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Andy Travis lay on his bunk as Skip, Lee and Murphy finished getting dressed. Their clean slacks and sport shirts seemed out of place in the old bunk house, where jeans and T-shirts were their usual attire. As his cousins put the final touches on their Sunday clothes, Andy fought back the wave of apprehension that was trying to unsettle him. It wouldn't be long before he had to face up to the stand he'd taken.
"Sure you won't go with us?" Skip asked once more, his face concerned. "There's still time to get changed."
Andy shook his head adamantly. "Nope," he stated firmly, despite the nervousness in his stomach. "I'm not goin' to church." He ignored the worried looks he got from Murphy and Lee.
"I swear, I think you love makin' Uncle Jake mad," Skip pronounced. "You know he's gonna go wild about this."
"I don't care what Uncle Jake thinks," Andy declared. "This isn't any of his business anyway. This is my decision."
"Yeah, well tell that to Uncle Jake," Murphy warned. "He thinks everything is his business."
Andy knew that all too well. He also realized this wouldn't have been a problem if his folks were here. At seventeen, there were a lot of things in the world Andy was questioning, religion being one of them. This was something Katie and Clayton Travis understood, and as always, they'd respected their son enough to let him make up his own mind. Of course, Uncle Jake knew nothing about being that kind of a parent. As a father, Jacob Michaels had always required unquestioning obedience from his children. It would never have occurred to him to let his offspring -- or his nephews -- make up their own minds about anything he considered important.
For this week, however, the boys were here with only Jake, Cassie and their grandparents. This time alone, without the rest of the family, had been arranged for them by their parents and Colonel Stetson. Skip had just graduated high school and would be going off to college soon. Andy and Lee would be starting their senior years in the fall. All in all, it was a time of change. There was no way of knowing when they would all be together like this again.
"Can't you just go this time?" Lee asked, trying to be reasonable. "You're folks'll be here next week and you can stay home then."
Andy stood his ground stubbornly. "I'm not a hypocrite," he stated. "Uncle Jake can just deal with it."
Skip snorted. "Oh yeah, he'll deal with it all right. Right on your head."
"I'd like to see him try," Andy huffed with more confidence than he really felt. More than anything he wished this day was already over.
At that moment, the door to the bunkhouse opened and Jake Michaels walked in, his face scowling. Andy's stomach flip-flopped. The man was already in a sour mood.
"What's keepin' you boys?" their uncle demanded crossly. "You're gonna make us late."
"We're ready," Skip told him casually, "come on, guys." Three clean-cut, nicely dressed teenagers started towards the door.
Andy stayed where he was, knowing Jake wouldn't just take the boys he had and go to church. He was right.
"Why aren't you dressed?"
It wasn't really a question, it was more of an accusation. Andy gathered his courage and sat up on the bunk to face his uncle.
"I'm not going with you," he said in what he hoped was a casual voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jake demanded hotly.
Andy shrugged. "It means I'm not going to church with you." He knew he sounded flippant. His mother always got after him for talking that way, but somehow Uncle Jake always brought out the smart-mouth in him.
"And just where'd you get that idea? Your mother?"
Andy bristled at the only slightly veiled slur to his mother. It was one thing for his uncle to get after him, he wasn't going to sit here and let his mother be insulted. He slid off the bunk and stood up straight. He'd finally grown several inches in the last year and he found himself at eye level with his uncle.
"My mom didn't have anything to do with it," he said fiercely. "This is my decision."
"Yeah, right. The way she lets you act... you go 'round lookin' like a damn hippie."
Andy's temper flared. He clenched his fists tightly and knew he was probably red in the face. He caught sight of Skip and could see his cousin shaking his head as a warning not to do anything stupid. He took a deep breath and tried very hard to stay in control.
"Go ahead then," Jake continued darkly, "stay home like a damn heathen. I've tried to tell Katie what would happen, but she just lets you do as you damn well please."
Andy couldn't help himself. He tried -- he really did -- to keep his mouth shut, but he just had to answer back -- to stand up for his mother.
"Well, at least she hasn't driven her kids away."
He felt the back of Jake's hand on his face before he'd even seen his uncle move. He stumbled and fell onto the bunk behind him. It took a moment for his vision to clear, but when it did, he saw his cousins standing wide-eyed behind a livid Uncle Jake. It was silent in the bunkhouse for nearly a minute before Jake spoke.
"Stay here then," he hissed. "But I expect the stalls to be mucked out by the time we get home." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out the door.
The other boys stood indecisive until Andy waved them on. It wouldn't do any good for Jake to be mad at all of them. After a moment, they filed out. Skip was the last to leave. He paused at the door and looked at Andy for a time, then he followed Lee and Murphy.
Andy didn't move from the bunk. His face still stung from the blow, but it was more than physical pain he was feeling. He was mad -- angry, furious, outraged -- he couldn't even come up with the right word to describe how he felt right now, and more than just at Uncle Jake. After a time, he heard an engine rev up, then the sound of the truck driving away. He gave a sigh. He'd won his battle; they'd gone without him. He should've been happy, but he wasn't.
Katherine Michaels sighed and stepped from the kitchen window, letting the curtain fall into place. The truck had pulled out at last -- Jake, Steven and Cassie in the cab, and three solemn faced boys in the back. Leave it to her eldest son to take the joy out of Sunday worship.
She waited a time, then smiled to herself as she heard the slam of the bunkhouse door. She moved to the door and watched through the screen as Andy stomped across the yard and disappeared into the barn. Obviously there'd been a row. Jake wasn't the only member of this family with a temper.
