"Keep them separated," he said, his voice resigned.
"Where's the punch line?" she stammered.
The indignant shrug showed the answer. "He's serious," she said, her heart now in her stomach. "How do I make the impossible happen?" She exhaled deeply. "It's like caging two loco horses together. At first they keep a distance, but each day their interest peaks until they close in on each other. Each believes he is the strongest and the best, and they nudge and push until one remains standing." Megan shook her head. Last summer Jason charged a wild horse. This summer he cowers to Danny. What a crazy situation! "Cover for me," Brett said. "I need to get away." "Go. Take your time." Before he moved, Megan said, "This isn't about Danny and Jason, is it?"
A deep sigh and glazed eyes revealed a haunting past, but answers as to whom and what it involved remained hidden. "Great," Megan said, kicking the fence post. "This summer is crazy enough without adding another twist to it." Yelling captured her attention. With a deep sigh and a shrug, she turned. The boys were at it again. She raced towards them in time to hear Danny say, "Thanks for getting me trouble, jerk."
"You started it," Jason yelled. "Anyway this is my place. You have no right to destroy it. Why didn't you stay home?"
When Danny pushed Jason, she grabbed him by the shirt collar. The menacing glare to Jason kept him rooted. "Over to the fence, now." Unfortunately she was not taller than the boys, but she straightened her spine, hoping to appear taller so the boys would listen. "Let me put this in the simplest terms. Get over it." The gentle look spoke a firm warning. Both boys looked away. She exhaled. "Tell me the problem so the entire summer isn't ruined."
Silence blazed its own fire and reddened Danny's face. "You want to fight, but not here," Megan said. "If Brett catches you fighting again he will send you home. You'll miss the Fourth of July in Carlton, the Pow-Wow, and competitions here at the ranch."
The word "competition" sparked light in Danny's brown eyes. Jason's interest lay with the Pow-Wow. Would they risk losing it? Minutes passed in silence. Anger held on to the boys like a lasso around a calf's neck in a rope steering competition.
Part of Megan wanted to let them go and see what happened, but the other part said to help them. If no one tried then they all lost. How do I help? Why do I believe finding my way home in a Wyoming blizzard would be easier? One glance to Danny showed no possibility of learning anything. His eyes blazed fire and his clenched fists remained ready to hit. In Jason's face she saw confusion and angst. He wants to talk, but with Danny holding the reins, Jason will stay silent. "Do either of you want to talk?" she asked.