Chapter 23

"So you had fun in Reno?" Jen asked Sam when they were back at school.

"Oh I had a blast," Sam smiled. "The rock climbing was so much fun."

"I can't believe your family let you go to Reno with a bunch of guys," Jen shook her head as they went down the hallway together.

"They're my brothers," Sam shrugged.

"They're not though," Jen reminded her. "Plus you stayed at a guy's house without supervision." She shook her head again. "I wish my parents let me do that."

"I used to go camping with them," Sam told her. "I went for years with six guys and just me."

"I never understood that either," Jen laughed.

"They're my family," Sam shrugged again. "They've been my family since I was four."

"It doesn't hurt that they're hot," Jen raised her eyebrows behind her glasses.

"No, it doesn't," Sam laughed. "Of course, I'd love them all even if they weren't."

"Though it doesn't hurt," Jen laughed.

"That they're hot," both girls finished with a laugh.

"How's Ryan?" Sam asked as they went into their first class.

"Hi Mrs. Ely," the two friends greeted their teacher.

"Hi Jen, Hi Samantha," Mrs. Elys smiled at the two of them.

Jen and Sam found their seats before Jen answered Sam.

"Ryan's good," Jen told Sam. "They're getting a new horse in."

"Yeah?" Sam's interest perked up.

"Another Appy," Jen said.

"A stud for Hotspot?" Sam wondered.

"Yeah," Jen nodded. "Dad's not happy that Linc wants a stallion on the place. He thinks Linc is just asking for problems."

"What about Ryan though," Sam said. "He's an experienced horse person."

"Geldings or mares," Jen responded. "None of them have stallion experience."

"Oh my goodness," Sam groaned. "It's going to be a disaster. I just have a feeling."

"Then you and my dad are psychic," Jen wrinkled her nose. "He said the same thing. Called it a disaster too."

"Let's face it," Sam sneered. "Anything Slocum touches is a disaster."

"Why are you speaking about my father?" Rachel had come in. "Did I give you permission to discuss my family?"

"Oh get off it Rachel," Sam rolled her eyes.

"All right, ladies," Mrs. Ely started her class.

"Don't mess with me, cowgirl," Rachel hissed under her breath in Sam's direction.

"Just don't speak to me," Sam hissed back. "Control your crazy father and then I won't have to talk about him."

"Oh that's rich," Rachel hissed back. "You're the one stuck stupid by a kick in the head."

"Rachel!" Mrs. Ely's voice interrupted the two.

"Yes ma'am?" Rachel's accent became more pronounced.

"I want you down at the principal's office now," Mrs. Ely came towards the rich girl. "I will not have you disrupting my class."

"Me?" Rachel yelped. "She was talking as much as I was." Rachel pointed at Sam.

"I just heard your voice," Mrs. Ely informed her. "Now go."

"Oh I'll go," Rachel gathered her things. "And I'll make sure Mrs. Santos knows about Sam dating your son. You treat her differently than you do the rest of us and I will have something done about it."

Sam's jaw dropped and she glanced at Maxine. She had never seen Jake's mom as angry as she was at this moment.

"You do that," Mrs. Ely snapped. "Now go!"

Rachel gave Mrs. Ely a look and left the room. Mrs. Ely glanced quickly at Sam before going back to the front of the room. Sam couldn't interpret the glance and by the way Jen was looking at her, neither could she.

"Did you understand all that?" Jen asked Sam later at lunch.

"Not a bit," Sam shook her head. "I mean, Jake's mom is like my unofficial mother since mine died, but I don't feel she treats me any differently than anyone else."

"She does a little," Jen pointed out. "She probably can't help it."

"I don't think she does," Sam's voice hardened and Jen made a settle down motion.

"She greets you every time you come into the room," Jen said. "She doesn't do it to everyone."

"Jen, I'm dating her son," Sam reminded her. "I've known her since I was four years old."

"So she probably does treat you a bit differently," Jen shrugged. She raised her hand before Sam said anything. "I don't mean it in a bad way. I don't think it's blatant."

"I don't see it," Sam retorted.

"It's not like what Rachel insinuated," Jen told her.

"Of course, it's not," Sam insisted. "I love Jake's mom. Am I supposed to ignore the fact that I know her?"

"Of course not," Jen murmured. "I think most students wouldn't know you were so close to the family unless they were told."

"Good, I'd hate for Mrs. Ely to get into trouble because of me," Sam sighed.

"I'm sure she won't, Samantha," Jen assured her.

Sam nodded, hoping it was true. She knew Rachel enough that Sam knew the rich girl would try to try and make it difficult for her and if it meant hurting Jake's family in the process then Rachel wouldn't care.