Roped and Reeled In
Murdoch's musings in a scene from "The Fix-It Man."
Note: To the best of my knowledge and belief, this story is fair use of copyrighted material, as there is no commercial use and no loss of potential market or value of the original material will occur. Includes dialogue from the episode by Charles Wallace.
Murdoch had thought that Johnny would be the difficult son to know. That turned out to be a false assumption. What Johnny felt about his new life at Lancer was expressed loudly and dramatically. There were strained times in the beginning, especially with the wild horses, but they had worked through that and shared the experience of catching not only more wild horses, but gaining a better understanding and appreciation of each other. Murdoch believed that the affection was accepted and felt between them.
Johnny's outspokenness, despite their differences, was easy for a closed man like Murdoch to react to. Scott was different. Murdoch's second false assumption was that Scott's seemingly effortless good manners reflected his beliefs, but that wasn't always true. Two reserved men had more walls between them to breach, and Murdoch must search for the crack, the vulnerable spot that would result in that wall crumbling. Dealing with Scott and forming a close relationship required a different approach.
Murdoch thought of his two sons like unbroken colts. Johnny would scream and buck, a wild colt, and it took some firm wrangling before he would listen, and then be gentled as he knew he could trust, and be trusted in return. Scott though required the gentle handling from the start. Johnny might blow up and bolt, but Scott was more subtle, like a wary colt who gave a slight turn of the head and a flick of an ear to caution Murdoch about keeping his distance, and proceed carefully with any overtures. He would wait for his opportunity, and move quietly and gently.
Is this the time? Can I finally do it? Murdoch listened solemnly as Scott laid out his rationale for providing money for a new jail. Images of horses were replaced by scenes of fishing. The bait must be cast lightly.
"It could be the beginning, of, well, a lot of new beginnings."
Murdoch nodded and gravely repeated Scott's thoughts as the same as his own which he had discussed with the lieutenant governor. Wait now. See how he responds. Would he follow or turn away?
"We do think alike, don't we?"
He must stay soft now. It was the best way to deal with Scott. Murdoch looked him in the eye. "Does that really surprise you?" Mild and easy. Will he understand what I mean?
There. His normally poised and articulate son gave a soft exhalation, not quite a chuckle, a slight smile, and shyly turned his head away. Scott did understand then, the spoken hint and unspoken realization that not only blood, but inclination and strong feeling, truly made them a part of each other.
Got him.