Vin was happily running down to the corral where his new horse, Peso was. Peso wasn't broke yet, but Vin had been working hard the last few days to prepare for him when he was. Vin personally didn't know why Peso had to be broke, from the moment they saw each other, they were connected.

Vin approached the corral and scowled a little. Peso was on the other side of the corral. Since Vin had promised he wouldn't get into the corral, he climbed the fence and sat on the top rail. He also promised not to get close to the wild horses so he decided to just call over Peso. //Peso wasn't a wild horse// Vin whistled and called Peso by name.

Peso immediately recognized the voice of his 'boy' and walked over to where Vin was sitting on the fence. Vin wrapped his arms around Peso's neck and gave the horse a hug. Peso didn't move. Vin started to tell his horse about his day and all of the trouble he caused in the last week or two. He was so engrossed in the tale, that he didn't hear Chris approach, but Peso did.

Chris had decided to check on Vin and to round him up for bed. As he got closer to the corral, he saw Vin sitting on the top railing of the fence. This didn't bother him until he saw Peso trot over to his little brother. To Chris, Peso was still wild and dangerous.

Chris picked up his pace but slowed again when he saw Peso allow Vin to hug his neck. //I'll be damned// Chris thought. Chris approached and listened to Vin tell his horse about the bully and school all the time scratching the horses ears.

As Chris approached, Peso started to get agitated. Vin figured it was Chris behind his so, without looking up, he said, "Hey Cowboy."

Chris had to laugh. He came up slowly and stood next to Vin. "Thought I told you to stay away from the wild horses."

"These's all over there Chris." Vin pointed to the rest of the horses.

"Peso is still wild Vin."

"He ain't wild fer me. I bet ya iffen ya let me, I could break him faster than Buck or Josiah or even you."

"Well don't try it. You are way to young to break horses."

"I saw it done once in the village. The Indians do it different."

"How do they do it differently?"

"They look inta the horses eyes and they can tell iffen the horse will make a good mount or if they should just let him go 'cause he'd be too much trouble."

"And what do you think about Peso? Can he be broke or should we just let him go?" Chris was smiling at the stricken look on Vin's face. He knew Vin would never want to let the horse go.

"I can tell ya Chris that Peso wants to stay with me."

"Well, I suppose if the beast wants to stay..."

"He ain't no beast. Just high spirited."

"There's a good word. Ornery is closer."

"Ain't so. Yer jest mad cause he throwed ya off today."

"Could be little brother. I think you need to say goodnight to Peso. It's time for bed."

"Bed time ain't fer another hour."

"Yep, but I want you to have a bath. You've been out here with the horses and in the barn all day. Nettie just changed all the sheets, so..."

"Aw Chris. Do I haveta? It ain't even Saturday yet."

Chris lifted Vin off the fence and set him down. He took Vin's hand and headed for the house. "I know it's not Saturday, but you are dirty. Now I asked Miz Nettie to prepare a bath and you will be using it, so let's go."

Vin tried to get his hand out of Chris' but Chris just held a little tighter. "Please Chris." Vin whined.

"Vin. I suggest you stop fighting me and quit the whining before I loose my patience."

Vin stopped struggling and pouted. //I hate baths//

They entered the ranch house to find Buck snoring on the couch, Josiah reading a book, and JD sleeping on top of Buck, also snoring. Chris let Vin's hand go as he closed the front door. Vin immediately started to rub his wrist and scowled at Chris. Chris ignored the behavior and walked over to Josiah.

"Josiah? Why didn't you bring JD upstairs?"

"He's only been asleep a few minutes. Buck doesn't seem to mind." Josiah paused and then said, "Miz Nettie said Vin's bath water is ready."

"Good." Chris turned to Vin and motioned toward the bathhouse. "Go get into the tub Vin. I'll get you some clean clothes."

"Please Chris." Vin tried once more.

Chris didn't say a word, but started moving toward Vin. He got the hint and ran to the bathhouse. Chris turned to see Josiah smiling. "And what is so funny?"

