Chapter 26
"Samantha," Sam turned to see Mac coming towards her as she got her cameras out of the backseat.
"Hi Mac," Sam smiled towards Jake's grandfather.
"Welcome Granddaughter," Mac gave both of her cheeks a kiss as he hugged her.
"Thank you," Sam blushed. Jake saw it and smiled softly at her.
"Your brothers are already here," Mac told Jake, who nodded.
"I'll go find them and start taking pictures," Sam was eager to escape. She loved Mac, but sometimes he overwhelmed her.
"You frightened her," Jake told Mac as Sam left them.
"According to our tradition, she is your wife and therefore my granddaughter," Mac shrugged.
"She's still white," Jake pointed out.
"She is Shoshone now," Mac disagreed. "If you paid more attention to our heritage and traditions, you would know that."
Jake sighed, not wanting to argue with his grandfather. Sometimes Jake thought that Mac forgot that he was only half Shoshone
"You should be participating like your brothers," Mac went on.
"I don't dance, and I don't drum," Jake reminded him.
"You could learn," Mac countered.
Jake shuddered at the thought. Mac saw it and while he was disappointed, he understood. Jake just wasn't comfortable in crowds. They both knew he was here only because Mac had asked him to bring Sam.
They heard the drumming start and they both moved towards it. Sam was crouched in front Bryan, snapping his picture as he drummed and chanted the song. Bryan concentrated on what he was doing.
Sam moved over to take pictures of Quinn who knew she was there and was smiling as he too drummed and chanted. She moved around the drummers, taking all their pictures.
She felt Jake's gaze on her and smiled up at him. It hit him in the chest, the love he felt for her. Just a glance or smile was all it took.
Mac saw the exchange and smiled to himself. Sam was good medicine for Jake. He frowned knowing that their time wouldn't be easy or without problems, but he had faith that it would all work out in the end. He glanced at Jake, hoping he was strong enough for what was coming.
Sam went to take pictures of the dancers. She wasn't sure which one was Nate at first. The dancers were in traditional costumes with their faces painted. Finally, by watching each dancer, she was able to pick out the easy grace of Nate and focused on him. She was amazed at his dancing and to her he was by far the best one out there.
She brought her camera away from her eye to just watch him.
"Isn't he amazing?" Vanessa's voice startled her.
"You have to be so proud of him," Sam told her.
"I am," Vanis smiled. "Not only is he the best dancer, he's the most handsome too."
The two women laughed. Spoken like a wife.
"Yes, he is," Sam agreed. "Of course, we might be biased."
"Us?" Vanis pretended to be shocked.
"Nah, not us," Sam shook her head.
The two women laughed knowing they were very biased.
Sam felt Jake behind her and turned to look at him over her shoulder. The two exchanged a soft smile that didn't go unnoticed by Mac.
Sam started taking pictures again, moving up a bit in the crowd. When one card was filled, she quickly replaced it and started anew. She was sure she was getting great pictures of Nate and the other dancers.
When the song ended, she let go of her camera, letting to drop around her neck, to clap with the rest of the audience. When Nate started towards his wife, Sam picked up her camera again and took head on shots of him. He smiled at Sam briefly before putting his arm around Vanis' shoulder and giving her a kiss, which Sam also captured. She had to laugh when some of his paint came off on Vanessa's face, which she also managed to shoot.
Nate saw the paint and wiped it from his wife's face. Sam giggled.
"You better not show those to anyone, Sam," Vanessa threatened which made Nate, Jake and Mac laugh.
"Who me?" Sam grinned at her.
"You are Shoshone now," Mac reminded Nate's new wife. "It's okay for you to wear paint."
"Yeah, see?" Sam teased. Vanis stuck out her tongue at Sam who laughed and returned the favor.
"Come here, Sammy," Nate gestured.
"Why?" Sam was suspicious.
Nate laughed. "You need your hair braided."
Sam frowned, wondering why this sounded so familiar.
"Nate and Adam used to braid your hair when you used to camp with us," Jake reminded her softly, knowing she didn't always remember everything since her accident.
Sam nodded, sliding her eyes to his in thanks. Sam pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and turned her back to Nate. She felt his fingers plaiting her hair, then he stuck out his hand for her ponytail holder which she handed to him.
"There, now you fit in better," Nate joked.
"Yeah right," Sam laughed. "Everyone's going to think I'm Shoshone with my pale white skin and reddish hair."
"You are Shoshone inside," Mac told her. "Where it counts."
Sam smiled at Jake's grandfather.