Chapter 26: Makin' Plans
"River Bend Ranch, this is Samantha Forster" Sam answered the ringing phone while Gram and Dad both frowned at the interruption. They'd been home from the cattle drive for two weeks now, meaning Sam and Jake had officially been engaged for three weeks. Gram had had a very stern talk with Sam when they'd gotten home about how she hadn't meant for Sam to run out and put a ring on her finger after Gram's comment the other day when she was talking about Sam and Jake the morning Sam had come in wearing nothing but Jake's shirt. It had taken a lot of convincing to persuade Gram into believing that Sam and Jake hadn't gotten up to anything untoward during their overnight stay in Reno.
Luke Ely had also felt the need to have a stern chat with Sam when he'd gone to check on the pump to find out what sort of fittings he might need to fix their old one that kept breaking down and had found instead the brand new pump Sam had crept over and installed the night before they'd all gone on the cattle drive. Sam had left a little red bow stuck to the top of it and made sure to properly install it so it had taken more than a week after they'd been back for Luke to even think of the pump again. He hadn't been very impressed with Sam for doing it, but Sam had taken the old pump away so he couldn't give the new one back to Sam. She'd also told him that now that she was to be his daughter in law she had every right to give them the pump she'd won.
She'd even joked with him and told him it was her way of paying an old fashion dowry for Jake. Grudgingly Luke had been forced to accept the pump since Sam refused to let him have the old one back and had told him that if he uninstalled the new one and gave it back to her, she would just ride right back over and re-install it. Kit had then felt the need to butt in and tell Sam she had far too much sass for her own good.
"Samantha, this is Martina Malahov, I bought Frost from you a few weeks ago." Matina's voice came through the phone line.
"Oh Hi Mrs Malahov. How are you? Is everything ok? Are you having some kind of problem with Frost?" Sam asked worriedly.
"I'm well thanks Sam, and Frost is just an angel. I couldn't have dreamed up a better horse for my son Todd. Frost isn't the reason I'm calling. I have a little bit of a problem Sam and I think you might be able to help me out."
"Ok, what can I do for you?" Sam asked, intrigued by the hopefulness in Mrs Malahov's voice.
"Well, I remembered you telling me all about how you saved Frost from an Auction yard where she was likely to end up as dog-meat, and then I remembered you told me she was incredibly neglected and in need of some TLC and a decent feed….. Look Sam, I'm calling because I was wondering if you'd be able to help me out with a pair of horses. I recently rescued a pair of horses and Sam, they have problems. They used to belong to a neighbour of mine but he had a heart attack and died last week. The point is, there isn't a lot I can do with them. From what I understand he was intending to open up a stud farm much like mine, but I don't know where he came across this pair. They aren't wild or anything, just a little headstrong because he didn't know much about horses. He was the type to look over the fence and see the type of money a stud farm can rake in, and then go out and buy horses, stick them in a field and expect them to just go about their business with no handling or anything." Martina explained and Sam listened avidly.
"So what is it you need from me?"
"Well Sam, I don't really have the time or the trainers to spare gentling them as they need to be, and they aren't exactly the type of horses I would generally keep here at my stud. I was wondering if you'd be interested in taking them off my hands?"
Sam felt her heart give a squeeze. Just the other day Sam, Dad and Jake had been discussing getting a pair of horse for Sam and Jake to train up and sell. This could be the perfect opportunity.
"How much do you want for them?" Sam asked.
"Well, I'll be honest with you Sam, to me they are all but useless. I was thinking that if you'd be willing to drive up here and take a look at them it would be enough. But if you decide you want to take them, I'd be willing to let them go to you for the price of a nice little journal article about my stud ranch being published wherever you can pedal it."
"Oh wow…. Just give me a second Mrs Malahov and I'll discuss it with my family and see what they think."
Sam took a deep breath trying to still her excitement.
"Dad, it's Mrs Malahov on the phone, the lady who bought Frost. She wants to know if we'd be willing to take a pair of horses off her hands. They're in good condition, just a little unruly and in need of schooling since the man who owned them wanted to start a stud but didn't know the first thing about horses. She says she'd be willing to let them both go to us for the price of me writing an article about her ranch for the papers. She wants us to go and have a look at them and if we want them, we can take them."
Dad looked intrigued. "You sure there ain't nothin' wrong with 'em? Awful long drive if they're no good."
"Mrs Malahov? Dad is just wanting confirmation that there is nothing wrong with them. Have you had them vet checked?"
"Of course I have. They've had all their necessary shots and everything. I have to make sure they are one hundred percent healthy and quarantined before I let them anywhere near my breeding stock. They are healthy and strong, though a little shaggy looking after the winter as they are often difficult to approach. They've just been alone too long. There is one thing though Sam. They're a mare and stallion pair, and I have to tell you they are incredible animals…. We aren't certain, but the mare may be pregnant. It's too early for us to test whether or not she is, but the day before yesterday I had reports of seeing them coupling several times so it's likely she will be pregnant."
"Ok, I'll talk to Dad for a moment."
Well?" Dad asked, seeming very interested in this.
"She said they're one hundred percent fit and healthy. It's a mare and stallion breeding pair and Mrs Malahov thinks the mare may be pregnant since she apparently cycled two days ago and she had reports of the pair coupling. She said the only thing with them is that the mare may be pregnant and they're skittish from a lack of handling."
