A special thanks to Mel, who stayed up to a ridiculous hour beta-ing this. Talk about above and beyond, Ms. M!

OW:Fireworks
by Klair and BCW
July 11, 1998

***

The Chelsea
Wyoming Territories
July 3, 1874

The two men sat on Choate's veranda sharing quiet time, just gazing up at the stars.

At the sound of soft laughter, Choate turned to his companion. "What's funny?"

"The boys." Ellison turned to him in the dimming-light. "You have any brothers? Sisters?"

"No. I'm an only child. One of the reasons I know how lonely it can get out here for a boy." Choate tried to keep the longing from his voice.

Ellison heard it anyway. "Come on. Be really quiet, and you can hear what it's like."

With a puzzled frown, the big rancher rose from the chair and followed the older man as he led him around the side of the house, out back.

"You're turning it too fast," Blair whined impatiently.

"Am not," Justin replied, with the smugness of an older child addressing a younger one.

"It's my turn now."

"No, it's not. The egg timer still has sand in it."

Blair watched a moment while the last few grains trickled down. "Now it doesn't. My turn."

"Fine," the taller boy said as he shoved the handle towards the younger boy. "Here. . ." Justin stood back and observed a few seconds. "You need to turn it faster."

Blair glared. "You ever make ice cream before?"

Justin pursed his lips in annoyance. "No," he answered, reluctantly.

"Then how do you know?"

Justin frowned. "Have you ever made it before?" he countered.

"Yep! Lot's of times! Strawberry's my favorite." They didn't have strawberries and, in deference to Mr. Choate's proclivity for vanilla, his father had suggested they make that. "But vanilla's real good, too," he hastened to add.

"You need to crank faster."

Tired of the bossing, Blair whined, "Justin--"

"Paddy said so, Blair. He showed us how fast to crank and you're not doing it right."

"I am too!" Blair all but shouted.

"Are not." The older child reached for the handle. "Here, let me. You're too little."

"I AM NOT!" Blair yelled, defensive about his size. "I'm almost as tall as you!"

Justin ignored the outburst and said, matter-of-factly, "You're going to ruin it."

This made Blair pout. "Am not."

"My turn," he said, grabbing the handle away.

"Hey! Give that back! I still have a little time!"

"Nope. Sand's all gone."

"You cheated, Justin Evers! I'm gonna tell if you don't!" the younger boy said, hands folded across his chest, glaring.

"Fine." Justin shoved the handle back. "Here. Baby!" he sneered.

Blair stamped his foot. "I am not!"

"You were going to tattle," his friend reminded him.

After a pause, a small voice answered. "Sorry."

"S'okay. I was being bossy--" Then, after a pause, "You're turning too slow."

"Am not!"

At this point, the two ranchers walked off, Choate shaking his head in disbelief. Ellison threw his arm across the younger man's shoulders.

"That, my friend, is sibling rivalry."

Choate laughed as he returned the gesture. "Then, compinche ², I'm glad I was an only child."

~~~

July 4

Early the next morning, Ellison and Choate saddled Sentry, Dancer and Ceylon.

"Couldn't talk your man into coming?"

The younger rancher shook his head. "I think he's looking forward to the peace and quiet. He did send a couple jars of his gingered-peach jam to enter in the preserve contest, though."

"Think he'll win?"

Choate smiled as he tucked a jar of preserves securely in each pouch of his saddle bag. "He has my vote."

"Mine, too. Is that all of it?"

"Yep, think so."

"Blair! Justin! Get a move on or we'll leave you behind."

Two streaks of color raced from the barn.

Paddy swung easily up into the saddle. "Come on, chiquito," he said, reaching down for Justin.

The boy watched as Blair pulled himself up into his little Morgan's saddle.

The expression of longing on the child's face broke the young rancher's heart.

Blair glanced over at his father. "Is it all right for Justin to ride Ceylon with me, Papa?"

Looking over at Paddy, Jim saw consternation clouding the younger man's features. "Blair's a good horseman, Patrick." He brought Sentry in close. "It'll be fine."

The inner turmoil showed clearly on the young man's face.

Jim laid a comforting hand on his arm. "It'll be fine," he repeated.

Finally, Choate gave him a slight nod.

"All right, Little Bit, just keep it to a trot."

Justin smiled, and Blair helped him up in the saddle behind him.

"A trot, Blair," Paddy said as the child nudged Ceylon with his heels.

"A trot. I'll remember, Uncle Paddy."

~~~

By the time they reached town, the festivities were already underway. As they walked down the street trying to decide what to do first, the boys bounced with excitement next to their guardians, talking a mile a minute.

