"Jarrod." His self assuring smile dropped.
"You know there's a wonderful modern convenience they put on every room in this house," Jarrod began. "It's called a door."
Gene rolled his eyes. "Okay, you already know I sneaked in. So what's your point?"
"My point, little brother, is me not knowing where you were."
"I can take care of myself."
"No. You can't. You weren't even responsible enough to tell me you were leaving."
"Would you have let me go?"
"I might have. But you didn't even give me a chance. It's late now. The three of us will finish this in the morning.."
"Three? Of us?"
"Yes. You, me...and my belt."
Gene opened his mouth to protest but Jarrod laid a hand on his cheek. "In the morning." He put a kiss on Gene's other cheek. "Goodnight."
Gene returned his brother's kiss but more out of force of habit than anything at that moment. He watched Jarrod leave the room. He had until morning to figure a way to talk him out of what he wanted to do. Let's see. He couldn't deny doing it. He was caught. Hmm. Well, if all else fails there's always...
"You're not my father." Gene told Jarrod the next morning after being summoned to the study.
Jarrod leaned against the desk. "Thank you for bringing that to my attention. However, I am responsible for you."
"You're suppose to be my brother..."
"And that means I'm not suppose to care what happens to you?"
Gene glared. "You've got your heart set on doing this?"
"Well, I wouldn't say my heart was SET on it. But I am going to do it." Jarrod's tone was more serious than angry.
"Why even discuss it if you've got your mind made up about it?"
"I want you to understand why I'm doing it."
Gene was defiant. "Well, that's not going to happen. So if you're going to do it just do it. I've got to meet Greg and Clay."
Jarrod slipped off his belt. This was not how he wanted it to be. But now he really had no choice. "Bend over the desk," he told Gene.
Gene moved to the desk. "I'll never forgive you for this."
Jarrod remained firm. "If I have to choose between that and what's in your best interest you know what I have to go with."
Gene assumed the position over the desk. Jarrod applied the belt, not too hard but hard enough to make the point. Tears welled in Jarrod's eyes as anger burned in Gene's.
Gene straightened. "You finished?"
Jarrod nodded.
"Good. I'm leaving. I've got friends to meet." He bumped into Nick on his way out the door and literally shoved him as he passed.
Nick looked at Jarrod. "What's with..." Then he noticed the belt in Jarrod's hand. "So you went through with it?"
"I had to," Jarrod said quietly.
Gene sat on a rock by the stream. He was brooding and tearing at the grass growing beside it.
Greg had his line in the water and was talking about the big one that got away the last time. Gene's mood was getting on his nerves. "Gene, what's your problem. You didn't even bring your pole."
"My brother Jarrod's a rat." He flung a clump of grass into the stream.
Greg was shocked. "Jarrod? That's hard to believe. What'd he do?"
"Oh, he caught me sneaking in my window. So he took a belt to me this morning."
Greg laughed. "It can't be that bad. You're still sitting."
The next clump of grass hit Greg in the arm. "Very funny. He's my brother. He's suppose to keep me out of trouble."
Greg ignored the grass blades clinging to his sleeve. "Sounds like you got yourself into trouble."
Gene hurled another grass clump at Greg as Clay approached carrying his gear. "Hey, guys, how's it going?"
"Don't even bother with him," Greg told Clay. "He's pouting."
"How come?"
"Jarrod found out he's been sneaking out at night and he tanned his hide."
Clay baited his hook. "Sounds like you had that one coming."
"What do you know?" Gene asked rudely.
Clay looked to Greg. "I know that if you were acting like this I'd say he didn't hit you hard enough."
Gene yanked another sod and pelted Clay with it.
Clay was somewhere between amusement and annoyance. "Lighten up, Gene. My God, you act like your brother never spanked you before."
"He didn't."
Clay laughed. "Boy, you've got a memory like a mosquito."
"What are you talking about?"
"When we were five..."
Gene shook his head.
Clay continued. "Jarrod was minding us. I remember he took us to town for a sassaparilla. We were so excited we ran out in the street- right in front of the incoming stagecoach. Nearly got run over. Your brother pulled us into the alley. He swatted me twice on the seat of my pants. Then he spanked the living daylights out of you. Told you never to scare him like that again." Gene tugged at another clump of grass. "You must have scared him again," Clay said.
Gene grew thoughtful. "How do you remember so much?"
"I think that was the day I decided I wanted Jarrod for MY brother. Seeing how much you meant to him."
Greg had been listening to Clay's trip down memory lane. "I'd love it if my brother took a belt to me," he confided.
Gene made a hissing sound. "Your brother's de.."
"Yeah, say it, Gene. My brother's dead." He had died of the fever two years before. "I reckon I'd love it if he was alive to do anything to me."
Gene lowered his head.
"Gene, go home and get your pole," Clay said firmly. "And for heaven's sake make it up with Jarrod."
Nick was the first one Gene encountered when he entered the house. He grabbed Gene by the arm. "I want a word with you." He was clearly angry. "Just what do you think you were doing earlier, storming out of here like that? You know I have half a mind to take you over my knee myself! Do you have any idea how much you mean to..."
Gene cut him off with a quick kiss on the cheek. "Yes, Nick, I do."
"Oh."
"Where is he?"
Nick pointed toward the study. "Right where you left him."
Jarrod was sitting at the desk when Gene entered. He felt uneasy as he said. "Jarrod, I'm ready to listen."
Jarrod slid the chair back and patted his thigh. "Come here."
It had been about three years since Gene had sat in Jarrod's lap but he situated himself and rested his head on his brother's shoulder.
Jarrod spoke softly. "I just want to know you understand why I did what I did."
"Clay said I had you scared."
"Clay's right. And you're right. I'm not your father. I'm your brother. And that means a lot to me. But it also means I'll do anything I have to to show you I love you."
Gene looked away. Jarrod rubbed his back letting him know with that slight gesture that he didn't have to say anything.
There was a moment of silence. "You know I was so busy thinking you were a rotten brother. I didn't stop to think that I was being pretty rotten myself. I didn't mean that about never forgiving you. I'm sorry I almost let this come between us."
Jarrod put a kiss on Gene's forehead. "Nothing can come between us," he told him.
Gene kissed Jarrod's cheek. This time not just force of habit.
THE END