“I don’t know about this, Thomas,” Maria said, concern heavy in her voice. “It’s dangerous to cross the Hollowells. And it is doubly dangerous to make enemies in the desert.”
“I know, Maria, but it can’t be helped,” Thomas ran shaky fingers through his thick mane of shoulder length blonde hair. “When I find this kind of infectious disease in cattle, I am required to report it to the FDA. Whatever it costs them in money pales in comparison to what the cost in human lives could be. How could I live with myself if I just looked the other way? How can I teach our boys right from wrong if I can’t do the same?”
“But they asked you to look the other way,” Maria insisted. “They will not be pleased to find out that you did not. There could be repercussions.”
“What choice did I have?”
Further discussion of the topic was interrupted by a commotion coming from outside. The sound of a crying child was growing louder as footsteps pounded across the front yard. The door was flung open, and Rex came bounding in, tears filling his eyes, his clothes dusty and rumpled. Maria tried to ask him what was wrong, but Rex ran past her and went straight to his room and shut the door behind him. Maria shared a concerned look with Thomas who shook his head sadly.
Theodore came in shortly thereafter. While he was not in tears or disheveled in any way, he was obviously upset.
“What happened?” Maria asked when Theodore shut the door behind him. “Why is your brother crying?”
“And why does he look like you beat him up?” Thomas added.
“I didn’t beat him up,” Theodore said with a shrug of his small shoulders. He didn’t act like the accusation bothered him the slightest bit. “It was that Hollowell boy and his jerk-face friends. They ganged up on him after school.”
Maria shared a pointed look with her husband.
“And what did you do?” Thomas asked, a little heat rising in his voice. “Just stand by and watch?”
“No,” Theodore answered calmly again. “I forgot my backpack at school, and I had to go back to get it. They all ran when I came back out.”
“I don’t get it,” Thomas threw his hands in the air. “You boys are twins. Why would they pick on him and run from you?”
“Thomas, take it easy on them,” Maria said sternly. “They may look the same, but they are unique and different in wonderful ways. Rex has a huge heart, and he would go out of his way to protect others, but he’s still learning how to stand up for himself. Theodore just learned it a little quicker.”
“How?” Thomas’ question was directed at his son.
Theodore shrugged again in his nonchalant way. “They tried, but I put that kid on his butt, maybe a little harder than I intended, but they stopped messing with me after that.”
“Maybe you could help your brother out a little,” Thomas opined.
“What do you think I was doing?”
“Thomas, Rex will learn at his own pace,” Maria chided him softly. “It will do no good to rush him.”