Again, many many thanks to Melanie of the eagle-eye, also who asked for translations, please. And to my sister in soul, Klair, who planted the seed for this marvelous universe in my head. Then stood back and watched it carry me away. She also let's me get away with nothing.

Y muchas gracias a Manuel por su amabilidad y paciencia en ayudar con traducciones. AltaVista es bueno, pero no todo ése bueno. Aprenderé algún día el diference entre el ser y estar.

In the real universe, Jim and Blair belong to Pet-Fly, here they are the sole property of Klair. Justin and Paddy belong only to me.

OW:A Child Belongs. . .
by BCW

August 15, 1998

***

The Chelsea
Wyoming Territories
September, 1874

Justin sat on the tall gate of the entrance to the ranch and stared off into the horizon. He hadn't had the nightmare about his guardian again since that first time. Although he had to slip into bed with the big rancher several nights since, and curl against him, just to make certain his guardian was all right and to help him sleep peacefully.

At the first touch of his hand on the doorknob, Paddy was always awake, the covers turned back and his arms open to envelop the little boy in warmth and safety.

Resting against the hard wood of the gate slat, Justin enjoyed this little bit of peace. Paddy had made him work on his multiplication tables for over an hour. He hated arithmetic! And the sevens were the worsts! Who cared what seven times eight equalled? Justin was certain he'd never see seven times eight of anything in his life.

Dreaded tables done, he'd been given an hour to play before supper.

Sighing wistfully, Justin wondered what Blair was doing right now. Maybe Paddy could find some time tomorrow and they could ride over there to visit.

The child sighed again. If he had his own horse, he could ride there himself.

Sighing heavily again, Justin acknowledged that, because of his guardian's fear, his own horse would be a long time coming. And letting him ride alone, even if he did get a horse of his own, seemed an impossibility, also.

Suddenly, Justin sat up straighter. Was that dust he saw in the distance? He grew excited. Maybe the Ellison's were coming over to visit them. He stood up on the third rail and strained his eyes to see. . .

"Paddy!"

~~~

Choate was in the barn shoeing one of the work horses when he heard his child cry out.

Tossing the tools aside without another thought, he grabbed up his rifle as he raced to see what had upset the boy.

They met in the yard, Justin wild and out of breath.

Paddy caught him up in his arms. "¿Qué pasa, hijito?" ¹

"Riders, Paddy," the child said breathlessly. "Not. . .Uncle Jim. Don't know them."

He put the boy back on the ground and walked with him to the gate.

"What is happening, Master Patrick?"the ancient asked him as he came out on the veranda, wiping his hands on his apron.

"Riders coming, Chu Wa. Maybe you should take Justin in the house."

The child clung to him. "But I want to go with you, Paddy," he whined.

"Do as I say," his guardian said in that tone Justin had come to recognize as meaning 'no-nonsense'.

Reluctantly, Justin trudged up to the veranda and stood beside Chu Wa just inside the front door.

~~~

Choate cocked the rifle, standing off to the side of the gate, and waited. He hoped the riders were friendly. He didn't want to give the impression he was not, unless he had to.

There were two of them. One on horseback, one driving a small wagon, a third horse tied to the back of it.

As they came closer he could see there was something familiar about. . .mierda! ²

Paddy pulled the gate open slowly; the man on horseback dismounted.

"Chucho? ¿Que? ¿Ningun saludo? ¿No estas feliz al verme?" ³

Paddy leaned the rifle up against the gatepost and stepped forward to enthusiastically embrace the older man. "¡No, Tito! ¡Lo siento! Sí, me plaze el verle. ¿Cómo fue su viaje? ¿Y, Diego, no dejándolo fuera de su vista? Debe estar cansado después de un viaje tan largo. Bienvenido o entra a casa. Tito, lo siento. ¿Porqué estás aquí? ⁴

"Paddy?"

The men turned. Justin and Chu Wa stood a short distance away, watching warily.

"¿Tienes huéspedes, Chucho?" ⁵

"No, Tito. Justin, Chu Wa, this is my grandfather, Mateo Sifuentes and his lifelong friend, Diego Alvarez."

