COMING TO TERMS Chapter 3
Disclaimer: Don't own it, not profiting by it - except for the warm fuzzy feeling I get when people enjoy reading it.
A/N Already had this chapter written so I thought it would keep you all going until academic work is out of the way. Got the details of Ezra's new car from an article since I know nothing about the things. As much as I love the Jag I fancied giving Ez something a little more sporty & it's a very pretty car.
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Chris sat on the porch steps and drank in the normality of the various everyday activities going on around him. This was, he realised, the last few moments of the only life he had ever known; the life that had sustained him through the grief of losing Sarah, his wife, and Adam, his son. This comforting sight of watching skilled people at their work would soon be obliterated by a bunch of complete greenhorns. He sighed at the unfairness of it all. He really should hate his father but he didn't have it in him and after listening to his messages to his other offspring he couldn't bring himself to hate them either; well, except perhaps Standish. It seemed that none of the others had turned to crime just because Robert hadn't been in their lives so the little weasel had better not use him as an excuse for the lifestyle he lead. Yes it wasn't his fault that his mother raised him to be a crook but he was a grown man now and able to make his own choices. Chris took a calming breath. The damn man wasn't even here yet and he was pushing his blood pressure up. Perhaps a few months of hard graft would bring the cocky southerner down a peg or two. He grinned at the mental image. And then smiled a softer smile at the connection he'd felt to Vin. Now he looked like he would be an asset to both the family and the ranch. He had always respected Josiah although events had always conspired to keep the man from getting to know them before. The tension of thinking about their crooked brother was finally dissipated at the thought of Buck's promise to teach JD how to be a cowboy. Nathan's reaction to Buck's declaration had been to dash into town to buy a bigger first aid kit!
All in all he supposed that he could have had, with exception of the man he suspected was going to become the exception to any positive thought, a worse bunch of relatives descend on him and if he had met them, most of them, in another context rather than as brothers it would have been fine. But they were not just guys; they were his brothers…family. And that made them his responsibility. And he really didn't know if he was ready for that or if they would even accept his…his what? His authority? His guardianship? Hell! If he didn't know what he was supposed to be to them how in the name of all that was holy was all this supposed to work. He cut off his rambling thoughts suddenly as he heard vehicles coming up the drive. This was it then….
'Oh Dad, you'd better be right about this.'
7B7B7B7b7B7B7B
Buck and Nathan joined Chris on the front step to greet the first of their new arrivals and on seeing the twin looks of nervousness on Josiah and JD's faces as they exited their vehicles they realised that they weren't the only ones stumbling around in the dark on this brotherhood thing. And at least they were on home ground.
"Wow!" JD suddenly felt like he was stepping into an episode of the Waltons. He had been blown away by the scenery as he drove the used but serviceable truck that he had picked up in town. He had been even more awestruck at how much land the ranch actually covered. When he finally caught sight of the house he was pleasantly surprised. It was big but still had a homely quality about it. He had been half expecting something terribly grand where he would spend the next twelve months resisting the urge to enter and leave by the back, or tradesman's, entrance.
Josiah was much more mellow but he, too, was impressed. The place had a good feel to it. Seeing that JD was a little preoccupied trying to take in everything at once he took the lead.
"Chris, Buck; it's good to see you again. And thank you for opening your home to us. I know it can't be easy for you."
JD snapped out of his daze and dashed to catch up with the psychologist who was now on the top step, shaking hands with their brothers.
"Wow!" he whispered to himself. He would never get used to that…brothers!. Wow!
"Hey guys" he shook hands enthusiastically and Buck reckoned that he could almost see a wagging tail on their youngest 'pup'. "Sorry for acting like a tourist only this is the most amazing thing ever, y'know? I mean this place is great; you are so lucky; I mean the hotel Mom worked in, where we lived till I went to college, was big, though not too big, and we only had access to certain areas…and of course if you want us to stay out of areas here that's okay with me, cause I'm used to it and we were kinda forced on ya; but it's really great to be here; I brought boots and a hat and stuff but I didn't know what else to bring, like saddles and stuff but…."
