Chapter 14
"I'll get you a wedding band once we're back from the cattle drive," Jake promised.
"I don't care about that," Sam looked again at him before looking down at her hand.
"I do," Jake told her.
"Then we'll get you one too," Sam said before she pressed her lips against his.
"I can't wear it all the time, but I will when I'm not working," Jake responded, making sure she knew that if he didn't wear it one hundred percent of the time, it wasn't because he didn't love it and her.
"I understand," Sam nodded. With one more kiss, she dug into the box to take out the turtle necklace, putting it around her neck. Her hand strayed to it as it nestled into the base of her neck and she couldn't help the sigh.
Jake smiled softly at her, hearing the sigh.
Sam went to take out the earrings and noticed the other ring. With a frown, she glanced at Jake as she reached for it.
Jake saw the frown and looked down, seeing her pick up Dawn's engagement ring.
"Oh shoot," Jake groaned.
"This was Dawn's?" Sam asked quietly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Yes," Jake's voice was careful, his expression blanked out.
Nodding, Sam looked back at the ring. Then she held out her hand to look at her brilliant, blazing ring. The difference was shocking and startling. No wonder Dawn had felt second best when she had found it.
Sam put it back in the box and took out the posts she had in her ears before putting in the turtle earrings. When she was done, her hand reached out to touch Jake's jaw, her mouth meeting his.
"I love you and thank you," Sam said simply, surprising Jake. He had expected more than a thank you. Sam saw it on his face.
"She loved you," Sam shrugged.
"Yeah," Jake nodded, still cautious.
Sam looked away wondering how she could tell him the truth without hurting him.
"There's quite a difference between the rings," Sam murmured.
"Not on purpose," Jake said.
"No, but she would think subconsciously there was a difference in how you felt about her," Sam told him.
"I didn't mean it like that," Jake insisted. "I did love her."
"I know you did," Sam nodded. "You don't give your heart away capriciously. If you asked her to marry you, I know you loved her."
She took a deep breath and let it out.
"I'd feel the same way seeing my ring and then hers," Sam's met his again. "It's quite a statement."
Jake rubbed the back of his neck.
"I hope she finds someone almost as wonderful as you," Sam told him.
Sam shocked him with her generosity for Dawn. She saw it in his face before his eyes danced with amusement.
"Almost?" he choked back a laugh.
"Well, nobody is going to be as wonderful as you," Sam said sensibly, grinning as she leaned in to kiss him again.
Jake kissed the woman who was his life, loving her so much he couldn't tell her in words.
"We'll put this away and maybe make a pendant for our firstborn daughter," Sam indicated the box in her hand.
With their eyes still on those of the other, Jake nodded.
"Wyatt's coming," Nate opened the door ending the private moment.
"Okay, thanks," Jake told him before turning back to Sam. "I love you, sweetheart."
"Yes, I know you do and thank God for that every day," Sam leaned in for one more kiss.