Two months passed since Murphy and Connor arrived at the ranch. Both of them adjusted to ranch life and they had found themselves growing closer to Lisa, Darcy and their kids. But they did wonder about Smecker and if he had finally given up looking for them.
Boston
Eunice walked down the hallway as the high heels of her shoes clicked on the tile flooring and she stopped in front of the door. She wasn't sure why she had received a phone call from Smecker to meet her in the old office as she looked at the door then she opened the door. She walked in the room while she closed the door and she saw Smecker sitting at the desk.
"Well, you look a lot better than the last time I saw you," Eunice said.
"Knock off the bullshit," Paul said, leaning back in the chair. "Has there been any word on the Saints?"
"Are you kidding me?! Smecker, they're gone!"
"No. They're out there somewhere."
"If they are, we would've heard something."
"There have been some mysterious deaths of some mob bosses over the last two weeks."
"And you think that's them?"
"I have some people looking into it."
"What people?! The only one who knows anything about Connor and Murphy are you and me!"
"And the FBI."
"I don't…."
Sighing, Eunice shook her head and she crossed her arms over her stomach.
"Look. I'm done. If you want to go chasing ghosts then go right ahead. I have other things to do," she said and he frowned.
"What are you talking about?" Paul asked.
"Remember when I told you I was reinstated in the FBI?"
"What about it?"
"They finally assigned me."
"Where?!"
"Can't tell you. All I can say is goodbye."
Smecker watched her turn as Eunice headed for the door, opened the door then she left the room. He flinched as she slammed the door then he sighed, sitting back in the chair.
Two weeks later - the Golden Cactus Ranch
Connor and Murphy walked in the kitchen as they headed for the table and they sat down. Connor scanned the others with his eyes when he noticed how they were dressed and he placed his forearms on the table.
"Why is everyone so dressed up?" Connor asked.
"We're going to the Junior Rodeo Competitions," Lisa explained as she placed the red coffee mug down in front of Murphy.
"Are we goin', too?" Murphy asked, taking a sip of coffee.
"Yeah."
"We look a little underdressed," Connor said, looking down at the white t-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots he was wearing.
"Didn't you see the shirts I placed on your beds?" Annie asked.
"Guess we were in th'shower," Murphy said.
"Then you better eat and get changed," Lisa said and they nodded.
"What is a Junior Rodeo?" Murphy asked then he placed a slice of sausage in his mouth.
"It's like a normal rodeo, but the competitors are teenagers and kids," Darcy explained.
"You mean they let kids get bucked off bulls and horses?" Connor asked.
"The teenagers, yes. The younger kids do things like calf roping," Annie said and she smiled at the light shining in Connors eyes.
"They also have rides, games, contests and food stalls," Mark said.
"And animal raising competitions," Peter said.
"So, are any of you competin' in anythin'?" Murphy asked.
"I'm thinking about trying the pie eating contest," Mark said.
"I'm entered in the calf roping competition," Peter said.
"I'm gonna do the roping competition," Chandler said.
"What is a roping competition?" Connor asked.
Chandler explained while Connor ate some scrambled eggs and a few slices of sausages and Connor nodded.
"What about you?" Murphy asked Nichole.
"I'm too little to do anything," Nichole said with a pout.
"Are there any rides she can go on?" he asked, looking at Darcy.
"Yes, there are" Darcy said.
"Then we'll do that," he said and Nichole nodded.
"Alright. Less talking, more eating," Lisa said.
"Speaking of eating, has anyone fed Devil and Ebony?" Darcy asked.
"Not yet," Annie said.
Diego and Murphy got up when they headed for the cupboard and the wolf and the cat followed them. Diego got out a can of dogfood when he headed for the metal bowl, opened the can of dogfood and he scooped some of the dogfood into the metal bowl. Devil started eating as Diego placed the can of dogfood into the cupboard after placing the plastic cap on the top of the can of dogfood then he went to wash his hands.
