Sam quickly finished the rest of her breakfast and went over to where Maxine was washing the dishes.
"Would you like some help with the dishes?" Sam asked. She felt comfortable with Maxine and five minutes ago would have happily helped with the dishes, but now all she really wanted to do was catch up with Jake so she could go for a ride.
"Don't even think about it," Maxine replied to Sam's relief. "Go find Jake. You two need to get to know each other." Maxine hesitated before adding, "I know Jake might seem a little standoffish, but I promise you he's just shy."
Sam nodded and smiled, not really knowing how to respond. "Well, thank you again for breakfast," she said awkwardly before making her way to the pasture where a majority of the horses were being held.
Sam heard a sharp whistle before seeing the black mare Jake had been riding the day they met lift her head up from where she had been grazing. Which a loud neigh she took off galloping for the side of the pasture where the whistle had come from. Sam turned to see Jake standing there and was surprised to see a huge grin on his face as he watched his mare approach. Sam was struck by how handsome he was. Before that moment she wouldn't have been able to imagine Jake smiling at all, much less grinning widely.
It must be incredible to have such a strong bond with a horse, Sam thought. Ace was a fantastic horse but he and Sam certainly didn't have the same bond with each other that Jake and his mare clearly had.
The mare slowed as she reached Jake before reaching her nose out to greet him. He stroked her neck before turning to see Sam walking towards him. His grin quickly fell away and he nodded in greeting at her.
Jake looked out at the horses, scanning them to see which one would be suitable for Sam to ride. He looked at his new wife out of the corner of his eye and asked, "Have you ever ridden without a saddle before?"
Sam shook her head no. Jake handed her a halter he had been carrying and pointed to a smaller, black and white paint mare grazing just a few yards away from them. "Ride Star then," he said. He nodded to a shelter in the corner of the pasture closest to where the teepees were located. There were two hitching rails in front of the shelter. "That's where we keep all of the riding equipment. I'll meet you there," Jake said as he began to walk towards the shelter, his mare following closely behind him.
Sam made her way towards the black and white mare. "Hey girl," Sam said softly as she approached the mare with her hand outstretched. The mare lifted her head and took a step towards Sam. Sam noticed that Star had a wide blaze instead of a star marking on her face which was interesting given her name. "Why's your name Star, huh girl?" Sam continued to speak in a soft tone as she wrapped the halter around the mare's head. Star just blinked at her with warm brown eyes and Sam smiled as she said, " I guess I'll have to ask Jake. He can probably explain your name a little bit better than you can."
Star followed dutifully along behind Sam as they made their way to the hitching rail in front of the shelter. Jake's mare swished her tail angrily and flattened her ears as Sam and Star approached, clearly not happy about their proximity to her.
"Don't get too close to her," Jake said as he ducked out of the shelter with two bridles slung over his shoulder and carrying a saddle.
"I didn't realize you guys rode with Western saddles," Sam said as he moved towards Star to swing the saddle onto her back.
"We don't," Jake replied shortly. He didn't say anything else as he quickly bridled Star and handed her the reins. "Go ahead and mount up."
As Jake bridled his own mare, Sam looked around for something she could use to help her mount. She saw a decent sized rock not too far away and led Star over to it. As soon as she was mounted she turned to see Jake leap up onto his mare from the ground, then turn her towards the river. Star automatically followed along behind Jake and his mare.
Jake didn't say anything as they walked the horses along the river about a quarter mile to a part where it was shallower and less wide. Jake guided his horse across the river with Sam following behind him. When the reached the other side Jake glanced at Sam and asked, "Wanna let them run?"
Sam nodded and grinned excitedly before squeezing her legs along Star's side and giving the mare her head. Star and Jake's mare both burst forward and ran across the open range. Sam couldn't keep the smile off her face. She felt all the stress melt away as all she focused on was the horse galloping beneath her.
Jake and Sam let the mares run until they reached the mouth of a canyon and drew the horses back down to a jog then a walk.
"What's your horse's name?" Sam asked as they paused to let the horses drink from a stream running through the middle of the canyon.
"Witch," Jake replied, and Sam swore she saw a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he added, "She's not exactly the most easy-going horse."
Sam gave a short laugh as right on cue, Witch swung her head to pin her ears and glare at Star. "I can see that," Sam said. "How about Star? How did she get her name?"
Jake gestured towards Star's shoulder and said, "Did you notice the markings on her chest? They look a bit like a star shower. That's her whole name. Star Shower."
"I love that!" Sam replied before asking, "Is she your horse as well?"
Jake shook his head and said, "Star belongs to my mom but my mom doesn't ride very often. So Star is more of a pet than a working horse."
Sam and Jake walked their horses through the canyon alongside the stream. Although neither of them said anything, Sam noticed that it was far less awkward than any other time the two had been together.
The wall of the canyon to the right of them began to get less steep, and Sam noticed a trail up ahead that led out of the canyon. Jake turned Witch towards the trail and the two mares made their way up. When they reached the top of the canyon, Sam looked out at the hills and valleys around them. About a mile in front of them from where they were walking the horses, Sam could make out people building something.
"What's going on over there?" Sam pointed.
"That's where we'll live," Jake responded.
"Huh?" Sam looked over at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"The white men think we need to become more acclimated with their culture. So they're building a schoolhouse for the children of the tribe. Mom taught my brothers and I a lot of what white children are taught. She was going to be the teacher at the new school being built, but then she thought you might be able to be the teacher instead."
Jake looked over at Sam, gauging her reaction. It was the most she had ever heard him speak. Sam was uncomfortable with public speaking, but she liked the idea of having a job to do, of being needed.
"I'd be happy to teach the children," Sam replied. But then she had another thought. "How do you feel about this? Being forced to let go of the way you've been doing things for so long and have to learn about a whole new culture?"
Jake shrugged and looked towards where the school was being built, squinting against the glare of the sun. It's not ideal, but it might not be all bad. At least the children will be taught by someone they know. This way they won't have to completely give up their way of life, and it could be helpful, being taught what the white people are taught."
Sam nodded, once again at a loss for words. There was so much to take in and consider. They passed the schoolhouse and continued on home. Sam smiled as she realized this land was quickly becoming home to her.
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in forever! My summer has been crazy busy! I know this story isn't really historically accurate, but I'm trying to do the best I can. I want it to be to somewhat accurate while being a little more idealistic since we all know what happened to the Native Americans with the schools and reservations doesn't have the happiest ending.
Let me know if there's something you want to see added to the characters or the plot or anything like that.