Brandon raised a brow. "Only for your sanity."
Allie gasped in outrage. "I'm trying to do something good, Brandon! For everyone! Those boys need a home. Have you forgotten that – that place we lived? It wasn't a home – it was a prison. No love, or laughter. We weren't even alive – not really."
The ragged pain in her voice brought the memories flooding through him, and he took his time before he spoke again. "That's all true, Allie. But you know nothing about these kids – and fourteen…" He grimaced. "There's not much you can do to influence them once they're that age."
He didn't have to spell it out. She was a woman. A young man who'd grown up half wild wouldn't respect – or obey – any rules she might set. Allie looked down at her lap. This was her dream. Why was everyone so intent upon telling her how it couldn't be done?
"How many of these – young men – did you send for?"
Well, at least in this, he would be able to find no fault. She would have liked to have taken all eighteen that the orphans' home in New Mexico Territory had offered to send. But, it had occurred to her that in the beginning, she wouldn't know what to expect. She didn't want to bite off more than she could chew. And, the thought had crossed her mind more than once that she may already have done that – with only ten boys to work with. She'd regretfully told Mr. Wickham that her operation would only allow for ten of them to start with, and perhaps the others could come once she'd established a routine.
"Only – ten."
Brandon looked down, unwilling to share his thoughts – a habit she knew well. She crossed her arms. "Well, you might as well say it. I'm a fool for doing it at all. The boys might just take off in the night and steal the herd, or run away. Or the herd might not be healthy."
"Yes. Any of that could happen." He gave her a level, brooding gaze, not easing her doubts in the slightest. "And what's to stop it?" he asked quietly.
"You, Pa." Jay stepped inside the bedroom door with the forgotten water, handing it to Brandon.
Allie looked at Jay, then back to Brandon.
"Me? How?"
"Been thinkin'." Jay carefully sat on the edge of the bed. "Checkers always helps me think," he explained seriously. "We learned a new word in school yesterday. 'Jurisdiction.' It means—" He hesitated, choosing his words. "It means: 'your territory'. Your law stands if you are the boss of your lands. Whatever you say – that's how it is."
Brandon smiled. "That's lawyerin', Jay. A judge has jurisdiction over certain things."
"So does a marshal, or a sheriff, though. Right?"
Brandon nodded. "Yeah, I suppose you're right, son. That's true. But I'm not a marshal or a sheriff."
"No, but you're my pa now. That means my name has gotta change, and—" he looked at Allie, "so will yours, Mama, because – it wouldn't be right, if you didn't get married."
"Oh, Jay, now—" Allie sputtered, but Brandon held up a staying hand.
"Let's hear the rest of this."
"Well," Jay went on, "our last name is gonna all be yours, Pa. Gabriel. Jay Gabriel, Allison Gabriel, and Brandon Gabriel. And on our ranch, we have jurisdiction." He stopped and corrected himself. "You have jurisdiction, 'cause you're the boss. So, it just seems right that when those other boys come, they'll have to go by Gabriel's Law."
Brandon's lips curved upward at Jay's heartfelt explanation. "Everyone has to go by Gabriel's Law, huh?"
Jay nodded. "If they're on our property, they do."
"Even – Jay Gabriel?"
Jay's eyes widened. "Of course, Pa. I have to be the example! Me, you, and Mama. I didn't know how to behave when I was little. Mama says I was mistreated. But later, I learned how to behave. I can be a good example." He sat silent for a minute, searching Brandon's face. "I wouldn't never make you ashamed of me, bein' a Gabriel now – the both of us."
Brandon pulled Jay into his arms, and by the fierce way Jay's fingers tightened around Brandon's neck for an instant, Allie glimpsed Jay's need for Brandon's love and approval.
"I know you wouldn't, Jay. You're a son any man would be proud of." Brandon's voice was low, and tightly controlled.
Allie's eyes filled with tears. Brandon was used to being on his own. This love from Jay, his childish adoration, was something Brandon wasn't sure how to handle. How would he deal with being loved so much by not only Jay, but her as well? She would have to tread very carefully.
"I don't want any other man for my father, Pa. I picked you, an' you picked me. I'm a Gabriel now." Jay's voice was muffled against Brandon's chest.
Brandon squeezed Jay's shoulder. "All right, son. If that's how you want it."
"I do."
Releasing him, Brandon asked, "Will you do something for me, then, Jay? Go into the front room, or into your bedroom, and make a list of everything we're going to need for this…this idea. We'll need fencing before we can put cattle in the pastures, so you can start with that – wood, wire, and hardware… I – want to talk to your mama."