Chapter fifteen

Guthrie McFadden stared at the swimming hole. Surprisingly, it being the first day of summer vacation, he had expected to find many of his friends here, but he seemed to be the first one to show up. He remembered his promise to Adam and Hannah, then later to Brian that he would not go swimming alone. There was safety in numbers and Adam had always told his brothers to make sure they had a swimming buddy along. Their reason was logical. If someone were to catch a cramp, get snakebitten, or any of a number of things that can go wrong while swimming, at least there is another person there to get you out of trouble or at least go for help.

It didn't matter, Guthrie had not really cared to go swimming. He was just getting away from the ranch for a little while. His brothers had called a family meeting several weeks ago and they had each made a promise to Guthrie that they would stop treating him as a child. They had followed up on their promise. Guthrie was both gratified and annoyed at the same time. He found out really quickly that being treated more like an adult wasn't all he had hoped. He had more chores now and he couldn't use his childlike wiles to get out of them to slip away and go have fun with his friends. He had figured that's what Crane had meant when he said, remember, be careful what you wish for.

Of course, he had been grounded for two weeks by Adam. Guthrie had graciously accepted his punishment. He figured that was what a real man would do. It was a hard age to be for sure. Daniel had tried to explain that to him but he had been less than willing to listen. With the grounding over, he had the entire summer ahead of him, but Hannah had reminded him nearly every day since that day at the swimming hole when Eddie was hurt, to always think before he acted on an impulse.

He had felt horrible for Eddie when he saw him laid up in the hospital in pain. He had been true to his word to Hannah that he would keep his best friend company and bring him his work. Eddie did well despite the pain he'd been in at first. He had been getting pretty grumpy though, with school ending and him on crutches. He couldn't climb or go swimming or any of the fun things boys his age would be doing during their summer break. Guthrie vowed to Eddie to spend time with him every day and help him make his summer fun.

Guthrie stared at the limb of the old Oak tree, absent of the rope Joey had put up the day everything had gone so horribly wrong. Brian and Evan had taken the rope down the day after Eddie's accident. Guthrie was thinking back to that day now and the day after, remembering how pitiful Daniel looked at breakfast, making Guthrie feel even more terrible about breaking his promise. But Daniel had acted normal towards him, thankfully. The symptoms of his concussion were unnoticable and Daniel had bounced back quickly, much to everyone's relief. The neurologist had given him a clean bill of health. Going to see Eddie after breakfast that morning had not made Guthrie feel very good about any of it.

His best friend looked terrible. Pale, groggy and in pain; it had unnerved Guthrie. He wished with all that was in him that he had asked Eddie to leave with he and Daniel that day. Daniel was his big brother and he was trying to look out for them both. But, instead of being grateful to Daniel, Guthrie had resented him. He had left Eddie there, actually feeling envious that his best friend had no big brother there to tell him what to do. One look at Eddie let Guthrie know just how lucky he was to have big brothers to look out for him.

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Adam's voice startled Guthrie out of his daydreaming.

"Nothing really." Guthrie replied, looking up at his eldest brother who had walked up and was now standing beside him. "what are you doing out here?" Guthrie asked curiously. He tried to ignore the thought running through his mind. You're already checking up on me.

"Well, Brian and I have something we need to take care of and we'd like you to go along with us." Adam replied, sounding more animated than usual.

"What is it?" Guthrie asked curiously.

"You'll have to come with us and find out, I suppose." Adam replied.

Guthrie's couldn't begin to guess what was going on. He could sense a sort of playfulness in Adam's tone that had been absent lately. He knew his own behavior had played a big part in his eldest brothers' mood these days.

Guthrie followed behind Adam back up the path that led to the creek bed and then continued to follow him home in utter silence. Even though his curiosity was very much peaked, he was trying very hard to remain stoic. He was trying very hard not to act like a little kid.

When the two brothers' made it back to the ranch, Guthrie noticed Brian and Evan mulling about next to the barn. When Guthrie made eye contact with Brian, he sensed the same lightheartedness in him that he had sensed in Adam. When he looked at Evan and Evan looked back at him, he was positively beaming.

"What's going on?" Guthrie asked impatiently. He had taken all he could of being left in the dark. Something was up and he couldn't take not knowing anymore.

"Well Guth, it's like this. We've all been thinking. Since you feel that you are ready to make a bigger contribution to the family business, we figured you're gonna need the right equipment." Brian said with a grin.

"Huh?" Guthrie exclaimed, looking up at Brian, feeling more confused than ever.

"Shoot Guthrie, as far as I'm concerned, you're long overdue. We were all younger than you are now when we got ours." Evan said, pushing his cowboy hat off of his forehead, revealing sparkling, michieveous eyes.

"Y'all tell him yet?" Guthrie heard Daniel ask, then turned around to stare at yet another brother that was obviously clued in on the big secret.

"Tell me what?" Guthrie asked Daniel, then turned to back to stare at Evan and continued his questioning. "You guys got what when you were younger than me?"

