Gary strolls around the hospital halls with his sister by his side. With every person he passes he can't wait to leave, but yet feels very deeply for those same people. "So when does the doctor say y'all can leave?"

Jaelyn shrugs. "He hasn't really given a date or even an idea. About the only thing he has said is that because of us living pretty far away he has concerns about leaving too soon. I don't really know what that means though."

"Mmm," he nods.

Suddenly she pokes him in the side and grins. "Soooooo."

"Soooooo," he retorts with a smirk.

Slowly she narrows her eyes at him. "So, how are things between you and Brooke? Have you told her?"

Before he has a chance to reply there is a chipper, "Tell me what?" behind them.

Jaelyn's face goes pale and her eyes grow wide as her gaze slowly and cautiously look up to her big brother. His face holds guilt, dread, and exhaustion. "I am so sorry," she mouths to him. "You know what? I should probably go check on my hubby."

And with that Brooke and Gary stand in the plain grey hospital halls watching her speed walk away. Brooke with cheerful eagerness and Gary with a heavy heart.

"Umm, would you like to continue this outside?"

With a warm smile and a nod Brooke follows him out to the side garden of the large hospital. "I'm sorry if I interrupted," she offers as they walk side by side.

He can't help but to look over at her. "No, you didn't. I've been meaning to talk with you anyway." There is a moment where they just walk until he motions to a bench just ahead of them. They sit and he runs his hands over his legs as his palms are starting to get sweaty. Much to his surprise, when he steals a glance at Brooke she is patiently waiting with a warm caring expression on her face.

"I know I told you back at the service," he starts, "that sometime I would tell you the story that Janet had started to falsely tell you. Well I think now, that it is likely she with conveniently find me when I am picking stuff up for the ranch and such, I should tell you the real story of what happened."

Brooke gently places her hand on his knee, but then quickly moves it. She coughs a bit before saying, "You really don't have to if you don't want to. I can tell it isn't an eas-"

Holding up his hand he interrupts her, "No. I really do want to tell you."

"Okay." She nods relaxing a hair.

With a far off look in his eyes he begins to speak, "Peter and I met when I went to college. We hit it off right away and we became like brothers. Any time either of us went home for the weekend the other was there to; it wasn't even a question. So, when Peter got in a serious relationship the middle of our freshman year I felt like I was being replaced."

Quietly Brooke turns to face him better. Her face holds a listening and sympathetic expression as she gazes at him and soaks up his words.

"After a while I got used to only having wide times with Peter once or twice a month instead of two or three times a week. She consumed his every moment and I saw how it was tearing him up inside," he sighs and shakes his head, "but I was too afraid of totally loosing our friendship to tell him what I was seeing. It got so deep between them that Peter once told me he was thinking about getting an engagement ring. At that point I spoke up a bit, but only told him that he might want to think about waiting."

Brooke watches as every word he says eats him as if he's living in that moment all over again. Inside she wants to know the story, but she just wants to yell 'stop' at the top of her lungs. She can't stand to see him in so much internal pain.

"That summer she began to pressure him to compromise his faith and standards. The next thing he knew she came around on the arm of one of our classmates and her whole scheme unraveled in front of both he and I. She was looking for something he wasn't willing to give up and so she turned to using him as a jealousy tool to get to her new guy." Inside he feels like his chest is caving in and his heart breaks for his best friend all over again; just like it did that day. "I watched him slip into depression and anger all the while feeling as though I was the biggest failure ever. I could have stopped it, but I didn't."

"Gary," she says softly and waiting until he slowly turns to look towards her. "You can't dwell on the shoulda, woulda, couldas. Obvioulsy I didn't know Peter, but one thing I have learned from getting to know Mrs. Carol and visiting with other family, is that any pain anyone close to went through he wanted to take away. He wouldn't want you to keep this with you for the rest of your life."

He just gazes at her as he prosesses her words in his mind. "Maybe so."
***

Jeremiah smiles as he sees that his sister is calling him. "Hey, Brookey! What's up?"

"Hey Jer, how's it going down there?"

He chuckles as he leans on the pipe gate in front of him. "I never thought I would have a grudge against getting off work or so much appreciation for barn boys."

She laughs and a grin widens her lips. "Oh come on, you have to admit it's good for you."

