Cq: I'm back!

Sam/Katherine: Yay!

Cq: yup :D

Gus: Quick, let's get this up before Shawn gets here!

Cq: you got it Gus ;)

Enjoy! PM me with reviews :D

Cq of egypt does not own Holes, if she did, then Sam and Kate would be married on the onion grove by now :)

To all of my readers and to those who have been waiting... Happy New Year. I appologize for the long wait, and I hope you'll continue to enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. R&R!

Taking a Chance

Sam's POV
My mission was complete. After completing the door that would keep the utensils in their place and Katherine and the children warm from the gusts of wind that blew during storms, I was finished… with the schoolhouse, of course.

Just because Katie and I were separated by a mile and a half of land and sea, didn't mean anything. I'd be darned if I was going to let Trout or anyone else take away what so preciously belonged to me.

Kill me they may try, but I would fight tooth and nail before the sheriff, Walker, or anyone else try to harm a hair on Katherine's head.

As I stood near her now, my heart was beating a mile a minute. I wanted to repay her for that kiss the other night, but now wasn't the time. Momma's feather I had brought along, pinning it to my brim until I had the chance to give it to her.

As we stood outside the schoolhouse, Katie looked shocked, and lost for words.

"Sam, this is the finest schoolhouse in all of Texas" she declared finally. I was touched, feeling the heat rise to my face. "Thank you" she said, wanting to say more, but her expression said it all.

"Thank you, Miss Katherine" I said. As we shook hands, I noticed the bandage was gone. Her hand had healed up good as new. I kept back a grin, though in looking her over, she looked lovely. The daisy Hattie had picked for her… the one Katie put in her hair was a perfect touch.

I nodded and decided that now was the time. I gave her the feather. As she looked it over, and looked back at me, we smiled at each other. Heartbroken, yet fulfilled, I walked away, back to the boat that would take me back to the onion grove.

As I rowed and got ready to turn around towards home, I looked over to my right. There stood Katherine on the school steps, getting ready to go back inside.

As our eyes met, I swore she was the most beautiful creature on the planet. Hopefully one day soon, she would also be mine.

(A/N: Purrr! ^_^)

Katherine's POV
As we stood looking at the school house, I was speechless, and sad. Sam had done a heavenly job on the repairs… the schoolhouse looked brand new!

As I stood gawking for a second, the thought that he would be leaving in a few moments got stuck in my head. Forcing that out of my head, I turned to him. "Sam, this is the finest schoolhouse in all of Texas… thank you" He smiled at me.

I'd never seen a man look as handsome as he did at that moment. "Thank you, Miss Katherine" As we shook hands, I knew he could tell my hand was healed. I squeezed his hand a little to thank him for that as well. The way he looked at me then made me feel as loved as Annabel Lee.

Before he walked away, Sam reached up to his brim and took something from it… a feather; he gave it to me without a word. I could feel his eyes on me and we smiled as we looked at each other.

How I wanted then to tell him how much he meant to me, how much I love him! He walked away, back to his boat, the Mary Lou. I followed him with my eyes, walking back to the schoolhouse.

I couldn't go back inside just yet. I turned, and saw him… and our eyes met.

Oh to be his wife and sit across from him as he rows along the lake! Sadly, it's only a dream that in my world would never come true.

Sam's POV

It's been three days… three long days since I've seen my angel. I can't sleep, I've had to force myself to eat, but nothing helps. I need to go back… I need to see her.

I paused there, in the kitchen, somehow getting the feeling that something wasn't right. After managing not to cut myself shaving, only by the grace of God, I grabbed my coat and headed out the door. I'm coming Katherine…

Katherine's POV
It's been three days since I've seen Sam. The feather he gave me is now ruined. I wept bitterly as I remembered what happened yesterday…

Flashback
Trout came back to the school, it being a Friday, the day I usually give night lessons. He asked me to go out with him on a picnic again. I refused, again.

"What, someone out there better than me?" he growled. Yes there most certainly is I thought. I ignored his question. "Answer me!" he yelled, forcing me to look at him. We were standing in front of my desk.

I had taken out the feather from its hiding place, inspecting it, and dreaming of Sam. On the quill was a small indentation, two letters on either side of a slash. E/S… E/S? Could they be initials for something… maybe Sam's parents?

