The next day, Marissa finished her all her scans. The Brennans waited anxiously for the results. Dr Maynard had suggested they go back to their hotel suite and said he would call them when he had seen everything. They ordered a snack from room service, but none of them could eat. For once, Irene didn't try to coax Marissa to have something.

Finally, the doctor called and said he was ready to meet with him. They got together in a conference room at the hospital. Gideon Maynard had a sombre look on his face, which Marissa and her parents picked up on right away. “What is it, Dr Maynard?” she asked. “Tell us, we can handle it.”

Gideon put his hand on Marissa's arm. “It's not dire, my dear. But it's not as good as we'd hoped. Your cancer has spread outside the kidney. Fortunately, not very far that we can tell. It seems to be confined to some lymph nodes and tissue. We can take that out, but you will lose the kidney.”

Marissa was relieved. Based on the doctor's expression, she was expecting to be told she was terminal. “I can live with that.”

“There's a bit more. Because it has spread beyond the kidney, you need chemotherapy.” Marissa's face went white. She looked at her parents and could see them fighting to hold back tears.

“I can handle that, Dr Maynard.”

“It won't be easy, Marissa. It is hell on the patients. But I firmly believe we can put you into remission, hopefully permanently. There's no sign of it spreading to other organs.”

“Dr Maynard, I spent four years working for a drug cartel. I've been beaten to a pulp a few times, I've smuggled drugs into the country via my digestive system and rectum. Trust me, I can handle it.”

“I believe you can. I'd like you in Denver before next Monday so we can do some pre-op screening for surgery Wednesday. You can come back with me if you want or maybe you'd rather go home for a few days first.”

“Oh, I can't do it next week, Dr Maynard - unless you can get me back home before the weekend.”

“You won't be able to travel for a few weeks, Marissa. What's so special about that weekend?”

“It's Thanksgiving weekend and I am not spending it away from my family this year.”

Gideon was confused. “Thanksgiving is in late November, dear.”

Marissa giggled. “Not in Canada. It's the second Monday of October.”

“Oh. I didn't know that. I understand you wanting to spend it with your family, especially since you have been away for a few years, but it's very important that you have this surgery as soon as possible.”

“Will a week really make a difference, Dr Maynard? If I go into witness protection, this will be my last Thanksgiving with my family. I don't want to miss that.”

Maynard sighed. “All right, Marissa. I will let you have it your way, but you need to be in Denver two days later. I can operate on Friday. It's not my custom as I prefer to do my surgeries earlier in the week so that I will be around should complications arise, but I am on call that weekend and will be in the hospital anyway.”

“Mama, Daddy .... can we invite Dr Maynard and his family for Thanksgiving?” Marissa asked her parents.

Gael and Irene exchanged a look between them and Gael, reading his wife's look of consent, replied “Of course we can. The more, the merrier! Will you be our guests, Dr Maynard? Come see what the Canadian Thanksgiving is like? If you can get away for a couple days, that is.”

“I'd have to look at my calendar. Mondays are generally paperwork days, but I don't know what I have going on that Tuesday. How far are you from the airport?”

“About two hours”, Marissa told him. “You just have to come and meet Charlie!”

“How could I turn that opportunity down?” he replied. “Let me look at my schedule and discuss it with my wife and I'll let you know.”

----------------------------------

The next week, Agent Avery called Marissa to update her on what was going on. “The information you gave us is proving to be very helpful”, he told her. “Through the psychiatrist and the pharmacy in Seattle, we have been able to identify the people they are in contact with. We've promised them immunity for their co-operation and silence, so they won't run to the Cartel and tip them off. We have also found what looks to be some sort of compound in New York State. We think it may be the one they took you to. If I email you some photos, do you think you could identify it?”

“I'm pretty sure I could, Agent Avery. I'm definitely willing to try.”

Marissa recognized the compound right away when she received the email containing the photographs. The FBI agent faxed her a declaration to sign and she took it to a local lawyer to have her signature witnessed. Agent Avery said this declaration would allow them to get a search warrant and go in by force. “Agent, do you think my family will be in more danger once you do this?” she asked.

“We can't say for sure, but I don't think there is an increased risk to you. The Cartel does not know it's you that has come to us. They won't know that until the trials start and even then, we are going to try to get the judge to allow you to be in disguise and have your name kept confidential.”

“Oh, that would be so great! I wouldn't have to go into witness protection!” Marissa felt a great relief, but it was short lived.

“I hate to say this, but don't count on that. If they were to find out you testified or even gave us information, you would be in danger.”

“How long do I have before this would happen?”

