Marriage of Necessity

~35~ Boots Were Made For Trippin'

I'm unsure if a Trigger Warning is needed, so I'm just going to give a heads up—

This is the chapter where the butchering happens. It is NOT graphic, but you will know it's happening. I understand that this might offend some people, but the reality is that animals were raised for meat back in the day. (As well as present day, but anywho....) If this truly offends you, I wanted to give fair warning to skim, or completely skip this chapter!

The dust is starting to settle, but only figuratively of course. The dust from the storm I unleashed is finally starting to simmer down, and I can see calm skies once more.

The literal dust is still everywhere, and making me feel grimy this particular day. It's probably because today is butchering day, so the ominous feelings I'm having are mixing with the dust, and creating my foul mood.

"Junior, I need ya to git Skipper and put him in the east corral—He's first. Sophie, Remi will show ya what to do."

"Can we blow up the bladder, pa?" Jamie asks with excitement in his voice.

"What?!?" I ask, completely sure that I misunderstood him.

Jamie looks at me, and his eyes sparkle. "It's the funnest thing, ma. You blow up the pig's bladder, and the air makes it SUUUUUPER big. Then it's all bouncey, and we can kick it and play catch with it! Pa will even play Ante Over with us."

I look at Matthew, my face probably showing the horror I'm feeling.

Matthew laughs out loud, and then turns to Jamie.

"I'll keep the bladder for ya, but yur not playin' till everythin' is done. I don't want what happened last year to happen this time."

"What happened?" I ask.

"Jamie decided to blow up the bladder and play with it, neglecting his work. If I'm rememberin' right, you had to stand up to eat for a day or so, yeah?"

"Yes'um," Jamie says as he looks at his feet.

"Ya need a reminder before we start?" Matthew asks.

"No sir."

"K—Let's go," he says as he starts walking towards the corral.

I grab his hand to make him stop, and he immediately does, looking at me with concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Can I, um......Can......."

I just can't get the words out.

He stares at me hard for a moment. "Ya can't stomach it?"

"Not the killing, no. Skipper's one of my favorites."

I can tell he's thinking for a minute as he looks out at the empty fields. "HEY JUNIOR!" He yells loudly.

"Yeah pa?" Junior asks after he gets Skipper locked in the corral.

"Go ahead and grab all of the pigs, and we'll git it all done at once."

"Huh?"

"'Yes Pa' was the answer I was expectin', boy."

"Yes pa," Junior says as he goes to get the other pigs.

Then Matthew looks at me. "Have anythin' ya need to do for dinner?"

"No, everything's ready to throw on."

He nods. "K, well I want a pie for dessert. Git on in and make me one, please."

"A pie?"

"Ya hard of hearin'? I would like a pie. Once it's made, then come out and help Remi."