Note: The lyrics to the song 'Home on the Range' do not belong to me.
Home on the Range
--
Oh, give me a home,
where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer,
and the antelope play...
--
The ride out to the ranch was silent as the occupants thought over the days events. Chris was gripping the steering wheel as he wondered what in the world had possessed him to invite the three home with him. Seventeen-year-old Buck was also pondering why his uncle had taken in the three and was curious about how the three had ended up where they were. Fifteen-year-old Ezra was silently cursing himself for giving in so easily and was already planning an escape should the situation warrant it. Thirteen-year-old Vin was gazing unseeingly out the window hoping that this home would not be like last one. And six-year-old JD was watching the scenery go past the window torn between excitement and apprehension as he had never been out of a city before.
The tension in the vehicle thickened as the ranch came into view...
--
Where seldom is heard,
a discouraging word,
And the skies are not,
cloudy all day...
--
As the group stepped into the house, the newcomers slowly took in their new surroundings. A hallway with several doorways could be seen as could part of the kitchen. The room most readily visible was the living room which contained a couch, a chair, a TV, a fireplace, two end tables and a rocking chair. A group of family photos were displayed on the mantelpiece above the fireplace.
Taking in the photos, Ezra inquired, "Does your wife know that you have invited three strangers into your home?"
Chris clenched his jaw and answered simply, "No." Then went straight to fridge and grabbed a beer before heading out the back door, pausing briefly to call over his shoulder, "Don't touch anything."
Vin visibly tensed when he saw Chris with the beer and JD squeezed his hand apprehensively.
Buck just sighed and turned to the three explaining, "Aunt Sarah and Cousin Adam went missing a few years ago--Uncle Chris doesn't like to talk about it...And he hasn't changed a thing in the house since it happened."
"I dare say I mean you no offence, but isn't that a little..." Ezra searched for the right word.
"Creepy? Tell me about it, it's like he expects them to come walking back through the door at any moment," Buck looked sadly at the door that Chris had gone through...
--
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer and the antelope play...
--
Buck showed the other three boys around the house--pointing out the kitchen, living room, bathroom, office, and bedrooms. "What's in that room?" JD asked pointing to a closed door. "That's Adam's room--no one's allowed in there...," Buck answered, "Do you guys like video games?" he asked, changing the subject...
--
Where seldom is heard,
a discouraging word,
And the skies are not,
cloudy all day...
--
For the next few hours, the four played video games and after awhile Buck brought up the subject of how they had ended up where they were. Ezra hedged around the subject and as such avoided saying anything on that particular topic, Vin said little more than Ezra did about it, and JD enthusiastically told him about the adventure that had led him to Denver and how Vin and Ezra had heroically rescued him. Chris entered the room just in time to hear Buck say, "So, you guys are all runaways then?"
"What, did you leave home just because you were bored, or you had a fight, or you didn't get your way, Chris interrupted, startling the room's occupants, "Your parents are probably worried sick, did you ever think about that!"
Ezra seriously doubted his mother cared one way or the other, Vin was pretty sure that his foster parents didn't miss him, and JD was thinking about how he had no one to miss him now.
"Did you even think that they're probably wondering where the hell you're at...if you're sick or hurt or dead in a ditch somewhere...and they would never even know!" Chris cut off and glared at the boys who were shocked into silence. Chris abruptly walked through the room to the kitchen to get another beer. Vin visibly jumped out of his way and pulled JD behind him. Then, Chris slammed the door closed and walked back outside. "I'm going to hazard a guess and say that wasn't all about the three of us," Ezra said quietly breaking the stunned silence that Chris had left in his wake...
--
How often at night, when the heavens are bright,
With the light, from the glittering stars,
Have I stood there amazed, and asked as I gazed,
If their glory, exceeds that of ours...
--
When Chris finally walked back into the house, the others were already asleep. He looked in the door of his nephew's room and saw Buck sprawled out on his bed snoring away. With a slight grin, he quietly closed the door and continued down the hall. He paused at the door of the other boys' bedroom and hesitantly peeked inside. He had given them two bedrooms, but it seemed that the three had decide to share one of the rooms. Ezra was asleep on one bed and next to him JD was curled up clutching a well- worn stuffed animal. Turning to the next bed, he at first didn't see anyone--but then noticed a lump in the middle of the bed and surmised that it must be Vin. He watched them sleep for a few more moments regretting his earlier actions and resisting the urge to tuck them in. He wondered who they really were, how they had gotten to where they were, and what in the world he was going to do with them. With a sigh, he slowly walked out the door and closed it silently behind him. Once the door clicked shut, Ezra carefully peeled open one eye. "And what do you suppose that was all about?" he asked quietly. "Heck if I know." Vin whispered back.
--
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer,
and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard,
a discouraging word,
And the skies are not,
cloudy all day...