She should've expected it. Her daughter had talked to her many times lately about how to handle Andy's adolescent independence. Katie and Clayton were taking the right approach by not forcing their will on their son. She knew that was a concept Jake would never understand.
She pushed the screen open and emerged onto the porch. It was hot already, at only 10 in the morning -- not exactly a climate to help worn tempers and hurt feelings. She walked down the steps and made her way across the grassy yard, headed towards the barn.
As she approached the door, she could hear the sounds of someone working. She walked inside and saw her grandson diligently cleaning out an empty stall. She took in the sight of his faded jeans, his T-shirt with a huge peace symbol on the front, his dark blond hair hanging in his face and over his shoulders -- everything Jake hated in today's youth. Katherine shook her head and wondered again why her first born could never see past outward appearances. She stepped closer.
"You're workin' awfully hard for the Sabbath," she observed.
Andy glanced up, startled at her unexpected presence. "Grandma! What're you doin' here?"
She gave him a smile. "I suddenly didn't feel like going to services today. Guess I wasn't the only one." Andy's mouth tightened, but she came over and reached out to take her grandson's hand. "Don't fret about what Jake says," she told him. "You just keep on making up your own mind."
"Thanks, Grandma. I'm glad you don't think I'm gonna burn in hell."
Katherine frowned. "Did Jake tell you that?"
"Naw." Andy shrugged. "But I'm sure he thinks I am." He reached up to pull his hair back.
Katherine leaned in to get a close glimpse at his cheek. It was red and discolored. "What happened to your face?"
Andy ducked his head and busied himself with the rake again. "Nothin'"
"Andrew Travis." Katherine planted her hands on her hips. "You look at me, Andrew."
He stopped raking and reluctantly raised his head to meet her gaze. She took his chin in her hand and tilted his head around so she could get a better view. There was a definite bruise there.
"Did Jake..."
Andy pulled away from her. "It's nothin', Grandma. Please... drop it, okay?" He resumed his task.
She let him rake for a few minutes. There was a lot more going on here than just an argument with Jake.
"Andrew."
He paused, and when he lifted his head, she could see the determination in his young face. "Grandma... whatever happened was my own fault. I smarted off. Mom and Dad are always tellin' me I should watch what I say."
"But that didn't give Jake the right to hit you." Andy shifted his feet uncomfortably and Katherine was suddenly sure this hadn't been the first time.
"It doesn't matter." He gave her an entreating look. "You know what'll happen if you tell my mom. She'll blow her top and they'll be a big fight. We'll have to go home and it'll ruin the reunion. I don't wanna leave right now."
He stopped, but Katherine got the impression he hadn't said everything that was on his mind. She moved to a hay bale and sat, motioning Andy to join her. He shuffled over and plopped down beside her.
"Let's just forget about Jake for the time being. You want to tell me what else is bothering you?"
He raised his eyebrows. "Whaddya mean?"
"Your mother and Jake have fought before... they probably always will." She laid her hand on his knee. "Tell me what's eatin' at you."
He sighed and ran his hand though his shaggy mop of hair. "I dunno, Grandma. It just seems like..." He halted, struggling for the right words.
"Like what?" she prompted.
"Like everybody's changin'."
She considered that. "Well, you boys are all growing up. It's only natural that you'd change some over the years."
Andy shook his head. "It's more than that. It's the whole world. I... sometimes I get scared."
"About what?"
"About the war and... "
She waited for him, aware he was probably giving voice to fears he hadn't really figured out entirely himself, let alone told someone else. It was quiet in the barn for some time, the only sound the shuffling and stamping of horses and the gentle rustling of the old milk cows. Finally, she thought he might need some prodding.
"What's really bothering you, my boy?"
He faced her and suddenly looked far younger than his seventeen years. "I'm worried about Skip, Grandma," he said in a near-whisper, as if he were afraid to say it out loud. "I don't want him to die."
She was taken aback for a moment and tried to sort out where this might be coming from. "Skip's goin' to college, Andrew, not the war."
"But he's goin' to the Naval Academy."
"To train to be an astronaut," she reminded him, "not to fight."
Andy snorted in exasperation. "But Grandma... he's still going to be in the Navy. What if he doesn't get accepted into astronaut training? What's he gonna do then?"
She was stumped for a moment. It had never occurred to her that her grandson would be anything but an astronaut.
"See?" Andy went on. "You're just like Skip. He's so sure he's gonna get in. I don't think he's thought everything through."
"My dear boy." Katherine reached an arm around his thin shoulders. "You're lookin' so far down the road at so many 'what if's'... Skip has to finish college before anything happens and that's four years away. This war may not even be a problem by then."
Andy rolled his eyes. "Not the way it's goin'. Nobody seems to be doin' very much about stopping it." He got up and wandered over to the empty stall, kicking at a pile of dirty hay. "I've been thinking about J.J... and about Steven. Look how long he was in that hospital in Tokyo. I just don't want anything like that to happen to Skip. It wouldn't be fair."
Fair. There was the word that summed up the whole problem. It was clear to Katherine now that her grandson's whole trouble stemmed from the difficult concept that life wasn't always fair.
"Is that why you don't want to go to church?" she asked quietly.
Andy shot her a glance, his amazement at her perception evident on his face. "I guess. It just seems to me that if there really was a god, he wouldn't let such awful things happen."
