The summer months flew by. The three in the small house became a family, learning from each other and, for the most part, becoming closer and closer as each idyllic day passed. Lucy spent most mornings with Justin, helping him around the house. If there were more finger smudges after she polished the furniture than before, well, that was okay. And her gardening improved dramatically once Justin taught her the difference between a carrot top and a weed. She loved working with the chickens. Every morning, she scrambled inside the hen house, scattering the birds out and quickly gathering the eggs from the nest boxes, all the while Fagin keeping the hens at bay. Then she’d spread the feed, giggling as the chickens pecked at her feet, rushing back into the house as they chased her away. Lucy spent her afternoons with JC. His skill with training and taming horses had been found out by the town folk, and he always had a new horse to take care of. And he was giving Lucy riding lessons, but really, the girl barely needed instructions. She’d inherited her Uncle JC’s talent with horses and could soon ride better than Justin. And each night, the three of them would gather together where JC or Justin would read aloud. Lucy’s favorite was currently Alice Through the Looking Glass , and the two men read chapters from that book over and over. Lucy never again spoke about Justin and JC’s relationship. She accepted that her uncles loved each other, and to her, that all that mattered. But if there was one cloud in their sunny lives, it was Justin’s continual refusal to leave the ranch and go to town with JC and Lucy. Every two weeks or so, JC would hitch the wagon and ask Justin to come with them. And every time, Justin would refuse. They would return hours later, Lucy full of talk of town and her friends and the people and things she saw. She always brought back presents and surprises for Justin, and once, for her sixth birthday, a kitten that she’d soon named Alice. This new addition to the family initially displeased Fagin, but soon the Shepard’s nature won out and Alice became one of the family, and his to protect and defend. By contrast, JC was subdued and quiet on their return. JC had given up hope on Justin every coming with them, but always asked. They’d only argued about it once. Well, JC had argued; Justin had remained mute, concentrating on the clothes he was washing. JC had yelled, cajoled, bribed, even threatened. Justin just washed the clothes. That night, JC had lain apart from Justin, his anger still simmering. He’d felt a tentative touch as Justin’s hand caressed him, and tried to ignore Justin’s advance. But the boy was aggressive, touching and kissing and rocking JC to a fever pitch until suddenly, Justin went submissive, asking JC to take him, to do whatever he wanted, encouraging JC along, giving the older man his body, subjecting himself to JC’s whims. It was like that every time after JC went to town. Justin would arouse JC, then ask, no demand, to be taken however JC wanted. JC realized it was Justin’s way of giving JC something, though not what he really wanted the most. And as much as JC tried to resist, he couldn’t. He knew Justin was manipulating him, but it didn’t matter. The feel of Justin, the taste of Justin, the sight and sound of Justin, wanting, needing, pleading, begging to be taken was too much for JC. He took Justin every time. *** “So, can anyone guess what next week is?” JC asked one morning at breakfast. “My birthday!” Lucy shouted. Justin laughed, bringing the coffee pot over from the stove. “You just had your birthday, little girl,” he told her, sharing a smile with JC. “What is next week, JC?” “The start of school,” JC told them. Justin’s hand shook, splattering coffee on the table. He sat down heavily as JC wiped the spill with his napkin. “School?” “For me?” Lucy asked, tossing a piece of toast crust to Fagin, who was sitting on her left. The dog caught the bread with a snap of strong jaws. JC nodded, but his eyes were fixed on Justin’s face. “School for you, Lucy.” Lucy watched her uncles, realizing they weren’t really looking at her, giving her the opportunity to drop a piece of bacon to Alice, who was sitting at her right. The cat blinked in gratitude and devoured the meat. ‘Isn’t she too young?” Justin protested. “She’s six,” JC