Nick had decided to give old CoCo some exercise and figured a nice relaxing ride in the mountains wouldn't be too strenuous for him. He had spent the last couple of months turned out in the home paddocks every morning and would stand at the fence and watch as his stable mate and working companion Charger went by without him every day. When he returned at lunch, CoCo would be waiting there to nicker a greeting. Nick and Heath could see he was lonely, so they started putting the big bay horse out with him for the couple of hours they were home in the afternoon. It brought a smile to their faces to see the two friends frolicking and playing together. old horse was happy to be under saddle again, snorting and tossing his head as they jogged along. The uphill climb when they reached the mountains was tiring though and they had to stop and let him rest every couple of hours or so. No one minded, it was a beautiful spring day and the view was spectacular as they climbed higher.

Nestled in the bosom of the Sierra Nevada's with a large stream running through the property, the lodge was really a rustic four bedroom log home with a large open kitchen and living room. A long hallway ran off the main room and the bedrooms were situated two on each side of it. There was a root cellar under the pantry too.

Tom and Victoria had built it as a retreat when the boys were young. They wanted a place not more than a few hours away where they could go now and then to relax and be a family. Tom had spent so much time building up the family fortune, that he couldn't be with his wife and children as much as he would have liked. The lodge was the perfect solution and they would come up two or three times a year for a week or so and forget about all the cares and worries waiting for them at home. Jarrod, a man who enjoyed his creature comforts and a nice hot bath, had had a pump and boiler installed a few years before and added on a nicely appointed bathroom. Even Nick didn't complain about the expense.

They got there about four o'clock, dismounted and gave all the saddlebags to Jarrod. While he went inside to open the windows and air the place out, Nick and Heath unsaddled the horses and got them settled. They came in a half hour later to find a blazing fire and coffee already perking on the back of the stove.

It was much cooler in the mountains and, as the two warmed their hands in front of the fire, Nick gave Heath a smirk and nudged his arm. "Looks like big brother will be some use to us after all."

Heath looked over to see Jarrod setting the table and putting out the supper Silas had packed them.

"Yep." He nodded and threw Nick a grin, "reckon he's not just another pretty face after all."

Jarrod's brows lowered and he plunked a platter of fried chicken in the middle of the table with more force than was necessary. "Keep it up you two and you'll find yourselves eating beans out of a tin can!"

They decided it would be in their best interest to keep their comments to themselves. Neither one liked cooking and other than something thrown in a pot over a campfire, they weren't much good at it either. Jarrod had agreed to do the cooking and cleaning if they caught the fish and game, chopped the wood and kept the fire going for the boiler. The thought of cooking for the five days they would be up here made both young men shudder and they couldn't agree to that arrangement fast enough.

After a filling meal, the three spent the rest of the day pulling dust covers off furniture, airing out mattress's and finding the bed linens and pillows. Victoria always left an old set of each, plus a few heavy blankets in a large chest in case of emergency and even though they were a little worn, they were a lot better than using bedrolls. Jarrod, of course, had packed a couple of nice thick comforters for himself.

Nick waved his hand at him and scowled, "now I know why that pack was so heavy when we took it off!"

The deep blue eyes twinkled at him, "just because I'm roughing it, doesn't mean I should have to suffer."

Heath shook his head in pity as Nick looked at his older brother with raised eyebrows. "Roughing it! ... you don't know the meaning of, 'roughing it' lawyer!"

Jarrod started down the hall with his armful of blankets and tossed an answer over his shoulder. "Be that as it may, but I'll be nice and warm tonight and you two won't." He stopped at the thresh hold to his room and held up a finger as his voice took on his lecturing tone, "foresight gentlemen, you have to think ahead and plan these things out."

He ducked into his room as two throw pillows from the couch went sailing past his head.