Murphy opened the can of cat food when he placed the cat food in the metal bowl and Ebony looked at the cat food. Ebony sniffed the cat food, looked at Murphy and Murphy arched an eyebrow. The cat started eating as Murphy placed the plastic cap on the can of cat food, placed the can of cat food in the cupboard then he went to wash his hands.
Diego and Murphy walked back to the table when they sat down on the chairs and they started eating their breakfast.
After everyone finished eating their breakfasts, and Connor and Murphy changed clothes, they got into the cars as Lisa and Diego started the engines and the cars headed down the path.
Houston
The sounds of country music, the sounds of the rides moving, people talking and laughing and some farm animals calling out filled the air as the scents of food cooking moved by them and Connor and Murphy walked near Lisa and Darcy. Nichole wanted Murphy to push the stroller as she smiled up at him and he reached down to lightly ruffle her hair.
"What do we do first?" Connor asked.
"We're going to ride some rides. Wanna go with us?" Annie said, holding onto Diego's left hand.
"You wanna?" Connor asked Murphy.
"Sure," Murphy said.
"But I wanna go to see the baby animals," Nichole said with a pout.
"Mommy will take you," Darcy said.
"Ohhhhh-key."
Connor felt a small sense of guilt coming from his brother while they followed Annie and Diego and Connor lightly nudged him. Shrugging his shoulders, Murphy slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans and he gave Connor a tiny smile.
Mark won a second-place ribbon for the pie eating contest and he was surprised after he heard Murphy cheering and making a shrill whistle after he received the ribbon.
"You know these games are rigged, right?" Darcy asked as they headed for the game where you had to fire water into a clown's mouth and pop the balloon and Murphy nodded. They stopped near the booth while Murphy scanned the prizes hanging on the strings or in the small display case when his eyes caught the unicorn with the rainbow mane and tail.
"There is no way you're going to win that," Darcy whispered.
"Never know," Murphy said, using his other accent.
"Wanna give it a shot, Cowboy?!" the carney asked.
"Yep."
Murphy paid him as Murphy picked up the water gun connected to the small hose and he noticed water was dripping from the hose. He glanced over at the other players when he held the water gun in his right hand, cupped his right wrist in his left hand and the bell sounded. The other players were either repeatedly pushing the trigger or missing while Murphy locked his eyes on the clown's mouth and he held down the trigger with his right index finger. The blue balloon quickly filled with water as the blue balloon grew larger and larger and the carney and Darcy gave him a shocked look. Before the carney could cut off the water to the water gun Murphy was using, the blue balloon popped and water exploded into the air.
"Damn!" the man next to Murphy said while Murphy placed the water gun back into the holder and Murphy looked at the carney.
"I'll take the unicorn," Murphy said.
Nodding, the carney removed the unicorn from the string and he handed the unicorn to Murphy. Kneeling down on his haunches, Murphy held out the unicorn to Nichole as she smiled and she took the unicorn in her arms.
"What do you say?" Darcy said.
"Thank you!" Nichole said.
"You're welcome," Murphy said, standing up.
The carney watched them walk away as he frowned, shook his head and he kicked some dirt with his right foot.
The calf roping contest was located inside a small building.
After someone sang the National Anthem, Connor, Lisa, Peter, Chandler and the others went to sit in the bleachers as they watched the other boys and girls rope the calves and Connor saw how nervous Peter looked.
"What's wrong?" Connor asked.
"I just nervous," Peter said.
"Well…," Connor said as they turned to face each other and Connor gently placed his hands on Peter's shoulders. "I bet all of th'other kids are feelin' th'same way. But you wanna know summat?"
Peter nodded.
"Winnin' is great, but havin' pride in what you do means a whole lot more. Win or lose. As long as you dig down deep inside you… As long as you put everything you have into it… As long as you do yer best… Nothing else matters."
"It doesn't?"
"Nope."
"Will Peter Baker please come to the arena?" came over the speakers.
"Go get 'em, Cowboy," Connor said, lightly patting Peter's shoulders.
