CH 42
Not knowing to them at Tracey and Phillip ranch all hell was going to break lose that day.
That morning Mark was up early with his uncle they went horseback riding early that morning just before sunrise, they stop up on a hillside looking down on the house.
"Mark how is Sam" he turned to his uncle
"What do you mean?"
"Sam call last week, she told Tracey and me every thing, well not everything, sounds like she holding something back"
"What has she told you"
"That Jacob is an ass hole, not her words, so told useverything right up till she went to uni"
"So you know what going on in the family and why she not here"
"She told us she was staying at a friend's house over the weekends I suppose she spending Christmas with her friend?"
"Yes she is since she wasn't invited here"
"What can you tell me about this friend of hers"
Mark looked at his uncle and took a deep breath he knew that his uncle would find out sooner or later.
"Her friend's name is Captain Jack O'Neill he is in the air force station at Colorado Springs, he is sixteen years older than Sam" Mark waited for his uncle to blow but he just look at him
"He and Sam have known one another for almost seven year, how they know each other, you will have to ask them. I've meet Jack number of times, he is a good man; he cares a lot about Sam. He would never hurt her like what mum and dad has… the only time I've seen him hurt her is when they were having a Cushion fight in the living room or he picks her up and throw her in the swimming pool. Like you use to do to her years ago when she turn the hose on you when you walk around the corner of the house when she was five years old" Phillip smile at the memory of that day
"She was like a cheeky tom boy back there"
"Yes she was now she is like a lethal weapon"
"Sounds like it alright she told us that she learns how to fire a weapon, dismantle it, flying jets at her age?"
"It's true, I've seen her, she is going to make one hell of an officer in the next few years in fact with all this training she getting now by the time she joins the government giving her a rank of first lieutenant"
"You're joking?" he said in shock
"No sir, she even ask the chief of staff if she could join the air force training program which is through the university, she hasn't heard back yet"
"What if they let her?"
"From what I found out she will be about to get apply for the air force scholarships and awards, although it will depend on how well she does and plus she would have to travel to the academy for one of the subjects even though she is studying it now"
"Which one"
"Astrophysicist"
"Do you think she could handle all of them and how is she going to get to the academy from where she is?"
"Sam wouldn't have ask other wise"
"True"
"She would asked one of the students for the lift there and back"
"Ok sound like she got everythingplanned out?"
"She has alright and from what I've worked out so won't have much of a social life for the next three years if she is excepted"
"Sounds like it and what does this captain think about her plans?"
"Jack… he supported her all the way and he is proud of her for what she had done so far this year. He rewards her every time which makes them both happy"
"How does he rewards her?"
"He takes her out on Friday night to dinner then to a movie, on Saturday morning they got to the mall where I meet up with them. We shop, well Sam dose. Jack gives her fifty dollars each week so she could spend it on whatever she wanted"
"What does she buy?"
"Cassette tapes, clothes, fabric materials, toilettes, she spends about thirty dollars and keep the other twenty for when there an end of season sale is on"
"Smart girl" Mark smile
"Yes she is… Jack even buys her lunch when we are in the mall; I've seen them share each other lunches, ice creams, and drinks. I've never seen her so happy as I have in the last few months since we started patching things up" he nodded
"I would like to meet this Jack O'Neill"
"Well when you and Auntie Tracey get a chance to come to Colorado Springs and then you can meet Jack and I know that Sam would love to see you both again"
"Same here, so when is the best time?"
"Well how about in March or April when spring brake is on, I know that Sam would be staying at Jack place for the two weeks"
"Good idea"
"I saw Sam day before coming here, she asked me to give you and auntie a Christmas present"
"Well when we return and everyone else is up we will be looking forward to opening it up"
"Sam gave me instructions to give it to both in private and to open it, she doesn't want mum and dad to know about it"
"Ah, do you know what it is?"
"No"
"Ok we might as well head back, Tracey will be up in an hour"
"Sure" they started heading back while talking some more.
When they return back to the stables, they took care of the horses before heading back to the house where they shower and gotten dress before walking back down stairs and walking into the kitchen where Tracey was getting breakfast sorted out.
They talk for a minute then they all went up to Tracey and Phillip bedroom. On the way Mark went to his room to get the present then went into their bedroom where they were waiting for him. When he walked in, he close the door before walking over to the bed where they were waiting for him.
He passed them the big present and stood back and watch Tracey read what was on the card.
"To Uncle Phillip and Auntie Tracey, sorry I'm not with you guys this Christmas, I hope you will understand, merry Christmas, love Sammie"
Then they took the paper off and open the box they moved apart so they could put the box on the bed then Tracey pulled out one item and unwrap it till she saw it was. It was a ten by fifteen inch photo frame with a photo of Sam in it and a small note attached to it she showed Phillip the photo and smile
"Have you seen this Mark?"