"Are you gonna enter Sentry in the race, Papa? Can I be in the pie eating contest? Hey, Justin, maybe we could do the sack race?"

"Yeah, that would be fun. You'd win the shooting contest, Paddy, or, maybe you would, Uncle Jim," he added hastily, not wanting to leave his 'uncle' out. "Are we going to get to stay up and see the fireworks?"

"Oh! Yeah! The fireworks! Can we, Papa?"

"You think they'll be anything like the ones we had back in San Francisco? They were--"

In his excitement, Blair interrupted. "Papa, will you do the three-legged race with me?"

Justin quickly lost his previous train of thought to pipe up with, "I want to watch the horse race. Paddy, why don't you race Dancer?"

"Can I have some spending money for popcorn. . .Oh! Look! Carnival games! Please, Papa--"

"Please, Paddy--"

"Breathe, Little Bit. I can't hear myself think. / Silencio un momento, chiquito, por favor ³," both men said to their boys at the same time.

The children halted, mid-sentence, both drawing deep breaths to recharge their engines.

Forestalling the next verbal assault, Paddy put up a hand. "First, we have to enter Chu Wa's jam, or he'll never forgive us."

~~~

After registering the jam, the four entered Jim in the sharp shooting trials.

Walking away from the booth, Justin tugged on his guardian's coat sleeve. "Paddy, you have to enter something."

"Yes, Uncle Paddy. It wouldn't be fair." Blair nodded, approving of his friend's idea.

Jim crossed his arms, and unsuccessfully tried to hide an amused grin. "Well, Choate?"

The younger man frowned, but as he turned, denial on his lips, he faced three sets of eyes watching him anxiously.

Sighing in defeat, he said, "I guess I could enter Dancer in a race. . .now that Ellison's decided not to run Sentry, I might stand a chance." He grinned cheekily at the big rancher.

Jim returned the smile at the backhanded compliment. He clapped his hands and rubbed his palms together. "Well, since neither of our events is up anytime soon, what say we try some of the carnival games before we eat?"

Both boys immediately began bouncing up and down, chattering like magpies.

"Ring toss, first!"

Blair tugged at his father and pointed. "Papa, they've started the three legged race over there."

"What're they doing with those eggs?" Justin asked, watching several people with spoons in their mouths, eggs in their hands.

"You think Sheriff Banks brought Darryl, Papa?" Blair asked, craning his neck around to see if he could spot his young friend in the crowd.

The dark-haired boy stopped a moment, staring in disbelief at several peoples' antics in a small pen. "Paddy, why are they chasing that pig like that? How'd it get all greasy?"

Ellison and Choate followed behind the bouncing boys, shaking their
heads helplessly.

~~~

"Wow, Blair. I can't believe you did that! One ball and bang!" Justin said admiring his friend's prize for knocking a stack of milk bottles off a barrel top.

Jim patted his son on the shoulder, Blair too engrossed in stroking the smooth wood finish of his newly-won pen knife to notice. "You've got quite a good arm, Little Bit."

Both boys had made out quite well at the games, mostly with the help of their guardians. Each was laden down with a bag of different flavored candy sticks, a penny whistle and other trinkets. Jim noticed the wanting look in Justin's eyes as he watched Blair handle his knife, and decided to try to even things up a bit.

"Let's try this one." Jim stopped in front of a dart game. He bought five darts and took aim.

"Get five bull's-eyes, mister, and you get your pick of prizes," the huckster proclaimed.

Jim let the knot on his sight loosen and honed in on the very small, sweet spot many feet away. One after another the darts found their way to the tiny red zone, the boys squealing after each one.

Jim looked the astonished carny in the eye. "I believe I have my pick?" After the man nodded, he turned to Blair and winked, a slight nod in Justin's direction. Blair smiled broadly, and Jim turned to the other boy. "What's your pleasure, squirt?"

"What?" Justin's eyes widened with shock.

"This one's for you. Now what would you like?"

Blair pushed his too still friend in the shoulder. "Come on, Justin. Ooo, what's that?" The younger boy pointed to a long, gaily-painted tube. The man in the booth brought it down for them to see.

"It's a kaleidoscope," Paddy said, touched by his friend's generosity to his boy.

Justin held it up to his eye and turned it slowly, smiling at the beautiful, colorful patterns in made.

"Is that what you want, sonny?" the vendor asked impatiently.

Justin took the toy away from his eye and gazed up at the father of his best friend. "Yes. Thank you, Uncle Jim," he said quietly.

Jim ruffled the boy's hair. "My pleasure, squirt. Come on, boys. Let's see what else we can find."

