A large barn was a great place to hide. The two figures stood just inside and looked around. The older boy, a handsome lad of 6 with dark hair and gray blue eyes was clearly in charge. His young accomplice was a cute little tow headed 5 year old tyke,with eyes a brilliant blue.

"Now this is how it's gonna go. I'm Black Bart and your my prisoner. You gonna be up there," he said pointing to the loft overhead "and then I'm gonna go rob the bank and.."

"You gonna come back ain't ya Tommy," the smaller boy asked

"Of course I'm gonna come back," he replied exasperated "don't I always come back," patting the younger boy's back. "I'll be the Calvary, I'll rescue you."

"But why can't I stay down here. We're not allowed up there. We're not even supposed to be in here. We 're supposed to be playing outside by the door. You're Pa is gonna be real mad if he catches us."

"What are ya 'fraid of, you should have left on the train with the rest of the girls." he taunted

"I ain't afraid," he said wavering, trying to convince himself.

"I'm outta call you Jenny instead of Jamie."

"I ain't a girl, you take that back," he stormed at the older boy, fists clenched, face red.

"Well then prove it."

So Jamie bit his lip and climbed up the ladder to the loft, as Tommy exited and the barn got very dark and quiet. Jamie wished he hadn't done this, if we get caught were gonna get it for sure, he thought.

Nick threw open the barn door and stormed inside, spilling enough light for him to see the small blond head disappear from the loft's edge. He climbed the ladder and spotted the boy, who seemed more relieved than anything else.

"Come here," Nick demanded guiding the small boy down the spokes to the bottom and squatting down.

"But I'm supposed to wait for the Calvary," Jamie protested unsuccessfully.

"Don't you worry about the Calvary, I take care of him when he gets here," Nick added angrily.

"What were you doing up there, you know that's off limits. You could have been hurt," Nick saw the boy's head hang down and his lower lip tremble so he mellowed his voice a bit before continuing.

"Jamie," he said lifting the boy's head up "you both know how dangerous it is playing around up there, you've been told about that before. You were supposed to stay outside, where I could keep an eye out."

Nick led the boy towards the door.

Jamie took a deep breath.

"But Uncle Nick," Tommy said, "I mean we was only gonna be a minute, and I told him we shouldda stayed put but he called me a girl and I got mad and..."

Just then the dashing, dark haired Capt. Tommy Barkley, U.S. Calvary announced his entrance and ran smack into an immovable object, who glowered down at him.

"Uh-Oh," Tommy swallowed "Hi Pa!"

"Don't you Hi Pa me boy" he said taking each boy's arm he led them outside and sat them side by side on a pile of large hay bricks.

"What were you thinking disobeying me," Nick started counting the offenses, "leaving the place where you were told to stay put and most importantly leaving your cousin in the loft, which you know is OFF LIMITS."

"Well," Nick demanded. "Do you realize how bad he could have been hurt if he fell. Uncle Heath and I both showed you how loose some of those old boards are, that need to be fixed."

"I'm sorry Pa, I really am," Tommy knew how angry his Pa was and knew he was wrong.

"Both of you," he said looking at each boy, "stay here, you don't more a muscle, not a twitch you got it?" he said sternly.

Both boys nodded.

Nick walked over to the fence mumbling to himself.

"Gonna age me ten years, I swear I'll be gray by the time I'm 35..."

Several minutes later Heath pulled the wagon into the yard and up to the door. He was suprised to see the two normally very active boys sitting stoically. He jumped down, walked over and toussled each head.

"Hey fellas," he said "whatcha doin'?"

"We ain't allowed to talk, Pa," Jamie said without looking up.

"Or move or anything," Tommy added "We're in jail."

"Hmmmm," Heath pushed his hat back, squatted down "I know a good lawyer, whatcha in for?"

"We got caught in the barn, I was in the loft," Jamie said wincing.

"The LOFT," Heath said his eyes turning steely, "What were you thinking? You were supposed to play in the yard here till I got back with Mrs. White. You both know better."

"Yes sir," they both said at the same time.

"It was my fault Uncle Heath," Tommy said looking up. "Jamie didn't want to even go in the barn, but sometimes I get an idea " he shrugged "and bad things happen, I guess maybe my head can't catch up to my mouth." he was so serious, Heath had to smile.

