Along Came Love

by Hestand, Rita

  "There might be, but I don't have the time to do anything else. Stop fretting. Dating me won't be so bad, now will it?" he grinned.

  She looked more than puzzled at him.

  "Good. I'll pick you up for dinner tonight, at seven?" he smiled and was off.

  *****

  She couldn't refuse him fast enough, he whirled around, took his buggy and went to the check out, leaving her sitting there trying to figure out what she should have said.

  This was one big mistake, Samantha grimaced.

  And she should be home with her mother. But if she could just harness some of her mother's humor this might work after all. She knew Jake wasn't in love with her and she was adult enough to handle that, she'd handled it all her life. But dating him…

  *****

  That evening Jake called upon Samantha for dinner. Selma smiled when she answered the door, "Why Jake Travers, as I live and breathe. How are you doing?"

  Jake smiled irresistibly at Selma and handed her the flowers, "For you, Selma."

  "Me? Why thank you. Come in, Samantha is getting ready," Selma smiled and opened the door wide for him. She smelled the flowers and smiled again, "I haven't had flowers since Samantha's father was alive."

  "Selma, life is too short. A woman like you should have flowers every day."

  "Such a charmer, you are. It's so good to see you." Selma said offering him the recliner. "I'd forgotten what a charmer you were."

  "Why don't you join us, Selma?" Jake asked.

  "Oh, no, you don't need me." Selma laughed. "Besides, I've got a few plans of my own this evening."

  "We'd love it. It would keep Samantha from worrying about you so much." Jake smiled.

  "Well thank you for the invite but I've got several of my friends coming over for bridge tonight, maybe another time." Selma said as she went to put the flowers in water. "And…" She hesitated looking him straight in the eye. "I think Samantha needs to quit hovering over me, and let me live a life too, don't you agree."

  "She's just worried, Selma." Jake said as he peered around the corner for Samantha and didn't see her yet.

  "I know, but Jake I'm so at peace with this. I know where I'm going from here, you see." Selma smiled.

  Jake suddenly looked at Selma seriously, "I'm so glad of that Selma. It makes me very happy to hear you say that. And rest assured someday that will be a happy thing for Samantha too."

  "Yes," Selma's glance encompassed him now, as though his words both pleased and startled her. "You’re a very perceptive and Christian man Jake Travers, and I'm glad my daughter is going out with you."

  "This would have happened a long time ago, if she hadn't been so stubborn. But I guess we just didn't know how to send the right vibes to each other back then."

  "You have all the right vibes, Jake, don't ever change." Selma smiled and offered him some tea.

  As he nodded and she went to get it she came back and looked deeply into his face, "I sense something wonderful about you Jake. I can't put my finger on what it is, but it is there."

  His smile radiated.

  Samantha came out a few minutes later, her hair pulled up and her dress of ice blue was plain, but beautiful against her skin.

  "There she is…" Selma smiled. "You look beautiful dear."

  Samantha kissed her mother on the forehead, "Thank you, hello Jake, I hope I didn't keep you waiting. But since I wasn't sure what to wear I had a lot of deciding to do."

  "Very nice, we'll just take in a restaurant tonight," Jake looked her up and down. "You look wonderful."

  "Thanks."

  "Sure you won't join us, Selma?" Jake asked again.

  "Not this time…" Selma chuckled.

  Jake acted the perfect gentleman opening the car door for her and asking her where she wanted to go for dinner. She told him Buck's Steakhouse, so Jake was pleased.

  At the restaurant they ordered a light wine before dinner and steaks for the main course.

  The restaurant was full of people but they managed to get a secluded corner.

  "So, it isn't long till the wedding, is it?" Samantha tried small talk.

  "No, it's this next weekend." Jake glanced about the place with mild amusement.

  "I guess your dad and Bertha are getting anxious and making a lot of preparations?" Samantha asked, as she sipped the wine slowly.

  "Yeah, the house is in utter chaos. Deke and Emma just returned from their honeymoon, you know."

  "Oh that's right? How did that go?" Samantha ran her finger over the top of the glass.

