Chapter 2

She heard one of the Ely boys swear from where she was sitting on George. Things must not be going well.

"Quinn, grab that leg," Kit yelled at his younger brother.

Quinn ran and sat on the ground next to Kit. Kit let go of one of the legs and Quinn took it and began to pull.

Both Dad and Luke dismounted quickly and rushed over. Jake was slower dismounting.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked his oldest son.

"Calf's stuck," Kit grunted as he and Quinn continued to pull.

The cow started screaming a horrible sound and Sam put her hands over her ears. Everyone was concentrating on the cow and calf, but Jake immediately looked back towards Sam. He saw how she was reacting and started running to her.

Jake grabbed George's bridle and turned him around so Sam was facing away from what was going on.

"Don't look, Brat," Jake warned her, looking up at her. He could see the tears as she cried, her hands still over her ears.

Just as suddenly as it started, the screaming stopped. The cow gave a great heave and lay still.

"Damn it," Kit swore, giving one more pull, but not able to get the calf out.

"It hasn't moved in awhile," Nate told him.

Kit nodded and let go of the leg. Quinn let go of the other and the two of them tried to catch their breath.

"You boys did what you could," Luke patted Kit on the shoulder.

"It's over, Brat," Jake put his hand on her knee.

"Did s-s-she…," Sam asked.

"Died," Jake murmured.

Sam's bottom lip trembled as she tried to keep from crying more. Jake rubbed the back of his neck with one hand while he kept the other on George's bridle.

"Th-the baby?" Sam asked.

Jake shook his head sadly.

Even though it wasn't a River Bend cow, Sam was sad that they had died. At eight years old, she had been without a mother now for four years and she understood death a bit more.

"Are you okay, Sam?" Dad asked. His eyes met Jake's.

Sam nodded without looking at him.

"Jake, why don't you and Sam go ahead and ride back to the herd," Dad suggested.

Jake nodded and went to catch his horse. He swung up without using his stirrups.

"Come on, Brat," Jake urged as he rode up to her. She gave a quick glance at him and he started forward, Sam trailing after him.

"She hates death," Wyatt murmured as he watched his daughter ride off.

"She's had to deal with it way too young," Luke put his hand on the shoulder of his friend.

Wyatt nodded.

Jake glanced back at Sam who wasn't looking at him, but rather at the ground. He wasn't sure what to say to her. So he decided not to say anything, slowing his horse so they rode abreast.

Sam's eyes flicked up and he saw the tears in them.

"Do you want to go find your Gram?" Jake asked.

Sam shook her head. She wiped her tears and gave a big sniffle.

"I'm sorry," Jake decided to say.

Sam just nodded.

"Do you want to practice roping later?" Jake asked.

"Okay," Sam's voice cracked. She knew what Jake was doing and she appreciated it, though she knew she needed practice roping too. She wasn't very good at it.

They met up with the herd again. Dallas, the River Bend foreman saw the two of them together and Sam's eyes red from crying. His eyes met Jake's. Jake shook his head slightly. Dallas gave a nod.

"I'm sorry you lost a cow," Sam finally said.

"It happens," Jake shrugged. "I know Dad won't be happy but it's part of ranchin'."

Sam didn't say anything.