"I want you both to promise me, you won't go near that loft. You'll do as your told."

Both boys nodded and remained still.

"You know Uncle Jarrod is coming in on the train tonight and tomorrow we were supposed to go to the cabin by the lake for the weekend. Do some fishin' swimmin', tell scary stories."

"Pa, please, we'll be good, we promise, right Tommy?" Jamie said as his eyes narrowed sternly.

"Yeah, okay." Tommy nodded and added with glint in his eye, "Besides, Uncle Jarrod would be real upset if we didn't go."

"Well, you sit and think about what you did, I'll go see if I can square things away with Sheriff Nick."

Heath walked over to the water pump and drenched his head. He felt Nick before he heard him.

"Do you know where those imps got to?," he continued "I outta tan the two of em'. One minute they were practicing their roping and the next, that fast they were gone."

"Nick, I think they know how wrong they were," he pointed to the two figures who remained unmoving. "I guess you never disobeyed when you were their age."

"That's different," Nick tried to reason.

"No it ain't, they're kids, they're gonna get into trouble, you can't nail 'em down to the floor. They gotta learn and you teach them right from, set an example, love them and go from there."

"Besides, how many wooden spoons did Mother bust on your behind." Heath reasoned.

"It was Tommy's idea," Nick said. "Sometimes I wonder where that boy's mind is. Bad enough he get's a bad idea, then he goads Jamie into doing it with him," shaking his head.

Heath laughed and patted Nick's shoulder.

"He's your boy, Nick through and through."

"One difference Heath," Nick said looking over at the two little convicts "they got each other. Sometimes I think how different it could have been if you'd been here, when you were a boy. I see how hot-headed he is now, that temper, and how Jamie can talk to him."

"That works both ways Nick. Tommy gives Jamie just as much back. You can't turn back time Heath said "but I know what you mean, it could have been something."

"I left Mrs. White off at the front door, she'll watch them till we get back.. I 'll take her home on the way to get Jarrod from the train," Heath said "They go to their room." Nick said.

"Agreed," Heath nodded.

"Come on guys," Heath hollered to the pair.

"We got work to do this afternoon. Mrs. White's gonna stay at the house with you. You clean that bedroom. It's a disgrace. The two of you are big enought to pick up after yourselves. I want it clean when we get back with Uncle Jarrod," Nick said.

Both boys nodded.

"We're real sorry, honest," Tommy said.

Nick and Heath nodded and with a wink squatted down for a hug.

"Uncle Jarrod, I am sure glad you came to visit us," Jamie said happily perched on his Uncle's lap.

"I always glad to spend time with my two best cowboys. Who else could I fish with, swim with and wrestle with," he said touselled the his nephew's hair, so blond it looked like it was kissed by the sun.

"Yeah, it's great just us, no girls or nothin," Tommy added watching his dad clean the fish they would eat for supper, while Uncle Heath roasted potatoes.

"What!" Jarrod teased. "You don't miss your sisters?"

"NO WAY," the two boys chorused.

IT was good to spend the weekend with his brothers and nephews. They were growing so fast and he relished their youth and innocence knowing far too soon it would be gone. Kathleen and 3 yard old Leah, Heath's wife and daughter along with Amanda and 3 year old Victoria Rose, Nick's wife and daugher had gone with Mother to San Francisco where Jarrod's fiance Gabrielle was making their wedding plans. Audra lived in London with her husband Edward, who was the U.S. Ambassador. How his mother enjoyed having a house full of children.

"Come on Jamie, let's play Cowboy and Indian, I'll be the Indian, you can be the no good Cowboy."

"How come I can't be the Indian," Jamie protested.

"Cause Indians ain't got yellow hair."

Jamie thought that made sense and agreed.

Jamie slid off Jarrod's lap to join Tommy by the water's edge.

Jarrod laughed as he watched the two of them frolic, wrestle and then sit side by side talking, sharing a secret, then laughing.

"Quite a team," Nick said following Jarrod's gaze and handing him a cup of coffee.

"That they are. How are they holding up in your old room?"

"Other than the fact you can't find the floor sometimes for the junk all over it," Nick laughed "they do fine. It's a huge room, perfect for the two of them."

