Holding his breath, Blair peeked out from behind the tree where he'd been hiding for the past ten minutes. Not seeing his stalker, he pulled his head back, a smug smile on his face. Before he could make a break for "home," strong arms lifted him into the air, and a loud raspberry sounded against his cheek.

Blair frowned at his chuckling captor as he was set back on the ground. With hands on his hips, Blair pouted, and peevishly made the accusation, "You cheated, Papa! You used your senses!"

"No, I didn't, imp. Everything's cinched down to normal." His father bent down and tapped the end of his nose with his finger. "You give yourself away by peeking too much."

Before he could respond, he found himself being tossed in the air. Blair loved the weightless feeling this produced. As his father caught him on his way down, he shouted, "Again!" And giggled as his request was granted.

Setting him back on the ground after his last "flight", Jim held out his hand, and Blair took it before his father led them back home.

Bouncing along beside the tall man next to him, Blair swung their linked hands gently. He looked forward to these lazy Sunday afternoons. They were one of the few times in the week when the hardworking rancher could put the endless chores aside so they could play together.

Coming out of the woods to the open meadow, Blair dropped the hand he held. "Swing me, Papa! Swing me, please!" he asked, holding his arms up.

"Sure, Little Bit, but just a short ride. I get dizzy doing this."

Soon the meadow was filled with the sounds of tittering laughter as his father spun him around by the arms as fast as he could. Blair closed his eyes as the ground moving so quickly beneath him began to make him dizzy, but he'd never ask to stop. The sensation of moving so quickly through the air made him believe he was flying, and the feeling was so delightful it overrode the mild queasiness it gave his stomach.

The ride soon came to an end after only a few spins. Blair didn't complain though. After all, his father was almost thirty-six years old! When Blair reached that ancient age, he hoped he would be as strong -- although he hoped to have more hair.

Nearing home, his father headed for the hammock he'd recently set up under his favorite shade tree. In these hot, summer months, Blair loved to sit in it to do his school work, or just stare up at the sky peaking through the trees and daydream.

After his father had settled into the fabric, hat over his face, Blair climbed up next to him and stretched out beside him. There were big, puffy white clouds in the sky today, and Blair watched them slowly pass overhead.

"What're you doing, Little Bit?" Came a muffled question from beneath his father's hat.

"Just watching the clouds, Papa." He spotted a recognizable shape in the whiteness. "Look! I see a horse."

The hat slowly slid back, and Jim followed the child's pointing finger. "Hhmm, reckon it does look a bit like a horse, but," his father cocked his head sideways, "if you turn your head and look again, it looks like a whale."

Blair followed his father's example. "Yes! I see the whale. It looks like Moby Dick!"

His father's chuckle made the hammock sway gently. "Sure does. What else do you see?"

For almost half an hour they lie there watching the clouds, exchanging ideas about what they saw. Finally, a soft snore coming from his father signaled Blair that the game was over.

He wiggled, making himself more comfortable next to the sleeping man, but careful not to wake his father. The rancher needed his rest. Blair continued to watch the clouds, content to keep watch while his father slept.

The activity of the day, and warm sun on his face, proved too much to overcome, however. Blair felt his eyelids grow heavy and his head fuzzy. He had begun to give into the sleep calling him, when the purr of a large cat echoed in his head. He smiled knowing his father's spirit guide would watch over both of them. Just before his eyes shut and his dreams carried him away, he glimpsed the clouds again. Slipping off into slumber, he could have sworn he saw his mother's face looking down on him, smiling.

****

Jim's . . .

Stealthily, Jim crept up behind the little boy who, every few seconds, peeked out from his hiding place behind the pine tree. The rancher fought back the temptation of monitoring his son's heart rate. He promised the boy he wouldn't use his senses to give him an advantage in this game of hide 'n seek. When Blair peeked around the tree trunk again, Jim made his move. He quickly, and quietly, rushed forward and swooped the surprised child up into his arms. On impulse he gave the flustered boy's cheek a loud buss.

Jim had to chuckle at the little hellcat who now stood in front of him with fists firmly planted on his hips.

"You cheated, Papa! You used your senses!"

"No, I didn't, imp. Everything's cinched down to normal." With a sly grin, Jim bent down and use his finger to tap the end of his sulking son's nose. "You give yourself away by peeking too much."

Knowing how to bring Blair out of a pout quickly, Jim hefted the shrieking boy into the air, tossing him as high as he could. It was worth the strain on his back to see the radiant smile on Blair's face. At his son's request of, "Again!" Jim couldn't refuse. He tossed the giggling boy in the air one more time, ignoring the twinge in his back.

Catching his son firmly in his arms, Jim set the winded boy on the ground. Jim reached out his hand to his son, and, after he accepted it, led them home.

Jim smiled warmly at the little boy bouncing along beside him. Blair swung their linked hands gently, humming to himself. These peaceful, play-filled Sunday afternoons were a welcomed reward after a week filled with hard work. Jim couldn't help but see the contrast between them and the Sundays before Blair came into his life. Shoot, to any of the comparatively empty days before the little whirlwind came along.

Coming out of the woods to the open meadow, Blair pulled away only to hold up his arms and plead, "Swing me, Papa! Swing me, please!"

Indulging the request, Jim held firmly to the boy's wrists. "Sure, Little Bit, but just a short ride. I get dizzy doing this."

After a few quick spins, Jim slowed to set the giggling boy back on his feet. Fatigue of the day, pleasant as it had been, began to set in, and the rancher's thoughts turned to his new hammock in the trees. Although all his life he'd been taught that idleness was a sin, the past year had changed his view on this. Jim cherished the times he spent romping with his son. Although, the nap he often needed afterwards came a close second.

Nearing home, Jim headed straight for his hammock in the trees, ready to enjoy a quick nap before starting supper. He knew Blair would play quietly close by and stay out of trouble while he dozed. Sometimes, Jim would feign sleep and listen to the boy make up extraordinary play scenarios. Magical beasts, futuristic devices and always a brave hero dominated Blair's imagination.

After getting settled, Jim put his hat over his face, the signal for Blair to be quiet while he snoozed, or as his friend Patrick would say, "dormir la siesta." He peeked from under his hat, when the hammock dipped, to see Blair climb up next to him and make himself comfortable.

"What're you doing, Little Bit?" he asked from beneath his hat, hoping the boy wouldn't try to engage him in another game. His body needed to rest.

"Just watching the clouds, Papa," Blair said, looking at up and pointing. "Look! I see a horse."

Sliding his head back to follow the pointed finger, Jim looked at the fluffy clouds passing overhead. "Hhmm, reckon it does look a bit like a horse, but," he said, cocking his head sideways, "if you turn your head and look again, it looks like a whale."

Blair followed his example, an enormous smile gracing his face. "Yes! I see the whale. It looks like Moby Dick!"

He chuckled, the hammock swaying gently as a result. Sleep could wait awhile. "Sure does. What else do you see?"

For almost half an hour they lie watching the clouds together, the happy chatter coming from the boy next to him was a cool balm to Jim's weariness. He relaxed more deeply, not fighting sleep as it came.

Jim woke slowly, refreshed from his nap. Judging from the position of the sun, he hadn't slept long. He stretched and noticed the warm weight of the child next to him was awfully still. Easing himself from the hammock, Jim carefully picked up his sleeping son and headed for the cabin.

Blair shifted in his arms before becoming a dead weight against his shoulder again, a wide grin on his face.

Jim smiled at the sight thinking, all in all, it'd been a pretty good day.

the end