Justin's eyes grew wide as he stepped forward and extended his hand. "Me alegro conocerles, señores," Justin said slowly, pronouncing each word carefully. "Bienvenido a nuestro casa." ⁶

Taking the small hand in his, the elder Spaniard said gently, "El placer es mío, jovencito." Then, turning to his grandson, he said sternly, "Chucho, hay algo que deseas decirme?" ⁷

Choate started, a guilty expression on his face. "Después de comida, prometo, abuelo." ⁸

"I will set two more places for dinner," Chu Wa said as he walked back into the house.

"Thank you, Chu Wa," he said to his man's retreating form.

"Oh, Paddy! Look! It looks like Dancer."

The two men turned to Justin. He stood by the little horse tied to the back of the wagon, reverently stroking its flank.

"It is a mare," Diego said, chuckling as he got down from the wagon.

"She's beautiful," the boy murmured in awe.

The horse nickered softly, tossing her head, causing Justin to jump. He recovered quickly and laughed, before resuming his stroking.

"What's her name?"

"Dulce," Señor Sifuentes said. "Her name is Dulce."

"Hello, Dulce," Justin whispered.

The horse nickered again and nudged him.

The smile on his face turned radiant. "She likes me!"

"Yes, she does," Diego said, resting his hand on Justin's head. "Would you like to help me take her to the barn?"

The child looked at his guardian. "Is it all right, Paddy?"

"Yes, Justin," he said softly, unable to resist the longing in the child's eyes.

After Señor Alvarez and Justin were gone, Mateo Sifuentes turned on his grandson again.

"Where is his mother?" he demanded.

"Dead,"came the soft reply.

The elder man misread Choate's manner. "And when did this happen?" he asked excitedly, his thin finger jabbing at the larger man's chest. "Who was this woman? Where did you meet? Why is this the first I have heard of it? Were you two--"

Paddy stopped him by catching the punishing hand in his larger one. "After dinner, Tito." He brought the hand up to his lips for a quick kiss. "We will talk then, please." He turned his own pleading gaze upon the older man.

