When Marco came here, he envisioned a state with towns, cities, counties, train stations, shipping ports, and prison camps—all of which he succeeded in building. He also constructed a massive homestead at the Black Timber Forest, big enough for forty fort-small ones to run around. He kept a place and an office in Franklin Town where he could make sure his state was running smoothly, while his hired guns protected him and his family.
Now, it has been twenty-nine years, and their kids are grown and out doing their own thing. They haven't seen or heard from Hank and Thomas since that day and night.
Meanwhile, in Morgantown, Teeno and Frankie were tricked into being free silver servants.
"I hate this life, look at us. We are the core pack bloodline, we're starving, sleeping bad, and unpaid," complained Teeno as he threw a coffee cup across the room.
"Tell me about it. We have the crown amber blood—or did. I'd give anything to have that crown back," said Frankie.
Back at the Black Timber homestead, Jessie was cutting the lawn and Jordan was out cutting wood when a voice said, "They will all come home soon. You are needed, my queens of heart."
Cameron was also in Morgantown, but in bad shape without that primal wolf and the crown amber blood of the timber. He had been used, stepped on, and hurt in the worst way possible. His heart had been mashed to pieces, and now he had turned to drinking to heal his pain. Back at the Black Timber homestead, they got done doing their chores, got washed up, and were heading to Salt City to fill out the decrees. Hank and Thomas made up their minds that they were not coming back home. After all, Hank is the Patriarch—the voice—and Thomas is the Monarch—the eyes. Wherever Nucasha is, he is supposed to be the Anarchy—the soul. They haven't seen him in fifty months. The Rainbow tribes move when the season hits, even though he is supposed to be the chief. What the council wants is to become Crazy Horse and gain the frontier lands back from the settlers, but his family wants him to stay who he is and awaken.
Back in Morgantown, a rowdy gang ready to drink and loud rode in, got off their horses, and walked into the saloon. The mayor barged in the door, frustrated.
"Do you know how to knock? And where is our money?" he asked.
"Money? What money? Get your asses out there and kick out that gang now!" Frankie told him.
"You mad? There's at least a dozen. I'm not risking my life for you or this crap town," Frankie told him. "Even if our grandfather is the boss, if something happens to us, you have to deal with Uncle Ross, who was hired to protect us from the likes of you—not to mention Uncle Buck of the San morJoses and Uncle Elliott of the Rattlesnakes, especially our mothers, who you definitely don't want to piss off. Which means we need help," said Teeno.
"grandfather Sitting Pony is near. If he gets word of this, you are as good as dead," said Teeno.
He switched on the telegram portal and called for their mothers.
"Pick who you want to pissed off.. That sequence is absolute gold! The contrast between Jessie and Jordan calmly handling official decrees in Salt City and instantly shifting into fierce mama-wolf mode when their boys call for help ,Back in Salt City, Jordan and Jessie were in the office filling out decree forms and sending them to their husbands—meaning they were no longer in the inner circle, the voice, or the eyes. Suddenly, their portable telegram portals buzzed.
Jessie pulled hers out and answered.
"Jessie Garrett of the Bounty of Law, Queens of Hearts, how may we help you?" she answered.
"(Mom, we want out of this crapping deal and need you and Aunt Jordan's help,)" said Teeno.
"(Along with our brothers, cousins, and in-laws,)" said Frankie.
They handed over their wedding bands along with the message, and Jessie sent it directly to Laketown.
"(Teeno, where are you at, son? Who is there with you?)" said Jessie.
"(What crap are you boys in?)" asked Jordan.
"(Morgantown is penny-hungry, and Cameron needs you more. Heather is married too, but they're homeless and having bad luck. We need the crown back, Mom, I want to go home,)" said Teeno.
"(We got freaking tricked into being unpaid marshalls, Mom. For a week we've been sick, yet he wants us to get up and kick out a dozen armed cowboys,)" said Frankie.
"(Pack your things, son. Find your brother, sister, and brother-in-law and bring them there,)" Jessie told him.
