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Chapter 4

"Here're the groceries." Sam told Gram, handing the products over to Grace. Sam's grandma smiled at her granddaughter and Jake in thanks.

"I'm glad you went and did it. The living room needs to be dusted, the porch swept and the peas picked again." Gram sighed. Sam's shoulders slumped. She knew what was coming next.

Gram handed Cody to Sam. "All that I'm asking you to do is to watch this little busybody. Take him out to see the horses; you know how much he loves them."

Must take after me! Sam thought proudly.

"Okay," Sam decided. "And you, Jake, can give these nails to Pepper."

Jake nodded silently, and followed Sam back out side. "I'm glad she didn't make us pick those peas." he shuddered, pulling his Stetson down over his eyes.

Nodding vigorously, Sam hoisted Cody to her other hip and tried to keep up with Jake's long-legged stride.

"Where's Pepper?" Jake asked Sam, looking around.

"He's over by the bunkhouse." she answered, spotting Pepper's bright red hair. "I'm going to take Cody to see the horseys. Aren't we, Cody?" she ruffled her little brother's auburn hair.

"It's Nike." Sam told Cody. "Can you say Ny-keee?"

"Sammy!" shrieked Cody, grabbing Sam's red hair and pulling it. "Jakey!"

"What did he say about me?" Jake joked, coming up behind Sam.

Sam grinned at the young child. "Nothing much, right Code?"

"Jakey, Ny-keee, Sammy!" yelled Cody, wriggling into Jake's arms.

Over the last months, Jake had started to really like playing with Cody. A few weeks after he had been born, Sam remembered, Brynna had asked Jake to baby-sit. After that, Jake wasn't so scared of babies.

As he loved to do, Cody grabbed at Jake's short black hair and tugged. Sam laughed.

Just then, a voice from the door called, "I'm back, are you in here, Sam?" It was Brynna. She must be back from the BLM, mused Sam.

"Cody and me are in here!" Sam called back.

Brynna came into the barn, her red braid unraveling. Ever since she'd had Cody and went back to work she hadn't kept her French braid as formal as it once had.

She quickly kissed Cody on the head. "If you guys can keep an eye on him until I take a shower I'd be so glad."

"Fine." Jake told her.

Brynna grinned at them and took off towards the house. "Here's Ace," Jake announced to Sam's brother, walking to the next stall. "I'm sure he wants to be let out, but Sam was so busy shoppin' today she didn't have the time to."

Sam glared at Jake. "He was out in the pastures all day yesterday and I had to let out Tempest sometime. For some odd reason Sam's little filly and her frisky buckskin didn't get along very well.

Jake nodded, smirking. He liked it when he got her mad. She was actually pretty cute when her eyes started shooting sparks and she put her hands on her hips.

"You're just such a brat." Jake shook his head in sympathy and with a sudden urge, leaned down to Sam's short height and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Jake, what if Dad had seen you kissing me?" Sam hissed, face turning red with embarrassment and pleasure. Her heart was thudding so loud she was afraid Wyatt would hear her way out on the range with the cattle. For some reason, Jake and Sam's closeness seemed to attract Wyatt and get them in trouble.

"Uh…Sorry, Brat." Jake stuttered, "We'd better feed those horses."

Sam nodded, looking down. Cody was sitting on the cement floor squashing a ladybug. She must have set him down. Sam heaved Cody up on her left hip and quickly notified Jake that she was taking him into the house.

Later that day -

"SAMANTHA?" yelled a very angry voice from inside. Sam cringed and rubbed her old work boots. She couldn't believe Dad had found out. Why else would he be mad? Did Pepper tell him? He couldn't have seen, but maybe Brynna had seen them…

"What?" Sam made herself run into the house and up the porch steps. She was greeted by an exasperated-looking father and a questioning look from Gram and Brynna.

"Sam, how many times have I told you?" Wyatt roared, sitting down at the table. Sam reluctantly sat down at the table across from him, not meeting his eyes.

"Wait." Brynna interrupted, sitting by Wyatt. "Don't jump to conclusions, Wyatt. Just because Cody happened to be saying "Kissing, Jakey…"

Sam's eyes widened. Cody had heard her tell Jake that he shouldn't be kissing her?