Bart came in with two new hens and a rooster. Aoibh dried her hands and rushed over to him, her smile lighting up the room. She took up the new rooster, which flapped its wings while she tried to cuddle him.
"I'm going to name him Buck."
Gran squawked, "You named that last one Buck."
"I'm going to name all of them Buck."
A little native boy came over to Aoibh and tugged her skirt. She held the rooster down so he could pet him.
"Eat, Mam?" the little boy said.
"No, we don't eat Buck. Buck is here to protect the hens and crow in the morning. The hens give us eggs."
Bartholomew was old enough that he wasn't going to let a random child shock him, but he did ask, "You've adopted one of the children?"
"His mother died in labor and his father died while hunting. The chief was very nice when I decided I wanted the boy."
Bart said, "Ah. I see."
YOU ARE READING
The Lamb and the Gray Battle
FantasyEvie has spent the last 575 years on the North American continent, now called America, the Pure and Clean. She smiles, volunteers and makes cakes and pastries for her neighbors, hiding away her demon blood. She wants nothing to do with her estranged...
