Chapter 32
"Here's your present," Sam handed Jake a package the next day at the bus stop.
"Thanks," Jake smiled at her. "Sorry you couldn't come."
"Me too," Sam murmured, not smiling back at him. "Who won the football game?"
"Me, Kit and Nate," Jake grinned.
"We missed our hiker," Quinn told her.
Sam frowned.
"So how long are you in for?" Bryan asked.
"Two weeks," Sam grumbled. "Dad said three at first, then said two when I said that the boy was lifting my skirt. I can't ride or see anyone except at school."
"Sorry, Sammy," Quinn told her.
The three Elys waited a beat, wondering if she'd say it.
"I'd hit him again if he tried it again," Sam huffed.
The three guys started to laugh. She had said it, just as they expected.
"Take it from me, don't say that to an adult," Jake chuckled. "I did when I got in trouble for fighting and I thought our parents were going to shut me up in my room for the rest of my life."
"I won't," Sam promised. "But I still would."
"We won't tell, Sammy," Bryan promised.
"Somehow I don't think that kid will cause you any more trouble," Quinn grinned at Jake.
"I hope not," Sam murmured.
Jake gave Quinn a look, promising his own beat down if he said anything. Quinn's grin just got wider.
Jake opened his gift from Sam on the way to school.
"Wow, this is great," Jake exclaimed.
Sam had given him a book on how to think like a horse.
"For, you know," Sam looked up at him.
"They know, but thanks," Jake told her.
"Yeah we know Jake's getting a foal," Bryan said from behind them.
"After I get mine," Quinn gave a superior smile.
"Well, you are older," Sam pointed out. "Though Jake's better with horses."
Instead of frowning at Sam's defense of Jake, Quinn's grin only got wider.
"Touchy," Quinn murmured, but Jake heard him. He turned around to give his older brother a dirty look. It didn't faze Quinn a bit.
"Oh and Sammy, if you want to join my girls, you're welcome to," Quinn told her.
"Why?" Sam wondered. "I'm not blond and dumb."
Jake snorted, his tomcat grin on his face as he looked back at his brother.
"No, but you wear pink underpants and I like that," Quinn teased.
Jake had to grab Sam's coat and pull her back as she turned and started over the seat after Quinn.
"We couldn't help but notice you're not wearing a skirt today," Bryan said.
"Never again," Sam muttered.
"What about when you get married?" Quinn asked.
"Not even then," Sam shook her head. "I'm not getting married."
She got startled looks from all three Elys.
"Why not?" Bryan wondered.
"Because I'm never going to let a boy tell me what to do," Sam crossed her arms over her chest in emphasis.
"Mom's married and she doesn't let Dad tell her what to do," Quinn said.
"She's blond too," Bryan chuckled.
Sam shook her head.
"Sucks for Jakey," Quinn said quietly, but not so quietly that Jake didn't hear him. Just as Quinn had intended.
This time it was Jake who almost went over the seat after his brother.