Ty returned to the office where Zach was waiting for his grandson. He had already had the bed prepared. Ty lifted Harry up and carried him, with Zach by his side, to the elevator on the second floor. Ty placed him in the bed and Zach covered him up and gave him a kiss. Ty hugged his grandfather and headed to his room.
Zach laid down beside Harry and wrapped his arm around him. "Harry, there will never be any secrets between us at all. If you want to know anything, just ask. But I know next to nothing about you—even your file is incomplete from your old Ranch. How did I get so lucky to get you on my Ranch?"
"Please don’t get mad at , Z, and I will tell you everything," Harry began, his voice hesitant. "I ca looking for my younger brother who was brought here after his Ranch failed him. It’s been a year since I lost contact with him. I tried to locate him, but until recently I found he was here for several months waiting on his transition. But I haven’t seen him since I arrived and started to work with Robbie’s crew."
"Do you have a photo or rember what he looked like the last ti you saw him?" Zach asked gently.
"He has creamy white skin, wavy blonde hair and our mother’s green eyes just like ," Harry described, his voice growing softer. "And he was a sweet kid."
Zach kissed Harry tenderly. "I will find him tomorrow if he’s on this farm."
"His na was Claude," Harry added, "if the last Ranch didn’t change it."
The next morning, Zach left Harry in bed and went to the construction office to see Ben. On the way, he stopped by Ty’s room.
"I need you to keep Harry company by taking him to the private study so you can get to know each other better until I get back to the house," he requested.
"It would be my pleasure, Grandfather," Ty responded warmly.
Ty walked to his grandfather’s room and knocked on the door.
"Co on in," Harry called out.
Ty opened the door. "It’s , Harry. Are you dressed?"
"Yes I am, Ty. Co in."
Ty entered the room and found Harry sitting, trying to put on his shoes. Harry looked at Ty embarrassed.
"Could you help ?" he asked quietly.
Ty had no problem helping, as he had seen plenty of first-tirs have the sa problem the next few days after being topped.
"What a big strong Genman I am," Harry remarked with self-deprecating humor. "Look at , can’t do a thing. Too damned sore."
"It will get better, just give it ti," Ty assured him.
Harry thanked him. "What’s on the agenda? Zach said no work for a few days for ."
"I figured we could go to the private study," Ty suggested. "I have wanted to go inside, but Grandfather said it was off limits unless we had his permission."
Harry and Ty walked to the elevator and rode it downstairs to the study. Harry picked out a book and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs, relaxing. Ty was amazed at the library his grandfather had amassed—it was full of old Earth and Genman books. Ty picked out a book and sat in the other overstuffed chair, beginning to read.
Zach arrived at the construction office and went inside.
"Good morning. How’s everything today, Zach?" Ben greeted him. "The coffee is ready for you."
"Thanks, Ben. I need a cup or two this morning."
"I got a call this morning already from Robbie," Ben ntioned while pouring coffee. "Seems that Harry didn’t make it in and no one has seen him. I told Robbie he was okay but he might be a few more days, so don’t sweat it." Ben paused, sipping his coffee. "How did it go after I left?"
Zach smiled. "It went well, no major problems." He took a sip of his coffee.
Ben propped his chin on his hands, studying his friend. "You topped him, didn’t you, Zach? Just had to, didn’t you? Now what are you going to do—play with the man and then send him ho to his Ranch after you have your fun, like in the past?"
"My dear oldest friend, yes I did top him and it was fun," Zach smiled, "but those days are behind . Harry is staying with . I intend to stick with him. I let the most important person in my life slip through my fingers years ago, but you have found happiness in life again with Claude. I have found happiness in Harry and we started a family last night. This ti I will not screw it up—I intend to raise our children side by side as a couple."
"It’s about damned ti you had so happiness in your life," Ben replied with genuine warmth. "I guess it did so good that Luther and the kids ca ho. And as long as I’m talking about our son, I have so information to share that ca by way of a certain little boy who is bursting at the seams this morning with great news."
"Okay, Ben, don’t keep this asshole in suspense," Zach urged.
"Well," Ben grinned, "it seems that young Willie is going to be a big brother. His dad’s new friend is carrying his little brother and he is on cloud nine."
Zach was very happy for Luther and Robbie, but he needed to get sothing out of the way first and then go check on Luther.
"Do you know about Claude’s past?" Zach inquired.
Ben responded that every ti he tried to speak about it to Claude, he clamd up until he ntioned he had an older brother, but one day he disappeared and was never seen or heard from again.
"I can fix that very easily," Zach replied. "We can fix a legal docunt—if anything happens to both of you, who as next of kin by direct blood contact cares for the children, so we will need information from him to do this." Zach paused thoughtfully. "Call him and tell him to bring the boys to the house for a late lunch around 1pm and we can go over this with him."
Ben was on the edge of his seat. "Zach, what do you know that I need to know that affects Claude?"
Zach smiled mysteriously. "I have found his long-lost brother, and you even know him yourself. They both have the sa rare green eyes and carry a geno that causes them to produce twins."
"Who is it, Zach?" Ben pressed.
Zach laughed. "Stay tuned, my dear friend. Now how about a fresh cup of coffee?"
Harry and Ty were engrossed in the books they were reading when Sonja touched Ty’s arm, causing him to jump like he had been hit with electricity. Ty was surprised to see her there.
"What exactly is the special occasion for this visit?" he asked.
"I ca to check up on my friend Harry and see how he was feeling after his big day," Sonja replied. "Plus, you are a sight for these sore eyes." She leaned over and kissed him.
Harry cleared his throat. "Am I going to have to get you two a room?"
Ty blushed. "Only after we have been properly joined and not before."
"You got that right," Sonja declared, "because don’t nobody take Miss Sonja out for a test drive."
Harry laughed. "Mr. Zach took this out for a test drive and closed down the garage door after he parked two buggies in it."
Sonja and Ty both laughed at Harry’s comnt.
"Good one, Harry," Sonja remarked. "You aren’t any cold fish—you got so fire in your soul, boy."
Harry smiled and went back to his book. Ty and Sonja chatted together when Zach walked into the study.
"You three are requested to make yourselves available at 1:15 sharp in the dining room for a light al and eting," he announced firmly. "It’s not an option." He leaned over and kissed Harry. "Enjoy your new world because you haven’t seen nothing yet."
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