Sam sat in his hut in the La Push village he could hear the laughter of the children that danced around the firepit in the main part of the village. His wife Emily was helping with healing someone from a recent hunting incident. Sam found that laughable, hurting one's self while hunting. They were Quileute hunting was in their blood.
What he found even more laughable was the troubles of the village idiot Jacob Black. Everyone in the village, and in Forks for that matter, knew the kid his wife had borne him wasn't his. Hell, it could be anybody's even Sam's. That thought brought him up short, what if it was his? He could claim the child from Jacob who didn't seem to want it or his wife. Though Sam was starting to question if he could father children…
Rumor had it, Leah Clearwater, his ex-wife, was with child. All the years they'd spent together she'd never conceived, and Sam had naturally assumed she was the problem. His current wife seemed to be barren as well and now it seemed Leah wasn't the problem after all. Which meant he'd never father an heir. It was a man's duty to his tribe and himself to pass on his wisdom to a new generation.
He thought back to the day he'd met Emily, she was on the beach down by the water. She was picking up seashells, the ones she like she placed into a pouch tied to her waist. Leah was beside her, they were talking, he had wanted to talk to her but couldn't with his wife there. It dawned on him that this was the cousin she'd mentioned visiting them. Emily was beautiful and perfect for bearing him a son.
Leah had failed him in that aspect for the past two years, they had tried. Maybe what he needed was a new wife, someone younger, prettier, and sweeter. Years of failure had made Leah bitter, and she no longer enjoyed the act conceiving. Leah turned back to look at her mother who had called to her, she walked back down the beach leaving Emily to her task. Sam took advantage of his wife's absence and approached Emily.
"You must be Sam," she said looking up at him when he reached her.
"I am, and you are Emily," he said giving her his most charming smile.
He had been hooked after that day. Obsessing over her. It had taken longer than he would have liked to get rid of Leah. She had been blindsided by his betrayal, he'd felt bad about that, but his future depended on a woman who could give him what he wanted, a son. Though he'd never forget the look on her face their last day together.
"Leah," he murmured looking anywhere but at her.
"What's wrong? You're worrying me you've been acting different for a while now. Are you finally going to tell me why?" she'd demanded.
"…" he took a deep breath. "I've asked the elders for a divorce and they granted it on the bases that you are barren."
"You what?" she said and he could see her heart break as tears filled her eyes.
He helped her pack her things and even helped her get to her father's hut, who had still been alive at the time. When he had Leah dealt with he packed himself, going to the Makah reservation to talk to Emily's father. It had taken some talking and dealing to get the man to agree to the match but at last, he headed home with Emily at his side. The Clearwater's had been stunned to see their cousin in the village and married to Sam, Leah more than anyone, she never spoke to Emily again.
Now here he sat with nothing to show for all the suffering he'd caused. Leah was expecting a child, and rumor had it, Jacob was the father. The bastard had two children though one was only his by name. It wasn't far.
"Sam? You in there?" Billy Black, Jacob's father, asked.
He stood, "Yeah." He opened the door to the hut and stepped out.
"I was hoping we could talk." He said nervously.
"Umm… ok." He stammered.
Billy led them toward the beach and when they were out of sight of the village he spoke. "Jacob wants to divorce the pale face woman."
"And you want to know how divorce worked out for me?" Sam asked.
"Yes," Billy admitted.
"I am a laughing-stock, but that could be caused by the fact that I left Leah because she couldn't convince and now she has and Emily hasn't. Meaning I'm the barren one." Sam explained winded.
"I see, your right that has nothing to do with Jacob." And with that Billy walked away he chuckled under his breath as he went.
Sam sat down a piece of driftwood and watched the ocean waves hit the shore. He was envious of Jacob and even Leah they both have something he didn't, something he couldn't have. Maybe the shaman, Old Quil, could give him something for his issue. With renewed hope, he stood and raced back to the village.