The boys sat on the floor of Mattlock's bedroom early the next morning, playing with toy soldiers.
"What do you want to do today?" Mattlock asked Will.
"Don't know. What do you want to do?" Will replied.
"I have some soldier stuff besides these toys. We could play War outside," Mattlock said.
"That would be fun," Will replied.
"Maybe we could ride horses again with Bo and Lamar," Mattlock said.
"I could do that every day!" Will exclaimed.
"I try to. Depends on how much homework I have. What's your school like?" Mattlock asked.
"Boring," Will replied.
"Do you have recess?" Mattlock asked.
"Yep. That's the best part. That, and lunch," Will replied. The two laughed.
"Got any friends at school?" Mattlock asked.
"Yeah. Jimmy and Peter. We play tag a lot, mainly, and climb on the jungle gym," Will replied.
"I do that with Charlie and Steven," Mattlock said.
"Our playground has an old fire truck and we pretend to be firefighters too," Will said.
"That's neat! We don't have that!" Mattlock exclaimed.
The boys played with the toy soldiers and talked some more in Mattlock's bedroom, while the adults were downstairs in the living room discussing the evening before.
"That Cattle Annie is a card," Roy said.
"That she is," Bill said.
"I like her," Flo said. She's a lot of fun. Very outgoing and a great sense of humor."
"She has us in stitches quite often," Bill replied.
"She likes to poke fun at you, Bill," Roy said with a smile.
"Yes. I don't mind. I know she'd do anything for us if we needed her. She thinks I'm a little too straight-laced and tries to rattle my cage," Bill said.
"Does she?" Roy replied.
"Rarely," Bill replied. "I just think she likes the challenge." A knock came on the front door and Bill went to go answer it. He opened the door and said, "Oh, hello Cattle Annie. We were just talking about you."
She moved passed Bill and headed into the living room. "I thought my ears were itchin', honey," she said.
"Would you like some coffee, Cattle Annie," Bill offered.
"That would be nice, Bill. I'll take it black as usual," she replied as she sat down in the living room with Flo and Roy. "So what's everyone's plans today?" she asked.
"We don't have any yet," Roy replied.
"Well, that being the case, I was wondering if you'd like to get out of this masculine environment for a few hours for some girl time," Cattle Annie said, looking at Flo.
"I'd love to," Flo said. "What would we do?"
"I thought you'd like to check out the new wing of the Museum of Fine Arts. They've got a great collection. Thought we'd have lunch too," Cattle Annie replied.
"That would be lovely," Flo replied. "I'd like that very much." She turned to Roy. "What are you going to do today, Roy?"
"What do you think, Bill?" Roy asked, turning to his brother.
"Well, you said you haven't been on a horse for a while…." Bill said. "We could go for a trail ride on the property."
"I think I'd enjoy that. You're going to have to give me some riding tips, though. It's been so long," Roy replied.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Bill replied.
Just then, the boys came down the steps dressed for the day. Both were wearing flannel shirts, jeans, and boots.
Annie saw them and said, "Well, howdy Mattlock! You look ready to take on the world, as usual." She stood up and walked over to them. "And who's this?" she asked, looking at Will with her hands on her hips.
"This is Will, my cousin, Cattle Annie," Mattlock said. Will looked nervous meeting the new person.
Annie bent over with her left hand on her left knee and she extended her right hand to shake Will's. "Nice to meet ya, Cousin Will," she said. He reticently shook her hand. "Don't be shy, Will. I won't bite," she said with a smile and then rubbed the top of his head. "Land sakes! I've never seen such handsome young men in all my born days," she exclaimed.
"Daddy, can we go outside and play?" Mattlock asked.
"Have you had breakfast?" Bill asked.
"No," Mattlock replied.
"Yes, but eat some breakfast before you do," Bill replied. "There's some food ready in the kitchen."
"Okay," Mattlock said, and took Will by the hand and escorted him to the kitchen.
Cattle Annie watched them and shook her head and smiled. "Well, Flo…when do you want to go? The museum opens at ten this morning."
