Chapter 10

Texas had left Beth alone with Mason way longer than she ever imagined he would. The bright Oklahoma sun was starting to sink deep beyond the horizon and Tex still hadn't made it back home after the fight he had with Mace and that worried Beth. Her big brother had made her come to the table to eat some tuna casserole but Beth didn't have the slightest appetite for it. Instead she just kept trying to peek out the window in hopes that Tex would come walking down their drive, or that she would see a huge cloud of dust knowing that he was with Johnny on his dirt bike. But that wasn't the case. Instead Mason just kept barking at her to eat her dinner. After a few minutes of pushing it around her plate, Mason had had just about enough. "Beth, stop playing with your damn food and just eat it."

"I'm not playing with it!" Beth shouted back in frustration.

Mason lifted his fork up and pointed it right at her. "I'm not in the mood for this tonight! Now just stop playing games and eat what's on your plate." Beth stared at her brother for a few seconds and when he raised an eye brow and gave her a stare right back she knew that he wasn't backing down, not one inch. So instead of making things worse for Mason she started to divide the tuna fish from the elbow macaroni. Mason watched on but didn't say another word. He was just satisfied that she didn't give him anymore lip and that she was eating something even if it was just the macaroni. The two sat in silence for a few more minutes when Mason rose from the table to place his plate in the sink. He started to dish out a plate for Tex when he heard Beth scrape her chair across their worn out linoleum floor. He continued to fill Texas' plate when out of the corner of his eye he could tell that Beth was moving a little stiffly. Once she was standing beside him with her plate full of tuna he asked, "Are you hurtin'?" Beth just shrugged her shoulder and responded with a light tone.

"A little, I guess."

"A little you guess? What kind of answer's that?" Again Beth just shrugged her shoulder.

"Either you are or you're not." As Mason grabbed some aluminum foil from the drawer beside the sink he paused to wait a response from his sister.

Beth couldn't stand it when Mace would get this way with her. Acting all high and mighty and thinking that he's Mr. All- State, All American Boy of the Year and Mr. I'm going to College and you're just a little eight year old girl. Beth gritted her teeth together and pulled her head up and straighten her aching back just to prove a point. "I'm not hurtin'" She said with confidence. But Mason's next remark only added fuel to the fire that was burning within Beth.

"Nice try Kiddo. You'll need to work on that act a little more to fool me."

"Why you gotta always be like that?!" Beth could feel her cheeks starting to heat up and couldn't believe she actually spoke what she was thinking. She's usually the type of girl that keeps everything inside and never lets it out until she's angry enough. But now that she had said it she wished that she could take it back, because the reaction from Mason was exactly what she expected from him.

He grabbed a hold of her shoulders and held them firmly. His brown eyes pierced right through her soul. "Now you look here, I'm not trying to be like anything! What I'm trying to do is make sure you're alright. That's it." Beth was kicking herself in the ass about what had just slipped out. She didn't mean it and felt bad, but it was too late now. But any time she felt bad about something it ate at her nerves, and when her nerves got frazzled the water works would usually kick in. She hated crying in front of Mason. She always felt like it made her look weak in her brother's eyes, and she was by no means a weak kid. She considered herself to be one of the strongest eight year old girls she knew. She was not a baby, and had never been treated like a gentle china doll that would break at the slightest drop. Nope she was Elizabeth Ann McCormick and she had been dealt the shittyist card than any other eight year girl that lived around here. Her Mother died when she was four, her Father had pretty much walked out of her life at the age of six, and she was basically raising herself with some help from Mace and Tex. She was used to hard work. No one can own three horses and not know what hard work was. She also knew how to appreciate what little they had, for she knew that there was no such thing as a money tree, and that you earn everything you own, that things aren't just given to you. Beth owned very little toys. If you walked into her room right now you would find a few second hand items, but hardly any new things. But she didn't care about that. Beth not only had a good sense of materialistic things but she had also learned important character traits like loyalty, respect and responsibility. And all of those things came from one or two places…. Mason or Rowdie. Owning a horse has been the best thing to happen in her world, for both Rowdie and Mason have taught her about how to be responsible with someone else's life and how loyalty has a pay out in the end, and this is very true for Beth. It has helped her become who she is today.

