SAMOK (EveningSky & G23)

He chuckled. "I appreciate the offer but no. I have a place. I'm staying until Monday." it was only Wednesday now.

"We have a bye this week and the coach and everyone wants me to take a break."

"And as for my present no need. The hug and being with you is more than enough. But I have some cash so we can actually shop while we are here." He actually had fifty thousand dollars in cash. It was his grandfather's present for his seventeenth, while three times as much lay in Ezra's bank account. The young man was simply raking in money.

"So anyway if you want we can hang out until i have to go. I'd like to hear how you have been. And i'm supposed to tell you how glad I am you have cleaned up and are staying clean. My mom was real worried about you."

He winced. "I apologize, I didn't mean to bring up the bad side. Just wanted to know how you have been. Not the dirty details."

He moved closer and touched a jar of sugar sticks, sniffing not liking the flavor. "Well tell you what. You find something for your brothers and I will make sure they get them after the next Market day. No one ever needs to know they came from you." He carefully did not address her Christmas question.

He sniffed some fudge and nodded. "That's not bad."

"And no. SAMOK isn't really about old ladies. We have wives more than anything. We want peace, not wild parties and insanity."

He crouched and began picking through the other candies. As he did the leather creaked stretching over his shoulders, while his biceps knotted and bunched as he sorted.

"But as for me I dunno. Gotta find the right woman." He whispered softly into the candy jars. "But I think she left town..."

Samantha shook her head placing a bag of mints back in its respected place "I don't have money" She half smiled with a shrug of her shoulders "They'll survive....you should pick up something nice for your sisters though, or they'll kill you"

Samantha reached out gently slapping Ezra's shoulder "Stop sniffing the candy, it looks bad" Her eyes scanned their surroundings cautiously. Hoping no one saw Ezra's sniff storm. "And not because it smells good would mean it tastes the same" Samantha pointed at herself, with a sassy expression "I may not always smell good but I always taste great" In her mind that logic had no flaws.


"It's also like SAMOK, the whole thing smells fishy." Samantha bit her lips gently, carefully choosing her next words "But maybe it's not, who knows... maybe you're just a bunch of motorcycle enthusiasts."

Samantha crouched next to Ezra, reading the labels as she spoke about finding the right woman. Her eyes studied the young boy as he trailed off on his last sentence, as though lost in thought. Ezra Willow foot showed no interest in the opposite sex, at least that was what many in Wilmington high school assumed. "I didn't know you liked someone. I know we aren't that close, so obviously you wouldn't tell me. But I'd hear gossip." Samantha Beckett was someone, and therefore heard everything that passed through Wilmington high.

"If you think she's the right girl for you" She pursed her lips in thought "Then become the right man for her. I don't wanna tell you go find her and then she gets creeper out and calls the cops. She may or may not, I don't know how Indian girls are. But you aren't a hard person to like, and chances are she wants the Willowfoot crown Prince just as much as he wants her She stood stretching her arms "I spent enough time on the rez to know that those girls are hot for you" She giggled.


The door to the candy shopped chimed indicating new customer's which caught Samantha's attention. "Let's go to the lingerie shop" she joked.

"I'll pay. i already have presents for my sisters on their way to them. One for each of them each day i'm gone. And two for my mother and grandmother." he grinned at the idea.

"You do huh? Taste yourself often?"

"We really are. We may be a little more...enthusiastic than some but is that really so wrong?"

He noted how close she was when she crouched by him, then smirked as she spoke. When she finished he gave his simple answer. "Who said it was an Indian girl?"

He stood going to see what was in a dark brown jar, and whistling when he sniffed it, learning it was the Demon's Fireballs, the hottest candies on the planet. "no thanks. he capped the jar and put it down."

He moved back to Samantha and arched an eyebrow. "lingerie store? bit of an odd jump from candy to the truly sweet isn't it?" He gave a very false leer of her body, then surprised himself by needing another look. She had always been a stunner, but without the drugs, Colin and all her stress, and with the dancing she was looking better than ever. he shook away nasty thoughts. they were just friends. Thats all she wanted or needed.