"Why is she sending them our way? Isn't she a trainer or breeder or something?"
"She breeds and sells race horses and some fancy pureblood breeds for high end customers. She said they're beautiful but just not what she deals in. She thought we could help since she doesn't want to risk her reputation by selling skittish horses to someone."
"Does that mean she wants them back after you've trained them?"
"Mrs Malahov? Dad seems interested. We're just wondering what the catch is. Do you want them back after I train them or something?"
"Not at all Sam. There isn't a catch. They just need a place where they can be together. I really think they'd be wonderful for breeding and the colouring of their foals would be divine. I just don't have the space for them and they aren't race horse type of material. I might be able to sell them to a high end client, but they're so skittish that I don't want to risk it. You did such a wonderful job with Frost and Honey that I thought maybe you could rescue these two. The only thing is I want to keep them as a pair. I had an offer for both individually but they are very attached, they scream like lost foals if we separate them."
"And you really don't want anything but a story for them?" Sam asked, baffled and trying to work out why Martina would just let her have two horses that sounded pretty amazing.
"Oh Sam, I've read a few of your articles. I think that a story would be more than fair considering the type of business such a story would generate."
"Ok just a second." Sam covered the mouthpiece to talk to Dad. "I really want to do this, Dad. Just the other day we were talking about getting a pair of horses for me and Jake to train. It's a long way, but the amount in fuel will be worth it if we can turn over the same kind of profit I got for Honey and Frost. It's a mare and stallion… a stallion might be unruly, but I think we could handle him. I know we'd have to hang onto them for a while if the mare is pregnant, but from what she's said they sound amazing. The only problem is that they're skittish. I've dealt with worse and so has Jake. I really want to do this Dad. I think Martina is a trustworthy person, and if we get there and decide against them it's not that much of a loss."
"Yeah, but you can't say no to a horse Sam. Look at those nags you talked Trudy Allen into saving. You won't be able to say no when you see them. If she really only wants a story for them then I don't see the harm but I don't have the time to spare to drive up there with you." Dad told her.
"Jake could come with me. He should, since he'll be training one of them. Can I tell her we'll be there in a few days?"
Dad looked at Gram and Brynna. They'd both been listening avidly.
"I trust you honey." Brynna said supportively "I think you should do it. A pair together will be wonderful for you and Jake to work on."
"It might be hard… she said they don't like to be separated and it's harder to gain their trust if they have each other but she said her people have handled them a little, sometimes they are just temperamental."
"Alright. But you and Jake will be responsible for them. Anything goes wrong and it's on you to fix it." Dad agreed grudgingly. Sam smiled, rolling her eyes as she turned away. Dad said that every time she saved a horse, as if she would think any different.
"Mrs Malahov, when are you available? It's a twenty three hour drive so we'll probably spread the drive over two days. When suits you to have us come and get them?"
"Oh Sam, that's wonderful news! I'm always here so you could come tomorrow. You'll stay the night here with us at my ranch, I'll give you the address of a place where you can stay the night with the horses on the drive home. Listen Sam, bring the trailer you brought Frost in, the open topped one. They haven't spent a lot of time inside a barn or anything and they are shocking to try and get inside a horse float." Mrs Malahov said happily.
"Ok, well I'll see you the day after tomorrow. I have your address on file from the bill of sale for Frost. Thanks for calling."
"Okay Sam, well drive safely and I look forward to seeing you. Bye now."
"Bye Mrs Malahov." Sam hung up the phone and felt like doing a little happy dance. She glanced at her family members "Can I call Jake now and tell him?"
"Dinner's going cold but you'd better so he can cancel anything he was supposed to be doing over the next four days." Gram said. She wasn't particularly pleased with Jake since he'd supposedly managed to sweet talk Sam into marrying him so young.
Sam rolled her eyes with her back turned while she dialled the Ely's number. Jake would think her silly to be calling when he'd only left here two hours ago. A gruff male voice answered on the third ring.
"Hello?" Sam recognised the voice of Luke Ely.
"Hey Luke, it's Sam." Sam said cheerily.
"Everything alright Sam?" he asked, instantly sounded concerned that Sam would be calling during dinner.
"Everything's fine. Could I talk to Jake for a few minutes? I'm sorry for disturbing your dinner."
"It's not trouble darlin'. Here's Jake."
"Sam?" Jake's voice held concern and curiosity that she would be calling at this time of night.
"Hey… So I just had a phone call from Martina Malahov, the woman who bought Frost a few weeks ago. She has a pair of horse she wants us to take off her hands for the price of a story. It's a twenty three hour drive to her ranch from here and I told her I'd head up tomorrow. You up for a road trip?" Sam asked nonchalantly, trying to keep any kind of tone out of her voice. If Gram or Dad or anyone else had a problem with the idea of Jake and Sam going away together for a couple of nights they hadn't said so yet but Sam could just imagine Gram being suspicious of Sam and Jake sharing a motel room.
"Sure. When are we leavin'?" Jake asked, sounding amused by her request.
"Tomorrow morning, obviously. There's a city in Montana I can see on the map here that's two thirds of the way there. I'll research a motel there and make a reservation since there is no way we'll get all the way to Martina's tomorrow. She's invited us to stay with her and her family at her ranch in Edmonton the following night. So you need to pack clothes for four days worth of driving and picking up two horses."
"What time do you want to leave in the morning?" Jakes asked and Sam could hear the excitement in his voice of a four day road trip with her.