"For God's sake kid, breathe!" Buck didn't think that anyone could talk so long without a pause but he suspected that the kid would just have carried on until he turned blue.
JD stopped, blushed and then grinned. "Sorry about that. I tend to get carried away when I'm nervous or excited and I guess I'm a bit of both."
Chris smiled, realising that JD's enthusiasm had calmed his own nerves a little. "That's okay JD. I guess we're all in pretty much the same boat here. Why don't we get yours and Josiah's stuff inside and relax. Our neighbour, Nettie, made us some sandwiches and if it's alright with you both I'd rather wait till everyone is here before we choose rooms?"
"Sounds great" Josiah rumbled while JD nodded emphatically, trying not to get carried away again but he couldn't resist a "Sounds cool" as he was led inside his new home.
JD had to admit that the welcome was a lot warmer than he had been expecting. The end of the meeting a week ago had been decidedly chilly, with Chris storming out and Buck saying goodbye to everyone except Ezra. It had been hard for everyone but he had felt especially sorry for the southerner. It was hardly his fault that his mother had tried to con his father before he was even born. He dreaded to think how he, himself, might have turned out if he hadn't had such a wonderful mother. Well hopefully they could all have a fresh start.
The five brothers had only been chatting and eating from the generous spread laid on for them for a few minutes before they heard the doorbell ring. As one the men rose to go and greet whichever of the two remaining siblings had arrived.
" 'Lo. Nice place." Vin dropped his duffel bag and back pack by his side and gestured to the battered jeep parked neatly in the space between the previous two arrivals. "Wasn't sure where to park her."
"Junkyard?" asked Buck with a wiggle of his eyebrows. Vin grinned.
"Gets me about…sorta" he replied.
"It's fine there. We do have plans to build a carport but till then that's fine" replied Chris. "You need help with your luggage?"
"Nah, I tend to travel pretty light. Just got…." Vin's reply was halted as a powerful engine could be heard approaching, fast.
"Wow!"
"Jeeezus!"
"Nice wheels." Vin added his comment to JD and Buck's exclamations.
Chris scowled as Ezra swept the open topped sports car into perfect position beside Josiah's Ford.
"What the hell do you call that?" he growled as Ezra, once again nattily dressed, exited the bright red Alpha Romeo Spider.
Ezra smiled sardonically as he glanced back at the impressive machine.
"Ah call it a car Mr Larabee but if you wish I could call it James…or perhaps Michael." Vin chuckled at the comeback and JD and Buck giggled which maddened Chris even more. No way could he survive this man for the next twelve months.
"I call it a showboat. It won't last five minutes in this kind of environment….bit like it's owner" Chris finished in a murmur.
Determined not to let the older Larabee goad him this early on in the game Ezra made sure that his smile did not waver as he replied
"Please do not concern yourself over my wellbeing Mr Larabee. I may be a city boy but I am not an idiot. Unfortunately the vehicle which I have purchased to navigate this hostile terrain will not be delivered for another week."
Chris had the distinct impression that the landscape wasn't the only type of 'hostile terrain' that the southerner was expecting to have to navigate but before he could deliver any sort of barbed retort Buck had recognized the tension and was intent on diffusing it. 'Damn the man! His brother knew him too well; Buck might not be the brains of the family but his instincts about people were second to non. 'So why aren't you listening to his caution over pre-judging Ezra?' a little voice in his head supplied. He stomped on the thought and waited for Buck to stop teasing so he could lead his last arrivals inside.