  "Good I guess, I didn't get any details of course, but they both look five years younger, if that says anything. Deke needed to get away. He's been so intense about the ranch lately. He needed some time away. I really don't know how Emma managed to drag him away." Jake chuckled.

  "Where did they go, exactly?" Samantha encouraged.

  "They took a cruise to the Bahamas." Jake glanced at her again.

  Samantha's eyes lit up. "Sounds wonderful."

  *****

  Jake took her hand, and she nearly jumped. "Easy," he cajoled as his fingers caressed hers. "Didn't you have a honeymoon?"

  If he had caressed her entire body, she wouldn't have felt it more, but the gentle massage of his fingers against hers, sent a fusion of emotions and sensations through her. "No…no, Pete didn't have time…for a honeymoon."

  "Sounds like he left a lot out of the relationship that should have been a natural part of it." Jake inserted gently.

  "Maybe that was the problem, I don't know." Her voice lowered, hitched and finally when she looked into his eyes, she relaxed suddenly.

  "Your mom's going to be all right, Samantha."

  His words stunned her. She hadn't expected them. He had so quickly switched from talking about Pete, to talking about her mother. It took her by surprise, but the sincerity in his voice she quickly took note of.

  She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

  He patted the top of her hand and let go.

  "Thank you." She managed breathlessly. "I have been worried about her. I felt as though coming back here might perk her up, and it has. She's gotten back into some of the same groups, like a sewing group, and a chess group. I'm so glad to see her taking an interest. I wasn't sure if moving would be good for her, but so far, it's been the best medicine of all."

  "She is a remarkable woman Sam. And she has all her priorities in the right place…"

  "How do you know that?" she questioned, picking up his inner calm and the strain of being with him seemed to drain away.

  "We talked a few minutes before you came out looking like a beautiful princess. Selma has everything in order no matter what happens."

  "She told you that?"

  "Yes, she did. I don’t' know why she opened up to me, but she did. I'll admit I'm flattered." Jake said taking her hands across the table and smiling. "I hope you don't mind that she told me?"

  "No…of course I don't mind. It's a great comfort to know she feels so at ease with someone she can talk to about it. I admit I was a little scared to talk to her about that…"

  Jake eyed her a moment, "If anything should happen, Sam, she's ready. I can tell you that…"

  Samantha's eyes began to tear but they didn't spill. She smiled shyly at Jake. She couldn't stop the blush, and to hide her feelings she tried to laugh, "It's very reassuring." She looked away for a second then back at him and blushed, "But I'm not princess."

  "Of course you are…" he said huskily.

  Suddenly she stared into his eyes and found the strangest sense of calm there. The butterflies in her stomach stopped, and she began to relax, completely.

  She'd never imagined such a gentle side to a man before. It was unexpected and like a breath of fresh air.

  The atmosphere in the restaurant changed to one of calm and peaceful, as though Jake himself had ordered it, just for her.

  Their steaks arrived and they were heavenly.

  Their conversation flowed and Sam
antha enjoyed it.

  But as he walked her to her door that night, the tensions seem to mount inside her once more.

  "I enjoyed the evening, Sam…"

  She chuckled lightly, "Sam…huh…."

  "Do you mind, I’m comfortable with it…" he smiled.

  Another blush dotted her cheeks. She felt flushed and she shouldn't. He was merely being charming.

  He came closer, took her chin in his hand and smiled down into her eyes, "I know you aren't fond of policemen. And from our past relationship, I may be moving too fast, but would you mind if I kissed you?"

  "Well…I…" she began, but his head lowered and his lips touched hers. She hadn't expected this. His lips were so soft, so warm, and so inviting. He moved his mouth gently over the top of hers for long lingering moments, then raised his head and looked into her eyes. His smile was all for her.

  "I've wondered about that for a long time," he whispered for her ears only.

  "You have…?" she gulped, still reeling from the impact.

  "Mm…it was better than I imagined." He smiled again. "Goodnight Sam…"

  He turned and left…she was speechless.

