Adam and Brian exited the barn as the jeep pulled up to the gate.
Evan gulped when he saw them. He met Crane's gaze in silent query. His brother squeezed his shoulder in response. Evan jumped out of the jeep and nodded a too quick greeting to his two oldest brothers. Almost stumbling over his own feet in his rush, he grabbed a couple of bags on his way to the house.
Crane watched him go, shrugging in reply to his brothers' surprised looks. To change the focus and ward off questions, he produced the latigo and handed it to Brian.
The second eldest smiled. "Thanks, brother. You can have your saddle back. I'll get this right on mine." He spoke over his shoulder. "Tell Hannah I'll be right along."
Left alone with Adam, Crane exited the jeep. Both gathered the last of the bags into their arms.
Adam noted, "Evan sure was in a hurry to get to the house. How'd the talk go?"
"Okay, I guess. I'll save you the sordid details, but bottom line, we'll go with whatever Brian says."
Adam let out a breath. "Sordid details? That good, huh? Good thing I didn't have to deal with it. I owe you one. Brian spent all afternoon with that darned saddle. He'll speak to Evan after dinner."
~~00oo00~~
The usual simultaneous conversations buzzed around Evan at table. His attention more on his plate, he glanced up once or twice to listen but did not contribute.
Freed up of one topic, Daniel zeroed in on him. "Evan, did you do any saddle shopping today?"
Evan glanced across the table at Daniel before looking to his right at Crane, whose expression was blank.
Daniel asked, "You evading the question, little brother?"
Crane's knee tapped Evan's under the table. "Um … We looked at a few used ones." Breathless, he again eyed Crane, whose focus stayed on his food.
Before Evan could ask, Brian spoke as if reading his thoughts. "Ev, I looked at the saddle. We'll talk later."
Evan nodded. He squirmed in his seat. Damn chair was as uncomfortable all of a sudden as his saddle.
Adam asked, "Ev, are you okay?"
"Fine." He paused. "Hannah, can I be excused?"
"Sure, but it's your and Daniel's turn to do the dishes, so don't go far."
"Okay." Evan rose and left the kitchen.
~~00oo00~~
After dinner clean-up, Evan and Daniel walked into the living room to find the rest of the family engaged in separate, quiet activity.
Adam looked up from his ranch journal. "Okay, now that I have everybody's attention without competing with dinner, are we all freed up to go to Evan's competition on Saturday?"
Daniel answered, "I'm good. We moved rehearsal to Sunday night."
Ford responded, "Luke and Cindy don't want to take a week off math tutoring or change the time but finally said we could meet early in the morning, so I'll be free in the afternoon." His expression turned sheepish. "But it means I won't have time for morning chores."
Brian shrugged. "It doesn't happen that often, so I think the rest of us can chip in and get them done."
Ford blew out a breath. "Thanks, Bri."
Crane's brow furrowed. "You're doing them the favor so should be able to set the time that's best for you. Don't be afraid to be the boss."
Adam added, "Crane's right. Saturday afternoons might be okay some of the time but not all. They're gonna have to be more flexible."
Guthrie piped up, "When do I get to be the boss?"
"When you're more than half-stuff, squirt," Brian quipped.
"Huh?"
"Soon enough, Guth. Enjoy being a kid while you can. I bet most of us would like some of those years back." Adam put the journal down. "Okay, Ford and Guthrie, up to Ford's room for homework. Evan, do you have any?"
"I did it in study hall."
"Good. Sit down."
Hannah stood. "Daniel, would you mind helping me fold laundry upstairs?"
Daniel shared a puzzled look with Evan, but took the hint. "Sure."
Evan watched the four climb the stairs and disappear behind closed doors. Now alone with his three eldest brothers, he felt like the accused at an inquisition.
Brian stood and leaned against the fireplace. "Okay, regarding this saddle business."
Evan braced himself, trying to quell his rising anxiety.
"Ev, relax. You look like a deer caught in headlights. I don't know what you're expecting to hear, but it's okay," Brian reassured. "I looked at the saddle this afternoon. First, it's nice and clean, so you're doing a good job taking care of it. But, knowing you, I wouldn't expect anything less."
