Chapter 15

"Ehmagosh," Rachel was saying, acting captivated by Daisy's story. The two drama queens sat on the bar stools in Clara's Diner, thrilled that it was half-way busy for once. Clara was cleaning off the counter by them, so Daisy was trying to get through the story so Clara would be able to hear. As well as a few other Alkali citizens, sitting around eating steaming-hot burgers and pineapple-upside-down cake.

Rachel tried not to cringe at the caffeine-free diet Coke in her hand.

"-Anyway… Sam was totally in hysterics and I was trying to calm her down…" Daisy drawled out slowly and clearly.

Rachel's front was to act like she had just came back from London to pick up her belongings and didn't know about Daisy's story. The brunette shifted her glance quickly to Clara. The bubbly blonde's eyebrows were raised and she didn't try to conceal the fact that she was eavesdropping.

"Oh, gawd." Rachel whispered, faking sympathy. "Poor, poor Samantha. Can she afford an abortion?"

Daisy shook her head slowly, sipping her strawberry shake. "Wyatt and Brynna probably wouldn't let her, but they don't know yet. Sam told me to not tell anyone."

It only was a misfortune that Sheriff Lawrence happened to be totally into this façade, believing every word out of the blond teen's mouth.

Clara was having troubles believing that, but she did like the story. It'd make a good dramatic novel, she thought.

RJay happened to be there also, and he almost choked on his steak burger with laughter. Boy, he could imagine what Sam would be saying if she were there right then…

…So he tapped Jake Ely a quick text.

Hey Jake

Congrats.

You'll make a great daddy, lol.

"What the heck?" Jake stammered, reading the text message from RJay, who was one of his friends from school. First, he wasn't used to getting texts, only from Darrell, who sent him dirty jokes that he deleted right away. Second, RJay wasn't even really his friend. Just acquaintance. Third, what the freak did he mean?

He rubbed his neck and read the text again, looking up and seeing Sam cantering Tempest around the corral.

It took him two minutes to do it, but he finally managed to write-

Hey RJay

I have no clue what you're sayin'.

How the heck did you get my phone number?

"Gosh, Jake." Sam suddenly said, leading Tempest to the edge of the pen. "I didn't know you texted."

"I don't." Jake muttered, still rubbing his neck, his black hair strangely still short. But it was better that way. "RJay's just sendin' me weird messages."

Sam's auburn hair glowed reddish in the sun. "RJay?"

"Yep." Jake told her, startled when his phone buzzed again.

I heard about Sam.

Rachel & Daisy are spreading the word.

I'm at Clara's right now, come over?

Jake's brows furrowed in confusion. He didn't get what he was sayin', and he didn't care either. Rachel Slocum had only been in Nevada for six hours and she was already stirring up trouble. Figures.

…...

After telling Heck Ballard that he would cover for him while he went to Reno, Sheriff Ron Lawrence jumped in his police cruiser and headed for River Bend.

Sheriff Lawrence was plain bored in the little desolate town of Alkali. While Heck was chasing down horse rustlers and cowboys out of a Western movie, he was stuck sitting in a tiny office or Clara's, slurping down black coffee.

Plus, he'd had quite enough of little Samantha Forster. She'd stirred up more than enough trouble that involved Heck Ballard. One of these days, he wanted to arrest her for something so Heck would stop believing that she was so helpful.

He liked to relate her to Curious George. The fictional monkey always got in trouble and then got rewarded for it, making the rest of the people look like fools. That was just like Samantha.

When Sheriff Lawrence saw River Bend before him, he grinned. Nothing was more exciting than arresting an adolescent for violating the law. It was like a movie, having a teenage cowgirl get pregnant by her "best friend" neighbor cowboy. And Ron Lawrence was glad he was part of it.

Sam was brushing Tempest's long black mane when a Darton County police cruiser pulled into the ranch yard, causing Tempest to shift her not-so-little hoof onto Sam's boot.

"Ow." Sam groaned, pushing Tempest off. She could already feel her toes swelling up. When the police door slammed, her filly swung her neck, her mane flying into Sam's face, bringing tears to her eyes from the black coarse hair in them.

Now what? Sam thought grouchily. Knowing her luck, it involved her, and when the police man stepped around the cruiser, she saw it was the dreaded Sheriff Lawrence.

Desperate for him not to see her, she ducked down by Tempest, thankful that the big oak tree shielded the view of her from the yard.

Sheriff Lawrence could only see a black filly, sniffing the sparse ground in a corral.

Jake was in the cool tack room by himself polishing some old saddles that a rancher had paid him to clean.

Gram and Cody were in Darton shopping for some new baby things. Brynna was, of course, at the BLM, and the cowboys and Dad were far out with the herd looking for cougar tracks.

So whatever he needed, she hoped he'd think that everyone was gone. She shuddered, thinking about the last time when Jake was teaching her to drive.

The middle-aged police officer strode purposefully toward the house, and Sam now had her chance. She unbolted the fence gate; thankful that she'd just put some WD-40 on it.

Then she sprinted the bare fifteen feet to the back barn door, silently stepping in.

When she got to the tack room, she saw Jake bent over the saddle silently cleaning it. No radio was on; there was no sound except the steady brushing.

In three steps, Sam reached Jake, grabbed his arm, and told him to be quiet. "Sheriff Lawrence is here." she told him. "I don't know why, but he hasn't seen me yet."

"But-" Jake started, cutting off when Sam put a finger to his lips.

She glanced around. "Shut up, Jake! Remember last time he came here?"

All too clearly, Jake thought disdainfully. "So what're ya gonna do, hide?" he whispered, jokingly.

"Yep." Sam said quietly. "He freaks me out."

Without much hesitation, Jake followed Sam into the hayloft, where she hunkered behind some hay bales. He felt like a kid again, playing hide-and-seek with Sam, except for this time his face turned crimson and his heart was going faster than it did a long time ago.

Ron Lawrence picked up the note on the counter. He had no choice than to open the unlocked screen door and walk in, since no one was answering.

Sam-

Remember to water the green beans.

I'm picking up some baby clothes, I'll be back

at four. Behave yourself.

Love, Gram.

Sheriff Ron Lawrence's suspicions were confirmed. But if she told her Gram…he didn't have everything cleared, but he knew that Sam had to be around somewhere.