Wayward Brothers

[Lovely]

October 16, Year 1


Miss Murphy's family didn't all hold a sparkling shine back home. Daddy was Daddy and he'd chosen Kingswell to marry her. Gannon was Daddy's pride and joy, never disobeying nor causing any of the trouble the rest of Murphy's children seemed insistent on doing. The tarnish on those sharp edges came mostly from two of Elizabeth's other brothers, both younger than Gannon but older than herself and having kinda been 'disowned' by Daddy as they were wilder boys. Having left a few years back and gone wandering to make their way in the world, they'd made their way as far as Colorado on their own when news of their sister's marriage found them by wire. Shocked that it wasn't Kingswell's hand that had her, the two made arrangements to come to town to sort things out themselves, partly to appease their father, but partly to ensure their sister had every happiness she deserved. She was their only sister, afterall. They wandered into Atasco Creek and asked around to find the devil who'd swept her up, tearing down to the Estate, fearing the worst and ready to bust her out... The brothers' first fortune was running into Doyle...

Doyle sat on the step munching on a biscuit and sipping fresh coffee. "Mornin'.... help you boys with somethin'?" He called down the gate, not moving from the step.

"Howdy there.. you Everitt Carlisle?" One says polite like.

"Of all the fool...," he mumbled indignantly. Bad enough getting him confused with his brothers, let alone one of the younger ones. "Nope... 'fraid not. You need him for something?"

"Yes sir.. we come to see him.. and Beth."

"Beth? Beth.. beth... Elizabeth? The missus?"

"Elizabeth.. yessum that's right."

"Well... bein' as he's the sheriff and right likely the busiest man in town, I might ask you boys if you have an appointment," Doyle teased from behind a dark 'poker' face as he stood and came down to the gate.

"No sir.. we do not." One looked to the other, like mirror images, except with different lengths of hair and one had a bit of facial hair. "It's sort of a surprise.."

"Yes.. we're old.. friends of Beth's family, just found out she was in town." The other piped in, his voice a bit softer than the other's.

"Friends of the missus?" Doyle stopped a few feet from the gate and looked back over his shoulder before settling his gaze on them. "She's a might bit indisposed at the moment, bein' it's still early and she wasn't expecting you. Why don't y'all wait down here and I'll let her know you're calling. What's your names?"

"I'm not keen on waiting, long .. you see it's been a few years since we've seen her.. also I think a surprise would be nice." The smooth faced young man grinned and stuck his hand through the gate. "Revelin Murphy, sir and this here is my brother Torrence."

The other man stepped forward and extended his hand as well. "If it's all the same, we'd like to surprise her." Torrence added with a smile.

"Musta been interestin' bein' friends, but having her name, hm? No need to be callin' me 'sir'... ain't no military man. Name's Doyle and I think you'll surprise her right enough." He took each hand in turn with a nod, curious about the boys' sudden appearance and the coincidental similarity of their names. He looked back to the house, not seeing any stirring on the balcony. "Two shakes, lads..."

Revelin sighed and puffed towards the sky. "You won't tell her.. who's here, will you do us that favor?... sure would be a might better to see her expression."

Torrence nodded his agreement, chuckling as he ran his fingers over his moustache.

His eyes squinted as if he could see them better in the morning sun through the gate by doing so, but was met only with the same clever grins. "Two shakes, lads... let her get done up proper at least," he mumbled as he headed back up the walk, scratching his head. He leaned down to sweep his crumbs off the step and pick up his coffee before heading in.

[Lovely]

He took his time, stopping by the kitchen for another biscuit before going up to the door. "Who in their right mind comes by without....?" He shook his head as his fingers rapped gently on their door. "Mornin'...some visitors here for you, Elizabeth..."

Everitt groaned quietly, hearing his brother and assuming the 'visitor' could only be Kingswell coming to cause trouble... but this early? He smiled, holding a finger over his lips to shush her and tell her not reply.

Elizabeth smiled back at Everitt, snuggling closer and lifting up a little to lean over him and bestow a gentle kiss. "mmm." She whispered as she kissed down his neck. "Who would be coming to see me?"