The thought made me shiver with delight. Where were Sam's parents? Were there other members of his family? I saw Trout look over my shoulder and over to my desk.

He'd seen the feather. I shut my eyes tight. Why oh why hadn't I tucked it safely away? "Huh… what's this? It's a feather" I managed not to roll my eyes. Of course it's a feather you dimwit! I wanted to scream. I stayed silent.

"Where'd you get this?" Trout asked. I didn't answer. Trout sauntered over to me, twirling the feather in his fat fingers.

"Where'd you get it Katie…huh?" he ran the feather across my cheek. I shivered in disgust. Where was Sam? Trout seemed to be enjoying his game, evidenced by his sadistic grin.

"Well… since you're not gonna answer my… question, why don't we just do a little magic trick, huh?" he held the feather to the flame of the candle. I gulped. Sam would never forgive me.

"Who gave you this feather?" Trout roared. I was silent, tears coming to my eyes as the flames licked the soft quills. Trout grinned and held the feather even closer to the flame. I was done for as far as Sam was concerned. I couldn't give him up though!

"Who gave you this god-forsaken feather?" Trout screamed. I shook my head. Trout laughed evilly and engulfed the feather into the flame. I watched, tears' pouring down my face as my beloved's feather was destroyed.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to beat the livin' guts out of him! I burst into tears and sank to my knees… I had lost the feather, but I had not said Sam's name. Lord knows what would happen if I had.

Unfortunately Trout wasn't finished with me just yet. He grabbed me roughly by the shoulders, forcing me to stand up.

"Now, don't you feel a lot better?" he asked, feigning sympathy. "Now, dry your tears…how 'bout a li'l kiss?" he grinned wickedly. I stopped crying at that moment and stared at him. He was out of his mind!

"No" I growled. Trout looked as if he hadn't heard me. "Excuse me… what?" I seethed. "NO! Now get out of this schoolhouse before I tear the living crap out of you Clayton Thaddeus Walker!" Trout looked at me in disbelief.

"What did you just say to me?!" he was in my face. "Now you kiss me or so help me Katherine Barlow I will make your life a livin' nightmare!" I couldn't help it… I smacked him… HARD. He yelped in surprise and stumbled back into one of the desks.

"Why you little TRAMP!" He ran for me, but I was quicker. I ran out the door into the rain. It had been raining a lot lately, but that didn't matter. I had to get home. Oh Sam… where are you?

End Flashback
Tears poured down my cheeks as I thought about the situation. If I hadn't run when I had, I probably would be dead or seriously injured by now. All of this jealousy, hate… over a simple feather? It was illogical! I wept again as I thought about the feather.

It made sense. Sam had been given that feather, probably by his mother… then it was destroyed… because of me! How could anyone see past that?

Then I realized. It was about Sam… the idea that a man like Sam would give me something, only for me to refuse something that Trout was trying to do…and for good reason I might add… It was too much for Trout. I'm thankful that I hadn't breathed a word… Sam being an African-American just added insult to injury.

I tried to smile at this thought, but tears kept leaking down, some spilling over the page of Annabel Lee. It's pouring rain outside… exactly how I feel inside. I love Sam… if he asked me to marry him I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The idea that my Sam could be killed because of me only breaks my heart even more. The tears keep flowing. I can't make them stop.

I didn't hear anyone come in, and didn't notice anyone until a strong, gentle hand covered my own, and an equally gentle, familiar, strong voice whispered: "I can fix that"

I looked up in shock and disbelief.

Sam had come back! He was here! How? Why? As if giving me the answers to all of my questions, he caressed my hand with his thumb, helping me to stand up and stand with him.

As we looked into each other's eyes, everything fell into place. He leaned down, and I met him halfway… our lips touched for the first time. The kiss we shared was soft, gentle, and full of long suppressed feelings of love.

We kissed for about a minute or so, not realizing that Trout was riding outside, and had seen us. Even if he did, I wouldn't have cared.

As Sam's and my kiss ended, I smiled, still confused as to how he knew. There was a look in his eyes that said he would explain everything later as he wiped the tears away from my eyes, and caressed my cheek.

I sighed in contentment, wondering what this would mean for us in the near future. I tried to tell my brain to shush and enjoy the moment as I lay my head on his chest. He held me as if I were the most fragile porcelain in the world.