"You. That boy is one of the few who can stand tall against the 'Larabee Glare'."

"Ha. Ha. Real funny Josiah." Chris retrieved Vin's nightshirt and brought it to the bathhouse.

After pouting, whining, and outright defiance to taking a bath, Chris lost his patience. It only took one small reminder swat to get Vin to get into the tub and stay there. Chris quickly washed and rinsed his brother until he got all the dirt off. He helped Vin out of the tub to dry off.

"I's 8 years old Chris. I can wash myself."

"I know you're old enough Vin, but you never do it. You carry on like I'm torturing you by making you take a bath and then you don't wash. You sit and pout in the tub until the water gets cold. I'm tired of it. I will let you take your bath in private when you prove to me you can wash and not waste time."

"I'm sorry." Vin wiped his eyes with his towel.

"Forgiven. Now get dried and dressed. When you're ready come sit with me by the fire and I'll read ya a story. Okay?"

"Okay." Chris left Vin to dress in private and returned to the living room. Both Buck and JD were gone. Josiah just smiled.

"I couldn't read with Buck's snoring, so I took JD upstairs and made Buck go too."

"Good. Now maybe things will quiet down. Ezra to bed yet?"

"Yeah. I checked on him too. He's bored being stuck in his room."

"Bored isn't necessarily a good thing."

"No not when you think about how much trouble the boys are when they're bored."

Josiah returned to his book and Chris looked for a good story to tell Vin. As he was returning to his chair, there was a knock at the door. Chris opened the door to reveal a very angry Mr. Peterson.

"Larabee! I want to talk to you about your brother."

"Could you be more specific Mr. Peterson? I have six of them."

"The half-breed one."

"Mr. Peterson. Is there some reason you have come to my home to insult my family. Because I may just shoot you and not bother."

"Your brother made my son Jake sick."

"How's that? Vin and Jake haven't seen each other since school got out last week."

"He gave my boy a brownie and it was poisoned."

Vin had walked into the room to hear the accusation. "I didn't give it too him. He stoled it."

"That ain't true boy. You poisoned him and I aim to see you pay for it. We'll see if the sheriff can get the truth out of you." Peterson stormed off and rode away toward town.

Chris slammed the door and turned to see tears running down Vin's face. He gathered Vin into his arms and carried him over to his chair.

"It's okay Vin. Shush." Chris rubbed his back until Vin calmed down

"I don't want to go to jail." Vin sobbed.

Chris finally understood why Vin was so upset. "Vin. No one is gonna send you to jail. This is something between two schoolboys. The sheriff will just tell Mr. Peterson to go away. You didn't hurt Jake and the boy deserved it anyway. I want you to calm down and not worry about it, okay? I'll take care of everything." Chris and Josiah exchanged knowing looks. //We will protect family//

Chris calmed Vin down and read him a story. When Chris looked down, Vin was sound asleep with his thumb in his mouth.

"I haven't seen him do that for awhile." Josiah commented.

"Just when he's frightened or upset. Since pa died, it's almost a nightly occurrence."

"I didn't know."

"Why would ya? Face it brother. When it comes down to it, Vin comes to me for comfort; JD goes to Buck, and Ezra and Nate go to you."

"Yeah but you notice everything."

"Well, I do try." Both brothers shared the quiet before Chris carried Vin to bed and checked on everyone. Josiah locked up and did the same check.

Josiah and Chris were preparing to break the new horses. It was Buck's day to keep JD occupied and Vin and Ezra were both being allowed to help with the horses.

Ezra was glad the two weeks of 'room arrest' were over. He knew he still couldn't go or do anything without Josiah's permission, but it felt good to be doing anything. //Mother would be appalled// Ezra chuckled out loud.

"What's so funny?" Josiah asked with a smile.

"Just thinking about what Mother would say about me doing manual labor."

"Does a man good to do an honest days work."

"I'm not a man Josiah. I had that pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago." Ezra absently rubbed his backside.

"You are a fine young man Ezra and quit rubbing your behind. It's not sore anymore."

"No? The memory is still there though."

