Along Came Love (12 page)

Jake stopped spreading the hay around the
barn and looked at his sister-in-law seriously. "Hannah, I would
never hurt Samantha. She really is a wonderful lady. I promise
you…that is not my intention."

"Then you do like her?" Hannah's eyes
softened on him.

"Very much…." Jake responded, not looking at
Hannah any longer.

"Oh…I'm so glad."

"I've known her a long time, Hannah." Jake
turned to look at Hannah and smiled. "In school though, we sort of
crossed paths but never really got to know each other. I think that
was a huge misunderstanding on both our parts."

Hannah nodded and stared at him a long
time.

"What's wrong…have I got my hat on crooked or
something."

"Deke told us about you not taking the
partnership," Hannah's brows almost crossed.

"Wow, I knew you were direct, just didn't see
this one coming from you. You don't beat around the bush, do you
Hannah?" Jake chuckled. "I like that, nothing better than a
straight out cross examination."

"No…I'm sorry. I have always been a little
blunt, I guess. Forgive me. But aren't you passing up a huge
opportunity?"

Jake shrugged and began spreading the hay
again, "I don't think so, no."

"But with a job like that you'd be
financially set," Hannah frowned.

"That's probably true. But money isn't
everything Hannah!"

Hannah nodded slowly and stared. "You really
are a strange one, Jake. I mean, here you are thinking of starting
a future with a woman and you aren't taking what is right in front
of you. Please don't misunderstand, Jake, but Samantha was married
to a policeman once, and it was rough on her. I'm not sure she
could go through that again."

Jake finally stopped what he was doing and
came to stand in front of Hannah. He saw the real concern in her
face and wanted to put her mind to rest. "I realize that. We've
talked about it."

"Then she knows you aren't taking the
job?"

"She knows."

Hannah threw up her hands and shrugged, "Well
then, there's nothing left to be said I guess."

Hannah started back toward the house but Jake
stopped her, "Hannah, don't worry so much. I know what I’m
doing…And your concern is really appreciated. There is nothing like
family worrying about you to make you feel appreciated."

Hannah tried to smile, but it didn't seem to
reach her lips. She nodded and left.

Jake shook his head and smiled. His
family….they sure did love him!

***

That same evening Jake watched his family
gather about in the living room, swapping tales about what they had
been doing, and he suddenly felt lonesome. Clint sat side by side
on the couch with Abby. Rusty had Hannah on his lap in the rocking
chair and Deke and Emma stood arm in arm by the fireplace.

"Hey, if you guys will excuse me, I'm gonna
take a little ride…."

"At this hour?" Cal asked strolling in the
living room with Emily and Little Clint by his side. Jake smiled.
You didn't see Cal without his grandkids, that was a given.

"I need some unwinding time," Jake
laughed.

"On that bike of yours?" Cal frowned.

"Yes dad, on the motorcycle."

"Son, do you know how deadly those things
are?" Cal asked coming to stand beside him.

"Yes dad, I know. You've informed me many
times. But I don't intend to be reckless dad, and that's mainly why
they are so deadly." Jake reassured him.

Cal shook his head, "Never will understand
how a man can prefer a machine to a horse."

"Takes all kinds, dad, everyone isn't built
from the same mold. I'll be back in a little while…okay?" he looked
at his father with such a smile, Cal waved at him.

But Jake didn't want to ride alone. And he
knew just the person to invite on his late night ride.

In half an hour he was pounding on Samantha's
door. She came to the door with a look of surprise, "Jake…what are
you doing out so late?"

"Man, these small towns sure close up early.
It's only ten thirty. I came to invite you on a ride…." His eyes
took her in, her soft hair flowed about her, and her shirtwaist
dress empahsized her pretty figure.

"A ride?"

"On my bike…" he motioned at the bike parked
behind her car.

"Oh…well, I don't know…" she hesitated.

"Would you trust me….please…" Jake beguiled
her with his smile.

"Oh…all right, let me tell mom where I'm
going," she insisted, "And I better change clothes, dresses aren't
very appropriate for bikes."