So when the tears start to build up in her eyes she had to use every ounce of energy to keep them from falling. Mason still had a firm grip on her shoulders and was searching her face for some answers, but Beth had nothing. She was afraid to open her mouth in fear that her voice would crack and then it would be a death trap in her opinion. Nope she couldn't let Mason see her tears. Instead she shook loose from his grasp and darted for the side door out the kitchen and down the porch. It was starting to get dark but she didn't care anything to get away from Mason, and anything to go and find Tex. "Elizabeth!" Mason shouted after the girl, but she never slowed for a second. She could hear him calling for her, but she kept her little skinny aching legs a moving down the drive. She figured she would swing into the Collins' first to see if Tex was there, if not she might be cooled off enough to return back home. "Elizabeth get back here!" The further Beth got down the drive the harder it was to hear Mason, but the light breeze had just picked up not only was carrying a chill to it but was also carrying Mason's threats and calls. But Beth kept her head high and continued at the fastest pace her little body would allow. "Damn it!" Mason yelled into the dusk of night. It was only a ten minute walk to the Collins' Ranch but Beth was sore and achy and once she was out on the main road her pace slowed much quicker. Between the sun almost setting in the far west and the breeze ushering in some cold air Beth was now second guessing her choice to head out and find Tex on her own. She kept moving as some trucks approaching slowing down to see if she needed a lift. She would just wave them off and their taillights would disappear into the setting sun.

Beth was relieved when she noticed the white fence post lining the road. This was signature of Collins' property. Cole Collins was a very wealthy land developer and he was known for setting his property apart from others by lining it all with white fences. Beth slipped through the rails and now was not walking on the main road but along the inside of the fence rails. She followed it until she got to the Collins's long drive that held a sign welcoming guest to the Collins' Rancho. Beth could see the big house lite up about 500 feet in. She jumped through another set of rails and was now walking up a tarred driveway. She was exhausted and hoped with all her might that she would find Tex here. She dwiftly moved up the nice brick walkway to a grand entrance of white pillars. She reached up on her tip toes and rang the doorbell. She could hear its deep chimes within. It took a few seconds by finally the door flung open. There stood Mr. Cole Collins. He was a big man compared to her father who was short and thin as a rail. But not Mr. Collins. He stood at least 6 foot 1inch and was a very broad man with a little pot belly that hung over the top of his pants. He was dressed in his daily attire with a dress shirt and vest over it. He looked out and then down to see the raggedy looking girl. His deep voice rang out into the night hushing any crickets that might have been chirping their sweet song.

"Elizabeth McCormick? What on earth are you doing here at this hour?"

Beth straighten out her posture and pushed her chest forward, holding her head high and with as much strength as she had left in her she spoke, "I'm looking for Tex."

"Is he lost?" Mr. Collins laughed at his own joke.

Beth narrowed her eyebrows together for she had no time or energy to deal with joking. "No Sir. I was just wasn't sure if he stopped by here on his way home." Before Cole Collins had any more time to joke with the little girl, Cole's youngest; Jaime had snuck around her burly father to see who was at the door. When she noticed a disheveled Beth she gasped.

"Beth, what on earth are you doing here at this time of night?" Jaime slipped passed her father and pulled Beth into their oversized foyer. "My gosh Beth, you look worse for wear. What's got you showing up here?"

Beth didn't realize how cold she was until she now had stopped moving. She rubbed her arms with her cold hands and her teeth started to chatter. "I'm looking for Tex, is he here?"

"Did Mason let you walk her alone?" Cole asked shutting the door behind them.

"Well, no Sir. He's probably guessing though." Cole let out a fake laugh as he shook his head.

"Of course he doesn't. Another McCormick running around this town without supervision, what else is new?"

"Cole!" Jaime hissed at her father which caught Beth by surprise. She never understood why the Collins' kids called their Mother and Father by their first name and not Mom or Ma, of Pop of Dad. Mason used to always say it was because they had no respect for their parents, and Jaime was living up to that statement right now by shouting at her father the way she was.

Jaime had moved around her father to grab a sweatshirt that was hanging on the coat rack behind the huge mahogany door. It was a Bixby High gray and green sweatshirt that had Collins printed on the back, just like Mason's but without the name. She brought it over to Beth and instructed her to put it on. The little girl did as she was told and stood awkwardly in the oversize sweatshirt that was hanging down past her knees. As she stood there she realized it must have been Robert's, who was Mason's best friend. The longer Beth waited there she could feel the warmth of it starting to heat her body back up.

