A/N: Many apologies for taking so long. I got caught up in my other stories and then i had finals and i moved out of college and in with my boyfriend. He is a terrible distraction but I finally have a chapter for you. This story is almost at an end i'm afraid my cherubs, But don't be alarmed, I have a new Phantom Stallion story waiting in the wings for you all to enjoy. It will be a kind of prequel to Wild Things, starting right at the end of Book 24 and detailing Sam and Jake's relationship until the Fall when Jake goes away to college. It's called Two Strong Arms so keep an eye out for it. I promise not to post it until i finish Wild Things first though. =) Pretty please review and tell me what you though of the chapter and the story as a whole. Much love xx-Kitten
Chapter 25: It Took a Woman.
Jake Ely felt his jaw drop to hear Sam admit in front of everyone that they were engaged. And at a time like this when Wyatt and Kit needed to get Cody and Tia off to a doctor! He wasn't a bit surprised that she would be difficult about it and pick some inopportune time to tell everyone they were engaged, but he was surprised that she'd done it right now.
"You really would, wouldn't you?" he accused her just as he had done the night she'd proposed to him. "You really would announce it in front of everyone like this, when Wyatt and Kit need to be gettin' to hospital." Sam gave him one of those wicked little grins that said she knew she was causing mischief and didn't care a bit.
"What's the matter cowboy? Don't you want people knowin' that you want to spend your life with a crazy lady?" she teased softly.
Everyone around them was staring and Jake just knew that they were all wondering whether or not they'd heard her right. He narrowed his eyes on the girl he loved. Her eyes were shining with happiness and mischief but Jake could see the gleam of the high she felt from having ridden the Phantom through the middle of a thunderstorm as well.
"What was that, you just said?" Wyatt Forster's voice cut through the silence as he strode back towards Sam and Jake. Sam cringed a little, suddenly thinking it might've been better to announce their engagement when she was maybe wearing the ring Jake kept hinting he'd like to give to her, perhaps at a time when her kid brother wasn't in pain from a broken arm and in need of a trip to hospital.
"Samantha!?" Wyatt demanded as he strode towards them, clearly not liking the way she was suddenly shifting from foot to foot nervously. Jake snorted softly, dipping his head so that Wyatt wouldn't see his tom-cat smile at knowing how nervous Sam suddenly was.
"Now you done it Brat." Jake murmured.
Jake watched Sam take his words as a dare and grinned when Sam suddenly looked up, squaring her shoulders as she met her father nervous, worried gaze.
"Dad, Gram….. erm…. Luke and Maxine you better listen too….." Sam began, nervously rubbing the back of her neck as she turned to see everyone staring at them. "Um…. Well…. We been meaning to tell y'all somethin'…."
Jake watched Sam struggle for a moment before he reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze, silently telling her stop.
"I know y'all need to be gettin' these kids to a hospital" Jake began, suddenly finding himself just as nervous as Sam "But if you wait just a minute, there's something y'all need to see since Samantha has a tendency to put her foot in her mouth."
Sam raised her eye brows as Jake led her by the hand over towards the campfire before releasing her and going over to dig in one of his saddlebags for something.
"Samantha what the heck is goin' on?" Dad growled, clearly not liking the delay.
"Um…. Well like I said…. Erm… Jake and I have a little announcement. I know it's rubbish timing but, well…." Sam stuttered out not taking her eyes off Jake for fear that she might bolt if she caught sight of Dad's expression again. Part of her could tell that many around them expected what Sam guessed was about to happen, and Sam wondered idly how everyone was going to react to the news. She could feel Dad and Gram's eyes boring into her, silently willing her to look at either of them but Sam suddenly found that she couldn't have taken her eyes off Jake even if she wanted to.
The campfire hissed and crackled as a few spots of rain hit it and Sam suddenly noticed that though lightning and thunder cracked overhead, only a few stray raindrops fell here. She was drenched to the bone from the ride through the storm, as was Jake as he slowly began to walk back towards them. He had his hat dipped forwards and his head down so Sam couldn't see his face but she could tell from the way he strode so purposefully, placing each foot heavily and deliberately, that he was nervous to finally be doing this in front of everyone.