As darkness fell, Heath went out to see to the horses while Nick brought in enough firewood to see them through the next day. It had been a long day and after a late meal of soup and bread, they each took a hot bath and decided to call it a night. Nick and Heath wanted to be up early the next morning to go fishing before breakfast while Jarrod intended to sleep late and he said goodnight as he closed his door and the two brothers went down the hall and pushed open a door on the other side. Even though there were four bedrooms, they had automatically put their things in the large room on the end that contained two big double beds and all the personal items that made the room theirs. They had shared this bedroom ever since the first year Heath had come to them and they saw no reason to change things now. Victoria, Jarrod and Audra each had a room of their own but it never crossed either man's mind to use one of the women's frilly rooms.

Heath undressed wearily and climbed into bed as Nick struck a match and lit the logs he had laid in the hearth. He got the fire going nicely and went over to sit on his brothers bed as Heath turned on his side and pulled the blankets up to his chin in the chilly room.

"It'll warm up in here in no time." Nick watched the blue eyes drifting shut and shook the blanket covered shoulder gently and asked, "where's your pills Heath?"

The blond head lifted from the pillow and Heath started to get up."I forgot Nick, they're in my shirt pocket, I'll get 'em."

Nick pushed him back down and patted his back, "you stay there, I'll get 'em." He went over to the chair they had thrown their clothes over, got the small bottle and placed it on the night table between their beds as he sat down again.

Heath snuggled deeper into his pillow and yawned. "Thanks Nick."

Callused fingers ran through the blond hair once before the hand started rubbing his back slowly. "You close those eyes and get some sleep little brother, you'll need lot's of rest if ya intend to beat me out of catchin' that trophy fish."

A smile tugged at the corner of the firm mouth as the dark blond lashes lowered to fan across the tanned cheek and the quiet voice murmured drowsily, "told ya before Nick, ya couldn't beat me even if I was unconscious."

"Go to sleep Heath, you're already dreamin'."

The large window beside their beds faced east and both men woke early and laid there for awhile watching as the sun slowly made it's ascent in a burst of orange fire above the snow capped mountain peaks surrounding them. It was their favorite time of day, as Heath was fond of saying, 'like a new page, just waiting to be written on'. The fire had burned down to a few embers and the room was past chilly. Heath jumped out of bed, threw a couple of logs and kindling on and used the poker to stir the embers back into a flame before diving back into bed and burrowing under the covers.

It was nice to have nothing to do and be able to just lay there for the next half hour while they waited for the room to warm up. They talked quietly about what they wanted to do that day and how much the bet would be this time for the biggest fish. It had been agreed upon the night before that only rainbow or steelhead trout would count and the contest would be the next day.

After the chill had been chased from the room, Nick put his hands behind his head and leaned against the headboard. He looked over as Heath turned onto his back and dropped the blankets down to his waist in the now toasty warm room.

"Ya know Heath, I was just thinkin'."

Heath rolled back onto his side and punched his pillow into shape, "thinkin' what Nick?"

"Welllll ... seems to me that it's been quite awhile since we've had any fun with that stuffy brother of ours."

"Has been awhile, now ya mention it. Wasn't the last time when we put the whipped cream in his fancy boots?"

"Uh huh." His eyes held a speculative gleam and he slid down and laid on his side facing his brother. "Time we did somethin' about that don't ya think?"

Heath thought for a moment then reached over and picked up Nick's watch from the night table. He flicked open the lid and nodded. "Hmmmm ... nearly five-thirty. I reckon it's past time for big brother to be up and about."

"Wait a second Heath, he was grumpy enough having to get up early yesterday. You heard what he said last night, he's on vacation and," Nick did his pompous lawyer imitation, "he 'doesn't wish to be disturbed' before eight."

"So is that going to stop us?" Heath sat up and stretched before going over and pulling a shirt and clean pair of jeans from their dresser drawer. He got out a pair of pants for Nick and threw them at him. "Get dressed while I go get our fishin' rods."

Nick ran his fingers through his sleep tousled hair as he watched Heath tuck in his shirt and buckle his belt.

"We're makin' him go fishing at this hour? Kinda' cold for the soft lawyer isn't it?"

