Chapter Text
"Five… four… three… two…one! I'm coming to find you!"
Samantha opened her eyes and peered around the ranch yard. She looked at the pasture where all of the horses were grazing outside except for one. Penny. She smiled then headed for the barn, knowing exactly where her four-year-old brother would be hiding.
As Sam walked into the cool, dark barn, she listened for any noises that would give away where a little boy might be hiding. When she saw Penny, her stepmother's mare who seemed to adore the young boy, nosing as the straw on the ground, Sam knew that was where Cody was hiding.
"Hmm… I wonder where Cody is?" Sam pretended to question aloud as she silently made her way towards the stall door. She heard a quiet giggle before she pounced, shouting "Found you!" as she and Cody rolled around on the stall floor, laughing.
"Samantha Anne! This is certainly not how young ladies act!" came a stern voice from the barn doorway. Sam sat up in the straw and groaned, knowing her dress was dirty and she likely had straw in her hair. Gram marched towards them, but behind the scolding tone Sam swore she could see the amusement in her grandmother's lively blue eyes. "Come on you two, it's time to get ready for dinner."
Cody bounded ahead, and Gram tsked as she looked over her granddaughter. "Samantha, you're eighteen now. You really must learn how to keep your clothes clean and act like a lady. You'll never find a husband acting so wild and childish all the time!"
"What if I don't want a husband?" Sam muttered.
"What was that?" Gram asked. "You really must learn to speak clearly. No one likes a mumbler."
"Nothing," Samantha said quickly. She could only imagine the lecture she’d get if her grandmother knew what she had said. "I was just thinking out loud."
"Well do try to keep your thoughts in your head, dear. Especially this evening. We have guests for dinner."
Sam sighed silently, knowing their guests were probably some of her father's stuck up peers from the city council in town.
Although Wyatt Forster was a kind, fair man, he was also a wealthy and powerful one. His father had moved out west early before others saw the opportunities that lay in the western plains. Samantha's grandfather had struck it rich, finding land that was able to sustain cattle and lots of it. River Bend Ranch was one of the largest and most successful cattle ranches to date. The Morrill Act of 1862 allowed for Wyatt to attend university so he could learn about agriculture. He had been away at school in Berkeley, California when Poppa had died suddenly in a carriage accident. Wyatt came home to take the helm at River Bend, bringing with him Sam’s mother Louise who he had met in California.
Sam’s mother was from San Francisco, and her family still lived in the growing city. They were appalled at the idea of Louise moving so far away to help run a cattle ranch. Louise died in childbirth, and her family never fully forgave Wyatt for taking their daughter so far away.
Sam had been raised by her dad and grandmother for the first ten years of her life until Wyatt met and married Sam’s stepmother Brynna. Brynna gave birth to Cody shortly after, and although Sam and Brynna sometimes butted heads, she loved her brother more than anything.
Now, River Bend Ranch was as successful as ever, and Wyatt was highly respected in the town of Darton. Unfortunately, some of the other men who led the town with him were not as honest or kind, Linc Slocum in particular. Mr. Slocum had made it big after he had found several oil fields. Unfortunately, Mr. Slocum was as greedy and conniving as he was a smart businessman.
Sam thought about this as she washed up for dinner, hoping that the Slocum's weren't their guests for dinner.
She went to her bedroom window and looked out to see the Slocum's carriage pulling up. Just my luck, Sam thought, as she put the final touches on her hair and headed downstairs to greet their dinner guests.
Sam felt a little relieved to see that Mr. Slocum's wife and his daughter, Rachel had not accompanied Mr. Slocum and his son. As awful as Mr. Slocum was, his wife had been a British peer before her marriage, and she constantly looked down her nose and found fault in every American she came across. And Rachel never missed a chance to brag to Sam about her expensive dresses from England who had been made in the latest style. Samantha's family could easily afford those same dresses for Sam, but she had no desire to wear anything that looked so uncomfortable. Rachel could never understand how Sam was perfectly happy to spend all her time with horses and needless to say that despite the fact that they were only one year apart, the two girls had never gotten along very well.
Rachel's twin Ryan could be just as shallow as the rest of his family. But he had a love for horses that Sam admired, and he cared more about learning the latest methods of ranch work and oil drilling than studying up on the latest fashion. In fact, in the fall he would be attending the same university that Sam's father had.
"Wyatt! So good to see you! and Grace, its always a pleasure of course," Mr. Slocum grinned as he greeted Sam's father and grandmother. "My wife and daughter couldn't make it, unfortunately. They just returned from England and were exhausted. Trying to find a husband for Rachel. I'm sure you know all about that, little lady!" Mr. Slocum turned his too wide smile on Sam, and she bit her tongue as she just smiled and nodded politely.
"Of course we understand," Gram smiled kindly. I'm so glad that the two of you were still able to join us."
They all filed inside where Sam's stepmother Brynna was finishing preparing the meal and Cody was already seated at the table. Sam helped to set the food out on the table and they all sat down to eat.
"So Linc," Dad began once everyone had begun eating. "I hear there was something you wanted to discuss with me."
"Ah yes. Well, it concerns your whole family. Or mostly Samantha here."
Sam looked up from scooping rice onto her plate in surprise. What could Linc possibly have to discuss regarding her?
"As you know, the Shoshone tribe resides not too far north of us, and our relationship with them has not always gone smoothly. I wanted to buy a piece of their land to test for oil, and although I assured them that it would only be a one time deal, they have concerns," Mr. Slocum explained.
"I see," Dad said. "And what exactly does this have to do with Samantha?"
"Well, I got to thinking. For centuries people have been marrying in order to ensure peace between groups of people. What if we arranged a marriage between one of their men and one of our girls? It would be a way to keep the peace and maybe even work together on the land that they have. You, Wyatt, are one of the most respected men in the area. Letting one of their men marry your Samantha would be seen as a great honor. And I think she would certainly have an easier time accustoming to their lifestyle than my Rachel would," Linc said with a booming laugh. "So, what do you say?"