CH 57
They talk for the next half-hour, when the guys showed up giving one another a hard time till they saw Jack and Sam. They all hug Sam and shook Jack's hand. Then they got themselves a beer before sitting down around the table talking and laughing till one of the guys saw the photos and pick them up then he look at them in shock
"Sam is this the president?" he showed her
"Yep and the chief of staff"
"Wow what that you are wearing" Sam lean ford and open the two boxes and they saw the metals
"You received these"
"From the president himself"
"What did you do to get these Sam?"
"Classified, but all I can say at the moment is that it got to do with the air force"
"Wow" They talk for ten minutes when the wives and kids showed up.
They all talk and laugh for the next half an hour, and then Tracey stood up and walked inside. Sam knew that she would be getting the salads prepared, so she stood up and follows her into the house and into the kitchen and helps her with the salads while thy talk. When the salads were done they could smell the meat cooking so they took everything out onto trays, including the sauce for the ribs.
They all talk some more untileverything was cooked. They all manage to find a seat around the two tables. Sam noticed there was one short so she sat on Jack lap while they all ate dinner. Jack and Sam share a plate and food that was on it to every one shock and amusement when they saw what they were doing.
By the end of the evening, everyone was tired since it has beena long day for them all so the five families left after saying their goodbyes for the night. Hour later Jack and Sam said there good night and went to their rooms.
Sam showed Jack which one was his room that was across the hall from hers. They both kiss in the hallway and their good nights before going to their bedroom.
Early the next morning, Sam woke up, she looked at the clock then got up, she went to relieve herself then she got dressed. She walked to Jack room and opens the door and walk in
"Jack" she said quietly he rolled over
"Sam what wrong"
"Nothing remember what I said to you on the way here about early morning horseback riding"
"Yes, you mean now?"
"Yes, there something I want to show you and it the perfect time"
"Are you sure?" Sam smile
"Yes, I'll wait for you down stairs"
"Ok" she walked out and down the stairs and waited.
Jack walked down stairs few minutes later to see Sam waiting for him
"Come on"
She held onto his hand and they walk out of the house just as it was starting to get light. They walk over to the barn to see the workers doing their morning work, Sam recognise one of them.
"Hi Carlos" he turn around and his eyes almost pop out of his head
"Samantha" he said in Mexican accent. They both hug
"Look at you all grown up, Phillip been telling me what you been doing"
"I bet he has, Carlos, this is Jack"
"Hi" Jack said as they shook hands
"Hi, I have heard a lot about you Jack, you done good looking after this special girl"
"Thanks"
"Phillip called last night and told me you were here and we both know what you are like, so I already got two horses ready for you both"
"Thanks Carlos, when we get back we can talk and catch up"
"I would like that, oh if you got time Maria would love to see you before you fly back home"
"Sure"
"Here, come, I'll show you where the horses are"
"Thanks" they walk to where the horses are
"So you doing every morning feed this morning?"
"Yes then we spend the rest of the day with our families"
"Ok" when they walk out to where the two horse are they stop and patted them both
"Thanks we should be back in an hour or so"
"I'll be here"
Jack watched Sam get up on her horse then Jack did the same Sam wave to Carlos as he walked back into the barn and turn around to see Jack and Sam taking the horses for a run. When he turned around he saw one of the workers looking at them
"Is there a problem"
"Who is that girl"
"She is family to Phillip, back to work" then they went back to work. Jack followed Sam till they got to the top of a hill where a tree is and stops.
"That was fun" she said when she got off her horse
"Yeah, why are we stopping here"
He got off his and follows what Sam did to her horse then he follows her to the tree trunk and sat down, so he sat next to her.
"When I was little Uncle Phillip brought me up here one morning since he loves to come up here to relax and to think first thing in the morning. The first time, I was two years old; I loved it so every time the families visit, Uncle Phillip knew that I wanted to join him up here. We talk, well he talk and I listen to some of his problems and I come up with ideas which he tried out and it work"
"I bet, so how big is this ranch?"
"Twenty five thousand acres, it small compares to a lot of other ranches, but that all they wanted. They brought it thirty years ago after they got married. They were here for three months when auntie Tracey found out she was pregnant and at the same time uncle Phillip was called up at the beginning of the Korean War."
