East scowled when he looked at the display on his cell phone.

“Jack Aubrey. What’s he want?”

He barely knew the captain. They hardly ever spoke back in the days, and they certainly haven’t said two words to each other since he married Natalie. Jack used to be part of the “A-Team” then; those brothers who had partners and lived with them away from the Temple. Usually, he relegated those days to where they belonged … distant memory. But sometimes, the bitterness he felt then caught up with him. East never had a partner and wasn’t part of that elite group. Life at the Temple was supposed to be about sharing love. But, if you didn’t have a primary partner, you were left to the beck and call of whichever woman wanted you for a visit. And, to make matters worse, if you weren’t one of the more desirable brothers … well, let’s just say you found a lot of other ways to fill up your free time.

He couldn’t figure out why Aubrey would be calling him after all this time, and he debated whether to answer the ringing phone or not. His curiosity won out, and he answered just before the call would have gone to voice mail.

“Hullo, Jack.”

“East! Good to hear you, brother.” East grimaced. Jack sounded just like he remembered, loud. “Egan suggested I call you.” One good thing about Jack, East thought to himself. He gets right to the point. “I have a business venture I’d like to propose – ”

“Not interested.” East could be as direct as Jack when he wanted to be.

“But, I have not explained myself fully yet. It could be very profitable for us both.”

“Does it involve moving to Vermont?” East asked.

“Of course.”

“Not interested.”

Jack paused. “I’m sorry to hear that, brother.” East could tell the Captain was disappointed, but he fought the impulse to change his mind and hear the man out. He had no desire to move to Vermont. Not only was it cold, but many of the family were centered there around the Biebe’s Inn; he had no desire to be a part of that. Jack’s voice brought him back to attention. “I have purchased a farm and wish to begin breeding horses. I had counted on your expertise in the venture … a full partnership, of course. Also, I wished to have someone I could count on to oversee the business while I was away.”

Breed horses? Full partnership? Now, that did sound interesting. “Do you have the stock already?” East asked.

“I have the stallion; an American Saddle Horse. Black in color; wonderful confirmation. The perfect start to our program.”

“So, you need the mares.”

“Yes. That will be where you come in. I wish your help in choose only the best stock. And, as I said, you’d be a full partner in the enterprise.”

East paused. Definitely had possibilities. “Let me think about it tonight, Jack. I’ll get back to you in the morning.”

“Certainly, brother. I look forward to your call.” Jack hung up.

East pulled the pickup out onto the road and drove to Billings. He’d arranged to stay that night at a Bed and Breakfast just outside town that also had a stable for Apples. Originally, he thought to head south to Texas in the morning, but this idea of Jack’s sounded promising. On one hand, if he accepted Jack’s offer, he wouldn’t be a hired hand. He’d be in charge, make his own decisions. But … moving to Vermont would bring him closer to the family. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be part of that again.

He thought about it all night, weighing the possibilities and outcomes and it came down to one thought. He could take a chance and move to Vermont or follow what he’d done before; find a ranch that needed hands and work for someone else. And he never liked working for other people. So, after taking care of Apples in the morning and a quick breakfast, he called Jack and gave him his decision. He was moving to Vermont. Then he made sure he packed his heavy winter coat and Apples’ blankets.

***

The trip across the country was relatively uneventful and slow. He couldn’t speed down the highway towing a horse trailer, and of course, Apples couldn’t be left in the trailer for hours on end. On the third night, his last on the road, he met a friendly waitress in Zelianople, Pennsylvania, a small little Victorian town that reminded him of home. The waitress was blond, buxom, warm, and didn’t expect him to stay any more than he expected her to follow him. It was one night, one very nice night, and he was back on the road in the morning.

The sun was setting as he pulled up the driveway of Jack and Natalie’s farm. The house was a large, old two-story farmhouse with a big porch. Off to the right, he could see the end of the big red barn and beyond that, construction of what must be the new stables. It seemed like a nice place; he took a deep breath, stepped up to the front door, and pressed the doorbell.

“East!” Natalie answered the door. She’d changed since the last time he saw her. That was long ago before the Temple broke up. Back then, she’d been a green-eyed, lithe creature with freckles dotting her nose, a pretty little girl he wished would ask for a visit. This was a woman who answered the door. Same green eyes and freckles, but life had taken its toll. The eyes had lost a little of their sparkle and there were a few frown lines around her mouth and between her eyes. But, she grinned and her face lit up when she saw him. Pulling him over the threshold, she gave him a hug and welcomed him inside. “We’re just about ready to sit for dinner. Are you hungry?”

He nodded. “I could eat, but I should take care of my horse, first.”

“Of course. Hey, by the way, we’ve got a full house for a few days. John, Riley and Nathan are here, along with Riley’s friend Jackie. So, with you, Jack, Chelsea and Eddie, we’re packed!” She laughed lightly and led him into the family room.

She wasn’t kidding. John was sitting with a three year old nipper on his knee watching a hockey game with Jack, who was holding a baby girl. Nearby sat a boy, probably about thirteen or fourteen, East imagined was Eddie. In the kitchen, he could hear Riley and another woman with a foreign accent he didn’t recognize.

Jack looked up as Natalie took the baby. “Brother East! Welcome. Glad to see you!” He stood and took East by the hand.

John jumped up and gave him a man-hug, slapping his back while his son, Nathan, followed suit. Unfortunately, though, Nathan’s aim wasn’t that good yet, and East received several baby pats on his ear. “Good to see ya, man.” John grinned.

“Glad to be here. Um,” East turned to Jack. “I have my horse outside in the trailer. I’d like to see to her before dinner.”

“Certainly.” Jack turned to the boy trying to ignore the commotion going on around him. “Eddie, here.” The boy looked at Jack, frowning. “Eddie, be a good lad and help East with his horse.” The boy sighed and got up and led East back outside.

He stood back, kicking at the driveway snow and gravel while East opened the trailer. “You’re Eddie, right?”

“Yeah.” The boy glared back at East. “What’s it to ‘ya?”

East shook his head. “Nothin’. Just wondering.” The kid’s eyes went wide as East backed Apples down the trailer ramp. “You ever been around horses before, Eddie?” he asked.

“Just Jack’s horse. He doesn’t let me ride it, though. Says he’s ‘too spirited’ for me.” Eddie did a perfect impression of Jack at his most captain-like, and East had to laugh. “You’ve got him down to a tee, mate.”

Eddie grinned. “Yeah, I guess. What’s your horse’s name?”

East patted the mare’s neck. “Applejax. She’s not like Jack’s stallion. Apples here is a quarterhorse.”

Eddie cautiously stepped forward and stroked the mare’s neck. Apples snorted, and Eddie jumped back about ten feet. “I didn’t mean to scare her.”

East laughed. “Ya didn’t scare her. She’s just sayin’ hello.” He reached out his hand. “Come here,” he said as he reached into the trailer. “Hold out your hand like this.” He showed Eddie to hold his hand flat, palm up, and place a piece of apple in the center. “Hold this out for her. She’ll take it from your hand.”

The boy did as instructed and Apples nosed over his hand, sniffing out the treat, and gobbled it up. Eddie giggled, “Her lips tickle.”

East grabbed the halter. “Well, dinner’s getting cold. Let’s put her to bed, then we can eat. You show us the way, Eddie.”

Eddie watched as East brushed down Apples and close her up in the extra stable in the barn, not far from Licorice.