Marriage of Necessity

~6~ Certain Duties That A Man Has

I'm feeling more and more uneasy the closer we get towards home. I'm not exactly sure why, but Matthew's cross mood is making me ill at ease. I think he's REALLY sore with me.

When we get to the farm, he stops the wagon and gets down, coming around to the side and helping me down too. Together we silently carry the goods into the house, with the help of Remi and Junior.

"Where's James?" Matthew asks, still in a gruff, attitude-laced tone. It immediately makes Junior on-edge.

"He sliced up his finger on some barbed wire. He's still poutin' 'bout it."

Matthew puffs out a breath of air loudly as he picks up the flour sack and carries it into the house.

"Where is he?" I ask, scanning the farm.

"In our room"

I nod as I go inside and into the boys' room. Jamie is sitting on his bed, sniveling.

"What happened, little one?" I ask as I take his bloodied hand and inspect it.

"Junior said I ain't fast enough to catch 'em. I ran right into it and sliced my hand up real good."

I nod and help him off the bed and into the kitchen. I clean his cut, and examine his hand now that it's free from dirt.

"It probably feels pretty bad, but it doesn't look too terrible. I think a brave boy like you deserves a cookie. What do you think?"

He nods and sniffs. "I was pretty brave, even though it hurts worse'in the last time Pa spanked me."

Matthew doesn't crack a smile, but his eyes soften a little. He really does love his kids, he's just forgotten how to show it.

"I'm gunna' bandage this up tight, and after your cookie, you should be good as new. You even get to pick what we have for supper tonight."

"I do?!?" He asks, getting excited.

"Uh huh"

He grins. "Pork chops with new potatoes, peas, and apple pie for dessert."

"Well, I'll need a big strong helper to help me pick the apples. Any chance your hand will be feeling good enough to help me?"

"Sure will, ma!" He says, grinning wide.

I smile back. That's the first time any of them have called me that. I'm surprised by how good it felt.

"Well, let's get to picking," I say as I kiss his head.

Matthew clears his throat. "Actually, I wanna talk 'bout a few things with you first. Let's head'ta the barn."

"Why the barn?"

What's with the spectacle? Why can't we just have a discussion here in the house? I'm pretty sure the horses won't fancy what we have to say.

"That won't be appropriate. You three stay in here and put these things away. Stay here until we get back. Hear me?"

"Yes'um" they all say.

I give him a questioning look, and his face is even harder to read than normal. It's his normal somber face, with a hint of nervousness and dread. So peculiar.

We walk silently to the barn. The only sounds are our boots stomping on the ground, kicking up dust clouds as we crunch the dry dirt. He shuts the doors once I walk in. That's even more peculiar.

He walks all the way to the other side of the barn, and stops next to a single chair against the wall. We are right next to Rocky's stall. He's looking at us, chewing on some hay, probably thinking we've gone mad.