"Yep, real cold. And I'd be willing to bet he didn't bother lighting a fire in his room last night, just crawled right into bed with all his nice warm comforters he was so tired."

Nick looked baffled and asked, "what's that got to do with takin' him fishing?"

Heath opened the door and cold air wafted into the warm room, "we're not takin' him fishin'. Now hurry up, I'll meet ya outside his room."

Nick came down the hallway to find Heath crouched in front of Jarrod's bedroom door with their fishing rods beside him. The blond cowboy turned the nob slowly and pushed the door open a few inches. They looked over at the heavily sleeping form under the mountain of blankets in the freezing cold room.

Heath shook his head and looked over his shoulder with a grin, "boy howdy Nick, doesn't he just look comfy cozy layin' there all snug in his little bed. I do believe we should do somethin' about that."

By this time, Nick had figured out what they were going to do. He picked up the fishing rods and paid out a few feet of line from both while Heath attached the hooks. Nick took them from him as a wide grin creased his cheeks.

"I'll go first."

"Be quiet and stay low."

Nick pushed the door open wider, "he won't hear a thing, ya could set dynamite off next to him and he wouldn't wake up before seven."

He crawled over on his belly and slipped the hooks into the corner of the top two blankets before returning and taking a seat outside the door. Heath picked up the rod that had the hook attached to the top blanket and started slowly reeling it in. There were four blankets on the bed and Jarrod never moved as the first one slid off and was pulled out the door. Nick got the second one off without a problem and removed the hooks as Heath crawled over and attached the last two. This would be a little trickier.

"Ok, now we have to slide them off real slow so he doesn't wake up."

They had to stop for a moment when the third cover was halfway off. As the coldness in the room started penetrating into his warm nest, Jarrod mumbled in his sleep and pulled the last blanket up around his ears. They waited until he settled down again before slowly inching the third one off and out the door.

"Ok, ok, real slow now."

As the last blanket came off, they quickly whisked it across the room and bundled it up with the others. They exchanged evil grins as they watched him bring his knees up and put his hands under his armpits. His dark brows drew down in a frown and he started muttering as he put a hand out and groped to pull the covers up higher against the sudden cold. He finally came awake when his searching hand found nothing but open air all around him.

"What the devil ..."

The two culprits had left the door ajar a few inches and were kneeling on the floor, holding their breath as they watched him sit up and lean back on his hands as he looked around, then over the edge of the bed searching for his blankets. Finding none, a scowl to match one of Nick's came over his face as he caught the sound of muffled laughter outside his door. He threw a pillow at the opening and they beat a hasty retreat when his feet hit the icy cold floor and he caught sight of the time on the bedside clock.

"FIVE-THIRTY!!! WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU TWO ... BRING BACK THOSE BLANKETS!! IT'S FREEZING IN HERE!!"

They took their rods and grabbed their hats and jackets as they went out to feed the horses before doing a little fishing. Jarrod could hear them laughing all the way to the barn as he stomped around shivering and cursing, trying to find where they had put his covers.

The smell of bacon, eggs and fresh coffee made their mouths water when they returned three hours later to find Jarrod just sitting down to a plentiful breakfast.

Nick dropped the string of fish they had caught into the sink before he and Heath took their seats at the table and looked at their older brother expectantly. He ignored them and forked eggs into his mouth, washing them down with a sip of coffee. He shook out the three day old Stockton Eagle he had brought with him and Nick shifted irritably in his seat. It was hours past their usual meal time and they were both starving after being out in the fresh air. They watched him eat and the smell of the bacon and coffee had their stomachs rumbling.

Nick cleared his throat, "well now, that breakfast smells mighty fine ... where's ours?"

Jarrod ate the last piece of bacon on his plate, finished his coffee and stood up as he put the paper down and went over to the pantry. Heath listened to him rummaging around for a moment and smiled in anticipation.

"Silas put ice in those extra bags and packed at least a dozen eggs and a whole slab of bacon."