"I suppose I could leave any time," she said, looking at Roy.
"Leave when you want and have fun," Roy said. "Bill and I will have a great time."
Annie looked at her watch. "It's 9:30 now."
"Let's finish drinking our coffees, and then leave," Flo said.
"Sounds like a plan, honey," Annie replied.
The adults chatted with one another a little longer and Flo and Cattle Annie left to go to the museum. The boys finished their breakfasts and walked through the living room.
"We're going to go to the tree house again, Daddy," Mattlock said.
"Okay, son. Bo and Lamar are close to the house today, so let them know if you go anywhere else. Your uncle and I are going to go riding around the property," Bill said.
Will perked up at that. "Can we go with you?" he asked.
"I think I'd like to spend some time with my brother, and you and Mattlock should spend as much time with each other as you can since we're only going to be here a few more days," Roy interjected. He continued, "I promise we'll all ride together before we leave."
"Okay," Will replied.
"Oh, and your mom has gone to the museum with Cattle Annie. She won't be back until this afternoon," Roy said.
"Okay," Will replied.
"Let's go to the tree house," Mattlock said.
"Have a good time," Roy said.
The boys went outside. Bo and Lamar were stacking firewood on the south side of the mansion. "Where are you boys headed?" Lamar asked.
"We're going to the tree house," Mattlock said.
"Gonna be gunslingers again?" Bo asked.
"I don't see any guns, Bo," Lamar observed.
"You're right, Lamar," Bo replied with his hands on his hips evaluating the boys from head to toe.
"They're up in the tree house," Mattlock replied.
"Ooohhh," Bo replied.
Mattlock pointed at his chest. "I'm Greedy Guy Amarillo and Will's Ramblin' Red Curtis."
"Cowboy names? You sure are creative," Lamar said.
"We're outlaws," Mattlock said.
Bo laughed hysterically and Lamar slapped him. "I can tell by the names," Lamar said. "I like 'em."
"Well, boys, you have fun. We've got some work to do," Bo said.
The boys headed for the tree house. Shortly after, Roy and Bill came up to Bo and Lamar.
"We're going to go to the barn and take a couple of horses on a ride around the property," Bill told them.
"Do you want us to saddle 'em for ya?" Bo asked.
"No. I can manage. Which ones should we take out?"
"The sorrel and black quarter horses need some ridin'," Bo said.
"Alright. See you boys later," Bill said.
"Have a great time," Lamar said, tipping his hat to Roy and Bill.
The two men headed to the barn to get their horses. Up in the tree house, instead of pretending to be cowboys or outlaws, the boys were sitting at the table in the tree house coloring in coloring books of cowboys and Indians.
"Have you seen that television show Gunsmoke?" Mattlock asked.
"No," Will said.
"Really?" Mattlock said in surprised tone.
"When is it on?" Will asked.
"Saturday nights, late," Mattlock said.
"I have to go to bed early every night," Will replied.
"Oh. Daddy lets me stay up late on Friday or Saturday. I get to pick which night," Mattlock said.
"What's the show about?" Will asked.
"It's a cowboy show about a Marshall named Matt and his deputy named Chester. They are the good guys," Mattlock explained.
"What's good about it?" Will asked as he colored.
"It's got lots of action, shooting, and scary bad guys," Mattlock said.
"Neat," Will said. "Uncle Bill sounds like a fun dad," he observed.
"He is," Mattlock said with a smile.
"Do you ever get in trouble?" Will asked.
"Oh yes!" Mattlock exclaimed.
"Do you get a spankin'?" Will asked.
"No. Daddy's never spanked me. He just talks to me," Mattlock said.
"Lucky," Will said.
"Uncle Roy spanks you?" Mattlock asked with a worried look on his face.
"Yep," Will confirmed.
"A lot?" Mattlock asked.
"No. Just when I do something really bad," Will replied.
"Wow," Mattlock said, flabbergasted. He thought for a bit. "Well, maybe you can watch Gunsmoke with us Saturday night since you're on Christmas break."
