Chapter 6: Bonding Time

The return flight seemed to drag on for Sam. She couldn’t wait to see the boy who had captivated her attention again. Thinking of him gave her a deep sense of satisfaction with her life.

Jake was waiting for her at the exit lounge. “Welcome back,” he greeted her with excitement.

She pulled him in a tight hug and kissed him. “Missed you,” she whispered against his lips.

Sam couldn’t resist teasing him on their drive back to the farm. “So, rookie, how was your date?”

A flicker of worry crossed his face. “It was ... complicated.” He sighed.

“Complicated?” Sam raised an eyebrow. “Tell me everything.”

He proceeded to recount the evening of their first date. The unexpected encounter with Vicky’s ex and how he had responded with an impulsive kiss.

Sam listened intently. She even whistled appreciatively as he explained about the events at the lake on their next date.

“Sounds like you had quite the adventure, rookie. So, what happened next?” She asked in anticipation.

Jake shrugged. “I am not sure. I have not planned another date with her yet.”

Sam’s smile faded slightly. “Why is that, rookie?”

Jake looked at her with uncertainty. “It feels ... wrong somehow.”

Sam frowned. “Why?”

“Because of you,” he admitted. “I shouldn’t be seeing anyone else while ... while we’re ... you know.” He could not articulate his feelings for her.

Sam chuckled. The low rumbling sound sent a shiver down his spine and left him bewildered. “I am not the jealous type, Jake. Vicky is not the only girl in town. I want you to go out there and explore.”

“But ... but we...” He gestured vaguely between them.

“We have great chemistry, Jake.” She placed her hand on his lap.

He nodded as her seductive touch reminded him of the intense pleasure of their encounter.

“So, why not enjoy it?” she continued. “Live a little. Explore your options.”

Jake looked at her, bewildered. “You’re serious?”

“Absolutely, but on one condition,” she said seriously.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Don’t forget to use protection,” she said with a perfectly straight face.

“Of course,” he assured her, but only to see Sam laughing at him.

He was slow to understand the joke but soon joined in her laughter.

“On a serious note, be honest when you develop feelings for someone,” she said. “Tell her about ... us. Let her decide if she wants to continue seeing you after that.”

Jake considered her words. Honesty was the best policy, no matter how odd that conversation would be.

“You’re right,” he conceded. “I will do that, but for now I am looking forward to our date.”

She blushed at his response. “Good boy,” she praised by ruffling his hair.

Jake’s excitement died down as soon as they reached the farm. Sam was all business by the time they reached home. She took stock of things in her absence and retired for a good night’s sleep after dinner.

Jake knew better than to push anything right now. He decided to wait for her to take the initiative.

Sam had a new project to run on the next day: dig soil samples for examination. The experiment was much more elaborate. She asked Jake to dig a pit roughly knee-deep and large enough to fit a king-size bed. Sam collected the soil samples and took pictures of the layers of soil.

Sam requested him to water the pit after she went to store the samples. Jake didn’t know why she wanted to water the soil, but he kept pouring just as she asked. He was almost done when Sam called him from the storeroom.

Jake forgot to turn off the hose as he went to help her. When they came back, Sam heard the slow dribble of water. The pit was nearly full of water.

“What did you do, rookie?” she asked with mock seriousness in her voice.

He looked up with eyes wide in horror, as if his mistake had just dawned on him. Quickly turning off the faucet wasn’t going to cut it for now; the damage was done.

“Oh no,” he groaned. The experiment was spoiled, and Sam was bound to ask him to dig another pit and repeat the experiment.

Sam couldn’t resist teasing him a little more. “I thought you were my right-hand man.” She raised an eyebrow, hands on hips.

“I am!” He protested weakly, but he knew it was pointless. “It’s not my fault this time!”

She laughed and shook her head. “Okay, okay, but it looks like we’ve got ourselves a mud pit.”

He laughed too. They settled down to the task of refilling the pit they had just dug. Their teamwork was perfect until Jake dropped his shovel with a frightened yelp and sent mud showering through the air. Sam’s expression grew serious; her eyes narrowed, as if accusing.

“Well, looks like you’ve just volunteered for some quality time in that pit,” she said, pointing at the shovel.

“What?” he began to back away from her slowly.

“You heard me.” She grinned wickedly. “Get in there!”

He hesitated, then took a tentative step forward. She nuzzled him from behind, and his foot went into the mud with a squelching sound.

“Ohh boy,” he groaned. Mud clung to his shoe and sloshed onto his pants.

Sam laughed at his antics. “You’re doing great. Just keep going.”

He took another step and slid a little. He caught himself at the very last instant from landing face-first in the pit by grabbing at a rock close to him. Sam clapped encouragingly.

“Woo-hoo! Look at you go!” She shouted at him, egging him on.

Jake jerked his shovel out of the muck with a squelch with one final lunge forward. The shovel slipped free again and splashed into the pit.

Jake glared at the giggling Sam. She just gave him an innocent shrug. “What?” She asked in mock surprise. “I’m not the one who keeps putting you in this predicament.”

He grumbled and took another step forward, determined to avoid another slip. He got close enough to grab his shovel, but as he leaned over, his legs caught on to something beneath the surface.

“Whoa!” Jake cried out as he suddenly felt the pulling around his ankles. “I’m stuck!”

Sam snickered. “Looks like that pit wants to keep you for itself, tough guy.”

Jake gasped as she came behind him. “Sam, what’re you doing?” he asked in panic.

She smiled innocently. “What? I’m helping!” With a sudden move, she tackled him into the mud pit. They landed with Jake on top of her in a tangle of limbs.

“Oof,” he groaned. He tried to roll away from Sam but slipped deeper into the pit. She could still move with her usual grace, even when completely covered in mud. She reached out and grabbed his wrist before pulling him towards her.

He was completely stuck now under her grip. “You’re enjoying this a little too much!” He accused breathlessly as she pinned him down.

She just smirked. “Maybe, but you’re the one who started this muddy business.”

They started to wrestle in the mud. He tried his best to overpower her, but it was all in vain. It ended up being a lesson in hand-to-hand combat as she slammed him in the mud a few times. Jake also enjoyed himself. He simply groped her, making her tumble in the mud with him.

His eyes locked in a game of tag with hers until he finally tossed in the towel and surrendered with a smile. They ended up sliding around in the pit until both of them were covered head to toe.

Jake and Sam finally ended their muddy wrestling and got out of the mud pit. Jake was completely drenched in thick brown sludge, while Sam looked like she’d taken a roll in chocolate cake batter.

She grinned at him impishly. “Well, look at you,” she purred. “You really made quite the mess of yourself.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he laughed. “I think you had a hand in that, too.”

“Maybe just a little.” Sam grinned wickedly.

An idea struck her then. “You know ... we have the old communal shower behind the barn. Why don’t we go clean up?”

Jake’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. He eagerly nodded his agreement, unable to resist spending more time with this beautiful woman.

Sam held Jake’s hand as they walked towards the barn. It was a long walk, and the mud had already started drying on their skin.

Sam turned on the heater as they entered the shower room. She let the shower run until steam began filling the room.