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Heirloom

By: woodmanone



This story contains no graphic sex scenes. Constructive comments are solicited and welcome. If you like or even dislike my effort here please comment on it and/or send an email to me. Your comments, votes/ratings, and emails help me to grow as a writer.

I want to thank my wife for her help in keeping me somewhat in the realm of reality while writing this story.

Thanks for taking the time to read my work and for taking the extra effort to comment and vote. I appreciate your interest.

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HEIRLOOM: "Something of special value handed on from one generation or person to another generation or person."

The name is John Theodore Chance and I'm the baby of the family. My older brother is Ethan Edward and my older sister is Mary Kate. My father is William; his favorite movie star is John Wayne so he decided to name us after characters from three of the "Duke's" movies. Shame on you if you don't recognize the names and don't know which movies the characters were in; your entertainment education seems sorely lacking.

My mother, Alyssa, was a fan of the "Duke" too so I guess that's how Dad talked her into giving us those names. I'm glad that Dad wasn't a fan of the movie "Horatio Hornblower". I would've had to fight all through school with that name. There are worse people to be named after than one of Wayne's characters.

We lived on a ranch outside of a medium size city in southeastern Missouri. I suppose it was just a big farm, about 500 acres, but my dad called it a ranch and he paid the bills so he could call it whatever he wanted. He even named our farm "26 Bar Ranch" after John Wayne's place in Arizona; Dad did actually raise Hereford cattle on the ranch.

He owned a building supply business and that's what paid the bills but he loved that ranch. "26 Bar Ranch" may have been a hobby for Dad but he worked hard at it. When Ethan got home after two years of college he took over the day by day running of the business and Dad spent a lot more of his time on the ranch. He would spend three or four mornings a week in the business office but the rest of the time he was with his cattle.

During elementary school and part of high school I was an average, skinny kid with big hands and feet. In the summer between my sophomore and junior year I got a growth spurt and grew like a weed. Like Wayne's character "Sheriff John T. Chance" I grew to 6' 4'' and now at 26 have the big body at 230 pounds to go with my height.

Dad is about an inch shorter than me and Mom was very tall for a woman at 5' 10". We kids all took after them; my brother is four years older and about an inch taller than me. Even my sister is the same height that Mom was. I say was because we lost Mom to cancer when I was 14. Mary Kate is three years my senior and took over the role of "mother" to a grieving and lost young boy.

My mother's death and the loss of her love and guidance caused me to become something of a rebel. Mary Kate tried to fill the void but it wasn't the same. I didn't get into a lot of trouble because my dad wouldn't put up with it.

But I developed an aversion to taking seemingly non-sensical orders or being told what to do without explanation. The only ones I listened to without question were my family or some people at school that I respected. I followed the rules that I had to but would become very stubborn when people tried to tell me what to do without some reasonable explanation. Well, reasonable to me at least.

After my mother passed away I would do my chores and then spend most of my time riding my dirt bike or one of the horses around the ranch. I didn't often feel like socializing, even with my family. The exception that I did spend a lot of time with was Roberta Cassidy.

"Bobbie" and I had known each other since the fourth grade and were best buddies. We spent a lot of time together and were totally comfortable with each other. She had her own dirt bike and would follow me on my rides or borrow one of our horses and keep me company. Sometimes we would swim in the stream running through our ranch after our rides or hikes.

Bobbie and I were in the same year in high school and had several classes together. She was the one person besides my dad and my older sister that I would listen to concerning problems and confrontations at school; unfortunately my sister went to a different school. Bobbie would notice me getting into one of my moods about something or someone at school and most times she would be able to defuse the situation by joking with me or taking my hand and leading me away.

My brother was there for my freshman year and he tried to help keep me out of trouble but he had a tendency to order me around. Sometimes I felt he was just another adult and I rebelled against him too.

Once we were alone, Bobbie would get me to explain the problem and discuss it with me. Mostly she was able to "talk me down" and get me to calm down. Sometimes it didn't work and then I would have a run in with the school administration. Without her influence I really don't know if I would have made it through high school. After one of several incidents at school Dad once asked me why I didn't just go along to get along. I told him that they hadn't earned the right to give me orders and I was smarter than them anyway. He didn't get mad or punish me but he made a comment that I didn't understand until years later. Dad said, "Son, you've got a lot to learn and as you get older you'll find out you're not as smart as you think."

As I started high school I had a growth spurt and sprouted up like a young oak. My brother Ethan was playing football for our school during his senior year and he suggested that I try out for the team. He said it would teach me discipline and allow me to work out some of my repressed anger and not so repressed aggression. It was a strange concept coming from an 18 year old; I found out later that one of the guidance counselors suggested the idea to Ethan.

The plan might have worked but the coach apparently had no use for a big clumsy kid that had never played organized football before. He told me to come back when I could run without tripping over my own feet. By my senior year I had gotten my full growth and coordination; the coach invited me to join the team. I just laughed in his face and told him that if I wasn't worth his time three years ago, he wasn't worth mine now.

I made it through high school without any serious trouble and continued my education. Dad wanted me to go to college and since I didn't know what else to do, I agreed to go. He paid for my college expenses such as tuition and books, plus room and board; I had it pretty good. Any extra spending money I had to earn; Dad told me working would teach me about the real world. He was right by the way.

I started as an apprentice and worked my way up to a framing carpenter during my summer breaks from college and thought I might continue working construction after graduation. During the summers I made enough to pay for all the extras and incidentals for the next year at school. I also did my share of chores on the ranch; Dad said I had to earn my room and board while I was living there during those summers.

It was working at my "summer" job that I begin to see that Dad was right; I wasn't as smart as I thought. I guess it was the no nonsense attitude of my foreman and my respect for his know-how that let me take orders from him without resentment. The guys I worked with sort of adopted me and taught me things that you only learned with experience; another instance to show me that I had a lot to learn, about work, people and life.

I was never shy with the young lovelies at school and my "Black Irish" heritage of dark hair and laser like blue eyes coupled with my size attracted the ladies. If a date was wanted, I had only to ask one of the coeds and a date was obtained. I was in lust a lot but never felt especially close to any of these playmates.

Bobbie was attending the same school; we were still buddies and hung around together most nights when I took a break from trying to bed every coed on campus. She would listen as I explained why this girl or that one wasn't interesting enough to pursue or to continue dating. Then I met a young lady that really caught my interest.

Amber Fleming was a tall, blond, browned eyed heart breaker with the stereotypical "cheerleader" type beauty. Along with three other guys, Amber and I were both assigned to an experiment in one of the fuzzy sciences during our junior year, a psychology test lab. I didn't make much of an impression the first time we met.

"Hi, I'm John Chance but everyone calls me J.T.," I told her.

"Hello J.T., I'm Amber Fleming," she said with a big Miss America type smile.

"Of course you are," I replied. I couldn't help it; it was all too perfect. Blond, beautiful, named Amber, and probably an airhead; I thought it was funnier than hell except I was stuck with her as a lab partner. It's going to be a tough assignment to complete I thought, and I have my work cut out for me.

Apparently Amber knew exactly what I thinking and put me in my place very quickly. "If you're going to continue to be an ass we're going to have a hard time completing this assignment." Her temper was up and she wasn't about to take any bullshit from me.

She shocked me out of my smug little mindset. I thought about the way kids in high school had treated a gangly, clumsy, 15 year old and how they prejudged me before they had a chance to know me. Now I was judging her based on her looks.

"You're right, I was being an ass. I apologize. How about we start over? Hi, I'm J.T. and you must be Amber Fleming. Nice to meet you, Amber. I'm doing my best here to get my foot out of my mouth." She started laughing and shook hands with me.

The experiment consisted of showing other students visual stimuli and recording their responses; then we had to hypothesize why they reacted the way they did. I thought it was stupid and a waste of time because the same experiment had been done countless times before in this class.

However, it was necessary to complete the experiment to get a passing grade in the psychology class and therefore my degree. So I put aside my aggravation at taking stupid orders and did the work. After meeting and working with Amber a few times I began to look forward to our lab time.

Contrary to the way she looked, Amber was very intelligent. I found out at that first meeting that she wasn't the blond bimbo that you would think. Her intellect, keen observational skills, and upbeat attitude made it a joy to work with her. Amber also made it known, in a good humored way, that there wouldn't be any type of romantic goings-on during these lab tests. We're here to get an education, not start a romance she stated. It was directed at all three of the men working on the experiment; including me.

