Chapter 42
"So Sammy, I hear you have a foal due, huh?" Kit asked after they had set up camp.
Sam nodded enthusiastically.
"I don't think they know if the mare's in foal yet," Jake said. "Wyatt said she was bred at about the same time ours was."
"So a few more weeks before you know for sure," Kit nodded. "Excited huh?"
"Yep," Sam's face broke out into a smile.
At that instant, Kit had a vision of Sam as a woman. A stunningly beautiful woman. His eyes slid to Jake, knowing his little brother had no clue. Kit wondered if Jake would ever recognize the fact that he and Sam were not siblings, that a beautiful woman was within reach if he would only look for it.
Kit knew the two of them had a special friendship. Would they ever develop something more than that friendship? Maybe they wouldn't want to.
His eyes slid then to Quinn and Bryan. If Jake didn't declare himself for Sam, Kit could see Quinn or Bryan doing so. They were already further along in relationships with girls than Jake was.
Kit knew that those two had already kissed girls. Many girls. The brothers laughed about their harem of young girls who just wanted to be acknowledged by either of the twins. Kit knew it would only get worse. Those two had way too much charm for their own good and he hoped it didn't get them into trouble at a later time. Kit worried about them.
Kit also worried about Jake. The youngest Ely was popular with his own group of friends, a very small group it was too, but was clueless when it came to girls. Kit hoped that girls wouldn't take advantage of Jake. He wasn't sure Jake would ever let anyone get close enough to hurt him, but Kit did worry about it.
His eyes sliding back to Sam, he returned her smile. If nothing changed, she would be perfect for his little brother. They both liked the same things, first and foremost horses.
Jake had seen the speculative looks that Kit had sent his way out of the corner of his eye. He wondered at them, but didn't ask.
"Gosh, I remember you at the first fair you went to with us," Kit's voice took on a faraway tone. "You were so little."
"I still have Jingles," Sam told him.
"Nah, really?" Kit was surprised.
"Yep," Sam nodded. "He's on my pillow and he sleeps with me at night."
Kit shook his head in wonderment. "Wow."
"Not that she's all that much bigger now than she was then," Adam laughed.
"I've grown," Sam told him.
"Yeah, but so have we," Nate responded. "We're growing more than you are."
"You'll always be a shrimp," Quinn teased.
"Jolly Green Giant," Sam teased back.
"Rather be that than a shrimp," Quinn joked.
Sam didn't have a comeback so she stuck out her tongue at him. Quinn gave her the raspberries back, causing her to giggle. All six guys laughed at the sound.
"I'm going for a swim," Kit announced, getting up. "Do you need one of Jakey's t-shirts?"
"No, I brought a bathing suit," Sam grinned, proud of the fact that she did.
"Good goin', Sammy," Adam stretched his legs as he stood up. "See you down there."
Kit, Nate, Quinn and Bryan followed him.
"Don't forget we'll be naked," Jake told her.
"I won't grab anything," Sam promised.
Jake's jaw dropped before he broke out laughing.
"You remember that, huh?" Jake managed to get out.
Sam just giggled. Jake laughed almost all the way down to the lake.
"What's so funny, Jakey?" Bryan asked, stripping out of his clothes.
"Sam," Jake pulled his shirt over his head.
His brothers looked at him questioningly.
"Don't worry, she promised not to grab anything," Jake told them.
He laughed as five Ely jaws dropped.