Chapter 2

Vin spoke, "Nate you wanta look at Devin? Them fingers look like sausages." Serious eyes studied Nathan before the little boy reached out. Nathan sat him down gently on the table.

"Does it hurt?" Nate asked gently. Devin looked at Vin a moment.

"Says it's fine," Vin responded.

"As if Vin wasn't enough now I got two more I'se fines," Nathan grumbled. "It hurts now doesn't it?" Nathan asked. The little face looked up and nodded. "May I look at it?" Nathan asked. Devin offered his tiny arm. "Well it's swollen. How about if we put some ice on this and see if that helps?" Nathan suggested. Nathan carefully replaced the sling. Reaching into the refrigerator he pulled a cold pack out of the freezer compartment. "You need to keep it in the sling now all right?" Nathan directed.

"Vin let me look at them stitches," Nathan ordered.

"I'se fine," Vin exclaimed.

"Vin you want to show these boys a good example don't you?" Nathan asked with a wicked grin.

"You need to get the boys on your insurance right away," Nathan reminded. "Dev's arm how bad a break is it?" Nathan asked as he checked Vin's stitches. "Both bones is broke clean through," Vin answered. Beau trembled and turned his face into Chris collar sobbing. Worried eyes lingered on the crying youngster.

"Hush now, little bit," Chris crooned.

"Didn't know Dev wath broked," Beau sobbed. "Are ya gonna frow him away?" Beau cried.

"Good Lord no!" Ezra exclaimed into the shocked silence.

"Beau," Vin spoke gently as he lifted Beau into his arms. "Why'd ya think I'd throw Dev away?"

"He'th done broke," Beau answered. Relieved smiles filled the room.

Buck sprang up lifting Beau into his own arms. "Bitty," Buck chuckled "Ain't one of us who hasn't been broke a time or two. Won't be long before ole Dev's all fixed." Buck shared a long glance with Beau. Beau slowly smiled. Ah Hell, now ya done ripped my heart clean outta my chest. I bet Vin smiled just like you before his momma died Buck thought.

Nathan's serious eyes met the blue ones of the silent twin. "I fix folks, Devin. I haven't ever thrown one away and I'm sure not starting with you." A small hand explored Nathan's cheek. Nathan lifted the tiny boy into his arms giving him a careful hug. Dev's lips shifted slowly into a lopsided grin and his eyes sparkled. No doubt about it that's Vin's grin. You better have a real good explanation Vin Tanner. Nathan smiled back.

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Josiah returned and started slicing bananas into a bowl as the others cleared the table. Cereal poured a glass of milk set out for each of the boys. Buck sat down with Beau in his lap. Dev clamored up into the chair but was to short to reach comfortably. JD moved him over on to his lap. Clumsily Dev reached for the spoon.

"How about if I help with that since you have a busted wing," JD offered. Dev looked up questioningly. Confused eyes turned to Beau.

"Dev thay not a wing i'th an arm," Beau huffed.

Josiah studied the two youngsters. "Vin does Beau always talk for Dev?" He asked.

"Just lately" Vin shook his head violently making a calming motion towards the table. Josiah nodded as he watched the boys eat.

"Don't you want milk on that cereal Beau?" Buck asked.

"Thick," Beau spoke through his banana.

"Thick?" Buck asked in confusion.

"Thirthty," Beau reached for Buck's coffee.

"No now little fellers drink milk," Buck sat Beau's milk in front of him.

"Not milk," Beau frowned.

"You need to drink yer milk," Buck returned. A stubborn look settled on Beau's face. JD smirked and handed Dev his cup. Dev pushed it away.

"You need to drink your milk Dev," JD prodded. Dev shook his head no.

Chris asked gently "Beau why don't you want to drink your milk?"

"Thick," the boy answered almost in tears.

Ezra spoke from the corner "Beau, does the milk make you feel bad?" The little head nodded. "Where does it make you feel bad?" Ezra continued. The little hands went to his midsection. "I believe that the children may be lactose intolerant," Ezra stated.

"Vin do the boys have special milk?" Nathan asked.

"I'se handed a bag and two boys at midnight las' night. I don't rightly know. I'll go check their bag," Vin spoke as he walked out.

"How did Mr. Tanner receive his recent injuries?" Ezra inquired.

"I don't know," Chris frowned.

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Buck was covered in cereal when Dev knocked it over. Buck started to tease till he saw the shattered look on the little face. "It's all right. nobody's mad at ya," he soothed. Beau's little body froze in Buck's arms. Then he struggled to get down. "Easy there pard," Buck tried to hold the squirming boy. Buck yelped as tiny teeth latched onto his arm. Startled Buck released the boy.

Beau darted into the corner under the edge of the counter. "What the hell?" Buck grunted. Dev's eyes darkened and he crawled off of JD's lap. Going to his brother he stood protectively in front of him. The small face was locked into a determined snarl.

"What happened?" Vin demanded as he dropped the bag and knelt. Slowly he crept closer on his knees to the boys.

"I don't really know," Chris stated. "Cereal got spilled and Beau got real upset"

"That's spooky," JD whispered "They never made a sound".

"Dev it's all right I ain't gonna hurt ya none," Vin calmed the spooked boys.

"Dev thorry, he didn't mean ta be bad," Beau stuttered.

"Dev wasn't bad, Beau. Just a little spill it was an accident," Vin soothed.

"Unc'a Ath thaid we wath bad. That'th why God tooked Momma 'cauth we wath bad boyth," Beau sobbed. Furious looks crossed the seven men's faces.

"What kinda lowdown would say something like that to little kids?" Buck snarled.

Vin sat down and reached out towards the boys. "Come here boys. I need ta talk ta ya," Vin spoke gently. The boys crawled into the waiting lap. "Yer momma loved ya boys with all her heart. She didn't wanta leave ya. Ya didn't lose yer momma 'cause ya was bad. It was just a horrible accident," Vin crooned as he rocked them in his arms. Tears ran down JD's face unchecked. Buck was wiping at filled eyes. The rest were struggling to control their emotions.

"Y'all all right now?" Vin tipped up the little faces. The two boys shared a glance and then studied Vin.

"Whath gonna happen ta uth?" Beau asked. "Unca' Ath thaid nobody wanted uth. We won't be tagever no more," Beau sobbed.

"Yer mine always will be. Ain't nobody no where gonna separate ya boys. I love ya both. I want ya always. Yer mighty good boys," Vin hugged the boys close.

A pristine handkerchief appeared wiping the tears gently from the tiny faces and then an embarrassed Vin's. "Mr. Tanner did you acquire your injuries in a confrontation with Uncle Ash?" Ezra asked. Vin nodded. "If you require a lawyer I know several very fine ones," Ezra offered.

"Thanks Ez I'se gonna need me a real mean en," Vin snarled.

"Mr. Tanner, I would truly enjoy causing Uncle Ash an injury" Ezra had a sharkish grin.

"Your not the only one," Nathan spoke in a furious whisper.

My husband and I had to make a 40 min. one way trip one time. My son Brandon was 2 his older cousin Josh had broken an arm. It took forever to get Brandon calmed down enough to find out what was wrong after we told him. He was convinced that they were going to throw Josh away. Talking on the phone wouldn't do it not for him. He was fine once Josh showed off his cast. It was then we realized he had never seen one before.

A child's fear can be silly to an adult. Please never treat it lightly though. It is very real to them. Deal with it, try and 'fix' it, but believe it.