His grin dimmed and his hand fell from his lips. "Well... can think of at least one, Miss Liza, but he wouldn't have made an announcement. 'Sides, he said visitors... your daddy's not due for a visit is he, now?"

"Oh my.. you don't think?" She wasn't expecting him, but the thought sent her into a panic. "I have to get dressed! He can't see me, us.. like this." Her worried eyes darted around the room and she began to pull away from him.

Everitt chuckled, remaining calm for the moment. He'd give that man a piece of his mind, make no mistake, he thought. "Liza... Elizabeth... slow up a li'l, now. No one's walking in that door there less'n I let him. Let me go see what all this is about and you take your time."

Her wide eyes caught his gaze and she nodded, pulling the sheet around her a bit. "I'll be down, as quickly as I can."

He hooked the edge of the sheet and peered beneath it for a moment, giving her a sweet smile and a kiss on her flushed cheek. "No hurry on my account, ma'am. I'll hold 'em off, whoever they are."

"Hey now!" She tugged the sheet back around her bare form. "You keep doing that and we'll never get out of this bed." She giggled, though blushing, wrapping her arms around his shoulders for a moment as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Had my druthers, Missus Carlisle...," he shook his head and sighed, the gleam sparking brightly in the corner of his eye before he slipped away himself, taking his trousers from the chair to step into.

Doyle knocked again, hearing their rustling and mumbles. "Ev.. you let her go, now. These folks said they didn't want to wait on her too long... might spoil their surprise n'all, I guess."

"Surprise?" She looked to Everitt and tipped her head, calling back over her shoulder. "We'll be out directly, Doyle.. thank you."

"Yes'm. You want me to give 'em any message? They're still at the gate... but s'posin' if I tell you, t'see if you want 'em to come in to the parlor, then you know and there's no surprise... so... should I leave them at the gate?"

"Doyle... you woke up with beans in your head. Open the gate and let them in for lord's sake."

Her firey hair fell in soft curls down over her shoulders and back, swaying gently as she shifted to get out of bed. Elizabeth let the sheet fall back to the bed as she walked to the armoire to get her dress and things for the day.

Tucking his shirt in was a slow and painful task in a marvelous way as he watched her cross the room, setting it softly aglow with her form. He pulled up his suspenders gently, leaving himself some much-needed slack and finally ran his hand through his ragged hair. He reached for his hat on the peg and Gertrude, waiting for Liza to step to the dressing screen before pulling the door open.

She peeked around the dressing screen and blew him a kiss as he pulled the door open.She ducked back behind it, in case Doyle was still in the hall, and began dressing.

Revelin pulled a cigarette from his pocket and offered one to Torrence before lighting his own. He puffed lazily, leaning against the gate with his brother. "You think they're going to let us in?" The boys faced away from the estate, looking out over the land and the horizon.

"I don't rightly know... that one that was on the step, seemed awfully nice, you know for the criminal sort," Torrence replied.

[Lovely]

Doyle was back down the steps as soon as he was dismissed, still mumbling as he came back down to the gate. "Ain't got no beans in my head... coulda just said to let 'em in," he fussed then came back to the boys and their cigarettes. "Missus said she'll be right down, and the Sheriff, too. First rule of the house is no smokin' in the parlor, though. Don't be thinking she won't take them right outta your hands. Soon as you're done though, we have coffee." He smiled in as friendly a manner as he could while he unlocked the gate and pulled it open. It hadn't been tended to yet and squeaked loudly.

The boys nodded and smiled at the comment about their smokes, though a strange questioning glance passed between the two as the sheriff was mentioned... again. "This Everitt.. he's really the sheriff around these parts?" Torrence asked, stepping through the gates and waiting for his brother. Kidnapped and forced to marry, held captive.. by the sheriff? Kingswell's story was not adding up.

"This is a pretty nice spread.. the house looks impressive from out here... how many of y'all livin' here?" Revelin asked, running his fingers through his hair.

Doyle nearly answered outright, but shrugged and thought about it a moment. "Really... just them two. Me and the rest of us brothers are helpin' fix it all up right is all."