"Oh, Andrew... I'm not sure I can help you on that one." She got up and walked over to him. "That question's been plaguing mankind since time began. It's really something you have to find the answer to yourself." She put her hands on his shoulders. "I will tell you this... I think the good Lord lets those things happen to help us grow strong." He looked skeptical and she chuckled softly. "You're too young to accept that kind of reasoning yet."
"Aw, Grandma," he protested with a laugh. "I'm not a little kid."
"I know that and your folks know that, but..." She gave him a wink. "I'm afraid Jake will never be able to see you boys as anything but children."
"Tell me about it," Andy laughed. He glanced around the stall and grinned ruefully. "Guess I better get this done. I wouldn't wanna bug him any more than I have already."
Katherine grew serious. "Don't you fret about Jake. I think he and I need to have a little talk when he gets back from church."
She squeezed her grandson's shoulder and then left him to his job. She noticed as she left the barn, he'd started whistling. She smiled, glad she'd been able to lift his spirits, at least a little.
He was nearly done with the job when he heard the pickup pull up in the yard and could make out his cousins' voices. He knew they'd head to the bunkhouse first to change, but eventually they'd end up here searching for him. He only hoped Uncle Jake didn't come out to check up on him.
It had helped a little to talk to Grandma. Not all his worries were put to rest, but at least he'd been able to get them out into the open. He wondered how a lady as neat as his grandmother ever raised a son like Jake.
In another few minutes, the barn door slid open and Skip, Lee and Murphy sauntered in. They were dressed more comfortably than when he'd last seen them.
"Hey, slave," Skip greeted with a grin. He came over and slapped Andy on the shoulder, then waved his hand in front of his nose and made an exaggerated face of disgust. "Whew! You are ripe, man!"
"That's not me, cuz," Andy informed him with a straight face. "That's the pile of manure you just stepped in."
Skip grimaced at the mess he found, while Lee and Murphy howled with laughter. It took some time for everyone to calm down enough for conversation.
"So how'd church go?" Andy finally asked.
"Boring," Murphy complained. "When are they gonna retire Pastor Reynolds?"
"He had somebody new with him today," Lee reminded. "Didn't you see the young guy sitting behind him?"
"His name's Kelly," Skip informed them. "I heard Grandpa talking about him. Guess he's gonna take over in a few months."
"Can't be soon enough." Murphy yawned, then picked up another rake. "Need a hand, Andy?"
"I'm nearly done. You guys don't have to help if you don't want to."
"Sure we do," Skip told him matter-of-factly. "We don't want you to miss lunch. Grandma's been cookin' up a storm."
"And it smells great," Lee added as he took up a shovel and pitched in as well.
"But what about Uncle Jake?" Andy hedged. "He told me to do it."
"What does he care, as long as it gets done?" Skip reasoned.
Andy shrugged. He couldn't come up with a good reason to not let them help. With that, all four set to work.
"Funny thing about Grandma," Skip commented, as he walked past Andy with a load of new hay. "She told Uncle Jake she was feeling poorly so she couldn't go to church. Now she's got this huge meal all ready. Guess she got better." He flashed Andy a broad grin.
Andy smiled back but kept silent. He knew their grandmother would keep all his confidences. One thing for sure about Grandma Michaels -- she was one cool lady.
Katherine tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for her son to come up the stairs and into her room. It was nearly bedtime. The boys were already out in the bunkhouse. Cassie was in the family room keeping Steven company while he watched the evening news. Cassie did her needlework and Steven read his book -- both these activities were done with the television droning in the background. That's how those two took in the broadcast nearly every night.
They were very much alike in temperament. Both her husband and her daughter-in-law were passive and easy-going. Neither enjoyed confrontations, and neither liked arguing with Jake.
She wasn't being entirely fair to he husband, she supposed. She knew he didn't approve of the way Jake handled people, including his own family. She often wondered why he didn't take their son to task more often. She'd tried to talk to Steven about it many times, but he always told her that Jake was a grown man and made his own decisions. Certainly he'd intervened when Jake got too out of hand, but that wasn't the norm. It had gotten to the point where she didn't usually consult with Steven anymore where Jake's behavior was concerned. That was probably wrong of her, but she didn't know how else to handle things when something came up.
Like the incident today. Jake had always been hard on Andy, but to actually strike the boy... No, she wasn't going to allow that. This ranch might be Jake's in name, but it was her home as well and the heart of their entire family. She wasn't going to allow anyone to feel unwelcome or be mistreated simply because they disagreed with Jake.
She heard his footsteps coming up the stairs and soon he appeared at her door. He was a stocky man, well under his father and brothers' six foot plus frames. With the nearly perpetual scowl he wore on his craggy features, he looked like a sullen bear. She loved him fiercely, like she did all her children, but he didn't always make that love easy.
"Yeah, Ma? You wanted to talk to me?"
She repressed a sigh. He didn't even seem aware of why she might be upset with him.
"What happened with Andy this morning."
Jake turned away from her, and for a moment it was as if they were both thirty years younger and she was taking him to task as she had when he was a boy forever picking on his younger brother. But he wasn't a child. He was a grown man with grandchildren of his own.
"Jake, I asked you a question."
He faced her, his posture defensive. "He had it coming," he growled. "I swear, I don't know what that sister of mine is thinking... the way she's raisin' him."
"How Katie chooses to bring up her children is her own business... not yours. Andy is a fine boy."
"He's got a smart mouth and he's disrespectful."
"He's a teenager, Jake, and he just says what's on his mind. I've never seen him be disrespectful to anyone."
