One day a wagon was seen rolling down the road and turning into the Villa. Not many visitors happened by so it was the cause of much interest. The wagon stopped at the back kitchen door and the travelers called out to Leda.
"Ah" said Leda "the tinkers are here. Sam gather up the pots and pans that need fixing and come on out."
There were two men, one rather wizened, Owen, the other in his early thirties, Aran and a lovely woman, Cara who was perhaps four or so years older than Sam. They set up a make shift forge and set to work. By the time the evening rolled around and the field workers had returned for their supper, the tinkers had attracted a crowd of the curious.
The tinkers were given leave to camp in one of the fallow fields and would mend all the farming implements the next day. Jack was given the task of getting them settled and spent a good deal of the evening and into the night talking with them, especially to the striking woman with long auburn hair.
When Sam had finished cleaning up in the kitchen after the evening meal she waited for Jack to walk back together to their tiny cottage, as was their habit. But she was tired and after waiting for more than half an hour walked back alone. And there down the road was Jack walking with the stranger, talking in hushed tones and laughing. She couldn't breathe for a moment. Some things we take for granted and they dissolve before our eyes and Sam saw something she wished she never had. They stood too close, sounded too happy. She pushed the thoughts away but they refused to leave her. She slammed the door and immediately was sorry she did. She wished she had thrown a rock at the back of his fat head. Oh crap, she had to get herself under control before he returned, if he did return for the night. Her throat felt like it was closing. No, she wasn't going to cry this was just stupid.
She sat up a while waiting for him but on second thought went to bed. She lie awake thinking of missed opportunities, of feelings stifled so long perhaps they were impossible to be revived.
Hours later the door opened and Jack strolled in.
As quietly as he could Jack slide into his bed on the floor and fell asleep. Sam stared at the wall feeling a sadness well up from deep inside.
The next day Cletus left Jack in charge of gathering up the farm implements that needed repair and what ever else he could think of and bring it to the tinkers. Since they had set up their forge in the kitchen yard Sam had front row seating to Jack fawning over the woman, the lovely Cara.
"If you keep banging around those pots" Leda said "they will have to stay another day. Oh yes, and I like the frown, it suits you well."
Sam continued to glower but treated the pots more gently. The thought of that woman remaining one minute longer than necessary made her blood boil. She was angry at herself for being jealous and angrier that it showed. Again Jack ate dinner with the tinkers and remained with them into the evening. They had planned to be away at sunrise the following day to ply their trade at another settlement or farm.
When he returned to the cottage Sam was just about to turn in. She was brushing her blond hair that hung in soft waves to her shoulders.
"Hey, Sam , I was just talking to Cara…"
"I know." There was an icy edge to her voice.
"Look I'd like to…"
"It's all right…"
She had to stop speaking to gain control. She turned her back to him. She didn't want
him to see how much it hurt.
"You can stay with her… if you want." She stifled a sob.
"What, what are you talking about?" In two strides he was behind her touching her arm.
She refused to turn around not wanting him to see the tears. She shook his hand off.
"Her, she's beautiful and so many things I'm not. Go, spend the night if you want."
"You don't care?"
She couldn't answer. The words were caught in her throat.
"You know, if you wanted to sleep with Owen I'd care."
"He must be ninety!"
He turned her around. With a smile quirking at his lips he said "I was gathering intell. They have been almost everywhere on this continent. There is no Stargate here, Sam, I'm sorry."
This disappointment on top of the emotional turmoil had her in a state, Sam didn't know whether to swear or cry, hug him or hit him so she tried a little of everything and wound up in his arms.
"It's okay. We'll just have to go to plan B."
'Ah plan B' O'Neill though 'what the hell would B be?' As he thought about it, Plan B was simple 'Get the two of them in the vicinity of a ship, steal the ship, and fly home . Simple – right? Right! Oh crap.'