Nick went over to the stove and brought the coffee pot to the table, "I sure am hungry, hope he makes plenty."

Heath nodded and called over his shoulder, "we wouldn't say no to a stack of flapjacks too, if you've a mind to make 'em Jarrod."

Nick slapped him on the back and poured them each a cup of coffee. "Good idea Heath." He could taste them already.

Jarrod came back into the room and stood behind them, "here's your breakfast boys." He slammed a dusty can of beans in front of each and threw two forks on the table. "Hope you've got a good sharp knife to open them with."

They watched as he went into the living room, picked up the book lying on the coffee table and settled down to read in the large armchair by the roaring fire he had built while they were gone.

They turned to each other with raised eyebrows and Heath shrugged, "he seems a might touchy this mornin', maybe he got up too early."

Nick nodded in agreement, "uh huh ... guess we're havin' fish for breakfast."

"Yep, you clean and I'll cook. Maybe he'll be in a better mood by lunchtime."

A disembodied voice floated to them from the depths of the chair their brother was comfortably ensconced in. "Don't count on it boys."

They played cards for the rest of the morning and Jarrod read and ignored them. Heath, ever the peacemaker, finally got up around one o'clock and made sandwiches with the leftover chicken from the day before. He made fresh coffee to go with them, then took a tray over and placed it on the coffee table in front of his older brother.

"I made ya lunch Jarrod. How 'bout after we eat, I saddle our horses and we head up to the hot springs for a swim?"

Jarrod put down his book and looked up into the contrite blue eyes watching him hopefully. He couldn't stay mad at these two, 'boys' for long, so he shrugged and gave in gracefully. "That sounds like a good idea. We should be able to get in a few hours up there before it gets too cold out."

Heath nodded and went back to the table to finish his lunch. "We're goin' up to the hot springs Nick, you comin'?" He winked to let him know they had been forgiven.

"Yeah." Nick put his hands on his back and stretched, "backs been a little stiff lately, reckon a good hot soak up there should do it good."

The springs were about five miles away, but well worth the ride to get there. They unsaddled their horses and hobbled them so they could turn them loose to graze on the fresh spring grass. The air was a little cooler as they had gone higher, but the spring was surrounded by trees that cut the wind and Jarrod had brought a large blanket that he spread out in the warm sunshine. As he methodically undressed and folded his clothes neatly, his brothers stripped off quickly and tossed their's anywhere as they whooped loudly and dove into the hot water. He shook his head as he watched Heath go underwater and pull his brother's legs out from under him. Nick's arms thrashed as the water closed over his head and he came up spluttering and growling insults. He pushed the hair out of his eyes and wiped the water from his face then whipped around looking for his brother. Spying him surfacing on the other side of the spring, he gave chase, but Heath , being a much stronger swimmer, was able to evade him easily.

Jarrod had started to edge his way into the water cautiously and Nick and Heath stopped fooling around for a moment to watch him.

"C'mon Heath, it's gonna be dark by the time he finally gets in. Lets go give him a hand."

With his head down watching for sharp rocks, he didn't see them coming until they each grabbed an arm and threw him head first into the middle of the spring. The ensuing water fight left all three gasping for air through their laughter. They spent nearly two hours in the steaming water before deciding to get out and lay in the sun for awhile to dry off before heading back.

As the two younger brothers flopped onto their stomachs on the sun warmed blanket, Jarrod eyed them skeptically and said, "it would seem to me that you two, 'hard working cowboys' still find a little time to relax in your busy day."

Nick raised his head from his folded arms and squinted up at him. "What are ya talkin' about, we work from sun up to sun down. There's no time to relax."

Jarrod sat down beside them and looked them over. They were both tanned from head to toe, darker from the waist up, but the parts that should be pale from being covered all winter were also lightly tanned. He raised an eyebrow as Heath's drowsy voice spoke up too.

"Yep, no time for relaxin', it's a workin' ranch." His head popped up and he yelped as Jarrod's hand came down hard on his bare butt.