"Jake…?" Maxine's voice asked in wonder and Sam noticed out the corner of her eye the way Maxine suddenly shuffled closer that she looked excited. Sam shuffled her feet nervous where she stood a little off to the side of the campfire amid the group of family and friends that and formed a loose circle around Sam as Jake walked towards her.
One of Jake's fists were clenched around something and Sam held her breath tipping her head back to look up into Jake's wild mustang eyes. Everything around her suddenly came into sharp focus in that moment of stillness. The horses in the corral snorted and nickered softly, thunder and lightning boomed and crackled in the sky, cattle lowed to each other and the people gathered around Samantha Forster and Jake Ely seemed to quiver with anticipation. But as Sam stared into Jake's wild brown eyes, all of that dimmed, fading to background noise.
Beneath the brim of Jake's hat, his face was cast in shadow but for the light from the crackling fire yet Sam couldn't help the way her lips began to twitch as she saw the way he smiled at her. Butterflies were running riot in her tummy and Sam suddenly felt like she had the day Jake had first asked her to be his date to the school Dance. Nervous and curious and just a little bit love-struck.
"You don't know how long I been wantin' to do this" Jake murmured to her softly as he smiled his love at her. Sam let out a nervous little giggle, knowing everyone was watching them and straining to hear every word Jake said. Jake didn't seem to mind as he slowly reached out and caught hold of her left hand.
"Oh my!" Gram gasped when Jake slowly lowered himself down onto one knee in front of Sam. Sam bit her bottom lip even as her smile threatened to break her face it was so wide. Jake's hand was warm in hers and Sam couldn't focus on anything but the way Jake's head tipped up so he could look her in the eyes. The firelight threw his Shoshone Indian features into sharp focus, his high cheek bone, and strong jaw glowing mahogany in the firelight. But those eyes that Sam had always been such a sucker for, mustang eyes, were so wild and full of love for her that Sam felt completely captivated by how beautiful and perfect Jake was to her.
"Samantha" Jake's voice was low and but strong and Sam smiled realising that his fear of becoming tongue tied was completely gone as he knelt before her "You've been my constant companion since the day I stuck my big head over the edge of your crib at three years old. I've spent my life fallin' in love with you every time I look at you and see you pullin' some new crazy stunt…. I've been in love with you a long time Brat, and only you know how long I been wanting to ask you this. I want to spend the rest of my life with you right there by my side. I love you, Samantha Ann. Will you marry me?"
Not once did Jake stutter or stammer. He didn't even blink as he stared into her eyes with so much love and hope that Sam felt her soul rush out and mesh with his even more than it already had, tying them together in the same irrevocable way a marriage would. Her heart was hammering in her chest as Jake slowly let go of her hand so he could open up the fuzzy ring box he'd shown her two weeks ago and hold it out flat on his palm.
The ring nestled inside stole Sam's breath away and she knew immediately why Jake had said that it was the perfect ring for her. It was gold, twined from a solid band into the shape of two horse shoes wrapping around each other. Nestled in the tiny groove where they linked was a little diamond that sparkled in the firelight. It was beautiful and Sam's ring finger tingled to feel the metal against her skin. Dragging her eyes away from the ring, Sam knew that Jake couldn't have picked a better one had he gone to a jeweller and had a ring made for her.
Sam looked into the eyes of the man who been her best friend her whole life and felt like her heart would surely explode with how much love she felt for him. Slowly Sam reached out and cupped her hand against his cheek just the way Jake had done to her the night she'd said she'd go to the Winter dance with him all those years ago.
"Yes." She said breathily "I will marry you. I've never wanted anything more" Sam told him. Sam watched the way Jake started breathing again even as he beamed at her so brightly that Sam felt the warmth of it all the way down to her wet toes. Longing to pull him against her and kiss him until she didn't remember anything in the world but Jake's name, Sam bit her lip forcing herself to hold still as Jake pulled the engagement ring out of the ring box slipped it onto her ring finger there in front of everyone in the middle of a cattle drive. Sam blinked rapidly when the flash of a camera suddenly blinded her and she realised that Maxine had crept in so close to them so she could photograph this moment.