Jake harumphed. "You didn't hear him in the bunkhouse this morning."
Katherine smiled wryly. "I didn't her you either, son."
Jake's brows lifted in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's no secret the two of you have never hit it off, but I'm tellin' you, Jacob Michaels... I won't have you raising a hand to that boy... or any other child for that matter. You hear me?"
"You don't understand, Ma," Jake protested hotly. "He needs to be taught..."
"He's not your son, Jake," Katherine reminded him fiercely, then softened at the pain in her first born's eyes. "He's not your son," she repeated kindly. She reached out to take his hand, but he pulled away. His face had gone blank.
"I know whose son he is." Jake's cold tone cut Katherine to the heart, more so because she knew very well, that if J.J. were still alive, Jake wouldn't be any different.
"All I'm asking is for you to ease up a bit," she said evenly. "Try not to antagonize him."
Jake stared at her, then nodded his head once and grunted noncommittally. He left the room and she could hear him stomp down the stairs.
She sighed wearily and sat on her bed. She had no idea if she'd done any good or merely made things worse.
The next day promised to be as hot as the one before. Breakfast was over and chores were done, and already the boys were looking for something to do that didn't require being outside. They didn't have much to choose from.
They could hang out in the barn, but that's where Uncle Jake would be most of the day, so that wasn't at the top of their list. The bunkhouse was too boring. If they stayed in the house, they'd more than likely be put to work helping Grandma and Aunt Cassie can the early crop of tomatoes from the spring garden. It wasn't that they wouldn't have helped if asked. It was just working in the kitchen wasn't exactly the type of fun they had in mind.
"We could ride up to the cave," Skip suggested, as they ambled out onto the porch.
Nobody seemed too keen on a long, horseback ride. Besides, the last couple of years they'd visited their boyhood hideout less and less often. Skip sank into the swing and Andy sat beside him. Murphy settled on the porch steps and Lee lounged along the railing. As they sat there, Andy listened to the hum of the cicadas and the occasional whinny from far off in the pasture. The horses were all by the creek where the shade was. Andy didn't blame them a bit.
The door opened abruptly and Jake emerged from the house. Andy felt his jaw tighten, still nursing his animosity toward his uncle. He saw his cousins tense up as Jake came over and stopped by the swing. He didn't say much. He merely slapped the keys to the truck on the armrest next to Skip.
"Be sure to gas it up," was his only comment before he trotted down the steps and strode across the yard to the barn.
Skip picked up the keys, his mouth open in astonishment. "Did what just happened really happen?"
"I think so," Lee laughed. "Hard to believe, though."
"Well, let's go before he changes his mind," Murphy urged.
They didn't need any further coaxing. They raced off the porch and piled into the truck. Skip, being the oldest and having driven the longest, was behind the wheel. Andy claimed shotgun, which left Lee and Murphy in the back. In a moment, they were on the road, leaving the ranch behind them, on their way to Santa Fe.
Andy shifted in the uncomfortable theater seat. Fantastic Voyage played on the screen in front of them. Skip had picked it. It was okay, but in Andy's opinion only really got great whenever Raquel Welch showed up. At least it was cooler in here than outside and the popcorn was good.
They'd tooled around town for a while, stopping for lunch at the Diary Queen. There'd been some cute girls Andy knew from school there. They'd talked for a while, but then the girls had to leave. After that they'd decided on a movie. There weren't a lot of choices that caught their interest. Skip was pressing them for Fantastic Voyage. The only other choice was between last year's Dr. Zivago, Born Free or a re-release of Fantasia. Andy thought they all sounded boring and neither Lee nor Murphy had a preference, so Skip prevailed.
Andy cringed when they entered the lobby and ran into his little sister and two of her friends. He figured their mom must've dropped the girls off to get them out of her hair for the afternoon. Ten years old, Carol was never more pleased with herself than when she was making Andy's life miserable. He knew this trio would spend the whole movie giggling and throwing jujy fruits at them. Fortunately, the boys had ducked into the men's room and then managed to ditch them in the dark theater.
As the movie ended and the credits began to roll, Skip nudged Andy's arm to get his attention, knocking an unopened box of Junior Mints onto the floor.
"Way to go, hosepail." Andy sighed and slid off his seat to feel gingerly around the sticky floor.
"Sorry," Skip whispered. He stuck his head down to see if he could help. "I just wanted to see how you like the movie."
"It was great," Andy mumbled. He hadn't found his candy, but he suddenly found something else. It felt like a sandwich baggie, but it had something soft inside. Curious, he pulled it out from under the seat. Just then the house lights came up and what he saw caused him to drop his jaw in surprise. Quickly, he stuffed the bag into his front pocket. He would show his cousins later, but he didn't want to take a chance on Carol seeing him with it.
"What'd you find?" Skip was still trying to locate the errant Junior Mints.
"Nuthin'," Andy told him, then mouthed, "later."
They managed to get out of the theater without running into the girls and they hopped into the pickup.
"Where to?" Skip asked as he started up the engine. Andy could tell by the expression on his face he was dying to know what was going on.
Andy smiled cryptically. "Head over to the park. Find someplace out of the way."
Skip rolled is eyes at the melodramatics, but he did as he was told. In a few minutes, they were parked in a remote lot, well hidden by trees from any passers-by. Andy motioned for Skip to follow and they got out of the cab. Before Lee or Murphy could climb down, Andy hopped up to join them in the bed of the truck. Skip followed his lead.