"Then how do you explain this, if you, 'don't have time to relax'?"

The broad shoulders shrugged and he put his head back down as Nick scrabbled for an explanation. "Well all right Jarrod, we mighta' gone for a swim a coupla' times this spring, it bein' so warm the last coupla' weeks an all. BUT, we only did it to save Silas some work."

"Really..."

"Yep, we get mighty dusty out on the range, so instead of us bringin' all that dirt into the house and makin' extra work for Silas, we stop once in awhile to wash it off at the pond. 'Course we can't get our clothes on when we're all wet so we have to lay around awhile till we're dry."

Heath flicked his gaze up at him and rolled his eyes at the outlandish story he was telling. It obviously didn't occur to Nick that while THEY might be clean, their clothes were still dirty.

"I see." Jarrod spread his hands and looked at him seriously, "so what you're saying is that you two go swimming sometimes in the middle of your busy day so you can save Silas some work?"

The white teeth flashed him a smile, "that's right." He nudged Heath's shoulder before he laid his head on his arms again and closed his eyes, "aren't we thoughtful."

Jarrod shook his head and laid on his back, "yesss ... aren't you."

They got back to the lodge just before sunset and while Jarrod made supper, Nick and Heath took care of the horses then went down to the stream to watch the sunset. There was a large rock just at the waters edge and they sat on it side by side in companionable silence as the water rushed by, gurgling and churning over and around the boulders in its path. They stayed until the huge orange ball of fire dropped below the mountains and a few tiny pinpoints of light lay strewn across the dark, inky velvet of night sky.

Supper that night was a boisterous affair as each man talked and bragged about the fishing contests of years past. Heath was the leader with two wins against the other's one win apiece.

"Yep, I'm lookin' to make it two years in a row now."

Nick waved his hand at him and scoffed loudly, "you know full well I shoulda' won last year. If ya woulda' helped me when I hooked that monster steel head, my line wouldn't of broke and he wouldn't of got away."

Heath tipped his chair until it teetered on it's back legs and looked at him with narrowed eyes and asked, " now why would I want to help you land a fish so's you could beat me out of a fifty dollar bet?"

"Because," Nick crossed his arms and spoke seriously, "as my younger brother, I figure it's your duty to let me win and keep me happy." He shook his head sadly, "you failed that test last year Heath and I was very disappointed in you. I only hope you'll do better this year."

The chair dropped back onto all four legs as Heath leaned on the table and searched the rugged face next to him and asked wonderingly. "Are you really our brother, or did someone just drop you on Mother and Father's doorstep the first time you opened your mouth and run screaming into the night??"

Jarrod snorted and choked on the mouthful of coffee he had just taken and Nick stood up and glared down at his brother, "I've told ya before you're not funny Heath, now I'm gonna go get the crib board and we'll see how smart ya are then!"

He stomped away to the living room and started looking on the bookshelves for the board and Jarrod raised his eyebrows and spoke confidentially. "I've often thought Mother might have accidentally dropped him on his head a time or two when he was a baby."

Heath nodded in agreement as a loud voice bellowed across the room. "I HEARD THAT!!"

They played until nearly eleven before deciding to call it a night. Jarrod totaled up the scores and looked around the table in satisfaction.

"Well now, it would seem as though I'm the big winner."

Nick waved his hand and scowled at him, "all right, all right, just tell us how much we owe ya."

"You, brother Nick, owe me $247,780 dollars, while brother Heath's total is $321,000."

Heath took the pad and started re-checking the addition as Jarrod sat back in his chair and puffed on his cigar complacently.

Nick grumbled, "we'll owe it to ya," and the two stood up with a groan and made their way to their room, Nick's voice drifting down the hall. "Make sure you're up in the morning, we leave at eight, with or without ya."

The door closed then opened again and Jarrod smiled at the familiar bellow.

"AND WE WANT BREAKFAST, WE WERE STARVIN' THIS MORNIN'!"

....Continued