Chapter 11

Vin looked around the town of Bend as he and Chris drove to their hotel. Bend was bigger than he'd expected, though not nearly as big as Denver. A few days after Josiah's return from Texas Vin had decided to travel to Bend. He could have spoken to his family on the phone but that seemed more awkward than a face to face meeting.

Once the decision was made he had requested and received leave from work. Luckily Chris had vacation time accumulated and was able to come with him. The rest of the team wanted to join them but Vin didn't want to overwhelm his family. Damn but that sounded weird, his family, it was something he hadn't had since his mother's death.

"You sure you don't want to call them first?" Chris asked. It was Vin's decision but Chris wasn't convinced dropping in on the McKennas without warning was the best idea.

"Told ya cowboy, if they don't know I'm coming they won't know to put on company manners." Vin didn't have any reason to doubt them, he knew that. But in all his years as a foster kid he'd seen countless families put on a good face whenever they knew a social worker would be visiting. Unfortunately that good face usually hid a lot of ugliness.

"You really think that's an issue?"

Vin shrugged. "Probably not but..."

"You can't trust easily," Chris finished for him.

"Not really fair I guess," Vin admitted. He felt somewhat ashamed for having doubts about people who had done nothing to deserve them.

Chris reached over, squeezing the other man's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Your life hasn't been exactly fair. I'd say you're entitled to have some doubts."

Nothing more was said between the two friends and soon they were pulling into the parking lot of their hotel. With no idea how this reunion would go Vin had decided to get a hotel room. Then too he didn't know if the McKennas would have the room for the two of them. JD had looked them up online so Vin knew about the outfitter business they ran. If they had guests at the moment there would be a good chance there'd be no room at the inn. Besides, and this was at the heart of his decision, he might want a break from time to time; a hotel room would give him the breathing room he needed.

"Why don't you wait here, I'll get us checked in," Chris suggested. He was thinking about what would happen if somebody who knew the McKennas saw Vin.

"Yeah, okay." Leaning against the back of the seat he brought his hat forward, shading his face.

Chris returned a few minutes later, room key in his hand. "Clerk said the room is around the back side," he said as he climbed into the truck. Nothing more was said and soon the two men were in the room.

"You want to go out there today?" Chris asked, it was still early enough.

Vin chewed on his lip, deep in thought. "Guess there ain't any point in putting it off."

"Up to you Vin."

"You got the directions?"

"In the GPS and got the written directions in my pocket," Chris replied patting his shirt as he spoke. He knew Vin wasn't entirely trusting of the GPS. Truth be told, neither was he; too many news reports of people driving into rivers and such because of faulty directions from their GPS would have that effect.

"Let's go before I change my mind." Turning on his heel Vin pulled open the door, striding decisively towards the truck.

Chris said nothing, only following him outside, locking the door behind him. The ride to McKenna Outfitters was made in silence.

"You expecting anybody Ms. McKenna?" Walter asked as a black truck moved towards the house. He hadn't been told any guests were expected. He'd been promised a week of no guests so he could take care of some necessary maintenance on the cabins. There were just some things it was better to do without any guests present. They'd found that out the hard way a few years earlier when that hotel critic had been here. It had been funny, Walter privately thought, when he remembered the look on the pompous man's face when the septic tank finally failed.

"No Walter," Leigh replied. She was as puzzled as Walter. The truck didn't belong to anybody they knew. "I wonder who it could be?" When the truck drew nearer she was finally able to make out the licence plate, Colorado plates. Oh God, could it be him?

"I thought Brick went into town with Jack," said as the passenger door opened.

"He did," Leigh absently confirmed. "It's got to be Vin."

"Vin? Whose Vin?"

Leigh would have laughed at the puzzled look on Walter's face, if she'd taken the time to look. "Hello," she stepped towards the truck, holding out a hand.

"Hi," Vin shyly returned the greeting as he took her hand in his. "Is, um Jack McKenna around?"

"He and Brick went into town, they should be back in a little while," Leigh replied.

"Oh," Vin sighed.

"You can come in and wait for them," Leigh offered. "You are Vin Tanner, aren't you?" she asked, though she needed no confirmation. One look at the young man and it was clear he was Brick's missing twin.

Vin nodded. "This is my friend, Chris Larabee," he introduced the blond.

Leigh offered Chris a smile. "I'm Leigh McKenna. You're more than welcome to come inside. You could meet Cassidy and..."

"Cassidy, that's my sister?" Vin tentatively asked.

"That's right. Would you like to meet her?"

"Sister? " Walter gasped, drawing everybody's attention.

"Oh Walter, I forgot you were here." Leigh considered the situation, Jack wouldn't be happy if Bend started gossiping about private family business.

"What's going on Ms. McKenna?" Walter boldly asked.

"Family stuff Walter," Leigh replied. "You'll respect that, won't you?"

"Oh sure," Walter readily agreed. "You can count on me."

"Thank you Walter," she only hoped he would keep his word. "Don't you have some cabins to work on?" It wasn't a subtle hint by any stretch of the imagination but subtle didn't really work with Walter.