"Heck Ez I could get ya a decent runabout from Tiny's like I did for JD" Buck indicated the ten year old two tone truck with a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle at Ezra's horrified shudder. "So what sort of jalopy have ya bought? Another foreign job?" Buck glanced neutrally at the red convertible but inside he was drooling. He wondered how many of his brothers were car aficionado's; how many knew that only five hundred Spiders had been made and they would set the buyer back somewhere in the region of a quarter of a million dollars. He reckoned he had better keep that thought to himself because if his southern brother was that rich then he certainly wasn't signing on for the money, which left the question of just why he was putting himself through this for a year? Did he have a con in mind? Had his own usually good judgement about people failed him for once? He would have to keep an eye on Ezra…but whether for their protection from him or his from Chris he wasn't yet sure.
Ezra was surprised that the jibe about his car was obviously without malice and instead of the glare that had begun to form he sent the dark haired brother a bemused smile but without any added comment. Instead he retrieved his hand luggage and followed the tall man after securing the car he had won as second prize in a poker tournament, not that he would reveal that bit of information to them. It wasn't so much the fact that he won the car but that he hadn't won the tournament. Not that he couldn't have but he had known that his opponent needed money for his mother's hospital bills and her recuperation and it was hardly his fault that lady luck had decided to shine on someone other than Ezra P. Standish that day. And it had taught him a valuable lesson…that playing to lose is a damn sight harder than playing to win. Besides he had fallen in love with the Spider at first sight and money wasn't everything…Dear Lord! Mother would be turning in her grave at that sentiment - hypothetically speaking…or was that wishful thinking!?
Once back in the hallway Chris surveyed the gathering and wondered how on earth his father thought that this had a chance of working.
"Well" he huffed, running a hand through his blond hair in a gesture of rare uncertainty, "we were all in the kitchen when you turned up. There's food and coffee if you like or we can get the rooms sorted?"
"The food's really good." JD pitched in, hoping that he could talk more with his brothers before they all scuttled off to their own private havens. He had a feeling that some of them weren't exactly natural mixers.
Nodding or muttering their agreements the seven headed back toward the large and welcoming country style kitchen. Both Vin and Ezra gazed at the selection of food set out on the table and sighed. Two sets of eyebrows quirked as the brothers stared at each other before moving forward to take their seats.
Buck indicated the spread with a wave of his hand. "Dig in folks. Don't want to rile Miz Nettie."
At that moment a light tap sounded at the partially open kitchen door. And it swung open the rest of the way to reveal a small elderly yet robust woman dressed in denim jeans and a blue check shirt; her grey hair was tied neatly up into a bun.
"Speak of the devil!" boomed Buck with a smile.
"Was somebody taking my name in vain?" the lady in question barked out; her smile belying her sharp tone.
"What can we do for you Nettie?" asked Chris, thankful for the interruption since he had been at a loss as to how to move things along.
"Well one of you strapping young men can fetch the large pot of beef stew I made. It's in the truck. Didn't think you would want to cook tonight" she nodded her thanks to Buck as he slipped past her to fetch the food. She didn't know why she had made an excuse for feeding them. She and they knew that to get a decent meal somebody who was not a Larabee had to cook it and it was most often her, unless they were eating out at Inez's bar. She cast a glance over the new arrivals, noting that none of them, save Josiah, looked much like their father. Moving closer to the table she continued to speak.
"Now, don't you think that you should perhaps introduce me to these fine young men?"
"Sorry Nettie, my manners are all shot to hell today" Chris indicated the others in the order they were seated and made the introductions.
"This is Josiah Sanchez, the first born. He's gonna be taking a position at the hospital with Nathan as a counsellor. Josiah, everybody, I'd like you to meet Nettie Wells, our closest neighbour and chief mother hen."
Josiah half rose and reached across the table to shake the hand of the neighbour that, by the warmth in Chris's voice, was so much more. "Ma'am. Pleasure to meet you, and please, call me Josiah."
"Nice to meet ya Josiah, and all of you; please call me Nettie. We don't have no truck with formalities here."