Nodding, Peter got up as he moved by Connor and Connor gave him a reassuring smile. Connor watched Peter go down the stairs. Peter headed for the arena when he took the small coil of rope from the man near the opening of the arena and Peter looked back at Connor. Connor nodded as Peter walked into the arena and he held the lasso in his right hand. The bell sounded when the calf ran into the arena and Peter followed the motion of the calf. He started twirling the lasso as the calf moved by him and he sighed. The calf dodged him a few times when Peter swung the lasso and the lasso moved over the calf's head. Peter held on while the calf tried to get loose then Peter carefully pulled the calf to the ground. He tired the rope correctly around the calf's legs as the bell rang and the man walked to him.
"Great job," the man said with a grin.
Peter nodded as he headed out of the arena and he went to sit next to Connor.
A short time later, the rest of the children finished their rounds and the man walked to the judges sitting at the far end of the arena. He walked to the microphone stand when he looked at the paper in his hands then he pushed the button on the microphone.
"The judges have made their decisions. These are the top five winners of today's competition," the man said then he read the names of the fifth-place ribbon and the fourth-place ribbon winners. "The third-place ribbon winner is…Peter Baker!"
Peter stood up as Lisa hugged him and Connor fist bumped with Peter. Peter headed into the arena when he received his ribbon and he shook the man's hand. Peter left the arena as Lisa walked down the stairs and she knelt down to pin the ribbon onto Peter's shirt. They went to sit down and Peter was surprised with Connor slid his left arm around Peter's shoulders.
The man read out the names of the second-place and first-place winners as people cheered, applauded and whistled. People got up as they headed for the exit and Peter looked down at the ribbon.
"I… I never came in third before," Peter said.
"Nothin' wrong with third place," Connor said.
"Really?"
"Yep."
Smiling, Peter stood a little straighter and Lisa glanced at Connor. She wasn't sure, but seeing Connor's positive interaction with Peter sent a small shiver move through her.
The roping competition was in another building as they walked inside and Connor saw the look on Chandler's face.
"Nervous?" Connor asked.
"Yeah," Chandler said.
Connor noticed Chandler looking at a boy with short brown hair. The boy was slightly heavyset and he was glaring at the competition.
"That's Benji Dean. He's won every competition," Chandler said.
"Which means he thinks he's a big shot," Connor said.
"Yeah."
"An' a bully."
"Yeah."
Connor saw the heavyset man standing behind Benji as the man talked with some other men and Chandler sighed.
"That's his dad," Chandler said.
"Looks like an a…," Connor said, but grunted when Annie nudged him in the side.
"Let's go get a seat," Annie said.
After someone sang the National Anthem, they went to seat in the bleachers as the competition started and Connor glanced over at Benji. He noticed the intimidating looks Benji was giving the other contestants and the other contestants would make mistakes out of fear.
"Th'little shit," Connor grumbled.
"Who are you talkin' about?" Murphy asked.
"See that kid over there?"
Murphy looked to where he was pointing and Murphy nodded.
"He's intimidatin' th'other kids."
"Ain't that cheatin'?" Murphy asked.
"Only if someone catches him doin' it."
They watched the rest of the competition when it was Benji's turn and his father cheered as Benji walked into the arena. They watched Benji doing his routine when he messed up one part and his father growled.
"Do it again, You Little Shit!" Benji's father shouted.
Benji tried again, but he couldn't do what he wanted to do and he growled.
"Stupid rope!" Benji shouted, tossing the rope to the ground then he stormed out of the arena. His father walked to him as he looked around then he barely pushed Benji to the bleachers.
"Your turn," Lisa said to Chandler.
Chandler stood as he headed by Murphy and Connor and Connor tapped Chandler's right upper arm.
"Listen," Connor said as he held up his right index finger. "When you get into the arena? I want you t'ignore Benji. Jus' look at us. An', win or lose, as long as you do yer best… As long as you put in everything you got…. That's all that matters."