Paddy rang the bell at the top of a tall pole when he pounded a lever with a sledge hammer. He picked a prize and turned to Blair. "Here, poppet. This remind you of anyone?"

Blair clutched the little stuffed animal to his chest. "Brer Rabbit! Thank you, Uncle Paddy."

The boy tucked the toy under an arm and they proceeded to play other games, Paddy winning a box of colored pencils for Justin. All of them had had their fill of popcorn and caramel apples, and were in high spirits, by the time they made their way from the carnival area.


"Patrick Choate?"

The little group halted at the high-pitched squeal.

"Is that really you?"

They turned in time to see a vivacious, redheaded, young woman
flouncing towards them.

Choate watched her in open-mouthed disbelief. Could this blue-eyed beauty be the scraggly, tomboy from his childhood? "Cassie Wells?"

She enveloped him in a quick hug, bussing the air by both his cheeks with kisses.

"What've you been doing with yourself? It's been ages!" She stopped talking, turning an assessing eye towards Jim. "And, who have we here?"

"Ah, con permiso⁴. Cassie, this is my friend James Ellison, and his son Blair."

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am," Jim said politely, touching the brim of his hat.

Blair mimicked his father by touching his own hat before saying with a big smile on his face, "Howdy, ma'am."

"Why yes, I've seen you talking with my father at our ranch about horses. I do love to ride myself. Have since I was a small girl." She paused to winnk at Choate. "Father says I ride better than most of his hired hands. I do hope to see you the next time you have business at our place, Mr. Ellison."

"And this," Choate said proudly, as he brought Justin to the foreground, "is my ward, Justin Evers." He gave the child a nudge. Justin bobbed his head briefly. "Ma'am," was all he said. Cassie put her hands on her hips, sweeping her doe-like, blue eyes over the quartet. "Well, I have never seen four more finer-looking gentlemen." She smiled sweetly at the boys. "And such well-behaved young men." Crinkling her turned-up nose at the adults as she turned, she cooed, "I'm sure they're a big help to both of you! Such strapping boys!"

Behind her back, Justin rolled his eyes, but Blair puffed up a bit at the praise.

"Well, I have some errands to run. I hope to see you later, gentlemen." Cassie bestowed a dazzling smile on the men, who grinned back and tipped their hats. Her smile faltered a bit when she turned to the children. "Boys, here's a little something to help you enjoy the carnival." She smiled as she pressed something into Blair's hand. "You two share." She then gathered her skirts and sauntered away, Jim and Paddy intently watching the receding, slim figure until she disappeared into the crowd.

"Ah, boys," Jim began, still looking at where the pretty red head had gone. "Here's a dime. Why don't you play some more of those games while Choate and I get Dancer entered in that race?"

"We'll be back soon, chiquito. Stay out of trouble."

Blair stared wide-eyed at the two-bit piece in his palm that Cassie had given them and the dime in the other. His mind raced with the spending possibilities. He tore his gaze away to look at Justin, surprised to see the older boy frowning.

"What's wrong, Justin? We're rich!"

"You keep it. I don't want her money."

"What's eating you? Miss Cassie's nice, and she's pretty, too."

Justin made a sound of disgust and rolled his eyes skyward. "Blair--" he said, exasperated by the younger boy's gullibility. "She's up to something. I just know it. I don't trust her."

"You're crazy. She likes us. She likes Papa and Uncle Paddy. I think they like her, too. Hey, you don't think--"

"No!" Justin barked in horror, reading his friend's thoughts. "I hope not. She's just pretending, Blair. I'm sure of it."

"Justin--"

"I'll prove it. Let's follow her. She went into that house over there. We can sneak up to a window and I'll bet we can hear what she's saying. Come on."

The boys found Cassie walking in to the dress maker's shop and, very quietly, walked around the back to listen at an open window.

"Oh, my! Thank you, Emily." They heard her saying. "This lemonade'll taste real fine. I didn't know it would be so dusty."

"Was that Jim Ellison and Patrick Choate I saw you talking to?"

"Why, yes, Miss Hawthorne."

The boys heard an exasperated sigh.

"I swear Wendy Hawthorne, you are the nosiest female in town!"

"Me? Who do you think you're fooling, Emily Carson! You were dying to bring it up."

Emily snorted. "Well, I will admit, Cassie, you don't waste much time, do you? Two of the most eligible bachelors in these parts."

"Who'd you have your sights set on, Cassie?" Wendy had to ask.

"Makes me no nevermind," came the cool reply. "Although Ellison's a little more to my liking."

Wendy giggled. "I hear they both have money."

"I know both have land," Emily agreed.

