Three months later
"Hey." Steve said as he walked up behind his wife. "How's the ghost doing?" He asked as he leaned down to kiss her.
"Don't call him that." She responded, swatting at him. "You'll brand him for life."
Steve shrugged as he sat down his bag. "He's so quiet you hardly know he's in the room."
She sighed. "It's going to take time. He's becoming more animated with the horses. I heard him telling Patches about John's ball game."
Steve smiled at that. "Next step is actually getting him on the field."
"Yeah right. It's hard enough just getting him to go to the games with me." She shook her head. "If it doesn't have a fur coat he's not talking to it."
Steve groaned as he lowered his tired body into a chair. "How's John handling his big brother role?"
Laura grimaced. "He's starting to get frustrated. He can't understand why Brent won't play with him."
Steve turned to eye his wife. "How frustrated?" He asked as he noticed the tone of her voice.
Laura bit her lip. "Yesterday he threw his ball at Brent's head." She paused. "Several times."
"Please tell me it was one of the nerf balls." He asked in a dangerous voice. When she nodded he continued. "What happened?"
"While I was dealing with John, Brent took off out the back door. I followed him, concerned it had brought back bad memories." She shook her head. "He was going from one horse to another, telling them the whole story."
"Great." Steve said as he closed his eyes. "We bring an abused kid into our home and our other son abuses him."
Laura smiled as she laid her hand in his. "He laughed Steve."
He stared up at her in horror. "John laughed at him?"
She hurried to correct him. "No, Brent laughed, when he was telling the story to the horses. He's never been around other children and John's finally starting to treat him like a normal kid. It's good for him."
"So John being a bad influence is a good thing?" Steve asked in confusion.
Laura laughed at the expression on his face. "You're cute when you're perplexed."
Steve raised his eyebrows as he looked at his wife. "And where are the boys now?"
Laura smiled in return as she slid into his lap. "Brent is outside with Roger and John's at football practice."
She shivered in anticipation as he leaned up to nip at her earlobe. "That gives us about an hour."
That night Dinner time
"John, pass the rolls to your brother." Laura instructed as she scoped some green beans onto his plate.
Making a face John grabbed a roll out of the dish and lobbed it across the table. He groaned when it sailed right by the other boy's hands and onto the floor. "Dude, you're supposed to catch it."
"John, don't throw food at the table or anyone at the table." Steve told him in a relaxed voice.
"But it's fun." The little boy protested.
"Fun enough to lose your TV time tonight?" His father asked pleasantly.
John pouted but obediently passed the basket of rolls. "You're supposed to say thank you." He grumbled when Brent accepted the food.
"John." Laura warned.
He rolled his eyes, but sat calmly eating, waiting for his next chance.
"Page and Kimberly will be up tomorrow." Steve said starting the conversation for the grownups.
"Have they finally decided to move out here?" Laura asked as she kept on her eye on John.
Steve shrugged. "Page is tired of commuting and they don't know anybody on the east coast but us so they thought they would check out the neighborhood." He informed her.
She smiled. "I'm looking forward to playing with the new baby."
"Yuck, it's a girl." John said disgusted. He rolled his eyes dramatically.
"The house next door is for sale." She continued ignoring the youngster's gagging motions.
Steve hesitated. "I thought about that but I didn't know if you would feel it was too close."
"Steve, we live on ten acres. I don't think that's going to be a problem."
Seeing that his parents' attention was elsewhere John picked up a spoonful of green beans. He looked over at his intended target, surprised to find his new brother staring at him with a grave look on his face.
'Thank you.' The other boy mouthed before he threw a spoonful of mashed potatoes. John couldn't contain his laughter as he flung his own spoonful. "You're welcome." He mouthed back.
"Well I can see two little boys are going to be helping me clean up this mess." Laura observed dryly.
"That's okay." John shouted as he picked up another spoonful.
Steve reached out and took the spoon from him. "Enough's enough." He said sternly though he couldn't help smiling.
Laura waited until the two boys had done their share of kitchen duty. "Did you see him throw the potatoes?" She asked excitedly.
"Did you see John's face when he did?" Steve laughed.
She glanced over at her husband. "You know if they keep this up we're going to have a big problem."
Steve grunted. "I say we already have a problem and his name is John." He grinned as he drew her into the circle of his arms. "And I'm glad we do."
The next day.
"They're here, they're here." John shouted as he jumped off the couch.
"Indoor voice." Laura pleaded as she walked to the door.
"Where's Brent?" Steve asked as he came up behind her.
"He retreated to the barn. He's still anxious around strangers."
"Page!" John yelled as threw open the door.
