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BELLE HAD FINISHED UP SUPPER for herself and the boys, with the limited help of Chevez. The small, odd family were halfway through their meals and all the boys were practically inhaling the food that was placed in front of them. Both John and Belle chuckled at the boys' worked-up hunger.
"Well now, look at these appetites," John commented with a breathy laugh. John was sat at one end of the table, with Belle at the other. On John's right sat Dick, Josiah and Billy, with Billy closest to Belle. On John's left sat Steve, Charley and Chevez, respectively. Belle sipped on her drink as she watched Charley slap Steve's hand as he went to reach across his plate for more food. "Billy. Have some more. We wouldn't want Belle's hard work to go to waste."
"Have you ever worked beef before, Billy?" Dick asked curiously.
"Yeah... I worked a little out Fort Sumner way. Pete Maxwell's place. Did the chow line. But, I got a way with cattle," Billy answered, proud of his experiences. But his pride soon shrivelled at the sound of muffled giggles. Belle turned her attention toward the culprit, seeing Steve laughing with his mouth full of food.
"What's so jolly funny, Master Steven?" John asked seriously, causing Steve's laughter to cease. "That's no proper table manners."
"Got a way with hogs," Charley muttered quietly, with a snort.
"Congratulations, Charles. You and Steven will be doing the dirty crockery alone this evening," John announced. Belle suppressed her small smile. She was relieved she didn't have to wash up the pots for once, and she could finally relax after supper with the boys.
Josiah watched as a small wave of relief washed over Belle, causing his lips to twitch up into a smile of his own.
"Sorry John, it struck me funny," Charley defended himself with a timid smile.
"And to William. Both of you."
Charley reluctantly turned to Billy. "Apologises William. Just hacking on you,"
"Yeah, we're just hacking on you," Steve added. Josiah and Belle shared a funny look as if to express how much they wanted to laugh at the situation, causing two quick grins to spread across their faces. John did notice the quick exchange between his daughter and most trusted regulator but just smiled behind his glass.
"Rumor has it, you killed a man, Billy? You don't seem like the killing sort," Dick continued his questioning.
"Yeah, Billy, what'd you kill him for?" Steve asked with a sudden peaked interest in the new topic of conversation.