"Maybe. We can ask," Will said.
The two colored and played cards and games in the tree house until lunch when Sergei brought some bag lunches again. This time Sergei climbed the ladder himself.
"Whew! That's harder than it looks," Sergei said, looking down from the deck of the tree house. "Boys, I have your lunches." He opened the door and crouched over to fit under the door frame. He held out the sacks but did not enter the tree house.
Mattlock walked up and grabbed the sacks. "Thanks Sergei," he said.
"Schastlivaya yeda, Mattlock," Sergei said. "Your father and uncle are still out riding. Will, your mother is still out with Cattle Annie. Just come inside and let me know if either of you need anything."
"Okay, Sergei," Mattlock said. Sergei backed up and closed the door behind him and climbed awkwardly down the ladder and went back into the mansion.
The boys talked and ate their lunches at the table in the tree house. Afterward, they discussed what to do for the rest of the day.
"I have an idea. Let's go exploring. I can show you where we got the Christmas tree," Mattlock said.
"That sounds like fun," Will said.
"Okay. Let's go," Mattlock said with a smile. The two left the tree house and climbed down the ladder. Mattlock started walking toward the woods west of the mansion.
Will grabbed Mattlock's arm. "Shouldn't we tell someone where we're going?"
"It's not that far," Mattlock said.
"Okay," Will said hesitantly.
The two walked through the back yard and then down the path that Mattlock had gone days earlier with the men when they went looking for a Christmas tree. The path crackled and snapped as they stepped on the dried leaves and twigs. Mattlock confidently led Will down the path as if he had walked it a thousand times. Will followed close behind. They walked for about twenty minutes until the well-worn path ended and Mattlock turned toward the southwest and headed toward the grove of Afghan pines. After a few minutes, they arrived at the grove of pines and inspected the trees together. They sat down on the ground in the middle of the grove and talked for a while.
Back at the mansion, Bill and Roy had returned from their ride together and went inside and sat down to have a late lunch.
"Where are the boys?" Bill asked Sergei.
"They are in the tree house. I brought them their lunch about an hour ago," Sergei replied.
"The tour of the property yesterday didn't do it justice by car. I'm glad I got to see it by horseback," Roy said. "I'm also glad I didn't fall off the horse."
"I had faith in you," Bill said.
"Your property is beautiful. Flo mentioned it and showed me her sketches, but it really is something. Those horses are well trained as well. It's like they already knew me," Roy said.
"I credit Bo and Lamar with that. They are excellent at breaking and training horses," Bill said.
"They seem like great ranch hands," Roy said.
"And great at entertaining Mattlock when I'm not around," Bill replied.
The two men talked over their late lunch for a few minutes and Flo and Cattle Annie returned. The two women walked into the kitchen.
"Howdy gentlemen," Cattle Annie said.
"How did the museum go?" Bill asked.
"It was fantastic. Such a large and diverse collection," Flo said.
"We went to the Triple A for lunch. It was wall to wall diners today. Hard to believe that many people have to work the Friday before Christmas," Cattle Annie said.
"I'd like to take Will back to the museum before we leave. I think he'd enjoy it. Maybe we could all go. Mattlock might like it too," Flo said. "Where are the boys?"
"Sergei said they are up in the tree house," Bill said.
"Wow. They've been up there since this morning," Flo said.
Back in the grove of pines, Mattlock stood up and wiped the dirt from the back of his pants and Will did the same. "We should get back," Mattlock said. It was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
They started walking, but instead of walking back the way they came, Mattlock accidentally led them further south through the woods. They walked for a few minutes and Mattlock stopped and rubbed his head as if he was confused.
"What's wrong?" Will asked.
"Nothing. Let's walk this way," Mattlock said. He led them to the west, not realizing he was leading them further away from home and closer to neighboring undeveloped property.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" Will asked.
"It's just that I thought we'd be on the path by now," Mattlock said as he turned to look at Will.
Will had a worried expression on his face but said nothing.
"Don't worry," Mattlock said. "I can get us back."