The old man made an effort to calm himself. "All right, Chucho," he said, freeing his hand from his grandson's grip. "But, this had better be a good story," he warned animously.

~~~

During dinner Justin was on his *best* behavior. He only asked a hundred questions about Dulce, instead of the thousand Choate knew he wanted to.

After the meal ended, Diego took their luggage upstairs to the guest rooms; Chu Wa had already taken Justin's things to Paddy's room.

Then, with Justin sitting at the kitchen table doing his spelling under Chu Wa's watchful eye, Paddy and his grandfather went out on the veranda.

Choate sat on the swing as the older man settled in the rocking chair.

After taking a moment to bolster his courage, the anxious young rancher announced, "He isn't my son, Tito."

Knowing eyes studied the forlorn figure for a moment. "Oh?" the old man said calmly. "Does he know that?"

"Of course he does," Choate said in exasperation. "He has a father back in San Francisco."

"The one who sold him to you?" Señor Sifuentes asked softly.

"He didn't sell him, Tito. . .how did you know?" the young man found himself demanding in too loud a voice.

"Señor Costas saw you in San Francisco."

"Señor Costas' a busy body," Paddy said under his breath.

"He asked until he found out why you were there. When he came home, he told me." The old man turned to look at his grandson and frowned. "You could have come to me for the money, Chucho," he said in a soft, but stern, voice.

Choate hung his head, chagrined. "I know, Tito. I was ashamed."

"Ashamed to come to me?!" the old man said incredulously.

"No, sir. Ashamed to admit my father was a failure."

Mateo laid a soothing hand on his grandson's arm. "Oliver was not so much a failure, as a stubborn, hardheaded young fool. Not unlike his son," the old man added fondly.

The light from the house was enough to show the blush on the younger man's face. "Tito, I--"

Señor Sifuentes waved the explanation away and went on doggedly. "He wouldn't come to me for help, either. Even when I told him marrying my daughter made him my son." He was quiet a long time. "He always thought I wanted to take you away from him."

"I know, Tito."

"He was partially right. I wanted you to grow up knowing the warmth and love of your people." He paused again. "I always felt your father was a bit cold."

Paddy smiled. "I think mama's family. . .overwhelmed him," he laughed aloud, remembering his father at the Sifuentes clan's fiestas. He always looked so lost and out of place.

At first the young Paddy had tried to stay by his side, keep him company, but with countless other children there--

"Still, chiquito," he scolded, shaking his finger at the remorseful young man, "you should've come to me for help."

"I did ask you for a horse," Paddy said, flustered.

"A horse for a child. Of course it made me curious."

"I didn't say it was for a child, Tito," he said defensively.

"No, you said a horse under 15 hands. Or, a horse as close to 14 hands as possible."

A small pout crept into Choate's features. He felt like a little boy again, being reprimanded for his naughtiness. "It could've been for a short man, Tito."

"Good temperament, gentle, yet spirited."

"I could've wanted to breed Dancer."

"I know you would not breed Dancer to a gentle horse that small," his grandfather said sternly, shaking the arm he held. "Stop this foolishness, Chucho!"

Choate looked down and away in shame.

"Paddy?"

Justin stood at the doorway. He had been listening, but they were talking in Spanish, and although he understood a few things, this was too fast to follow. Paddy's grandfather sounded angry and he didn't want Paddy in trouble.

"Sí, hijito?" Choate said, missing the appraising look his grandfather gave him.

"Chu Wa says it's time to go to bed." The child stepped out onto the porch, hoping that, because they had company, he'd get to stay up later. "I came to say goodnight."

"Come here, then."

Justin sighed. Oh, well. He walked over to Paddy and gave him a hug and a kiss.

"You're bunking with me tonight, chiquito."

"I know, Paddy. Chu Wa laid my night shirt on your bed."

"I'll be up in a minute to tell you a story."

The boy brightened. "All right." He walked over to Señor Sifuentes. "Good night, sir," he said softly.

"Good night, niño. I will see you in the morning." Then, to his grandson he said, "Go, Chucho, take him to bed. Tell him his story. I will be up soon. I am tired myself."

~~~

Upstairs, later, a very sleepy Justin snuggled up against his guardian.

"Justin," Paddy said for the third time. "Go to sleep."

"She's very beautiful, Paddy," came the drowsy reply.

"Yes, she is," he said as he tucked the covers up tightly around the small body.

Sliding cold feet up under Paddy's thighs, he asked, "Why is she so small?"

His guardian shook his head fondly. The child was a heat siphon. "Tito told you. She was bred that way."

As the warmth seeped into him, Justin's eyes grew heavier. "She looks like Dancer."

He smoothed the dark hair back from the child's face. "Yes, chiquito, she does."

"Do you think your grandfather will let me ride her tomorrow?" he asked, then quickly added, "I mean, if it's all right with you."

"If you go to sleep right now, I will ask him. Good night," Choate said, firmly.

"G'night, Paddy."