We completed the tests after a month, and on Thursday evening the whole group decided to celebrate with pizza and beer. There were five of us in the group and somehow Amber and I ended up sitting next to each other. The pizza joint was full of students and very loud so we had to lean toward each other to make ourselves heard over the noise. It was the closest we had been physically.

I was explaining something to Amber, leaning in close to her ear and suddenly realized just how great she smelled. Maybe she would reconsider her thoughts about dating now that the experiment was over, I thought. I asked her if she would like to meet for coffee on Saturday. She said yes and we made plans to meet at the local coffee bar. My plan was to let her get to know me outside of the lab and ask if she would go to dinner or a movie with me. Plans don't always work or get the result you hope for, now do they?

On Saturday we met at 2 PM for coffee. We sat and talked about the experiment, what we expected for the rest of the semester from the class, and just talked about school in general. After about 30 minutes I put my plan in to action.

"Amber, I enjoyed working with you during the test and would like to spend some time with you outside of that lab. Would you like to go to dinner or a movie next weekend?"

"I've had a good time working with you too. But I don't think it would be a good idea for us to date," she told me. "I know your reputation and I don't want to be another toy in your playpen."

Whoa, where did that come from? My reputation, what reputation? It wasn't the response I expected. Normally if the object of my desire doesn't want to get together I accept her decision and move on. However there was no way I could just move on from her statement.

"What reputation Amber? I didn't know I had one. Please enlighten me." I was a little upset.

"The word is that you date a lot of women, sometimes more than one at a time. I don't want to get involved with a player type and end up as just another one of your discarded toys." The tone in her voice was a little defiant.

"I'm insulted by your characterization. Normally I would just say okay and not defend my actions or myself but I think you've come to a faulty hypothesis. In other words, you're full of it," I lectured her using my "teacher's" voice.

She blushed and started to respond to my statement but I held up my hand to stop her.

I fixed Amber with a hard look and said, "My turn Ms. Fleming. If you had bothered to check into "my reputation" a little deeper instead of listening to gossip, you would have found that my dates were treated like ladies and most of them don't have a problem with me. I never lied to them or made a promise for more than a good time." I stopped to get back some control. It surprised me how much her words had bothered me.

"I have dated a lot of ladies and sometimes I have dated more than one girl during the same week. Maybe that makes me a player, but the reason for so many dates is that I haven't found anyone that I wanted to be more than friends with. When and if I do find that person, I will be with her alone."

She didn't know what to say and I didn't give her a chance.

"In addition, you're being a little presumptuous to think that you could even qualify as one of my "toys", don't you think? Enjoy the rest of your weekend Ms. Fleming." I left her sitting at the table.

By the time I got to my truck to return to my apartment I was talking to myself. What a bitch, she was wrong, and the hell with her was just a few of my thoughts. Popping open a beer at my place I realized why Amber refusing a date and the things she said bothered me so much. She was the first woman that I found interesting enough to actually pursue.

The next two weeks were a study in how to avoid and ignore someone in the same class as you. I made it a point to not look at Amber during our class together and avoided her leaving the classroom. She tried to catch my eye several times but I wouldn't acknowledge her at all. If she started toward me I turned and walked in the other direction.

I was coming out of my Economics class somewhat angry with the teacher when she caught up to me. The professor was a liberal and I was somewhere right of Attila the Hun so we butted heads almost every class. This discussion had been particularly heated and I wasn't in the best of moods. One of my friends in the class walked with me and told me that I'd better keep my mouth shut or I was going to fail the class.

"Go along and get along and get the hell out of his class with a passing grade," he suggested.

Right, going along was something I hadn't been much good at in the past. I was in trouble because I needed a passing grade in this class. Oh hell, how much do I want to get a degree anyway, I thought?

It had been three weeks since Amber had shut me down and I hadn't said a word to her since. I found her sitting on the tail gate of my truck with a couple of large coffees; obviously she was waiting for me. I couldn't avoid her this time, not unless I wanted to leave my truck and walk back to my apartment.

"Hi J.T. care for coffee?" That was her opening line. "I listened to some of your debate in Econ and thought you could probably use one."

I could have reacted to her the same way as I did to the football coach in high school and told her to go away but I couldn't. This was Amber. I accepted the coffee and sat next to her on my tail gate.

"What are you doing here?" I spoke with a little anger in my voice. "I would think you wouldn't want to be seen with me, considering my reputation." I was being a tad nasty to her.

Surprisingly she just smiled at me. "I tried to get your attention in class and since that didn't work I thought I would come to you. I've come to apologize; the things I said about you were based on gossip and it wasn't fair. I've been talking to some of your former "playmates" and I found that you were right; most of them speak highly of you and a lot of them would go out with you again." Amber took several sips from her coffee and continued.

"So I've come to invite you to dinner or a movie if you still want to go with me."

It took me a real long time to answer her; almost three seconds. "Okay, but you pay this first time," I said.

We went to a movie and then out for pizza and that evening led to many others. For the first time in my "dating" career I met someone that I wanted to become closer to. I enjoyed being with the other young ladies I had dated but had never felt a real spark with any of them. I felt that spark with Amber.

She and I dated each other exclusively after that first evening. We never discussed it but that's the way it was; my days of multiple dates were over. I knew that if we weren't in love that we were in serious like and I began to think that I had met "the one". So much so that I didn't pressure Amber to climb into my bed, this was unusual for me. The only bone of contention between us was my friendship with Bobbie.

Amber couldn't understand or didn't believe that a woman and a man could spend as much time together as Bobbie and I did talking and hanging out and not be romantically involved. No matter how I tried to explain our friendship she didn't like it. I caved and consequently the time I spent with Bobbie dropped off to almost nothing although we did have a couple of classes together and got to talk a little before and after them.

After our junior year, during the summer break, I invited Amber to come home with me and meet my family; I wanted to show her off. I was going to take two weeks off before I started my summer construction job and we could spend that time together. After the two weeks Amber would go home to her parents who lived about two hundred miles from our ranch.

I had told Amber about the ranch and my family. She laughed and wanted to meet them after hearing how my parents choose our names. I explained that my dad was fiercely independent and enjoyed teasing those that he cared for; my brother Ethan was more serious and always protected and took care my sister and I; and my sister Mary Kate had taken over mothering me when Mom passed away.

Amber wasn't the instant hit with my family that I thought she would be. Dad liked her because when he teased her Amber would come right back at him. Ethan and Mary Kate also seemed to like her but the warmth that I expected wasn't there. My family was friendly, cordial, and went out of their way to make Amber feel welcomed but they treated her like a guest. People that my family really liked were sort of adopted into our clan and treated like any family member. That adoption never took place with Amber.

Those two weeks were great. I was at home with my family and had my "woman" with me too. In addition my buddy Bobbie came over a few times and now I had it all. Amber, Bobbie and I had a couple of horseback rides around the property. After the third one Amber suggested that we go on the rides alone, smiling and rubbing up against me when she said it.


Heirloom



She was still concerned, read jealous here, about Bobbie and me. Looking at it from Amber's point of view, I guess I could understand her concern. Bobbie is as pretty in her own way as Amber is in hers.

While Amber had the blond good looks and body of a cheerleader, Bobbie was just as tall but with a slimmer, athletic type body. She had auburn hair worn long, usually in a pony tail, and big blue eyes with a few freckles across her nose. Amber was a go to fancy dinners, plays, and the "right" type of party's girl. Bobbie was a let's go fishing, or have pizza and beer, or keg party type. In short Amber was a little bit high maintenance and Bobbie was one of the guys; a damn good looking guy at that.

Amber and I made love for the first time while on a picnic at the little stream running through the back of our ranch. We had been on a ride into the national forest adjacent to our ranch and stopped at the stream for our lunch. Let me say here that I didn't seduce Amber; if anything she was the one that seduced me, although I didn't put up much of a fight.

We had worn our bathing suits under our clothes and stripped down to them when we got to the stream. While we were swimming after lunch Amber made a comment about how pretty it was here with the stream and the swimming hole.

"When Dad and Mom bought the place years ago, he dammed the stream so the family would have a place to swim. My brother and I would sometime sneak off and go skinny dipping. Dad caught us one time when I was about ten; we were supposed to be rounding up some stray cattle and saw him standing at the edge of the tree line watching us.

He never said anything but that was the last time that we skinny dipped before our chores were done. Ethan and I would still jump off the horses, get naked, and jump in the water but only after our work was done,"

"Skinny dipping huh? Sounds exciting," Amber said, stripped off her bikini, and slowly walked into the water.

