Patriarch

(Prequel to Silenced Fire)

"Whatever happens, we'll always be brothers"

Howard whispered this to Forrest during their mother's funeral and Forrest repeated it back. First their baby sister, then their dad and now their mom. The Spanish flu has dwindled the Bondurant family down to the three sons, Howard, Forrest and Jack. With Howard set to go back to the army as soon as the funeral is over, this leaves Forrest to look after nine year old Jack by himself. "Do you have to leave?" Forrest asked, looking up at his big brother with pleading eyes. Howard sighed, staring at the ground.

"I don't want to.." Howard murmured, wrapping his arms around Forrest "but I don't have a choice".

Forrest buried his face in his brother's bicep to hide the tears that were staining his cheeks, he just lost his mother and now he feels like he's losing his big brother. "Shh.." Howard soothed, rubbing Forrest' back. It pained him to see his baby brother like this but all Howard felt he had to rely on besides his brothers was the fact that they're Bondurants,

Bondurants don't lay down for nobody.