Along Came Love

by Hestand, Rita

  "Oh…I had no idea." Selma sat up on the bed. "Well, I hope you know what you are doing, dear."

  "Yeah…so do I mom. Are you going to be alright?"

  "Of course I will, I'm just tired. I stayed up too late last night with the girls over. Thought I'd get a little rest. We're going to have a late afternoon tea downtown this evening."

  "How wonderful…" Samantha hugged her. "Oh I'm so glad we moved back here. Things are working out wonderfully, aren't they Mom?"

  Selma smiled and hugged her to her, "Yes, darling, they are, now you run along and let me catch a wink…"

  "Alright, I won't be out late…"

  "Don't worry, I can't promise the same," Selma chuckled.

  *****

  The horse Jake picked out for her was gentle and almost too tame, but Samantha didn't complain. She hadn't ridden in a while and best not to be too bold she figured.

  "So…where are we going?" she said once she was mounted and looking at him.

  "Thought I'd take you on a tour of the 4 Barn None, " he smiled. "After all, we need Sammie Jo to see you with me and this way, she can't help but catch a glimpse since she is out with Clay scouting Indian heads."

  "Alright, lead on…" she snickered.

  The trails were narrow but well ridden and it was easy following Jake's lead. He obviously thought she couldn't ride. She had the greatest urge to show him, but decided it was best not to be a show off. Funny how cowboys got the wild idea that females couldn't do anything though.

  He pointed out boundaries, and places of interest to her, then he stopped along a creek and they got down and had a drink of cool water from it.

  "The water is tasty, not like town water," she smiled.

  "Yeah, I enjoy it myself." Jake laughed. "You know, I’m not much of a cowboy anymore. It's fun coming home and playing at it again."

  "You must like it in Peaceful," she queried, waiting for his answer with interest.

  "It's a nice little town, just like its name. Peaceful."

  "I guess I can't blame you for not wanting to work in some stuffy old office." Samantha watched his expression change. "You must enjoy it."

  "Yes, I do, but that might change too."

  "Oh, how come?" Samantha studied him for a moment, surprised by this announcement.

  "Things are working out for the better now." Jake smiled. "My dad finally knows." He sighed.

  "You told him?"

  "He guessed it. He knows me pretty well. It's my oldest brother that might not come to grips with it. But I think in time everything is going to be just fine…" Jake said with a quietness that surprised her.

  "You do seem a little different lately and I can't quite put my finger on what it is…"

  "I'm not worried about it any longer. My life's about to change, but for the better, that much I know. My brothers will understand this soon too." Jake said staring at her long and hard.

  "Hey, let's sit here and cool off a little…" Jake recommended finding a shady spot.

  "Well, I'm glad for you, I guess…." She said quietly joining him as he spread a blanket on the ground and invited her to sit beside him.

  "It still makes you jumpy, this lawman thing…" he asked studying her face for the answer.

  "Does it show that much?" she turned away to look at the landscape. It seemed to take her breath away. "It's beautiful here…"

  "Tell me more about you and your ex…" Jake pulled a weed and stuck it in his mouth.

  She glanced at him, "You brought me all the way out here, showed me the most beautiful spot on your ranch, and now you want me to talk about my ex?"

  "I'm trying to figure out why you are so against lawmen…" he grinned. "You are against this profession I believe…"

  "Well…yes and no…" she hesitated. "I guess I just happened to be married to a man that was more married to his job than his wife. And I assumed that lawmen were basically alike in that area."

  Jake firmed his lips and nodded, "Some are. But back in Peaceful, it's different. I mean the worst thing that ever happens is old man Purdy forgets to move his car out of the alley from the butcher shop, and Al can't make his deliveries on Monday. So I gotta go tell him to move it, a traffic ticket every now and then. And some mischief makers from the local high school, but nothing like robbery or murder or anything really dangerous."

  She laughed. "You make it sound like something off the television."

  "It is, most of the time." He smiled. "I guess the worse case I had was when Billy Tyler stole his grandpa's truck to take his girl out in."

  Samantha smiled, "What happened?"