"Ok," Chandler said with a nod.
They watched Chandler head for the arena as he glanced over at Benji and Benji was glaring at him.
"Ignore him," Chandler repeated as he looked at the man and the man handed Chandler the rope. Walking into the arena, Chandler took a deep breath, let it out slowly and he looked over at Connor. Connor nodded when the bell rang and Chandler started his routine. He concentrated on what he was doing when he finished his routine and he heard Connor and Murphy cheering. Chandler walked to the man when he handed the man the rope and the man smiled.
"Well done," the man said.
Chandler headed for the bleachers as he went to sit next to Lisa and he glanced over at Connor. Connor gave him a double thumbs up as Chandler smiled and they watched the rest of the competition
.
After the last competitor did their routine, the man walked to the judges at the end of the arena when he took the piece of paper from one of the judges then the man walked to the microphone.
"The judges have made their decisions. I will now read the names of the top five winners of today's competition," the man said.
The man read the names of the fifth-place and fourth-place ribbon winners while Chandler glanced over at Benji and Benji gave him a smug look.
"Ignore him." Lisa whispered.
The man read the name of the third-place ribbon winner when he looked at the piece of paper then cleared his throat.
"Second-place ribbon winner is…Chandler Baker," the man said.
"Me?!" Chandler gasped and Lisa hugged him. Chandler got up when he walked down the stairs and he walked into the arena. He listened to the cheering and applause when he turned to see Connor pupping his arms in the air and Chandler softly laughed. He walked to the man when the man handed him the ribbon and they shook hands.
"Well done," the man said.
Chandler walked back to the bleachers when Lisa walked to him and she pinned the ribbon to Chandler's shirt. They went to sit down when Connor lightly nudged Chandler's side, but Chandler sighed, frowning.
"What's wrong?" Connor whispered.
"Benji still won," Chandler said.
The man looked at the piece of paper when he read the name of the first-place ribbon winner and Benji's father stood up when the winner wasn't Benji.
"What the hell!? Why didn't my son place first?!" Mike Dean bellowed.
"He was disqualified," the man said.
"What are you talkin' about?!"
"He didn't finish his routine."
"So!?"
"Not finishing the routine is an automatic disqualification."
"Bullshit! My son won! You hear me! He won!"
Mike stormed down the stairs as the security guards moved closer and he pushed them aside. He headed into the arena while more security guards ran at him and he growled.
"Talk about a sore loser," Annie said.
"Yeah," Diego said, watching the security guards detain Mike then they led Mike out of the building.
"Are they going to arrest him?" Mark asked, looking at Darcy.
"Maybe," Darcy said.
Connor and Chandler glanced over at Benji and his mother as Benji glared at them then he flipped Chandler off.
"Let's go," Lisa said.
They headed down the stairs then toward the exit when Benji ran toward Chandler and he pushed Chandler back a few inches.
"Hey!"
"There is no way a loser like you won, Baker! You cheated!" Benji shouted, shoving Chandler again.
"Back off, Kid," Diego said.
"Admit it!" he shouted again, pushing Chandler into Connor.
"I said back off!"
Connor held onto Chandler's shoulders as Benji growled and Benji balled his hands into fists.
"No wonder your dad left! Loser!"
"At least he wasn't an asshole!" Chandler shouted.
"What did you say?!"
"Your dad's an asshole and so are you!"
Benji walked closer as they stood toe-to-toe when they locked eyes and the fierce look in Chandler's eyes made Benji back up.
"You're still a loser," Benji said, walking away.
They headed out the exit when a loud scream filled the air and they turned to see Benji sitting on top of the first-place winner. He started pounding his fists into the boy's face and stomach while the boy tried to block him and the boy's father was calling for help.
"Shit!" Murphy said.
He and Connor ran toward Benji as people gathered around Benji and the boy and the boy screamed louder.
"Guys!" Annie called out as they ran back to her and she pointed to the news crew heading for the crowd.