My efforts not to stare at her in that tiny bikini hadn't been entirely successful and once she took it off there was no chance of not looking. I'm a normal red blooded young man who had been chaste since I started dating Amber so I can't be blamed for my reaction. Anyway she didn't put up any resistance and in fact sort of led the way. Other than the sand on the blanket it was almost perfect.

We tried to be cool when we got back to the house but I think everyone knew what had happened. My dad was the only one to say anything when he mentioned that it looked like I had gotten a lot of sun that day. That last ride was sort of bitter sweet because Amber left the next day. It wasn't as if we would be apart for the whole summer because one of us would go to the others home twice a month on the weekends. But it wasn't like seeing and talking to each other every day.

Shortly after we got back to school Amber was busy one week end with her parents. They had stopped by on their way to the west coast to spend the weekend with her. I went to dinner with them on Friday night; the dinner was nice but cordial is the best that could be said about meeting her parents. I didn't get to see Amber for the rest of their visit: they didn't leave until early Monday morning. It really didn't bother me because it gave me a chance to talk to Bobbie.

I ordered a pizza and Bobbie and I ate at my apartment. I wasn't hiding anything but Amber didn't care for my friendship with Bobbie. I tried to explain to Amber that Bobbie wasn't competition; that next to my sister Bobbie was my best friend. My explanation didn't impress her or change her mind so I hadn't seen Bobbie for any length of time for a couple of months.

Bobbie came waltzing into my place with two six packs and a smile. "I guess you got a parole for tonight, huh?" Are you sure you want to see me, I mean Amber might not like it?" She was pulling my chain; Amber didn't impress her at all.

"Knock it off will ya? I need to talk to someone and other than my sister you're the only one I trust; I mean to talk to about this."

"Okay, let's eat and you can tell "momma" all about it," she said. Even being serious she was always a bit of a smart ass.

I was comfortable talking about my "love life" with Bobbie. We have known each other forever and she helped me get through my mother's death; in some ways she was closer than my brother or sister. So I told her about my feelings for Amber. I explained that I enjoyed being with her, that I admired her, and that she was the first woman that I had dated that I wanted to spend a lot of time with.

"When I'm not with her I want to be and when I'm with her I'm a happy guy. But something's missing, something's not right. I think about "us" but I don't think about a future together. It's all right now or next week but nothing long term. Is that weird or what?"

"How's your sex life?" Bobbie was being serious. "Do you guys fit together and enjoy each other or is it just sex?"

"The first time was her last day at the ranch and twice more over the summer when she would come to visit. And yes we fit together and yes we enjoy it; it's more than just sex," I answered, a little put out at the question. But this was Bobbie and I needed her help.

"What? The supreme Casanova has only bedded the fair Amber a couple of times. Stop the presses this is front page news." Bobbie stopped teasing me and got serious again. "I find that interesting. I mean you've bedded just about every girl you've wanted to but your experiences with Amber is very limited. Strange!"

"We didn't think it would be good to go hog wild and rut like animals. So we decided to restrict ourselves," I defended myself.

"And whose idea was that, J.T.? Yours or hers?"

"It was a mutual decision."

"Bullshit. That's not the J.T. I know and love, something's funny here but I don't know what. I've never known you to back off like this. Either you're in love or you're trying to fool yourself into thinking you are. You better think about this before you go any further." Bobbie had always had a unique talent for cutting through the bullshit.

We tabled that discussion and tried to see how many of the beers we could put away. I won but the next morning I was a little the worse for wear. Bobbie slept on the couch and was almost as bad as me. It seems somewhere in our talk we found half a bottle of Jose Cuervo and decided to put it out of its misery. Senor Cuervo won.

I called Amber after classes on Monday to see when she wanted to get together. She said she had to do some make-up work in one of her classes and probably wouldn't see me until the weekend. It seemed a little funny to me, I mean we had spent almost every day together before the summer break and now she was too busy studying to see me.

For the next two weeks I only saw Amber six or seven times. This may seem sufficient but prior to the year-end break we would have been together at least ten days or evenings. One good thing about our cut back relationship was that I got to spend more time with Bobbie without getting an ass chewing from Amber.

On Friday evening Bobbie and I were doing the pizza routine at my apartment again and I again asked her opinion about Amber. I told her that Amber and I were going to dinner the next night and that it was the first time I would see her that week. In fact I had only talked to her once during that period, I told Bobbie.

"Okay, enough. I repeat, this isn't the J.T. I know. You've never let anyone including me, dictate your life like this. Tomorrow night is the perfect time to straighten this mess out. Either you love her and want to spend your life with Amber or you don't. Cut and dried, A B C, get it done son," Bobbie cut through the bullshit again.

"But I ......" I started.

"But nothing John." Bobbie never called me John unless she was really upset with me. "Get your head out and find out what's going on. If you love her make your point and discuss your problem with not seeing her more. If you don't love her then break it off. You don't need or deserve to be treated like this and she doesn't deserve to be led on. Thus ends my sermon," she said with a smile.

Shortly afterwards she left and I spent the rest of the evening thinking about Amber, the changes in the relationship, and what I wanted to happen now. I didn't get much sleep that night but did come to a decision. I was going to be proactive at dinner Saturday night instead of just sitting back and letting things roll over me.

Saturday morning after getting enough coffee to jump start my day, I continued thinking about my situation. Why didn't I or couldn't I imagine or think about a relationship with Amber much past school. I had never thought about marriage or what we were going to do after graduation.

Sometimes you worry and chew at a problem and come up with nothing and sometimes when you're not thinking about it, the answer slips out of the back of your mind and hits you in the face. I was editing a paper for an English Lit class when the answer to the Amber question hit me right between the eyes.

I finally realized why I didn't see a future with Amber. It had been right in front of me all the time, but I hadn't seen it. The reason Amber didn't figure in my future plans, the reason I couldn't completely commit to her was very simple. I was in love with Bobbie. Shock, denial, and finally acceptance all ran through my mind. I loved Bobbie and had for years but our buddy status had covered it up. Oh shit, now what?

I picked Amber up from her dorm that evening and we went to a little steak house just off campus. It was one of our favorite places because it was a Mom and Pop place and not a national chain. We talked about our week and other things without really getting too personal; it wasn't a conversation that you would expect from two people who were past the early dating stage. I waited until the after dinner drinks before getting down to important matters.

"Okay Amber, enough is enough. What's going on? Why have you been avoiding me?"

"I don't know what you mean J.T. Nothing is going on, I've just been very busy," she said. It was the answer I expected.

"Bullshit girl. We used to be together almost every day but since summer break I'm lucky to see you twice a week. So what changed?" As advised I was going to get my head out and take back control of my life.

Amber started twice to say something before she could tell me what she wanted to. She told me she had spent time with an old boyfriend over the summer and had been talking more seriously to him since she came back to school. She said her parents gave her a letter from him and that he had been talking to her dad and had asked for permission to marry her. Amber said that she was confused and wasn't sure of her feelings for me anymore.

"You must have spent some serious time with him, I mean with him going the marriage route. Why play all the games? You could have been honest with me." I was upset, not that she wasn't sure about us but that she hadn't been up front and told me the way she felt.

"I'm not sure about my feelings for Rick either and I didn't want to lose you if I figured out that it was you I wanted," she said.

Now she's acting like a blond bimbo I thought. Well I was going to solve her problem and answer her questions.

"I'm sort of glad to hear that. I know it sounds strange for me to say that but I've had the same feelings toward you. So let's finish our drinks and part as friends and I wish you the best of luck with Rick."

"That's not what I want, I......"

"But that's what I want. It's funny, the fact that I'm more upset about your games than about losing you proves to me that I don't see a future for us. And even if I did, I wouldn't sit around waiting for you to make up your mind. So it's all good. Come on, I'll drive you home." That ended my questions and problems concerning Amber. Now what was I going to do about Bobbie?

I called Bobbie the next day and told her that Amber and I were history. She said she would bring the burgers if I got the beer and we would have a freedom party that afternoon. Just before she hung up she said that I could repay the favor by listening and helping her with a problem. Good I thought: a good meal, several beers, we'd get mellow and I could tell her how I felt about her.

About 4:30 Bobbie showed up with burgers and fries from Steak n Shake, our favorite. After two burgers and about three beers I thought it was time to talk to Bobbie about my feelings for her. Before I could get started she began to talk.

"I need your help J.T. There's this guy back home that's been coming to see me when I'm home and calling me here at school. He's a nice guy and I want to start spending more time with him," Bobbie said with a little hesitation.

"So who is this guy and what's the problem?" I asked after a few seconds. Maybe it's not too late, I thought; maybe if I tell her how I feel about her she would forget about this other guy. I was just about to confess to Bobbie when she shot down my plan.