As the big man settled in for the night, he heard the child sigh, "Dulce. That's a pretty name," before he finally drifted off to sleep.

~~~

The next morning, Choate pulled the covers closer around him as he turned over in bed. The warm presence that had been pressed against him throughout the night was missing. He rose, quickly dressing, and hurried downstairs muttering the oaths of the long suffering. There was no end to the trouble that child could get into.

"Good morning, Diego," he said to his father's companion.

The older man smiled as he took a sip of coffee. "Good morning, Chucho."

"Where is he, Chu Wa?" the concerned young rancher asked the ancient.

Chu Wa smiled, also, as he stirred eggs in his giant skillet on the stove. "He and your grandfather had their breakfast and are out in the barn."

Paddy trotted out the door before the old man could finish the sentence.

The large double doors were partially open. Choate stopped just inside, then he heard their voices.

"Yes, she is beautiful," his grandfather was saying in a soft, accented voice. "Would you like to ride her?"

"Yes, more than anything," came the excited reply.

Hidden in the darkness, Choate felt anger rise up inside him in a wave. He and Justin had talked about this!

"Then, we'll saddle her. Come here and help me."

The young rancher had just taken a step forward when he heard Justin say sadly, "No, sir. I've got chores to do, and, besides, I have to wait until Paddy says so."

This stopped the younger man in his tracks. He listened closely.

"He would not mind, niño," Señor Sifuentes said soothingly.

"No, sir," the little voice trembled. "I have to wait for permission. But, thank you."

Paddy felt like a monster. "Chiquito."

They looked up as he stepped from the shadows.

"Paddy! Your grandfather let me feed Dulce," Justin began in his excited chatter. "She took an apple out of my hand. And she didn't bite me. Not even a nip. She likes apples, Paddy, like Percy likes carrots. Although she takes them with her teeth and Percy uses his tongue. But you have lots of apple trees in the orchard."

Choate shook his head helplessly. He had tried unsuccessfully to interrupt the child's constant babble each time he ended a sentence. Finally, Justin took a breath and paused long enough for him to say, "Get the saddle, chiquito."

"Your work saddle, Paddy?" The child jumped down from the hay bale he was sitting on. "Are you going out to check the herd again?"

"No. The saddle I won at the carnival." 'Do it now,' Paddy thought, 'before you lose your nerve.'

Justin gave him a puzzled look. That saddle seemed uncomfortably small for a man of Paddy's size, but he went to the place it was stored. The saddle was almost too big for him to manage, but he did. When he got close enough, Paddy took it from him and walked into Dulce's stall.

"You gonna ride her, Paddy?" the child asked, trying to hide his disappointment. "She doesn't look big enough for you."

Choate worked quickly, tightening the cinch around the horse's middle, his fears threatening to overwhelm him. "No, I guess she isn't, Justin," he said, admiring his work, giving his racing heart a chance to slow to normal. "Well, since I have her all saddled, it would be a shame to waste it." 'Do it now!'

Before Justin knew what was happening, he found himself lifted and gently placed on Dulce's back.

"There." 'Mi dios,' the young rancher prayed desperately, 'me dejó tomar la decisión correcta.' He swallowed hard to clear the lump from his throat. 'No lo tome de mí con este caballo, por favor.' ⁹

The look on the child's face gave him the answer to his first prayer. Only time would give the answer to his second. But now, in this moment, everything was all right in Paddy's world.

"Can I take her out, Paddy?" Justin asked, all but bouncing in the saddle. "Just into the yard?"

The terrified rancher started to say no, then he imagined he saw the face of his friend, Jim Ellison, staring sternly at him. "Just into the yard for now, chiquito. Let me see how you handle her."

"Come on, Dulce," the child chucked at the horse as he pulled gently on her reins. "Let's show, Paddy what we can do."

"A trot, Justin," he had to add.

"Yes, Paddy, I remember," the child said, his concentration clearly elsewhere, "a trot."

Both men watched with pride as the young boy guided the horse out into the yard.

"When will you tell him the horse is his, Chucho?" his grandfather asked as they walked outside.

The younger man only shook his head as they watched the child guide the horse gracefully around the yard, missing the disapproving frown on his grandfather's face.

"Paddy?" Justin called back. "Can I show Dulce to Blair before your grandfather takes her back?"

"We'll see, chiquito. One more time around the yard, then your chores."

Justin frowned slightly before answering, "Yes, sir." He turned the horse's nose for another go 'round.

~~~

The elderly Spaniard watched the child walking aimless around the yard. It was a beautiful day. This was ridiculous!

"Justin," he called. "Do you want to ride with me? I'm going out to the orchards, maybe down by the creek."

The child had brightened until Tito mentioned the distance.

"He won't let me," Justin declared sadly.

"Who won't let you what?" Paddy asked, stepping out onto the veranda.

"You won't let him ride to the orchards with me," the elder man told Choate.

The big man frowned. "Tito--"

"Before you start, Chucho, I have instructed the boy myself for two weeks now, and I know what he can and can not do."