  "Billy didn't have a vehicle, and he wanted to take Carrie Davis out. So he ran over to his grandfather's house, waited till he went out in the field to check on something and took the truck. The old man called me up on the phone and he was laughing. Said he wanted me to scare the wits out of the boy, but bring his truck back in one piece."

  "Did you?" she chuckled.

  "Yeah and I felt kinda bad about it later. You see Billy was only twelve…"

  "Twelve? Oh my goodness…."

  Jake looked at her and his eyes went dark, "You look pretty when you laugh…"

  Her smile faded. She became quiet.

  "Did you and Pete ever take rides into the country, or sit by a fire and cuddle or dance to a really bad fiddler's tune?" Jake chuckled.

  Samantha relaxed and lay back a little. "We seldom had those kinds of moments. That was what was wrong."

  Jake nodded. "That's what I figured. You know, it doesn't really matter what a man does for a living, as long as he takes time for things like that with his wife. He can be a fireman, a lawman, even a lawyer, but sometimes he has to take time to be a husband."

  "Pete didn't think so," she murmured.

  "Sometimes, you have to take time for this," he said and before she realized what he was about to do, he reached the distance, pulled her close and covered her mouth with his own. It was a sweet, endearing kiss that began softly and lasted forever.

  When he pulled away, she was startled and confused. "Why did you do that?"

  "You didn't like it?" he queried.

  She crimsoned, and wanted to make light of it, but it had been so unexpected and so terribly sweet, she couldn't object if she wanted to.

  "I liked it…" she said, not daring to look at him.

  "Good, 'cause I plan on doing a lot more of it…" he said softly, waiting for her head to lift and look at him.

  "Jake…we don't have to make it look that good…" she said. "I mean, especially out here, who would see us?"

  "Them…" he pointed in the direction she followed and she saw Sammie Jo and Clay coming straight at them.

  She stood up and composed herself. Sammie Jo was definitely smiling and Clay did his best to hold his in.

  "Hi," Sammie Jo called to them as she rode up, hopped off her horse and joined them. Clay took his time.

  "Hi, what are you two up to?" Jake asked.

  "Oh we're just out trying to dig up more Indian arrow heads." Sammie Jo smiled looking from one to the other and very quite pleased with herself.

  "Yeah, I gotta hurry up and get home and work on my project, Sammie Jo, so we gotta get going," Clay reminded her.

  "We will…" Sammie Jo smiled. "What do you think of the 4 Bar None, Ms. Courtland?"

  "It's quite beautiful and big," Samantha replied looking out at the scenic view. The wildflowers were abundant and a few oak trees decorated the wide open spaces. Buttercups grew all over, and an occasional sunflower.

  "Do you think you could live out in the country?" Sammie Jo asked, her eyes big and wide.

  "Oh I don't know, hon, I've never thought about it…" Samantha answered.

  "Peaceful is almost as pretty as here," Sammie Jo nodded, "Isn't it Uncle Jake?"

  Jake tried to hide the smirk. He didn't want to hurt his niece, or her plans. "Yes, pumpkin it is as pretty."

  "Come on, Sammie Jo, we got to get going," Clay seemed aggravated.

/>   "Okay, I told you not to worry, I'll help you with it," Sammie Jo insisted. "Well, we'll be running along. Enjoy your ride."

  "Thanks…see you guys later," Jake called to them.

  After the kids left Jake shook his head. Samantha chuckled. "She's not very subtle is she?"

  "Nope…that's Sammie Jo for you, lays her cards right out on the table. The boys won't know what hit them when she starts in on them…" Jake laughed.

  "Do you really think this is going to work?" Samantha asked as she helped him fold the blanket.

  "Oh yeah, she's falling right into our trap." Jake nodded, his hands brushing hers as he took the blanket and put it over his horse.

  Samantha firmed her lips, "I hope so…"

  Chapter Six

  It was early morning, Emma had cooked a huge breakfast, and everyone came in sporadically. Rusty and Hannah were due in anytime. Clint and Abby would be there for lunch, it was going to be a busy day at the 4 Bar None.