"Jaime take the child into the kitchen and get her some cookies and a drink why I talk with your brother." Cole started to move towards the grand stair case when the house shook for his yell. "Johnny! Johnny get your butt down here this instant!" Cole swung around and flashed Beth a sweet smile and gently put his hand on of the curve of her back to guide her to the hall to their massive kitchen. Beth shuffled her feet and when she heard Johnny's feet pounding down the stairs she froze. She needed to know if Tex was with him.

"Did you need me Cole?" All three turned and noticed only Johnny standing in some sweats and a t-shirt.

"Is Tex McCormick up there with you?" Cole asked his son sternly. Johnny's eyes quickly darted from his Father's to Beth McCormick then to Jaime's. He knew something was up when he spied little Beth McCormick. But he was already supposed to be grounded for the stunt he pulled last week with Tex. They got caught in Sutton's field cow tipping and if his father learns that Tex was upstairs in his bedroom than that grounding was gonna go further instead of ending tomorrow. But Johnny knew something was wrong if Beth was here, in the dark, and without Mason. "Son, I asked you a question. Is Texas McCormick here?" By now the commotion had drawn attention from Bob and Mona Collins. Both had come out from the grand room, or what Beth would call their living room.

"Dear, is there a problem?" Mona asked coming closer to her husband. It wasn't until she got closer that she could see Beth standing with Jaime. "Why Beth McCormick what brings you here at this time of night? I would think it's just about past your bed time."

"I'm looking for Tex, Ma'am." Beth responded in her soft, sweet voice.

"He's not here Dear. Does Mason know you're here?" She asked with concern.

"No." Beth whispered. Meanwhile Johnny was trying to secretly pass a message to his brother Bob to help him with this situation. Bob quickly got the message and stepped in.

"Hey Cole, I need to drop off a college catalog for Mason, let me take the kid home and I can drop the catalog off while I'm there." Cole thought about it for a few seconds, but finally gave in.

"Fine, Fine. But you make sure to let Mason know that the next time I find any of his siblings roaming around our property after dark, I'll personally be delivering them back to his place myself. " Beth couldn't help but shiver at the threaten tone that Cole Collins used in his voice. "And Son, I want you home before 10:00." Bob nodded and Jaime felt the little girl shiver so she continued to escort her to the kitchen for that drink and snack. Once she got her in there she sat her down in one of the chairs and whispered in her ear.

"Beth, Texas is upstairs. I think Johnny's gonna have him sneak out the window and meet you and Bob at Bob's truck. I'll get you some milk and cookies first though." The minute Jaime revealed where Tex was Beth felt a weight roll off her back. But she also could feel exhaustion set in. The warmth of the house with the smell of fresh cookies just made Beth want to curl up and snuggle in for the night, but she knew darn well that wasn't gonna happen. Jaime quickly returned with the cookies and milk. "Stay here and I'm gonna run up the back stairs to help get Tex out. If Cole or Mona asks where I am, tell them I'm in the bathroom." Beth shook her head in agreement and stuffed the sweet oatmeal raisin cookie into her mouth. It was still warm and gooey. Just the way she liked them. As she was stuffing in another cookie she could hear Mr. and Mrs. Collins talk about how irresponsible Pop was leaving the three of them home all the time unattended. Just hearing someone as powerful like Mr. Collins talk poorly about her Pop and her family stabbed an ache in her heart. The hurt in her heart was making it hard to enjoy the rest of her cookies and milk. She sat fidgeting with the oversized sweatshirt strings while Mr. Collins continued his rant on the McCormick family.

Meanwhile upstairs Jaime rushed into Johnny's room hoping to help Tex escape without being noticed by Cole. She flung opened Johnny's door to be met by a pacing Tex. "What the hell is she doing here? Are you sure she walked all the way here? What was she thinking? She's all banged up from being in the river, she must be a mess."

"Calm down Tex. She seems ok." Johnny noticed Jaime standing in the door and motioned her to come in. "Does she seem ok Jaim?" Jaime moved over and lovingly rubbed Texas back. There was starting to be a bit of attraction between the two, but everyone knew it would never last if they gave it a try. Basically because Jaime was Jaime and Tex was Tex, and their worlds would do nothing but ever collide.

"She's downstairs with a glass of milk and some cookies. She seems alright, just looks tuckered out."

"I'm gonna kill her! She knows better." Tex started cracking his knuckles like he always does when he gets nervous or angry.

