Gram put a hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze.

Jake simply nodded.

"Tired?" Jake asked later as the two of them cuddled in his bed. Sam was in his arms, nuzzled into his neck.

"Yes," Sam nodded. She sighed. She wanted to ask Jake about the house.

"I couldn't live in our house," Jake murmured.

Sam was surprised but not so terribly surprised. He'd been doing this to her all of her life.

She nodded, not able to speak right now.

"To be honest, I'm not sure what to do about it now," Jake went on.

"You don't have to make any sudden decisions," Sam said.

"We don't have to make any sudden decisions," Jake corrected. "I wouldn't make that decision without you."

"Maybe when we come back from roundup, we can go through it," Sam suggested, inhaling the manly scent of him.

"I will build you another house," Jake told her.

"Let's see that one first," Sam said. "Maybe it will work."

Jake was overwhelmed and his arms tightened around her. What a woman his wife was. He would do anything for her, anything.

As he held her in his arms, he thought about Dawn. He said a silent thank you to her and wished her well.

Sam raised her head to his, her mouth finding his lips and latching onto them. Jake rolled her under him, her hands tangling in his black hair when he did. Their tongues met and tangled as they were both quickly swept along.

Jake's mouth slash over her cheek to lip her earlobes. She felt his teeth gently take one. She shivered. She heard Jake chuckle in her ear.

Her skin broke out into goosebumps when his lips and tongue trailed down her neck then nibbled on the sensitive part where her neck met her shoulder. She felt his smile on her skin when he realized it.

Both were extremely happy to be together and they set about showing the other just how they felt.