"What's the matter?" Lee asked. "What're we doing out here?"
Andy glanced around furtively, then addressed his cousins. "I wanted to show you somethin'." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the baggie. "I found this under my seat at the movies." He held it out for their inspection.
The other boys were silent for a time, then finally Murphy spoke up. "What is it?" he asked curiously.
Andy snorted in disbelief. "You live in California, Murph." Murphy squirmed at his lack of knowledge.
"It's marijuana," Lee informed their younger cousin matter-of-factly.
Andy was impressed. "I wasn't sure you'd know," he stated. "Being in the army and all."
Lee shrugged. "I've seen some of the enlisted guys with it. They're not supposed to, but..." He left it at that.
"We're not supposed to either," Skip reminded them, his tone uncharacteristically stern. They all looked up at him. "Well, we're not," he continued, a bit defensively. "It's against the law and besides..." he glanced around to be sure no one was near. "They'd kick me out of the Naval Academy before I ever got a chance to go."
Andy squeezed Skip's shoulder. "Don't worry, nobody's gonna see you with it."
"What are you gonna do with it?" Lee asked.
Andy smiled and stuffed it into his pocket, out of sight. "I'll tell ya tonight."
"You gonna just carry it around like that?" Skip's voice rose in alarm.
Andy sighed in exasperation. "What happened to your sense of adventure, Skipper?"
"He lost it when he joined the Navy," Lee dead-panned.
"Hey," Skip protested indignantly, "I just don't want to get into trouble right now. That's all."
"Me neither," Murphy piped up.
Andy rolled his eyes. "We're not gonna get in trouble," he assured them. Murphy was still eyeing him warily. "What?"
"Do you smoke that stuff?" His voice was timid, as if he was almost afraid to ask.
Andy's eyebrows shot upward. "Of course not." He glanced at his cousins appraisingly. "Is that what you guys think?"
Skip answered immediately. "We know you don't."
He looked at Lee.
"I never said you did," Lee told him calmly.
He shifted his gaze to Murphy, but the younger boy wasn't as quick to speak up. Andy nudged Murphy's shoe and he glanced up.
"Well, Murph? You think I'm a pothead?"
Murphy shook his head slowly. "It's not me, Andy, it's just what I've heard."
Andy narrowed his eyes. "From who?"
Murphy shrugged uncomfortably. "I heard my dad and Uncle Jonathan talking one day."
"About me?"
The boy nodded miserably. "About your hair and your clothes..."
"And?" Andy prodded.
"Well, they were talking about drugs and stuff and how if you didn't smoke dope, you sure dressed like you wanted people to think you do." There was silence all around. "They were just talking," Murphy repeated.
Andy sat brooding about that for a time. He wasn't angry with his uncles, but he did wonder how many other people thought that way about him. He finally looked up. His cousins were waiting for him to say something. He took a deep breath.
"Okay, guys, just so you'll know for sure... I don't take drugs... I don't smoke pot." He reached up to flip his hair out of his eye. "I made my dad a promise a while ago. He was all concerned 'cause they found dope in a kid's locker at school and he wanted me to go out and get a haircut... like that would make any difference." He paused, remembering the conversation. "Anyway," he went on, "Dad and I made a deal. He wouldn't bug me about my hair and I promised him he never had to worry about me and drugs. I've kept that promise," he stated adamantly.
They were silent again, but then Andy noticed Skip was smiling. He breathed a sigh of relief as Lee and Murphy both smiled too.
"It was never a problem with us." Skip slapped Andy on the back.
Andy ran a hand through his hair. "Okay then... let's get outta here."
"Where we going?" Murphy asked. He faced them apologetically and Andy merely smiled and slugged his shoulder affectionately.
"Home."
The moon was full and shone brightly on the four figures creeping stealthily into the garden. The night was still, save for the singing of crickets and the occasional cry of a coyote off in the hills. Lying on his stomach in the soft dirt, Andy hoped no one from the house got the urge for a midnight snack and happened to glance out the window.
"We'll plant it here... along the fence," he whispered to his companions.
They nodded silently. He knew they were less enthusiastic about this plan than he was, but he also knew he could count on them to see it through.
"How long before it grows?" Skip asked.
Andy shrugged. "Dunno. Can't be too long though."
Murphy wiggled up closer. "We won't be able to get out here and water it or anything. What if it dies?"
"Won't matter," Andy assured him.
"Yeah," Lee added. "Why do you think they call it weed?"
The boys chortled with suppressed laughter.
"I can't wait to see Uncle Jake's face when the cops show up and arrest him for growing marijuana." Andy grinned, fantasizing about his plan for revenge.
"He's gonna have a heart attack," Skip agreed.
"What if Grandma sees it?" Lee wanted to know.
Andy shrugged. "If she weeds it out, then she weeds it out. It's a chance we'll have to take."
That settled, they set to work. In a few minutes they were finished and quietly made their way to the bunkhouse.
Katherine Michaels shook her head and wondered what those four were up to. She hadn't been able to sleep and had come down for a glass of warm milk, when she noticed something moving out in her garden.
She'd thought at first it was the deer that had been eating her cabbage, but when she'd gone to the window, she'd seen her grandsons. She observed them curiously as they worked for a few minutes over by the fence and then crept back to the bunkhouse.
Boys and their secrets, she thought. Well, she wouldn't say anything. Most of the time secrets had a way of coming to light.
