When I got to the vet office the next afternoon, I unlocked the door, and checked the messages, writing them down. None of

them were emergencies, mostly appointments that needed setting up. After I changed my clothes in the small bathroom, I went to stake out the horses,

and then I got busy mucking out the stalls.

Guthrie showed up by the time I was finishing up, and he helped fill the water and feed bins. After that we set out, both riding, and then

leading a second horse each, so that all four of the horses could get a bit of exercise.

We were taking one of the back roads near the vet office, when we saw Zach's blue truck. He was roaring down the street just

opposite of us, and he honked at us. Probably he was honking more at Guthrie than at me, since he and I weren't all that friendly to

one another. There was one of those big dog carriers in the bed of the truck, and at least one if not two yipping dogs were in it.

"There goes Zach," Guthrie said.

"It looks like he's gotten more dogs," I said, looking after the dust left by Zach's truck.

When Guthrie was quiet, I said, "What's he need more dogs for?"

"Huh?"

"I'm just wondering why he needs more dogs," I repeated.

"Maybe he doesn't need 'em. Maybe he wants 'em," Guthrie pointed out.

"Maybe," I said.

"Look at us-we've got four dogs," Guthrie reminded me.

"Yeah. But we're good people," I said.

"You really do not like Zach, do ya?" Guthrie asked, shaking his head.

"Not particularly," I said. "There's not much to like. He's a big mouth."

"Well, he's not one of my favorite people, either," Guthrie admitted.

"I actually think if he hadn't taken the pup, that we might have been able to keep him," I said, as we rode along, side by side.

"Nah," Guthrie denied.

"He was starting to grow on Brian," I insisted. "He went out and got the puppy a new leash, and he was always checking on him,

and giving him bones and treats."

""Doesn't mean we would've kept him," Guthrie maintained.

I shrugged, leaning back a bit in the saddle and enjoying the sun on my face.

"Thanks for helping me out with the horses," I said.

"No problem. I didn't have much else goin' on to do."

We talked about Kristin for awhile, and how her mother was keeping Frank from returning to the trailer house. At least for

the time being. Neither Guthrie nor I had any real faith that Kristin's mother would stick by her decision.

When we'd put the horses back into their stalls, we prepared to head for home. Out in front of the vet office, I thanked

Guthrie again.

"It was fun hanging out with you for awhile," I told him. "We haven't done much together lately."

"This weekend the four of us can go out. Go bowling, or somethin'," Guthrie suggested. "I know Kristin will be good with it. Kenny, too,

right?"

"Probably he will be," I agreed. I thought briefly of talking to Guthrie about Kenny's suggestion of a promise ring. But, he was

already climbing into the cab of his truck, and saying he would see me at home.

7

Brian was working out front of the barn, and I slung my bag with my school clothes and my backpack over one shoulder.

I walked over to talk to him, and he greeted me without looking up from his task.

"Hey," he greeted me.

"Hi." I peered closer at the wood he was measuring that laid across the sawhorses. "What're you making?" I asked, curiously.

"I'm not sure that I'm making anything," he said. "I'm attempting to make a changin' table, for when the baby comes."

"Oh," I said, reaching a finger out to touch one of the pieces of wood. "What sort of wood is it?"

"It's oak."

"That'll be really nice," I said.

"Well, like I said, it's an attempt more than a certainty," Brian said. "I've never done much work with wood before."

"I'll bet it turns out beautiful," I said, loyally.

"Thanks, peach."

I looked around the yard and driveway, and saw Daniel's truck was absent. "Daniel's gone?" I asked.

"Gone to work," Brian said.

"What? He started already?" I asked, surprised.

"Yep."

"But, he just went yesterday to apply, or whatever," I said.

"I guess they're needin' help badly right now," Brian said. "Hold that end of the tape, will you?"

I stepped to the end of the board, holding the end of the measuring tape.

Brian took the measurement, marked the board with a pencil, and then tucked it behind his ear again. "Four feet," he said, almost to

himself.

"Do you have a plan or something?" I asked. "Or are you making it up as you go along?"

"If I did that, it would be a mess for sure," Brian said. "That's my plans, there," he said, and gestured to the bench beside the

barn.

I went to glance down at the paper that Brian had held down with a medium-sized rock so that it wouldn't blow away.

It showed a picture of a wooden changing table, that had a space underneath with a drawer, with lots of measurements and stuff

on the paper.

"There's a drawer underneath?" I asked him, walking back over to stand next to him.

"Yeah."

"That'd be nice to store baby clothes and stuff in," I said. "Are you going to do that part?"

"We'll see how I get along," Brian said.

"Nice," I said, approvingly.

"Thanks."

I looked toward the house, and sighed really heavily. "I guess I better get my stuff inside, and get started on my chores."

"Is the Big Bad Wolf waitin' for you inside, or something?" Brian asked, sounding amused.

"Big Bad Wolf, noooo," I drawled. "But-you know-," I paused dramatically. "Jill."

Brian lifted his eyes to look at me, hooking the measuring tape to his belt. "There's somethin'-" he said, and tapped

his forehead with his index finger. "In here, that says I ought to discourage you from sayin' things like that."

"I'm not a bitch to her," I defended myself.

"Harlie," Brian said,

"Well, I'm not."

He was still looking at me. Sort of, well, like he was trying to decide whether to give me some direction. Or correction. One of those.

I gave him a grin, and said, sassy, "You know I have a valid point about her. I can tell you do."

"Enough," Brian said, and lifted the board, preparing to take it back into the barn, I guessed.

I knew he wasn't really irritated at me, so I said, "See you later," in a breezy tone, and started towards the house.

A whistle pierced the air, and I looked back towards him.

"Comere," he said, motioning to me with his hand.

I walked back over, and looked at him at him expectantly. "Yeah?"

"Adam says he talked to you about the horse."

All levity gone now, I felt wary immediately at that comment. Ready for defense.

"Yeah. He did," I said.

"So, you know you're not to work with him, or mess with him at all." And, it was a statement the way he said it. Not a question.

"For right now," I clarified.

"For we don't know how long," Brian clarified right back at me.

I sighed, and he immediately said, "Don't be sighin' at me that way."

I could feel this conversation had the potential to become-well, a lot less than pleasant. So, I took the high road, (or the more prudent

road, rather) and said, "I understand."

Brian was silent for a long moment or so, and then he came around and half-sat on the wooden saw horse.

"You know, peach, I was the one there with you when you bought that horse. I'm the one that drove you over there, and

allowed you to do it. It's me that you asked to go and take a look at him."

Not sure just what he was driving at, I could tell that whatever it was, it was bothering him. A lot.

"I know that, Bri," I said.

"It would tear my heart right out of me, if you were to get hurt dealin' with D.C. I'd feel like it was my fault," Brian said.

And, just like that, I felt like crying like a darn infant. I didn't, but I sure could have.

"It wouldn't be your fault," I insisted.

"I'd feel like it was, though," he said.

There was another moment or two of quiet. Mostly because I was trying not to tear up, and trying to think of

what to say.

"Do you understand how I feel?" he asked, then.

I nodded. "I understand," I said.

Brian nodded, too, and stood up. "So-we're good then, huh?"

I said yeah, that we were good, and he said 'see you later' and I headed towards the house again. Muttering to myself

all the way to the front steps. About brothers. How they could go from making you all prickly and defensive in one minute, and then,

the next minute, being just like putty in their hands.

7