SAM

Closing the Gate

Ann walked into her room the next day. Sam sat on a chair looking out the window. She turned as she heard the old woman's steps and ran to her crying. "Oh Nana!" she wept "I really made a mess of things."

Ann felt her heart shrink, this child hadn't called her Nana since she was five! All these things happening together were going to be too much for her. Ann hated the fact that she was here not only to see her baby but to carry out her father's orders. Ann stroked her hair while she let Sam vent out all her pain. She was still hiccuping when Cecile walked in. 

"Sam--I feel so sorry." Cecile explained walking toward her. Sam hugged her and trying to control her tears told Cecile, "It wasn't you fault Cecile--I should have known better--"

Sam stopped talking as she watched Ann open her drawers and pull out her vests, her shirts, her riding boots and her riding pants. She was about to protest and closed her mouth knowing this was all her father's doing. So he was keeping to his word, she could stay here, in her home if she gave up her reason for living. Sam sat, turned the chair and looked out the window. 

"When you are finished please leave and close the door. Just leave me alone. I don't want to be disturbed and I am not seeing anyone. That includes both of you."

Cecile recoiled at the coldness, she knew Sam was hurting and decided to let her be. Cecile walked out and headed down the stairs. Their life had been so uncomplicated. How did it ever come to this? She shuddered as she remembered George and Bryan's fight. Bryan had felt he had been too cruel to Sam. George told him that if he thought he could handle her better to go ahead and take her. Bryan had stared at the man in disbelief. He knew he was angry and worried but he had been the one who allowed her to grow up like a free spirit, and Bryan told him so. George had paled, Bryan had hit a raw nerve.

"You can't expect her to change in one day!" Bryan exclaimed.

George had dropped himself on a chair, his face with a look of defeat. 

"I can't manage her Bryan, I am tired of worrying about her. Yes I brought this upon myself but I didn't know a better way of bringing her up." He put his face in his hands, "I've never seen her so hurt!" he exclaimed. "But I can't do this anymore and I can't ask my men to take care of her, they have their jobs. I am sorry but it has to be like this." Bryan had stood up and marched out the door slamming it.

Cecile knelt in front of the man she loved and placed her head on his knees knowing this probably hurt him more than anything in the world to him. His world, his daughter.

"What happened to Samantha?" Bryan's dad asked as they rode back. He had seen his son's face when he walked in the night before and had decided discussing the woman later.

"Sam has been deprived of her freedom." Bryan said his voice full of anguish.

"Have you fallen in love with this strange woman?" The older man asked watching his son closely. Bryan looked at him then up ahead and nodded."Well then I guess you'll just have to marry her and let her drive you crazy for a change."

"She doesn't want to marry and after her father's outburst yesterday I doubt she'll ever let me near her."

"I wouldn't bet anything on that. I am sure she needs your offer now more than ever. I brought the packages you asked for. Why don't you go back tomorrow after she has had time to think all of this over and talk it over with her?"

"Dad, I have a hard time controlling my feelings around her. Yesterday I shook her so hard her nose bled. But you see, she didn't blame me--Sam said it had to do with some healing process and that I wasn't to worry about it, I'm caught between wanting to hug her to me and not letting go and wringing her neck!" Bryan exclaimed, his jaw tightening. 

 His father laughed and shook his head slowly from side to side. "I know what you mean--but don't worry you will soon learn to hug her to you and when she is driving you crazy just hug her a little tighter until she comes to her senses or faints from lack of air."

Bryan stared at his father in amazement and they both burst in laughter. His father reined his horse to a stop letting the carriage that carried his wife take some lead. Bryan reined beside him wondering what his father had to say.

"I've noticed and heard that this woman is a free spirit. Be careful that you are in love with the concept then find yourself hating her in two or three months when you have tired of her ways." He warned.

Bryan shook his head, he only wished he could get her out of his system but every time Sam was close he felt he was alive, she made him think and worry and love and hate her all at the same time. "I can't describe what I feel for her Dad, but yesterday when I thought she could be hurt or gone forever I felt a part of me die with her. I know it sounds strange coming from me--she's touched something in me that no woman ever has, not even Jane." 

 His father raised his eyebrows.

"Bryan. You love her but can you keep her as free as she wants to be? I don't see you with a woman who runs around looking like a man."

"That's why I asked you for the packages. Samantha is like a fresh breeze, she has no malice, no tricks, what she says is what she feels. I haven't felt this comfortable with any woman ever. Sam can rope and brand but has no idea of love, flirting. I wonder myself why she makes me feel like she does. All I know is that Sam has become a part of who I am."

The man nodded to his son and spurred his horse to reach the carriage. Bryan looked at his father and nudge his horse to move a little quicker, he thought of Sam. She had looked so enticing with her wet shirt and her riding pants, he sighed. Bryan had seen her eyes when she tried to make him believe he hadn't been at fault for her bleeding, they had turned warm, the golden flecks shining and giving them a softness he had caught few times. Bryan nudged his horse into a gallop,he would definitely go see her tomorrow.