Chapter 21
They finally saw Hotspot the Appaloosa mare a few weeks later. She wasn't with Moon, but another stallion Sam called Yellow Tail.
Jake's birthday had come and gone. Sam had gotten him a pocket knife with his name engraved on it. Jake carried it with him everywhere, except when he was at school. He liked thinking that she had thought enough of him to have his name engraved on it. He smiled to himself whenever he looked at the engraving. They had played football on his birthday too with Sam on his team along with Nate.
"Well at least now we can tell Slocum where she is," Jake shifted on Witch as they watched the herd from a distance.
"Now what?" Sam wondered.
"Now, Linc can decide what he wants to do," Jake shrugged as he leaned his arm against his saddle horn.
"Will you come back and get her?"
"If he wants me to," Jake straightened up and arched his back. "Now though I need to get back."
"What's going on?" Sam reined in Ace next to Witch as they started back.
"Kit's coming home," Jake murmured.
"Yeah?" Sam yelped in excitement. A smile spread across her face. Jake noticed and frowned. "How great!"
"Yeah, great," Jake muttered. He felt the bolt of jealousy.
Would she ever look that enthused at the prospect of seeing him? Jake was beginning to wonder. What he wouldn't give to see her face light up at the mention of his name.
"Tell him I said hello, okay?" Sam said later as they were about to split up.
"Yeah, sure," Jake murmured. "Why not just come by and see him?"
Oh gosh Jake, you idiot!
"Will that be okay?" Sam jumped at his idiotic idea.
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "Sure why not? I'm sure he'd like to see you too."
"What's wrong?" Sam tilted her head at him.
Besides the fact I'm an idiot and totally jealous?
"Nothin'," Jake said instead. "See you later."
He spurred Witch forward as if the hounds of hell were after him. Jake never looked back at Sam. She sat on Ace and watched him go, wonder what was going on with him.
Jake Ely was one strange person at times.
Refusing to let him ruin her good mood at the prospect of seeing the eldest Ely son again, Sam rode into River Bend and quickly stripped the tack off her horse. After cooling him out, she went into the house and asked if she could go over to Three Ponies later.
"One of us will drive you over and Jake can drive you home," Gram said with a smile.
Sam wasn't so sure Jake would want to drive her home the way he had acted. Well if he wouldn't, Sam knew that one of his brothers would.
"I can't wait to drive," Sam sighed.
"Good because tomorrow we go for a hardship license for you," Dad said as he came down the stairs.
"What?" Sam yelped.
Dad explained that if Brynna went into labor when he or Gram wasn't there then Sam would have to drive her to the hospital. Sam shook her head.
"No," she whined. "You can't even think of leaving me when she's in labor."
"It's not like we'd plan it, Samantha," Gram said. "Sometimes babies come whether you're ready for them or not. You need to be prepared too. I'll give you some books on childbirth."
Sam shuddered. She didn't want to know about childbirth. She was afraid if she knew too much, she'd never want to have children.
"What's this about Jake?" Dad changed the subject.
"Kit's coming home," Sam told him with a smile. The smile surprised Gram and Dad. They looked at each other. Could Sam be falling for the wrong Ely brother?
"Maybe you should give the family some privacy tonight," Dad suggested. "Then you can go over tomorrow after we go for your license."
Sam sighed knowing that no matter what she said, Dad wouldn't change his mind.