"It's a long drive so I vote we be out of here by six. Does that work for you?"
"I'll see you then" Jake chucked.
"I'm picking the music" Sam cautioned him.
"You gonna serenade me the whole way?" Jake taunted her cheekily.
"Careful Ely, or I just might." Sam told him. Jake laughed at her.
"Night Brat."
"Night Jake" Sam murmured before hanging up the phone. She kind of wanted to tell him that she loved him and that she was excited about their trip together, but she didn't want to in front of her family since they would probably over analyse everything.
Sam picked up her plate and reheated her dinner since everyone else was finished. Gram was at the sink washing up and Brynna was drying the dishes. Dad sat at the table waiting for Cody to finish his dinner and Sam to finish her phone call.
"Where are you gonna stay?" Dad asked her when Sam sat back at the table.
"Great Fall in Montana is a little over half way there, so I'll call them after dinner and make a reservation. Mrs Malahov wants us to stay at her ranch the second night and she said she'd give me the address of somewhere we can stay with the horses the following night, probably a fairground or something."
"You're gonna need food and hay and wrapping to trailer them safely. The drive home will be longer in the summer heat, make sure you stop and water them every two hours or so, don't want 'em over-heatin'" Dad said.
Sam nodded "Apparently they aren't easy to trailer in an enclosed horse trailer, she asked me to bring the open topped trailer."
"Get it organised and ready to go tonight so you'll be ready to leave when Jake gets here in the morning. Probably need sleeping bags if you're stayin' at a fairground" Dad told her before getting to his feet, stretching and ruffling Cody's hair as he headed into the living room to watch the evening news. Cody followed Dad after giving his plate to Gram, having developed a new attachment since he'd broken his arm.
Sam sighed as she watched him go. She was not looking forward to the conversation that was about to come her way. As a Methodist, Gram was a firm believer in no sex before marriage and often had trouble accepting Sam and Jake doing anything so much as kissing. Sam didn't understand why Gram had been so grumpy about it lately though. After all, Sam had attended church with Gram often, she understood the beliefs and was keeping to them even though she had offered herself to Jake a few weeks ago. Sam was having trouble working out why Gram seemed so against her and Jake suddenly being engaged. When she and Jake had gotten together years ago, Gram had been pleased and tolerant of their relationship… but now she seemed almost to disapprove of Sam and Jake being engaged.
"Samantha, I want you to swear to me that you won't do anything foolish on this trip" Gram said with her back to Sam while she kept washing the dishes.
"Like what Gram? I promise we'll stop often to make sure we keep alert while driving. We won't drive after dark. You know I'll be safe with Jake" Sam said, knowing it wasn't what Gram meant but not wanting to address the fact that Gram was asking her not to have sex with Jake any time in the next four days.
"Sam, we know you and Jake are engaged, but you know we all think you're still a little bit too young…." Brynna began, sensing an argument was going to break out. "We just don't want you to rush into anything. Having kids is a big commitment and a lot of work, not to mention expensive."
Sam took a deep breath in and inhaled it very slowly to keep from snapping in response.
"I've said this a few times now, to all of you, but I want you all to understand that I'm not rushing into anything. I'm way too young to have kids. I know that better than anyone. Any time within the next five years is much too soon as far as I'm concerned to even be thinking about having kids. Besides, me and Jen made a pact that we'd have kids around the same time so they can grow up together. I don't know why you all seem to think I'm going to suddenly turn into some sex-crazed, barefoot girl, pregnant out of wed-lock or having a shotgun wedding, but I need you all to accept that Jake and I are together, not stupid. We're engaged to be married for crying out loud! But that doesn't mean I'm about to forget my morals or values or anything else and even risk the chance of falling pregnant right now. Frankly it's insulting that you have such little faith and trust in me."
Sam said slowly, trying to keep any anger out of her tone and finding it incredibly difficult.
"We just want the best for you honey." Brynna offered.
"Samantha, it's not a lack of trust in you or in Jake. It's just a wealth of knowledge. You're nineteen years old, Jake will be twenty-two in October. I'm sure you're both aware of the things other kids your age are up to, we had that talk when you and Jake got together four years ago. We just don't want you to rush into life too quickly and not have the chance to really live. You've always had a desire to travel…. If you get pregnant you wouldn't be able to do that." Gram said turning slowly to look at Sam and wiping her hands on her apron.
"I know that Gram. Of course I know that. I've been here the last four years with Cody and now with Charlie. I completely understand the type of commitment there is in having a baby and all the expenses and stresses that come along with it." Sam told her firmly "Please believe me when I tell you that nothing happened in Reno, and that nothing is going to happen anytime during the next four days that will in any way lead to pregnancy or anything else. Besides, there is no way I'm ever likely to willingly sign up for getting pregnant. That's like willingly refusing to ride for at least six months. I start going crazy when I'm not allowed to ride for two weeks. I know it seems to y'all that Jake and I have rushed into things…"
"We don't though honey, and that's the problem." Gram cut Sam off "I heard Jake when he said he'd been waiting to ask you to marry him for a long time. You might have fallen in love when you were fifteen, but a lifelong friendship has helped that along to be where you both are now. When a couple falls in love and marries, they usually take the time to know each other inside out before they consider adding a baby to the mix…. You and Jake know everything about each other already. You read each other with as much ease as picking up a book. We just don't want you to throw away your other dreams or plans for the romantic notion of having a baby."