  Jake had gone to the barn. He took a cup of coffee and set it on the stall gate top, then picked up a curry comb and turned to his horse. The smell of bacon and fresh coffee drifted through the barn as he opened the stall. "You know, there are advantages a horse has to a bike. You can talk to a horse, but a bike doesn't seem to listen."

  "Horses have a way of listening when people don't." Deke boomed from behind him.

  Jake turned to look at Deke with surprise, "Don't tell dad I talk to Custer here, he'll never let me live it down."

  Deke chuckled. "It's kinda nice seeing you in here, doing something like this, by your own accord. I used to think the only thing you liked was that bike of yours."

  "Not the only thing…no…" Jake said with a smile. He glanced at his brother and saw the war cloud forming. It was only a matter of time before Deke let it all out.

  Jake knew from Deke's expression that he'd heard the news. Jake secretly wished he'd had more time to sort out everything for himself before his family began their worrying.

  "Dad just told me," Deke was saying, Deke leaned against the gate and held Jake's coffee.

  "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Okay, bro, let's get this over and done with." Jake turned to look at the serious look on his brother's face. Nothing but concern stared back at him. And he suddenly realized how much he cared about his brothers and family. This constant caring he had all his life, first from his dad, now Deke and the others. He loved his family and didn't want to hurt them. But until he talked to a few people, he couldn't be sure of what to tell them all.

  "Why the hell did you bother taking the exam, if you weren't going to take the position?" Deke asked, taking his hat off and dusting it against his pants leg, then setting the coffee cup back on the gate post and staring at his brother as though he'd lost his mind.

  "Wanted to see if I could pass it, is all," Jake smiled as he curried his horse. "I mean you don't prepare for something half your life and pass it by, because you'll never know if you were good enough."

  "I don't get this, Jake. For years we've all been movin' things aside so you could get the education you needed to do what you wanted. Now it's all done and you don't want it? Have you lost your mind?" Deke paced the small area around the stall.

  "Maybe…" Jake muttered, trying his best not to get mad at his well intentioned brother. "Look bro, I'm about to take the biggest leap of faith in my life. I won't do it until I'm certain."

  "So what does that mean…you gonna be a lawman the rest of your life?" Deke fretted.

  "I'm not sure about that, either," Jake admitted.

  "Jake I don't get this…" Deke fumed. "You're not some snot nosed kid who doesn't know any better. Your grown and frankly not getting any younger. Why would anyone throw this kind of opportunity away? This partnership could set you up for the rest of your life. Put you on easy street."

  "I know bro. And I fully intend to make up my mind about a few things, before I leave here. That's partly why I took a sabbatical so I could do some heavy thinking. There are some things I need to get straight and other things I need to find out. This way, I can be here for the wedding and figure out what I'm gonna do." Jake looked at him now. "I guess I've really disappointed you, huh?"

  Deke scratched the back of his head. "No…you could never disappoint me, but confuse me, yes. Look, I know you got a good head on your shoulders and that you enjoy your work…but damn…Jake…I wish you had told me sooner. I mean, what is this, some sort of mid-life crisis?"

  Jake chuckled aloud, "I don't think it's that bad, but I do have some thinking to do.

  I promise I'll have something to tell you soon…" Jake said putting his hand on his brother's shoulder as though to console him.

  "You can't talk about it?" Deke asked, his frown bigger than Texas. "We've always talked Jake."

  "And we will when the time comes. But that time hasn't come, bro. Not just yet, no." Jake admitted. "Bear with me a little while longer, bro. I'm working on it."

  "But do you realize what a full partnership in the law firm would amount to?" Deke questioned. "You'd be financially set for the rest of your life. I'd never have to worry about your success again."

  "You'd never have to worry again? Deke, you need to quit worrying about all of us so much. I've seen your fret for years, your worse than Dad. I mean, first it was Clint, and the rodeo, then Clint and Abby, then Rusty and Hannah, and now me. I realize you are the oldest in the family, and have this 'Gotta take care of everyone' attitude, but it isn't necessary. With all the problems you have here, on a day to day basis, you shouldn't be worrying about me anyway. It's not a question of money, Deke." Jake affirmed. "And it's really not your place to worry about it. It's mine…"

  "Of course it is, look, I know you didn't take to ranchin'. Although I consider you a top hand, oddly enough it seems to come easy to us Travers men. I also know you like the law. But you could never make what you'd make with a full partnership. I sometimes wonder if you realize what that could mean for you in the future, and you're certainly not gettting any younger." Deke informed him.