explained. “That’s when you’re supposed to start school.” “Will Sally and Beth be there?” Lucy wondered. Sally and Beth were the daughters of the owner of the general store and the Postmaster, respectively. Lucy met them on her first trip to town, and ever since, the three had become fast friends. “Yes, they will,” JC said, moving her plate away so no more of her breakfast could be fed to the animals. “And other children you haven’t met. You’ll learn how to read and do math and have lots of fun.” “Hooray!” Lucy exclaimed. “When do I go? What do I wear? Can I ride my horse?” In spite of himself, Justin chucked at Lucy’s enthusiasm. “Slow down, moppet,” he told her. “It’s not until next week, you’ll wear your new dress, and no, you can’t ride your horse!” “That’s right,” JC agreed, his gazed fixed on Justin’s face. “I’ll take you in the morning, and your Uncle Justin will pick you up in the afternoon.” Justin froze at his words. “JC, I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he said tensely. JC raised his coffee cup, taking a sip before answering. “But I do think it’s a good idea,” he said. “It’s easier for you to pick up Lucy in the afternoons.” Neither man noticed the girl watching the two men. They were both intent on their battle, this argument finally coming to a head. “I can’t,” Justin told him. “You can’t?" JC countered, his eyes accusing. “Or you won’t?” Justin looked away and rose from the table. “Won’t,” he answered, walking to the door. JC moved fast and blocked Justin’s exit. “I’m sorry, Justin, but that’s not a good enough reason.” “Please let me past,” Justin asked, his throat tight. “Forget it,” JC said, pushing Justin back into the kitchen and sitting him down into a chair. “I want an answer, once and for all.” He stood towering over Justin, aware of the intimidation of his stance but not caring if Justin was scared. He was tired of it. Tired of Justin being a coward. “I thought that maybe, if you wouldn’t go to town for me, you’d at least go for Lucy.” Justin shook his head. “It’s Lucy’s fault I can’t go.” He rose from the chair, only to be pushed back down by JC’s strong hand. “Please, can’t we forget this?” “No, we can’t. Explain please.” Justin sighed, wringing his hands. He peeked up at JC. “We can’t leave here, JC. Not now, not with Lucy.” “I don’t understand,” JC said, sitting down in his own chair. “Why would we have to leave?” “Because of me,” Justin explained. “You had to leave Colorado because of me. Now, with Lucy, we can’t…you can’t take that chance. She needs a stable home, a place to grow up.” JC was confused. “What does that have to do with you not coming to town?” “Because.” Justin wiped at his eyes. “Because, if I don’t go into town, they’ll forget about me, forget I exists, that we exist, and treat Lucy like a normal little girl who lives with her uncle. Her one uncle.” JC looked at Justin, then exploded with laughter. “No chance of that happening, Justin,” JC told him. “Every time we go into town, all Lucy talks about is you. All about you. To anyone who will listen. Unca Jussin does this, Unca Jussin does that.” JC dropped to his knees in front of Justin, holding the boy’s hands as they lay in Justin’s lap. “She loves you, Justin. So much. And I love you. More than my own life. And I’m so proud of you, of what you do, how you’ve made a home for me, and now her.” He lifted a hand and caressed Justin’s face. “And I want to show you off, show everyone what a wonderful man I have that, thankfully, loves me back.” Justin shook his head. “It can’t be that easy,” he told JC. “We had to leave…how could they possibly accept us?” JC shrugged. “They just do, baby,” came the reply. “Tom Wilkins told me that what people do is none of anyone’s business, and I have to believe them. I’ve never been treated with anything but respect.” JC wiped a tear from Justin’s face and kissed him softly. “Will you try? Come to town and see? Once you meet everyone that Lucy…” JC stopped suddenly, looking around the room. “Where is Lucy?” he asked. They exchanged a glance, then froze as they heard the frantic barking of the dog. They rushed out of the kitchen, finding Fagin locked in Lucy’s room. Justin’s heart beat faster as they surveyed the empty room, then ran to the front of the house, spying the wide open front door. Lucy was gone.