Sam started to laugh just a little bit.
"There's nothing romantic about having a baby Gram. It's messy and often smelly and incredibly stressful. We're engaged and still know each other better than anyone else does despite the last few years apart, but I don't think a relationship between Jake and I could handle us having a baby just yet. Jake still has the nasty habit of thinking he can boss me around and thinking that he needs to shadow me to make sure I don't trip over something or do something a little dangerous even if it's for a good cause. Imagine if we had a baby…. He'd hover around expecting me to drop it on its head or something... No Jake and I need to do a lot of growing before that happens. I mean we don't even have anywhere to live… or any solid plans about a wedding or anything. Mostly we've just acknowledged the fact that we're in love with each other and want to spend the rest of our lives together."
"What do you mean nowhere to live?" Brynna asked, puzzled.
"Well… it's not as though we could both move in here or at Three Ponies. Both ranch houses are all but bursting with occupants."
"What about the bunkhouse here?" Brynna suggested.
"Then where would the HARP girls stay?" Sam shook her head.
"Sam's right. Neither house has a lot of room. I hadn't thought about where the two of you would live, together once you marry. After all it wouldn't be right for a husband and wife to live separately…. What about the Little House at Three Ponies?" Gram suggested coming over to sit with Sam at the table.
"Mac lives there. Besides, all my work is here. Most times all of Jake's work is here too. I've been thinking about it for a while and I just don't see a solution…. Unless we move into the barn."
"Well there is a loft in there. Mostly we use it for storage… But I don't think so. As a new couple you need to be able to live together with just each other, at least for a little while. We'll have to have a think about it. I take it neither of you wants to leave your respective family ranches either?" Gram said.
Sam shook her head. "Jake is a little more compromising than I am because he spends so much time here anyway. But if I were to live at Three Ponies I'd feel like a visitor all the time."
"We'll think of something." Gram patted Sam's hand. "I'm sorry I've been such a grump these past few weeks, honey. I was worried you and Jake were rushing things. It's good to sit and talk to you about these things without you thinking we disapprove or something….. it's just so strange to think of our little girl grown up and engaged to be married. And Jake too… I know Wyatt thought of him as the son he never had for years before Cody and Charlie came along. You better get on out and make sure everything is ready for trailering these horse homes, and then pack a bag before turning in for the night honey. You'll need a good night's sleep so you're rested for the drive tomorrow."
Gram gave Sam's hand a squeeze and Sam smiled at her grandmother and her stepmother, feeling better about having cleared the air between them all. Slowly Sam set about organising everything, starting with searching online for a motel they could stay at with a trailer and calling to make reservations for tomorrow night.
By the time Sam was showered and fell into bed in her night gown, she felt at war with herself. Exhaustion threatened her, but excitement and a little anxiousness about her upcoming road trip with Jake had her feeling jittery. Cody wandered into her room around eleven thirty and snuggled into bed next to her, clearly unable to sleep knowing Sam wouldn't be there for the next three nights to read to him and then sing him to sleep. His broken arm was wrapped in a bright green cast and he often grew irritated lately having the bulky thing on his arm. He didn't like not being allowed to get it wet if they went swimming and the heat of summer made his arm inside the cast sweat, which made him itchy. More than once Sam had caught him banging it against a fence post because he wanted it off so badly.
Sam smiled at the sleepy little boy when he cuddle close and fell asleep beside her. Sometime later Cougar crept over and curled himself up in the hollow behind Sam's knees and Sam fell asleep thinking she'd rather be out dipping her hot feet into the cool, chattering waters of the La Charla.
When her alarm went off, Sam woke up groggy. In her dreams the horses they were off to pick up were wild and uncontrollable, monstrously big with flames for manes and tails. Cougar yowled when Sam shifted position so she could get up and turn the alarm off before it woke her little brother. Even as she padded across the room in bare feet, Sam wondered how she had actually slept until her alarm went off. She hadn't done so since before she'd graduated high school.
"Sleepin' Beauty awakens" Dad's voice came from her doorway and Sam peered at him sleepily. He leant against the door frame watching her struggle to awaken. "You ok Kiddo? Ain't heard that alarm go off in years" Dad asked, looking amused and concerned at the same time.
"Hmm… I was shocked too. Maybe I haven't been sleeping as well as I thought. Or maybe I had too much sleep. Normally I'd have already been up for an hour…. I had strange dreams too" Sam told Dad, reaching her arms above her head to stretch. Dad quirked an eyebrow to ask what she'd dreamed about.
"I dreamed the horses where going to get were monsters with fire instead of a mane and tail, and so big that I was like an ant in comparison." Sam admitted, feeling silly about it but unable to shake the strange feeling she'd awoken too. Dad nodded but didn't say anything about her dreams.
"Probably didn't help havin' those two in bed with ya" He said, nodding towards Cougar and Cody who were both still curled up asleep. Sam smiled at them fondly.
"I don't mind so much. Besides, if I'm still tired when Jake gets here he can drive. He'll probably want to anyway since the first four hours are the same stretch of highway he's been driving for college." Sam said. Dad nodded.
"Come on downstairs and have some breakfast when you're dressed. S'posed to be a scorcher today" Dad added before he went downstairs, leaving Sam to get dressed.
