I've been bad guys, sorry!

Jake headed over to Riverbend at 10 o'clock the next day. He hadn't seen Sam in like two days and it was bothering him.

He'd been away from her two years, he didn't want to waste anymore time away from her, so as he crossed the bridge and noticed that Ace wasn't around, he felt a little frustrated. He had told her he would come over as soon as he could in the morning and he'd show her the video of Maxine and give her present... Yet she wasn't there.

He parked his truck in front of the barn hoping she was in there. As he climbed out of the pick-up he heard a horse nicker while another stamped their foot. The wind rustled his hair and the evergreen tree branches. He walked slowly into the barn, scanning the area and listening for Sam's voice. No Sam. He sighed when he saw Sam's saddle was gone.

As he stood in the barn door contemplating what he should do, his eyes scanned over the interior of the barn. It was fairly big, not as big as his families, but not many barns needed to be. There were 4 stalls on each side of the barn, each stall was about 12' x 12'. On Jake's left side of the barn there was a tack room that was completely filled with tack anywhere from 25 years ago to 2 months before. The feed was on the right side of the barn in large containers, the stairs to the upstairs were also on the right side.

Jake headed upstairs and sat on one of the many bales that was up there. He noticed a Blue Jay peeking out from the rafters. It was a very dull blue, almost grey. It was probably a female Jake decided as it looked at him, head tilted to the side. It watched him cautiously as he leaned back on a bale. After a few minutes it decided Jake wasn't a threat and disappeared back into it's nest, only the feathers on the top of her head were visible.

Jake continued watching the nest. It really was beautifully constructed. There was lots of horse hair woven in it and very few sticks and twigs were actually in it. The twigs were just a support frame while the horse hair must of made the nest very soft and silky. Jake fell asleep as his eyes examined the nest.

"Jake?"

Jake opened an eye groggily. There was a large man looming over him. He sat up quickly, brushing of hay and straightening his shirt. He looked up already preparing his excuse, but stopped when he realized it was Ross. "Ross?" He asked, surprise evident in his voice. Ross chuckled and nodded. "What are you doing up here?" Jake stood brushing of his pants.

Ross rolled his eyes. "I c-could ask you the s-same thing." Ross crossed his arm and leaned on the wall. He looked kind of intimidating, but Jake knew better now.

Jake thought a while before deciding he might as well be honest. "I came to wish Brat a Merry Christmas." He shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. Ross raised an eyebrow before nodding, slowly. "What about you?" Jake noticed that Ross had a note-book in his hand.

Ross's eye immediately went to the blue-jay's nest and Jake's eye focused on the same spot. "I n-noticed you're truck when I-I was coming here to w-write." He moved to a bale near where Jake had been, sitting down. Jake nodded and started heading downstairs. "I like," Jake paused and faced Ross, listening to what he had to say. "Watching the b-blue jays, they're are t-two of them. A boy and g-girl. Been here a y-year." Ross had his notebook open, his pen idle on the page.

Jake nodded again when Ross looked up. Jake suddenly felt nervous under Ross's gaze. He was reminded about when they first met. He was terrified of Ross then, he had later learned that Ross was a gentle giant. Ross was at least four inches taller than Jake, probably 6' 6". He kept his dark brown hair fairly short, to keep it out of the way, but he always had a fair amount of razor stubble on his firm jaw. His skin was weathered by the sun, making him look about 5 years older that he was, but his broad shoulders and muscular arms kept him from looking 'old'.

Ross looked away from Jake a second before looking back at him. He was thinking hard, choosing his words carefully. Jake felt himself sitting down on a bale next to Ross, silently waiting for Ross to speak.

Finally Ross looked Jake in the eye. "I've n-noticed s-some s-suspicious s-stuff happening." Jake's hand flew to his neck.

"What kind of stuff?" Jake looked away nervously.

"You and S-sam are s-sneaking around together aren't you?" Ross sighed, crossing his arms. Jake's eyes widened as he looked at Ross. Ross nodded at Jake's reaction. "That's what I th-thought." His pen started working on the paper and his eyes skeetered over the blue jay.