"Brothers you say? Heh.. right as it should be.. lookin' out." Revelin took a last puff and tossed his stub to the dirt, mashing it under his boot to make sure there was nothing left.

Torrence followed suit, glancing around. "Family should stick together." He added softly. "So who is the elder, you or Everitt?"

"Neither... that'd be Gully... Gulliver, the minister here, then Rory... Riordhan... the magistrate. Ev's pretty much plum in the middle, but he's a wee bit younger'n me. Don't mean nothin', though," he said, puffing up a little as if trying to seem bigger or more important.

"Tell that to Gannon.. woo he thinks he's the crown prince, I swear.." Torrence shook his head, letting a low whistle through his teeth about their older brother.

Revelin just slapped his arm and made a motion as if to tell him to shut up.

Doyle laughed out loud, "We'll let him take on Alexander, then. See which is the more charming?"

Revelin laughed at that as did Torrence, their pale green eyes holding a bit of gleam. "Perhaps it can be arranged."

Everitt rounded the landing as they came to the door and he heard mention of Alex. "What's he done, now? He's not made himself home in my office again, has he?" The exasperated sigh was cut short at the sight of the guests and he tipped the polite smile back in place. "Mornin' boys... how can we help you?"

Doyle introduced them quickly as he stepped back toward the kitchen. "Torrence and Revelin... Murphy... boys - Sheriff Carlisle. You take milk or cream in your coffee?"

"Black please." Torrence replied to Doyle, extending his hand then to Everitt.

"Cream if you have it and bit of sugar, thank you." They both suddenly sounded much more refined than they had moments before. Revelin turned to Everitt, extending his hand as well. "Good morning sir, 'we' can not do anything for us.. We're here to see Beth."

Torrence nodded to his brother's words. "We can discuss you, after we've seen to Beth.. if it's all the same."

He took the offered greetings. He wasn't positive they were twins, but they were most certainly brothers with eyes that sparkled with trouble just like a certain school teacher. Murphy? Now he was curious to know the rest of the story. He glanced up to the top of the stairs then motioned to the sitting room. The room had kept most of the furnishings of the previous owner, but the cloths had been removed and the place polished up to a warm glow. "Don't know what all you mean 'bout 'discussing me' but I'm sure it'll be a short talk. Not much about me to say," he grinned. "What all you have for Elizabeth, however, I'm curious... what can be said that can't be said in front of her husband, hm?"

"We'll see." Torrence said, looking to Everitt with a slight nod. He did not wish to be simply rude, but to assure himself that his sister was fairing well and not held against her will by this man.

"And how did you come to marry.. a girl such as Beth? Knowing her father.. and I know him well.. he'd not approve of you, sheriff or no." Revelin turned his curious gaze to the man, who seemed mostly at ease and had turned out to be the sheriff, a detail.. one of many it appeared that Kingswell had left out of or altered in his stories.

"Yeah, well, tell me something I don't know. She's a grown girl though and able to make up that mind on her own," he said with no little regret for the situation that made her life so painful some days, and his as well where her father's choice was concerned. "Life's a little different out here, but I'm guessin' you know that."

Revelin nodded. "Indeed it is." He concurred, casting his eyes to the door, where he hoped to see his sister appear.

Torrence sighed and traced his moustache again. "Do you know a man by the name of Kingswell?" He asked, looking to Everitt again.

Elizabeth dressed as quickly as she could, but corsets and things took time. She finally finished pinning her hair and looked in the mirror, satisfied that she looked presentable, she headed downstairs.

"I'd say he does," Doyle chimed in, playing the part of a slightly disheveled butler as he brought in the tray with mugs and a pitcher of milk. "Man's all stuffing and no stitches..."

"Doyle...," Everitt cautioned him quietly.

"What? He causes more trouble than he's worth most days. Scares the missus half to death. You shou...."

"Doyle," Everitt shushed him, being more insistent.

Both boys turned and let their gazes fall on Doyle. "Please.. say what you have to say.. scares Beth, does he? What exactly has he been doing?" They spoke in unison as if two of the same person, Revelin's voice a slight softer and Torrence's a bit deeper. Sometimes it was frightening how they acted together, working as one or as two halves, without speaking about it beforehand.