Knowing she would be stuck in a car all day in the hot sun, Sam dug out a pair of her old cut of jeans and tugged them on. She found the red tank top she'd been wearing since she was thirteen and pulled it over her head before finding a jumper in her cupboard to wear until the morning heated up a little.
"Leave your chores this mornin' Sam" Dad said from the table. Sam raised her eyebrows. To be honest she didn't have many chores of a morning during the summer. Mostly she just had to make sure all the water troughs had enough water and had to feed the horses. Cody had taken over her old chores of taking kitchen scraps to the Rhode Island reds in their coop and collecting the eggs.
"You sure? Scorcher'll mean the horses need more water." Sam questioned, wondering why she was getting off easy this morning.
"You can feed 'em after breakfast and check their water if you want, or leave it. It'll give Cody somethin' to do if you leave it for him." Sam quirked her eyebrow at Dad's words "He's bein' punished. I caught him yesterday out in the barn with that kid sized saw of his trying to hack the cast off his arm to get at an itch inside it."
Sam started to laugh "How much longer does he need to wear it? He's been going crazy with it on. I caught him a few day ago banging it against a fence post trying to smash it off because he wanted to go swimming but he's too scared to get it wet again after last time when you punished him for swimming with it on and ruining the plaster."
"Promised him that he only has to wear it for two more weeks but if he's been bangin' it on stuff and it's not hurtin' him then maybe we better take him to the doctor and see if his arm's healed. It probably is since it wasn't a bad break and didn't go all the way through the bone. Kids bones tend to heal faster too 'cause they're always growin'" Dad said thoughtfully. "You got everythin' you need for this trip?"
Sam nodded. "There's hay in the trailer and the tank we cart water in on cattle drives in the tray of my truck, got wrapping tape for their legs and ropes to keep 'em in there. Bags packed with some stuff to do since twenty three hours in the car will be awful borin' without a book to read. Highlighted a route on the map so we know how far there is between towns. Filled a jerry can with fuel to make sure we got enough too. Sleepin' bags are packed. Gram baked us some cookies and snacks for the road. I think everything's ready. Thanks Gram," Sam added as Gram set a plate with some biscuits and toast down in front of her. She was halfway through them when she heard Jake's boots on the porch and she looked up to see him come through the door into the kitchen.
"Monrin'" he said to everyone, tipping his hat to Dad and Gram before taking it off along with his coat and hanging them up.
"Mornin' Jake" Dad said around a mouthful of toast.
"Jake honey, do you want some breakfast?" Gram asked him kindly and much more warmly than she had since Sam and Jake had gotten engaged.
"Yes Ma'am" he said, his eyes travelling over to land on Sam. Jake ducked his head to hide his smile when his eyes landed on his girl. Her long hair hung loose down her back today, and Jake was surprised to see how she was dressed. When they'd first gotten together all those years ago, Jake had leant Sam one of his jumpers after all of her clothes got drenched in a mini avalanche of snow melt. She'd gotten hypothermia at the time, and Jake had forgotten to ever get back his jumper, which Sam had lived in while she'd been sick. He was pleased and surprised to see her wearing the old thing this morning. As he sat down next to Sam, Jake gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"So where exactly are we headed?" he asked her, thanking Grace when she put a plate of food and a mug of coffee in front of him. Sam smiled at him warmly.
"Edmonton in Alberta, Canada." Sam told him. Jake felt his eyebrows rise in shock. She hadn't been kidding about the length of their drive or the amount of time they would be away. And that was provided nothing went wrong along the way. Sam chuckled at Jake's expression. "Better eat up Cowboy" Sam murmured to him "Soon as you're done we can hit the road."
Jake nodded even as he chewed his toast.
"SAMMY!" The sulky voice of Cody Forster cried from the stairs. Sam listened to the thudding of little feet on the stairs before her kid brother burst into the room in his race car pyjamas.
"What's the matter buddy?" Sam asked the little boy. His face was red and he had tear tracks down his cheeks. Sam smiled at the way his red hair stuck out at odd angles because of the way he'd slept on it. Cody Forster didn't respond as he scuttled around the table and climbed into Sam's lap. He snuggled his wet face into Sam's neck as he hugged her and Sam cuddled the little boy close.
"Did you have another nightmare Codester?" Sam asked him softly. Every so often since the storm that had resulted in his broken arm, Cody had been waking her up at night with his nightmares. They often included coyotes ripping at him and tearing him apart, though Sam had no idea where he'd gotten some of the images into his head. As far as she knew he'd never seen a coyote attack where the animals killed and tore apart their prey to devour it, but he still had nightmares because of the way he and Tia had fought against the three coyotes that had him, her and Cody's little Shetland pony, Poncho, bailed up against a fence, dancing in and out nipping at the children. Both Cody and Tia had been bitten, though neither of them badly. Poncho had needed his nose doctored from the nasty tear the coyotes had put in his velvety nose.
"Don't worry buddy, you're too big and tough for them coyotes. You saved everyone when you were so brave, fighting them off even with your sore arm" Sam comforted the little boy and he snuggled against her.
"I thought you left without saying goodbye" Cody whispered to her "They'll get me without you here to save us Sammy."
Sam glanced over at Dad who was frowning worriedly at his eldest son. Gram frowned too. Sam had mentioned a few weeks ago that he'd been having nightmares, but she hadn't kept them updated with every single nightmare. At first they had been worried that Cody or Tia might develop a fear of dogs, but neither of them had exhibited any fear of Blaze, Singer or Gal.