Chris nodded his agreement and gestured to JD. "John Daniel Dunne, but he prefers JD. He's just graduated from MIT." Nettie was surprised but pleased to hear the pride in Chris's voice. It had been a long time since anything or anyone had sparked his interest. Perhaps these men would be good for him
"Nice to meet you Mrs Wells…um…Nettie."
"Good to meet you too son. Hope you enjoy your stay here; it's certainly going to be a might different to MIT."
"It's gonna be great. Buck is gonna teach me how to ride and rope cattle and all sorts of other cool cowboy stuff, and…."
Chris cut JD off quickly by introducing the next brother. He knew that it was rude but by the look of chagrin on his face JD wasn't offended and he wasn't sure that Nettie had enough years left in her to wait until the kid came up for air.
"Our Texan brother, Vin Tanner."
Nettie smiled at the blushing young man with the longish light brown hair and bright blue eyes. She knew instinctively that this one was not used to large groups of people and was probably feeling a little skittish. This one needed a little mothering.
"Good to meet ya Vin. So are you an old fashioned Texas cowboy?
Vin wished that he didn't tend to blush at the drop of a hat as he stood and shook the old woman's calloused hand. "Pleased to meet ya Miz Nettie. I've done a bit of ranch work here and there but mainly I'm a bounty hunter." He finished his introduction with a hint of uncertainty. He was pretty sure that Travis hadn't divulged any of his research and the looks of surprise or curiosity on the faces around him confirmed that. He was pleased to note that nobody looked disgusted…bounty hunter wasn't everybody's favourite occupation.
Buck, by this time and after a little chat with one of the ranch hands about the feed order, had returned with the large stew pot and heard Vin's admission. He deposited the pot on the counter top and gave a loud whoo hoo!
"Well Vin, looks like this year might be a little dull for ya."
At the lack of condemnation Vin relaxed, only to tense slightly again as Nettie poked him gently in the stomach and declared in a tone which brooked no argument.
"Well, looks like staying in one place rather than chasing all over the country might give a body a chance to lay down a little fat. I swear that you're thinner than a rail. Don't you eat son? Because I certainly don't see any food on yer plate."
A soft snigger from the seat next to him saved him from the embarrassment of having to reply.
"Nettie, this is Ezra Standish; he's from Atlanta; he's Maude's son." The disdain was obvious in Chris's voice as he made the introduction while Ezra stood, exchanging his perfect seated posture for a perfect standing one. He saw the woman's lips press together in a tight line and wondered if there would be anybody in the town who would not judge him by the reputation of his mother. Ah well, no matter, he thought idly. It wasn't exactly a new phenomenon.
Ezra took her hand and shook it lightly. "Madam, Ezra P Standish at your service."
Nettie ignored the formality of his greeting. She wasn't sure that she wanted the notorious Maude Standish's offspring calling her by her christian name. She did, however, keep a hold of his hand, turning it palm up to examine it. Ezra snatched it away and resumed his seat.
"Well, it's plain that you're no cowboy. You've got hands like a baby. Doubt if you've done a hard days work in your life."
"A gentleman does not engage in either menial nor manual labour Mrs Wells." He then flashed her a startling grin which revealed a gleaming gold tooth, and finished with a chuckle, "And neither do I"
Despite herself Nettie almost smiled at the sudden transformation that the boyish grin brought to the southerner's face. "Well, can't see those pampered paws of yours looking so fine in a years time Mr Standish. A few months of mucking out the stables should see to that." Nettie was startled to see the smile drop momentarily from his face, only to return without reaching his eyes. She dismissed the sense of unease she felt and raked him up and down with a gimlet gaze.
"Well whatever you do or don't do, and I'm still none the wiser on that as I'm sure you intended…" Ezra merely gave her an enigmatic look before she continued. "Whatever else, you certainly don't seem to spend any more time eating than Vin here." She halted as Vin gave Ezra a playful nudge in revenge for the earlier snigger. Meanwhile Nettie had surprised herself by her show of concern 'Dammit!' She hadn't meant to mother him, he was the son of a crook for goodness sake. There was just something about him though… Buck's invitation to carry on eating broke into the tangent her thoughts had taken.