"Well, look on the bright side; you might not need to kill her, because Mace will probably do you have the chance to." Everyone turned to the deep voice coming from the hall. At first Tex thought it was Cole but was relieved to see that it was just Bob. "Johnny, open that slider and have Tex climb down that way." He motioned towards the door and then spoke again. "Tex, meet me in the truck. When you get there climb in the bed and when I get out on the road, you can jump in the cab. Just make sure you're in the bed before we come out. I'll talk loudly so you can hear us coming."

"Ok." Johnny slapped Tex on the back and he was about to go out the slider before he caught Jaime's eyes.

"Thanks Jaime."

"I didn't do it for you Tex. I did it for Beth. Now get outta here." Texas gave the two youngest Collins a wink and started climbing down the deck to the ground.

Beth was slurping at her milk when Jaime and Bob returned into the kitchen. "C'mon Beth, I'm sure Mason is probably wearing holes in the carpet wondering where you're at." Bob knew all about what pains in the ass sisters can be, but he knew Beth wasn't like that usually. He wished that Jaime would actually take some tips from Beth. But at least Jaime had never run off without someone knowing where she was at. Bob knew that Mason was going to fly off his rocker. Thank goodness Cole said he didn't have to be home until 10:00. That would give him time to help calm Mace down. He better sneak some beer out of the fridge just in case. As he did that Jaime got Beth ready to go, and just as Bob shoved a half of dozen in a duffel bag Mr. and Mrs. Collins entered the room. Mona walked over and gave the little girl a hug. Even though Cole didn't care much for the McCormick's both had a soft spot for the youngest McCormick. For not being raised by any parents, they both thought the girl was well mannered, and well behaved. Most of the time Mason had her clean and dressed appropriately.

"Now Elizabeth, you're more than welcome to visit anytime, just make sure next time one of your brothers knows where you are, alright honey?"

Beth nodded her head. "Yes Ma'am. And thank you for the cookies and milk. They were very delicious." Cole moved over to his wife and pulled her into a side hug.

"You're very welcome. Tell Mason we say hello. Bob make sure you get her home safely. And if you see Texas on the way please pick him up as well." Mona demanded.

"I will Mona." Bob placed his hands firmly on Beth's shoulders and walked behind her out the back door. As the moved further away from the door Bob couldn't resist. "Beth, you've sure of done it now. What the hell happened over there tonight?"

"Mason and Tex got into a fight." Bob looked down at the girl and could see tears filling her beautiful green eyes. He wasn't used to seeing her cry, so he knew it was something serious, but he tried to brush it off.

"What else is new? There're always fighting."

"Yeah, but this time they were punching and hitting each other. Not just yelling." Now it was making sense. He noticed Texas' busted lip and bruise on his cheek bone, but thought it might have been a townie that had landed the damage not his best friend.

"Oh, I see."

"Then Texas left and didn't tell us where he was going. I figured he was with Johnny, but when dinner came and he wasn't home yet, I started to get worried. But Mason didn't seem to care. Then Mace started getting on my case and we started arguing and I couldn't stand it anymore, so I ran out. I thought Mace was gonna come get me, but he didn't. So I walked to your house. I just knew Tex was here." Bob walked over and opened the truck door. He lifted Beth up a bit to help get her in. She slid across the bench seat to the passenger's side. Before he jumped in he checked to make sure Texas was in the bed of the truck. When he got the thumbs up from the boy he jumped into the driver's seat. Bob shifted the truck into first gear and took off down the drive. Once he flew out of there drive he pulled the truck over to the shoulder of the road. It wasn't but a second of having the truck park that Beth's door flew open, and she let out a loud screech. Before she could say anything big callous hands were over her mouth. She struggled to get away but was having no luck. When the rest of Texas' body jumped in the truck Beth wanted to pound on him for scaring her so. Once Bob noticed that Tex was settled he pulled the truck back onto the road and sped off towards the run down McCormick homestead.

"What the hell are you thinking Beth? Walking out in the dark at this hour? Mason is gonna kill you!"

"I was scared that you weren't coming home." Tex just huffed in response to his sister's defense.

"I was thinking about it, but then knew better. I was just hoping that you and Mace would go off to bed and then I would of snuck in after."