"No one and nothing is gonna get you buddy." Sam promised her brother softly "And you know I wouldn't leave without a cuddle from my favourite little man." Sam smoothed her hand through his messy auburn hair, trying to give it some semblance of respectability.
"Y'all better be hittin' the road" Dad spoke up and Sam looked up to find Jake, Dad and Gram watching her with Cody.
"You ready?" Sam asked Jake. He nodded at her, looking intrigued as he watched her with Cody. "Ok, Codester you be good, ya hear? Don't go banging your cast on anything or tryin' to cut it off while I'm away ok? I want to see how gross your arm's gonna smell since you ain't washed it in so long." Sam told the little boy, successfully distracting him from his nightmare.
"It's gonna be real yucky Sammy" Cody said gleefully.
"Sure is buddy. You be good and help Mom and Dad and Gram while I'm not here won't ya?" Sam asked him. Cody nodded vigorously "Do you promise? If I come back and you haven't kept your word I won't take ya swimming for a whole week."
"I promise" Cody said solemnly, his blue eyes wide and serious with his childish innocence at the idea of not getting to swim for a whole week with Sam. Sam cuddled the little boy before lifting him and standing him on his feet next to her chair. She got to her feet, watching Jake do the same.
"Stop when you need to; make sure you have enough gas to get to the next town before leavin' each one. If you run into any trouble we're only a phone call away" Dad said sternly, eyes scanning both Sam and Jake "Might even be best if you spread the trip home over three days, don't wanna travel with them ponies in the hot sun with that open top trailer… Let us know when you stop tonight that you got there safe."
Sam smiled. She often went into Reno overnight for her college classes, and she'd spent a summer with Aunt Sue in the city a while back, but she hadn't left the ranch on this kind of trip without Dad there with her and she could tell from the orders he delivered gruffly and the way he rubbed the back of his neck that he was worrying and not liking the idea of letting her go. She had to bite her lip on a smile, outside of Dad himself, she'd always been safest with Jake and Dad knew it. Sam supposed Dad was probably worrying about letting his nineteen year old daughter and her new fiancé go off for several nights alone together.
"I promise we'll call" Sam smiled at him, stepping around the table and letting Dad wrap her into a hug. She breathed in the clean scent of the soap he used and the scent of the desert that lingered in his line dried clothing. When Sam stepped back from him, Dad fished something out of his pocket and pressed it into her hands. Sam looked down and gulped to see the wad of cash he'd given her.
"Make sure y'all have everything ya need" Dad said, offering his hand to Jake which Jake shook. Neither of them spoke to each other but Sam could see Dad's eyes as he stared at Jake and she knew he was silently telling Jake to make sure nothing went wrong and to keep Sam safe.
"Drive safe honey" Gram said as she folded Sam into a hug "Be good, and if you get there and these horses are just not saveable, don't feel obligated to take them. We love you honey." Gram patted Sam's cheek and Sam smiled at the very subtle reminder not to do anything rash with Jake any time during the next the four days.
"We'll call you from the motel tonight" Sam promised them "Say goodbye to Brynna for me, and give Charlie a kiss." Dad nodded at her and Sam let her eyes slide over to meet Jake's. He fixed her that tom-cat smile that made her heart do a backflip and Sam headed for the door, grabbing her hat and pulling on her boots before stepping out onto the porch. The cold of the night still lingered in the ranch yard, but Sam knew it was going to be a scorcher of a day and she couldn't help thinking that it would be nice to be in the shade in the cab of her truck all day rather than beneath the hot summer sun today.
"I'm drivin'" Jake told her as he went around to the driver side door and climbed into Sam's truck. Sam rolled her eyes at him. She had expected he would call first stint of driving- so Sam went around and climbed into the passenger side without an argument. Jake started the truck and Sam looked across to see Dad, Gram, Cody and Blaze standing on the porch. She could see Brynna waving sleepily from her bedroom window and Sam rolled down her window to wave at her family. Ace and Tempest both whinnied at the sight of Sam leaving without feeding them or lavishing them in attention like she usually did and she smooched kisses at her ponies as the rolled out of the ranch yard and across River Bend Bridge.
"Tell me 'bout these horses" Jake said as he pulled onto the highway and headed for Alkali so they could get gas.
"I don't know much about them. It's a mare and stallion breeding pair. Martina thinks the mare is probably pregnant since she cycled a few days ago and they haven't separated them. Martina rescued them after the neighbour who owned them had a heart attack last week. They're skittish and unruly and she doesn't have the time to train them. They aren't race horse material apparently. She didn't say much else, just that she had offers for both of them individually but when they tried splitting them up they screamed like lost foals. She didn't want to sell them individually or risk her reputation by selling poorly trained horses. I talked Dad into it because we'd been talking about getting a pair of horses to train anyway and these ones are only costing the cost of gas, accommodation and a story about Martina's ranch. I drafted one last night based on the information I found online, but I'll refine it once I've seen the place and interviewed a few of her employees and Martina herself for some nice quotes to flesh the piece out. I bought my camera so I could get some good shots of the place to go with the story too."
"I take it you want the mare then?" Jake asked, looking slightly amused by Sam's rambling.
"Not necessarily. It might be kind of fun to train the stallion. I have a way with them ya know" Sam smirked at him, thinking of her connection with the Phantom even as she rubbed her fingers against the silky strands of white hair braided around her wrist. Jake snorted.