Ezra smirked. "you...could say that."

He laughed at her blush, and gave her a moment alone, then followed her when he was sure she had had time to settle herself. "Alright...how about to that music store there? I need some more music and there are some cool posters."

he lightly touched her arm to guide her there, and began flipping through the discs, mumbling to himself as he ignored one then picked up another. For the moment eh was sticking to artists he liked or knew. Some greatest of cds, a few rock groups, some country, even a few rap albums, but little more. He did grab the past two years' worth of billboard hits.

He turned to her. "Any suggestions? With the bike I have a better sound system and more time to listen now."

He carefully did not look at her body, though now he really wanted to. It had embarrassed her though and he wouldn't do that to her.

Samantha flipped through the CD's in the pop section, searching diligently for something in particular "Ah..here we go" She passed Ezra the CD case, backstreet boys written on the front. "Absolutely classic" she teased. Samantha knew Ezra maybe had found the boy band annoying like many other boys. I want it that way not the type of song a biker would listen to on the road.

"To be honest I didn't even know bikes had radios" Samantha browsed through the country catalogue "I figured they bikers listened to the wind" She sighed, taking Ezra's CDs to the checkout. Her stomach rumbling, a sign of hunger.

Ezra shook her head. "can't. it's too constant a sound. Makes you fall asleep. it's how bikers die. That's also why we try not to ride alone. usually the radios are actually in the helmet. But mine's customized for a three disc changers in my saddle bags. just blasts music loud as all hell. Even louder than the engine."

he grinned at the thought as he put the backstreet boys back and tapped one of his billboard hits discs. "I think they are on here already."

He chuckled. "But seriously get something you like. it's no trouble. I'm here to shop too. Call it owesies for me being such a dick to you before you left."

"Owesies?" Samantha watched Ezra like he had been smoking something lethal. "We are not in your tree house anymore Ezra. Remember we both turned 17..." Samantha said matter of factly The store clerk simply smiled at the couple's antics.

"Buuuut. If you insist..." Samantha faked her sweet smile "You can buy me lunch and I'll call it even" without another word she left Ezra standing in the music store, heading to the food court.

He rolled his eyes but followed her.

he got a pizza for himself, and everything she wanted, and found a place away from the walkways and the gang of teens menacing people. He aate as usual, quick, quiet, and neat, and had finished the pizza within ten minutes of sitting down.

Samantha ordered her favorite, a chicken burger with lettuce, mayonnaise and a large portion of fries. She ate, quietly observing the boy who sat opposite her. Ezra ate like a gentleman, yet devoured his food like a beast. Samantha stared at him in awe, she had barely reached half her burger and Ezra had been done with an entire pizza

"Thats the definition of swallowing instead of chewing"

Samantha tucked the hot salty goodness of a fry into her mouth, a moan escaping her lips. "I love fries" she smiled

"But the way, what are we going to do tomorrow?" Her eyes met his "You said we could hang out until you leave. Which technically means we need to find something to do. I have school, but maybe after we could catch a movie or something" she shrugged.

"Not my fault you eat slow."

He stole one of her fries, then slowly chewed it, his lips closed as he mimed her his eyes shining.

he swallowed and sat back. "A movie sounds good. Or you could skip and we could go for a ride...." He looked around innocently, suspecting she would actually like the idea very much, but she might pretend she didn't want to go.

"have you ever ridden a motorcycle? Nothing quite like it."

"Theif" Samantha glared, tucking her pack of fries into the brown paper bag. Then proceeded to take a large bite of her burger, chewing it up and opening her mouth wide. Showing Ezra the disgusting image of all mushe chicken and bread mixed with her saliva.

An attractive man approached, passing the young pair. His eyes scrunched in confusion upon seeing Samantha's unattractive display. The embarrassed blonde quickly shut her mouth, swallowing everything with a gulp of her soda. Her cheeks turned red for the umpteenth time that day. Annoyed Samantha grabbed a few friends, chucking it at Ezra, the fried salt good news hitting his leather vest and falling into his lap.