"That was the purpose." Josiah said as he ruffled Ezra's hair. "Come on. Let's get this horse back with the others. Chris should be about ready to get up on Peso again."

"He's taking a thrashing from that horse. Why doesn't Chris just let Vin do it?"

"What? Break a wild horse? Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm not crazy but Vin and Peso communicate well already. The horse comes when Vin calls him."

"It doesn't matter if Vin can or can't control Peso. He's no good to anyone if no one else can get near him."

"Vin could tell him it's okay. I had to with Chaucer." Ezra smiled.

"That's another devil horse. He takes another bite out of Pony and Chris is gonna shoot him."

"I moved him away from all the others." Ezra protested. Chaucer was spirited but was a very smart horse.

"When Peso is ready for the barn I think we'll put him next to Chaucer. Then maybe Peso could humble your horse a little."

"Chaucer is a gentleman. He doesn't need to be humbled."

"Gentlemen don't bite others."

"He simply uses the only defense he has."

"I suggest you break him of that 'defense' before Chris carries out his threat."

"You may be correct. I'll speak to Chaucer."

"Ezra, you talk like that horse is a person."

"He's smarter than a lot of our ranch hands Josiah."

Josiah turned and scowled at Ezra. "Don't be disrespectful Ezra."

"I'm sorry." Inwardly, Ezra was thinking that it was a true statement, but knew not to let Josiah hear him say it.

"Let's get back to work."

Vin was sitting on the top rail of the corral watching Chris get ready to ride Peso again. The last time Chris tried, Peso threw him.

Chris put the bridle on Peso and decided to try the use of the blinders to calm Peso a little.

"Josiah?" Josiah moved away from the corral he was in and approached Chris.

"Yeah Chris?"

"Are the blinders still in the tack room or did you bring them out?"

Josiah looked quickly and didn't see them. "Must still be in the tack room. I'll send Ezra after them."

"Okay." Chris turned back to Peso as Josiah sent Ezra up to the barn for the blinders.

Chris tied Peso to the railing near Vin. "Try to keep him calm Vin, but don't get too close."

"Okay." Vin patted Peso's muzzle. Chris went to work with another horse while he waited for Ezra.

Twenty minutes later, Chris noticed that Ezra hadn't returned from the barn. He wanted to get finished with Peso and break a couple more horses before Supper. "Josiah? What's keeping Ezra?"

"Don't know. I'll go check." Josiah headed for the barn. When he entered the tack room he immediately knew what the problem was. He smiled at Ezra who was sitting in the middle of the room trying to untangle the blinders from each other. "Having some difficulty Ez?"

Ezra's head snapped up. "I'm sorry Josiah. I'm trying to do this quickly."

"Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. Unless you were the one who was supposed to clean the tack room this week."

"No sir. I did it last week. I don't remember whose turn it is."

"Let me give you a hand." Josiah sat and helped Ezra untangle the tack for Chris.

Chris was getting frustrated. He lost both Ezra and Josiah now. "I'm going to go see what's keeping those two Vin. Don't go anywhere."

"Okay." Vin watched as Chris headed to the barn. Once Chris was out of sight, Vin thought about how he could break Peso better than Chris. Vin knew Peso wouldn't throw him.

Making a decision, Vin moved Peso closer so that he could slide onto his back. Peso hadn't had the saddle on long so Vin just made a quick check of the cinch. Satisfied, Vin slowly eased one leg over Peso's back while talking calmly to him. Easily he slid onto Peso's back and took the reins.

"Okay boys. Now that the blinders are untangled, maybe we could get some work done." Chris said as he walked out of the barn and headed back to the corral. "Who was supposed to work in the tack room Josiah?"

"I'm not sure. Normally it would be Nathan after Ezra, but the schedules have changed quite a bit the last couple weeks. I'll check we Buck when he returns from town."

"Fine. We've wasted enough time today. Whoever was supposed to do it, will have me to answer to.

All three brothers looked toward the corral and stopped dead in their tracks at what they saw. It took Chris only seconds to recover and run toward the corral. //I'm gonna kill him// Josiah and Ezra weren't far behind.