"It's your brother Ethan. I mean, I've known your family forever and they treat me like one of their own and I don't want things to get too weird, you know? I've had a bit of a crush on Ethan for a long time but it's only been in the last year that he's paid any attention to me. What should I do?"

Love me, forget about him I screamed in my mind but I couldn't say anything; she seemed so giddy that Ethan was paying attention to her. Telling her that I loved her would put an enormous amount of pressure on her. It was a no win situation; if she felt the same way about me she would feel bad about Ethan and if she didn't, she would feel sorry for me and be upset that she hurt me. Like I said a no win situation and above all I wanted her to be happy.

Added to this screwed up mess was the fact that I loved my brother. When our mother died he made it a point to be closer to me, protecting me and helping me get through the grief; he was feeling the same loss that I did but he took care of me. As melodramatic as it sounds the phrases "brotherly love" and being "my brother's keeper" rebounded around in my head. After what seemed to me to be several minutes but in reality was only a few seconds, I answered Bobbie' question.

"If it was anyone else you would just go out with him. The fact that it's someone you've known since you were little should make it even easier. Dad and Mary Kate love you like family and that won't change so you and Ethan shouldn't be a problem. Go for it kid," I told her as I felt a sinking, empty feeling in my stomach.

"Thanks J.T., now let's get down to some serious partying," she said with a big grin.

The next morning I had trouble staying awake in my classes; Senor Jose Cuervo won the last encounter and Mr. Jack Daniels won this one; we had discovered a hidden bottle of Jack Daniels. I have to stop challenging those guys, I thought as I took more aspirin. The aspirin helped ease the headache but did nothing to ease the pain of knowing I had lost Bobbie. I ran into Bobbie in my third class of the day and she suggested that we get a little hair of the dog that evening. I begged off, telling her I was meeting with a study group.

I know Bobbie had been there for me when I was confused about Amber and other times too but I couldn't stand thinking about how I had lost her. The last thing I wanted to do was sit around and listen to her talk about her feelings for Ethan.

For the rest of the semester I only saw Bobbie about as much as I had while going with Amber. She would try to talk to me after class or call me and I made excuses most of the time so I wouldn't have be alone with her. I told her that I was concentrating on getting my GPA as high as possible so I could get a position teaching with one of the better schools after graduation. I don't think she believed me but she never questioned me.

I did get my degree in Education and a teaching certificate but decided that I liked working outside with my hands so I planned to continue to work construction. I thought I could always fall back on my degree if I got too tired or too beat up.

After the graduation ceremony all the graduates were running around saying goodbyes and joining their families. Dad, Ethan, and Mary Kate had come to my graduation but Bobbie' parents weren't able to come; something about an aunt that needed help. We planned on her visiting with us for a few days until her parents returned home.

I went to find Bobbie and make arrangements for that evening's celebration and at first I couldn't find her. Someone said they saw her heading for my dad's RV and as I came around the side of the RV there was Ethan kissing Bobbie. This wasn't a kiss between two friends saying hello, this wasn't a congratulations you made it kiss; this was a kiss that you give someone you cared for. I guess her problems over dating Ethan had been solved.

If I had said something to Bobbie sooner, that might have been me kissing her. It's said that hind sight is 20/20 and thinking back over the last two or three years I could see what I should have done. Knowing what I should have done didn't give me much comfort though.

My whole family, including Bobbie went to dinner that night to celebrate the graduation. Bobbie and Ethan sat together and pretty much ignored the rest of us. Before the evening ended I told everyone about my decision to continue working construction.

"I'm sorry Dad, I know you spent a lot so I could get an education. But it wasn't wasted, my degree gives me a fall back option if I get tired or want out of construction," I explained to him. I felt that I had let him down.

"Education is never a waste J.T. Did you learn anything?"

I nodded.

"Did you learn to control that wild rebellious nature of yours?"

I nodded again.

"Then we're both ahead of the game. I'm proud of you son," Dad said. "I'll put out some feelers with some people I know to help you find a job."

"Actually Dad, I thought about going to the west coast to work. My friend Rick, who I shared some classes with, is an architect and works for a big home builder in San Diego. He told me that they are always looking for workers and invited me to come out and give it a try."

My decision to go west hadn't been made until I saw Ethan and Bobbie together at dinner. I couldn't stay around and watch them; it hurt too much. San Diego seemed like a good place to go to "escape" their happiness with each other and my depression. I didn't know if Rick could get me a job or not; I just needed to get away.

Up to that point our discussion had been between my dad and me but when the others heard that I was moving to San Diego, they all voiced objections to my leaving. For the first time that evening Bobbie and Ethan were paying attention to what was going on at our table. I defended my decision by saying I needed to prove that I could make it on my own. Dad finally told everyone to leave me alone.

It was a good thing that I didn't have another run in with Mr. Jack Daniels because it was early the next morning that our caravan started for home. Dad, Ethan, and Bobbie were in the RV and Mary Kate rode with me in my truck. It was about six hours home and we stopped about half way to have breakfast.

Mary Kate and I had talked for most of the first part of the drive catching up on things back home, the business, and the ranch. Back on the road after the break we were quiet for about an hour when she broke the silence.

"So are you going to say anything before you leave or are you just going to run away?" Mary Kate asked as she looked hard at me.

"Say anything about what? I was puzzled at her question.

"Are you going to tell Bobbie that you love her?"

"What gave you that idea? You're crazy, I ...."

"Maybe you can fool everybody else, but I know you better than you know yourself," she interrupted me. "You can't hide how you feel from me. You've been in love with her for a long time; you were just too dense to realize it."




Heirloom



"I repeat you're crazy. Sure I love Bobbie, but like a little sister or my best buddy. I've never...."

"Bullshit." There she goes interrupting me again. "I was born at night but it wasn't last night. You're in love with her and it's tearing you up inside that she and Ethan are dating." Mary Kate was glaring at me now.

"You have to tell her John." Mary Kate was serious; she called me John instead of J.T. "She cares about you too. You owe it to the both of you to tell her how you feel." She paused for a few seconds and then said, "You have to do what you think is best but you should tell her." ."

For the last two hours of the trip if I tried to continue the discussion about Bobbie, Mary Kate would shake her head and say "I've said all I'm going to" and refused to talk about it anymore. I thought and rethought and then thought some more about my plans on going to San Diego.

If I told Bobbie that I loved her there were two things that could happen. She could fall into my arms and say that she loved me too or she could say that she loved me like a brother but not in that way. Either way it would affect Ethan and could drive a wedge between us. I couldn't do it; my plans for San Diego would stand.

When we got to the ranch, Dad parked the RV and walked to the passenger's side of my truck. Mary Kate jumped out, smiled at me, and Dad climbed into the cab.

"Take me down to the office, will you? I've got something to do and I could use the company," Dad requested.

I nodded and pulled out of the driveway headed for the supply yard. It was a very quiet 30 minute drive, Dad would smile, reach over and sort of pat me on the shoulder two or three times and that was the extent of the communication. He pointed to the warehouse when we pulled into the loading yard and I drove up to the large sliding door in front. Dad got out and motioned for me to follow him.

Before we slid open the door Dad spoke for the first time since we left the house. "I know why you're going to San Diego and I understand. I won't try to change your mind but I want you to know that I'll back you if you decide to stay. I won't try to change your mind but I wanted you to know how proud I am of you."

I started to say something but he held up his hand to stop me. "Your choice, your decision. You don't have to justify your actions to anyone John." There's that John instead of J.T. again. Dad slid the door open and pointed into the warehouse. "That's your graduation present from Mary Kate, Ethan, and me," he said as he pointed.

A Ford 250 King Cab, ivory colored with red pin stripes stared back at me. As I walked around it I saw J.T. Chance 26 Bar Ranch in small script just below the driver's window. It was the best looking pickup I'd ever seen. I was stunned, couldn't talk, and could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't even say thank you, I just grabbed Dad in a bear hug.

"We didn't know about San Diego when we bought it, we just thought it was time to put your old truck out to pasture," he said. "The keys are in it, the title is at home, and it already has license plates on it; it's good to go J.T." We pulled my old truck to the back of the yard and drove back to the ranch in my brand new ride.

I spent ten days at home before I left on my journey. They were bitter sweet; I rode around the property like I used to do when I was a kid not knowing when I would see the place again. Every one of those ten days Mary Kate would say "tell her" at least once. Each time I would just shake my head no.