"So he did his tour then?"
"Yes our of all them men who was in basic training only a third return from their tour, quarter return with lost limb, some sign up again"
"how many sign up for a second tour?"
"Seventy two, only thirty eight return, fifteen lost limbs"
"Your uncle?"
"He only did one tour, when he return Auntie Tracey had PJ then and he knew his family was important"
"Ok and what the story with Carlos?"
"His parents came across the board but was caught by patrol at the border, so they and some others were taken into custody for two days then return back to Mexico. While in custody Carlos mother went into labour so they rush her into hospital where Carlos was born. They were in hospital for a week before sent back to Mexico. Carlo came back when he was fifteen the same way his parents did and got caught by my uncle one morning when he saw him in the kitchen where the workers are; he was eating a piece of bread. My uncle was going to call the sheriff but he didn't, he spoke to him to find out a few things. His parents and sister died three months earlier they were murdered by a drug lord, he was a witness to it. So after he told my uncle everything, he called the sheriff who called the Texas rangers in. after talking to him since he spoke English about what happened and that he was born in the US. They got the DEA and the drug informants in both the US and Mexico involves. They check out Carlo story. They found his family and others dead, all shot into head, so they got the warrant and arrested the drug lord. He got his men to go and kill Carlo but one of the men was an under cover agent so he got word out so when the Texas rangers contacted my uncle, Carlo was staying on the ranch, so my uncle sent him to my parents till the trial. I was only a month old when he stayed with the family. He help out around the house, he cook, clean and even change my diaper for six months till the trail. With dad and uncle Phillip help they got him into the courtroom and he told them what had happened. The drug lord was found guilty in both Mexican court and US and was sentenced to death. The drug lord and all of his men were sentenced to death. They were all given the lethal injection two weeks later. Uncle Phillip brought Carlo back here and they both had a deal, Carlo will work in exchange for a roof over his head, food, clothing, money in his pocket in exchange for him to go to school and get an education. Which he did do? While at high school he met Maria, her parents for bit her to see him, saying he bad news. When he was eighteen she told him that her parents made arrangements for her to marry a Mexican guy down in Mexico, there was some sort of deal, he didn't know what to do, at that time my family was visiting and we got along well. He told me what was happening and when the wedding is" she let out her breath
"What happen?"
"We went and spoke to Uncle Phillip and Auntie Tracey, they were shock and didn't know what to do. Till I came up with an idea"
"What was it"
"Well since Maria family was away for the weekend down in Mexico and she was at home. I said why not get her and fly to Las Vegas and get married and have a wedding night there, then she can't marry the guy, they look at me and smile so that what they did"
"How did they get Maria out of the house?"
"I went up to the door and asked for her, after all I was almost three years old, so the guard went and got her and when I saw her, I smile she ask me what I wanted I passed her a note. She read it then look at me then she walked back inside and the door closed. I look around and saw her looking out a window then I turn around and got into the car and look out the window and yelled out 'Are you coming' she smile and look around then outside. I open the back door and she ran out of the house and into the car and slam the door and dad drive as fast as he could to the airport, she showed me the note"
"What did it say?"
"Maria, i'm not a rich man but a hard worker, all I can do is Offer you my love, will you marry me if so run and get into the waiting car"
"Some marriage proposal"
"It was, so told her my plan and she thanked me. When we got to the airport there was a private plane waiting for us and a couple of the guys from the farm waiting for us. We got out and they got in and drive out of the airport, the guards were following them, so we knew we were safe. We got on the plane and headed to Las Vegas."
"So where did you guys stay?"
"We all stayed at the 'Wynn Las Vegas' hotel. Uncle Phillip called around and we were lucky that there was a free chapel booking and reservations. So he book for all of us before we left"
"What happen when you got there?"
"There were two limos waiting for us, women in one and men in the other" she said smiling
"The men went to look for a tux to wear while us females went looking for dresses and also to buy Maria clothes including some thing for that night. We found a shop and went and got dressed, including one for me so I wouldn't feel left out, then we went to look for flower bouquets that she had them made up there and then. Then we all went to the hotel and went to our room then went down stairs to have our hair and make up done. Then return back to the room and got ready then went down stairs to the chapel where they got married and had their photo taken"
"Ok what about the men?"