"I've ridden things before" Despite liking the idea of taking her first motorcycle ride. Samantha Beckett decided to give the Willowfoot a hard time. "Dont see how a motorcycle would be any different. I'm the girl that rode to and from school, or did you forget?"

The left over burger and fries were deposited back into the brown bag. "For dinner" she mumbled, sucking her red soda from the straw. Eyes boring holes into Ezra. "Okay..." Samantha took her pretty little lips from the straw "If I skip, you can do whatever you want with me. Considered this...owesies...for that time I slapped you"

He smirked at the sight, then even more at her blush of shame.

He just ate the fries and brushed off his vest. That was a nice thing about leather this tough and treated, and of course black. it was nearly impossible to mark or stain.

"No. you rode a bicycle. Top speed for a racing bike is 25 miles an hour. My bike tops out at one thirty five. And of course I didn't forget. Saw you on that little bike every day."

He chuckled and stood. "I dunno. it was a pretty good one. Maybe if you skipped the rest of the week..." he grinned wickedly.

Samantha gathered her burger and drink, dumping the empty soda cup in a nearby trash can. Skipping school was something she had never attempted before, and here Ezra Willowfoot stood, asking her to do it for two days. Samantha ran through many scenarios in her mind, none of them ended with Jason agreeing. No matter how laid back the ladies man had been. Skipping school would never sit well with him.

"I guess I can..."

It's just two days, shouldn't hurt right? She thought. "I think I deserve to live a little...since I'm stuck out here"

Samantha walked in silence, side by side with Ezra. Her mind reeling with possibilities of how to successfully skip school. "Pick me up in the park, I'll fill my backpack with snacks and act like I'm going to school. My uncle should be none the wiser" They exited the mall, back on the path through the park.

Ezra laughed. "Samantha you are smart enough you can afford two days off. And no need for the snacks. Just dress warm. i'll handle the food and snacks."

Before they left he made her wait as he went into a store and came out with a bag.

He chuckled and gently took her arm to escort her back. "And as for the act. Don't. Just pack your bag with what you will need, and head toward school. I'll met you at the turn of the park. Well out of sight of your school and your uncle's place."

Once outside he reached into the bag and drew out a long warm coat and lay it on her shoulders. The fabric was smooth and very soothing, it was already warm, and it went well with her dress. "Much better. Now where to?"

Samantha tugged the coat closer to her body. Why do I feel funny, she thought. Shaking off the uncomfortable feelings she got in her stomach. "I was going home.." She blushed. "Did you want to go somewhere else?"

Even though it had been two months since Sean Beckett shipped his daughter out to Arkansas. Samantha had gone nowhere. School and dance was all she knew when it came to Fayetteville. Fun had been distant from her life, her time was spent studying, watching television and missing home.

Samantha smiled sadly as she walked, remembering her bedroom at the Beckett estate. The horses in the stable that she rode whenever the urge took her. Family and friends to spend her days with.

"I wish you could take me back with you" she muttered, holding back the tears.

He gently lay an arm over her shoulders, hugged her against his side. "i wish i could too." He then lead her toward her school, around it to small little barn like building.

"Your mother told mine you might miss something... It's not perfect but..."

He lead her inside whee she found a pony ride, indoors, and intended for kids and special needs persons, but also included horses. he didn't take her to the counter though, but to the clear owner, an older gentleman who smiled and shook the younger man's hand and hugged him, then lead them into the back.

In the surprisingly large stables, several horses nickered and huffed upon seeing the man. Ezra gestured at the horses. "They all belong to the city or state after some tax arrests. Only place to keep them. But they can't be ridden by the kids or others. So Bill there has agreed to do me a favor. You can come here anytime and hang out with the horses, and all he asks is that your ride them. Each of them at least once a week."

Bill nodded smiling and opened a large door revealing a fenced in park like area. "About two acres. Not a lot but enough to keep both them and you happy until they are sold to new owners. Which is supposed to take about...eighteen months?"