"As if me or Wyatt would let you anywhere a stallion to train? We might be unable to keep you away from that stud, but you have a connection with him. He's more likely to protect you than attack you. Other stallions are another matter" Jake told her. Sam crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't look at me like that Brat. I ain't criticizin' your horse skills, and if you want to train a stallion so bad then maybe when we get there if he looks like he's not likely to kill you, and you want to, you can train him."
Jake rubbed the back of his neck when Sam started to jiggle her foot in irritation. It was an old tell-tale sign that he'd irritated her and Jake shut up before he could say anything else to antagonize her. After a long time of glaring at him, Sam spoke.
"You need to get over this irrational urge to protect me at all costs Jake. I did just fine lookin' out for myself without you here to hold my hand."
Jake glanced at her from beneath the brim of his hat as the sun began to peek over the horizon. When he didn't respond Sam narrowed her eyes further. She could tell from the way he kept glancing at her slyly that he hadn't meant to make it sound like she couldn't handle training a stallion, but as she had always done, Sam found herself searching for any double meaning in Jake's words and taking them as a sort of dare. Jake stayed silent to keep from putting his foot in it any further and still hadn't spoken as they payed for the tank of gas and climbed back into the truck. Jake pulled back onto the highway headed towards Elko where he had gone to college as it was on the way. Sam turned up the radio, and after a while she forgot her irritation with him as the sun rose higher in the sky and the country songs blaring out of the radio carried her mind to other things.
They were almost at Elko when Jake finally spoke again, and he interrupted Sam singing along to a Band Perry song, turning the volume down to speak.
"How far we need to get tonight?" he asked her.
"I made a reservation at a truck stop in Great Falls, Montana." Sam told him, turning to look at him. She had kicked her boots off a while ago and had her feet stuck out the window as she lounged in her seat watching the miles roll by. "Why?" Sam asked.
It was a little past ten in the morning and they still had a further nine hours of driving ahead of them before they could stop for the night.
"Was gonna show you where I was livin' while I was at college" Jake told her without taking his eyes off the road "Someone there you need to meet" he added. Sam raised her eyebrows.
"Who?" she asked, feeling butterflies flutter with a nervous kind of dread. A part of her was fearful that Jake would tell her about a girl he'd met or befriended while he'd been away at college. Jake glanced at her for a minute, clearly hearing something in her voice that made him think that she was worried.
"My roommate, Brandon" Jake answered and Sam felt herself sigh in relief to hear a boy's name "We wound up livin' together since we both had dogs and needed somewhere we could have 'em with us."
"Wouldn't there be a lot of places that accept dogs?" Sam asked, curious as to why that had thrown them together.
"Yeah, but a whole bunch of them had a problem with mixed breeds like Singer. Brandon's got a wolfdog, named Leloo" Jake explained, Sam nodded her understanding. She supposed some places would be reluctant to allow mixed breeds because both wolfdogs and coydogs were unpredictable because they had warring natures.
"You'll like Brandon" Jake told her, grinning at her. Sam was dying to question Jake about his friend and wondering why Jake wanted her to meet this Brandon. Jake must have sensed her curiosity because he continued "Me and Brandon had a lot in common. He's from Nebraska, but he was as miserable as me when he turned up. He left his girl behind to come to college too and more than once we had to talk each other out of drivin' home and beggin' youse take us back." Jake laughed at the memory and Sam's heart soared to hear it. "Him and Morgan got things sorted in the winter. She finally forgave him for leavin' her. She's living there with him now."
Sam smiled to know everything had worked out for Jake's friend and for Jake too, but she wondered why Jake wanted her to meet them. Jake must have caught sight of her puzzled expression because he grinned at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling Sam close to his side so he could press a kiss to the top of her head.
"Figured you want to meet 'em before they turn up at the wedding" Jake said. Sam ducked her head a little when she caught sight of Jake's smug smile, grinning at how pleased he sounded to say the words out loud that there would be a wedding between him and Sam. "I reckon you'll like Morgan, and Brandon too" Jake added as Sam reached up and entwined the fingers of her left hand with Jake's where it rested on her shoulder.
"Careful Cowboy" Sam teased "Or people might start thinkin' boys get excited and happy about the idea of getting married right out of college."
Jake grinned down at her as Sam tilted her head back to look up into his face. Knowing it was dangerous but trusting that Jake could keep the car pointed in a straight line to follow the highway, Sam reached up and pressed her lips to his. She sighed at the feel of his lips responding to hers. She might tease him for how eager he seemed to tie the knot with her, but Sam was just as excited as he was at the prospect of tying her life to his.
She'd had trouble falling asleep last night, thinking about what it might be like to actually live with Jake. The night they had spent together in Reno had gone well, and the easy, comfortable relationship between them stemmed from years and years of friendship. Sam was only more comfortable with her horses than with Jake. Surely living together wouldn't be difficult. They both worked hard and were accustomed to doing anything that needed to be done. The big problem for them would actually be deciding where they would live since there really wasn't any room in either of their houses. Sam also kind of agreed with Gram that it would be good for them to not be living on top of either of their families for a little while. Not that she was worried she and Jake needed anyone else, just that it would be good for them to really have to focus on being a couple, a married couple, rather than feeling like they had their whole lives being best friends and next door neighbours.
"What's got you frownin' Brat?" Jake asked her softly. He still had his arm around her and Sam had pulled her feet back inside the car so she could shuffle over and snuggle her face against his chest.