“It's a ways off, Marissa. We want our ducks in a row before we begin making arrests and then it would be a year or so, at the earliest before trials would begin. So you have some time yet.”

“I'm glad of that.” She told him what was ahead for her medically. “It sounds like I should be all done with that long before I'd have to leave.”

“If you aren't, we will get you any medical care you need. Do not worry about that.”

------------------------------------

Brent Evans picked up the phone and called the Denver police department. He asked for the detective division. The phone was answered by a Detective Huang. “I am trying to reach Detective Logan Medina, please.”

“Detective Medina is on medical leave of absence. Can I help you with something?”

“My name is Dr. Brent Evans. I am a general practitioner and I am trying to reach him to find a friend of his who has treated a patient of mine in the past. It's very important that I reach him, I need some information that will help me in my treatment of this patient.”

“What is the patient's name?”

“I am not at liberty to divulge that due to patient confidentiality.”

“The person's name that you are trying to reach is ...?”

“Dr Braxton Jagger.”

“The best I can do is take down the info along with your name and number and pass it along to Detective Medina. I cannot give his number out without his permission.”

“I understand and that is fine.” He gave Detective Huang his office and cell numbers before hanging up. Brent wasn't holding out a lot of hope at hearing back from Logan, but he had to try.

---------------------------------------------

Two days before Thanksgiving, Gael and Marissa drove to the Edmonton airport to pick up the Maynards. They had decided to come for the long weekend. Gideon had debated whether to accept the Brennans' invitation or not, wondering if it would be crossing boundaries. In the end, he decided that there was no harm in it and he was interested in seeing where Marissa came from and the family dynamic.

They took the 12 passenger van as the car wasn't big enough for five to have a comfortable two hour trip. As their family had grown, Gael and Irene had obtained larger and larger vehicles to transport everyone around in. Caitlin wanted to sit at the very back so she could play with her phone uninterrupted, but her parents would have nothing of it. “You'll sit with us and you will be courteous to our hosts”, her father told her in a no uncertain manner.

She did perk up when she found out the Brennans had horses. “You do?” she asked with interest.

“We do!” Gael replied. “Quite a few.”

“Can I go for a ride?”

“That would be up to your parents.”

“She knows how to ride”, Paula Maynard said. “I'd prefer she be on a horse that's not too excitable, though.”

“Oh, we have some bombproof horses”, Marissa told her. “Mine are very easy going, I'll take her for a trail ride through the woods.”

“You can ride?” Caitlin asked with surprise.

“I sure can! I've been riding since I was a little kid.”

“I didn't think you'd be able to...”

“Caitlin!” Gideon admonished. “Don't be rude!”

“She's not being rude, Dr Maynard”, Marissa said.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be”, Caitlin apologized. “I was just wondering.”

“It's okay to ask, I don't mind. I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Yes, I can ride. I can't mount normally, so my dad trained my horses to lie down while I mount and dismount. We can take Annie and Oakley for a ride this afternoon, if you like.”

“Annie and Oakley - whose idea was that?” Gideon asked.

“Mine”, Marissa giggled. “They were born on the farm and my parents gave me Annie for a 4H horse. I bought Oakley from them when she was weaned and thought it would be cute to give her that name.”

They arrived at the homestead just before noon. Marissa asked her father to do her special beep coming up the laneway and this time, he complied. “What is that for?” Paula asked.

“I always did it to let everyone know I was home”, Marissa answered. “Watch way up yonder.” She pointed straight ahead.

“What are we watching for?” Caitlin asked.

“You'll see.” Gael beeped again. When they got closer to the house, the Maynards could see a big black and white bovine running through a pasture.

“Is that Charlie?” Gideon asked.

“It is. Watch what he does.” Gael pulled into a parking spot at the back. Nobody moved a muscle as they watched the steer jump the fence and approach the vehicle. Marissa could swear the Maynards were all holding their breath. Charlie stopped right in front of them and appeared to be looking through the windshield. Then he went around to the front passenger side where Marissa was sitting.

“Oh my god, he's HUGE!” Paula exclaimed.

Marissa opened her door and Charlie dropped his head to her level for some ear scratches. He mooed contentedly.

“Is it safe to get out?” Gideon asked.

“Oh yes, Charlie is a pussy cat. Watch this. Charlie, let me up.” Charlie dropped to his knees, then his hind legs buckled and he lay down. Marissa got out of the car and, holding on to her steer, walked a couple steps to his back and got on. Once she was securely on, she nudged him with her heels and he got up again.

“Be careful, Marissa! I don't want to have to set any broken bones this weekend!”