"No, what is it?"
"It a photo of Sam, note said it was from the air force ball"
"May I" Phillip pass the photo to Mark
"Wow, she look so grown up"
"Yes she does alright"
Then he passes it back to them then Phillip pulled out a leather photo album that was fifteen by twenty by four inch. Tracey moved the box out of the way and sat close to her husband on the front was Sam name engraved into it. He opens the first page to see the same photo that was frame and notes attached to it he pulled it out and read it.
"Here are some photos of me that has been taken in the past six years including my high school graduation"
He passed the notes to his wife then he turns a page over to different photos of Sam with little notes attached to them. They smile when there was one of her in her cap and gown; she was smiling for the camera. There were others there.
They turn few pages over and were shocked to see Sam holding a metal of some kind then they read the note 'air force medal for exceptional civilian service'
Then Phillip turn a page over and saw two different photos, one they read 'chief of staff who presented me with the metal'
"Wow what ever Sam did, must have been worth the chief of staff to fly to Colorado to give Sam her metal" Tracey said
"It was auntie"
Then they look at the next photo, they saw Sam got her arm wrap around air force officer waist and he got his around her shoulders, they both were smiling for the camera, then they saw the note 'Jack O'Neill'
"So that what he looks like," Phillip said, Mark steps ford and look
"Yes that him"
"Well know we now what he looks like"
"True"
Then they turn the pages over to see Sam in her different martial arts uniform then there was one of her with her trophies that she won. There was one of her sitting on Jack lap with their arms wrapped around each other; the note said 'house warning and surprise championship celebration'
There were other photos of Sam either by herself or with Jack. There was one in her flight suit and in her BDU clothing that was made for her. In each of the photos they could see how happy Sam is. On the last photo the note said
'I'll send some Christmas, birthday and New Year photos next year. Now you know how much I've changed'
"Sam sure looks happy"
"Yes she is"
"This must've cost a lot of money to do up"
"I think she been saving it, so she could get it done up for you guys" Phillip close the album
"I still can't believe she almost thirteen years old"
"Same here" Mark said
"Well I better go and get breakfast sorted out, I hope that wherever she is, she is happy"
"I think she is auntie"
"I hope so" she stood up and walked out of the room leaving the two guys there.
"Mark can you do me a favour"
"Ah, sure"
"Let us know how Sam is doing"
"Sure, although I think she would tell you herself"
"True" he stood up and walked to the desk drawers and put it with the other photo albums then he turned around
"Come one lets go and give Tracey a hand with breakfast after all she if cooking for thirty one" Mark smile
"True, if Sam was here she would be in the kitchen helping"
"Yeah, perhaps next year"
"I hope so to and Jack"
"Yeah, now that would be interesting… then again with your father around, oh boy"
"True"
They walk out of the bedroom and went downstairs to help with the cooking. When the rest of the family got up they all had breakfast at odd times. When the last of the family ate their breakfast they all went septate directions leaving Tracey with the cleaning up.
After she did the dishes, she started getting lunch on. Phillip showed up and helps her till she almost booted him out of the kitchen when he was trying to dip his finger into the melted chocolate few times.
When lunch was ready and was on the table. Then Phillip said grace, and then everyone started helping themselves. Everyone was enjoying themselves, Tracey, Phillip and Mark were all thinking about Sam while they ate.
Hour later every one was full so they all walk into the large family room where they could open up their presents. The family was waiting for Tracey and Phillip. They were busy clearing down the table and doing the dishes. Mark went to see what they were doing and decided to help them.
When all the dishes were done and everything else was done, they walk into the family room where everyone else is They walk over to the family tree while mark sat on the floor with his second cousins.
"Ok shall we open up our presents?"
"YAAA" all the grand kids said
"Ok" then between Tracey and Phillip, they handed out all of the presents.
When done they were two still under the tree, they both were for Sam. They sat down and open theirs while looking at what everyone else got then one of the grand kids saw the two presents and walk over and pick it up then she turn to her grandparents
"Grandma, grandpa who is Sammie?"
Everyone stop talking and they look at the little girl who spitting image of Sam when she was three years old
"Sammie is Mark's sister"
"Where is she, is she in heaven" they smile
"No she is alive"
"Where is she?" they look around the room
"She couldn't make it Kate" Mark said she turn to Mark
"Why couldn't she come?"
"Mum and dad didn't"
"Mark." Jacob, said in colonel tone making ever one jump
"Jacob, that enough" Phillip his older brother by ten years said
"The reason why Sam isn't here cause Jacob and Elizabeth"
"Tracey don't you" Phillip stood up
"Jacob that enough" he said in and angry tone
"Mum what going on?" one of their five sons asked
"Sam wasn't invited to Christmas this year, your auntie and uncle didn't tell or invited her"
"What" they were all shock then Jacob storm out of the house
"Auntie Elizabeth, what is going on, where is Sam?"