"Have you seen the Choate house?" This was Wendy again.

"I heard he lost his ranch," Cassie said.

"No," Emily said, in a conspiratory voice. "No, he came back from California with that little boy and everything seems to be all right."

"Hmm," Cassie said. "Maybe Choate might be a good catch after all." She paused. "But, either way, the brats have to go. A boarding school back East, I'm thinking."

Wendy said, "Cassie, both seem to be fond of their boys."

She snorted. "They aren't even blood! And, besides, after I land one of them, I plan to travel, go abroad. You can't do that with crumb snatchers in tow."

"But they might not want the boys to go away." This was Emily's voice.

She laughed nastily. "Once we're married, I'll have no trouble making what I want be what he wants."

Having heard enough, Justin motioned for Blair to follow him away from the window. They didn't stop until they stood on the walk a ways down the street.

"Gee, and I thought she was so nice." Blair said dejectedly.

"I know. I'm sorry, Blair." Justin tried to console his young friend, the look on his face taking all the fun out of being right.

The sound of firecrackers and shrieking cries caught their attention. Down the street, several boys squatted behind a rain barrel laughing at two young women they'd startled with firecrackers left on the walkway.

Blair and Justin joined in the laughter.

"That's it!" Justin said.

"What?"

"We do that to Miss Cassie. She won't look so pretty squealing like a stuck pig." They watched the girls across the street having a hissy-fit.

"I'll bet it'll get her nose out of joint good, too. Paddy doesn't approve of tantrums."

"Neither does Papa."

Justin nodded. "I'll work."

"Let's do it."

They ran off to Taggert's store to but what they needed.

~~~

Jim had Blair sitting on his shoulders so he could see over the head of the crowd.

"Uncle Jim! I wanna see too!" came the plaintive cry from within the sea of bodies.

Ellison knew he couldn't hold both of them on his shoulders. Taking Justin by the hand he led them over to a stack of hay bales. Lifting Blair from his shoulders, he placed the child on the highest bale he deemed safe, and reached down to lift Justin up and set him there, as well.

He shook his finger at the two excited boys. "No wild moves, you two."

"Yes, sir!" they chorused delighted to have full view of the track.

At the starting line, Paddy stroked the long neck of Dancer, his Palomino, who preened at the attention. Leaning forward, he whispered into the horse's ear. "Ah, mi hermoso! ¿Seremos el viento, no? ¿Nada puedes cogerte, bailarín, sí? Ganaremos esto, facilmente. Veas, Justin estás mirando⁵."

One of the judges called the line to order and raised the starting pistol. As soon as the shot was fired, Dancer took off like the wind.

Paddy leaned forward, hugging his body close to the powerful, shifting muscles beneath him and gave his animal his head.

Dancer stretched out his legs, gliding on unseen currents, and easily took the lead in a cloud of dust.

The man at the finish line fired his pistol as Patrick Choate and Dancer cleared the ribbon marking the end of the race.

Jim quickly helped the children to the ground so they could hightail it over and congratulate the young rancher on his victory.

"Hmmm, you would've given me a run for my money, Choate," Jim said laughingly as the pats on the back raised small billows of dust from his friend.

Choate returned the smile, running his hand down Dancer's withers. "Dancer did all the work, I just hung on for my life."

Justin and Blair were bouncing like balls.

"I didn't see Dancer's hooves touch the ground, Uncle Paddy!" Blair said with excitement.

"It was like you were flying, Paddy! I didn't know Dancer could run that fast! I can't wait to have a horse of my own."

The rancher frowned. "That you won't be riding fast until you're older and more experienced."

"Aww, Paddy! I'm not a baby!"

Jim smiled and tried to redirect the conversation. "What did you win?"

"I don't know. A saddle, I think."

"But you already have two saddles, Paddy," Justin reminded him. "What're you going to do with another one?"

"I have special plans for this one, chiquito," Choate said mysteriously. "Special plans, indeed."

~~~

Later that day, Cassie watched Ellison, covertly, waiting until she had him alone so she could invite him to the dance.

"I would feel better if I took you in a buggy, Cassie," Jim said for the fourth time since he'd excepted the young woman's invitation to escort her to the dance.

Cassie smiled to herself. "It's too hot, and besides, I have the sidesaddle, it will be fine."

She could tell he was weakening. Men were so predictable.

"Then I will see you in front of the old barn, about four," she said over her shoulder, flouncing away.

As she walked towards the center of town, she bumped into Choate coming out of the bank. "Patrick!" she cooed. "What a pleasant surprise!"

"Cassie," he said, started. "I thought you had errands to run."