"Well they went to get the marriage licence sorted out then the tux and then the rings. Uncle Phillip gave him a loan do he could buy the wedding rings and he was lucky since there was a sale on, he got her a princess cut diamond engagement ring since there was a sale on and he saw the ring. So uncle gave him more money so he could get one for her. When they got the rings, they went and got a haircut done then they went to the hotel where they went to their rooms and got change then they all went down to the chapel where they waited for us. They got married, there was cake, and champagne for the adults and sodas for us kids. There a lot of photos taken. We all went up to out rooms half an hour later and got change then we went to one of the restaurants at the hotel where we all had dinner. Carlos was thanking all of us every few minutes for what we all did then he went on about he promise to pay back every thing. Uncle Phillip said to him 'all you have to do is pay back the rings, the rest is a wedding present to you both, that is including your hotel room' Carlos and maria thank all of us. We did spend the night there and the next morning both Maria and Carlos meet us down at reception holding hands and big grins on their faces. I could tell that they were happy, but till few years later when I lean about the facts of life and remembering the look on their faces, I know why they were grinning"
"Well that is what wedding nights are all about"
"I know. When we got back uncle brought a small bit of land just across the road and he build a house on it and sold it to Carlo and Maria"
"That was good of him"
"It was, it took him ten years to pay it off, the last payment was four months ago"
"Ok did they have any kids?"
"Four three boys and a girl, they name their older son after Uncle Phillip and their daughter after me"
"Wow so they been married what ten years"
"Yep ten years last month, they went down to Mexico to his family grave, it was the first time since he return there since the murder. The Mexican government took care of the funeral arrangements, everything for him and other survivors"
"What about Maria family?"
"They came a week after they were married and kidnap her and took her down to Mexico, so uncle Phillip contacted the Texas rangers for their help who they contacted the Mexican police. They went to where the family was and stop the wedding since it was a shotgun wedding. She told the guy that she already married, he was shocked and try to attack her father for deceiving him, her father said she is lying, she showed them her ring finger and her locket in side was their wedding photo. Her mother slap her, so she said goodbye to them and walk away the Mexican police flew her back to Dallas where Carlo and Texas rangers was waiting for her" she looks at him as he looks back at her
"What happened to her parents?"
"They were charged with kidnapping, assault, entering Mexico without passports, visas and not going through customs, they were sent away for fifteen years and the groom side didn't know what was going on, they were all shock and the groom himself was in love with a woman. Before Maria return she spoke to him and told him what happen everything he understood and wish Carlos and her all the best for the future"
"What happen to the guy?"
"He did what Carlos and Maria did"
"Elope?"
"Yep, the family wasn't happy at first until they found out she was pretending to be average young women so guys would accept her for her and not her family wealth" Jack look at her in shock
"She rich?"
"Her family is, they are the second richest family in Mexico, they own string of hotels, restaurants and other businesses in Mexico and in Texas including oil companies"
"Wow, I suppose he was shock?"
"Yes, but he didn't care about the money, all he caredabout was her"
"Wow so how do you know this?" Sam smile
"After the couple elope that came to Dallas not just for business but for their honeymoon, they showed up here to see and thank Maria and to meet Carlos. When he did see Maria, she was seven month pregnant with their son at the time"
"Ok"
"What more shock that the business was with Uncle Phillip and Auntie Tracey"
"Oh"
"Auntie Tracey grand father own an oil company and it was passed down. Auntie Tracey is an only child so it went to her two years before selling it, since she wants nothing to do with it"
"So your auntie and uncle is rich?"
"Yes, she spit the oil business up and sold it, she walked away with over three billion dollars in their joint account. They are happy with the ranch here and every year uncle Phillip take her away to Hawaii for their wedding anniversary every year for a week, when they return, they are relaxed and brown" she said giggling
"They do look happy don't they"
"Yeah, they do have their ups and downs, but they always come out on top" Jack nodded by that time the sun was up and they could see the house down below