"But, Tito--"

"You are worse than your abuela ever was! You'd think he was iddle-headed."

"I don't, Tito--"

"Then untie the apron strings, gallina," Señor Sifuentes said with a smile.

Paddy colored a deep rose.

"And let the poor boy take a ride with his grandfather."

Choate frowned thunderously at the last statement. It reeked of blackmail. Then he turned face to face to find himself with Justin's best, most pleading look.

"You two be careful!"

The old man laughed. "Sí, mamacíta," he taunted as he walked towards the barn, Justin hard on his heels.

"Thank you, Paddy," he called out merrily.

They had left the rancher standing on the veranda watching them ride away as if they were going off to war instead of just to the creek and back.

~~~

Justin brought Dulce up beside Señor Sifuentes' stallion. His control of the animal had greatly improved over the past two weeks. The older man had been sitting there, staring at the landscape for a long time.

"It is beautiful, niño," he said softly. "Not as beautiful as our ranch in California, or our casa in Mexico, mind you, but it is good land."

"I'd like to see where Paddy grew up, someday."

The older man turned to look at him. "And you shall. Maybe, in a year or so, Chucho will let you come and stay the summer with me. Would you like that, niño?"

"Yes, sir, very much! Could I see if my friend, Blair, can come?"

The older man laughed at Justin's enthusiasm. "Sí, niño. I miss the sound of children in my house." He turned back to the horizon.

"Señor Sif--"

"Tito, chiquito. You are family, sí? You call me, Tito."

"Oh. I never had a grandfather before," Justin said softly.

The older man turned his horse towards home. "Never?"

"He died before I was born," Justin answered as he turned Dulce.

"And what about your parents?" he asked carefully.

"My mother died when I was six. My little brother died with her."

"I am sorry, niño. Then, your father raised you?"

"No. My grandmother."

The old man's voice was low, his brow furrowed with a frown. "You never saw your father?"

"He came to see us sometimes, but I couldn't stay with him." The child rode a few feet in silence. "But that's all right, cuz if I had, I wouldn't have met Paddy."

Señor Sifuentes smiled. "You like my Chucho, sí?"

Justin giggled. "Why do you call him that?"

The old man smiled. "As a child, when he first came to us, he was so little and so angry. He reminded me of a puppy I had who scrapped with the big dogs all the time."

The boy's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Paddy used to fight?"

The grandfather smiled fondly. "He never let anything take advantage of him. He always stood up for his beliefs."

Justin studied the old man, then asked, "Bet it got him into a lot of trouble, huh?"

"He had his share, sí."

He looked at the older man slyly. "You must have some pretty good stories about Paddy when he was little."

"Sí, niño. I have lots of them."

"Will you tell me some?" Justin asked anxiously.

"Well," Señor Sifuentes said, smiling. "There was the time when he first learned how to use the lazo. He tried to rope one of the young bulls. . ."

"Like Percy?" Justin asked with a smile.

This brought a fit of laughter from the elderly man. "Yes, exactly like Percy."

"Did he rope him?"

"He caught a horn, then the bull ran away with his rope. One of the ranchhands found it later."

"Did he get in trouble?"

"Sí."

Justin gulped audibly. "He get a spankin'?"

"Almost. His abuela asked me not to, but I made him clean out all the stables and he went to bed without his supper."

Justin made a face. "Bet he'd've rather had the spankin'," he said softly.

Now the elder man laughed aloud. "That is exactly what he said, niño!" He laughed again.

~~~

1. What's the matter, son?

2. shit!

3. What? No greeting? You aren't happy to see me?

4. No, grandpa! I'm sorry! Yes, I'm happy to see you? How was your trip? And, Diego, not letting him out of your sight, I see? You two must be tired after your long trip here. Come into the house. . .grandfather, I'm sorry. . .why are you here?

5. You have guests, Chucho?

6. Pleased to meet you, sir. Welcome to our home.

7. The pleasure is mine, young one. Chucho, is there something you want to tell me?

8. After dinner, I promise, grandfather.

9. My god, let me be making the right decision. Don't take him from me with this horse.