She fell into step beside him. "I finished hours ago."

"Enjoying the carnival?" Choate asked, as he shortened his stride to accommodate hers.

"Most of these things are for the children, don't you think? Actually, I was wondering, were you going to the dance?"

"I really hadn't planned to --"

She laughed. "Same old Patrick, huh?"

Paddy found himself blushing. "Cassie--" he began nervously.

She entwined her arm in his and smiled her most winning smile. "Well, I absolutely will not take no for an answer."

"Cassie--" he tried again.

"You will meet me behind the old barn at. . .Say, four thirty?" she laughed as she flounced away.

~~~

"But why do I have to wear a string tie? I'm not dancing with any dumb girl," Blair whined as his father tied the bow around his collar.

"Because I said so. And you don't have to dance with anyone." Jim couldn't resist teasing his pouty son. "Although, I'll bet Miss Cassie will awfully disappointed not to get at least one dance with you. She seemed pretty taken with you this afternoon."

Blair's pout vanished. "Miss Cassie's going to be there?"

"Yep. I'm going to be her escort," Jim said with a sense of pride. It'd been quite awhile since he'd gone to a dance, let alone had a pretty girl on his arm. He shook a finger in the mischievously smiling boy. "So I expect you to be on your best behavior."

"Yes, Papa," he said, preoccupied with his own thoughts.

The smirk on his son's face set off warning bells. "You look like the cat that swallowed the canary."

Blair startled out of his reverie. "Oh, just thinking about the hissy-fit Mrs. Pendergrast had about Chu Wa." He laughed. "She turned beet red!"

Ellison cleared his throat softly. "Well, Maude has a very. . .a very. . ."

". . .narrow mind," Blair finished.

Jim stood in shock at his son's words. "Blair Sandburg Ellison. Where did that come from?"

"Mama. She said that people who can't see past their way of lookin' at things were narrow-minded ninnies."

The boy said it with such innocence, Jim found it hard to scold. Besides, Naomi was right.

"She thinks I'm perdinant, too," Blair said softly.

Jim quickly puzzled out what Blair meant. He tousled the boy's hair in an attempt to brush the hurtful words away. "That's 'impertinent' and you're not. It's just hard for some grownups to accept that children actually do know a thing or two. You don't worry about what she says."

Blair's bright smile told him his message had been received and believed. Jim helped Blair on with his jacket then began putting the finishing touches on himself. He considered wearing the new silver spurs he'd won for coming in second place in the shooting contest, but decided it'd be inappropriate. He could hear Blair move around the room in his usual energetic way, but didn't see the young boy put his contraband firecrackers in his jacket pocket.

Satisfied he looked respectable, Jim donned his own suit jacket and ushered a bouncing Blair out the door.

~~~

Justin was pouting. "Don't wanna go to a stupid dance, Paddy."

His guardian chuckled as he tried to tame his hair's sandy-brown waves. "Tell me that again in about five years, chiquito."

The green-eyed little boy threw himself down on the bed, still careful of his 'Sunday suit'. He hated when Paddy had made him wear these clothes. "Can't we just skip the dance?"

"What about the fireworks afterward?" Choate asked him, taking his dress coat from a hook on the wall and shaking it out.

As much as Justin wanted to see them, he wanted out of these clothes even more. "Chu Wa would be excited to learn he tied for first place with his jam. Boy, Judge Pendegrast's wife was sure mad, wasn't she?"

The rancher glanced back at his ward and said, warningly, "Justin. . ."

The boy sat up straighter at the tone his guardian used. "But she was! She threw a tantrum and everything," he said in his defense.

"Justin--" he repeated, laying the brush down.

"And the Judge let her. If I acted like that, I'd get it for sure."

"You mean, like now?" Choate said, pulling the boy to his feet.

"What?" Justin said, apprehensive of his guardian's reaction. As soon as he realized he wasn't in trouble, he said, "Aww, Paddy, I don't want to go."

"We're going, chiquito. Straighten your face." He led them to the door.

"Nobody told ol' Mrs. Pendegrast to straighten her face," Justin mumbled as he dragged his heels.

Choate opened the door, snagging his hat on the way. "Women are different, little boy."

"Why?" Justin asked, going out into the hall.

Paddy shut the door behind them. "They are, that's all."

"That's just plain stupid. Bet'cha one of your spankings'd helped straighten her face up real fast," Justin said under his breath as he followed his guardian down the stairs.

~~~

The two ranchers left Blair and Justin by the food table with the admonishment to stay out of trouble.

Once they were out of earshot, Justin said dejectedly, "Uncle Jim made you come too, huh? Now we'll never get Miss Cassie."

Blair smiled. "Papa's meeting her here."

Justin brightened. "She's here?"

"Somewhere."

"But the firecrackers."

Blair patted the pocket of his suit coat as his smile grew broader. "I have them right here."