"C'mon Ev, you know as well as I do. Been nothin' but threats on her since you first laid eyes on her. Didn't see him comin' out here to help her settle in. Man don't even know which is the business end of a rifle to save his own life or hers... like you did when them wild dogs was loose."

Everitt watched the boys as he listened to Doyle compare him to the man he loathed. "Did what anyone shoulda done was all. Part of my job, protecting folks."

"I told you he was lying." Torrence commented.

Revelin gave him a look of shock. "You did no such.. it was your idea to come down here, you was ready to bust his head in. It's a good thing you don't carry a gun, I saw the look on your face when Kingswell was talkin."

Torrence 'hmmphed' at Revelin and waved his hand. "Me? You were the one who d**n near knocked the table over, surprise there are even doors left on the hotel. You're the hot head, not me."

Revelin scoffed. "I was just worried 'bout Beth is all.. the way Kingswell had it, she was a prisoner.. locked up.."

"In chains, done been dragged off and forced into this... He told us he was criminal.. he's the damned sheriff.." Torrence waved his hands as he spoke.

Revelin nodded, folding his arms and taking on a thoughful pose. "You know we should go back to town later and give him the working over we had planned for that one."

Torrence nodded in agreement. "Maybe get something to eat first, I'm awful hungry, we skipped breakfast."

They bantered, seeming to forget others were in the room with them, then finally falling quiet as they agreed to breakfast at least and then whooping Kingswell.

[Lovely]

How about you ask her yourselves and we'll scrape together something for you boys to eat. If Doyle hasn't eaten all the biscuits, we should have some left if that's alright?" He nodded toward the door as her shadow moved over the polished wood a moment before she entered.

Her heels made a slight noise on the floor as she crossed to come into the room. Having not seen either boy in years and they had all grown up some in that time, Elizabeth did not recognise them from behind. "I apologise for keeping you waiting.. Good morning gentle..." Her voice trailed off as she came around and the two boys turned a bit to face her fully. Her mouth dropped open in a gasp and she stared in shocked silence for a moment. Her lips trembled slightly and her eyes shone with unshed tears of joy, her fingers coming to cover her mouth. "Revelin? Torrence?" She asked softly, as if needed them to confirm that they were real.

He watched her face, concerned as her eyes welled up and looked back at the boys. "Elizabeth? You alright? Liza?"

Doyle was already stomping off back to the kitchen mumbling about being accused of eating all the biscuits. "Only had two," he murmured, lifting lids and checking cupboards for leftovers from breakfast.

He couldn't take it any longer, with a whoop Revelin 'charged at her, scooping her around the waist and spinning with her held in a tight hug. "Oh Beth.. look at you girl.. you done grown up on me!" He showered her cheeks with kisses.

Torrence shook his head chuckling. "I don't remember giving you permission to grow up into such a beautiful lady." He scolded, before joining in the embrace as Rev stopped spinning. He wrested Elizabeth away from Rev a little and pulled her into his own tight hug.

A few tears found their way free as she was hugged by her brothers. She returned the shower of kisses with her own to their cheeks and hugged them tightly back, a giddy laughter found it's way free and she shook her head as she was finally set back on her feet. She wiped at her damp cheeks and turned back to Everitt, reaching for his hand, for a proper introduction. "This is my husband, Everitt...Everitt, this is Revelin and Torrence.." She motioned to each man in turn. "...my brothers."

"I'd mostly guessed that, but thank you," he grinned. "You might say your surprise worked, boys." He nodded, coming up beside her and taking her hand.

"That it did.." They grinned, looking sheepish and boyish at once. "We must apologise for being so abrupt with you, before." Revelin began, reaching to give a true and friendly hand shake to Everitt.

"But after what were told, when we ran into father's old friend... you must understand we were most upset and concerned for our sister's well being." Torrence continued, letting his brother extend his hand first.

"Yes.. you have our deepest and sincerest apologies for misjudging you." Revelin gave a slight bow.

