Author's Note

While I was waiting to see a new story from some of my favorite writers - who are busy or writing about someone beside the brothers of the Circle Bar Seven, I came up with this little story. I hope it entertains and is worth your attention - as always, I really do love a review!

***7***

1986

San Diego State University

Ford McFadden waited patiently as Professor Edwards sat quietly, considering Ford's words. Ford had expected the professor to be disappointed. At the end of his freshman year, he had pulled Ford aside and insisted that Ford sign up for this class. Ford had been flattered and excited. It was a class reserved for upperclassmen, and he had greatly enjoyed Edwards lectures in Bio 101 his freshman year, but he hadn't know about the lab fees. Numbers never lied and although he'd worked hours trying to squeeze the extra money out of his budget, he couldn't. Dropping the class was his only solution.

"You work in the library, don't you?" Edwards asked.

"Yes, sir. Work study. It helps with books and cost of living, but I don't think I can manage the lab fees this semester. I didn't see that in the catalogue when I signed up, and I didn't calculate that into my budget." Ford explained calmly.

"What about asking for more hours?"

"I am already at the max, and I've been typing papers and resumes too, but things are stretched pretty tight. I hate to drop the class, but I just don't see any other options." Ford said shaking his head and leaning back in the chair that sat across from the biology professor's desk. "It's my own fault." He added quickly. "I didn't read the catalogue carefully. I missed the asterisk at the bottom of the page."

"What about your parents? Have you talked to your father?"

"No. I know we can't afford it. Last time I was home, we had a budget meeting and . . ."

"Budget meeting?" Professor Edward's raised his eyebrows questioningly. "You have budget meetings?"

"Well, yes. We have a cattle ranch, and when I turned eighteen I became a partner, so you know, I have to be informed."

Professor Edwards leaned back in his chair, and considered Ford thoughtfully. Ford waited, hoping that his professor wouldn't ask for more information.

"Don't drop the class Ford. I won't approve it. I'll talk to your father and see if we can't work something out. It is just two hundred dollars. I'm sure he can pay it over time or . . ."

"You don't need to call him. I . . ." Ford stood up quickly. "I don't want you to . . ."

"I'm sorry. I said something wrong." Edwards said rising and standing with his hands outstretched, palms toward Ford. "Forgive me. Look, I won't contact him. Just . . ." He ran a hand through his grey hair. "You are a gifted student, Ford. It would be a shame for you to drop the class. We'll figure something out. I'll speak with the Dean."

"I don't want anyone going to any trouble. I'm sorry for . . . my family is complicated and I'd rather not . . ." He sighed.

"Don't worry about it. I'll speak with the Dean and I'll see you in class tomorrow afternoon, alright?"

"Yes, sir." Ford said reluctantly. He sighed unhappily, but then remembering his manners said, "Thank you sir. I do appreciate it."

"See you tomorrow."

Ford stepped out of the office into the dim hallway. It was nearly six o'clock and he had a shift at the library in half an hour - no real time for dinner. He walked through the empty hallway furious with himself for not reading the catalogue more carefully. He had no doubt that Professor Edwards would still try and call his parents - which meant he would look up Ford's file - which meant he would no doubt look to him with pity in his eyes in class the next day. He'd been so careful and now his carefully crafted cover would be blown.

He hadn't been careful his freshman year - didn't stop to think how people would treat him after they heard. Soon he was known all over campus as the "poor little orphan kid". Even people he didn't know would whisper when he came into the common in his dorm. He wasn't even sure how it spread so quickly - his roommate? his roommate's girlfriend? The absolute worst had been parent's weekend in the spring. It was calving at the ranch and there was no way either Adam or Brian could be spared to come and visit him - besides San Diego was just too far. His roommate's parents had ambushed him.

"Your family isn't here?" Paul's mother had said after meeting him.

"Mom, leave him alone!" Paul had attempted to run interference.

"Oh, Paul, stop it. He's probably lonesome for his folks. You live up north, don't you?"

"Yes. A small town. It's a cattle ranch and it's spring calving so my brothers couldn't come."

"Your brothers?" She asked with raised eyebrows.

"My parent's died when I was small, so my older brothers raised me."