~~~

Paddy stood alone in the darkness behind the barn, waiting for Cassandra's appearance, listening to the festivities inside and wondering, for the hundredth time, why he was out here, alone.

He also wondered why he'd let the little hellion rope him into this dance. He didn't like dances. Never liked dances. Oh, he could dance, his mother had seen to that, but that didn't mean he liked them.

And, didn't this constitute courting? Choate wasn't even certain he wanted to court Cassandra Wells.

He paced around the yard once more.

This was stupid, he told himself, and headed inside.

~~~

There she was, clinging to Jim Ellison like a second skin. He should've known!

Needing to cool off and plot his next move, Patrick Choate turned on his heel and marched back out into the darkness. Stopping a few feet outside in the barnyard, Choate remembered his friend's remarkable sense of hearing. Taking a chance, Paddy said, "Compinche," in a normal conversational voice. He waited a moment, feeling silly, then added, "Come to the yard as soon as you can. Don't let Cassie know."

Inside, Jim scanned the room for the boys. They were nowhere to be seen. He loosened the cinch on his hearing just a touch to track them. Instead he heard Paddy call him to the yard.

"Excuse me just a minute, Cassie," he said softly. "I need to check on the boys." And he walked out the front door, missing the dark, sullen expression on the young lady's face.

Paddy glanced around the corner of the barn in time to see Jim step outside. "Ellison!"

Turning to the sound of his name, he followed the retreating figure.

"Why all the secrecy?" he said, coming to stand by the younger man.

"Tell me Cassie didn't invite you to the dance," the younger rancher said, not able to keep the exasperation from his voice.

"As a matter of fact she did. Why?"

"Because the perturbadora ⁶ invited me, too."

"No."

"Sí. And don't tell me you think she forgot." Paddy growled in frustration. "She did this kind of thing all the time when we were younger."

"Oh?"

"She lost me a good friend once, playing us against one another."

The older rancher folded his arms and said, tightly, "Well, I think it's time Miss Wells got a taste of her own medicine."

"¿Qué?"

"I say we invite her to. . .a picnic." Jim grinned wickedly. "Both of us."

Comprehension brightened Choate's face. "Ah, amigo. I like the way you think."

~~~

Jim kissed Cassie's proffered hand. "Then I'll see you tomorrow at noon?"

"Yes, Jim. I just adore picnics." She smiled coyly. "But I must be going. Father doesn't like me keeping late hours. Until tomorrow."

Jim released her hand and watched her exit the barn. He turned to the back of the building, where Choate peeked out from behind the hay bales. The younger man smiled widely, giving his accomplice the 'thumbs up' sign. The older rancher returned the gesture.

~~~

"Cassie!"

The red haired woman froze in her tracks.

"You're leaving?"

"Patrick!" She'd forgotten about him, she thought wildly as she turned to face him. "Oh. . .uh--"

"Never mind, it's past Justin's bedtime, anyway. Say, how about we meet tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"¡Sí. We can get to know each other again, talk about old times. . .I have an idea! A picnic!"

"Picnic?"

"¡Sí! Just the two of us! We'll have a great time! Say, about noon?"

"No! Wait! Noon will be too hot. What say, about four."

"Four?"

"Yes."

"Isn't that a little late for a picnic?"

She smiled. "We can watch the sun setting. Afterall, we have spectacular sunsets here." She turned up the dazzle on her smile. "So, I'll see you then?" And, without waiting for his reply, walked out to the street.

~~~

"Come on, hurry, she's coming," Justin hissed in a whisper to his partner in-crime, as he saw Cassie coming from around the rear of the barn.

"We're gonna get caught," the younger boy whined, but still did as he was told.

"No we're not," Justin said as he lit the end of the firecracker string with the punk.

Just as the 'prissy' Miss Cassie mounted her horse, he threw it by the animal's rear legs, careful not to get it too close. (The wick, having burned down, didn't take long for the show to begin.)

At the first 'pop' the horse reared, and continued to buck as the string exploded in a series of rapid-fire crackles, finally throwing Cassie to the ground. She landed in a never unladylike heap.

The boys tried unsuccessfully to squelch their giggles. Too caught up celebrating their clearness, they failed to see that Miss Wells was no longer sitting in the dirt, but now loomed over them. She hauled them both up by the scruff of their necks and shook them vigorously.

