Sam had spent most of her time on the ranch, with all the extra work and the bookkeeping to do, she didn't have the energy to go into town. Tonight she sat on the porch trying decide if she had the energy to fix herself a bite to eat. Sam wasn't used to preparing her own meals and was missing her mother's touch in the kitchen. Robbie had decided to join a ladies book club and spent more time in town than at home these days. Sam loved the smile that had attached itself on her mother's face along with the bright and cheerful personality that came with it, but she missed her being in the kitchen whenever she came in for coffee or a meal, selfish child that she was.
Sam had taken on the responsibility of weaning and vaccinating the foals this year, in Jake's absence. The job had proven to be almost more than she could handle on her own. Her horse Major, worked as hard as she did, taking off after the foals as they tried to get away from the horse and rider barreling down after it, sliding the rope around it's head to slow it down. Once the foal had been roped it would follow the horse to the new corral, away from it's mother. The mother would be herded into a pasture far enough away from her foal that she couldn't hear it whinny and call to her, causing her agitation. She would await the birth of her next foal in the lush grass of the new field, until time for her give birth. When the time got close, all the mares would be transferred to a pasture next to the corral. Sam kept a close eye on them and watched for any signs that one was ready to deliver. Day or night, she checked on them every few hours. If a horse got in trouble delivering, she needed to be close by in order to help the mother out. Sometimes, the foal needed more help than the mother could give, to find that first glimpse of light. Some were born in the barn, if they needed to be watched, but most were born out in the pasture, standing on their wobbly spindly legs, almost as soon as they were born.
Sam had delivered enough foals she was almost as talented at it as the vet. Dr. Hendricks had been their vet for thirty years, before Sam was even born. She hadn't had the occasion to call him for many months, since things were going pretty well on the ranch. Today, she had a sick foal and she didn't know what else to do for it. She had tried everything she knew of and he was no better after twenty four hours. Not wanting to take a chance that he would become dehydrated, she called the office. Nancy answered and told her that Dr. Hendricks was away on vacation, but Dr. Ned could take a look at it for her. Sam asked her who Dr. Ned was. Nancy and Sam had gone to school together and were good friends, but Nancy had a family of her own, so they didn't see each other too often. She was happy to give Sam the lowdown on the new Doc that had joined the practice. "Sam, he's so cute and just as nice as can be. If I wasn't happily married...anyway, all the ranchers are really quite happy with him. You know he's taking over the practice when Dr. Hendricks retires soon, why it's only a month away now. We're so lucky to have found him." Nancy told her happily. She assured Sam that Doc would be by sometime later in the day. Sam hung up and looked over at the foal, shaking and unable to hold his head up. She sat down in the straw beside him and stroked his back, talking to him and singing a low tune, close to his ear.
Sam got up and began to brush the straw off of her jeans, when the door to the barn shut abruptly. She looked up to see Jake standing in front of her. "Sam." he said flatly. "Jake! What are you doing here? The cops are looking for you." she said backing into the stall, suddenly afraid. Jake stepped closer to her, "Did they say why?" he asked in almost a whisper. Sam shook her head, no. Jake turned to walk out of the stall and then turned back toward Sam so quickly, he knocked her down. A loud umph sounded, as she hit the barn floor and Jake stuck his hand out to help her up. Suddenly he came flying over Sam's head. She ducked and rolled out the way of his large frame, her eyes landing on a pair of muddy boots in front of her. She leaned back and looked up. Standing in front of her was a tall man holding a doctors bag in his hand. He reached out to help her up.
Jake had gotten his senses back and was standing up, looking at the guy like he was going to kill him. "So sorry, I missed my footing when I came in the door." the stranger said. Sam had gotten to her feet and took a better look at him. "Ned! What in the world?" He began to laugh, "Hi Sam, long time no see." Sam began to laugh, "So you are the new doc? I never put it together that it was you, when Nancy told me there was a new doc in town." Jake interrupted this little reunion, "What do you want here?" Ned wasn't too keen on Jake's tone and answered, "I was called to come out and look at a foal. Who are you?" Jake looked a bit taken aback and replied, "Jake, I own this place." Sam's mouth twisted into a grim smile at this remark and said, "No Jake, you don't. You don't have any interest in this ranch at all. Now listen Jake, don't even think you can intimidate me anymore, it won't happen. I don't know why you are here, but I think you better get gone." Jake had taken on a look of pure anger. "What do you mean I don't have any interest? I have as much as you do!" he yelled at her.