The morning that I left everybody was there to say good bye; Dad, Ethan, Mary Kate and even Bobbie were all there in spite of it being 6:30 AM. I hugged Dad and Ethan and kissed Mary Kate. Bobbie presented herself for a hug and I must have put a little extra in the hug because she leaned back and looked into my eyes. I smiled sadly, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and jumped into my new ride. As I pulled out of the drive way in the rear view mirror I could see Bobbie standing there with both hands up to her face looking very upset.

******************

It's a little over 1800 miles from our ranch to San Diego and could be driven in about 29 hours if you drove straight through. I wasn't in any hurry so it took me about ten days to finally reach Mission Bay in San Diego. I took I-70 west and along the way I stopped if there was something I wanted to see or experience. I played in the snow in Loveland Pass Colorado, spent a night in Las Vegas, and backtracked to see and be awestruck by the Grand Canyon. From there I went on to San Diego.

I walked onto the sand of Mission Bay beach, took off my boots, and waded into the ocean. "California I'm here," I proclaimed.

If you've never seen the ocean I suggest you go. Standing on the beach looking out across that huge expanse of water sort of puts everything into perspective. I know it sounds all very philosophical but it's true anyway.

About ten days after getting to San Diego, I called Mary Kate and Dad to let them know I was okay and that I had a job. Mary Kate climbed on me a little for not calling sooner but was happy to hear that I wasn't sulking around. I talked to Dad for about 30 minutes telling him about San Diego, the construction scene, and the beautiful weather.

If you want to work construction, San Diego is the place to be; especially housing construction. The weather enables you to work year round and someone is always building something. I've never seen a place that has continuous construction like San Diego. My friend Rick got me a job framing houses my second day in the city.

The work ethic taught to me by my father and reinforced by Ethan came in handy. My foreman saw how hard I worked and coupled with never missing any days because of a hangover or women troubles he began to give me more responsibilities, along with more money. I was squatting in tall cotton.

I called home every ten days or so to let my family know I was okay and thinking of them. The days were busy; I was working six days a week sometimes seven. It was the nights that gave me problems; I would think about Bobbie. The guys at work would ask me to go out with them at night but I didn't have any interest in picking up some overnight honey. I wasn't pouting; I just didn't want to go out.

My foreman, Sam, insisted that I come out with the group one Friday evening to say good bye to one of our crew. Bill had joined the National Guard a couple of years ago and his unit was being called up and deployed to Afghanistan. "As much as he helped you when you first got here the least you can do is attend his going away party and have a beer or two," Sam told me.

I was sorry to see Bill leave; he was a hard worker and a good guy. The party showed me that I was the only one being hurt by depriving myself of the wonders that San Diego had to offer. Read pretty girls for that last part about the wonders of San Diego. As good as the young ladies looked on the beach they looked even better that night in the club. It was an interesting scouting trip of a target rich environment.

After that evening, I came back to the world so to speak. I didn't go out every night with the guys but every ten days to two weeks the group would invade one club or another. There was a cornucopia of young lovelies to watch, meet, dance with and sometimes more. I didn't have one special lady but keep my options open.

My battles in college with Mr. Jack Daniels and Senor Jose Cuervo taught me that I couldn't beat those gentlemen so I didn't try. I would have one or two beers during our invasions and switch to club soda or tea or some other non-alcoholic drink for the rest of the evening. I think being sober actually helped my success rate with the girls I met.

While the ladies and my crew would get wild and crazy and out of control, I would be wild and crazy with them but I was sober and in complete control. That self control helped in my interactions with women; the only nights that I went home alone were the ones that I wanted to.

I hadn't forgotten about Bobbie but I had pushed her into the back of my mind; I still loved her but I could live with the fact that I couldn't have her and moved on with my life. I owed Sam for the push he gave me, or as he called it "a swift kick in the ass", whatever it was it showed me that there was still a lot of enjoyment to be had. Thanks Sam.

****************

I had been in San Diego for about three months when Mary Kate asked, "When are you going to stop pouting like someone stole your bicycle and come home?" She was getting upset at me for staying away.

"I like it out here, the weather is nice and the beaches are great. Lots of pretty girls in bikinis playing in the ocean, don't you know. It's a floor show every time you go." I did like my life now but in my heart I would have rather been back in Missouri.

"Well I think you should come home. I was telling Bobbie just yesterday that......"

"How's the ranch doing? I interrupted her; I didn't want to talk about Bobbie. "Did Dad buy that breeding bull he was looking at?"

In spite of me changing the subject every time Mary Kate brought up Bobbie, she slipped little tidbits about her into our conversations. When she said something about Bobbie asking for my phone number, I made Mary Kate promise not to give it to her. "Tell her I live in a construction trailer or whatever but don't give her my number." She would pass messages from Bobbie to me, but I didn't or couldn't talk to Bobbie; not yet anyway.

Then Mary Kate got sneaky and used technology to get around me not wanting to talk to Bobbie. When I got home after work there was a notice that Federal Express had left a package for me with the manager of the apartment building. Who would send me something, I hadn't ordered anything? It was a large package and contained a new Dell laptop and a note that read.

Hey J.T.,

Dad thought that using email would be an easier way to keep in contact than calling. We can email each other and not worry about time differences or interrupting our schedules. The laptop has an air card and the service has been paid for a year so you can use it anywhere you can get cell phone coverage. Pretty neat huh?

All you have to do is plug in the charger so your battery doesn't run out and power it up.

The laptop also has a webcam feature so we can see each other as we talk, how cool is that? I will contact you Sunday morning around ten your time for our first web chat. If that's not a good time email me for the best time to get together.

I'm looking forward to getting to see my little brother after all these months. Talk to you on Sunday.

Love,

Mary Kate.

On Sunday morning I saw my sister for the first time in months. We had a nice talk and Dad even stuck his head into the picture and talked for a few minutes. The web chat helped me feel close to the people I loved the most. It wasn't until the next chat that I realized that my dad had nothing to do with the laptop or the web chats. It was all Mary Kate being devious.

I was actually waiting the next Sunday morning and when my screen notified me that I had a web cam call I jumped to answer it. Mary Kate and I talked for a few minutes and then Dad took his turn. His questions and talk was what you would expect from your father; how was I doing, did I enjoy my work, did I need any money, and when did I think I could get home for a visit, typical parent stuff. It was nice to actually see my family members while I was talking to them.

When he finished, Mary Kate got back into the picture and after a few minutes she said, "There's someone here that would like to talk to you."

She got up and Ethan sat down; we talked for about ten minutes; his parting words were "You should come home J.T."

Mary Kate came back and said, "One more person that wants to say hello," she said. When she got up, Bobbie took her place.

Oh shit, I thought. The one person I didn't want to see or talk to right now; I had pushed the sense of loss and the hurt into the back of my mind but it was still too fresh to deal with. My first thought was to disconnect and later blame it on a malfunction but I waited too long.

"Hello John, it's good to see you. How have you been?" Bobbie looked into the web cam with her big blue eyes. Instead of a pony tail her hair was all styled and curling around that pretty face. Oh shit, I thought again.

"Hey Bobbie," I responded. "I'm good." The rest of the conversation was a little awkward but I was able to talk without embarrassing myself; I think. We signed off shortly afterwards.

As soon as we signed off I sent a very heated email to Mary Kate. I ripped her a new one for ambushing me like that and told her that if she wanted to keep up the web chats she had better not do it again. I don't know if a paper letter could have taken the heat of that message, it might have burst into flame.

The next day I got an answering email that put me in my place. Mary Kate explained that Bobbie was there to go shopping with her and that Bobbie had to be shanghaied into talking to me. She also told me that my dad planned his whole weekend around those web chats just so he could talk to me. "Get your head out and think of someone besides yourself," was her closing line.

Nothing more was said and the web chats continued. Sometimes Bobbie was there but most times she wasn't. I hated to admit it but I enjoyed the times that she was more than the other times. I guess I hadn't pushed her as far back into my mind as I thought.

I did learn from Mary Kate that the week after I left, Bobbie and Ethan quit dating. Mary Kate told me she thought that Bobbie guessed or knew how I felt about her.

"You should come home John," Mary Kate told me. "I think you're missing out on something good here."

"I can't right now, maybe in a year," I replied.

"You're a dumb ass J.T.," she said and hung up.

*******************

It was about three months later that Mary Kate called and ordered me to come home. "Get your ass back here right now," was what she actually said. She explained that Dad and Ethan had been unloading some roofing supplies and one of the tie downs broke. The load tumbled off the truck and both of them were seriously injured and were in the hospital; Dad had stabilized, but Ethan was in critical condition.