"Mace was getting on me because he was mad at you. I needed you to come rescue me, and when you hadn't, I took off. I thought Mace would come and get me but he didn't." Beth leaned into her brother for warmth and for comfort. Tex was a little irritated but he put an arm around her and pulled her in closer. She half smiled and nestled her head into Texas' chest. He still smelled of horses, hay and sweat. It only took a few minutes by vehicle to get to the McCormick's. Bob sped down the drive making their appearance known. Mace must have been glued to the window because before Bob had the truck in park; Mace was running down the stairs.

"Are they with you?" He hollered as he ran to the passenger's side. Before Tex could even open the door, Mace had flung it open for him. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Ask her." Tex said brushing past his brother. Beth just looked into Mason's dark eyes hoping that he would just drop it and send her to bed; she was too tired to hear anymore lectures.

"Elizabeth!" He shouted at the girl. She turned and noticed that Bob was getting out on his side so she quickly slid out right behind him. Bob was about to shut the door right on her when he noticed her shadow. He chuckled knowing exactly what she was doing. As the two rounded the front of the truck Mason was there waiting for her. She tried to run passed him but he had scooped her up by the armpits. "Not so fast! I'm talking to you." Beth started kicking and thrashing and Mason got a size 2 shoe right in the shin, and before the kick got any higher next time he firmly placed the girl down but shook her right out of her skin. "What were you thinking? Running off like that?" Bob was glad that he was there, because Mason didn't realize how hard he was shaking the little girl.

"Hey Mace, why don't you cool down some. I've brought some beers and we can just sit and relax. The kids are fine. Why don't you send them to bed and deal with it tomorrow, when you're all rested." Mason instantly stopped the shaking and glanced between his best friend and his sister. He knew Bob was right, Bob knew him better than his own Father knew him. He nodded a thanks at the teen and let go of his sister.

"Go on in the house. I want you cleaned up and in bed in five minutes. We'll discuss this tomorrow. Tell Tex to do the same." Beth nodded and quickly ran off inside before Mason could change his mind. Bob retreated back to the truck and pulled out a duffel bag. He grabbed a bottle out and handed it to Mason who just pushed it away, "I can't. I'm in training."

"When aren't ya in training Mace?" Bob gave Mace a tight squeeze on his strong shoulder and motioned for the house, but Mace shook his head. He wanted to give both Beth and Tex time to get ready for bed before they entered. The two small talked on the porch before they headed in. They started talking in the kitchen but after a half hour or so they moved into the living room where both Beth and Tex had their bedroom doors open. Mace moved over and noticed that Beth looked like she was out, so he closed her door, but when he moved to Tex he was still awake. The boys didn't say anything but Mace closed his door as well. Once back into the living room Mason flopped on the couch while Bob fished another beer out along with some nudie mags. Mason watched Bob flip through the magazine stopping at the center fold and moving it all around to get every different view of the almost naked model.

"I think I could of killed Tex today." Mason admitted.

"Nah, it was just a little fight Man, he'll get over it."

Mason brought his arms up over his head and rested his hands on his hair. "I shouldn't of hit him that hard."

"Texas is as tough as they come. I wouldn't worry about it."

"But you didn't see the look on Beth's face. I don't know man, I don't think I can do this much longer."

"Do what?" Bob asked finally putting the mag down.

"I can't keep acting like the parent to those two. My damn Pop needs to show up and start acting like a Father."

"When was the last time you heard from your old man?" Bob tried to hand over the nudie mag but Mace just shoved it a side.

"About a month ago. He sent some cash through the mail. It was postmarked Boise, Idaho."

"Boise?" Bob looked just as shocked as when Mason had when he had received the letter.

"You know Indiana is thinking about coming and seeing me play this season. Indiana Man. But what the hell am I gonna do with those two? I can't drag them along and keep them in my locker for Christ sakes."

"Don't think about that Mace. Keep your eye on the prize. That's what my old man keeps telling me about Football."

"That's easier said than done. My friggin eyes are constantly on a little dirty blond and a raging teen." Bob laughed as he got up from the chair.

"It could be worse. You could have Johnny and Jaime. At least Beth is a good kid. You'll figure something out. You always do!"

"Hey thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Any time!" Bob adding tossing the mag down and getting up from the chair. Mason followed his friend to the door. As Bob opened the screen he turned back around and flashed Mace a movie star grin, "Hey Mace?"

"Yeah?"

"Get some rest, you look like hell!" The two just shared a laugh and Mason watched as Bob spun gravel and took off down their drive. As he watched the dust settle he looked up to the bright starry night and sent up a silent pray, hoping that someone would come and answer it real soon!