Man of Justice

Chapter Twenty –Eight

Tom, who had taken Jarrod from room to room in their new home, talked about everything from how they would now be able to enjoy the fruit of their labors to the fact they would be able to help those less fortunate than themselves. The whole time Tom talked, Nick stayed right next to his older brother. By the time they reached the room Tom and Victoria expected Jarrod to use the young man was growing restless and felt closed in. While Tom was showing him the room and explaining that the room was to be his alone; a place for him to be alone and think if necessary, he did not notice Jarrod's body language and expression. It looked like Jarrod was beginning to get close to the "edge" as it were. Fortunately, Nick saw it. Maybe it was because of all the months Nick had spent "escaping" in one form or another that he recognized it. He didn't really know, but he did know what to do. "Father, can I take brother outside?"

Tom shot Nick a warning glare, not because of the request but because of his consistent refusal to call Jarrod by an actual name. "You may take Man of Justice outside IF he wants to go with you." Tom replied. It was all he could do to bite his tongue, as he did not wish to cause a scene in front of his oldest.

Nick turned around, proving that he hadn't picked up the subtle chastisement and correction of his father. "Do you want to go outside, brother?" Nick looked up at Jarrod expectedly, desperately wanting to know he had indeed read Jarrod's mood correctly.

Jarrod might have also been irritated at the boy's refusal to acknowledge his Shoshone name if it weren't for two things. Nick was young; he was just a child and thought as a child. Why should that be offensive? And two, was it really any worse than the fact that he couldn't seem to get himself to speak any English? Jarrod held out his hand and took a hold of Nick's hand. Together the two left the room, walked down the stairs and went outside.

Once outside, Nick started pulling Jarrod towards the barn as he talked a mile a minute. Jarrod did his best to listen though he kept finding his mind wandering back to the Shoshone village and to Straight Arrow. He realized he was missing his Shoshone family just like he'd missed his white family when he first went to the Shoshone village. Again, it frustrated him and made it so he had a war going on inside of him. He was brought up short on his thoughts as Nick stopped, pointed to a new baby horse and then looked at him and asked, "How do you say horse in Shoshone?"

Jarrod was taken aback. Nick refused to call him by his Shoshone name, but he was honestly curious as to what the Shoshone would call a horse. Unbeknownst to him or his parents, Nick had gone to McCall and asked him for suggestions on how to get his brother to talk...even if was in the language of the Shoshone. The man had been surprised, but flattered, that Nick would ask him such a thing. After a few moments, the man had smiled and suggested that he think up some type of "game" for the two of them to play and then find a way to get Jarrod to join in. When Nick had seen the closed in look in his brother's eyes and realized Jarrod needed to be outside, the game finally formed in his mind. "Well?" Nick, still looking at Jarrod, asked his question again.

Jarrod had seldom smiled since leaving the trading post. He had smiled at Jim though he didn't understand why at the time. Perhaps it was the man's determination and loyalty to his white father, or perhaps there was something in the man's eyes that projected an understanding and a similar experience. He now looked down at the small determined face of his younger brother and smirked as he answered, "Tee-he." Somehow, Jarrod was not surprised when Nick repeated the word and then pointed to a halter and asked him to tell him how to say it.

Jarrod could see where this was going and he didn't really want to keep it up, only he didn't want to hurt the child's feelings either. That being the case he answered, "Te-go-re-a-zat-to-nump." It didn't surprise him when Nick looked at him funny and didn't even try to say the word, but he didn't stop pulling Jarrod from one item to the next…including things outside and asking for their names. By the time supper rolled around Nick was getting on the last of Jarrod's nerves. When their mother called, Jarrod was more than happy to go back inside the house if only for the reason that his white mother had a way of getting this brother to be quiet for at least two minutes!

Supper time might have given him a break from listening to Nick's constant questions, but it also forced him to face his family all at once. It might not have been so bad, but Audra, having laid down for a nap while her father showed Jarrod around earlier and not seeing him while Nick was pulling him from one place to another, saw Jarrod only as total stranger. With a fearful expression she practically flew over to and up on to her mother's lap. Before anyone could stop him, Jarrod hurried out of the dining room.

Without thinking, Nick snapped at his little sister. "Way to go, Audra! See what you did!" That, of course, earned him a swat and a one way ticket to his bedroom, before Tom went to find Jarrod.

When Tom found him, Jarrod was sitting cross legged in the loft of the barn looking out the opened doors. He had no shirt on. Tom shook his head, though he was grateful that at least his son had the sense to leave the piece of clothing on while he was in his mother's presence. "May I join you?" Tom asked as he finished climbing the ladder and made his way over to his son. Only when Jarrod nodded did Tom join him.

The wind was starting to blow and it blew across the barn's two occupants, as if it was trying to help ease the burdens Tom and Jarrod were both carrying. Tom knew full well it was Audra's reaction to him that had his oldest upset. He also knew it would happen again, until the child got used to Jarrod being around. "Don't let your sister's reaction get to you." Tom looked over at Jarrod. "She does that to anyone she doesn't know and she was far too young when you were taken from us to remember you now."

Jarrod nodded slowly, but said nothing. His head knew what Tom said was true; his head knew the child meant no harm. It shouldn't have bothered him; only problem was…it had. It hurt his heart to see his baby sister react that way.Tom sat, silent, for a few more moments and then stood up. "Please, be back in the house before dark. It was a request Jarrod honored…though when it came to sleeping, Victoria and Tom would find their oldest lying on his bedroom floor with the window open. It was a sight they were to see for many months.