"Okay, I'll sit out here on the swing…" he
said and sat down on the two-seater. He barely swung it but it was
so comforting that he almost fell asleep while waiting for her.

She came out in jeans and t-shirt. He glanced
at her and smiled, "Not too far off, just a little ride in the
country."

"Okay, it is a nice night for it," she
glanced up at the full moon.

"Come on, I have a extra helmet," he took her
hand and led her to the bike.

"Any last minute instructions?" she asked her
smile widening.

"Nope, just hang on to me."

She straddled it and her hands crept around
him as he started it and they were off.

He could tell when she relaxed and he patted
her hand, "It's not so bad, is it?"

She seemed to have come closer to his ear,
"No, actually, it feels nice. You know of course I haven't ridden
one in ages."

"I wasn't even sure you'd been on one."

"Billy Joe Murphy used to give me lifts home
on his every now and then from school."

"Billy Joe Murphy?" Jake frowned at the
mention of a fellow classmate having more to do with Samantha than
he did.

"Don't you remember, he was in our chemistry
class…"

"Oh yeah, the one that tried to act like "The
Fonze?"

"That was him. He was actually a pretty nice
kid, when you got to know him."

"I believe you…"

He slowed as he got further out into the
country. The frogs croaked from the pond near the road, and a tree
full of birds flew out as they passed.

Suddenly Jake stopped.

"What are we stopping for?" she asked.

"Thought we'd stare at the stars…" he said
and as she removed her helmet, and he his, he took her hand and
pulled her down the gully and into a meadow. He had grabbed
something out of the back of the bike, and she began to understand
him when he spread the blanket on the ground.

"Wow, I haven't done anything like this since
I was a kid…" she laughed.

"Every now and then," he said pulling her
down on the blanket and wrapping an arm around her, he pulled her
close. She seemed to want to resist at first, but as he lay there
staring up at the stars she began to relax. "I do this when I'm
really tired or stressed. Sometimes you have to stop and smell the
roses so to speak."

She glanced over at him, not realizing he was
so close, "Are you stressed tonight?"

"Nope, tonight, I'm happy," he chuckled and
pulled her closer.

"Jake…this might not be such a good idea…."
She began.

"Samantha, trust me, I'm not going to jump
your bones. I just wanted to share this with you…this time…this
place…this moment." He whispered.

"Okay…" her voice hitched. "It is nice."

He was quiet a long time, and Samantha
glanced over at him and realized he was asleep. She watched him for
a little while, then pulled a dandelion from the meadow and tickled
his chin with it. She leaned over him and looked at him in the
moonlight. About to move away he reached to pull her to him.

"Samantha, you don't mind if I kiss you a
little do you? I mean, I've grown to like your kisses and miss
them…so I…"

Suddenly without warning, she kissed him.

It was a warm, heart stirring kind of kiss
that sent rational thinking out the window. She pulled up a moment,
and he turned her so he was on top, and kissed her again. "You have
the softest lips, I've ever known…"

"Have you known many?" she whispered between
gasps for air.

"Dozens…" he chuckled before he nibbled her
ear. "Samantha, this isn't for Sammie Jo. This is for me." And then
he really kissed her.

He needed this moment, with this woman in his
arms. He couldn't think of anywhere closer to heaven, than this.
She didn't protest, but gave in to it for a change.

His hands went through her hair and he
groaned slightly as he finally came up for air. He looked into her
shining surprised eyes and smiled.

"I'm falling in love with you Sam," he
whispered as though someone might hear him.

She rose up, "You can't be serious," she
tried to laugh.

"Oh but I am…you are beautiful, delightful,
and I want to marry you, Sam." Jake said, as he pulled her
unresisting body back to his. "I was minding my own business, when
this beautiful lady came along in my life. And then it hit me,
along came love. I wasn't looking for it, or asking for it, or even
thinking about it. It just hit me over the head today when Hannah
was asking my intentions. I love you….It's that simple. And when
you love someone, marriage is the only option."

"Jake," she barely uttered before he covered
her lips with his own.

"Forgive me for using Sammie Jo and Clay for
an excuse to be with you." He whispered as he trailed soft kisses
along her jaw. This time his lips controlled hers, and left no
doubt how he felt.