Jake opened and closed his mouth a few times before speaking. "Are you going to tell anyone?" He asked pinching his nose. There was no point lying, it would only get them in more trouble.

Ross looked at Jake, annoyance flashing in his eyes dark eyes. "Of c-course not," He rolled his eyes when Jake looked surprised. "It's n-not my business." He side like it was final. Jake sighed with relief, standing and heading to the stairs. He stopped when he got to the top and turned toward Ross. "Thank you," He said with genuine emotion before going down the steps.

As he reached the bottom of the steps he heard Grace yelling at Blaze. He chuckled as he rounded the corner and saw Blaze bounding down Dallas and Grace's stairs. Grace was holding a cake, striding across the lawn toward Wyatt and Bryanna's house. She noticed Jake. "Jake come here and open the door for me!" Jake jogged across to the house door, careful of the ice. He reached the door a few seconds after Grace. He swung the door open for her. Grace whisked passed him and set the cake on the kitchen counter. She turned to Jake, looking him over. "What are you doing here? You know you aren't working to day."

"I just came to say Merry Christmas to Brat." Jake shrugged, leaning on the counter.

Grace nodded slowly. "Well you Bryanna, Wyatt, and Sam went for a Christmas ride this morning." She looked at the clock. 11:30 pm. "They should be home soon." She turned back to the cake.

"Oh,"

"I would offer you a piece, but this is for them." Grace said, heading for the door.

Jake tried not to sound disappointed as he replied, "That's okay," He followed her out the door, his hands in his pockets.

Grace chuckled. "I do have some frosting left if you want to lick the spoon." She glanced back at Jake just in time to see him smile quickly.

"I suppose I could take care of that for you..." Jake tried to sound nonchalant, but was overly blah zay about it. Grace shook her head as she climbed the steps to her little cabin. Jake was close on her heels. He hadn't been in the cabin that many times, but he still knew the way to the kitchen.

Grace handed Jake the mixing bowl and the spoon, before she started wiping up the kitchen. Jake tried not to act like a little kids as he cleaned out the bowl, but Grace was a great baker and he couldn't help but grin as he licked the spoon.

When the last of the cake mix was gone and the kitchen was spotless Grace sat down next to Jake. Jake watched her closely really looking at her for the first time in a long time. Her hair was whiter than ever, she has more crinkles around her eyes, but her eyes blue eye twinkled with happiness more than ever.

"When was the last time you got to lick the bowl for me?" She chuckled when Jake shrugged. He and Sam used to fight over it before her accident and then after that Grace always let him have it all to himself. It was kind of Grace and his thing, whenever she baked he got to lick the bowl. After Sam's accident he felt guilty about it at first, but then he realized that Grace really needed someone to spoil and talk to. He stopped think of it as something for him, but as something for her. He would sit and enjoy whatever she made and she would talk to about nothing important. They would miss Sam together. Those times were probably the best times he had when Sam was gone. Now that she was back though they hadn't had their bonding. "Too long I guess." Jake nodded, meeting her eyes. "How have you been Jake?" Her eyes searched his.

Jake thought a moment, looking out the kitchen door. He saw Sam, Bryanna, and Wyatt riding into the drive way and his heart leaped in his chest at the site of Sam. He tore his gaze way from Sam and looked at Grace before smiling. "Great," Grace smiled, but a concern flashed across her face. Jake knew exactly what she was thinking about. Faith. "Really I'm good, I honestly never fully grasped the thought of having a younger sibling, so it wasn't hard for me to accept that I wasn't getting one." Jake explained, slowly, choosing his words carefully.

Grave thought a moment, looking at her hands before nodding. "I guess that's good for you." Jake nodded, slowly. Grace looked out the window and Jake did too. The three were untacking the horses. "You should go say Merry Christmas." Jake stood and went to the door, Grace stopped him there. She gave him a hug and thanked him for coming over.

"Sure," Jake said as he pulled away.

As Jake went out the door Sam walked out of the barn. She spotted Jake and waved at him. He walked slowly toward her, trying not to give away anything to Bryanna and Wyatt who were still in the barn. "Hey,"

"Hi," Sam called back. She looked over her shoulder as Bryanna and Wyatt walked out of the barn.

