Unperceived Love

Chapter 2

"Why can't we stop at the creek just for a minute?" her blue eyes pleading with his deep brown ones. "I said no and I meant it." was his answer.

"Besides what time did you promise your mother that we would be back?" he asked with a smirk.

"Before sundown." She said fidgeting with her gown.

"We'd better hurry the sun has gone behind the trees already. "And with that he clicked to Blackberry and the were off.

She enjoyed it when he was in the mood to go fast, it made her heart skip a beat then start beating with the beats of the horse's hooves. She liked excitement, just not too much.
"Ben is a different sort" she smiled at the thought. He'd always been level-headed, rarely taking risks. Unless, of course, it came to her. He'd always protected her from everything.
She was his priority, her father had made that clear when he came to them,just a small boy of ten. She was six and had an extreme fascination with horses. Most of the time it ended up with her under the horse or on top of it. His job as the new apprentice to the print shop was to saddle the horses and cool them off at night. Now that he was getting close to twenty-one he would be leaving. Leaving to take over his father's printshop in a town thirty whole miles away. She wasn't sure how she felt about that yet.

He was staring at her, she always was lost in thought it seemed. Her auburn head and blue eyes looked so serious . It was hard to believe that she could snap out of that and be as ornery as a goat. A half smile came to his tanned face.
Yep, she sure was different. But that's what made her his Sami. She didn't mind a couple of tares in her dress or getting slightly brown in the summer. She always had her hair in a single braid down her back when they were at home, only putting it up and a cap on when they were going to see other people.
She read, which was strange for most girls couldn't and weren't allowed. He suspected it was because her father owned the printshop and she wanted so bad to help.

He slowed the horse as they neared the lane that adjoined Lord and Lady Worthington's property. Their plantation had the finest of houses. Their stables were well kept and the grounds were immaculate.
Pulling up the long gravel drive the sun was just setting. "You'd better hurry." he said. "Thank you for taking me and watching out for me." she gave her thanks. " I only wish I could've done more." they exchanged smiles and departed.
"She said before sunset." her mother worried. "Where could she be?" before she could even finish the sentence Samantha burst through the kitchen door. "I'm back!" she panted handing her mother the packages. "You were almost late." she sighed bending he carefully curled head to inspect the items on the counter.
"I am sorry, I lost track of the time. "

"Did you go wading?" she inquired. "I did not Ben wouldn't allow it." she said almost indignantly. For, if Ben had allowed it he would've had it taken out of his hide.
"His name is Benjamin! You two should drop such impolite nicknames! That is not how a lady and gentleman behaves." Her disapproving frown was back. " Do you wish for me to send you with Carla?" Carla had been her maid and only friend since she was three, they didn't allow their friendship to show. Or else thy would be separated and she would have a new maid.

"No ma'am. And you would not like to send me past a regiment without Ben." she let out a short gasp. They had promised not to tell of any mischief since they were little. "There was a regiment?" her mother smiled. "How many men?"
" I am unsure of their number but I'm sure they were mostly drunkards." she replied nearly spitting with wrath. "The Adaam's son is supposed to be coming near here soon. I wonder if he was a part of it?" Her mother said with a gleam in her eyes.
She was scheming. Samantha knew that look all too well.
"Stir the pot of peas. Don't let them burn."she said

In the dining room they all sat waiting for supper to be served. Her father have thanks and asked grace. Then the conversation turned toward the regiment.
"Oh by the way Mother, I spoke with the Adaams' boy today. He came in the printshop with the smell of strong drink on his clothes. He said that he would be stopping by to pay his respects at after dinner. So I told him to come and eat with us. He agreed and said he might be late.".
His wife looked up from the peas porridge she was eating and smiled. "That's fine dear. We haven't seen him since he was quite small, it will be nice to catch up with him. "

Ben and Sami exchanged a worried look. Her eyes pleaded with him. He shook his head and sighed. They went back to eating.
Soon the bell rang and their butler answered the door and brought the visitor to the dining hall.
Sami tensed hoping he wasn't one of the disrespectful soldiers.