Vin was about to lead Peso away from the corral fence when he felt himself lifted from Peso's back. He looked up at a very angry Chris Larabee and visibly swallowed the lump that suddenly appeared.

Chris was so scared and angry that he couldn't talk. He turned Vin around and swatted his backside five times. He looked at Vin and shook him firmly and found his voice.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?"

Vin was so startled by Chris yelling that he didn't answer. Chris swatted him two more times and hollered, "ANSWER ME!"

Vin was crying so hard that he stuttered as he tried to talk. "I...I...I... ju...s...s...t..."

"JUST WHAT?"

Josiah decided to intervene. "Chris? Calm down."

Chris didn't hear him. All he could see was Vin's tiny body trampled by a horse. He wasn't thinking rationally. Josiah noticed this and saw that Vin looked terrified, so he moved to Chris and placed his hands firmly on Chris' shoulders and gently shook.

"CHRIS! Let go! You're hurting Vin."

Chris blinked and saw the terrified look in Vin's eyes. Vin was crying so hard he was about to hyperventilate. Chris realized that he was scaring Vin and immediately tried to calm down. He loosened his grip and spoke softer to Vin as he drew him into a hug. Vin hugged him back, sobbing.

"You scared me Vin. You could have been hurt badly if Peso had decided to throw you. Do you understand?"

Vin nodded his head against Chris' shoulder. Chris drew him away from his shoulder to look into Vin's eyes. "Do you really understand?"

"Yessss Sir." Vin said as he wiped at his eyes and nose with his sleeve. Chris took a hanky and wiped his tears and nose then told Vin to blow. When Vin was calmer, Chris took him into his arms and carried him toward the house.

Josiah and Ezra put Peso out with the other horses and finished up for the day.

Chris set Vin down and took his hand as they approached the house. Vin was still upset and more than a little concerned about what Chris was going to do to him. He continued to cry and tried to free his hand from Chris' grasp.

Chris simply took deep breaths. He was still shaken from seeing Vin on Peso. He simply held onto Vin's hand and walked into the house. He knew if he did anything he had to calm down first.

They entered the house and Chris lead Vin over to their pa's chair. He noticed Vin was still crying and trying to get his hand free. Chris sat down and drew Vin over to look at him eye to eye. Chris took another deep breath.

"Boy, do you know how dangerous that little stunt was?"

Vin was angry and upset. He knew Peso wouldn't hurt him, why didn't Chris know? "Weren't dangerous." Vin whispered, but Chris heard him.

"Weren't dangerous! I keep telling you that Peso is still a wild horse. Maybe I should just let the beast loose, or just shoot him."

"NO!" Vin yelled.

"Don't yell at me young man. I won't tolerate it." Chris was getting angry again. Deciding it would be safer to calm down again, Chris said, "Go to your room Vin. When we both have calmed down, we will finish this discussion."

"But..." Vin started.

"GO!" Chris yelled.

Vin ran upstairs sobbing.

Chris was taking deep, cleansing breaths when he heard a rider coming in fast. //What now// He walked outside to see Hank stop at the hitching post.

"CHRIS!" Hank yelled.

Chris became alarmed. "What's wrong Hank?"

Hank dismounted quickly. "Someone tried to rob the bank in town. Buck's been shot."

"What? Is he okay? What about JD?'

"Don't know. Alls I know is Buck is at the clinic and JD's at Ms. Travis'."

Chris let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Thanks Hank. Could you go down to the corral and barn and let Josiah know. Ask him to saddle up Prophet, Pony and Chaucer."

"Not Star?"

"No. Star can't keep up. Vin can ride with me." Chris didn't wait for a reply. He headed into the house to tell Nettie and to get overnight provisions for everyone. Then he would fetch Vin.

Vin was sobbing into his pillow when Chris entered and startled the boy. Vin was still very afraid of what Chris would do. He hadn't seen him this angry since Sarah and Adam died. Vin was brought out of his thoughts by Chris' voice.