  Jake laughed, "Wow, that was a low blow, bro."

  "Sorry," Deke almost smiled. "I know this sounds like I’m coming down on you, but you are sort of keeping me in the dark, and you have some advantages that I don't. I only want what is best for you."

  Jake looked him in the eye now, "Look, don't fret over this, Deke. I know what I’m doing. It may not look like it. It may look pretty lame right now, but this is a serious step for me."

  "Well at least you realize that…" Deke shuffled his feet. Jake became silent again, busying himself with his horse.

  "How'd dad find out?" Deke questioned.

  "Aw…you know dad. Nothing escapes him." Jake smiled.

  "Would it do any good if I had Emma talk to you?" Deke asked. "I mean she's good at this kind of thing, Jake…"

  Jake chuckled again, "No bro…this is something I have to work out for myself."

  Deke nodded.

  "Don't worry so much…okay?" Jake saw the distress in his brother's face and wanted to relieve his mind, but he wasn't going to say another word about his plans until he was sure about them. He'd led everyone down the wrong path already, he wouldn’t do that again.

  "Alright, since I'm butting into your business, I might as well butt in good. How about you and Samantha, is this serious?" Deke blurted.

  "Boy, you don't beat around the bush do you?" Jake chuckled.

  "You don't get answers by being shy." Deke smiled. "And I've kind of wished you would for a long time now. I mean just because your first relationship didn't work, doesn't mean you can't have another."

  Jake stopped for a minute, as though remembering that relationship, then glanced over at his brother. "I hadn't thought of Darla in years."

  "And Sammie Jo mentioned a Laurie Beth, in Peaceful…what of her?"

  Jake glanced at the hay, and thought for a minute then shrugged. "Laurie Beth is a nice lady that I've known her ever since I moved to Peaceful. We've gotten
along good. But she's sorta been pushing me towards the bar exam and the partnership, telling me how much money I'll make, what a future I would have. A lot like a brother I know."

  "And….is this bad?" Deke countered.

  "Right now it is…for one thing, Laurie Beth is a lawyer and she wants me to be one too. She wants it so bad she's been talking law non-stop for months now. It has somewhat hindered our relationship, if you get my drift. I respect her, think a lot of her, but I don't love her." Jake announced, surprising himself.

  "So Darla is history, Laurie Beth is about to become history…where does that leave Samantha?" Deke inquired.

  "I like her…a lot…" Jake answered slowly.

  "Does she know it?"

  Jake shrugged, "Samantha is man shy right now…I think I've got my work cut out for me there. She's just coming off a divorce from another lawman."

  Deke nodded his understanding.

  "One more question, and this is my business…Sammie Jo, I heard you had to talk to the counselor about her. Want to fill me in on that one?" Deke asked, scratching his booted foot into the hay.

  "No use fretting that one either, bro. I did talk to her counselor, but it wasn't anything to worry about. She's just playing match-maker…" Jake laughed.

  "For you?" Deke queried.

  "No…for a couple of teachers. And Samantha is her counselor. We've devised a way of nipping that in the bud, so to speak." Jake informed him.

  "Oh, and just how do you plan on doing that, I haven't been able to stop her," Deke admitted.

  "Samantha and I are playing into her hands. She's decided Samantha and I are meant for each other. So we are playing it up, we'll have this settled by the wedding."

  Jake assured him.

  "So…you and Samantha aren't serious about each other?" Deke asked, turning his head with a question in his eyes.

  Jake stopped and turned to look at Deke, "I didn't say that either…"

  "You are quite a mystery bro, but I aim to figure you out before you leave." Deke affirmed.

  "I'll look forward to it…" Jake chuckled.

  Chapter Seven