Her bright red mouth made a perfect "o" as her eyes grew wide with surprise. "Oh! You poor darling! Well! Paul you never said! You must come to dinner with us! Our treat! You poor, poor thing! This must be dreadful for you to see all these parents and have no one of your own to come and visit!"

"No, it is really alright. I . . ." But she didn't listen to anything he had to say, and he spent the entire weekend under the heavy weight of her pity.

He returned to school his sophomore year determined to avoid the mistakes of his past. He would keep his head down and not offer up any information. So far he'd been pretty successful, but now, Professor Edwards was probably going to ruin the whole thing.

***7***

"Are you alright? You sound tired." He could tell from her voice that Hannah sounded worried.

"I'm fine. I just had four classes today and worked in the library." He clutched the phone in his hand picturing the house and all his brothers.

"You are working too hard. I keep telling Adam that we could afford to send you more . . ."

"No, Hannah!" He cut her off. "It is a good time to expand the herd. We can't put things on hold just because . . . I'm fine. I only have two classes tomorrow. I'll take a nap. I promise."

"You promise?" She asked and he could picture her standing in the hallway with one hand on her hip, an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"I promise. So did Guthrie go to the dance with Marley or not? He won't say."

"Oh! Guthrie! He drives me crazy! They are so on again/off again! I can't keep up. I mean, I love Marley - you know I do, but they are seventeen years old and he's going to school. He can't plan his life around her!"

"Seventeen is pretty young." Ford offered, grinning, not saying the obvious. Adam was seventeen when he started raising a family.

"Ford Michael! Don't start." She sighed. "Oh, you are nothing but trouble." There was a long silence on the phone, and he could picture her face, worried and loving. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too, Hannah." He said feeling a bubble of homesickness well up within him.

"You have time to talk to your brother or did I use it all up again?" She asked.

"I got a couple minutes."

"Alright, remember you promised me to get some rest tomorrow. You promised. I love you, Ford."

"Love you, Hannah. Don't worry." He could hear footsteps and rustling and then the familiar rumble of Adam's voice.

"What's up kid?"

"Nothing. Just checking in. How is everything going at the ranch?"

"That new tractor makes me wanna cry for thankfulness every day. It starts every single time I turn it on! Every time!"

"I can't imagine that. Daniel's gonna be in LA next week."

"He told me. He's gonna try and swing by and see you." Adam said. "You doing alright? Got enough to eat? Enough money?"

"Oh, yeah. I'm great." He said with forced cheerfulness. "You don't need to worry about me. We worked that whole budget out. It's working just like we said."

"You come home at Thanksgiving looking skinny and worn out and Hannah will have my hide, Ford, so if you need anything, you tell me, okay?"

"Yeah, sure. How is Hannah? What does the doctor say?" He asked quickly hoping to distract his brother.

"She's doing good. They are checking on her every four weeks. Don't worry about her. We'll manage it."

"She's had enough managing things. I sure hope . . ."

"Me too, kid." He heard Adam sigh, and wished he could see his brother's face to determine how worried he was. He bit the corner of his lip trying to imagine home.

"I guess I better go. My time's just about up. I'll call you next week. Tell Guthrie and everyone I said hello and am thinking of them."

"I will. Write us a letter when you get a chance, huh, Ford? We sure miss you."

"I will when I get a chance." Ford sighed. "Give Hannah a kiss from me."

"Yeah. I love you, Ford, and I'm really proud of you."

"I love you, too Adam."

He hung up the phone, and made his way back down the hall to his dorm room.

"Hey, man!" His roommate Ben looked up from where he was lying stretched out on his bed.

"Hey."

"Mike, Allen, Petey and I are all going out to the Bear. Wanna come?"

"Nah, I gotta get caught up on my reading. Thanks anyway."

"You never go out! Why don't you hit up your old man for some spending cash?"

"I'm way behind on my reading for psych. I can't go out."

"Sure. But if you change your mind, you can find us easy."

He watched as his roommate, Ben disappeared out the door. He felt a twinge of jealousy, but caught himself, trying to remember to be grateful for everything his family had sacrificed to make sure he could go to school. Still a burger out with friends . . .