I was so tired… all I wanted to do now was sleep like this forever, with Sam Gardener holding me in his strong arms…

Sam's POV
As I rowed across the lake and docked, petting Mary Lou who met me with a soft bray, the feeling that something was wrong with Katherine got stronger.

It was pouring rain out here. I checked the house, checking to be sure I was not being watched. As I received no answer at the door, I realized Katherine must be at the school.

As I approached the schoolhouse looking through the window, Katie was sitting at her desk. I walked inside quietly.

Walking silently up to her, I noticed that she was slumped over the desk, her poetry book opened to the poem of Annabel Lee. She wasn't reading it. Instead, I saw three tears hit the page. My heart wrenched in pain.

What had happened to make her cry this way? If Trout harmed her in any way at all, I would be his worst nightmare! My thoughts returning to Katherine, I grasped her hand gently… propriety be shot. Katie was in trouble… I had to help her.

My heart was breaking at seeing her so upset… I whispered the one thing that meant the most to the both of us at that moment: "I can fix that" Katherine looked up at me, her ocean blue eyes swimming in tears, confused as to how and why I was here.

Not answering her questions, I helped her to stand. Now I believe God ordained marriage as a sacrament… and the love between a man and his wife was unbreakable. As I looked at my Katie, though she was not my wife, yet, I knew that our love would survive anything.

Little did we both know that we needed that belief for the danger lurking outside. I did not know this, but Trout had gone riding, observing the town that would someday 'belong' to him. I also did not realize two very glaring details.

One was that he planned to marry Katherine, and to do that, he would do anything to get rid of me. The other was that he'd seen the way that we look at each other, and I also did not realize he had destroyed my mother's beloved feather.

Despite this, Katherine and I stood quietly together for what seemed eternity before I took the chance. I leaned down to her face about halfway where she met me.

Our kiss… ah how do I explain a kiss that pure, that beautiful, and so full of our love? I don't know how long it lasted, but both of us felt the onslaught of suppressed feelings that we'd held in for the past several months.

She may not be my wife just yet, but if we continue this way… I'm liable to bend right now! After wiping the remaining tears off of her cheek, she smiled. I held her as she sighed in contentment, leaning her head against my chest.

I held her in a loving embrace, tight, yet not overbearing. She was young, soft, and fresh…in many ways still a young girl, needing someone to love her as she was, and protect her from dirt bags like Trout.

As I held her against me, she was like fragile porcelain that would break if I let go. I took advantage of the opportunity and smelled her hair. Despite the rain it smelled of sunshine.

I let out the breath I had been holding for the past forty-five seconds. Henry was going to go nuts when he heard about this… I didn't care… all I wanted was to hold my Katherine like this forever….

Trout's POV

The boys and I were out in the saloon all evening bragging and 'making idiots of ourselves' as Almyra, the bartender's wife told us. We ignored her, me especially.

I needed some fun after the pain Katherine had caused me! The fella's were drinking themselves silly, so I decided to go out for a ride. It wouldn't be long before my daddy kicked the bucket.

I wanted to go and look at the town…my town. As I rode around in the rain, my thoughts went over what had happened yesterday. Why had Katherine been so upset over a stupid feather? It was just that… a stupid…withered feather that nobody but her was going to care about, least of all me!

If that girl was going to be my bride, she'd have other things to think about… like our wedding night. I grinned proudly to myself. Yep, I'd have her yet. She could do all the hootin' an hollerin' she wanted to, but in the end, she'd be mine!

I was just crossing the road across the schoolhouse, when I noticed there were candles lit inside. It was difficult to see in the rain, but it looked like Katherine was in the schoolhouse… with a man, and not just any man.

I watched in horror and rising fury as that harlot kissed none other than the Onion picker! It wasn't just a kiss you give on the cheek to a friend, either.

This was a full blown wedding at the alter kiss… the one I was supposed to ta-I mean… get, from her! I felt sick as I watched them. I couldn't take any more.

Turning my horse I rode home. Katherine Barlow would be sorry she'd ever met that Onion picker… and when I was done with him, she'd be begging me to take her back…

Kate: whimper: uh-oh… he's gonna find us
Sam holds her
Sam: smirk: I can fix that
Kate: how?
Sam: wink… just wait, Katie girl… you'll see
Gus: smiling at the two lovebirds: now do you see why I said that aint' me?
Shawn: whatever! Let's get back to the story!