"Hey buddy." Dallas said as he caught the whirling bundle of energy. "We need to be quiet okay. Lexi's sleeping." He indicated the infant in the stroller.
Laura immediately bent down to coo. "Oh she's beautiful." She gushed as she feathered her fingertips through the dark curls.
"She's a girl." John made a face as he tugged on Page to get his attention. "I have a new brother."
"I heard." The wrestler said dryly. "What happened? Did you eat him already?"
"No." John said laughing. "He's out with the stupid horses."
"Don't use that word." Laura instructed absently as she patted the baby.
"Why don't you go out and see of you can get him to come in?" Steve suggested.
The Barn
"Brent." John yelled down the long row of stalls.
The younger boy popped out of a stall with a frown on his face. He put his finger to his lips and made a shushing noise.
John rolled his eyes but he lowered his voice. "Dallas Page is here. He's a wrestler like dad and he's one of the coolest guys. You have to come meet him."
Brent shook his head and went back into the stall. The older boy growled but followed him in. "There's not even a horse in here." He observed in disgust.
Brent turned in a circle with a look of unease on his face.
John walked back out to look at the nametag on the door. "Where's Patches?" He asked.
Brent shook his head helplessly.
"And you can't ask anyone can you?" John said heaving a big sigh. "Hey Roger." He yelled down the hall.
A small wiry man stepped into the walkway. "You mind you don't startle me horses." The ex jockey called out, the irish lit soothing despite the sharpness of the tone.
"Where's Patches?"
Roger frowned. "We had a gate left open last night and that dang fool horse slipped out. He's hiding in the hills somewhere." He looked over in concern as Brent made a sound of distress. "Not a thing to worry about youngun. We'll catch him and bring him home." Smiling confidently he slipped back into his stall.
John was jerked out of boredom when Brent shoved past him and headed for the tack room. "Where are you going?" He asked exasperated.
Brent whirled around and shoved him back before putting his finger to his lips again.
Angry John stalked after him, ready to fight until he realized what the other boy was doing. "You aren't going to go after Patches are you? And on a horse?" John asked incredulous, barely keeping his voice at a whisper.
Brent nodded his head vigorously as he hauled stuff back and forth.
"How are you going to ride on of mama's big horses? You don't even reach their knees." He taunted.
Smiling determinedly Brent walked to one of the back stalls. Opening the door he led out a small pony. John's mouth dropped open. "I didn't know we had one of those." He watched as Brent walked the horse to a chair and clambered onto his back.
"I'm your big brother and it's my job to look after you." He said a little nervously. He climbed up on the chair. "I'm going with you." He eased himself onto the broad back of the small pony, clutching frantically at his brothers shirt as they began moving. "Stupid horse." He muttered.
House next door one hour later
"Are you sure you don't mind us living next door?" Kimberly asked nervously as she studied the house.
"I think it would be great." Laura laughed. "Its not like our kitchen windows are side by side but we will be close enough for the kids to play together."
The dark haired girl laughed. "I don't think John wants anything to do with Lexi at the moment."
"You never know. They might end up hooking up one day. And I am determined to get a girl myself. I am not living in a houseful of boys." She said determinedly.
"What do you think of the house?" Page asked as he walked up behind them.
"It's nice that it's on the edge of a really nice neighborhood and not out in the country like Laura but we'd still be neighbors." She studied the blue house. "It definitely needs a paint job but other than that its in good shape."
"Do you want to see the inside?" Steve asked as he held up the key. He led them up the long walk and opened the door. Laura and Kimberly were instantly awed over the wide entryway with the stained glass walls.
"Now Laura's going to want me to do something like this to our house." Steve muttered to Page. They followed the girls from room to room, occasionally rolling their eyes at the girls' comments.
"Oh I can see this being Lexi's room." Kimberly came to a stop in the doorway. She gazed at the deep window seat framed by a wall of bookcases. "The perfect place for a teenage girl to dream."
"Hey, she is never growing up to be a teenager." Page growled as he shifted the baby's weight in his arms. The girls just smiled at him as they continued the tour.
Close to an hour later they arrived back at mallard manor. "I really liked it." Kimberly said. "What do you think honey?"
"Page shrugged. "A house is a house. Doesn't make a difference to me." He answered causing his wife to roll her eyes.
Laura laughed. "I'm going to check on the boys. It's unusual for John to be in the barn for more than ten minutes."
Steve frowned at his watch. "It's been close to two hours. Do you think they're okay?"
She nodded. "Roger would have kept on eye on them. John's probably busy cooking up some scheme."
"Lets go." Kimberly said as she tugged on her husbands arm. "I want to show Lexi the horses." Page rolled his eyes but followed the group out the back door.
