The boy finally said:
“Not yet.”
Silence.
Then he added:
“But I think maybe we could.”
The rancher lowered his eyes.
The judge leaned back.
That answer seemed more convincing than an easy yes.
Then another man stood.
A local businessman.
Owner of a large feed operation.
The rancher knew him.
So did everybody.
“What?”
The judge asked.
The man cleared his throat.
“I'm willing to take three.”
The rancher turned sharply.
The businessman continued.
“Two older boys could work at my place.”
“And one younger child.”
The twelve-year-old boy's face hardened.
The judge asked:
“Were you on the original placement list?”
“No.”
“Why now?”
The businessman glanced toward the crowd.
“My wife heard about the situation.”
The rancher understood.
Publicity.
The man did not necessarily mean harm.
But the phrase two older boys could work lodged badly.
The judge asked:
“Would you keep siblings connected?”
“We'd permit visits.”
The twelve-year-old boy clenched his fists.
The rancher stood.
The judge glared.
“Sit.”
The rancher sat.
Several other households expressed willingness to take one or two children.
The problem the county agent could not solve two days earlier suddenly had many solutions.
Because people had heard.
Some motives generous.
Some questionable.
The judge listened.
Then asked the rancher:
“Why should I place all nine with you rather than distribute them among experienced families?”
The rancher stood.
He had thought about this.
Prepared arguments.
Space.
Food.
Kinship.
Money.
School.
None felt sufficient.
He looked toward the children.
Then answered:
“Because they've already lost enough without losing each other.”
The judge said:
“That is emotional reasoning.”
“Yes.”
“Courts require practical reasoning.”
The rancher nodded.
“Then practically, separating them creates nine placement cases instead of one.”
A few people shifted.
The judge raised an eyebrow.
The rancher continued.
“The older children help the younger ones.”
“They calm them.”
“They know their fears.”
“They know who wakes at night.”
“Who hates milk.”
“Who gets sick after riding in wagons.”
“Who needs the lamp left on.”