Long drugging moments later they came up for
air, and he cradled her in his arms. He didn't let his hands roam
over her, like he wanted to. Instead he just held her close and
whispered sweet things in her ear.

"Let's get married Sam. I want you…all of
you. But I want to do it right. I want marriage the whole kit and
kaboodle…please…marry me and put me out of this misery."

But obviously she had a dose of good sense
and sat up after a while. "There was a time I'd have jumped all
over you, for asking me to marry you. I think I've been in love
with you all my life, Jake Travers," she admitted her eyes shining
into his.

His hand snaked around her neck and pulled
her down once more for a hot, and steamy kiss. He wanted her and if
he didn't stop this now, he might take an unfair advantage.

"So what's your answer?" Jake propped up on
his elbows and looked up at her.

"I'm not a love struck teenager any more,
Jake. I've been through one marriage, and it was to a policeman
too…"

"Sam…about that…we need to talk…"

"Yes, I know. I've done nothing but give you
a hard time about you being a Sheriff. I'm guilty of comparing you
to Pete, I guess. But I so don't want to make another mistake." Sam
cried out.

"I know that honey, and it won't be a
mistake, because I'm crazy about you." Jake smiled.

Samantha stared down at him, and leaned over
to kiss his bottom lip, "I can't deny my feelings for you Jake…but
please…let's give this a little time. We don't want to rush into
anything."

"Rush into anything. We've known each other
all our lives…" Jake corrected.

"And I've loved you most of mine…" she
whispered.

"I wish I'd known…" he sighed and kissed her
cheek. "Marry me, Sam…."

"It's your family being here," she seemed to
reach at straws.

"Come here," he breathed heavily, and pulled
her down on top of him. In this position she had to know just how
stirred he was as he pressed her close to him and kissed her with
wild abandon. His hands coming up and under her breast, but not
touching her, he groaned aloud this time. And then he rolled out
from under her and stood up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that to go so far.
I'm not trying to grope you, Sam. I really do love you, so much in
fact that I won't touch you till we are married. I want you to be
my wife. I'm not a kid anymore either. I've made some mistakes, but
I don't intend to make many more. Look at me Sam," he walked over
and pulled her up by the arms. "I want you so bad, I can hardly
walk. But I won't touch you, because when you walk down that aisle
you'll be the prize I want. We'll have many nights to remember too.
I don't plan on abandoning you either. My job will always be
important, but never more important than you."

"Jake…" she whispered, her cheeks coloring in
the moonlight.

"Say yes, Sam…say yes!"

"Oh Jake…yes…" she almost screamed.

He stared at her, his expression somber, "I
love you Sam, don't you ever forget it."

"I won't…" she cried and this time she jumped
into his arms and threw her arms around his neck and pulled his
head down for a kiss that sealed their bargain.

Jake sat very still as he glanced around the
office. He hadn't been in this particular office and he wondered if
this is where he would work form. The wooden books shelves lined a
whole wall, and the just polished desk told him the care-keepers
were on the job. He waited patiently for his old friend.

"Good to see you again, Jake." The man
finally stepped inside the room and grabbed Jake's hand in a firm
shake.

"You too. I've been mulling over the letter
you sent for some time. And I've come to a conclusion. Your offer
was more than generous and I want to take the step." Jake shook
hands and sat back down in the soft leather chair.

The man nodded his satisfaction. "I was
hoping you would. It's a big step and for some it would be a hard
one, but somehow I don't think it will be for you. I've always told
you, you are a natural."

"Do I have all the credentials I need, or
will I need to take some crash courses?" Jake asked, his body
relaxing from the man's welcoming smile.

"It will be voted on and I'm sure there will
be no objections, but I'm sure you are more than qualified for the
position. Forgive my optimistic dreams, but I've already inquired
about your background and your qualifications and all of that has
been approved. We are more than a little pleased that you've
considered it, and that you will be working with us. I can't tell
you how relieved I am. I'm retiring at the end of the month and
I'll need someone to take over for me then. Is that too soon, or
can you manage it?"