Jaelyn opens the door and her smile instantly drops. She steps back so the disturbers may enter the slightly untidy house. Both keep straight slum faces as they take a seat on the couch.

She slams her hands on her hips and raises her eyebrows. "The court is now open, speak at your own risk."

Tyson chuckles lightly behind her as he takes her hands in his. She relaxes and smiles at a bit him before returning her gaze to the two six foot tall brothers that dare to speak. If looks could kill the two in front of her would indeed be dead. Very dead.

Karl and Cane glance at each other before back at their sister. It is obvious that if they don't speak in the next few seconds things will go south. In a hurry. With matching sighs they both begin to speak at once. "I just stopped by-" "You didn't answer so-"

They both stop and look at the more than frustrated expression resting on their sister's face. The tension in the air is enough to cut with a knife and nothing seemed to change as silence over took the room. Without a seconds notice Jaelyn sprints from Tyson's arms and out the door like she had been shot from a cannon. The three guys look at each other, for a moment, in utter silence.

Karl is the first to speak as he stands, "Let her go."

"She will go for a ride on Cobalt and then be back in a little bit, she's the most predictable woman I know," Cane comments with an almost disgusted tone in his voice.

Tyson turns away and rakes his hand across his face. Cane's comment makes his blood boil and it takes great restraint not to punch Cane. Depositing himself in the nearest chair and taking a deep breath he starts to speak but snaps his mouth shut instead. Nothing that comes out of it will be good at the moment.

The time passes by like cold molasses until an hour has passed and then two. Tyson checks the time on his phone, stands and shoves his hat on his head. Without a word or a glance in the brothers direction he leaves and heads to the barn. In record time he has saddled one of the horses and is sliding the smooth cool metal of the bit into its mouth. Then with a smooth jump he slides his leg over the back of the saddle and rides out into the pasture.

The brothers watch from the porch as he rides off. When Cane starts towards the barn Karl grabs his shirt and pulls him back. "You let him go. She is confused and doesn't want to see you right now. Tyson needs to do this."

Cane stops and turns to look at his not so little brother. Daggers rain from his narrowed eyes and his shoulders are stretched out in a slightly intimidating manner. "When did you get so strong and so grandpa wise? And when did you become such a Tyson fan?"

"I guess since I kept in touch with him after they split up." Karl doesn't cow-down at the response he knows it coming, but instead stands up tall and says the words in a strong and calm tone.

Cane starts to shake his head, but stops in the middle of the swivel. "What did you just say? You kept in touch with that guy? How could you do that when he broke our sister's heart trampled all over it and is back to do it again?"

Karl stays calm and acts as if it is a normal conversation despite the fact Cane just yelled at him. "Yeah, why wouldn't I? I'm not so angry at him that I can't see straight like you are." Now he too is starting to roweled up.

"Why wouldn't you? How about because he broke our sister's heart? What about when she was so into him that she wasn't really there when she was home because she was talking to him? He was and still is trying to take our sister away from us!"

Karl sighs and shakes his head. "You wouldn't know because you never gave the guy a chance! You never tried to see him the way she sees him. If you want her to be happy you are going to have to accept that he is a part of that and get over yourself."

Cane stares after his brother as he walks back to the house. How have I missed so much of all of them growing up when it was right before my eyes?
***

Tyson's heartbeat picks up when he sees Cobalt standing by the edge of the dirt tank. It is no surprise that the horse isn't back at the barn because he doesn't leave where Jaelyn leaves him unless she tells the gelding otherwise. However, that doesn't help the fear that takes the breath from his lungs as he screams her name, "Jaelyn!"

Nothing comes as a response he urges his horse faster until he is next to Cobalt. He jumps from his horse and sprints to the near by tree, nothing. His gaze sweeps the horizon and he catches sight of the setting sun. All he can think about is the few hours of daylight left won't be long enough. Dialing Karl's number he counts the rings until finally his ears are met with the simple, "Tyson?"

"Karl, Cobalt is at the dirt tank, but I can't find Jaelyn."

"I'll be right there. Cane already left." With that the line goes dead.

Tyson looks up at the trees around him until his eyes land on a stone washed blue color in the big mesquite tree just above Cobalt. Without thinking he climbs the tree until he realizes just what it is. He hops the branch just beside it and lets out a breath. He pulls her small body to his and kisses the top of her head. Only a little bit of breath is returned to his lungs as he realizes that she isn't waking up.

His gaze scans over her, checking for bruises or cuts. When he is satisfied that there isn't any he gently moves her arm and whispers her name in her ear. When she doesn't stir he begins to become anxious and fidget. Just then Karl rides up.

"Karl up here!" Tyson calls. Jaelyn moves ever so slightly in his arms causing him to look down at her. "Come on Jae, stay with me," he whispers taking the hat from her head.

Karl climbs halfway up the tree like he was born with the monkeys before reaching out his arms. "Hand her to me and then you go to the base of the tree and I'll hand her to you."

Tyson nods and stretches to place her in Karl's arms. He then climbs down past them and stretches out his own arms. When Jaelyn is safely in his arms he turns to the horses. "You get on and I will hand her to you."

When they are settled they start back to the barn and house. For Tyson and Karl it feels like forever before they make it to the barn and get her to the house. "Should we take her to the hospital?" Karl asks as Tyson places her on her bed. 

Not taking his eyes off of her Tyson shakes his head wearily. He begins to stroke her hair before glancing up at Karl momentarily. "I don't know, it doesn't seem like she's unconscious."

After much discussion they settle on giving her an hour to wake up before they take her to the ER. The minutes tick by like hours as they sit beside her bed, play cards and carry on small conversations until finally Tyson takes his keys and heads out side. Karl hears the door close behind him and sighs, the time is up. He turns to the bedroom door and opens it.

"Karl?"