There were two surprise quizzes at school that day. Two! Sometimes, I think the teachers get together in that staff lounge, and sit

around, thinking of ways to torture the students.

I knew that I did okay on the phycology quiz, but the trigonometry one truly caught me by surprise, and it was over some new

material! That was so unfair! I walked out of that classroom feeling discouraged. I wasn't even sure that I had passed it.

I had talked to the girl who was supposed to pick up one of the dogs, (Donna Jo Smythe), in between classes, and she

promised she would meet me at the house before six that day.

I went off to work, and Ivy and I went out on a call. I usually enjoy that, getting to go out on a call, and away from

the office. Today, it was a call to a ranch on the west side of Murphys. Driving there, Ivy and I were talking. She

said she'd spoken to Crane earlier in the day.

"You did?" I asked. "How is he?" I thought how that sounded, and added, "I mean, did he seem okay?"

Ivy knew what I meant, because she said, "He said they all did some hunting, but didn't get a deer. He said they

did a lot of talking."

"I hope that's a good thing," I said, looking out the window at the passing scenery.

"You mean good that they all talked together?" Ivy asked.

"Yeah." I turned to look at her. "Like-talking, and not yelling. Or reaching some sort of-agreement, or

whatever-"

"Crane seemed fine, really," Ivy said.

"Crane's a positive person," I said. "He always finds the bright side to things." I gave her a half-smile. "I guess

you've figured that out about him already, though, huh?"

Ivy smiled a smile that would have rivaled that of a supermodel. "I honestly don't see any faults in Crane," she said.

I smiled back. "Well, he is pretty darn nice."

7

Ivy paid me that day before I left, and I made sure that I was 'square' with her as far as what she'd done to help

me with D.C. It wasn't much left over, and I owed some of it to the family coffers for the massive monthly vehicle insurance bill. They

didn't make Guthrie and I pay as much as everybody else on it, but we had to give a portion. Since Guthrie doesn't always have

an 'outside' job away from home, he gets a set amount every month for working around the ranch, and he has to pay stuff out

of that. It's all part of the 'plan' to teach Guthrie and I responsibility.

I pulled up at the house, and parked, getting out and reaching in to gather my school clothes and backpack. I was looking around,

checking to see what vehicles were present and accounted for. I was hoping to see Daniel around, because I thought I would be able

to tell by his demeanor if things were better, or at least better than they had been.

I heard a piercing whistle, and looked around some more for the source of it.

Adam was walking in from the pasture, and coming around the corner of the barn. I waved to him, and he motioned

to me to come.

"The dogs," I muttered to myself.

I kept my arms full of clothes and backpack, and began walking his direction. Adam had stopped at the other side of the

corral fence, and as I was walking closer, I said, "Hey, Adam."

He gave a sort of a nod in greeting, but didn't say anything.

I came to a stop on the other side, the fence between us. He rested his hands on the top rail, and gave me a long look.

"How was your camping?" I asked.

"It was fine," he said.

"That's good," I said. Awkward momentary silence. "I guess you saw the dogs in the barn," I said.

"I did," Adam said. He had his 'dad' look and voice on.

"One of them is being picked up today, by six o'clock," I said.

"Uh huh," he said, obviously waiting for more.

"And then-the other one-I'm gonna find a home for," I said.

"Mmm," Adam said, giving a slight nod.

"Becky and Beth Ann are gonna help with finding a home."

"Well, that would be helpful," he said.

We exchanged a look and he seemed so stern that I felt my stomach knot up.

"Are you mad at me?" I asked, in trepidation.

"I'm not pleased," he said. "I was under the notion that we had an understanding about animals bein' brought home. Wasn't

it supposed to be discussed first, and then permission given or not?"

Yikes. I was going to 'yes, sir' him, but instead I only nodded, meekly.

"The other dogs don't seem to take to those two," Adam said.

"No, they don't," I said, in meek agreement.

Adam brought his hands up and then back down again on the top rail. "Well, get that one gone tonight, and then

you put everything you have into rehoming the other one."

"Okay," I said.

"And, no more of this, Harlie. No animals brought home, without permission. Understood?"

Now, I did it. "Yes, sir," I said.

"Alright," he said.

I wanted to ask him about the camping trip, and whether 'things' were on the right road now, with Daniel, and whatever was

going on. But, I decided to be prudent. I'd find out soon enough. And, I had enough to do. Chores. Homework. Waiting for Donna Jo to

come and take the pup. Maybe I could convince her to take both. That would be ultra fantastic.

As I was heading up the front steps, carrying all my stuff, Daniel came bounding out the front door at the same time.

"Hey, squirt," he said, in greeting, as we both paused at the top step.

"Hey."

"How's tricks?" he asked.

"Adam's unhappy about the stray dogs," I said.

"Yeah. Well-this isn't exactly set up to be a dog rescue around here."