In contrast to the emptiness of the earlier weeks, the ranch now was filled to the brim. Every day more and more of the far-flung Michaels clan arrived for the yearly reunion. Andy was glad to see his family show up, knowing that with his parents here, Uncle Jake would be much easier to deal with. For reasons Andy couldn't fathom, his uncle avoided confrontations with his younger sisters.
At this moment, nearly everyone was gathered together in the huge family room. Skip's family had just come in from the airport and there was much catching up to do. Kids were running everywhere and confusion was the order of the day.
Andy was sitting beside his grandmother and Aunt Beth, only half listening to their conversation. He'd been watching Murphy's brother Stephen as he came in and sat gingerly, still recuperating from his near-fatal injuries in Viet Nam. Uncle Robbie and Stephen had arrived earlier in the day, which explained why Murphy himself wasn't here in the house. He'd gone down to the creek to avoid being around his dad and Lee, of course, had gone with him.
"...and Thelma called just the other day," Grandma was saying. "They're busier than ever on the farm right now, so they can't get away." Andy thought distantly of his cousins, Tom, Sam and Katie, living in Indiana. They almost never saw each other. "...you know, Sammie is so smart, he's already taking classes at college..." Andy knew Sam was only about 13 or 14 right now. "...and Tommy's going to join the Navy as soon as he's 18."
"Maybe he'll get to see Skip," Aunt Beth wondered, but then shook her head. "I suppose not, unless he's going to the Academy too."
Grandma shrugged. "I don't think so. Leastwise, Thelma never said." Grandma clicked her tongue, which was her way of expressing concern. "I sure worry about those boys over there with all that..." She stopped and Andy noticed she'd glanced his way and obviously remembered their conversation in the barn. She gave him a reassuring smile and when she turned back to her daughter, changed the subject. "...you know I still haven't gotten that quilt done for the Anderson's new baby..."
Andy tuned them out. He appreciated Grandma's thoughtfulness, but his mind was already filled with dreadful images: J.J. dead two years now... Stephen lying near death in a foreign hospital... Tom willingly marching into battle... and Skip. Andy couldn't think of happy, care-free Skip killing people. And if Skip had to go to war, what did that mean for Lee or Murphy or... Andy himself?
He closed his eyes, trying to drive away the all too vivid pictures flashing through his mind. It didn't help. Suddenly, he didn't want to stay here in the house. He had to get away. He got up and walked out of the family room. He passed through the kitchen and breezed out the door, headed for the barn.
Once there, he pulled his small transistor radio out of his shirt pocket and turned it on full blast. The Rolling Stones filled the barn with Satisfaction. Feeling the need to exert some energy, he began playing a rowdy air guitar.
"Good thing the horses are all out at the pasture."
Skip was standing there, grinning at him. He returned the smile, but didn't stop playing.
Katherine saw Andy get up and leave, but she also saw Skip follow him, so she didn't say anything. Sometimes these kinds of things were best left alone. She'd make a point of talking to Katie later, just to be sure her daughter was aware of the boy's state of mind, although, considering the good mother Katie was, she probably already knew.
Most of the children had drifted either outside or upstairs, leaving the adults to their conversation. Cassie had come over to sit beside Beth and Katherine didn't have to try very hard to imagine what news her daughter-in-law would be seeking.
"Ga-ma, Ga-ma." Eighteen month old Scott toddled over to Cassie and held his arms out to be picked up. Katherine smiled at the sight of the tow-headed angel. Kay had arrived yesterday -- without Robert. He was out of the country on assignment, but Kay assured them he would try his best to put in an appearance in a week or so. Though Kay had smiled bravely, Katherine could see the strain in her granddaughter's face. Robert's constant absence was creating an awful lot of stress for his wife. Katherine hoped Kay was strong enough to deal with it, but she wasn't optimistic. She knew her granddaughter too well.
"Oh, Cassie!" Beth greeted her sister-in-law warmly. "And Scotty, you little cutie pie." Beth reached to pinch the boy's cheek. He giggled happily at the attention. Beth turned to Cassie and her voice lowered a bit. "I've seen Rose and Nicky." She smiled widely. "He's such an doll. Rose sent you some pictures." She leaned over to pick up her purse and began rummaging through it. She found what she was searching for and pulled out a few snapshots.
"I can't thank you enough, Beth."
Cassie took the photos and gazed at them for a long moment. Katherine was sure she saw tears in the woman's eyes. She had to fight back the anger she felt at her own son for the anguish he was causing so many people because of his hatred.
"I can't believe it's been two years since J.J..." Cassie broke off, unable to speak the words, "well, this is like having a part of him still with me."
"A part of who?"
All three woman looked up, startled. Jake stood next to his wife, his hand held out to see the pictures. Katherine bit her tongue to keep silent as Cassie meekly handed over the photos. Jake stared at his other grandson in stony silence. Katherine was afraid he was going to tear the snapshots up, but he merely gave them back to his wife.
"At least he doesn't look like a Jap," was his parting comment, as he strode past them and into the kitchen.
Katherine heard the door slam and knew he'd gone outside. That was probably for the best. Let him work some of that resentment off where he couldn't bother anybody.
Skip had finally joined Andy in his private concert. They were both dancing and singing along with The Doors and Light My Fire. They'd gotten used to the occasional intrusion by Allie and Kyle. Both eight year olds would peek in the barn and then run away laughing at their older brothers' antics. So when the door opened again, neither teen even bothered to look up.
"What the hell is all this ruckus?" came the shout.