I loaded my gear in my new truck and headed east; this trip would take a lot less time than the one I made headed west. I planned to drive nonstop, only taking breaks for gas and the bathroom. As I drove, almost on auto pilot, my mind thought back over the past few months.

The trip west in my new truck took ten days; the trip back home took a little over 22 hours. I had to slow down going through the cities but on the open road I picked up speed and the truck only touched the high spots in the road. (For those of you that don't understand country sayings, that means I was driving flat out fast.)

I had called Mary Kate and told her what time I expected to get in and that I was going directly to the hospital to check on Dad, and Ethan. She told me that Dad was doing much better; he was conscious and aware of what happened. The news wasn't as promising about Ethan; he was still in critical condition and in the ICU.

When I walked into Dad's room he was awake and talking to Mary Kate. Dad saw me first and said, "Bout time you came home."

Mary Kate turned, saw me, and ran into my arms. She was crying just like you would expect a woman to. There must be something in that hospital room that irritated my eyes because they were watering too. Dad tried to sit up straighter in bed and motioned me over to him. I shook his hand with both of mine and just stood there holding on to him for a couple of minutes.

Dad had a bandage on the right side of his face, his right leg was in a cast, and he had an IV going into his left arm. His face was a study in bruises and discoloration; the right eye was still almost swollen shut. He was going to have a hell of a shiner. Talking to his doctor later I learned that Dad's leg should heal fine and he had a cut on the side of his face that required 22 stitches. It was going to leave a scar but other than that he would be fine.

"Glad you're here son. You look like hell but I'm glad you're here," he said

"I look like hell? I'm not the one with the rainbow of blues and yellows running across my face," I teased back at him. My dad and I always managed to embarrass each other with our feelings.

"Twenty-two hours non-stop tends to make you look like a zombie you know?" I explained the reason for looking like a dead man walking.

"You didn't have to half kill yourself to get here, we're okay."

I looked at Mary Kate and quoted "get your ass back here right now". "That's what I was ordered to do and that's what I did," I explained to him. He looked over at my sister, smiled and shook his head.

"She always did have a tendency to overreact, don't you know?" Dad said as he smiled at his daughter.

"Somebody's got to take care of you three; neither of you is smart enough to come in out of the rain," she said.

"How's Ethan and where is he?"

Mary Kate looked at my dad and when he nodded she said, "He's in ICU in critical condition. Most of the load fell on him when he pushed Dad out of the way. He had some broken bones including his arm and a punctured lung but the doctors say he has a good chance to fully recover.

"Ethan's a fighter; if anyone can pull through this he can," I said with conviction. I don't know if I was trying to comfort Dad and Mary Kate or myself. I sat in thought for a couple of minutes with my head down and when I looked up Mary Kate seemed to be waiting for me to say something. I looked at her as if to ask what.

"Are you going to tell her now?" Mary Kate poked at me.

"Tell who what?" Dad asked. "Oh, now I know, never mind," Dad realized what we were talking about.

"Nothing Dad, it's personal and damn it Mary Kate this isn't the time," I scolded her. "I'm going to check on Ethan, see you later."

Going to ICU one of the nurses led me to Ethan's room. She told me that he was heavily sedated to keep him quiet and help him recover from the operation to close the puncture in his lung and to set his broken leg. He also had bruises that were sickly blue and yellow. There was an IV in his arm and a large cast on his leg. But he was breathing normally and didn't seem to be in pain. I walked over, touched his shoulder and leaned down and told him I was here. Ethan smiled a little in his sleep so maybe he heard me.

I went back and said good night to Dad and Mary Kate and left for the ranch. The trip had been tiring and I needed to wind down. The next morning Mary Kate and I returned to the hospital just in time to hear Dad telling the male nurse that he wanted some real coffee. Dad told the nurse that his crutches could be used as weapons if he didn't get some real food and real coffee.

"Take it easy on the guy Pop; he's just doing his job. I'll get you some real food and coffee in a few minutes, okay?" Mary Kate shook her finger at Dad and told him to calm down.

"I know, sorry kid," he said to the nurse. "It's just that I'm pissed off and you're the only one around to take it out on." Dad said and apologized again to the nurse. The guy just smiled, shook his head, finished his chores, and left.

My dad looked at me for a few seconds and said, "I've got to ask you for help here J.T.. I can't work for awhile and neither can Ethan; I need you to take over running the business. Mary Kate will help but you're going to be the "boss" until I can get back. Will you help?"

"You know I will."

"There's one thing you need to know before you start."

"What now? Don't tell me I have to wear a tie," I laughed.




Heirloom



Dad seemed to think for a few seconds but finally broached an uncomfortable subject and told me, "Bobbie works for my company now. She's the office manager and you'll have to see her every day."

I guess I had a stunned look on my face. It was one thing to talk to her on a web cam and another to have to see her every day. I couldn't resist and said, "Did Ethan decide to bring his girlfriend into the business?"

"That's not fair J.T.; you already know that Bobbie stopped dating Ethan right after you left. She continued to call Mary Kate and me; she was worried about you and wanted to know if you were okay," Dad explained. "When Shirley, my office manager, retired I hired Bobbie to replace her. I needed someone I could trust and she fit the bill."

"I don't know if I can do this Pop, I just don't know," I said and turned to leave.

"And where do you think you're going little brother? Get back here right now," she ordered me.

Mary Kate had stepped between me and the door, put her hands on her hips, and said, "You're not going anywhere John. I paddled your butt when you were younger and I can do it again if I have to. What happened between the two of you is your business, but you're family needs you now and I won't let you run off again."

The absurdity of her physically trying to stop me was funnier than hell; Mary Kate is 5' 10" compared to my 6' 4". It was hilarious and I started laughing in spite of myself; I couldn't help it. I guess it was a release of the stress of hearing about Bobbie but the laughter almost turned into tears. Finally I gained control and nodded at Mary Kate. My sister had made her point.

I decided to stay at my dad's house; there was no need to get my own apartment because I planned to go back to San Diego as soon as Dad was able to take over. The clothes I had brought from San Diego and my things still at the ranch would let me get by until I was able to go back to California. I had a couple of days to get some rest but after the week end I would start at my dad's company.

Monday morning bright and early I was at the supply yard sitting in the parking lot trying to get up nerve enough to go into the office. I don't know how long I would have sat there if Mary Kate hadn't come to get me. She smiled, patted me on the shoulder, and nodded toward the door. As I got out of my truck she hugged me and I followed her into the building.

The warehouse is a huge building with the offices and business areas on the second floor. The entire side wall of the office complex was glass because Dad liked to watch the activity on the floor of the warehouse. I kept glancing up at the offices to see if I could spot Bobbie.

Mary Kate took me around the building so I could say hello to the people that were working for my dad before I left and was introduced to the newer employees. I told them all that I appreciated them helping my dad and that I would try not to screw up things too bad. Then came the moment that I had been dreading and looking forward to; I had to see Bobbie again.

To get to my dad's office I had to pass by Bobbie. She was sitting at her desk and looked up as I passed her door. Her first reaction was to stand up to greet me, but I smiled and nodded at her and continued on to Dad's, I mean my, office. Mary Kate followed me and closed the door; for the moment I was safe.

"You're going to have to talk to Bobbie sometime J.T." Mary Kate said and then she suggested, "Wouldn't it be better to do it now while I'm still here, maybe it will make things a little less awkward."

"I guess you're right. Give me a few minutes to brace myself and then ask her to come in," I replied.

I knew that if I was going to run the place until my dad got back that I would have to come to grips with Bobbie being here. It was one thing to talk to Dad and Mary Kate about it in the hospital room and a different matter when I came face to face with the reality of seeing Bobbie in person.

"I'll get you a cup of coffee and tell her to come to see you in about five minutes, okay?"

I nodded and Mary Kate left the office. A few minutes later she returned with a huge mug of coffee. Taking the mug I thanked her and took a drink. Surprise, surprise, surprise; the coffee had a healthy dose of Irish whiskey in it. Nothing like a touch of the drink to give you false courage, I thought and took a larger drink. Five minutes later Bobbie knocked on the door frame and came into the office.

"Hello J.T. It's nice to see you," she said.

I nodded at her again but couldn't keep myself from smiling at her. I stared at Bobbie for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and said, "It's nice to see you in person Bobbie; the web cam just isn't the same. I'll need your help in running the place until Dad can come back."

Bobbie blushed and stammered a second looked at the floor then said, "Okay. I'm glad you're back; I've missed you."

That was about the extent of our first meeting. I think both of us felt a little shy and reserved.