"Those big issue things we haven't really discussed yet…. You know, about being engaged. I was talking to Gram and Brynna last night since they seemed utterly convinced that along with a pregnant mare, you'd be bringing home a pregnant me from this trip" Sam blushed a little. She'd done a lot of thinking about the sex thing between her and Jake and she had every intention of marrying him before they did that, but she still felt nervous every time she thought about it. Of course she didn't feel all that nervous about Jake seeing her naked after their stay in Reno, but she did still get nervous butterflies about it.
"Anyway, after we had the 'please don't wind up having a shotgun wedding' talk, we started talking about other stuff. Like where we would live. We all drew a bit of a blank. After all, it's not like either of us want to move away from our ranches, but there just isn't room anywhere at your place or at mine. Brynna suggested we move into the bunkhouse, but then the HARP girls wouldn't have anywhere to stay. I suggested the barn at River Bend or at Three Ponies, since both have a loft, but Gram thinks that we ought to move away a little so that we transition between having lived next door to each other and seeing each other all the time, and actually dealing with living with just each other." Sam babbled, she knew she was nervous from the way she kept on babbling and prattling and she knew that Jake knew it too.
"We'll work it out" Jake assured her warmly and Sam felt a yearning to completely believe him just so she could stop stressing about it. "You thought about when you want to do this… or any of the details?" Jake asked her curiously. Sam bit her lip, wondering if it would make her seem heartless if she were to admit that she'd been trying not to think about any. Jake must have read that from her expression though, because he chuckled quietly.
"I've been trying not to" Sam blurted out "I just…. I feel weird because I don't really know anything about it all, and bringing it up with Gram or Brynna was like booking a one-way ticket to lecture town. Until last night they'd all actually been terrified that you and me would rush into having a kid or something" Sam could feel herself blushing, and she was grateful that she was already cuddled up against Jake's chest so that she could hide her heated face.
When Jake stayed silent Sam just had to look up to see his expression, wondering what kind of thoughts he might have about them having kids together. She didn't like to admit that she had day dreamed about what any kids she and Jake might have would look like, but she wondered if Jake ever thought those kinds of things. His expression was mild and Sam wondered if he'd schooled his features to that particular arrangement to keep her from guessing his thoughts. Slowly Jake took his eyes away from the straight road to stare at Sam and though his face was mild, his eyes were wild with hunger and a fierce sort of longing. He stared so intensely that Sam felt herself blush all over again.
Could Jake really want kids with her right now? Or did he just imagine what it would be like to have a little person running around who was half him and half her? In her mind Sam could picture kids they might have. A little girl with Sam's hair and Jake's eyes… or maybe a little boy just the same as the boy Jake had once been…. All Sam knew for sure was that any kids she and Jake might someday have, they would surely love horses just as fiercely as she and Jake did.
"Anyway…." Sam said finally, breaking away from those wild eyes she loved so much while her cheeks heated up so much that she felt sure the sun would feel cool in comparison "I um….. haven't really thought about any of it…. I suppose some things are easy to decide… others are less clear…. I suppose I'll need to ask Jen and Ally and Callie to be my bridesmaids…." Sam began to muse about all the things she knew of weddings. At Dad and Brynna's, Dad had only Dallas as his Best man, and Sam had been Brynna's bridesmaid.
Sam looked out at the desert flying by them as they rolled towards Elko, day dreaming about the fancy wedding magazines Aunt Sue used to buy even though she rarely dated while Sam had lived with her. Traditionally, people married in churches and Sam knew that Gram would be upset if Sam and Jake had the ceremony anywhere but a church but for some reason Sam didn't like the idea. In her mind she pictured her walking towards Jake as he wore a suit, Dad's arm looped through hers while Jen and Ally and all her favourite horses were present. She imagined flowers and the sweet smell of sage brush and horse filling the air. Of course in her mind Sam imagined herself getting married to Jake up in the Phantom's hidden valley, which was utterly out of the question because that would mean revealing to everyone where the Phantom's hideaway was.
"Jake…." Sam began hesitantly "How would you feel about not having the ceremony in a church?"
Jake looked surprised for a minute "I don't really mind. I'm not all that religious….. Thought you'd want to have it in a church. I know you sometimes go with your Gram."
"So did I…. I mean, I used to go with Gram a lot, but I haven't been in a little while. She'll be upset if we don't get married in a church, but…. Am I being incredibly foolish for wanting Ace and Tempest to be at the ceremony?"
Jake snorted in amusement but Sam could tell from his expression that he wasn't at all surprised. He didn't answer her but Sam started to smile at the way Jake threw a little grin at her as though he would expect nothing less.
"What about you?" Sam asked him "Have you thought about it at all?"
This time Jake rubbed the back of his neck and Sam smirked to see the faint blush beneath his mahogany skin. He refused to look at her, suddenly finding the straight road incredibly interesting.
"You'll have to get a list to me of the people you'd like to invite" Sam said "most will probably overlap, but there's probably a few people like Brandon and Morgan that you want to invite along."
Jake nodded, still not meeting her eyes and Sam smiled to know that he'd clearly been thinking about their coming wedding a lot if he was so intent to keep her from knowing it. They were on their way into Elko and Sam had begun to day dream again when she turned to look at Jake.
"How would you feel about setting the date sometime at the end of Fall?" she blurted out, blushing red.