"I know." I sighed. "It's just hard to say no, when an animal has nowhere else to go-"

Daniel was regarding me with a sympathetic look.

"How are you?" I asked, turning the tables.

"Hangin' in there," Daniel said.

"What does that mean, Daniel?" I asked. "Are you okay? Are you and Brian okay?"

When I said that, I guess he could see I was serious, because he sighed, and said, "No brushin' you off, is there?"

"Why would you want to brush me off?" I asked.

Daniel gave me an intense look. "I don't want to, squirt. Things are-" he hesitated. "Complicated."

"I'm worried about you," I said, feeling emotional.

"Aw, don't be," he said, sounding regretful, and reached out to hug me hard.

I hugged him back. "I can't help it," I said, my voice muffled by my face in his shoulder.

Daniel held me back, looking at me. "The OBG don't allow that," he said. "I worry about you. You aren't allowed to

worry about me-"

Again with the OBG, Older Brother's Guide, which was Daniel's standard joke.

"Daniel, I'm serious," I told him, reprovingly. "Don't make fun."

Now, the regret showed thru his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't tease you."

"You can tease me. Just not about this," I said, full-on serious.

He nodded. "Okay." He took a couple of steps back, and leaned against one of the porch posts. He sighed, looking

as though he was thinking over his words.

"Things with Brian and me-they're okay," he said. "You're gonna find out when you're older-that just because

you're grown, it doesn't mean that they all stop worryin' about you. Or wanting what they think is best."

I kept my eyes on Daniel, clutching my armful of belongings.

"I'm gettin' married," he said.

You could have knocked me over then. With just a small breath, I think. I was shocked, plain and simple.

"Married," I repeated, stupidly.

"Yeah."

"Well-" I was so stunned I wasn't sure what to say. I wanted to say, 'what are you thinking?' or 'you can't do that', but

instead I said, "Are you happy, Daniel?"

For a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer in his eyes. He stepped back to me, and laid his hand on one side of my face.

"I got asked a whole lot of questions, by a whole lot of McFaddens over the last couple of days. But nobody else

asked me that particular thing." He leaned in and kissed me on the top of my head. "Thanks, squirt."

There were others, coming in and coming out then, and our private conversation was over. I was inside, still feeling stunned,

when I realized that Daniel hadn't answered my question about being happy.

7

I did my chores, still feeling stunned. I ate tacos, still feeling stunned. I was doing my homework at the kitchen table, after the

kitchen had cleared out, still feeling stunned. Guthrie came in, and proceeded to pour himself a glass of milk. I pushed my

books away, and twirled my pen in my fingers, looking at him. He turned to look at me, leaning against the counter.

We exchanged a lonnnng look. Of understanding each other. Guthrie and I can do that. We've always been able to.

"He told you, too," I said, and it was a statement of fact, not a question.

Guthrie nodded, looking serious. "Yeah."

"I don't get it, Guthrie," I said.

Guthrie gave another shake of his head. "Me, either."

Nobody had talked of it-it being the subject-of Daniel's sudden and unforeseen decision to marry Jill-at supper. Other topics

were discussed, casual things, but not that. Jill had been quiet, seemingly subdued, though I could tell she held Daniel's hand

under the table during the entire meal. Daniel ate with his left hand because she had hold of his right.

"Something feels wrong," I said to Guthrie. We were both speaking in a really low tone, so we wouldn't be overheard.

"Maybe it's because it's such a shock," Guthrie suggested. "Maybe if we get used to the idea-it won't seem so weird."

Into the stillness that followed that comment of Guthrie's, Daniel appeared in the kitchen. I was glad we had been taking a

silent moment, so he hadn't heard what we'd been saying.

Daniel went to take out the milk jug, the one that Guthrie had only just returned to the refrigerator. He went to pull down

a glass, and filled it with milk, giving me and Guthrie a searching look.

"I have somethin' more to tell you two about," Daniel said.

I felt my stomach drop. Like, seriously. What the heck else could he want to tell me and Guthrie?

"You're kiddin'," Guthrie said, dryly. And, inside, I was cheering Guthrie on. He'd said what I was thinking.

"No. I'm not kiddin'," Daniel said, and it looked like he was trying to smile.

"What is it?" Guthrie asked.

Daniel gave us both another long look, and then came and sat down at the kitchen table, across from me.

"Come sit down, Guth," he said.

"Why I gotta sit down?" Guthrie asked. "Is it that big, what you're gonna tell us?" Wow. Guthrie was really showing

his irritation, and, though I didn't blame him at all, I felt my stomach knot up, watching the exchange between the two of them.

Daniel didn't look irritated, though, or even put out at Guthrie's stubbornness.

He looked resigned, almost sad, I thought. "Please," he said to Guthrie.

I couldn't stand that look on Daniel's face. "Guthrie-" I said, really quietly, a pleading for him to just sit, for Pete's sake.

Guthrie came and sat down next to me, so we were both side by side, looking across the table at Daniel.

7