"(You too, Frankie. Find Preston and bring him back to the office. We'll handle the gang; we'll see you when we get there,)" said Jordan.
With that, they walked out, got on their horses, and rode off. Back in Morgantown at the law office...
They got up. "Any last words before they get here? Let's pack, cuz," they said, heading back to pack up the office.
Just then, Heather and Hank walked in. "Can we get some food? Can we sleep here for the night, Frankie and Teeno?" asked Heather.
Teeno walked up to them. "What if I told you two you don't have to worry anymore? You can get the crown back, and he can talk the walk as soon as Grandpa gets here. You both have beds, no worries—just peace, love, authority, and farming chores," said Teeno.
"Thank you! Are we safe? When are they coming?" asked Heather in excitement.
"Soon. Find Cameron and Preston, bring them here. I've got to finish packing, we're going home," Teeno said with a smile. He ran back into the room, and they walked out to find Cameron and Preston.
"Should I be worried?" asked Hank.
"Nothing to worry about. They ask three questions, leave us alone to talk, and then we talk the walk and swim through the Timber River, come back changed," said Heather.
"Changed how?!" asked Hank.
"From the inside. The stress of worrying about how we're going to sleep and eat and live gets taken away by the timber, replaced with the crown amber blood. You'll be in peace with a family that backs you—love and authority," she told him.
"Sounds like heaven, can't wait," said Hank.
As dusk was setting in, right when Teeno and Frankie got done packing their clothes, Jordan and Jessie rode into town. They found Cameron and Preston and walked up with them.
"Hi boys, what did you get into?" asked Jessie.
"See, Mom? That thing broke him after stealing his funds by wooing his heart," said Teeno.
"Mom?"
"Yes, it is I. We'll take care of this gang. Everyone in the office, get in write," said Jessie. "When we get back, we'll get you horses, we'll get food and beds. But first, let's take care of this mayor," said Jordan.
"Where is this piece of trash?"
Suddenly, her portable telegram portal buzzed.
"(Hi, dad)" said Jessie "(
"(Is my grandkids okay? You tell that piece of shit to pack his crap and get out of my state! He has zero time before the cowboys get there!)" roared Marco.
"(I will deliver it, starvation, and sickness,)" said Jessie.
"(Bring them here, I have the diner ready and the doc on hand,)" said Marco.
"(We will. Dad's going to have a feast, and then after, get done here we're heading to Franklin City,)said Jordan.
They walked into the law office, and the mayor stood up. ""You think you can treat our sons like crap, you piece of garbage?" snapped Jessie, her grey eyes turning dark grey.
"No one trears our kids this way and gets away with it, you fat pile of crap. You will pay them every cent you owe them, or we'll put you in pain so deep you won't even feel it," said Jordan, her eyes also turning dark grey.
Meanwhile, Marco sent word to Ross to head to Morgantown. Ross and his gang left Marksville County immediately.
"Administrator Anderson, pack your crap and get out of this state. You have zero time before Ross gets here with his gang," said Jessie.
The mayor was shaking right down to his soul as he eased his way to the door.
As they watched him walked out Teeno smirked. "I told you, you don't want to piss all three of them off."
"You fault," said Frankie.
He walked back into the office, filled out two checks, handed them over, grabbed his stuff, and got in his carriage and left. They took their checks and put them in their pockets, Jordan and Jessie got them sonme horses, and then they got on their horses.
"You're not in condition to ride, son. You're riding with me," said Jessie.
Frankie and Teeno tied their sacks to the backs of their horses. Jordan and Jessie helped Cameron and Preston up onto their horses, and they rode up and out the back of the town, heading toward Franklin City.
Meanwhile, Ross and the boys were halfway there. It was so dark you could hardly see anything, but they made it to Franklin City. Marco walked out of the office door and walked up.
"How bad are they? Docs!"
The city doctors ran up, helped them off their horses, and brought them inside the office to examine their condition. Marco, Jordan, and Jessie waited patiently outside, while Ross's men kept riding to follow the mayor and make sure he got all the way out of the county.
