Along Came Love (11 page)

"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…"

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.

Hannah and Rusty got there about noon, and
Hannah dug right in and helped Emma with the noon meal. The three
girls talked almost non stop and the men couldn't do much but lick
their lips and get to work. Since there were so many kids, they
made a small table for them on the back porch and crowded them all
around it. The kids couldn't have been happier, it had been a while
since they had seen each other.

Hannah's little one slept through most of the
meal and that made it easy for her to join in the conversation
too.

Everyone ooh and awed over the baby and
couldn't believe Rusty and Hannah made it all look so easy. Jake
couldn't take his eyes off the baby. "He's so little…"

"They all are at this age, Jake," Hannah
laughed. "You are so good with kids, it's time you were settling
down with a brood of your own."

"Maybe…" Jake winked and watched to see if
Sammie Jo and Clay were listening. Sure enough they were.

"So…Emma says you've been seeing Samantha…"
Hannah pinked as Rusty elbowed her under the table.

"Oh that was tactful," Rusty laughed.

"Yes, I have. She's a wonderful lady." Jake
raised his voice to be sure they heard him.

Sammie Jo nudged Clay and he nodded.

Jake smiled with satisfaction.

"How's Selma? I haven't talked to her since
she moved here," Hannah asked, to change the subject.

"Selma is thoroughly enjoying being here
again. She's right back to her bridge party and quilting and all
the things she used to enjoy." Jake helped himself to the chicken
in front of him.

"Samantha must be relieved to see her
enjoying herself again," Hannah said as she passed the gravy.

"She is, but she still frets over her a
lot."

"That's only natural. Selma has been through
a lot." Hannah defended.

"Oh I agree, and if I'm not mistaken, Selma
is happy about it too." Jake laughed.

Deke started talking about the cattle then
and no more was mentioned about Samantha at the dinner table to
Sammie Jo's and Clay's disappointment.

But while the dishes were being done, Hannah
excused herself to the barn and cornered Jake again. Jake knew
Hannah well enough to know her concerns wer genuine.

"Jake, Emma told me about you and Samantha
planning to teach Sammie Jo a lesson but I have to know something.
Samantha is my friend, and I don't want to see her hurt from all
this. If you are just using her to get at them, well, would you
just tell her?" Hannah asked.