Bill grunted. "Yeah. most of the cases are still pending and we can't actually sell them until the judgement is reached. So they get to wait here." The stable was spotless, the horses all healthy and very well cared for. Bill clearly knew his horses. he likely would have preferred more land and more privacy, but it was also clear that his location had lent itself to making him very successful.

Ezra nudged her and smiled. "Go say hi to your new buddies." The nearest horse, a massive black stallion, who was nearly as tall as Ezra just at the shoulder, towered over them. he nickered and stretched his long neck, his nose dropping toward her. he sniffed her and nickered. bill laughed. "That's Monstro. He likes girls. i wouldn't touch him Ezra."

Ezra nodded. "Wasn't about to try."

Monstro stretched his long dark neck, dipping his head into the hand that stroked his velvety skin. A smile formed on the face of Samantha Beckett, the kind of smile that had not been present for awhile. The smile that her horses back home saw everyday when she visited them. "Good boy..." She murmured, rubbing her forehead on his face. Showing the beginnings of a bond between beauty and beast. Samantha tapped Monstro lightly as she moved on to the other's, bestowing the same love and affection to all.


The young girl had been passionate about horses her entire life. Being raised among them, taught how to ride at a young age, and gifted her very own for her tenth birthday. There was nothing quite like it, riding through the estate, wind in her hair. The animal undoubtedly inspiring her love of boots. A cowgirl at heart.

"I'll be here so much you'll get sick of me" She smiled at Bill "Ezra can vouch for how annoying I'll be" Samantha Beckett turned to the young man. "Thank you..." stretching on her tippy toes, wrapping her arms around his neck. "It's perfect..." She whispered for him alone.

He hugged her back, squeezing her lightly. "It's my pleasure."

Bill let one of the horses, a young limping gelding, out into the walkway. Ezra saw it and smirked, gently turning her to face the horse. The horse nickered and walked right to her.

Bill patted his shoulder and sighed. "This little fellow is Wyatt. he was hit by a car. he survived, but his leg needs attention, care and work. I just can;t give him the time he needs. We'll see if you can be annoying. i think he'll keep you busy." he winked at ehr while Ezra leaned against the stall of a mare who sniffed his hair and nuzzled his neck and shoulder.

Samantha approached Wyatt, stooping down to examine his injured leg further "He needs a vet" Samantha gently placed her hands on Wyatt, petting his coat for him to relax. While her other hand touched his leg "Easy..." She murmured soothing him. "It looks like he should have some support" Samantha looked at Bill "To help the bone heal properly. And maybe give him something for the pain, back home I use Ketofen on my horses." Samantha petted Wyatt as she stood "it's anti inflammatory as well. " Her eyes scanned the gelding and other equine. "I'm no professional, but I have some experience." She smiled.


"I have to say this is the best birthday present" she laughed.

Bill nodded. "Doc Rivers is my vet. We have him on all that. But he needs attention. And he keeps ripping off the bandages the little moron."

Ezra just stood and watched her. She was clearly happy and that brought a surge to his heart he had never expected.

"Well I'll come by when I've got some free time." Samantha smiled, taking one last look at the horses before returning to the main area. "Lets see" she plucked a phamlet from the information desk, reading through it as rejoined Ezra and Bill. " You're doing good things here" she muttered.

Samantha smiled folding the phamlet, sliding it into the pocket of her brand new coat. "Let's go.." Samantha took Ezra's arm, leading him into the field behind the stables. Only two acres with minimal trees, but still just as beautiful as the estate she grew up on.

A frown settled deep into her face "I've been here almost three months now and I didn't even know this existed" she tilted her head in Ezra's direction, narrowing her chocolate hues at the boy "How on earth did you find this?"

"Bill fought in Vietnam with Red." Ezra chuckled, then reached up to her face and brushed some hair away. He smiled and shrugged. "he doesn't advertise much. though i'm kinda amazed you didn't smell the horses and run over."

He chuckled again and lead her deeper into the field. "Good ground. Flat enough for running but hilly enough to really build up speed. Must be a pain in the as to keep it grassed though."

He gently squeezed her arm with his own. "Glad you like your present. Does this mean i can come back?" He was grinning, but he did want to be sure he was welcome to visit her.