Family Matters (The Travers Brothers Series): The Travers Brothers Series

by Rita Hestand

  Jake sighed heavily, great, that meant going into town, and he already had a full schedule of work planned on the ranch tomorrow. More than he wanted to handle, right now. Placed in charge though, since Deke and Emma were gone on a belated honeymoon vacation, this was merely another obligation. That's what volunteering got him. Still, he knew his brother deserved a honeymoon, even if it was twelve years too late. Besides, he had some heavy thinking to do, and where better to do it than at home with the people he loved.

  He hadn't been home but a few days and things were going wrong, being an Uncle just got harder.

  "I guess I'll have to, won't I?"

  Sammie Jo glanced up at her Uncle and jumped into his arms. Jake laughed, and hugged her to him. There wasn't anything Sammie Jo could ask that was too much. Not when she looked at him like a little lost puppy. He was a goner, he loved kids. Everyone else's kids, that is. As far as he was concerned, it was too late to be thinking in that direction for his own life. Besides, it took a wife, and he didn't plan on that either.

  Jake looked down into her bright baby blue eyes and smiled. "This is a tall order, Pumpkin, and only for you."

  "Oh thank you, Uncle Jake. I knew I could count on you." Sammie Jo was scrambling off the couch and grabbing her notebook.

  Before Jake could ask who the counselor was, or what room he had to go to, Sammie Jo was out the back door and Clay, her cousin, had materialized from out of nowhere. Clay and Sammie Jo Travers were not only cousins but closer than a possum and a hound. When the two of them got together, it was hopeless. Trapped by his loveable niece, Jake quickly realized he knew absolutely nothing about talking to a counselor. However, as Sheriff of Peaceful he had many dealings with the school, so he wouldn't be totally out of place.

  He'd go into Sweetwater tomorrow, see this counselor, and get things straight before Deke and Emma came home. He'd convince her he would work with Sammie Jo until she caught on to it on her own. It sounded simple enough. Simple, except Jake didn't know much more about Pre-Algebra than Sammie Jo. So why did he feel as though he were about to step into a lioness den?

  The next morning, after a restless night's sleep and coffee unfit for any cowpuncher, Jake hopped astride his Harley and motioned for Sammie Jo to join him.

  Sammie Jo hesitated only momentarily as she glanced at her grandfather, and then bounded down the porch steps and behind her Uncle, with a big grin on her face. Both of them were quickly subjected to a lecture on how careful he should be and that Deke and Emma wouldn't approve him carrying Sammie Jo around on his bike.

  But Jake had just a few too many things on his mind today, and bad coffee and lectures just didn't get the job done. He nodded respectfully to his father, shoving a helmet to his niece, and spun out the driveway.

  Jake smiled to himself, Cal Travers was a capable part-time cowhand, a great handyman around the house, the best father in the world, but he lacked one particular skill. He couldn't make a decent pot of coffee.

  "I'm afraid Grandpa makes a sorry pot of coffee, Pumpkin. Good thing you don't drink it."

  "Daddy won't let me. I tried it once, just a sip, it was awful. But it smells so good. I wonder why?"

  "It's an acquired taste, honey."

  "What does that mean?" she giggled.

  "It means you have to drink it a while before you realize you like it."

  Jake didn't see the face Sammie Jo made at that remark.

  Despite the fact that Sammie Jo was completely changing his well thought out routine at the ranch, he couldn't be angry with her. She was the one person in the family that accepted him just as he was. He loved her too much to be mad.

  Vacations, Jake mused, turned out to be more work than working. Yet being close to his family again made him so comfortable, he almost forgot his old life back in Peaceful. He'd been a Sheriff there for ten years. Those two letters on the top of his dresser nagged at him, though. He'd have to make a decision soon, and that decision was going to change the rest of his life

  ***

  The school parking lot was full, and most of the Junior High School kids had arrived. Sammie Jo watched her friends gather around her and her Uncle as they admired the Harley and him.