Sam let her hands brush over her jeans and looked down with a grimace, "Jake, do you want me to call the cops? I'd really like you to be gone before Mom and Dad come home." Ned stood quietly beside Sam and listened to this exchange with interest, but not willing to interfere, if it could be avoided. Jake shot her a menacing look and huffed out of the barn. They heard his truck taking off down the road, spraying gravel in his wake. Sam looked up at Ned, "Sorry, it's a long story." He shook his head as if to forget the scene that he had witnessed and said, "Let's take a look here." After a while he gave the foal a shot and reached into his bag. Handing Sam a bottle of electrolytes and instructions he prepared to leave. Sam didn't really need instructions, but she was glad that the foal wasn't any sicker than he was. "How about a cup of coffee?" she offered. Ned nodded and they headed to the house.
Sam smiled at him while she poured the coffee and he laughed, "I know, you are wondering what in the world possessed me to come out here to practice." She laughed, "You are the ultimate city boy to me. I was sure you had set up practice in "downtown somewhere", with a cute little wife and three kids by now." "I take offense at that!" he laughed. "I guess that is the impression I left you guys with at school. But you know, we all deserve the the chance to grow up and find our calling. Marriage was almost, almost.. in the cards for me, but I blew it." he told her with a little sadness in voice. Sam looked at her old friend with kindness, "You aren't the type to blow it." He smiled and took a deep breath, "I was so wrapped up in myself and where I wanted to go, and how quickly I wanted to be there, I forgot to take care of other things. She got tired of waiting." Sam poured him another cup and he leaned closer to her, "What about you, a special guy somewhere waiting for you tonight?"
Sam laughed out loud and almost snorted her coffee through her nose, "Not hardly. I don't get off the ranch anymore, no time for romance or even friends anymore." She shook her head and her lips were tight for a moment. "No, I can't even remember the last time I had a date." Ned laughed, "With that hair do, I can see why." She smacked him in a brotherly fashion and patted her hair. Laughing she said, " I think I brushed it this morning, but I wouldn't swear to it." Ned shook his head, "You are too pretty a girl to languish here on the ranch. What do you intend to do about it?" Sam stood up, "Not a thing. I have all I can handle right now. The only think I'm looking for is a new horse, or a few cows. That I can handle just fine."
Ned stood up with her and said, "Why don't you go with me to the Steak House tonight? We can talk over old times and get a good meal to boot?" Sam smiled, "I'll meet you there, after my shower." Ned went to the door to let himself out, "Do something with that hair!" He laughed and ran to his truck, knowing full well she might throw something at him. Sam watched him pull out of the drive and sat back down, to think about Jake. She was unsure whether to tell her folks yet, or just Tim. She picked up her cell and called Tim, no answer. She went out to check on the foal again before taking her shower. He was resting better so she knew the meds were beginning to take hold and he would recover in a few days.
Heading in to town to meet Ned, Sam passed Jake on the highway headed back to the ranch. She did a U'ee and headed after him. He had already gone into the house by the time she got there and was getting back in his truck. She hurried around to his truck, "Jake, what are you doing back here?" She noticed the large book of checks on the truck seat. "You know, I can stop payment on any checks you write, before you even get them written." she said between clenched teeth. "You have no right to keep everything and push me out, Sam. I belong here too. So, if I can't be here, I need money to keep me going." Sam looked up to the sky, "Jake, Dad gave you ten thousand the last time you were here, to keep you going. Did you blow it all gambling?" Jake laid his head on the steering wheel, "I can't seem to stop. I just can't." "Hand me the book Jake." Sam said wearily. He handed it over to her.