--
Vin and JD awoke early the next morning and waited in their room until they heard someone else moving around as Ezra was still sound asleep. The someone else turned out to be Buck and the three grabbed bowls of cereal and settled down in front of the TV, soon becoming engrossed in the program. "Can I gets some more milk?" JD asked after awhile. "Sure," Buck answered waving vaguely in the direction of the kitchen. "Help yourself," he added completely engrossed in the program and not entirely awake yet...
Chris woke up the next morning with one heck of a hangover. He really hadn't meant to drink that much the night before, and now he was really regretting it. Wincing as a drumbeat pounded in his head, he slowly made his way out of his room to grab a couple of aspirin...
In the kitchen, JD spied a bottle of chocolate syrup. "Buck! Can I have's choc-o-late syrup with it too?" he called.
"Sure," Buck answered, wincing at the noise level.
JD added the syrup to his drink and hurried to join the other two boys, saying "I can't believe you've gots choc-o-late syrup, it's the best and..." and he ran smack into Chris, spilling the milk all down the front of his shirt.
"Don't you ever shut-up?" Chris ground out, holding his pounding head, "and look at your shirt--it's a mess," he added.
JD's eyes widened as he slowly glanced down at his dripping t-shirt and said softly in a rush, "I can be really quiet--quiet as mouse, and I can take care of myself, honest." Suddenly, Vin and Buck were by his side.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up," Vin said quietly, stealing a glance a Chris.
"I can take care of myself, really I can," JD whispered tearfully.
"I know you can, Kid," Vin reassured steering him towards the bathroom.
When the two had left, Buck turned angrily to his uncle.
"What the hell was that about! It's not the Kid's fault that you drank to much last night," he yelled, then turned and followed the other two.
Chris sighed and ran his hand over his face, knowing that he had messed up once again...
--
Where the air is so pure, the zephyrs so free,
The breezes so balmy and light,
That I would not exchange, my home on the range,
For all of the cities so bright...
--
When Ezra woke-up, JD quickly latched himself to his side and it was readily decided that they would explore the outside of the ranch that day.
After briefly exploring the yard, they headed to the barn where they all admired the horses. However, something was bothering Ezra. While Buck had introduced them to the horses, Vin had quietly showed his interest--but JD who was normally the most enthusiastic of the group had subduely watched the horses from Ezra's side. At first he thought that maybe JD was afraid of the horses but then he realized that JD had not left his side since he had woken up that morning.
"what exactly went on while I was sleeping?" Ezra inquired.
Buck and Vin shared a quick glance and then briefly filled Ezra in...
--
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer, and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day...
--
After hearing what they had to say, Ezra decided with a sigh that the others had much to learn. So, he preceded to explain to them the importance of appearances and how they must never let others find out how their words had affected them. After all, a poker face is good for much more than just card games. Besides, he concluded they probably wouldn't be staying here long anyway and if need be, they could always pick up and run at a moments notice.
Unbeknownst to them, Chris who was standing at the doorway to the barn, had heard every word...
--
Oh, I love those wild flow'rs, in this dear land of ours,
The curlew I love to hear scream,
And I love the white rocks,
and the antelope flocks,
That graze on the mountaintops green...
--
After Ezra's talk, the boys headed out to explore the woods.
Looking out over the vast green land that spread out for miles, Ezra thought that under other circumstances, the ranch would be a very nice place to stay indeed...
Vin's thoughts strayed to the horses in the barn and quiet woods in which they now walked. He loved everything about the outside of the ranch and believed that he could spend his whole life out there. If only Chris would stop drinking...
JD, who still clung to Ezra's side, took in the woods with wonder. He had never seen anything like it before in his whole entire life. He wished that they could live here forever and ever. Maybe, if he remembered to stay quiet...
--
Home, home on the range,
Where the deer,
and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word...
--
After walking back inside the house, Chris automatically went to the fridge and got a beer. Gazing out the window, Chris thought about the boy who looked at him with fear whenever he grabbed a beer and the suspicious one who was so worried about appearances and the one who assured him that he could be quiet as a mouse...and his nephew who he hardly even knew anymore... Then, he looked at the beer in his hand and poured it down the sink.
--
And the skies are not cloudy all day.
--
I had wanted to write about the misadventures of the boys, unfortunately my muse was all moody and Chris decided to drown himself in alcohol and Ezra and Buck wouldn't cooperate and I couldn't get Vin to talk and JD kept butting in and Josiah and Nathan wanted no part in it...
Q &A!
Q: Chris isn't like that!
A: This is a different Chris then we are used to seeing: The Chris that you are used to seeing had some sense of closure when his family was killed--this Chris never knew what exactly happened and a part of him clings to the small chance that they are still alive. Also, this Chris didn't have anyone to help him through it--as Buck is too young in this series to really help him through it.
Q: What was with Chris's tirade about runaways--that was out of nowhere
A: He was slightly drunk at the time
Q: Where's the warm fuzzies? Where's the humor? Where's Ezra running through the house with a tea cozy on his head singing 'I am the very model of a modern major general'?
A: Ummm...not in this fic. :P
Please review. :)