"Vin, let's go."

"Where?" Vin was curious as Chris grabbed his saddlebags and started putting clothes into them.

Chris tried to hurry Vin along. "Come on. We need to go now."

Vin slowly got up and wiped his eyes. //He's sending me away// Vin couldn't help the hurt he felt and stared to cry again.

"Vin stop yer crying and let's go. We need to get to town quickly."

"Why?" Vin wanted to know why Chris was sending him away.

Chris on the other hand, didn't see how upset Vin was becoming. He also didn't want to worry Vin, so he said, "It doesn't matter right now. We need to go."

Vin knew Chris wasn't telling him the truth. "I'm sorry Chris." He just cried as Chris took his hand and almost dragged him outside. Chris never heard the quiet little voice ask not to be sent away.

Josiah and Ezra had all three horses ready when they saw Chris and a very upset Vin in tow.

"Josiah. Put Vin up on my horse please."

Josiah looked concerned when Vin seemed to become more upset. His confusion deepened when Vin said, "Please don't send me away Chris."

Chris never heard him, but Josiah did. He gathered Vin into his arms and tried to calm him down. "Shhhh. It's okay Vin. No one is sending you away."

"Chris...ss... packed... my clothes." He stuttered.

"That's because all of us are staying in town tonight. Buck was hurt and Chris is just upset about that. Okay?"

Vin nodded and put his head on Josiah's shoulder and tried to calm down. He put his thumb in his mouth and tried to breath. Chris returned from the barn and scowled.

"Josiah. I want to get moving. Put Vin on my horse and let's go."

"Why don't you let me take him? He's still upset and I know you have no patience when you're worried."

Chris just looked at Josiah like he was missing part of the conversation. "It will be faster if Vin rides with me." Chris reached out and took Vin from Josiah's shoulder, completely missing the whimper from Vin.

Josiah didn't miss it though. He put a gentle hand on Vin's back and asked him, "You okay little brother?"

Vin nodded to Josiah as Chris lifted him into the saddle. Vin started to slide backward to let Chris up, but was stopped by Chris. "Ride up front Vin. We have to move fast and I don't want to loose ya." Vin just nodded and moved back to the front of the saddle. He tried to get comfortable on his sore backside, but failed to find the right spot before Chris mounted up behind him. Chris took the reins and turned to Josiah.

"Where's Nate today?"

"Helping with the Doc. He's probably with Buck or JD."

Vin was still moving uncomfortably when Chris yelled at him. "Settle down Vin and quit your squirming." Vin tried to comply, but his backside hurt too much. He stopped however, when Chris lost his patience and smacked Vin's leg. "I said settle down!" Vin just cried harder.

Josiah had had enough. He pulled his horse up to Chris' and pulled both horses to a stop.

"Josiah! What are you doing?"

"Rescuing my baby brother. Give Vin to me." Josiah already had Vin out of Chris' saddle and onto his own before Chris could reply.

"Why Josiah?" Chris was confused.

Josiah looked down at Vin who was quietly crying and sucking his thumb as he leaned back against Josiah. "Because this boy thinks you are sending him away because of him riding Peso. Then you smack him when he can't sit still on a sore backside. Have you forgotten that you just spanked him?"

"I..." Chris started to deny what Josiah was saying, but he saw the frightened look in Vin's eyes and realized the truth. "I'm sorry." He turned to Vin. "I'm sorry Vin. I'm not sending you away. I'm just worried about Buck and JD. I spanked you for disobeying me and I forgive you. Will you forgive me?" Chris watched as the emotions passed over Vin's face. Vin then nodded at Chris.

"Will you ride with me? I promise to remember your sore backside." Chris held his arms out to Vin and waited. It didn't take Vin long to smile and almost leap from Josiah to Chris. Vin settled in front of Chris and leaned against him. Chris kissed Vin on the top of his head and said, "I love you Vin."

"I love you too." Vin whispered, but Chris heard it. Chris then looked at Josiah and silently mouthed 'thank you' and then spurred his horse toward town and his injured brother.