Andy turned just in time to see Uncle Jake's scoop up the radio and hurl it against the wall. The music suddenly stopped.
"A man can't even think with all that noise," he fumed.
Andy felt like he was witnessing things from far away. He saw Skip walk over and pick up the transistor, the case cracked, the batteries dangling from the colored wires. He faced his uncle, strangely calm.
"That was my radio," he stated evenly. "You had no right to do that."
Jake grunted. "And this is my barn. I want you to keep that devil music outta here." With that, he stormed out of the barn.
He would have launched himself at Jake -- he would have -- but he felt Skip holding his arms from behind. He struggled in his cousin's grasp, but had to watch helplessly as Jake's form disappeared through the door.
"Andy... Andy, knock it off," Skip kept telling him until he finally stopped. Skip let him go.
Andy stood breathing heavily, feeling on the verge of tears for some strange reason. It was more than a $15.00 radio. He puffed out a shaky breath to blow his hair out of his eyes.
"You okay?" Skip asked.
Andy nodded, not trusting his voice completely. He was fine... or would be soon. His mind raced through the possibilities. They'd all nearly forgotten about their midnight crop. With the passage of the days, the fire of Andy's vengeance had waned. Now it was rekindled with a burning intensity. It was still early, but there should be enough for the police to identify what was growing in Jake Michael's garden.
They watched from the house. Upstairs in one of the extra bedrooms, with a great view of the garden, they saw the sheriff and his deputies pull up the plants and put them in evidence bags. Most of the adults were out there and Jake was ranting at Sheriff Raymond.
All four boys were quiet. Andy stood staring out at the scene with arms folded across his chest. It had been funny at first -- to have the police show up and tell Jake about the telephone tip they'd received. Watching their uncle stand there for a full minute, speechless, was a memory to treasure. But now it didn't seem quite so funny and Andy wondered what exactly was going to happen next. This was a part of his scheme he hadn't thought about. He'd only focused on the initial payback.
"Somethin's goin' on out there and it doesn't look good."
Skip pointed to a group of people who all seemed to be talking at the same time. Andy swallowed hard at the sight of his mother and father down there arguing with Jake.
"They're heading for the house," Murphy whispered. "Do you think they know we planted it?"
"Nobody saw us," Lee stated, though not very confidently.
Andy let his eyes follow the group until he could no longer see them. Somehow he knew they'd be coming up here.
"Let me do the talkin', guys. This was my idea anyway."
"We all did it," Skip protested. "You shouldn't be the only one..."
"Listen to me, Skipper," Andy interrupted. "You can't get involved or you'll lose out on the Academy and bein' an astronaut... right?" Skip didn't say anything, but Andy knew he was right. He turned to Lee. "And what'll happen to you if the Almighty Colonel gets wind of you being involved with pot?"
Lee shrugged. "I don't even want to think about it." His face grew concerned. "He'd probably decide you guys are a bad influence and not let me come anymore."
Andy nodded. "That's what I figured." He looked at Murphy. "I don't think you want your dad to get into this, do you?"
Murphy's face was pained, torn between loyalty and fear. "No," he whispered softly. "But that doesn't mean..."
"Forget it," Andy stated emphatically. "If they ask, it was me and me alone. Got it?"
"Andy..."
"I said forget it, Skip. It was my stupid idea."
They heavy sound of footsteps thudded noisily in the hallway. Andy's stomach churned as he heard a knock on the door. In another moment, it opened.
He wasn't really aware of who all stood there. He saw his mother's worried face, and the sheriff's concerned one. He also saw Jake standing there, as red-faced and livid as Andy could ever remember seeing him.
"We want to talk to you boys," Sheriff Raymond began, but Jake cut him off.
"It that's damn hippie you want, Frank," he bellowed. "He's the only one who'd plant that... that... stuff on my land."
"You watch what you say, Jake," Katie Travis cautioned in an icy tone. "We don't know anything yet."
Andy closed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to get away from the screaming match he knew would be coming between his mother and uncle. The sheriff intervened before anything could escalate out of control.
"Okay, folks," he broke in, "I'm gonna take this into town... talk to Andy myself." He gestured for Andy to come with him. "Come on, son. You ride with me. Your folks can follow."
Andy gulped dryly and glanced over his shoulder at his cousins. They all appeared frightened, but so far they hadn't said anything. He gathered up his courage and moved toward the door.
Sheriff Raymond took hold of his arm, not unkindly, and led him out ahead of the adults. Andy didn't look at his parents as he passed them. He couldn't face what he knew he would see in their faces -- disappointment.
Katherine watched worriedly as Frank helped Andy into the back seat of his car and then got in behind the wheel. Katie and Clayton hurried out of the house and over to their own car, while Jake strode over to his pickup. In a few short minutes, all three vehicles started down the long driveway, headed into town.
She wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but she knew it had to do with that strange weed the deputies had pulled out of the garden.
"Grandma?"
She turned to see Skip standing there, as solemn-faced as she could ever remember seeing him. Behind him, Lee and Murphy were also waiting soberly.
"What is it, boys?" Her mind flashed to a moonlit night a few weeks ago and she suddenly knew Andy wasn't the only one involved in this whole mess.
"We need to talk to you," Skip said. His eyes darted around the yard. "In private."
Andy sat on the narrow bunk in the small holding cell. There was no lock on the bars. This place was usually used to let drunks sleep off a night's carousing. The sheriff's substation in Glorieta was not exactly buzzing with criminal activity. Andy figured this was probably the biggest thing to hit the sleepy little town in decades.
