Chapter 37
Quinn's foal was born a day before his and Bryan's birthday. Quinn was disappointed, but fell instantly in love with the colt. He was a milk chocolaty brown without a bit of white.
"He looks like a chocolate chip," Sam murmured when she came over to see the new foal.
"That's it," Quinn put his arm around her. "Meet Chocolate Chip."
"Really?" Sam was enthusiastic.
"Yep, really," Quinn nodded.
"It's perfect," Kit said. "Good going, Sammy."
Jake gave her a grin and Sam grinned back at him.
"He's so handsome," Sam said. "But of course his mother is pretty."
Jake choked back a laugh, understanding the emphasis. The others looked confused.
"You're a brat," Jake muttered loud enough for her to hear.
"Am not," Sam muttered back.
"Buzz, buzz," Jake said under his breath.
"Neigh," Sam countered.
The others met each others' eyes over the heads of the two youngsters. Some things never changed.
Everyone stood back as Quinn went into the stall to lead the mare out to the pasture where she and her colt could spend the day. It was a lovely, bright, warm May day.
Little Chip scampered after his mother, who plodded along after Quinn. Once the sun hit the colt's coat, it shown a bright brown rich color.
"Wow, he's gorgeous," Sam mused.
Jake grinned again since Sam said the one word that he vowed would never cross his lips, ever. She socked his arm, thinking he was making fun of her for some reason.
"Ow, whatcha do that for?" Jake complained.
"Why not?" Sam countered, causing everyone including Jake to laugh.
"You boys taught her," Maxine reminded her sons.
"I didn't," Jake pointed out.
"Only because you knew she'd hit you the most," Adam laughed.
"And that's wrong how?" Jake wanted to know, laughing as he dodged Sam again.
"I'm sorry I won't be around to watch Sammy grow up," Kit gave Sam a smile.
Maxine frowned, not liking to think about her oldest son leaving to go on the rodeo trail. Kit put his arm around his Mom and gave her cheek a kiss.
"You know I have to go," he murmured to her.
"No, I don't know that you have to go," Maxine told him.
Kit gave her one of his wolfish grins and she turned her head away from him.
"Don't even try to charm me, Christopher," Maxine said. Everyone else started laughing since Kit was never called Christopher.
Sam remembered when she first met Jake he had told her that nobody ever called Kit Christopher without expecting to get beat up. Kit just shook his head at his mother.
"I don't know why you can't stay home and take college classes," Maxine continued.
"Maxine," Luke got everyone's attention. "The boy needs to do what he feels he needs to do."
"Maybe, but I don't have to be happy about it," Maxine responded.
"Aww, I'll be okay, Mommy," Kit teased. Maxine swatted his arm and Sam saw she was trying not to smile.
"No mother likes to see her children leave home," Maxine told them.
"Except when it's time for Quinn to leave, huh?" Adam teased.
They all started to laugh, Quinn laughing the loudest.