"Jake, I can't help you and we can't afford any more money to be spent on nothing. Nothin! You just throw it to the wind and come back for more. I hope you find a way Jake, but it's not here anymore." She went to her truck slowly and watched his truck go out the drive. Sam stood beside her truck until the red lights were out of sight. She sat in the truck for awhile, before leaving again to meet Ned. Worry had set in now, and she wished her mom and Dad were home. She laughed at herself, just like a child, always needing her parents to help her out.
Sam arrived at the restaurant at the same time Ned did, and they walked in together. Several people looked up from their table at them as they entered. They waved at Sam and openly wondered who she was with. Sam giggled and grabbed Ned's arm, "Let's give 'em something to talk about, a little speculation to nibble on with their meal." Ned looked down at her, "That's not nice, you know." He laughed at her attempt at comic behavior, something she used to be very good at, when they were in college. Sam had never acquired a taste for the sorority girl thing and preferred to hang out with all the ag guys. Her jeans were always filthy and her hands looked like a man's, but all the guys wanted to date her. She was a loner though, and never dated anyone that Ned knew of. They were best friends during their last two years together. After graduation they had called every couple of months and then every so often, until they stopped altogether. Ned hadn't talked to Sam in five years, but it seemed as though they had just finished cleaning the barn at school and had never stopped calling each other.
"What?" Sam asked. "You are looking at me as though you can see through me, what is it?" Ned smiled, "I was just thinking how long it's been since we talked."
Sam looked down at the table and fingered the stem of her wine glass, "I know. It seems like yesterday we were hanging out and having fun with all the other guys. I haven't talked to any of those guys in forever." She looked at Ned and grinned, "Let's call 'em!" He laughed and sat back in his seat. "I don't have any of the numbers. When I dropped my phone in a pond, I lost all the old ones." Sam looked miffed, "I wish I did." The evening was fun for Sam and it was quite a bit later than she had planned when they said goodnight in the parking lot. She had been up since daylight and still had to give the foal a bottle and his meds for the night.
Pulling up into her spot at the ranch, she noticed all the lights were on in the house. Sam ran to the door, afraid of what she would find once inside. Her mother was sitting at the table and her dad was on the phone in the hall. "Mom, what is it?" Her mother reached out for her, "We think Jake was here. The checkbook is gone and the desk was torn apart. We haven't been here long, Luke is on the phone with Tim, trying to decide what to do." Sam sighed with relief, "Mom, he was here and he did take the checkbook, but I got it back, it's out in the truck." She went to her dad and told him she had it and to not worry. Sam went out and brought the checkbook in. Her dad was seated at the table.
"Thanks Sam. Tell me what happened." her father told her, looking very tired. Sam told him what had happened with Jake and then how she and Ned went out to catch up. Her mother brightened when she heard about Ned, "Sam, you didn't tell us you were seeing some..one." She stopped as she realized that Sam couldn't possibly be seeing anyone, she didn't have time. Suddenly, Robbie was very saddened by that realization. Her daughter was almost thirty and hardly had a life of her own at all. If she didn't start to think about herself a little, it would be too late for her. "Mom! Are you there?" Sam was calling her to her and Robbie responded with, "Sorry dear, I drifted off for a moment." Sam looked at her mother lovingly, "Ned and I are old friends mom, and that's all. He is pining for his lost love anyway." she laughed.
Luke took Sam's hand in his own, "Sam, I'm worried that Jake might get out of hand. I'm going to take out a Restraining Order tomorrow. Tim said we should, just to be safe." Sam laughed, "Dad, what good would that do? Jake is gonna do whatever he wants, no matter what legal papers are filed. Let me handle him, my own way. He's out of money and desperate Dad, I'm sure he'll be back. But I think I can handle him." Luke stood up and put his hands down deep in his pockets, "No, I don't want you to handle him. He could be dangerous if he feels trapped." Sam headed out to the barn to take care of the foal, not really very confident that could handle Jake at all and wondering where he was staying.
She stopped just short of the barn door and listened. There was a radio playing, but she couldn't quite tell the direction it was coming from..
1 comment:
Hi... finally getting back here to start reading Wounded Legacy. I never did come across Chapter 1, so I'm jumping in with Chapter 2. Jake is trouble, that's for sure. Will be back soon to read Chapter 3.
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