"Hello Jake!" Bryanna exclaimed as she noticed him.

"Merry Christmas," Wyatt said, walking up to Sam and Jake, Bryanna tucked under his arm.

"Merry Christmas," Jake replied, he shifted back and forth on his feet as they stood in silence a moment. "I just came to show Brat, the video of Mom's reaction to her Christmas present." Jake explained finally.

"Oh my gosh, show me!" Sam exclaimed, jumping up and down as everyone chuckled.

"Well, it's cold out, I'm heading in." Bryanna said chuckling as Sam yanked Jake's phone out of his hand. Wyatt followed Bryanna in, holding hands. Sam had gone through Jake's phone and found the video of Maxine.

"Oh! So cute!" Sam cooed as she stared down at the screen. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she watched. "Jake, it went perfectly!" Sam said, handing back his phone.

"Yeah," Jake nodded, looking down at Sam. She was smiling widely at him. "We need to talk," He said, glancing at the house. He didn't see anyone peeking out, but still, he had to be cautious.

Sam frowned, but nodded and walked back to the barn. "What's up?" She said when the were out of view from the house.

Jake looked around quickly before answering, "Ross knows about us..." He whispered, leaning toward her. His lips only a few inches from her ears. Sam's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly.

"You," Sam started then swallowed the lump in her throat before continuing. "You told him." Her voice was accusing as she started to back away from him.

Jake rolled his eyes. "No!"

Sam stopped and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sorry..." She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes.

Jake pressed his lips in a tight line before nodding. "It's fine..."

"So," Sam started, knowing it wasn't fine. "How did he find out?" Jake shrugged. Sam stamped her foot. "Look I said I was sorry! I thought you told him because I know he didn't catch us like Jane did! Okay?" She said exasperated.

Jake looked down at her from the end of his nose before sighing. "Okay," He said smiling, slightly. Sam smiled and reached out to him. He pulled her into a hug. "He said he just noticed us sneaking around sort of." Jake mumbled into her hair.

Sam pulled away. "Dang it!" Her face got red. "We've got to be more careful!" She yanked her ponytail tighter as she kicked a bucket over. Jake reached for Sam's wrist, but she shook him off.

"Brat!" Jake yelled as Sam stomped around, looking for something to take her anger out on. She stopped when he yelled at him, breathing hard. "Calm down." She glared at him before taking a deep breath.

"Jake," Sam's face crumbled. Jake walked over to her and wrapped her in his arms. "What are we going to do?" She said into his shoulder.

Jake stroked her back. "He said he's not going to tell anyone, we'll be fine." Even as he said it, he knew that they were going to need to be more cautious.

Sam pulled back slightly. "That's nice of him." She said, wiping her eyes. Her cheeks were red and tearstained.

Jake chuckled and nodded. "Want to see your present?" Sam nodded, her earlier turmoil forgotten quickly. Jake smirked. "Stay here," He said before heading to his truck. He grabbed the bag from his passenger side door.

Sam was waiting impatiently in the barn, hands on hips. Jake held it out to her and she ripped it away from him. The bag was a shimmering royal blue. Sam glanced at Jake before pulling out the tissue paper. "Oh Jake, it's too much!" She said as she pulled out the halter. It was like a show halter with metal pieces on it.

"I thought Temptest would look good in it." Jake shrugged. Sam admired the flower tooling on the metal pieces.

"It's gorgeous!" Sam exclaimed lunging at Jake. He caught her in a hug and spun her around.

"I'm glad you liked it." He kissed the top of her head.

Sam put the halter back in the bag and looked at Jake sheepishly. "You're present hasn't arrived yet..." She bounced on the balls of her feet.

Jake looked at her funny. "You ordered my present? What could you have possibly ordered," He raised an eyebrow. "For me?"

Sam smiled. "Sort of ordered it, you'll see when it gets here."

Jake rolled his eyes. "Well, I have to get back home."

Sam gave him a peck on the cheek and a quick hug before he left.