After a few hours, the doctors finally walked out.
"Two are highly intoxicated, and the rest are weak and sick. They need rest and lots of food—lots of both. The older ones have a chronic condition, but taking these will make it go away," said Doc Howard.
"Won't be easy, but with a remedy I call 'egg in one'—might be gross, but it gets rid of the hangover taste so they won't want to drink again," said Doc Smith.
"Thank you. How long do we give them this drink?" asked Jessie.
"For a few days, like seven to eight. By then they'll be cured, and they just need to be reminded who they are and where they come from," said Doc Smith.
"Grandpa's got that covered. Get them those drinks and some food," said Marco.
"I'll go get us rooms," Jordan started, but Marco stopped her.
"I've got plenty of room in the penthouse. That's where you're all staying until they recover," said Marco.
"Dad!" said Jessie and Jordan together.
"Don't 'Dad' me, girls. Let's just help them to the house—that's where the food is going."
They helped the boys up.
"I feel like crap, Mom," Teeno cried.
"I know. You should've called us or your grandpa sooner."
They walked out of the office down to the house.
"Wait, I feel dizzy. I need a drink," cried Cameron.
"Make that two, please," said Preston.
"Grandpa's got your drinks, boys."
They walked into the house and down the hallway into the bedrooms, took off their clothes, and tucked them into bed.
Marco walked into the kitchen, grabbed two glasses, cracked an egg into each, poured in Tabasco sauce, chili pepper sauce, and fresh lemon juice, and started to mix it all together.
"Aw, please tell me you're not giving that to my child?" cried Jessie and Jordan.
"Yep. Anything to make them stop drinking. It's the same thing my dad gave me to stop drinking," Marco said as they walked back into the bedroom. "Here you go, grandsons—bottoms up."
They took the glasses.
"What kind of drink is this?" asked Cameron.
"Smells gross," said Preston.
"When have you ever known cheap booze to smell good, son?" asked Marco.
"You got me there." They drank it down and swallowed, their throats instantly in shock as they started to cough.
"Cameron Edward Garrett, you are a Garrett, a bloodline of the timber. You do not need a drink to face the one who shattered you. We will be your rock until you are ready to stand and face this woman and man. I'll go get your food and your siblings' food," said Jessie.
"You are a better man, Preston James Garrett. You do not need crutches to hold you up when you have the crown—you always will. When you are ready to face these people, the family has you. I'm going to go get you and your brother's food," said Jordan.
They walked out right as the food delivery arrived and set up the table. Marco paid them for their service, and they fixed their children's plates, walked back in, and helped them eat.
"Slow down, Heather. And what is my new son-in-law's name?" asked Jessie.
"I'm just so hungry! Hank, Hank, my mother, Mrs. Garrett, the matriarch and my aunt, Mrs. Garrett, matriarch—the protectors and bedrock of the family and inner circle... and our grandfather, Mr. Anderson, the administrator of Houston and the hierarchy of the inner circle. Mom!" said Heather in a rush.
"Breathe, dear, it's not going anywhere. Drink some tea. We welcome you and we'll test you later on. Steady, son, we'll get you back on your feet," said Jessie gently.
"Frankie, slow down! You're going to choke!" snapped Jordan.
"Mmm, those are my grandkids. Reminds me of when it was Christmas and they had their first real food," said Marco. "That was a mess, all of them choking food down. Good job—how do you all feel?" asked Jordan.
"Good. Mom, where were you two when I called?" asked Teeno.
"Taking care of business. Get some sleep, I'll check on you later on," said Jessie.
"What business?" asked Frankie.
"When you're older, I'll tell you," said Jordan.
"Hello, we're thirty-three, Mom," said Frankie.
They walked out of the room, closed the door, and went to fix their plates and sit down to eat. Just then, Ross called over the telegram portal. Marco clicked it on.
"(Sir, he is out of Houston, and we gave him your warning,)" said Ross.
"(Good job, Ross. Come get something to eat and relax for now,)" said Marco.
"(We are on our way back,)" and they cut the transm