"Except when you walk in and interrupt the knights fighting a dragon and get whalloped," Heath added pointing to a faint bruise under his eye.

"Supper fella's, let's go," Nick hollered.

"Pa, after supper can you tell us a scary story?" Tommy pleaded.

"Well, I don't know," Nick said with a wink to his brothers.

"Please Uncle Nick," Jamie blue eyes begged as he climbed into Nick's lap.

"Nobody is scarier than you."

A statement that brought a shower of spit coffee and laughter from his two brothers.

When the two were ready for bed, as Heath stoked the fire and Jarrod enjoyed the stars from the porch. Nick started his tale of the 'Night of the Grizzley Bear.'

"Nick, remember last time," Heath warned.

"If you think you're gonna get scared little brother, go inside," Nick teased.

"Okay, but you're gonna be the one who gets up when the nightmares start."

Each boy sat transfixed at Nick's feet and typical of Nick's stories, both were entranced. It seemed to Jarrod and Heath's amusement that the size of the bear kept changing. At one point when the "bear stood on her back legs 15 feet tall and roared."

"How big was that bear?" Heath raised a questioning eyebrow at Nick.

"You weren't there Heath!" Nick retorted.

"Something tells me I wasn't the ONLY one that wasn't there."

Nick tried not to smile as he finished his tale just as the two fell asleep.

"Don't you guys go far," Jarrod warned, "we're gonna eat lunch soon."

"Okay!" they replied as they scampered in the clearing near the woods.

"Hey, look Tommy, there's a deer."

They slowly entered the woods to chase the deer. Although it was only a few minutes, they were turned around. Just then they heard the bushes rustle and saw the leaves shake.

"It's a BEAR," Jamie cried and fell over a log.

Tommy picked up a large stick and held it over his head, threatening to swing when the figure emerged.

"WHOA son," he said to Tommy and then to Jamie.

"Are you okay?"

"Don't you worry about him, he's fine," Tommy said putting himself between Jamie and the stranger, an elderly man with white hair.

"Who are you and why are you running around in there?" Tommy said pointing to the woods.

"Give me that!" Nick uttered, grabbing the stick before Tommy did any damage.

"Who are you?" Heath asked as he lifted Jamie up.

"I'm just passing through, I used to work near here along time ago, saw the smoke last night, just checking on the cabin."

"How do you know about this cabin?" Jarrod asked, trying to place the man's face.

"When I was much younger, I helped a young couple," he paused and scratched his head "Ummm, Ummm funny I can't remember the name...well anyway I was living off the land and this young fellow and his bride just bought land and were gonna build a cabin, need a hand building it, I was glad for the work. Everytime I come these parts, I check up on it."

"Well how about that," Jarrod remarked amazed "Mr...."

"Baines, son. Cliff Baines."

"Mr. Baines, that couple were our parents, Tom and Victoria Barkley. Please stay for lunch."

"Be mightly obliged," Baines said then to Nick nodding at Tommy.

"That's quite a fierce little cub you got there."

Nick smiled proudly. "Don't I know it."

Mr. Baines stayed for lunch but was soon on his way.

It had been a long day for two little boys, full of swimming, hiking, playing and fishing and they didn't need any prompting to go to bed. They fell asleep almost as dinner was finishing up.

The brothers sat on the porch and looked at the sunset in beautiful shades of crimson and purple. Nick seemed lost in thought as he stared at the two boys, sleeping soundly on a blanket.

"Where are you brother?" Jarrod said to Nick, who seemed lost in thought.

"I'm looking at them and thinking of all the changes they'll see in their lifetime. Look at the last few years since they've been born, all the changes. By the time those two are grown, running this ranch will sure be alot easier, with industry and all the other inventions that will make the ranch better, more efficient."

"Well, ain't you turning into quite the philosopher," Heath smirked.

"Sometimes, Heath, on a rare occasion, Nick let's a solid thought or two escape," Jarrod laughed.

"All those things you talked about, industry, inventions, progess, that's all fine and will be good. " Heath said to Nick "but for now they got a good family, and they got each other. The rest are just dreams to come."

And as if on cue Tommy turned in his sleep and instinctively put a protective arm around Jamie.

THE END