The first light of day, peeked through the living room windows. Maggie opened her eyes. Beside her on the fold out couch Skeeter slept. In this moment she was so thankful for her little brother. So thankful that they never fought like John Carl and Billy.

The smell of coffee filled the house. Uncle Woody was in the kitchen humming softly to himself..

Outside a truck motor sounded, Maggie kicked off the covers, bolted out of bed and flew through the dining room to the back door. She banged it open without a thought to waking the kids.

Bill parked the truck. Mama, Daddy, Garnet and finally Billy got out of the truck. Billy had a big bandage on his head. His legs were unsteady and he was woozy. Daddy and Bill helped him walk inside. As they steered him into his room, John Carl came out of the room. He did not look at Billy or speak. Maggie could not tell if he was even relieved to see his brother home. No one spoke to him, and he kept his eyes averted. Maggie did see Bill’s face go a shade of red when he heard the back door bang.

Gently, they eased Billy onto his bed. Uncle Woody had followed them into the room, so had the boys and Skeeter. Corey Jean was still asleep. Garnet pulled the cover over her boy and kissed him on the cheek. He mumbled, “Thanks Mama.” He glanced up. All eyes were on him. Pleased by the attention, Billy gave them a lopsided grin. He said, “Ya'll should thank the Lord I got such a hard head.”

In a weary voice Garnet said, “This is the first time, I have ever been thankful for that. If your head was softer, it could have been a lot worse. Remember you have a concussion, and the doctor wants you to take it easy for a few days."

Billy's grin grew bigger. "Oh, I think I can manage that."

*

Maggie lay down on John Carl’s bed to watch Billy’s chest rise and fall. Breathing was a miracle and she was so thankful, the air could still come and go out of him. What would they have done if he had been seriously hurt? What would John Carl have done? It could have been so bad. From Garnet and Bill's room, came their combined snores. Garnet’s snore was louder. At least Garnet was resting.

Billy stretched and whispered, “I got good drugs.” Maggie propped herself up on her elbow to look at him. His eyes were bright and twinkling. “The best drugs I ever had,” he continued. “I can’t feel a thing.” He held out his hand to her. Maggie got up, went to his bed and took his hand. He squeezed hers. For a moment they just looked at each other. Billy broke their silence by asking, “So how did it feel to have two men fighting over you?”

If he had not just gotten home from the hospital, Maggie would have slugged him. She knew her face was red. Enjoying her discomfort Billy laughed at her. Angrily she said, “I did not like it. Why were you spying on me?”

“I wasn’t spyin’ on you. I was just admiring the view.” His emphasis on the word view, implied that she was the view. This only rankled her more.

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“Why did you hit John Carl?”

“He kissed you and he has a girl friend.”

“So, you kissed me and you have a girlfriend.”

“Yeah, but when I kissed you it was just to tease you. John Carl meant it.”

This information made Maggie blush even more. Did this mean Billy thought John Carl might like her just a little?

“Oh, Maggie why you gotta like him?”

Maggie did not know why. She just did. After last night, a part of her wished she didn’t, but she just couldn’t help her self.

Garnet’s snore rose to a new level.

Billy squeezed Maggie’s hand and said, “God I hope the woman I marry don’t snore like Mama.”

Unable to help herself, Maggie giggled.

Billy yawned. “This stuff they got me on makes me so sleepy.” He closed his eyes.

Maggie held his hand until he fell asleep. Gently, she pulled her fingers free from his. He stirred a little but did not wake up. She went back to John Carl’s bed and laid down. The bed smelled like John Carl, a mixture of soap and tractor grease. The old mattress had lumped itself into the form of his body. She curled herself up in the lump. Soon she too, drifted off to sleep.

*

When she woke up. John Carl was standing over the bed looking at her. Embarrassed, she said, “I am sorry, I should not be here.”

Expressionless, John Carl said, “No, it is okay.” Without a glance at Billy, he walked out of the room.

Maggie slid off the bed and went after him. He stood in the kitchen making himself a sandwich. Silently she stood beside him as he spread mayonnaise on white bread. An uncomfortable tension played between them. Maggie felt the pressure of it and wanted to dispel it. He put the knife in the sink and clamped his cheese sandwich together. Without a word to her, he took his plate and went into the dining room.

Maggie followed him. She said, “Billy’s doing really good.”

John Carl didn’t respond. He took a bite of his sandwich and chewed it thoroughly.

Maybe he hadn’t heard her. Again she said, “Billy is doing really good.”

He swallowed and said, “Yeah.”

She touched his arm. He pulled it away from her.

Hurt, Maggie dropped her hand. Uncle Woody came into the dining room smoking a cigarette. He sat down at the table. His eyes traveled from John Carl to Maggie, then back again. He asked John Carl, “So where have you been?”

“Around.” John Carl stood and took his plate to the kitchen. Maggie remained where she was.

Billy passed through the dining room on his way to the bathroom. Maggie’s eyes followed him. For a moment John Carl and Billy looked at each other. Billy said, “You gonna try to take out Corey Jean, so you can be an only child?” The poison in this remark burned Maggie’s heart. She didn’t know Billy could be so mean.

John Carl didn’t answer. He walked out of the kitchen, grabbed his cap off the table and slammed the back door behind him.

To Billy, Uncle Woody said, “You didn’t have to say that.”

A hard light came into Billy's eyes. He asked, “Why not?”“Cause he is the only brother you got.”

Anger flared out of Billy’s eyes. “I wish I had my other brother.”

“I bet John Carl wishes the same.”

Billy didn’t say anything more. He went into the bathroom. Outside, Maggie heard the roar of John Carl’s truck. He revved it. The toilet flushed. The next sound was that of spewing gravel as John Carl spun out of the drive. Billy passed back through the dining room. Bitterly he said, “I am glad he's gone.”

Uncle Woody gave him a stern look, but didn't say a word..

Slowly, Maggie got up from the table. She told Uncle Woody, “I am going to the branch to find the kids.”

“Okay, Sweetie. If the boys give you any trouble let me know."

"I will." Silently, Maggie wondered, why do boys have to be so MUCH trouble?