Chapter 11
Later Sam could feel the eyes watching her as she went down the hallway. Just as she feared, they all thought she was the crazy one. Rachel had put some spin on what happened so it sounded like it had been all Sam's fault.
She was dragging by the time she went into her English class. She just wanted to go home and throw the covers over her head and never leave again.
"What the heck happened?" Jake asked when she walked by him.
"Linc went crazy," Sam told him.
"He didn't touch you did he?" she saw the hardness on Jake's face.
"No," Sam lied. Her eyes slid away from Jake's.
"Sam," Jake's voice made her look back at him. Once their eyes met, she couldn't look away from him.
She saw his eyes harden.
"Why did you lie to me?" Jake hissed.
"What are you going to do about it?" Sam hissed back. "He poked me with his finger."
"I will break that finger," Jake growled.
"Jake, you can't fight with an adult," Sam reasoned. "What will happen to your college applications if you have assault charges against you?"
She could see Jake knew that she had made a valid point, but he didn't like it. He was furious and at first she thought he was mad at her. Get in line, Jake!
"I'm not mad at you," Jake assured her.
Sam sighed. She should be used to him being able to almost read her mind at times.
"You're about the only one," Sam murmured. "Everyone thinks I'm crazy. They're looking at me again."
Jake could see the frustration in her eyes.
"Not anyone who cares," Jake said.
"Nobody cares," Sam responded softly. "All they know is that the person with the head injury was accused again of being crazy."
"I care," Jake almost whispered. "Jen cares. Darrell cares."
Sam looked down and shook her head.
"I don't care?"
Sam shook her head again.
Oh Brat, I care so much it hurts sometimes.
"You'll tell Wyatt what happened?" Jake asked.
"I'm sure he'll hear about it," Sam sniffled and wiped her eyes quickly.
"He needs to know that Slocum threatened you," Jake told her.
Sam nodded. She looked up and met Jake's dark brown eyes. They were soft as they gazed at each other.
"I want to know if he touches you again," Jake's voice was forceful.
"He won't," Sam was sure. "He was just a little crazy that his mare is gone. I have no idea which one and neither does Jen."
"I'm sure Jen will know when she gets home," Jake told her. "I bet I have a message on my phone from Linc and him wanting me to track whatever mare is gone."
"Will you?" Sam wondered.
"Maybe after I tell him that he will deal with me and my brothers if he ever confronts you or touches you again," Jake's eyes hardened again.
Sam was well aware of the Ely boys' reputation of settling things with their fists. She wondered if Linc did. She knew she could always count on them to protect her. They always had. She remembered that they had a few times in elementary school. She wasn't sure why that memory stuck in her head when many others didn't, but she did know that.