  Then suddenly he turned back with a smile, "We're going riding tomorrow, I'll pick you up at one…."

  "Oh but…"

  It was too late, he was gone.

  Chapter Five

  Jake whistled softly as he walked inside the house. It was dark and it didn't look as though anyone was up. But Cal's voice called him into the kitchen.

  "So…how was your date?" Cal smiled as he sat and sipped his warm milk. His expression seemed knowing.

  "Very nice…actually…what are you doing up?" Jake turned his head in question.

  "I couldn't sleep. I hadn't gotten a chance to talk to you much about passing the bar and how proud I am of you." Cal smiled.

  Jake bent his head and went to the refrigerator, poured himself a glass of milk and came back to the table to sit across from his father. Seeing the oatmeal cookies Emma had put in the glass jar on the counter, Jake took out some napkins and gave himself and his father a couple. Cal chuckled.

  Was it time to tell his father? He looked into Cal's blue eyes and smiled. There was something so comforting about his father that he didn't feel the least inhibited about it.

  "I figured this conversation would come up soon," Jake acknowledged his shoulders tensing.

  "You're not taking the partnership are you?" Cal asked, his smile still on his face as he fingered the cookie then took a bite.

  Jake glanced at his father with question in his eyes, "How'd you know? How do you always know?"

  "I guess it's that third sense a parent has that lets him know when there is something going on." Cal replied evenly, his eyes taking on a faraway look for a moment, "You're Mom said that was her job, second guessing you kids, but I beat her to it most times. I hope you weren't dreading telling me, son. You can tell me anything you know. I'm your father and I love you no matter what you do or say."

  "Have I disappointed you dad?" Jake asked dipping his cookie into his milk and taking a bite.

  "Not in the least. I've always been proud of you Jake. If you want to go on being a lawman, that's fine with me, either profession is honest and upstanding. I only hope you've thought it through and are sure of what you want. Although I must admit, I was looking forward to you being around here more. I think that is what appealed to me the most, having you home more." Cal said quietly, staring into his son's eyes. "You know son, there's something different about you lately that I haven't quite put my finger on. But I still feel it."

  Jake smiled at his father. Glancing around the kitchen at all the familiar earmarks of Emma's feminine hand, Jake relaxed. "Dad, I took the bar to prove something to myself. I suppose that I could pass it or not, and if I did, would it make me feel differently. It didn't. But you're right there is something different, I'm just not sure I want to discuss it yet. I'm not trying to be secretive, but there are some things a man has to work out for himself before he goes and tells everyone else. And I'll always be around, you know that, Dad. You ever need me, I'm there, you know that…don't you."

  "Yeah…I guess I wished you'd move back home…But…that's okay. I'm glad you told me this much though. I didn't want to make a fool of myself bragging about you passing the bar at my own wedding."

  "I guess Deke's the one I have to worry about," Jake cleared his throat.

  "Yeah, you know Deke; he's had this same pattern set in his mind about you for years. You try to tell him something different, he'll be disjointed for a while. But he loves you too and he'll get over it. I mean, I was surprised he handled Clint and the rodeo thing as well as he did, of course Emma had a strong hold on him about that one, too. It's funny, but for years I worried about you boys not having a woman, and now, well, everyone does…well…" Cal studied his cup of milk for a long moment. "So you and Samantha, are you hitting it off?"

  Jake shrugged, his mind going back to how beautiful she had looked. But it wasn't the outside he liked so much; it was what was deep inside her heart. "I've liked her a very long time dad, but never told her…"

  "Well why on earth not?" Cal frowned instantly. "You know a woman likes to hear it."

  "She's kind of a skittish filly, dad. She's been through one bad situation and she's afraid of falling into another. Not that I blame her. I don't want to rush things myself, I'll scare her away. She's not much on lawmen, you know. And Selma, well, with her having cancer…" Jake sighed.