  Jake indulged their questions, and then nodded to Sammie Jo to take the lead. Sammie Jo had other plans, and in no time, her and her friends were wandering off. He still didn't know the counselor's name. He'd been too busy with his own thoughts to ask Sammie Jo.

  Ignoring the dreary-eyed smiles from the young girls he passed in the hallway, Jake headed for what looked like the office. He opened the door and found several women staring up at him with the same kind of smiles.

  "Can we help you?" The voice came from the receptionist desk.

  "Yes, I'm here to speak with my niece's counselor, about her work."

  "Of course and what is the student's name?" The principal asked coming towards him. "I'm Ms. Hughes, the principal here at Marshall Junior High. I'm so glad to meet you."

  "Thank you, it's Sammie Jo Travers."

  "Oh, then you must be Mr. Travers, her father?"

  "Yes, but no, actually, I'm her Uncle, I'm sort of filling in for them as they are out of town." Jake smoothed his hair back as the wind and his helmet had played havoc with it.

  The principal watched, her eyes lingering on the action, and then she cleared her throat and smiled, "Oh I see. Well, then, which counselor were you suppose to speak with?"

  Jake smiled, "To tell the truth, I'm not sure," Jake turned his head.

  "Well, that's perfectly alright; I'll look that up and be right with you, then." She went back into her office and Jake switched his stance as the receptionist continued to stare at him with an engaging smile.

  Young girls staring didn't bother him, but women his own age should have known better. Uncomfortable with her blatant glances, Jake looked out the plate glass window of the hallway office and spotted Sammie Jo and a couple of her friends heading down the hallway.

  Dear God, he murmured to himself, Sammie Jo had nearly grown up, could it really be that she was almost fourteen? Where had the time gone? He could remember cradling her in his arms and whistling a tune in her ear as she went to sleep in her crib.

  "Yes, I have it now," The Principal was saying as she scribbled a name on a piece of paper for him. "That would be Samantha Courtland."

  The principal smiled and extended a badge like object to Jake. Jake took it and pinned it to his chest, aware that it was a security measure in all schools now when strangers wandered the hallways. He liked the fact that the school observed the rules. He appreciated her thoroughness to detail. At least his niece was safe here.

  Ms. Hughes picked up the phone and was talking before Jake could grasp the name. She was speaking to the counselor and then she looked at him again, "She'll be right here."

  "Thank you, ma'am", Jake cleared his throat. He felt uncomfortable standing there in the middle of the office with all the women gawking at him.

  His thoughts were cut short though, when a well-dressed woman with long golden brown hair and the most engaging green eyes walked into the room. She was fairly tall, and it took him by surprise not to have to look down into her face. He liked that. But this was the woman that had looked at the house. This is the woman he'd taken to dinner and she acted as though he were a stranger. But she wasn't!

  Barely glancing at him, she smiled demurely and directed him to an inner office.

  Jake watched the interesting sway of her hips as he followed her. But as a student passed them in the hallway, he suddenly felt guilty watching the counselor's cute little tush twist.

  Jake didn't have that much time to size the woman up, but there was a definite air of familiarity about this lady and not just from the other day. He couldn't put his finger on it. And he aimed to find out.

  As she took her place behind the big desk, she avoided direct eye contact with him, unlike all the other women in the office. She barely gave him a second look. That was what was familiar, the put down
she gave him. She'd done this before. He suddenly racked his brain trying to remember and then it hit him like a sledge hammer, this was Samantha Wilson, the girl that had snubbed him so much in school. The girl he doubly tormented because of her snubbing. How could he not know her? So she'd trimmed down, gotten about as beautiful as a woman could get why hadn't he recognized her before?

  "Funny," she shook her head, as though to clear it, glancing down at her paperwork. "I didn't expect the father to be here."

  "Oh, I’m not a parent. I'm her Uncle."

  "Oh," she gave him a quick glance then laid the papers down. Jake glanced at her and smiled.

  "Well then, I guess you know why you are here? And perhaps you are the right man for the job, after all."