Monday evening I went to see my dad and Ethan. Dad was still bitching at the nurses except for one no nonsense head nurse. Sally Johnson was the one in charge of the eight room section that my father was in and every time Dad started to bitch at her Sally would tell him to shut up and quit being such a baby. She told him she had people to take care of who were really sick and couldn't be bothered with some over aged, feeling sorry for himself, delinquent.

I think Dad ragged on her just to get her to stay in his room longer. He was always in a good mood after she left. I watched Sally come out of Dad's room a couple of times and saw her smiling where he couldn't see it. Maybe Cupid was walking the halls of the hospital. If so, I was all for it, Dad had been alone for too long.

After visiting Dad I went to check in on Ethan before going home. For the first time he was alert and awake when I came into his room. He smiled when he saw me and I walked over and took his hand in both of mine. I was relieved to see that he was finally awake. We didn't say anything at first, just looked at each other and nodded our heads like a couple of bobble head dolls.

I had tears in my eyes and had to wipe them before I said anything to Ethan, his eyes were watery too and I handed him the box of tissues. Just like with my dad, Ethan and I seemed embarrassed about our feelings for each other.

"When are you going to stop gold bricking and get back to work?" I asked in greeting.

"Why would I want to go back to work? I've got three meals and a bed and pretty nurses to take care of me. Now who would want to leave all that?"

I pointed to the IV, the chest tube, and the cast on his arm and said, "Yeah, I can see you've got it made."

"I'm good J.T., really. The arm is healing and so are the bones in my hand and this chest tube will come out tomorrow. I'll be okay," Ethan was trying to reassure me. He was the injured one and he was worried about me; typical Ethan.

I visited with Dad and Ethan every day after work for that first week. Dad and I would talk about the business and Ethan and I just talked. On Sunday evening Dad suggested that I just call instead of coming to the hospital every day. Both of them were out of danger and it sure made it easier on me. I had never realized how much it took to manage the building supply business. I was almost as tired after a day in the office as I had been after a day of framing.

By the end of that first week I found it easier to be around and talk to Bobbie. We had too many years as friends for us not to enjoy time together. Bobbie was a very good at her job; without her the business could have been in big trouble.

I hadn't talked about my feelings or the reason I went to for San Diego; for right now it was enough that we began to get comfortable with each other again.

It was during a Saturday evening visit with Dad and Ethan after my second week running the company that it occurred to me that Dad should have been released from the hospital by now. He seemed in good shape but he was guarded every time I asked about him coming home. Ethan I could understand still being in the hospital because of the punctured lung, but Dad should have gone home by now.

Bobbie's parents, James and Molly, were visiting my father also. James had retired last year and he and Molly had moved to a small town on a lake about two hundred miles from us. The special effort they made to visit was a very nice considering the four hundred mile round trip they had to make. I waited for them to leave before I questioned Dad about why he was still in the hospital. As they said good bye Mr. Cassidy motioned for me to follow him into the hall way.

He reassured me about my dad and then said, "Damn I'm glad your home J.T., maybe Bobbie will get back to being her old self."

I was puzzled and didn't understand what he meant. He saw the question in my eyes and continued.

"Ever since you left for California, she's been moping around like someone stole her dog or something. This has been going on for six months or more. But when we saw her this morning she was all bright eyed and bushy tailed; the old Bobbie is back and the only change around here is you coming home. Glad you're back boy." He slapped me on the shoulder and walked down the hall to the elevators.

Now what was that all about, I thought as I went back into Dad's room? I was sitting by Dad's bed with Mary Kate when Nurse Johnson came in to say good night to him; her shift was over and she was going home. Maybe Dad won't tell me what's going on I thought, but Sally would.

"Nurse Johnson, when can I expect to get this old man out of here and back home?"

She looked at Dad and he sort of shrugged. "William's going to be in here for a while if he follows his doctor's suggestion."

I noticed she called him William instead of Mr. Chance. As I looked at Dad I raised my eyebrows questioning what she meant. "What's go on Pop? What suggestion?"

Dad glared daggers at Sally, sighed, and said, "No need to put it off any longer I guess," Dad mumbled to himself. "About you going back to California; I'm asking you to put your plans on hold for awhile."

"What? Why?"

Dad studied my face before he answered. He explained that he needed me to stay for a while longer and help with the business because of three things. Mary Kate had gotten a job offer from a fashion design company in New York and would be leaving in two months, she could put it off for a month but she had to go; Ethan wouldn't be in any condition to run the business for quite a while and with both Mary Kate and Ethan unavailable it just left me to help him.

"Hire someone to help or promote one of the men from the yard until you get better," I argued.

"There's one other reason J. T. The doctors ran some tests just after I was admitted and found a problem with my heart. They told me that I need bypass surgery and the sooner the better. I guess the accident was actually a good thing. Anyway that's why I need you to stay."

I was shocked, scared, and worried; Dad had always been the rock that all of us leaned on. My hurt feelings and childish running away stopped here; my dad needed me and I wouldn't leave again. I would just have to learn how to co-exist with Bobbie; at least until Dad was okay.

Dad assured me that he would be okay after the procedure and could get back to leading a normal life. Mary Kate backed him up but did say that he would have to eat a little healthier and when they started wrangling back and forth I laughed and went to visit Ethan.

Ethan was looking much better; the drain tube in his chest was gone as was the IV in his arm. His color was closer to normal and he seemed stronger. I told him about Dad's procedure, which he already knew about, and laughed as I told him about Mary Kate confronting me and reading Dad the riot act about living healthier.

"I bet Nurse Johnson is giving him hell too. After he stopped laughing about Mary Kate confronting me and Dad being ordered around by Sally he said, "J.T., I think Dad's in love; he's found someone that won't put up with his bullshit." Ethan asked "By the way, how's work going?"

"It's okay. The guys in the yard and warehouse don't really need my supervision; they know what needs to be done better than I do. Mary Kate has about got me up to speed on the computer, Bobbie's been a big help with inventory control, and I actually think I'm beginning to know how to do more than just drink coffee," I answered.

"Speaking of Bobbie, how are you doing there?"

"We're working together pretty well, I think." I was dodging his real question.

"Don't give me that crap. You know what I meant. Have you told her that you love her yet?" Ethan just kept digging at me. "Mary Kate told me all about it. She said the reason you left was because Bobbie and I were dating. Is that right?"

"I eh...Well eh...I mean..." Finally I quit stuttering and said, "I went to San Diego to work and to do something on my own. That's the only reason." I tried to stare Ethan down.

"Bullshit, little brother. Look, if I had known that you thought of Bobbie as more than a fishing buddy I wouldn't have dated her, I'm sorry John."

Ethan you've known her for years, what peaked your interest in her after all this time?"

Ethan paused to put his thought together and answered, "I knew Bobbie had a little crush on me for a long time; I mean I am the good looking brother." He laughed and continued.

"When a young girl of 14 has a crush on you and you're 18, she's too young for you. Now when she is 18 and you're 22, a relationship is possible but still a little shady. But when the girl is 22 and you're 26, if there is a mutual attraction, there are no legal or moral obstacles to stop you from exploring a relationship. That's what happened to me." Ethan couldn't really look me in the eye.

I could see that Ethan was really bothered by his little fling with Bobbie. My dad, Mary Kate, and Ethan all seemed to know how I felt about Bobbie and they apparently weren't going to let me off the hook until I talked to Bobbie.

"How could you know Ethan? I didn't know myself until Bobbie told me she was interested in you. That's when I realized that she was more than just my buddy. I couldn't take being around her after you two started together so I went to San Diego," I told him. It felt good to finally talk about the whole mess.

"One last thing J.T., The week you left Bobbie broke it off with me. She said that she cared for me very much but not in that way. I didn't know why she changed, but after that we were and are just good friends. It wasn't until Mary Kate started bringing her in on the web chats that I figured it out," Ethan told me.

"Figured out what? What are you talking about, Ethan?"

"You're as dumb as a stump aren't you? Bobbie loves you too. Let's see; you love her, she loves you, and so now what's our next step here?" He laughed at the stunned look on my face.

"Look the whole family loves Bobbie, she's one of us. You can't let her get away; I mean she won't wait forever. Somebody with more sense than you have is going to snatch her up if you aren't careful. Bobbie's like an heirloom of this family and you don't give heirlooms away."

"An heirloom? What the hell are you talking about?"

Ethan laughed and said, "An heirloom is something of special value handed on from one generation or person to another and that's what Bobbie is. Something of special value. Dad's too old, Mary Kate is the wrong sex, and Bobbie doesn't love me so that leaves you. You have to do something to keep her in the family. Isn't it lucky that you love her?" He was still laughing as he talked.