"Oh, uh, yes ma'am," Walter stuttered.

As he walked away Vin raised a questioning eyebrow Leigh's way.

Leigh smiled. "That's Walter Maddox, he's our handyman." She turned towards the house. "Come on in," she invited. "Would you like some tea, coffee?" she asked as the three of them stepped into the house.

"Coffee if you have it made," Vin replied.

"The same," Chris said, speaking for the first time.

They followed her into the kitchen. Leaning against the island they waited patiently for Leigh to make their coffee.

"I'll just go find Cassidy," Leigh said as she handed them their coffee. Before she could take a step the girl in question stepped into the kitchen.

"Leigh do...oh I'm sorry, I didn't know we had guests," Cassidy apologized as she walked into the kitchen.

"I was coming to find you Cas," Leigh said.

"Me, why?" Cassidy asked. Her confusion turned to shock as one of the men turned towards her. If it hadn't been for the slightly longer hair she would have thought this was Brick she was looking at. "Brock...I'm sorry, I mean Vin?" she asked. She hadn't missed the way he had flinched at his real name, it had reminded her of the discussion she'd had with her father and brother.

"Yeah, and you're Cassidy?" Vin shyly responded. He hadn't felt so shy around strangers in a while. The fact these strangers were his family only made the situation more uncomfortable.

"Jack didn't say you were coming."

"He didn't know. Jack's your father, isn't he?"

"Yeah."

"But you call him Jack?" Vin had never met anybody that called their parent by their first name.

"Everybody does," Cassidy replied with a shrug.

"Guy said Brick started it when he was about eight. He didn't know why but one day Brick said Jack instead of dad and pretty soon all of the kids were calling him by his name," Leigh explained.

"Guy?" Vin asked. There hadn't been a Guy mentioned on the website for McKenna Outfitters.

"Guy was my husband, he passed a few years ago," Leigh quietly replied.

"He was our oldest brother," Cassidy added.

"Oh, sorry for your loss," Vin offered. He couldn't really feel sad, having never known the man. He was sorry that he would never get the chance now but that was as far as it went.

"Thank you."

"Why didn't you tell anybody you were coming?" Cassidy asked after a few minutes of awkward silence.

"Too nervous," Vin answered. He didn't know how to explain his reasons to this young girl...his sister.

"Oh, guess that makes sense," Cassidy said, her tone clearly indicating she didn't really think it did.

The screen door slammed, startling them all. "Harry what have I told you about slamming doors," Leigh admonished as she saw her son.

"Sorry Mom," Harry apologized. He noticed the men standing near the kitchen island. He stared hard at the younger one. "You're not Uncle Brick," he firmly stated.

"No I'm not," Vin confirmed with a grin. He was always more comfortable with children than adults. He'd never really tried to figure it out, the why didn't matter to him. Josiah said it was probably because children are inherently honest with their feelings. If they like you they'll let you know and if they don't they'll let you know that too.

"Does that mean you're Uncle Brock?"

"It does, but I don't go by that name. I go by Vin."

Harry scrunched up his face. "How come?"

"Harry," Leigh admonished. She was afraid Vin would be offended by the question. When he didn't hesitate to answer she knew he wasn't.

"It's the only name I ever knew." If the question had come from an adult Vin probably wouldn't have answered but he knew the little boy didn't mean any harm.

"Oh, okay," Harry easily accepted the response. "Does Uncle Brick know you're here?"

"Not yet."

Finished with his questions, Harry turned to his mother. "Can I have some cookies and milk Mom?"

"May I?"

Harry sighed and Vin hid a grin. "May I have some cookies and milk Mom?"

Leigh tousled his hair. "You may." As she went about getting Harry's snack she asked him where his sister was.

Harry looked disgusted. "She's walking slow and all googly eyed cause Timmy Graves kissed her."

"Harry McKenna!" Rose screeched from the doorway. She'd walked through the door just in time to hear her little brother's words. "Were you spying on me?" she asked as she walked towards him in a threatening manner.

"Why would I spy on you?" Harry asked. "I don't want to see you kissing Timmy Graves or any other boy."

"Any other boy? I don't go kissing every boy I know," Rose snapped.

"Alright that's enough you two," Leigh interrupted them. She knew if she didn't they could go on for half an hour or more. "Rose there's somebody here you should meet."

Rose turned towards the direction her mother indicated. Her mouth fell open when she saw the two men. "You're Uncle Brick's twin aren't you?"

"I am," Vin confirmed once more. He was almost sorry the argument between the siblings had ended, it had been pretty entertaining and a good distraction while it lasted.

"You look just like him."

"Twins usually do don't they?" Vin smiled.

Rose shrugged, "Not always. Does Grandpa know you're here?"

Vin shook his head. "He wasn't home when I got here."

The sound of tires rolling over gravel interrupted them. Leigh looked out the window; she wasn't surprised to see Jack's truck. "They're home," she announced. She watched as the McKenna men got out of the truck, curiously eyeing the black truck in the drive. "Cassidy why don't you take Vin and Chris into the living room," she suggested.

"Sure," Cassidy quickly agreed.

TBC...

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