  Jake stiffened. He had no idea why he was here, except Sammie Jo was having math problems. What that had to do with the counselor he wasn't sure. .And he certainly wished she'd be friendly, he wouldn't mind taking her out again. In fact, now that he knew who she was, he definitely wanted to take her out again.

  "Look, I don't think I'm following you on this. Suppose you start from the beginning. I'm new at this sorta thing. I'm supposed to be here about Sammie Jo's math problems. I'm sorry, but I thought I'd be speaking directly with the teacher concerning this."

  The woman's mouth flew open, her well-shaped brows knitted. "Math? Oh yes, I see. Well, that's one of her problems, yes. But I’m afraid that isn't why you are here, Mr. Travers."

  "No? Please call me Jake. I believe I called you…Sam."

  "Oh yes." She adjusted her reading glasses. "Yes of course, if only it were that simple." The woman looked uncomfortable. She glanced from her notes to him.

  "No you see, Sammie Jo has been quite inattentive in class lately."

  Jake still wasn't getting this. And why was he looking her over like a piece of beef? Why was she acting like they'd never met, never shared anything of themselves. None of it added up to him. He'd liked her years ago when they were kids. He still liked her, only there was the same old problem, she didn't seem to realize it. He'd been so frustrated at trying to get her attention all those years ago, he'd started aggravating her. "Inattentive?"

  "That's right."

  Jake stood up now, pacing the small space between the door and the chair, and then looked at the woman as though she'd suddenly grown two heads.

  "My niece isn't paying attention in class and that's why you've called this meeting?" He gestured upward with his hands.

  "Mr. Travers…." The counselor was eyeing him now, with a huge frown. Back to being formal, back to being Samantha Wilson.

  Okay, so she was a teacher, did that mean they had to go back to the old routine of hating each other?

  "Jake, the name's Jake. Don't you remember? We did have dinner together not too long ago. At least you look like Sam."

  "Yes, I remember… Of course, I do. But this is a different matter. This is business." She was shaking her head and not looking at him.

  "Yes, a very important matter. Anything concerning Sammie Jo is important to me." Jake did a retake of the woman and again that same feeling of being shunned by her caused his temper to flare even though he found her immensely attractive. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you before, but I certainly do now. I know who you are, now!"

  She let a slight smile cross her face as she crossed her leg. "No you never knew me, but we did go to the same school most of our lives."

  Jake's brows knitted. "I never knew you because you spent the better part of our time together putting me in my place."

  "You're kidding, right?" she almost chuckled.

  "Samantha Wilson, the biggest snob in the territory. You gave me hell for at least a year, until you moved away." He cleared his throat as his gaze swept her.

  "I gave you….hell? You must be mistaken. We barely spoke to one another back then."

  "I tried to speak to you, but every time I opened my mouth, I managed to put my foot in it, and you managed to remind me of it." Jake's expression changed.

  "I was that bad?" She frowned over her glasses. "You were very mean to me back then, as I recall."

  "I know. You snubbed me every time I got close. And believe me, I tried to get close. Because of you, I didn't go to the prom." Jake almost bellowed. Hearing his own words, he realized how foolish he sounded now.

  "Well that's news. But, I'm afraid chubby girls get ignored for the most part, don't they? I didn't go to my prom either, but for an entirely different reason. Why you wanted my attention I'll never know, probably just to make fun." She picked up the pen again and began to make more notes. "Now, shall we get back to Sammie Jo? This is quite a serious issue, Mr. Travers."

  "Jake, it's Jake, for goodness sake, lady. I took you to dinner and we talked for ages, and you still want to call me Mr. Travers? And wait a minute…" he raised his finger and pointed at her as he glued her to her chair. "I thought you and I had more in common than anyone else on the campus. Both of us had more brains than sense. And because of that, I wanted to get closer. You just wouldn't allow it."

  Now Samantha cleared her throat. "Yes, well, we were talking about Sammie Jo."

  "You'll pardon me, but I didn't ignore you, back then. But every time I tried to talk to you, you'd move away as though I were bothering you."