"Guthrie, if you're going to be a rancher then it's high time we got you your own horse." Adam explained.

"What?" Guthrie asked in amazement. He hadn't even come close to guessing this secret.

"Guth, you're the only rancher I know that doesn't have his own mount. We know you like driving the jeep, but it's a little impractical on roundups." Daniel said as he walked up beside Guthrie and swatted him on the back.

"But... but, it's so expensive. How can we afford a horse right now?" Guthrie asked in confusion.

"Well, everybody's pitching in. Half of the money is coming from the ranch emergency fund and Brian, Crane and Daniel are making up the rest." Adam answered.

"I don't want you guys to spend all of your money on me!" Guthrie said, his voice hitching at the end of his sentence.

"Relax, Guthrie. Shoot me and Crane didn't have all that much to contribute. Most of it's coming from Dan'l here." Brian explained as he grabbed Daniel around the neck and squeezed.

Guthrie was speechless. He stared in wonderment at Daniel. This was much too generous. Guthrie knew that Daniel had been saving his gig money for years. He was likely the only McFadden with any bank roll to speak of. But Guthrie knew that Daniel was saving up so that if the right opportunity came along, he could leave Murphys and pursue a music career. Guthrie knew he couldn't take that kind of money from Daniel.

"No. I don't need a horse. Daniel, you can't spend all of your money on me. It's not fair." Guthrie said, suddenly sounding miserable.

"I can spend it on whatever I please, Guth. It's my money. The truth is, we haven't exactly been fair to you kiddo. You should have had a horse way before now. I aim to set that right." Daniel stated emphatically.

"But, you've been working so hard to save it. I know what that money's for Daniel and I have no right to take it." Guthrie said.

Daniel studied his younger brother. He could see that his argument was genuine and it touched him. He reached out to Guthrie and led him by the shoulder inside the barn so they could be alone.

"Look Guthrie. I don't want you to worry about the money I'm spending. I'm not spending my whole savings. I still have money left. It's just that Adam was coming up short on funds and the guys and me were so excited for you to have a horse of your own that we decided to do this. We love you Guthrie. In a way, you are helping me realize my dream." Daniel said with a genuine smile.

"How?" Guthrie asked.

"Well. I lay in bed at night and just dream of the day I might get a record deal. I think about what it would be like to have all that money. Every night I make lists in my head of all the things I'm going to buy for the ranch and for all of you. I get so excited that I can't sleep some nights. I imagine buying brand new tractors and pickups for all you guys and paying cash for livestock, all new fencing; stuff like that. That's what makes me happy. So don't you see? Even though I'm not rich yet, I've already earned enough with my music to do something really cool for you. You wouldn't want to deny me that, would you?"

Guthrie stared at his big brother. The look on Daniel's face was genuine. This was really making him happy. Guthrie didn't feel deserving of any of this, but he could truly see that this was making Daniel happy.

"Thank you Daniel," Guthrie said, wiping away the tears that had already begun to streak down his cheeks. "You're the best brother in the world." He continued.

"Wow. That's a big compliment, considering all the competition I have!" Daniel said with a laugh. That silly, high pitched laugh that always made everybody smile. In that moment, Guthrie for the first time pondered what their home would be like without that silly laugh, if Daniel ever did leave them. He started to miss his big brother and he was standing right there with him.

"I mean it, Daniel. After the way I acted last month, I wouldn't think you'd want to spend money on me. I don't deserve it, but I really, really appreciate it. You don't know how much I appreciate it." Guthrie said.

"Well, you'd better get a move on and go pick out that horse before I change my mind!" Daniel said with a smile. As he turned to walk back to the others, Daniel felt Guthrie's arms wrap around his waist from behind. He turned around to return Guthrie's hug. As he embraced his baby brother, he noticed how tall the boy was getting. A tinge of sadness went through him. The boy really was growing up. Daniel realized that this truly was an important right of passage for Guthrie and he silently thanked God that he was able to help do this for him.

"I'm proud of you Guth. You're gonna be a good man. I want you to know that it took guts for you to admit you were wrong and I'm really impressed with how well you took your punishment. You've been a big help to us all and you haven't complained once in three weeks." Daniel said, his face beaming with pride.

"Hey Daniel? Will you come with me and help me choose my horse? I don't want to make the wrong choice on something this important." Guthrie asked.

"Who me? Don'tcha think Evan or Brian would be a better choice than me? I mean, if you were choosing a guitar I could see it, but your horse?" Daniel asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Nope. I want you to help me choose it." Guthrie said with conviction.

"Sure kiddo... um if I can still call you that?" Daniel laughed.

"I guess I can let you slide every once in a while." Guthrie replied, laughing. "I love you big brother." He said.

"I love you, too." Daniel replied. Arm in arm, they walked out of the barn and to the truck, Guthrie feeling as though he were the luckiest person in the whole world. He decided that maybe being thirteen wasn't so bad after all.

The end