Marissa giggled. “You won't have to, Dr Maynard!”

“They do this all the time”, Gael said to the Maynards. “Charlie would never hurt her. Take her to the back door, Charlie”, he commanded the steer and Charlie headed for the house. Once there, he got down again and Marissa got off his back. Gael handed her her crutches. “Good boy, Charlie. Go to your babies.” The bovine headed off to his pasture.

The Maynards were amazed. “I can't believe such a huge animal is so gentle”, Gideon said. “How much does he weigh, do you know?”

“We estimate around 3000 pounds”, Gael replied. “Holstein steers get really big if they are allowed to grow to full size. Usually, they are slaughtered at a much lower weight and age. It's not a good breed to make a pet out of with the males, even steers, but Charlie is an exception.”

“Do you have a bull?” Paula inquired.

“A Hereford bull which we use to cross breed for meat animals. We use artificial insemination when we breed for herd replacement. We did have a Holstein bull, but he was unpredictable.”

Marissa added “He flipped Daddy into the air one day and the next day, Shithead, as he called him, was in the freezer.”

“Oh, my. Were you okay?” Gideon asked of Gael.

“I was fine, just got the wind knocked out of me, but I was afraid he'd hurt one of the kids. I didn't want to sell him because if he hurt someone, I'd be wracked with guilt. I don't put an animal down lightly, but I felt I had no choice with this one. Let's get your luggage in, it's almost lunch time. I hope you're hungry. My wife does not make small meals.”

“I'm starved”, Caitlin declared. “Breakfast was at 5 this morning.”

“I'll take you to your rooms first, then you can freshen up if you want to.”

They went inside and found Irene, Patsy and Vicky getting lunch ready. “What's for lunch, woman?” Gael asked his wife. Paula had a horrified look on her face. Marissa caught it.

“That's just the way Daddy is”, she told her. “They are very much in love. And don't worry, she doesn't take any crap off him.”

“Darn right I don't”, Irene said after she'd kissed Gael. “He knows better than to even start.” Everyone laughed, including the Maynards. The ice had been broken.

Gael made introductions before taking their guests to their rooms upstairs. Marissa was going to sleep in the foster girls' room with them so that Gideon and Paula could have her double bed. Her parents had bought it after she fell out of bed a few times as a child. They were worried she was going to hurt herself if it kept happening. Matt, the foster boy, was going to bunk in with Terry for the weekend. Caitlin would sleep in his room.

Marissa went to one of the ground floor washrooms. When she returned to the kitchen, Gael and Vicky were setting up a smaller table at the end of the long one. It was one he'd made before his family grew so much that they needed a larger one. They didn't have enough kitchen chairs but a couple of them would sit on folding ones.

“Mama, I'll set the table if you could put a stack of dishes out for me”, she offered. She could place the plates and cutlery using just one hand, but she couldn't carry a stack of plates.

“Seems the youngsters always disappear when there's something to be done”, Irene replied. “Thanks, honey.”

Gideon and Caitlin came into the kitchen. “Caitlin can help with that”, he said to Marissa.

“She can put glasses on the table”, Irene took him up on his offer. “They are in here.” She pointed to the cupboard they were kept in.

“Marissa, can I help you with that?” Paula asked from the doorway.

“I'm fine, thanks. You sit down and rest. I know you have had a long morning.”

“You sure are independent”, Gideon observed.

“My daughter can do anything she puts her mind to”, Gael said proudly.

“Except walk without crutches”, Marissa said with a laugh. The others followed suit.

They sat down to baked macaroni and cheese with garden salad and ham. Everyone joined hands and Gael said the blessing, giving thanks for the food and for their guests arriving safely. When he was finished, Paula said “I like this! We should do it at home, Gideon.”

“You mean hold hands during the blessing? I agree, I think we should.” Caitlin rolled her eyes. She had not been impressed when told to put her phone with the others on the counter. Guests had to obey the rule, too. But the now 13 year old soon got over it as she took part in the conversation. It also helped that her father told her she wouldn't be allowed to go riding if she didn't lose the attitude.

“Marissa, you play guitar?” Paula asked. “I see one in your room.”

“Yes, a little, but I hadn't played in a few years until recently.”

“We'd love to hear you play.”

“Tell you what”, Gael offered. “We have a bit of a studio in the basement. A few of us jam now and then. If we aren't too tired after supper, and you want to listen, we'll play a few songs for you.”

“We'd love that, but don't overdo it, Marissa”, Gideon admonished. “I know you feel fine right now but you still need to pace yourself.” Marissa's pain had abated with the help of the medication Brent had prescribed.