  "Oh please, Mr. Travers I don't think this is neither the time, nor the place to discuss our past, or lack of, do you?" She knitted her brows and frowned.

  "I don't believe this. the other day…you were….nice…sweet even. Now, it's almost like I was in high school again." He boomed.

  She turned away obviously to ignore his outburst.

  "That's exactly what you used to do, every time I tried to get close to you, you'd frown just like you're doing now and then move away. No, I'd say if there was any ignoring, it was on your part, not mine." Jake sat down satisfied that he had solved the puzzle for them both.

  "Mr. Travers," she emphasized his name, to bring attention. "That's not how it was, but regardless, that's not why you are here today. So let's get back to the business at hand." She corrected firmly, her face coloring just a bit.

  He liked that, she was flustered and obviously the counselor didn't want to be flustered.

  "The conversation will keep, Ms. Courtland, but I'm sure we will finish it, one day." He winked. "This clears a lot up. I knew I'd recognized you from somewhere. Why didn't you say something? You let me go on and on like some idiot. Well, I guess it clears things up though."

  She looked at him as though she didn't have the faintest idea what he was talking about. "Clears what up?"

  "I thought you were the biggest snob in the world back then."

  He was softly laughing and it hurt from the look on her face.

  "Oh now, Samantha, forgive me, that was years ago, and surely you won't hold it against me. Don't worry, you were the snob and I was the nerd."

  "Nerd? You had the highest marks in class, you were valedictorian, no less. How could you ever say you were a nerd?" She spat out, covering her own lips with her hand as though to silence herself.

  Jake smiled with new understanding. "Look, in a cow town a boy is sized up by his ability to ride, rope and chase girls. I was good at none of those things. I became better as time went on, but not during my school days here."

  Samantha stared at him strangely, as though considering his words for the first time. "I never imagined."

  "Imagined what?"

  "That a man like you could lack self-confidence." She murmured with amazement.

  He smiled engagingly at her. "I wasn't a man then. Thank God we outgrow things. Now that we let down our defenses, maybe we can talk about Sammie Jo."

  "Yes….yes of course," she seemed rattled.

  "Exactly what do you mean by inattentive?" His tone seesawed with irritation.

  Samantha seemed to relax now that the conversation was no longer personal. "I'm sure you are aware that Sammie Jo is growing up."

  "Of course I'm aware, I don't like it,
but I'm aware." Jake shifted in the chair as though it suddenly was too small for him and he was uncomfortable.

  "That's understandable. But, unfortunately, Sammie Jo's cousin, Clay Travers is in some of her classes with her. And the two of them consistently write notes to each other."

  Jake didn't see how this was such a problem. He remembered writing a few when he was in school.

  "Yeah…so?"

  "So…one of the notes was confiscated."

  "And?" Jake was losing patience.

  "And it would seem your niece sees herself as some sort of match-maker."

  Jake stared at her with a steel edge frown. "What's your point?"

  "The point is the note itself. She was writing rumors about certain teachers, and passing it through the class. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but well…the teacher she was writing about was Mrs. Douglas, a newly widowed teacher that took offense to her being paired off with another teacher after her husband just dying?"

  He still didn't grasp the problem. "So my niece is in trouble because she sees a teacher interested in another teacher? Is that some sort of crime, these days?"

  "No, not a crime, but Mrs. Douglas was embarrassed and the entire classroom knew what was in the note."

  "And I'm supposed to…."

  Samantha jerked the glasses off her nose and stood up. Her eyes were big and serious, her face strained. Jake needed to quit thinking about the way her hair floated over her shoulders, and the way her eyes narrowed on him.

  "Mr. Travers…"

  "Jake." He quickly corrected her.

  "Jake, your niece is disrupting the class, not to mention your nephew, Clay. They seem to be in this together. We need you to bring this to her attention and warn her that this kind of note passing is not to be tolerated."

  Jake watched Samantha move around the desk, he wondered about her now like he did when he was a young teenager with hormones out of control. What would it be like to touch those lips of ice? Could he melt them?