She stood up and looked at them and shook her head and walk out of the room. Then they all look at Mark for answers he took a deep breath
"Sam in living in Denver she has been for almost a year"
"What she just a kid" one of them said
"She more than that, the reason why she there cause she going to university there to get her doctorate degree… mum and dad don't know what has been happening with Sam, hell the family falling apart" he lifted up his knees and put his arms over them and his head down
"Mum, dad did you know this?"
"Yes, by the time we found out it was too late" then he sat down again
"Something doesn't add up" Mark lifted his head and look at them
"Dad hasn't spoken a word to Sam since she was six years old and mum… she been using Sam, the last time she saw Sam was on independence day, they left her at home the night of the fire works display"
"Did she do something wrong?" one of them asked Mark shook his head
"No, I feel partly to blame, not seeing what was really going on, but I should of"
"What happened?"
"When mum and dad had the party on the day, Sam was doing all the work except for the barbeques, she did all the salads. Make up all the snacks every thing before the party began when guests started to arrive she made sure there was plenty of snacks, drinks and even clean up afterwards. By the time everything was done she went to lie down for a while since she was on the go since six o'clock that morning. She fell asleep. When she woke up we weren't there and it made her realize she made a big mistake of returning so she made some calls and was on the next flight back to Colorado springs to where her friends are, the ones who truly love and care about her. She left a note before she left, she hasn't spoken to mum and dad since that day"
"Oh god so Sam all alone at the university for the holidays?"
"No, she is with someone who loves and cares about Sam, they spending Christmas together"
"At least she not alone"
"Yeah"
"Why did Uncle Jacob stop talking to Sam?"
"She told him that she wants to join the air force so she could join NASA, dad said no that it's a man army, he hasn't spoken to her since"
"Is Sam going to join the airforce?" Mark smile a little
"Yes but if dad finds out…"
"Mark who paying for Sam fees and things?"
"Her friend is"
"Why not…" Mark shook his head
"You all should be very proud of Sam, when Tracey and I spoke to her on the phone, she told us everythingthat has been happening in the family but what she has done since she been living in Colorado, you shock with the things she has done and is doing"
"Like what?"
"Colorado state karate black belt champions for starts she whip the three times champ three, zero, she even learning how to dimmable five different guns and put them together and even learn to fire them. From what she told us, her trainer told her that she is a natural. When she leans how to fire a weapon she hit the bulls eyes every time and from what Mark told me this morning. She an excellent marksmen and the best sniper that the colonel who training her has ever seen in thirty years in the air force" they were all shock
"You're joking Sam, Sam learning how to shoot?"
"Yes I was there when she was having her training, she was shooting like a pro and when she was dismantling different weapons and putting them back together, she does it in less time that required"
"Meaning?"
"For example if Sam had to put a gun back together for the first time he gave her thirty seconds, she did it in ten"
"Wow that is fast"
"It is and she is doing other air force training on weekends"
"Like what?"
"Sorry can't tell you" Mark said
"Tell us this, is she happy?"
"For the past year besides that one day… yes, she is happy"
"Do you know what she got plan for her birthday?" Phillip asked
"She and her friend are going up to Minnesota"
"Why go there?"
"He got a cabin up there on the edge of lake maria state park close to a small town called silver creek it about a three hour drive from Minneapolis, at this time of year it would take longer" Mark said
"He owns a cabin?"
"Yes it use to belong to his grandparents, till they past away and left it to him"
"Ok, dad what are you thinking?" they all look at him
"Well I know that Jacob and Elizabeth are leaving tomorrow and you guys are staying till next year, how about if we can see if we can get tickets to minneapolis and hire caravans and trucks and drive to silver creek and surprise Sam, what do you think?"
"Ah dad I hate to break it to you did you see the weather forecast last night"
"No?"
"Well there a cold front over that area today, I don't think Sam and her friend would make it there"
"Oh, good point"
"Uncle I can give them a call and find out if they are still going or not?"
"Good idea"
"I'll give them a call no"
He got up and went to give Jack a call since he got Jack home phone number. When he tries to get through there was nothing, so he tried Andy number, when he did get through, he spoke to them for a few minutes then hug up. When he walked back into the family room
"Mark what is it "they are already up at his cabin, they been there for three days, I called a friend of Jack and he told me"
"Ok"
They talk for the next hour then Phillip went looking for Jacob and talk to him. When he couldn't find him anywhere he went looking for Elizabeth. When he found her they both talk before he return back to the house. Jacob did return back to the house, he went straight to the guest bedroom since it was late at night.
Then next morning he and Elizabeth had breakfast before the others got up they didn't talk to the rest of the family. When the time came, Jacob called a taxi that took them to the airport, they said their goodbyes and left.