"Nettie was right boys. You should all tuck into this lovely spread she's put together." Buck led by example and shoved the better part of a sandwich into his mouth.
"Of course if you want to see the results of over eating you need look no further than Bucks 'love handles' there" added Nathan, laughing as the jovial rogue sucked in his perfectly flat stomach and glared at the doctor in mock indignation.
"Actually this might be a good time to fess up to something." All heads turned to Vin who had withdrawn a folder from his bag. "Sorry to be a trouble guys, Miz Nettie, but I cain't eat any of that obviously delicious food. Ain't nothing personal" headed hurriedly to reassure the kindly woman. He passed the folder over to Nathan who immediately recognized it as the man's medical records. He didn't open it yet; he preferred to hear the details from the man himself.
"What is it Vin?" asked Buck, confused but still chipper. "You a vegetarian?"
"No Buck, but I do have an allergy…to, um, milk."
Buck, JD and Chris laughed, a reaction that Vin was very familiar with, after all it did sound like a pretty silly thing to be allergic to, but he was grateful to see that not everybody found his condition amusing. Josiah's expression was sympathetic while Nettie and Nathan were frowning but not in an angry way. And Ezra? Heck he didn't see any expression on his face at all. 'Hate to play poker against him' Vin mused.
"How allergic Vin?" Nathan knew that milk allergies were usually pretty mild and often grown out of, but the Texan obviously hadn't grown out of his. "Damn" he swore softly as Vin withdrew a long slim black case from his duffle and laid it on the table with an apologetic shrug.
"What is it Nate?" Buck asked curiously. The laughter had stopped and the brothers were looking to Nathan for an explanation.
"It's an epi-pen."
"A what?" Buck was confused but Chris muttered a strong expletive that was rewarded with a stern glare from Nettie.
"An epi-pen" repeated Nathan. "It's an injection device that administers a dose of epinephrine. It's used to treat people who are so allergic to something that they can go into anaphylactic shock if they're exposed to it. Milk could kill him."
Vin's heart sank as he saw the worry and shock appearing on the faces of those around him. He really hated being different and his allergy marked him apart from others. It had been one of the reasons that finding him foster placements had been so difficult and why he hadn't made many friends during his childhood.
Nettie saw the look of dismay on the young Texan's face and realised that their reactions were upsetting him. 'Well, can't be having that' she decided.
"I'm sure that it'll only take a little adjustment here and there to keep Vin hale and hearty, isn't that right Nathan?"
Nathan, too, had seen his younger brother's reaction and while he personally thought that it would take a little more than Nettie envisaged he also knew that to make a fuss now would only panic his brothers and upset Vin.
"That's right Nettie" he agreed, his voice seemingly unconcerned, "We can sort out the details later and I'm sure that Vin is an expert on what he can and can't eat so he can give us a master class later on."
Vin nodded his gratitude although JD and Buck were still staring which was uncomfortable. He wished that they had something else to focus on.
As if in direct response to his thoughts a deliberate cough and a southern inflected "A'hem" caught everybody's attention.
"Lady, and gentlemen. Ah don't suppose that now would be a good time to ask a question?"
"What is it Ezra?" Josiah asked quickly to forestall the undoubtedly negative reply on Chris's lips
"Ah was just wondering if this milk affliction were somehow hereditary within the Larabee line; a fault in the gene pool as it were?" He smiled wickedly at the growl he drew from Chris and the aggressive forward movement by an until now easy going Buck. A movement that was halted by Nathan.
Josiah sighed at the southerner's teasing. "Why do you ask?"