"You're nuts Ethan. I think they're giving you too much happy juice in here."

We tabled the subject of Bobbie and me and discussed the business for a little while. As visiting hours ended I went back to the ranch. I was on the deck at the back of the house with a small glass of Jack Daniels thinking about Bobbie and how everybody in my family knew about my feelings for her. I wondered if Bobbie knew.

About an hour and another drink later, Mary Kate came out to join me with her own drink and sat down next to me. "How are you holding up little one?"

"I'm okay, but a little confused. Did you or anyone else in the family tell Bobbie why I left? Have you asked her how she feels about me?"

"No, we didn't think it was our place to do either of those things; that's something you should have done and something you still should do," Mary Kate chastised me a little. Then with a laugh she continued, "This isn't like grade school with the 'do you think she likes me' silliness."

"I'm afraid if I tell her I love her, I'll lose her friendship," I admitted.

"And how's that working for you J.T.?" Mary Kate said with frustration. She wasn't happy with my reasoning. "You don't want to chance losing Bobbie's friendship so you run off to San Diego. Not only do you not have her friendship but you are separated from your family and your home. Smooth move John." She stood up and continued.

"If you tell Bobbie that you love her, there are three things that can happen and only one of them is bad. Worst case scenario is that she doesn't want your love or your friendship and she decides to move on; I think pigs will fly before that happens. Another result could be that she tells you she just wants to be your friend and you guys can go back to being buddies; maybe not the best thing in your mind but it's better than what you have now. But what I think will happen is that she will tell you that she loves you too and you guys can start a life together." She finished her drink and set the glass down.

"Think about it John and do something, even if it's wrong. Right now you've got nothing. I'm going to bed; clean up the glasses before you turn in." With that Mary Kate left me to think things out for myself.

I sat on the deck for another hour going over my thoughts and those of Mary Kate. Finally I knew what I was going to do and went to bed, but not before I washed the glasses as ordered. The next morning I got to the office early and waited for Bobbie. I was going to clarify and rectify my situation this morning.

Bobbie came in, said hello and went into her office. I grabbed two cups of coffee and followed her. "Cream and light sugar, right?" I set a cup on her desk and sat down across from her.

She smiled and picked up the cup saying, "You remembered, thank you."

"Bobbie I need to talk to you. I know it's been a little tense around her between us and it's my fault; I apologize."

"It only natural, you've been worried about your dad and Ethan. No apology necessary," she said with a little smile.

"It's more than that. There's something I need to tell you that I should have told you a long time ago. My only excuse is that I didn't know how you would react and I didn't want to lose your friendship." I was stalling.

"What could you possibly say that would stop us from being friends?"

"Well, you see I...." I heard a noise behind me and turned. It was Mary Kate standing at the office door. She smiled, gave me a thumbs up, and closed the door.

"Bobbie, when I broke up with Amber I realized why I never got close to any of the girls I dated." I stopped for a sip of coffee and gathered my courage and continued. "The reason I couldn't get close to them is that I was and am in love with you." I hesitated for a few seconds and waited for her response.

Her only reaction was a small smile and a nod of her head.

"I had planned to tell you how I felt about you that night that you asked for my help with a problem but you told me about Ethan before I had a chance. You sounded so excited about him; I didn't want to put pressure on you and make you choose between us, so I didn't say anything."

I had been looking at the floor or the desk front but now looked at Bobbie. She made a motion with her hand for me to continue. At least she hadn't jumped up and run from the office.




Heirloom



"That's the reason I went to San Diego. I didn't want to interfere between you and Ethan but I couldn't stay around and watch you two together. It would have torn me up inside. If you don't feel the same way, please understand that I would still like to be your friend. I want you in my life even if it is just as a friend," I finished and waited for Bobbie's response.

I watched as tears welled up in her eyes. Damn, now I've lost her completely I thought. Worst case scenario Mary Kate, I said to myself. Then I saw that Bobbie was smiling.

"I'm glad you told me John but I already knew how you felt," she said surprising me. Now it was her turn to hold up her hand when I started to say something.

"The day that you left and gave me a hug and kiss good bye I saw it in your eyes that you loved me. By the time I got over my surprise you were already driving away. I should have chased after you or I should have said something to you during one of the web chats," Bobbie explained.

"Said something? Said what?" Now I was confused.

"I love you too," she admitted.

Now I was shocked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was afraid of losing your friendship too; you had never done or said anything to suggest that you wanted to be more than friends. I know now that's why I never liked any of the girls you dated. That's why I gave you crap about Amber and all the others. The fact that they were after you was the problem." Bobbie stopped to catch her breath for a few seconds.

I looked at Bobbie for what seemed to be an hour but was really only a couple of minutes and then broke out laughing. Standing up I started around the desk and Bobbie came to meet me. We grabbed on to each other and I finally gave her a lover's kiss.

We heard a muffled "About damned time" from behind the door and knew we wouldn't have to tell anyone about "us"; Mary Kate would take care of that.

I did go visit my dad and Ethan and told them the news. Dad said, "Well you finally got your head out of your ass, good job John."

Ethan hugged me when I told him and said, "That's one heirloom that won't get out of this family."

****************

Bobbie and I didn't get engaged and start planning a wedding; instead we planned dates to reacquaint ourselves. We wanted to make sure that our feelings were real and not colored by our being close to each other again. It was a waste of time because after the first three dates there was no doubt that we were in love. Then we got engaged and planned a quickie wedding.

Bobbie wanted Mary Kate to be her maid of honor so we needed to get married before she had to leave for New York. Dad had bypass surgery and came through without any problems the day after Bobbie and I talked. Ethan had already come home from the hospital, was doing well, and was going to be my best man. We had to plan the wedding around all those factors.

In addition we had to arrange lodging for Bobbie's parents; they were coming to the wedding of course. James did his fatherly duty and walked Bobbie down the aisle. The four hundred mile round trip to their home was too much for a one day turn around after attending a wedding and what proved to be a great reception. Mr. Jack Daniels and Senor Jose Cuervo both attended but I made it a point not to visit with them except to say hello.

Dad's nurse, Sally Johnson, came to the wedding with my father. She said it was to make damned sure he behaved himself and didn't waste all the work she had done getting him well. They didn't fool anyone, there was a romance blooming there. You could see it every time they looked at each other.

At the reception Dad stood and asked for quiet. He called Bobbie over to him and put a blue agate cameo pendant around her neck. "This belonged to my wife; it belonged to her mother and her mother before her. The day that she passed away she told me to give it to the wife of the first of our boys to get married. That's you honey."

Dad lifted his glass of Jack Daniels, it was the one and only drink that Sally let him have, and toasted Bobbie saying, "One valuable heirloom should be worn by another valuable heirloom."

Everyone toasted Bobbie; I thought Ethan was going to bust his stitches he was laughing so hard and pointing at me. Smart ass.

*****************

A lot has happened in the year and a half since Bobbie and I got married. We had a little boy and named him Thomas Lane Chance; following in my dad's footsteps by naming him after two of John Wayne's characters.

Bobbie redecorated the office next to hers so she could bring Thomas to work with her. We cut a doorway in the wall between the two offices to make it easy for Bobbie to check on him. Bobbie said she was going to be a working mother but she'd be damned if she leave her child in daycare.

Dad and Sally Johnson got married about six months after Bobbie and I, surprising no one but Dad. He retired to the "26 Bar Ranch" and left the building supply business to Ethan, Mary Kate, and me. The company name was changed to Chance & Sons and our new motto was "Take a Chance on Quality"; the customers seemed to like it.

Sally had been raised on a cattle ranch in Texas and knew more about raising cattle than her new husband.. She and Dad got serious about raising Hereford cattle; they bought the two farms that adjoined the ranch and increased its size to over 1000 acres. Now Dad has someone that cares as much about his ranch as he does and he is happy again; I didn't know if he ever would be after Mom passed away.

Ethan was physically able to come back to work at the company soon after Dad retired. Ethan, Bobbie, and I have actually been able to increase our share of the market. Mary Kate decided she didn't want to live in New York and is coming home. So she, Ethan, and Bobbie can run the supply company.

I'm back in the construction business, no not as a framer but I'm starting my own custom home building firm; I've got an in with a building supply company and can cut my cost on supplies.

Bobbie is pregnant again. She says she wants to have our children in a bunch so we'll be young enough to enjoy each one as they grow up. She won't tell me how many kids are in a bunch though.

I told her just last night how much I love her saying, "It's not every man that can kiss an heirloom good night."

We're as happy as any two people can be and life goes on.