“I won't, Dr Maynard.”

“You can call me Gideon, Marissa. 'Dr Maynard' seems too formal.”

After the meal, Paula excused herself to go lie down for a bit. She'd offered to help with dishes, but her assistance wasn't needed. Gael said to Gideon “I better get out there and do some work. If you want to see where your milk comes from, get Marissa to bring you to the milking parlour later. Rissa, are you helping with the milking tonight?”

“Yes, Daddy. I'll be back from my ride with Caitlin.”

Irene shooed Marissa out the door, telling her to go have fun, so she took Caitlin to the horse pasture to get Annie and Oakley. Her brother Bill was on on the farm doing some work, and he saddled the horses for them. They took a leisurely ride through the woods. Caitlin was enjoying herself without her phone, though she had it in her back pocket. “It's been a while since I have ridden”, she told Marissa. “I have missed it, thank you.”

“Do you have a place where you can ride at home?” Marissa asked.

“I used to take riding lessons, but the stable closed and I never really looked for another one. My parents said I had to find one, they weren't going to do it for me - they had found the first one. I think I might look when we get home, if they will still pay for it.”

“You could offer to do extra chores to earn it.” Caitlin looked horrified. Marissa laughed. “It's how I partly paid for Oakley. Plus, you will get bonus points with your parents.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Try it. You can let me know if it doesn't work and I will pay for lessons for a year for you.” Marissa was confident she wouldn't have to make good on that offer. “I think you know I'll be staying with you for a few weeks.”

“Yes, my dad said you have cancer. That must be why he told you to pace yourself.”

“That is why. He thinks I'm sick.”

“Well, he *is* a doctor...”

“You have me there, Caitlin.”

“Are you afraid of the operation?” she asked.

“Yes, a little”, Marissa confessed. “But don't tell my parents - they are worried enough.”

“Don't be scared. My dad is the best”, Caitlin said with pride.

Later, Marissa fetched Gideon from the house and took him to the milking parlour. Gael and Bill were getting ready to let the cows in. Stan was off on a date with his girlfriend. “How are you going to milk?” Gideon asked her.

“You'll see.” Gideon watched as the cows walked into the milking stations, 5 to a side. Marissa took one side, Gael the other. Bill was herding the bovines, making sure they got in and out all right. Marissa and her father were on a floor lower than the cows which made it easier to do the milking. They did everything from the back of the animal. First, they washed the udders, then attached the milking machines. The machines automatically detached when the milking was finished and they dipped her teats in a disinfectant solution to help prevent mastitis.

“This is far from the most modern milking systems”, Gael explained to the oncologist, “but we mortgaged the farm 30 years ago to get it. I grew up milking the cows in stanchion stalls. This way is much better and faster. I was able to double the size of the herd.”

“How many do you milk?”

“60 - 70, depending on how many are dried up or in the sick pen.”

“Dried up?”

“We stop milking a cow about two months before she's due to calve. It gives her a rest from lactating and she can put her energy into the final growth stages of the calf.”

When the last cow in the herd entered the parlour and took her place to be milked, Gideon noticed a red band on one of her hind legs. “What is that for?” he inquired.

“That indicates that the cow is on antibiotics or other medication. Her milk is diverted from the tank and is discarded.”

“What happens if it isn't? discarded, that is”, Gideon asked. He was fascinated about this milking process. Though he had been drinking milk all his life, he never really thought about where it came from, except that it was from cows. “I keep hearing concerns about antibiotics in milk.”

“There are no antibiotics in the milk you buy at the store”, Gael reassured him. “I'm not as familiar with how it works in the States, but I think it's similar to here. When the truck picks up the milk at the farm, the driver takes samples from it's tank before he empties it into the tank on the truck. Each sample is tested and if any of them test positive for antibiotics, the whole truckload is dumped. The farmer whose milk tested positive not only loses the money for his tank of milk, but he has to pay for the whole truckload. That's a huge incentive to be extra careful with the cows being treated with medication. The number of positive tests is extremely low.”

Next up were the four Herefords they milked for the family's consumption. Their milk went into buckets to be taken to the house on their Utility Vehicle, which Marissa drove since she could not carry buckets. Gideon watched as Gael and Bill hosed everything down, including the areas the cows had been in. This was done after each milking.

Finally, they were done for the night and returned to the house where Gael put the family's milk through the separator on the back porch. The separated milk and cream would be kept in the refrigerator out there until it was needed in the house.

Marissa wasn't feeling well, so she excused herself from supper and went upstairs to lie down.