Everyone stopped eating and stared at Linc in utter shock.
Sam's mind was racing. Me? Leave my home? My family? And live with the Shoshone tribe? Surely Dad will never go for this.
Sam glanced around the table at the expressions on everyone's faces. Gram looked stunned and Dad looked angry. Brenna was looking at Dad to see his reaction. Ryan appeared to be embarrassed by his father's proposition. And Cody, dear, sweet Cody, was blissfully unaware of the drama surrounding him and was still eating his dinner.
"Linc, how in the world could you ever even suggest such a thing?" Dad asked. "I can't imagine you ever letting Rachel go live with the tribe. What makes you think I would be alright with my own daughter leaving to live with them?"
"Now just wait a minute here Wyatt. Here me out," Linc began. "Think of how this could be beneficial for you. And me. And the entire town! The Natives are wary of us civilized folk. They've been taken advantage of before. If they could trust Samantha, and in turn us, it would help everyone. They would know that we mean them no harm, and we could all sleep better at night knowing they aren't planning to attack us," Linc said with a laugh. "Besides, shouldn't we at least ask Samantha what she thinks?"
Sam turned red as everyone turned to look at her. She didn't know what to think. On one hand, Linc's idea was insane. But on the other hand… Dad has always had a great respect for the Native people. He had even traded with them for his horse Blue Wings. While on the spring cattle drive the year before there had been a flash flood while they were passing by the border of the Shoshone people's land. It had taken everyone by surprise and Dad's own horse had been injured. Dad had gone to the tribe leader and asked if any of his men could be spared to help and if he could borrow a horse. Dad had been given Blue Wings and was impressed with how well trained the paint gelding was. In repayment for the help and for Blue Wings, Dad had given the tribe a sizable piece of his most fertile land.
While Sam was thinking about all of this, Gram's sensible voice cut through her thoughts. "Well Linc, we certainly did not see this coming. I think we will discuss this further as a family, and move on from this discussion for the time being."
The discussion at the table turned to Rachel and her mother's trip to England, but Sam tuned everyone out. She didn't say a word for the rest of dinner and barely ate anything. There was too much to process. The idea of living with the Native people was terrifying. She didn't know much about their language or their customs. But on the other hand, what was in store for her if she stayed at home? She would probably have to marry one of the local boys sooner or later and go live with him. She would much rather live on a ranch than in the city. She also couldn't bear the thought of parting with her horse Ace. The little bay gelding had been her constant companion since her mother had died. Even though he was getting older and needed a bit more care, she still considered him her best friend. But at the same time, maybe marrying one of the Shoshone warriors wouldn't be so bad. It was a frightening thought, but no scarier than the idea of marrying anyone else that she didn't know. Maybe she could even learn their ways when it came to training horses.
Once the Slocums' had finally left for the evening and the Forsters were finished cleaning up from dinner, Gram turned to Sam. "What do you think dear? Of what Slocum proposed?"
Brynna excused herself to go and put Cody to bed. Sam had a sinking feeling that Brynna might not be too disheartened if Sam left. She was a decent stepmother as far as stepmother's went, but Sam knew she was the only thing in the way of Bynna having her own family. Sam was a constant reminder that Dad had had another wife before Brynna.
"Well," Sam began. "I'm not sure what to think. I would miss you all of course, but I was bound to get married and leave at some point. I suppose as long as my husband is good to me that's all I could hope to ask for."
Dad looked at Sam with a calculating look on his face. "Of course we would speak to the chief about this. And we would ensure that your future husband is a good man. I know the chief personally, and he is a good and honest man. I can trust that he will do right by me and in turn my family."
"Why don't we all sleep on this?" Gram said. "We can continue this discussion in the morning once the idea has had some time to settle in."
Sam and Dad murmured their agreement and they all headed to bed.
Sam knew she wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight. She crossed her fingers as she headed up the stairs, hoping her father might let her take a break from her chores tomorrow to go for a ride. Nothing cleared her head better than galloping across the playa, with the wind in her hair and the sun on her back.