"You contemptible little brats," she snarled in their faces. "If you think this little prank is going to run me away, you just think again!" She punctuated the last four words with a shake. "I'll have Jim," she said into Blair's face, "or Paddy," she said into Justin's, "to the altar and you to an eastern boarding school so fast your head will spin. For now, though, I'll take it out of your wretched, ill-bred bastards' hides!"

She slammed the boys against the nearby yard fence, leaning them over with pressure to their backs with one arm, she raised her free arm to deliver the first of many swats. Suddenly, a viselike grip clutched her wrist, preventing her from exacting her revenge.

Ready to rain acid on the person who dared interfere with her plans, Cassie spun -- to come face to face with an even more furious Patrick Choate. Looking just past him, an iceberg named James Ellison stood, murder in his eyes, holding her horse by the reins. Cassie brought out the last of her feminine tricks. She dissolved into tears.

"Oh, Patrick, Jim. I'm so glad you're here," she boohooed, sniffing dramatically. "They put a firecracker under my horse and I was thrown. Why, I nearly died."

During her performance, the boys got up from the fence and hid behind their guardians.

"They weren't big firecrackers!" Blair confessed.

"If she was as great a rider as she said she was, he wouldn't have been able to throw her!" Justin said defensively. "You should've seen her Paddy! She can't handle a horse any better than me!"

Cassie stared, open-mouthed and shocked at the children. "Well," she sputtered, "aren't you going to do something about this? Those br. . .boys should be punished!"

"I agree, Miss Wells, but that's none of your concern," Jim's voice as icy cold as his look. "I suggest you get on your horse and ride while you can still do it comfortably, because these boys aren't the only ones who deserve a hiding."

"Well, well. . .I never!" she huffed indignantly.

"And that's probably the problem, Cassie. Your father neglected in your education, made you think you could lord over us 'little' people. Maybe you should attend one of those eastern boarding schools, learn some manners before you wind up with a western board applied across your impudent backside," Paddy told the sputtering young woman with barely checked rage.

Throughout his speech, Cassie's complexion had gone from white, to a mottled shade of red. "How dare you, you, you half-breed!" she cursed and attempted to slap his face.

He caught her arm easily. "Get on your horse like Mr. Ellison told you, chica, before I forget I'm a caballero and take you over my knee right now." Choate gave her a tiny shove in the direction of her waiting horse.

"You know, Choate, I think there's a willow tree growing out back. I could cut you a switch. I'd hate to see you hurt your hand on that
tough-hided she-devil."

Cassie gasped, and, with a final humph, twisted out of Choate's grasp. Gathering up her skirts, she scrambled awkwardly into the saddle, pulled brutally on the horse's reins to turn him, and galloped away on her horse like a demon was behind her.

Jim came up next to Paddy and patted his back. "Well, amigo, I guess the picnic is off?"

Paddy chuckled and scratched his head. "You think it was something I said?"

The sound of two boys' giggling reminded the men of the situation. The boys' mirth stopped when two sets of stern eyes focused on them.

"We're really sorry," Justin said quickly.

"Really sorry," his curly-headed ally parroted after him.

"But she was a bad woman, Paddy," the dark-haired boy said in their defense. "You heard what she said! She lied to you! She--"

"That doesn't matter. It was very dangerous, what you two did. She could have been badly injured." At Jim's words, Justin and Blair hung their heads in shame.

"I'm very sorry," Justin repeated.

"Me too, very sorry," Blair echoed.

"We need to have a very serious discussion, little boy," Choate said to Justin, as he led him toward their hotel. "Ellison, I'll meet you at the fireworks display in, say, twenty minutes?"

"That'll be fine. We should be done with our little talk very shortly," Ellison replied, ushering Blair up the stairs towards their room.

Judging from the way both boys tried to cover their bottoms as they were hauled down the sidewalk, they knew what direction these conversations were going to take.

Choate closed their hotel room's door.

"Paddy!" Justin whined, as his guardian took off his coat and began rolling up his sleeves.

"Come here, hijito," he said, sitting in one of the chairs.

"Paddy," Justin whined again.

"Don't make me come get you, little boy."

At the warning in his guardian's voice, Justin came slowly forward. "I didn't like her, Paddy."

"And that gives you the right to hurt her?" he asked, taking the child by the arms and dragging him over his knees.

"I didn't do it to hurt her," Justin wailed, reaching back to protect his bottom.

"But she could've been hurt. Then how would you have felt?"

"She was mean!"

