-Jake­-

"Jake?" Maxine asked as she noticed how her youngest son had barely touched his food. "You must have something on your mind. You've barely nibbled that chicken."

Jake gulped, and quickly looked up at his mother. "It's nothin'." He said, then took a bite to please her.

Maxine studied him, then looked at her husband. Luke was enjoying the chicken, and was helping himself to a second helping.

"This is delicious, Mom." Quinn remarked as he finished his own piece and reached for another.

"Yeah, can I have Jake's since he won't eat it?" Nate teased, but Jake quickly glared at his older brother and took another bite.

"Boys." Luke warned, not looking up from his plate. The table moved to silence after that. Amazingly Jake was the first one finished. He quickly placed his plate in the sink and stalked out the door. Maxine didn't have to look to know he was going to the barn.

Maybe he's finally realizing his feelings for Samantha, Maxine thought as she finished her own meal.

000

Jake walked into the barn, thankful to be out from under his mother's gaze. She could read him too well.

He quietly walked to his horse, Witch, who was in her stall. She snorted when she saw him. He walked to the tack room and took a grooming kit, then walked back and let himself in the stall and began to groom the mare.

As he concentrated on the strokes of the brush, he let his mind wander.

I wonder if Sam has seen Ace yet, He thought, then shook his head to clear it. He would not think about Sam and all the worry she caused everyone. When she called this afternoon he thought he'd strangle her. Either that or go pick her up. Letting her go by herself was one of the worst decisions he had made.

But by the way she sounded it seemed she was doin' okay, He thought again. He realized he was stroking Witch a little too powerfully when she snorted and stomped a hoof.

"Sorry, girl." He murmered and soften the strokes. As he finished grooming her he knew what he would do. He put the kit up, and after giving Witch a rub on the nose, he ran out of the barn.

"Mom?" He called. Everyone else had finished their meals and were in the living room watching TV, leaving Maxine washing the dinner dishes. Jake walked over to her.

"Mom?"

"What is it, Jake?" She asked, drying her hands on a towel and turning towards her son.

"I was wonderin', if, maybe..." Jake started to rub the back of his neck.

"You want to go after Sam, don't you?" Maxine asked, smiling a little.

"Yes ma'am." Jake admitted. "And I know where she's headed, so I could probably be there before she gets there."

His mother studied him. "Well, me and your father were going to wait till your birthday, but I suppose that since you want to go find Samantha we could give it to you early. Let me go get him." Maxine rushed to living room, returning with Luke.

"Honey, Jake wants to go after Sam," She explained to her husband. "So, I thought, maybe..." She moved her hands suggestively. Luke caught on.

"I suppose it would be alright." He said, looking at Jake. "Go to the yard behind the little house, you'll find it there." Jake was puzzled by this statement. He nodded to his father, then walked outside, his mother on his heels.

It was a short walk across the yard to the little house, a small house that was built on the land beside the actual Ely house, and when he walked to the back yard he found a dark blue Ford truck, all shiny and new, though it was an older model. Jake stared, then turned to his mother.

"Is that mine?"

Maxine smiled. "It was about time for you to have your own car, and now that we have a little bit of extra money we decided to get you boys some wheels." She gestured to the truck. "Go on, the keys are in the seat."

Jake smiled and went to the truck. The inside was a light grayish-tan color, and the silver keys were in the seat. It was a stick shift, but so was the old truck they had all shared.

It was then he noticed the other vihicles behind him. All were trucks, and all were fixer-uppers. Then he remembered he might want a change of clothes, his money, and perhaps a snack or two for the drive to Virginia.

A/N: Okay, so what do you think? I KNOW I KNOW! I'M SO MEAN BECAUSE I HAVEN'T UPDATED AT ALL!!! But, to be honest, I think I did a rather good job at Jake, but I may have gotten perhaps a little bit out there, but hey, this is my first PHANTOM STALLION fic, and I'm hoping that I get the newest book, that new Hawaii book that came out in May, sometime soon, it's killing me!!! Well, I promised you Jake, now it'll be either Sam or Heartland... I think Sam. Will Jake beat Sam to Heartland? Will Sam and Jake ever get together? Well, let's find out, shall we?