When Jake got to his feet he was still beaming and he eyed Sam happily. Unable to control herself for a moment longer Sam let out a squeal of happiness and threw herself into Jake's arms, kissing him soundly on the lips even as both of their hats fell off their hats at her exuberance. The feel of Jake's lips moulded to hers made Sam's heart melt as she kissed him with all of her love and happiness. Distantly she was aware of the camera flashing beyond her closed eyelids and of the people around them cheering and clapping. Sam started to laugh when she finally pulled away from Jake's lips and he let loose a cowboy yell of happiness.
"Well…. So much for it takin' ya years to convince her Jake" Dad said gruffly as he stepped forwards and offered his hand to Jake. Sam turned to see Dad looking a little resigned even though he smiled.
Jake shook his hand firmly and Sam watched one of those man-to-man looks pass between her father and her fiancé that had been passing between them since she'd come home from San Francisco.
"Congratulations Baby," Dad said to Sam. He must have put Cody in the car because Dad enveloped her in a hug, crushing her to him as he squeezed her tight.
"I know you're too young to have a daughter getting married Dad" Sam murmured as she hugged Dad back "But you know there's never been anyone else for me. Since I started following him around when I was still in pigtails I was doomed to wind up falling head over heels in love with Jake."
Dad started to chuckle as he pulled back but kept one arm wrapped around her shoulders. "Louise said the same thing you know? I can still see her in my mind in that blue dress of hers that you wear sometimes, clapping her hands happily and bouncing up and down in the ranch yard as you and Jake ran off to play some game together when you weren't even tall enough to reach my knees. 'Wyatt' she said 'Someday our little girl is going to fall in love with that boy. I'll bet they end up married and living happily ever after'" Dad smiled down at Sam, real happiness beginning to show in his eyes. "I didn't believe her back then. You're always gonna be my little girl Sam, no matter how old you get. Just promise me you're not gonna be makin' me a grandpa just yet?"
Sam laughed as Dad blushed, roundaboutly asking her if there was some ulterior motive for them suddenly deciding to get married now.
"Don't worry Dad. I'm way too young to even be thinking about kids and it would just be weird for Charlie to have a niece of nephew not much younger than him. Maybe five or ten years from now we'll think about kids." Sam smiled as she watched Dad's expression flicker with horror for just a second before he shook his head as though trying to clear away some mental image of Sam with a pregnant belly sticking out from beneath her tank top or five kids swinging off her.
"Samantha Forster" Gram's voice said sternly, making Sam and Dad both turn to look at Gram "Yong Lady I think you and I need to have a nice long talk when this drive is over." Sam felt her stomach drop as she looked at Gram's expression and she knew Gram had assumed the worst about Sam and Jake's stay in Reno a few days ago.
Before Gram could say anything else Maxine Ely swooped in and wrapped Sam into a hug.
"Oh Sam honey I can't believe it's finally happened. I feel like I've been waiting for forever to welcome you to the family and you aren't even married yet" Maxine gushed happily, hugging Sam repeatedly in her exuberance. "I mean, I'm happy that he didn't get down on one knee before he even went away to college but I feel like I've been expecting it since then. Oh congratulations honey, I'm so happy for the both of you."
Slowly everyone came forwards pulling Sam into hugs or clapping her on the back. Sam was surprised when Ross gave her and hug and congratulated her.
Slowly Sam made her way over to where Jen was. She was standing off to the side of camp and she sipped from a mug, though Sam could tell her stew was cold by now. She looked a little stunned by everything that had happened and Sam could tell that Jen was warring with herself. Part of her wanted to be happy for Sam and Jake, but another part wanted to believe all those things Sam had said to her about them both being too young to get married.
"Jen?" Sam asked softly as she approached her friend.
"Congratulations Sam" Jen said, but Sam could hear the forced quality of her cheeriness.
"Thanks…. I'm sorry you had to see that Jen." Sam apologised, feeling awkward about being engaged suddenly and so in love when Jen had turned Ryan down two weeks ago.
"What? Why are you sorry Sam? You should be happy. Don't let me ruin this for you. I really am happy for the both of you. I always knew you'd wind up getting married to Ely, you two were all but made for each other. I'm really happy for you." Jen said, sounding concerned to hear Sam apologise.