He buried his head in his hands. How could he have been so dumb? He'd been so anxious to get back at Uncle Jake, he hadn't thought it through. Of course the other adults would believe Uncle Jake's word when he told them he had no idea how the pot got into his garden. And where else would Jake think to point the finger of blame?
He didn't want to face his parents. That seemed almost worse than having Uncle Jake come in. He didn't want to lie to them, yet the last thing he wanted to do would be to admit to planting marijuana. He didn't know what to do.
"Andrew."
His father's calm, concerned voice filtered into his distraught senses. He lifted his head, feeling the pressure of tears building in his eyes.
"Dad?" he croaked out.
Clayton Travis was, by nature, an unflappable individual. Andy knew it took a lot to get his father riled up. He thoroughly expected this to be one of those times, but when the older man came over and sat down beside his son, Andy saw only tenderness in his father's face.
"You wanna tell me about it, son?"
Andy could barely find his voice. "I'm sorry, Dad," he whispered hoarsely. "I never meant for it to turn out like this. I..." He stopped, unable to speak any further. The tears spilled from his eyes and down his cheeks. Clayton put an arm around his son and pulled him into an embrace. "I'm sorry, Dad," Andy mumbled into his father's shirt.
They sat that way for a time, until Andy had sobbed himself out and once more felt in control. He straightened up and wiped his arm across his nose. Clayton reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. He handed it to his son absently. Andy blew his nose and felt a little better. He pushed his hair out of his face.
"Dad?"
"Yes."
"I don't smoke pot."
"I know you don't, son."
There was a smile on Clayton's face and Andy felt the sun peek out from behind the storm clouds. He took a deep breath.
"What's gonna happen now?"
His father shrugged. "Guess that all depends on Jake... how far he wants to push this."
Andy leaned against the wall and swallowed. "Is he gonna press charges?"
Clayton laughed and reached out to tousle his son's hair. "Not if your mother has anything to say about it. They're outside, um.... working things out."
Andy felt a smile form on his own face at the sight that conjured up. If it came to fisticuffs, his money was on his mom.
"Andy."
"Yeah, Dad?"
"I just want you to know..." Clayton shifted uneasily and Andy wondered what else he might have done to get into trouble. "What I'm tryin' to tell you son, is that I understand what provoked this little... uh... escapade." Andy met his father's gaze and found only compassion. "But..." the older man continued. He pointed a finger at his son's chest. "Next time Jake gets under your skin, just tell me about it, for cryin' out loud."
"But, Dad, I..."
"No but's about it." For the first time Clayton seemed angry. "If anything like that ever happens again, I'll have a few words to say to your uncle."
The door to the office opened and Andy glanced up to see Sheriff Raymond and Grandma Michaels. The sheriff wore an enigmatic expression on his face. He walked over to the cell.
"You're free to go home, Andy."
Andy stood up in surprise. "I am? You mean, Uncle Jake isn't gonna..."
"Jake's got no say in this anymore," the sheriff broke in. He shot Katherine Michaels an odd glance. "Your grandma here just filled me in on everything that happened."
Andy gave the older woman a puzzled look. "She did?"
"Yep." The sheriff gave in finally and grinned. "Told me all about how she thought she was planting some kind of Indian herb... help keep bugs off her tomato vines."
Andy felt his eyebrows climb to the top of his hairline. Beside him, his father started what sounded like a mix between a cough and a laugh.
"Lands sake, Frank," Grandma Michaels finally said. "All this fuss over nothing. If anybody had bothered to ask me about my own garden..."
"I know, Kate, I know." The sheriff shook his head. "Just do me a favor and go get those two screeching lunatics out of my parking lot."
Andy sat on the porch swing, glad for the evening breeze. He was by himself, but that was by choice. He'd been thinking a lot since coming home from the sheriff station. He knew he wasn't very good company tonight, but he also knew that his cousins would be there as soon as he needed them.
The kitchen door creaked open and someone came out. Somehow Andy wasn't surprised when Grandma Michaels sat down beside him. She was silent for a time and the two of them just rocked the swing and listened to the sounds of the coming night.
"Thank you, Grandma," Andy finally said quietly.
"No need for that, Andrew."
He studied her, her wrinkled face and weathered hands. "You know what we did?"
She nodded slowly. "Skip and the boys came to me. They weren't about to let you go to the chopping block all by your lonesome."
"I told 'em not to say anything."
Grandma smiled. "Guess they didn't listen to you."
He chuckled wryly. "I s'pose I'm lucky they didn't."
"I suppose you are at that."
They fell silent again. Andy heard the cows mooing and knew Uncle Jake or Aunt Cassie would be doing the evening milking.
"Grandma?"
"Mmmm?"
"Have you ever done anything really dumb... I mean so dumb you felt bad about it afterwards?"
She didn't answer and when he looked at her, he saw a tear glistening on her cheek. He bit his bottom lip, wondering what memory he'd triggered by his question.
"Grandma?"
She took his hand and squeezed it tightly. "We all do things we regret, my boy. If we're lucky, we get a chance to undo them. If not..." she took a deep breath, "... sometimes we have to live with our mistakes."
She suddenly shook herself out of whatever part of the past she'd been in. She stood and pulled Andy up with her. "Come on, my boy. I saw those cousins of yours eyein' my berry pie. We'd better hurry up and get some before they eat it all."
Andy laughed and followed her inside the house. He felt better about things than he had in a while, but then talking to Grandma always seemed to make things right.