"Maybe, maybe not."

Her head shakes and her eyes roll without her hardly noticing. "So, what about Cane? Any word from him about where he's at? Or anything?"

A grin toys with the edges of his lips. "He called to say he would be here in about an hour. I haven't really been in the house to see where anything might even be. Do you have any idea? It's a bit weird to just roam around someone's house."

Amused, she says, "The nursery is the first room on the right down the hall. I am sure that everything is in there."

"Thanks, Brooke. How are things up there?"

Gleefully she grins. "Good! Jaelyn and the little girl are doing great." She sighs. "They say they have a name picked out, but they refuse to tell anyone until everyone is together."

This makes him laugh. "Oh! I'm sure that is driving you nuts."

Rolling her eyes she shakes her head. "Come on, I'm not that bad."

"No, I guess you aren't."

After chatting for a little while longer Jeremiah tells her he needs to get back to work on the barn and they say their goodbyes. A grin takes place on his lips as he gets back to cleaning out the few stalls that Jaelyn and Tyson left horses in.

It isn't long until he hears the unmistakable rumble of a diesel engine. He tosses the last bit of hay from his arms into the pen before stepping out of the barn to the house. A red Ford four door pickup crunches across the gravel before stopping in front of the house. Jeremiah watches as a tall man with a bushy beard steps out and looks around. "Can I help you?"

The bearded fella turns around and has a vague smile on his lips. "I guess I've been away too long." The deep voice gives away the man hiding behind the beard.

"Well I'll be!" Jeremiah stretches out his long strides to shake hands with the new comer. "Cane Maxwell, you've disguised yourself well whether you were trying or not."

Cane laughs and extends his right hand. "Well, the Idaho winters made me get over the itching when I was growing it out." Once again he looks around. "They've really done some improvements around here haven't they?"

Jeremiah follows his company's gaze around. "I'm not out her but once every six months, but they definitely have."

"What have you been up to now a'days?"

"Oh just working, I'm running an oil field yard in Pecos now."

Cane nods with a small smile. "I bet they keep you hopping."

"Huh," Jeremiah grunts, "That's the truth. What about you?"

"Up there I've been working in a feed store finding quality hay in the area, but now that I'm here," he shrugs, "well, I'm just hanging out."

Jeremiah isn't too sure what to say, so he just nods.

Cane slides his hands in his pockets and takes a deep breath as he mulls his next words over in his mind. "Have you heard any about how Jaelyn and the baby are doing?"

A small smile plays with the edges of Jeremiah's lips. "Brooke called me earlier and said they were doing good. Apparently they have a name picked out, but aren't sharing it until everyone is together."

For a moment Cane just looks at him trying to figure out what that means. Unless someone left since he talked to Gary everyone is there. "Sounds like Little Lynn," he says with a tiny grin.

It isn't long and the two have everything on Cane's list in his pickup. So many emotions run through him as he double checks that he has everything. "Car seat, base, hospital bag, diaper bag, camera, Tyson's bag, Little Lynn's belt, and her boots. Maybe that is everything," he ends with a chuckle.

He takes a deep breath and looks around the place he once called home. It's nice to be back, but it is empty without the people that make it so inviting. "Well Jeremiah, I think I'm going to hit the road."

"Alright, have safe travels and don't let it be so long next time."

Cane smiles a bit as he shakes Jeremiah's hand. "I won't."
***

Gary strolls along the sidewalk in front of the hotel. The day is dragging on, for him, with much worry and many thoughts hanging over his head. He wants Cane's coming to be perfect for all the family and yet he feels as though since inviting Cane he is neglecting Brooke and pushing her to the side.

Dear Lord, I am lost without you. Nothing I do would ever have meaning if it hadn't have been for you coming to save me on the cross. I believe you not only have the power to, but that you want to take away my pain and my worry. I lay this at your feet Sweet Jesus. I pray your hand be on my relationship with Brooke and whatever happens is from you and you alone. Guide us both and use this to mature us in our walk with you. Thank you for the joy she has been these past weeks. Thank you that you have crossed our paths no matter how long it lasts. I love you Dear Father, In Jesus Name, Amen.

The prayer is silent, but no less heartfelt.

When he turns around to head back through the hotel doors he spots a old grey dodge rolling through the parking lot and something inside him clicks.