  "I know, that's such a shame, but Bertha says she has a better attitude than most about it. She's pretty upbeat for someone who has been through the ringer a time or two. Bertha visits her regular. Said the woman hasn't changed a bit since she was a kid. I sure hate to see her sick though." Cal shook his head. "But it's the craziest thing, Bertha says Selma acts as though nothing is wrong and goes about her business. She's become active with her hobbies and sees her friends regularly."

  "She's only sick, physically dad, she's very well, otherwise." Jake smiled. "I'd say Selma has it together more than most."

  "Oh, you seem to know an awful lot about her, did Samantha tell you this?" Cal asked.

  "No, Selma set me straight. I, like you, felt sorry for her too, until she told me she was ready to meet her maker and she knew where she'd be going."

  "Selma told you this?" Cal looked at his son strangely. "That's odd that she'd confess such a thing to you. I mean, that's kind of private, don't you think."

  Jake put the milk up and sat down again with his father, looking deep into his face. The love he saw etched there comforted him like a warm blanket, and he knew he could tell his father anything. And he would soon…

  "Why? She stood right there in the middle of her living room and witnessed for me, dad. It was pretty mind boggling."

  "Well, I don't know, seems more like something a person would tell a preacher, not a lawman." Cal chuckled to himself.

  Jake shrugged, "Maybe she just wanted me to let Samantha know…"

  Cal shook his head, "Yeah, of course, what was I thinking. Sure, that's why, that makes sense. So did you tell her?"

  "I did…and she was glad to know it. Said she suspected as much, but her mother had never talked about anything like that with her. Just surprised like you that she told me."

  "Well, it is a little unusual," Cal defended. "I mean, you’re a lawman."

  "Sometimes, unusual is good, dad…" Jake smiled, as he thought about Selma.

  When his father still looked puzzled he smiled once more…"Night dad."

  "Ya know son, I know exactly where I'm going too…" Cal didn't look directly at Jake, but continued to talk. "I guess I never talked about it much around you kids, but your mother's constant 'Go to church' routine was quite effective." Cal cleared his throat and didn't look directly at Jake. "She wanted you all to be God fearing Christians and I did my best to encourage it myself. Although…we've never sat down and had much to say about it. But me and the Lord are on pretty go
od terms, I'd say."

  Jake nodded, but the expression on his face was not condescending, it was one of contentment. "I'm so glad to hear you say that…and I thank you for all you've done. You've been a wonderful dad. But it's really nice being able to talk to you about it. I feel as though I can tell you anything."

  "Night son…" Cal said with a tear in his eye that didn't fall.

  Jake glanced at his father, knowing they had shared an extra special moment together, he leaned a fraction over his father, kissed him on the top of his head and left before Cal could react.

  *****

  At one o'clock the next afternoon Jake was knocking on Samantha's door. Selma answered again and smiled, "Jake, how nice to see you again so soon."

  "I came to pick Samantha up, we're going horseback riding," Jake exclaimed.

  "How wonderful, she didn't mention it," Selma smiled, and opened the door for him. "Come on in, I'll see if she's ready, then."

  Samantha was rummaging through her closet; she'd just stepped out of the shower, with a towel around her, when her mother knocked on her door. "Samantha, Jake's here to take you riding."

  "Okay, thanks mom," Samantha sighed heavily as she rummaged for a pair of faded jeans and t-shirt. Hurriedly throwing them on, she combed her hair into a ponytail and came out of her room.

  Jake was sitting alone on the couch, as her mother had gone into her own bedroom to lie down.

  "Jake, I wasn't sure you were serious about taking me riding, so I just threw this on, is it okay?" she asked nervously.

  "You look great. Are you ready?" he asked.

  "Yes, but let me check on mother first, please…"

  "Of course," Jake nodded.

  Samantha went into her mother's room that was cracked open. Her mother was lying on the bed, her eyes closed, but fluttered open when the door opened. "Going out, dear?"

  "Yes…I didn't think Jake was serious about taking me riding, Mom. But well…we are trying to teach his niece a lesson. You know the one I told you about, Sammie Jo. She's been playing cupid and we can't get her to stop. Jake thinks he and I can teach her a real lesson. That's why we're going out…"