Laura stood on the back porch eyeing the tumble of black clouds. "We've got about fifteen minutes before it starts pouring."
Walking into the barn she searched out Roger. "There's a big storm coming up fast. We need to get the yearlings in."
The small man nodded. "Already on it. Did you tell those boys to rub that pony down before they put it back in the stall?" He called over his shoulder.
"What?" Steve asked in alarm. "The boys aren't here?"
The grey head popped up. "I saw Brent leading the pony out. Seeing as how he's the most behaved little boy on this green earth I figured you were with him."
Laura swallowed nervously. "No. Why would they have taken the pony?" She asked a little desperately. "John doesn't even get near them if he can help it."
Roger squinted his eyes in thought. "They were asking about Patches and the little one seemed a bit upset."
She groaned. "I didn't think to tell him about the horse before he came out here." She turned to the others. "His favorite horse is running loose over the fields." She explained.
"Are you saying my sons are out there in this weather on top of a horse?" Steve exclaimed.
Laura nodded. "Actually it's a pony, only about half the size of a normal horse. Brent's ridden her plenty of times."
"That makes me feel loads better." He grumbled.
Laura pushed her hands through her hair. "I'll get Sasha, go after them on horseback. Grab the jeep and hit the access road. Maybe you'll be able to spot them."
"I'll wait in the house." Kimberly offered as she lifted her daughter out of her husband's arms. "Maybe one of the neighbors will spot them and call."
"It can't be that hard to find them. You only have ten acres." Page pointed out.
Laura shook her head. "Our land butts up against the back of my father's land. He has over 300 acres. That's why we couldn't find Patches this morning." She explained as she saddled her horse.
Out in the hills.
"Do you know where we are?" John complained as he hunched his shoulders against the strong wind.
Brent shook his head no, continually scanning the area for his friend.
"It's going to rain." The older boy pointed out. He sighed in frustration when his brother shrugged his shoulders. "We need to go home."
Brent looked around before holding up his hands, indicating he didn't know how.
"There's a road, we could just follow it." John suggested. He yelled when Brent suddenly flung himself off the pony and went running through the bush. "Don't leave me on this beast alone." He cried.
He looked around anxiously. "Giddy up." He urged the horse. The pony shook his head as if laughing. Hearing some rustling John looked up as Brent came out leading patches. "You left me alone." He yelled.
Before John could scramble off the pony they both heard the sound of the jeep.
"Uhoh." The little boy muttered as their father pulled up beside them.
Steve calmly climbed out of the jeep and walked over. He lifted john off the pony and ran his hands over both boys checking for injuries. "Are you okay?" He asked in a quiet voice.
John nodded, worried by the expression on his father's face.
"What the hell where you thinking. You know better. You don't go wandering off by yourself. Do you have any idea what could have happened? What if you had fallen off the horse? You could be seriously hurt and have no way to get help." Steve started, his anger tightly controlled. He raised his hand to run it through his hair. Brent jumped forward, holding tightly to Patches halter rope.
"Don't." He whispered.
Steve stared at him in shock as he reached out to touch the small boy. He kept still as Brent flinched away from his touch. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"You were going to hurt John and it's not his fault. I wanted to go and he only came along to keep me safe." Brent said in a rush.
John stared at his brother, a smile lighting up his face. "He wasn't going to hit me." He informed him. "But it's pretty cool that you tried to save me like I came along to protect you." He threw his arm around his brother.
"That's called being a family." Steve said as he shook his head. "And you both are in major trouble."
Present time.
Brent ignored the ringing cell phone in his pocket as he bent down to rub his hands along the swollen belly of the mare.
"That's it girl, just a few more minutes." He soothed the pregnant female. He growled in irritation as the phone started ringing again. Pulling it out of his pocket he turned it off and chucked it into the hay.
"Is she doing okay?" His girlfriend and assistant asked as she leaned over the stall door.
He nodded as he rocked back onto his heels. "Just a few more minutes here."
"That's good. The Wilson's called, Jilly's in labor and they want you there. And Mr. barker called, apparently Zeus got into some barbed wire. Bleeding's controlled but he's worried about infection." She informed him.
"Busy night." He murmured as he comforted the heaving mare.
"Everyone wants the best and that would be you Dr. London." She teased.
"Did you give my cell number out to any patients. The darn thing's been ringing off the hook." He complained.
"No way." She answered as she handed him some clean towels.
"Did I?" he asked looking up suddenly.
She laughed. "I doubt you even remember the number. You're the horse magician and I'm the detail person remember. Did you even try answering it?"
He smiled up at her. "Now why would I do that? You're the detail person." He teased. "Here we go, it's time." He said as water gushed onto the straw.