Chapter 38
Sam smiled at all the guys checking out her new car again. She was standing with Jen, Vanis and Debi.
"I never knew Quinn cared that much about cars," Debi was laughing.
"He's a guy, they all care about cars," Jen said.
"Even Jake is checking it out," Vanessa teased Sam.
"Well of course he is," Sam rolled her eyes as she laughed. "It's named after a horse."
The four girls all laughed harder.
"We need a girl's night out in that thing," Debi said.
"When we get back from roundup," Sam agreed, nodding.
"I'll be on my honeymoon," Vanis frowned.
Her frown got the other three laughing hysterically. The guys turned to see what they were laughing about.
"Look out Nate," Debi managed. "Vanessa's having second thoughts."
"Left for a ride in a car," Sam giggled.
"That's not what I said," Vanessa was laughing. Nate was smiling at his fiancée.
"That's what I heard," Jen disagreed.
"Me too," Sam said.
"Me too," Debi put in.
"You girls are going to get me into trouble," Vanis laughed.
"Us?" Jen pretended to be shocked.
"Not us," Sam shook her head.
"Maybe we need to have a bachelorette party and Sam gets to drive," Debi suggested.
"Oh yeah," Sam agreed.
"If the guys can have bachelor parties, then we can have a bachelorette party," Jen said.
"What are you girls cooking up?" Bryan came up to them.
"We're partying," Sam told him, putting her arm around him.
"I like to party," Bryan raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry Bryan," Debi shook her head. "Girls only."
"Bryan's in touch with his feminine side," Quinn teased. "Wouldn't that be enough?"
Debi swatted her fiancé. "Be nice to your twin."
"Why start now?" Bryan and Quinn said at the same time.
Everyone else laughed.
Sam felt Jake behind her and she turned to look at him over her shoulder.
"Trying to steal my girl?" Jake asked Bryan.
"Always," Bryan put both of his arms around Sam, who laughed. Jake's mouth twitched.
"Let's not forget I am a Lolita after all," Sam reminded them.
"Oh please," Jen rolled her eyes. "I am so thankful that man is locked up."
"What did you decide to call the new ranch, Jen?" Nate asked.
"Gold Chance," Jen answered. "We're getting the palomino breeding program up and running again."
"I like it," Sam mused, nodding.
"Dad's going horse shopping for some mares," Jen went on.
"Good luck with it Jen," Quinn told her, his arms around Debi who was standing in front of him.
"Thanks, Quinn," Jen smiled at him.
"You'll do great," Sam predicted. "People are always looking for good horses and if they're pretty, it is an added bonus."
"Kinda like your new horse, huh Sammy?" Bryan teased.
"He's handsome, not pretty," Sam told him. She turned to Jake. "Where did you find him?"
"Grandfather found him," Jake admitted.
"Wow, really?" Sam looked towards Mac where he was talking to Gram, Trudy Allen and Maxine.
"He said he saw him and thought immediately of you," Jake went on. "When he started training him, he realized he had been right."
"I wonder why he thought of me," Sam looked up at Jake.
"He said it was the kindness in Toby's eyes," Jake shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.
Sam knew he was uncomfortable talking about this in a crowd, but she wanted to know. She tilted her head at him, hoping to encourage him to continue.
Jake took a few steps away and Sam followed him. The two of them walked further away from the others until they were leaning against the pasture fence and watching the horses inside.
"Grandfather said he had seen the same look in your eyes," Jake glanced down at her as he spoke. "That's how he knew Toby would be perfect for you."
"You're perfect for me," Sam's voice was barely above a whisper.
"You're perfect for me," Jake answered in kind. Sam leaned against him for a moment.
"I love you," Sam told him.
"I adore you, Brat," Jake responded and Sam could see it in his eyes.
"How upset is Wyatt, do you think?" Jake changed the subject.
"Some," Sam said. "Mostly because he wasn't told, I think. He'll get over it, especially if Cody starts riding Ace." She shrugged.
"Will you be upset?" Jake wondered.
"Because of Ace?" Sam asked. Jake nodded. "He's been my horse for four years. You trained him for me. It will be difficult seeing Cody riding him now, but he's a good horse for him. Ace will look out for Cody."
"Toby will look out for you too," Jake said. "When I can't."
My gosh, was he sweet or what?
"I'm going to kiss you in a minute," Sam warned.
Jake's mouth twitched.
Since he didn't tell her not to, Sam leaned into him. Their lips met briefly, to break apart, to meet again, gently, softly. Jake's arm came around her momentarily and he kissed the top of her head.
"Sam?" Brynna's voice broke them apart. "Time for you to cut your cake, honey. It's going to melt in this heat."
Sam nodded. "Okay, I'm coming."
Brynna started back.
"Are you coming with me?" Sam asked.
Jake nodded.
Sam looped her arm through his as they started back towards the party.
Later, they went into Darton and made love to each other.
"I love you," Sam murmured as she nuzzled into his neck afterwards, licking the sweat there. Jake raised his shoulder as he shivered, tickled.
"I love you too," Jake sighed.
"What are we going to do on roundup?" Sam wondered a short time later.
"Round up cows?" Jake asked.
Sam lifted her head and gave him a dirty look. "I know we round up cows. I'm talking about us."
"We'll round up cows?" Jake chuckled.
"Oh forget it," Sam huffed, putting her head back down.
"We'll figure something out," Jake told her. "If not, then we'll head to town as soon as we can."
"We won't have to do this when we're married," Sam sighed.
"No, but that's still a ways away," Jake reminded her. "You just graduated high school."
"I thought we considered ourselves married?" Sam asked.
"We do, but nobody else does, including your father," Jake chuckled.
"That could be a problem," Sam smiled against his neck.
"Only if I want to live," Jake shuddered.
"Well I want you to live," Sam responded. "So I guess we better not announce to Dad that we consider ourselves married, huh?"
"No, I think not," Jake teased.
"Have I thanked you lately for my horse?" Sam asked.
"I think you thanked me very well," Jake chuckled.
"I'm serious," Sam swatted his chest.
"So am I," Jake told her.
Sam sighed and settled against him. He tightened his arms around her, very content to have her in his arms.
© 2009 - LB
Characters © - Terri Farley