"Thanks." Evan's racing heart slowed a little.
"Second, for an old saddle, it's in pretty good shape. But then, when Dad got it for me, he bought the best he could afford, hoping it would last a long time. I took it apart to make sure everything was in good condition. The off billet is worn a little and the cinch is starting to fray, but it's not bad and I thought it had a lot of wear left in it."
Evan tensed up again. "But you know how Coop is about any sign of wear."
Brian continued, "Took care of that, too. Went over to see Coop with it and he agreed with me. He's more concerned about the ones who let things go for so long that their gear's not safe. And pard, that's not you, and he knows it." Brian paused to let that sink in and saw Evan smile sheepishly. He went on, "If he rides your butt sometimes, it's because he knows what you're capable of and wants you to give him your best. We all know he's not gonna settle for anything less than that."
"I know. He's a perfectionist." Evan thought a moment. "But it doesn't feel right anymore."
Brian laughed. "Crane's didn't feel comfortable to me either. I'm no fat man, but his skinny butt had barely broken it in after all these years." He addressed Crane. "Hope I didn't expand it too much, bro."
Crane rolled his eyes.
"Look, Ev, we'll check your seat tomorrow. Maybe a little more padding will help. We'll figure it out."
Evan relaxed a little. This was not going so bad after all.
Adam spoke. "Crane told us you wanted to put the money we've been saving for your senior trip toward a new saddle. You know how I feel about that. I want you to enjoy your senior year, including the trip. You seemed to be looking forward to it until this whole saddle business started."
Evan met Crane's eyes with a questioning look, but the third eldest was all business. Shifting positions to sit straighter, he balanced several ledgers in his lap. "I didn't want to talk for Adam and wanted your idea to get a fair hearing, so I mentioned it. And because I said I would, I went over the books again just now." Crane's expression exuded genuine sympathy. "Sorry, kiddo, but there's no way."
Brian added, "And we know cinches don't cost a lot but we need to watch every penny and get as much wear out of everything we have. You know how tight things are."
Evan processed that for a moment. Even now he was not one to mince words. He challenged, "But why did you get a new latigo then?"
"Because mine was cracked beyond what I'd expect any of us to be safe with, so I had no choice. It's my own fault for not noticing it sooner, and I was lucky it didn't snap." Brian sat and faced Evan. "Pard, we're getting lazy. Let's me and you examine all the tack every couple weeks to make sure it all stays in good shape." He winked, reaching to slap Crane's knee. "We'll give brother Crane here the gift of one less thing to worry about."
Evan nodded. The scrutiny of three pairs of big brother eyes wore on him, but the meeting had gone better than expected. He was satisfied they had tried, but the answer had not changed. Not that he thought it would. Not really. Perhaps he should drown his sorrows …
Brian left the room for a moment, returning with a couple of beers. He tossed one to Evan. "That might take the edge off your disappointment."
Evan shook his head to clear it. They were allowed an occasional beer in the house under adult supervision from age fourteen, but it was not something he would have gotten himself. Damn! There Brian went reading his mind again. How did he do that? "Thanks, Bri." He regarded his brothers. "Is there anything else?"
Adam replied, "Nope. Unless there's something else you want to talk about."
Evan jerked another look in Crane's direction. The wild swings of anxiety kept him off kilter. What else might the third eldest have mentioned to Adam? Crane's word was usually good, but … Baptism by fire would be preferable to the uncertainty. Not realizing the pressure he put on the beer can, it popped open, sending a geyser of liquid ceiling-ward and cascading down, sprinkling all four of them.
His brothers echoed in chorus. "Evan!"
Mortified, Evan sprinted to the stairs before stopping. Returning to the scene of the crime, he grabbed Brian's unopened beer out of his hands and ascended the stairs two at a time, closing the bathroom door behind him.
Mouth agape, Adam rubbed his head. "Can somebody please tell me what just happened?"
Brian grinned. "He's just a chip off the old block – a junior me!"
Crane half smiled, half shook his head in warning. "God help us!"