"And what about throwing a firecracker at her horse?" Choate calmly moved the hand away. "It was a mean thing to do, Justin. Something Cassie would do. And I won't have you growing up like that," he said, raising his hand over his head. . .

~~~

Blair promised over and over again all the way up to the room never to be naughty about anything ever again. All promises and 'I'm sorry's' fell on deaf ears. Jim firmly marched his son into their hotel room. Keeping one hand securely on Blair, he closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm really sorry, Papa. We just meant to scare her, not hurt her. She was going to send me away after she married you. I didn't want her as a new mama." The very round, tear-filled, sorrowful blue eyes almost did the furious father in. He steeled himself. He couldn't sweep this aside, or be lenient about it.

"First of all, it doesn't matter what you meant. Either way it was wrong and you'd still be in a peck of trouble. Second, I was never going to marry her. What have I told you about bringing your questions to me? You could have saved yourself a lot of grief if you'd come to me before pulling such a harebrained stunt."

With a big sniffle, Blair hung his head. "I'll never do it again. I'm sorry."

"I'm ashamed of how you treated Cassie, Blair. You did very wrong.
Come here."

Jim pulled his teary-eyed crying son face down over his lap And brought his palm down hard on the seat of the boy's pants. He intended to make quite sure nothing like this ever happened again, even to conniving vixens like Cassie Wells.

~~~

Choate stood the weeping boy on his feet. Slowly, Justin turned and headed to the corner, suddenly stopped by big, strong hands on his arms.

"No corner, this time."

Justin sniffed, turning big, deep green eyes up to his guardian.

"Never again, little boy," the big man said fiercely.

He shook his head. "No, sir."

Choate's expression softened as he gestured. "Come here."

Justin flew into the safe haven of his guardian's arms. "I'm sorry, Paddy!"

"Don't you know how important you are to me, little boy?"

"She said she'd marry you and send me away."

The rancher stroked the soft hair on the head pressed tightly against his chest. "I would never marry someone like Cassie, Justin. Marriage isn't even in my plans right now. But if, or when, they are, we will talk it out, the three of us."

Justin looked up. "Three?"

"Yes, hijito," he said smiling. "Nothing will change between us." He stroked the hair again, his callused hand coming to rest on a downy cheek. "I'll always love you."

"Even when I'm naughty?"

Choate hugged the small figure tight. "I'll always love you, chiquito."

~~~

The big rancher gently rocked the sniffling child in his arms. Blair's sobs had slowed to ragged breaths.

"Why'd you think I was going to marry Cassie, Little Bit?"

"Cause we heard her talking to her friends about you and Uncle Paddy. I thought she was so nice, but she wasn't really. She said she didn't like children and was going to send me away when she landed you."

"Landed me, huh?"

Blair nodded against his shoulder.

"Have I ever lied to you, Blair?"

"No, sir."

"And I won't ever." He tipped Blair's face up so their eyes met. "I'm not going to marry Cassie. Oh, I might get married one day, but I have other things to do than look for a wife right now. When the right one comes along, she'll be the right one because, besides loving me, she'll also love you as her own."

"But, if she doesn't?"

"Then she's not the right one, imp. You're my son and you come firest in my heart. No one will ever change that." Jim had time to take only a shallow breath before two strong, little arms nearly choked him in a hug. The big rancher gave a fierce hug back before gently pulling the boy away.

"Now, let's get you cleaned up so we can go see some fireworks."

~~~

Twenty minutes later, the two men met up in front of the hotel.

Blair looked at his feet and said sadly, "I'm sorry, Uncle Paddy."

The young rancher took the penitent boy's face in his hands, saying softly, "I know you are, poppet." He hardened his features, and said, "And you won't do it again."

"No, sir."

"Neither will I, Uncle Jim," Justin said, just as sadly.

Ellison ruffled the child's hair. "That's my squirt."

They gathered their gear and went in search of the perfect spot to watch the show.

As the last glow of sun vanished over the horizon, the ranchers sat reclined on blankets spread out over the hillside with the rest of the town. They gazed at the sky expectantly, Justin and Blair sitting gingerly in their laps. The boys finally settled in and leaned back against their respective guardian's broad chests.

When the spectacular show of exploding lights began, the turmoil of the day melted away. Their"oo's" and "ah's" blended with those around them.

After the show ended, the men trundled two very sleepy little boys back to their hotels.

The men said their goodnights, each with a sound asleep child in his arms.

"Quite a performance they put on tonight."

"It certainly was."

The end

Translations:

¹ Quiet a minute, little one, please.

² buddy

³ Quiet one minute, little one, please. ⁴ excuse me

⁵ Ah, my beautiful one. We will be the wind, won't we? Nothing can catch you, Dancer, yes? We will win this, easily. See, Justin is watching you.

⁶ troublemaker