"Yeah, but I'm sorry we did it so soon after everything with you and Ryan." Sam said lamely, unable to think of a more delicate way to put it "We sort of agreed verbally that we'd get married when we were stuck in Reno in the storm the other night…. It felt awkward to keep it a secret but I didn't want to hurt your feelings so soon after everything….. I know you're probably thinking that all those things I said about being too young and what not seem silly now."
Jen polished her glasses before replying.
"Partner, you and Jake Ely have been in love your whole lives whether you realised it or not. You two were meant to be together. Things like age and maturity levels don't affect a love like yours. You both want the same things in life, and by some miracle want to achieve those things together with one another. Like I said earlier, Ryan and I weren't compatible. We wanted different things and I wasn't ready for a commitment like marriage when I still have at least six more years to go with my studies before I'll even be ready for any distractions like those that would come from a marriage. All those things you mentioned applied to the situation with me and Ryan, but not to you and Jake. You two have always had this intense chemistry together, and you've known each other so long that I've actually seen you two have entire conversations without saying a word to one another. Personally I think you're too young for kids, but I'm biased because I want us to someday have kids that grow up being best friends just like we are, just like you and Jake have always been. But I really am happy for you Sam."
Sam felt herself sigh in relief when Jen smiled genuinely.
"What's this partner? You've given up on the idea of us having kids who grow up and fall in love?" Sam asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"No…. I'm just reconsidering my options." Jen said evasively and Sam couldn't help wondering if Jen's reconsiderations had anything to do with the way she was eyeing Quinn Ely as he slowly swaggered towards them.
"Can't have cousins falling in love with each other" Sam murmured to herself "You know, he'd follow you anywhere Jen. Quinn's a great guy, he wouldn't spring a proposal on you. Heck, if you two gave things a shot he'd probably go to college with you." Sam said softly, trying to let her friend know somehow that it would be ok for Jen to develop feelings for Quinn.
"You really think so?" Jen asked, still eyeing Quinn. "He's funny and charming in a goofy kind of way. I never really noticed before ya know, because I was too busy mooning after Ryan…."
Sam smiled "All I'll say is that someday in the distant future it would be incredibly cool if instead of sharing children who loved each other, it would be pretty cool if we became sisters-in-law…." Jen blushed pink as Sam whispered "It's ok for you to fall for his charm and humour Jen. I know Quinn would follow you to the ends of the earth and back."
Sam fell silent as she watched Jen blush and flutter her hands nervously while Kit approached.
"I'm going to go get some more stew" Jen blurted as Quinn came up and she hurried off to do just that. Quinn quirked an eyebrow at Sam.
"What was that about?"
"Oh you know, girly discussion about me getting engaged when Jen refused Slocum's proposal two weeks ago….. Seems that she's coming to terms with it and realising it would've been a bad match." Sam looked at Quinn who was watching Jen across the camp. "I don't know what you've been doing Quinn, but if you keep it up you have a definite shot at winning her heart…. I may have mentioned that it would be ok for her to fall for you…. And that you'd probably follow her to the ends of the earth…. And that it would be incredibly cool if we someday became sisters-in-law."
"Meddlesome aren't you?" Quinn chuckled blushing a little bit but not looking like he minded all that much that Sam had intervened. Sam laughed when Quinn threw an arm around her shoulders. "I always knew we'd end up with a ranga in the family" he told her teasingly "So much for all those times you told me you were gettin' on with life huh Forster?"
"Smugness does not become you Quinn Ely." Sam told him even as she chuckled happily at the easy-going cowboy's words.
"You be good to Baby Bear, Forster" Kit's voice said from next to her and both Quinn and Sam turned to look at him in surprise for the stern, serious tone in his voice. Kit glanced sideways at her "You never stuck around that day all those years ago when me and Mum came home from town to find you and Jake cozied up on the couch, to hear what I was trying to tell ya…. But be good to him. Baby Bear's been runnin' himself ragged for you since long before he had any business stressing himself out over a girl. Be good to him and stop putting yourself in danger all the time. You nearly broke his heart when you were nine…. Just don't….. this'll hurt, but don't follow your mama's footsteps and get yourself killed for something that is less important than you…. Jake wouldn't survive something like that, Sam."