Dear Ron, I am your foster brother, Lance. Somehow your $20 got into my pocket and I am sending it on to you. Please keep it a secret that I opened your letter. I can keep a secret. I won't tell Mom and Dad about the stuff you did with Martin. All the comic books. The Fats Domino record. And stealing those bikes and cutting school....
With the mention of each petty crime, Thelma and Mike looked at each other. Marty said “Oh, yes, Ronnie was no saint. But then again, he had my help.” And the letter went on....
I won't tell them about the time you and Martin broke into the neighbor's house and stole the
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“Miss you, little bro......Martin.”
Sharon and Marty left after dinner. The boys had been immensely pleased with the 'free pass' and that their slates were clean. Marty pulled them aside and said that it might be a good idea for them to clean up the yard and wash the cars over the weekend. He also mentioned to Mike that the boys could use an allowance for their chores.
Marty gave it a week before he broke the news to the family. Marty and Mel approved the boys for the trail ride next month, moving the horses down to the valley. The trail ride would take longer than expected, since they also needed to herd some cattle from an upper meadow down to some pens where the trucks could pick them up. Also, Mel had called and wanted to hire the two boys when school was out. They would stay up in the mountains for the summer. Marty knew it would work out well, since Ron would be home and needed his bedroom back. If Ron wanted to work at the ranch, he might also be welcome. The plan, of course, hinged on the boys behaving, going to school, and quit smoking. Thelma and Mike would determine just how well behaved they had been. Marty humorously mentioned that there shouldn't be too many 'free passes' during the next