With another amused smile Ezra reached into his bag and withdrew a case identical to the one on the table. He placed it next to it's twin, with a little tap to it's lid and raised an eyebrow in invitation.
"What?" asked Nathan nervously.
"Moo" Ezra intoned as he passed over his medical details, or at least those that he was willing to share.
"You have got to be kidding me!? Please Nate, tell me that the little weasel is yankin our chains?" Chris's outburst made a suddenly nervous JD shuffle back in his chair, hoping to become invisible. Buck shook his head and patted him on the shoulder in reassurance. He was used to the bark of his brother and knew it to be worse than the bite, although Standish might be the exception to the rule if he wasn't careful.
Vin scowled at the man he had felt an instant connection to. They had been nothing but nice to him so why were they being horrible to Ezra? Even if he was everything that their father had accused him of being he'd done nothing to anyone present. It wasn't fair!
"That's not fair Chris" exclaimed Nathan. "You can't sympathize with one and berate the other." Nathan noticed the flush of remorse on his brother but didn't try and push him into making an apology. It was enough that he recognized his mistake…and he could see by the release of tension in Ezra's eyes that he had seen it too. He paused and considered Ezra's statement; though it had been meant as a dig it could well have merit.
"Actually he could be right. It's far from the rarest of allergies but a reaction this serious isn't all that common."
"Uncle Mike had an allergy, but I never knew what it was; only that he prepared all his own food." Buck's tone was thoughtful and Chris nodded in remembrance.
"Who was Uncle Mike?" asked JD. He was glad that the tension had gone down a notch. He really didn't like conflict and it wasn't Vin and Ezra's fault that they had medical conditions.
"He was Dad's older brother but he died when we were still young so I don't remember much about him. He and Dad had some sort of falling out and we lost touch. I do remember that though. Chris's voice was once again even as he spoke of memories almost forgotten.
Chris's comments opened up the conversation again as Nettie cleared away the plates. As all but Ezra were drawn in with little family snippets of their own to tell, each original Larabee realising that they too now had more family that they had never met from the new brothers mothers sides, Nathan began to go through the medical records that had been placed before him, JD and Josiah having added their own to Vin and Ezra's. No-one except Ezra had any qualms about giving over their details. It made sense to have their records on hand.
Nathan skimmed through Josiah's file. Nothing much in later years, though there had been a bout of Malaria in his teens; probably a result of his step father's missionary travels. Otherwise the man was as healthy as a horse; a trait in the Larabee men. It was usually accidents that took them out because while their health was good their common sense, in Nathan's opinion anyway, was non existent. He put the file to one side as the others chatted about….JD's crazy Aunt Margaret. Well he supposed every family had to have one crazy in it…though why he seemed to be destined to suffer six of them he didn't know.
He picked up JD's slender file. As healthy as any twenty three year old. A brush with Ritalin in his childhood that turned out to be a bright kid without the right level of mental and physical stimulus rather than the ADHD that was feared. All the usual childhood ailments and an allergy to penicillin. He mentally noted that JD, unlike Josiah, was not up to date on his tetanus shot. He'd have to see to that.
Vin. Well there was the allergy, with seven reactions to date, one being a very close call. Also a mild curvature of the spine. Have to make sure he don't overdo the physical work Nathan noted. Otherwise as healthy as can be…if you ignore all the childhood admissions for various 'accidents' and the injuries sustained while working as a bounty hunter. 'Oh Dad, what could his life have been like if only you'd have been there for him?' he thought sadly.
As the talk went on around him, with both Vin and JD trying to draw him into the conversation and, to his amusement, Chris trying to shove him out again with Josiah and Buck glancing back and forth between them as though at a tennis final Ezra kept one eye on Nathan and his collection of folders.
Any moment now.
"What the hell do you call this?"
TBC
Hope you enjoyed the domestic drama. Next chapter Nathan is not happy, Ez gets to see his new abode and Chris lays down the rules….for all the good it does him :D