life and pass it by, because you'll never know
if you were good enough."
"I don't get this, Jake. For years we've all
been movin' things aside so you could get the education you needed
to do what you wanted. Now it's all done and you don't want it?
Have you lost your mind?" Deke paced the small area around the
stall.
"Maybe…" Jake muttered, trying his best not
to get mad at his well intentioned brother. "Look bro, I'm about to
take the biggest leap of faith in my life. I won't do it until I'm
certain."
"So what does that mean…you gonna be a lawman
the rest of your life?" Deke fretted.
"I'm not sure about that, either," Jake
admitted.
"Jake I don't get this…" Deke fumed. "You're
not some snot nosed kid who doesn't know any better.Your grown and
frankly not getting any younger. Why would anyone throw this kind
of opportunity away? This partnership could set you up for the rest
of your life. Put you on easy street."
"I know bro. And I fully intend to make up my
mind about a few things, before I leave here. That's partly why I
took a sabbatical so I could do some heavy thinking. There are some
things I need to get straight and other things I need to find out.
This way, I can be here for the wedding and figure out what I'm
gonna do." Jake looked at him now. "I guess I've really
disappointed you, huh?"
Deke scratched the back of his head. "No…you
could never disappoint me, but confuse me, yes. Look, I know you
got a good head on your shoulders and that you enjoy your work…but
damn…Jake…I wish you had told me sooner. I mean, what is this, some
sort of mid-life crisis?"
Jake chuckled aloud, "I don't think it's that
bad, but I do have some thinking to do.
I promise I'll have something to tell you
soon…" Jake said putting his hand on his brother's shoulder as
though to console him.
"You can't talk about it?" Deke asked, his
frown bigger than Texas. "We've always talked Jake."
"And we will when the time comes. But that
time hasn't come, bro. Not just yet, no." Jake admitted. "Bear with
me a little while longer, bro. I'm working on it."
"But do you realize what a full partnership
in the law firm would amount to?" Deke questioned. "You'd be
financially set for the rest of your life. I'd never have to worry
about your success again."
"You'd never have to worry again? Deke, you
need to quit worrying about all of us so much. I've seen your fret
for years, your worse than Dad. I mean, first it was Clint, and the
rodeo, then Clint and Abby, then Rusty and Hannah, and now me. I
realize you are the oldest in the family, and have this 'Gotta take
care of everyone' attitude, but it isn't necessary. With all the
problems you have here, on a day to day basis, you shouldn't be
worrying about me anyway. It's not a question of money, Deke." Jake
affirmed. "And it's really not your place to worry about it. It's
mine…"
"Of course it is, look, I know you didn't
take to ranchin'. Although I consider you a top hand, oddly enough
it seems to come easy to us Travers men. I also know you like the
law. But you could never make what you'd make with a full
partnership. I sometimes wonder if you realize what that could mean
for you in the future, and you're certainly not gettting any
younger." Deke informed him.
Jake laughed, "Wow, that was a low blow,
bro."
"Sorry," Deke almost smiled. "I know this
sounds like I’m coming down on you, but you are sort of keeping me
in the dark, and you have some advantages that I don't. I only want
what is best for you."
Jake looked him in the eye now, "Look, don't
fret over this, Deke. I know what I’m doing. It may not look like
it. It may look pretty lame right now, but this is a serious step
for me."
"Well at least you realize that…" Deke
shuffled his feet. Jake became silent again, busying himself with
his horse.
"How'd dad find out?" Deke questioned.
"Aw…you know dad. Nothing escapes him." Jake
smiled.
"Would it do any good if I had Emma talk to
you?" Deke asked. "I mean she's
if you were good enough."
"I don't get this, Jake. For years we've all
been movin' things aside so you could get the education you needed
to do what you wanted. Now it's all done and you don't want it?
Have you lost your mind?" Deke paced the small area around the
stall.
"Maybe…" Jake muttered, trying his best not
to get mad at his well intentioned brother. "Look bro, I'm about to
take the biggest leap of faith in my life. I won't do it until I'm
certain."
"So what does that mean…you gonna be a lawman
the rest of your life?" Deke fretted.
"I'm not sure about that, either," Jake
admitted.
"Jake I don't get this…" Deke fumed. "You're
not some snot nosed kid who doesn't know any better.Your grown and
frankly not getting any younger. Why would anyone throw this kind
of opportunity away? This partnership could set you up for the rest
of your life. Put you on easy street."
"I know bro. And I fully intend to make up my
mind about a few things, before I leave here. That's partly why I
took a sabbatical so I could do some heavy thinking. There are some
things I need to get straight and other things I need to find out.
This way, I can be here for the wedding and figure out what I'm
gonna do." Jake looked at him now. "I guess I've really
disappointed you, huh?"
Deke scratched the back of his head. "No…you
could never disappoint me, but confuse me, yes. Look, I know you
got a good head on your shoulders and that you enjoy your work…but
damn…Jake…I wish you had told me sooner. I mean, what is this, some
sort of mid-life crisis?"
Jake chuckled aloud, "I don't think it's that
bad, but I do have some thinking to do.
I promise I'll have something to tell you
soon…" Jake said putting his hand on his brother's shoulder as
though to console him.
"You can't talk about it?" Deke asked, his
frown bigger than Texas. "We've always talked Jake."
"And we will when the time comes. But that
time hasn't come, bro. Not just yet, no." Jake admitted. "Bear with
me a little while longer, bro. I'm working on it."
"But do you realize what a full partnership
in the law firm would amount to?" Deke questioned. "You'd be
financially set for the rest of your life. I'd never have to worry
about your success again."
"You'd never have to worry again? Deke, you
need to quit worrying about all of us so much. I've seen your fret
for years, your worse than Dad. I mean, first it was Clint, and the
rodeo, then Clint and Abby, then Rusty and Hannah, and now me. I
realize you are the oldest in the family, and have this 'Gotta take
care of everyone' attitude, but it isn't necessary. With all the
problems you have here, on a day to day basis, you shouldn't be
worrying about me anyway. It's not a question of money, Deke." Jake
affirmed. "And it's really not your place to worry about it. It's
mine…"
"Of course it is, look, I know you didn't
take to ranchin'. Although I consider you a top hand, oddly enough
it seems to come easy to us Travers men. I also know you like the
law. But you could never make what you'd make with a full
partnership. I sometimes wonder if you realize what that could mean
for you in the future, and you're certainly not gettting any
younger." Deke informed him.
Jake laughed, "Wow, that was a low blow,
bro."
"Sorry," Deke almost smiled. "I know this
sounds like I’m coming down on you, but you are sort of keeping me
in the dark, and you have some advantages that I don't. I only want
what is best for you."
Jake looked him in the eye now, "Look, don't
fret over this, Deke. I know what I’m doing. It may not look like
it. It may look pretty lame right now, but this is a serious step
for me."
"Well at least you realize that…" Deke
shuffled his feet. Jake became silent again, busying himself with
his horse.
"How'd dad find out?" Deke questioned.
"Aw…you know dad. Nothing escapes him." Jake
smiled.
"Would it do any good if I had Emma talk to
you?" Deke asked. "I mean she's
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