The crowd started moving back as the security guards ran to Benji and Benji's mother screamed for the security guards to leave her son alone. One of the security guards pulled Benji off the boy as Benji kicked the air and the EMT medics arrived.
"Mommy? He is gonna die?" Nichole asked with large tears in her eyes and Darcy held her in her arms.
"No. He's going to be fine," Darcy assured her.
"Are they going to arrest Benji?" Peter asked.
"I hope so," Lisa said then she looked toward the exit. Pointing, she headed for the exit as they followed her and the anger Murphy and Connor felt caused the blood to pound in their ears.
Later that night - the Golden Cactus Ranch
The cars stopped in front of the farmhouse as the doors opened and Diego and Annie got out of the car. Closing the door, they walked to the stairs. They went upstairs when Annie opened the screen door then she unlocked the front door and she turned the hallway light on. Devil ran to Diego as Diego ruffled the top of the wolf's head then he went back down the stairs with the wolf behind him. Smiling, Annie shook her head and she went inside the farmhouse.
Lisa, Connor, Peter and Chandler got out of the car as they closed the doors and they walked to the stairs. Lisa opened the screen door while they went inside and the screen door closed behind them.
The car doors opened while Murphy and Mark got out of the car and Mark was holding the unicorn in his arms. Darcy walked around the car to the door when she looked inside the car and she wiggled her finger for Murphy to come closer. He walked to her when he saw Nichole was sleeping in the car seat. He quietly opened the door while Darcy reached in and she removed Nichole from the car seat. Picking her up, Darcy held her daughter in her arms and Murphy closed the door. They headed for the stairs when they went up the stairs and Mark opened the screen door. They went inside as Murphy closed the front door and they headed for the stairs.
A short time later, Connor headed for the doorway when he looked at Mark, Peter and Chandler getting into bed and Connor knocked on the doorframe.
"Chandler," he said and Chandler walked to him. Connor locked eyes with him as Chandler frowned and Connor tilted his head to one side.
"Sorry," Chandler said in a soft voice.
"You don't have anythin' t'be sorry about."
"I wanted to pound his face in."
"But you didn't."
"Yeah."
"Go t'bed," Connor said with a small grin and Chandler smiled. Connor watched Chandler get into bed as Connor leaned on the doorframe, turned the lights off and he crossed one ankle over the other. "Right. Lips zipped. Eyes shut."
He watched them close their eyes when he pushed off the doorframe and he headed down the hallway. He stopped at the doorway to Nichole's room while he watched Darcy tucking Nichole under the covers and Murphy placed the unicorn on the bottom right corner of her bed. Murphy felt his brother's presence as he turned to look at Connor and Connor leaned against the doorframe.
Murphy headed for the doorway as Connor backed up and they headed down the hallway. Murphy stood at the doorway to his bedroom when he watched Connor lean against the doorway to his bedroom and Murphy saw the amused look in his eyes.
"You really are gettin' into this whole daddy thing," Connor said.
"I'm not her daddy. Or Mark's," Murphy said.
"True. But it's not stoppin' you from actin' like it."
"Like you're not actin' like Peter an' Chandler's daddy."
"Not sayin' I'm not," he said with a small laugh. "I fergot t'ask. Where did Nichole get that unicorn?"
"I won it fer her."
"Where?"
"It was one of those game where you have t'fire a water gun at a clown's mouth an' fill th'balloon with water until th'balloon breaks."
"Aren't those things rigged?"
"Yep, but it didn't matter. Th'ballon broke before they turned th'water off."
Connor snorted a laugh and Murphy smiled.
"Wanna know what she called it?" he asked and Connor nodded. "Rainbow."
"Of course," Connor said, rolling his eyes.
They stood in silence when Connor kicked off the doorframe and he headed into his room.
"Think we should say some prayers for Benji an' his family?" Murphy asked.
"I think we should," Connor said.
Nodding, Murphy headed into his bedroom when they closed the doors and the light came on from under the doors.