Lancer 31

Jim

Several weeks had passed since the stunt pulled by the boys. Their grades had gone up and they had behaved ever since.

"Evi? Could Johnny miss school today? I have work to do and I would like him to come with me." Murdoch stated.

"Yeah, I'll get him some work tonight to catch up."

"Very well, thank you, Evi".

Johnny couldn't help leaping for joy, bouncing in his chair.

"Can I come too, Grandpa? I can help." William asked.

"No William, sorry, you don't know how to ride yet, another time, I promise."

"Okay, Grandpa."

Murdoch had brought his son to repair a fence, the child did not complain once, he worked hard diligently.

"Very well my son, thank you for your help."

"You're welcome dad, thanks for spending this day with me, I want to be a good son, like Scott."

"You're a good son Johnny, you're young, Scott has had his share of mischief and spankings at your age, I assure you."

"Yeah, I know, he told us about that time in church you spanked him in front of everyone!"

"Yeah, I remember, he's crazy sharing that story, he'll give you ideas!"

"No, I promise."

"It's getting late, let's go home," Murdoch said. "Come here son" and Murdoch hugged him.

"I love you dad."

"I love you too my son."

That night, Murdoch asked Scott and Evi to talk to him after dinner, once the kids were in bed.

"I received a telegram yesterday from Carson City, Nevada, a very good friend of mine Jim Summers passed away, leaving his farm to his wife Alice and two boys. The eldest, Thomas is seventeen, and the youngest, Max is eleven.

What I would like to ask you, Scott is that you find out if Thomas is mature enough to support his farm and his family including his little brother. I would like you to take Johnny with you, so he will see how he behaves with you and obeys you, proving that he can be responsible and strict with his little brother.

If he can't or he doesn't want to, then you will, until you find an employee to hire. You pay the expenses. See what's best between their farm, their horses, and everything else so that they live comfortably. This afternoon I actually tested Johnny, he passed all the tests hands down. He's a great rider, he works hard and doesn't complain."

"I know, what about school? How long do you want me to stay?"

"I thought about a month. Johnny can go to school with Max, you could give him homework Evi, you decide. I'm sorry to separate you for so long, Jim's dad was friends with my dad, we were raised together like cousins, I owe it to him to check on his family and take care of them after he died."

" A month"…. Evi said.

"I trust you, Scott, I could send Jack, but then there wouldn't be the dynamic that exists between you and your little brother. Of course, I will help take care of your children."

"Very well dad, I understand what you are asking me, I will do my best, you can count on me."

"I know it son."

"Evi? Do you think I'm the worst dad to have by marriage?" Murdoch asks.

A smile lit up Evi's face. "No, I think I'm lucky to have married your son and what an amazing man he is." Scott in response kissed her and hugged her.

"When do you want us to leave Dad?"

"I was thinking Friday, you will have the weekend to travel, you would arrive on Sunday."

"Alright, that gives us two days to tell the kids and...for us," Scott said mischievously.

"Scott!..." Evi growled.

The two days passed quickly and the morning of departure was here. After heartbreaking goodbyes with his family and promises to behave, Scott and Johnny set off. It had been decided that he would attend school with Max.

"We're going to camp here for the night," Scott decided.

"Thank you for taking me Scott, I'm glad to spend time alone with you, it's been a long time."

"I'm happy too my boy, it's true that my life has, in a few months, taken an unexpected turn".

"Yes, since Sam arrived, everything has been changed."

"Do you regret it?" asked Scott.

"What? No! I'm happy, I was alone before, to play, I mean, it's just that you have to take care of your children and we spend less time together than before ."

"Yes, it's inevitable, but I love you, Johnny, I only have one brother, and that's you. I told you before, you will grow and our relationship will grow along with it, the age gap will no longer be seen."

"Yes, and I'm a great brother!" teased Johnny.

"That's right, except when I have to warm up your ass!" Scott replied.

"It's not that often!"

"You think?"

They laughed. Scott lay back against a tree and Johnny laid his head on his chest.

"I love you, big brother!"

"I love you too little brother, good night."

Sunday they arrived at the address given. Scott wired Lancer that they had arrived safely.

It had been about a month since Jim had died of a massive heart attack. The family was trying to catch up.

"Thank you for coming Mr. Lancer, Murdoch has always been a loyal friend to my husband." Said Alice.

"I'll stick around to make sure everything is okay with you."

"Thank you, sir."

"Is your son Thomas mature and responsible enough to handle the ranch?"

"Yes, he does what he can to make the ranch work. It's Max who does all the nonsense, his father was strict, he's looking for his bearings with me, he's testing me. I don't really have the shoulders to fix it."

"And Thomas? He lets him get away with it?"

"He's his brother, not his father, he won't obey Thomas."

"Johnny, please unload our things and put the horses in the barn." Scott didn't want to embarrass him in front of Alice but he wanted to show he was obeyed immediately.

"Yes sir."

"Your son is respectful."

"He's not my son, ma'am, he's my little brother. He obeys me because he knows that if he doesn't, there will be consequences. Our dad thought seeing Johnny and I interact would show Thomas that he can raise his brother too. I'm here to help him earn respect. If he doesn't have the build or the will, I'll look for someone to do it for him."

"How will you know?"

"I will know."

A little before dinner, the boys came back, or rather Max, slamming the door.

"Mom! Tell Tom to stop ordering me around! I'm not a dog!"

The boy hadn't noticed Scott and Johnny. Johnny would never have dared to speak like that.

"MAX! YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME!" Tom growled.

He was a leader, he will be obeyed, but Max didn't know it yet.

Johnny looked at Scott with wide eyes, was he going to kill them? Already?