"Sheriff, son... not the king. You don't need to go bowin' and all that... or apologizin'. Protecting your interests is fair," he smiled, turning it to Elizabeth with real and apparent adoration. "I'd be doin' the same."

She smiled softly, her eyes warm and shining lovingly back at Everitt. Elizabeth, scooted closer and leaned against his arm, tilting her head to rest on his shoulder. She adressed her brothers gently. "You're not angry or disapproving about my being with Everitt and all?"

Revelin looked to Torrence and both shrugged, turning their gazes on Elizabeth and her husband. "You look very happy, that's all that matters to me." Revelin spoke softly, reaching to give a light flick on her nose as he winked. "And for you to be sleeping in so late.." He chuckled. "You must be very, very happy."

"Who's sayin' she was sleepin'?" He winked and chuckled.

She blushed deeply at both teasing remarks and burried her face in Everitt's chest. "Oh hush up, all of you."

He kissed her temple and muttered in her ear, "Should get you all something to eat. Somethin' tells me if they come all the way out here spyin', you-know-who's probably not too far behind."

"Oh.. we wasn't spying.. we were going to rip your innards out."

"Pummel you till you was little bitty bits and pieces." Revelin added, giving a slight smile and a shrug.

Elizabeth held onto Everitt a little tighter as he spoke of -you know who- and turned her face into his chest again. "Oh I hope not.. nothing like ruining breakfast to see him this early." She murmured.

"Shh, don't worry about that. Sorry I brought him to mind," he murmured and turned back to the boys again with an almost challenging grin, if they hadn't entirely changed their minds. "And now? Am I being allowed to keep my innards then and stay in one piece?"

Their eyes fell on Elizabeth and the way she snuggled into him, they smiled a bit and nodded. "It appears for the moment, you will." Revelin spoke first and then Torrence followed.

"Though.. break her heart or hurt her in any way.. and we'll be talking innards and pieces."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said softly, his eyes flaring a bit with the sting of the insult that anyone would think him capable of doing such a thing.

"Good to know... since they way you were made to sound." Rev shook his head. "Like you had a black heart and.. well.. nevermind that.. as it appears we were grossly mislead."

"Only when it comes to a serious hand of cards," he grinned. "Or those who step over the line with the ladies or my kin, which now, appears to include two more brothers."

Rev's head tipped as did his grin. "Did you say cards?"

Elizabeth lifted her head to smile again, the soft adoring gaze locked on Everitt as he spoke of adding two more brothers to his kin.

"I did. Saturday nights, but I warn you it ain't no lightweight game. Been some hands played that kept the plate empty from some pockets Sunday morning. Can find some hands going most any night down at Maggie's, though. Speaking of, has anyone heard from Alex this morning?"

A clatter was heard from the kitchen as plate wobbled on the countertop. Doyle hooted after a moment in reply, "Left early. Said he's helping Patrick on some project of some kind."

With a slight smile she leaned up to kiss Everitt's cheek. "Maybe I should go help him?"

"Only if you want to, Liza. Might be safer out here, though."

Doyle screeched out a partial curse, having burned himself on the kettle as he tried to make more coffee. "Dagnabit.. sonuv... mmmm..ow... mess with iron all d**n day and scorch my finger on the teakettle.. how do you like that?"

She nodded, thinking maybe he was right. "I should go check on Lily, see how she's feeling this morning." She frowned. "Make sure she's at least tried to eat a little something." She'd taken it pretty hard, her father's anger, being sick with the baby and adjusting to living with Patrick and the family. It was a lot for the young girl to handle and with the baby making her even more sensitive and moody. Liza laughed as she heard Doyle cursing and looked up at Everitt. "Well someone ought to go help him."

"I'll take care of it. Go check on Lily. She may be hungry enough to eat finally," he grinned and kissed her tenderly. He slipped away and motioned for the boys to stay put. "Doyle, what all's going on in here? Told you you got beans in your head... what in blazes..." he trailed off as he stopped in the kitchen and laughed, finding Doyle in gram's old apron and dusted top to toe in flour, holding a damp cloth on his hand.

"Don't say another word," Doyle sniped, blinking a dusting of flour off his cheeks. "Not another word."