Mark was woken up to early to do his morning chores, which he found were shared between his *older* brothers so he wouldn't be overworked like his first day. He hated not having his boots, which he found were being held until the colder weather. The family didn't have much money so they had to make things last. But still, he found his feet getting sore from walking over the rocks and hard surfaces.
After feeding the chickens, he headed toward the house for the firewood to stack, where he found Kit struggling to swing the ax.
"Let me," Mark told him. "I'm used to chopping wood. Here, you hold the ax like this," Mark said as he stood behind Kit to maneuver his arms. "You'll get a harder swing and might get the wood in one stroke."
Kit split the piece in half as he smiled. "You're good at this!"
"I've been splitting wood since my mother died," Mark told him. "I was only six, but I had to do my part to help my Pa out."
"He must be really proud of you," Kit told him.
"Well, we are partners in our ranch," Mark said. "He must really be worried about me."
"He'll get over it," Caleb said. "He ain't got no son anymore. Start stacking that wood, I've got more work for you after you're done."
"Is he always that much of a jerk?"
"He's had to take on more responsibility since our Pa died," Kit told him. "He looks after us, and the older siblings take care of the younger ones. And… I guess it's on me to take care of you. You got siblings, Mark?"
"No, it's just me an Pa,' Mark told him as he started stacking the wood, "Although sometimes I wish I did have brothers."
"Well, you got six of 'em now," Kit told him. "And we'll take good care of you, like a family."
After breakfast and more chores, it was bath time with the water Mark pulled up from the river the previous day. Mark sat in the wash tub as Caleb poured the water over him, getting his hair wet. As he moved the hair out of his face, Mark looked up at Caleb.
"I was supposed to get my haircut this week," Mark said. "Pa says my hair's getting too long."
"You got money for a haircut, boy?" Caleb asked. "Haircuts are for birthdays, and when Ma's hands are hurting' from arthritis. We all gotta make do."
"You'd have less of a load if you let me go home," Mark said as Caleb grabbed him by hair and yanked his head back.
"Now, you get it through your thick skull, boy," Caleb told him. "You ain't never goin' home. NEVER! That cozy little life you had is gone! You belong to the Carson's now, and don't you forget it! Now, dry off, I gotta wash your other brothers. You take those dirty clothes and take 'em to the river to wash them."
"What do I wear while i"m waiting for my clothes to dry?"
"Well, looks at little Jeremiah, spoiled by the wealth of his former family," Caleb told him. "I'm sure your old daddy could afford different outfits for you, but here you gotta make with what we have, which is diddly. Or are you too good to show off your body Spoiled brat, we'll break you of all that, yesiree!"
Mark and Kit washed their clothes and hung them up to dry as Mark shivered a little bit.
"You're still wet," Kit told him. 'The sun will dry you off."
Mark looked over to Kit. "I can't helo but notice you looking at me while we washed clothes. Everything okay?"
"Yeah," Kit said as he looked away. "Just fine. You probably got a girl back home."
"Well, I have prospects," Mark boasted. "Nothing serious, though. You?"
"Ma won't let me date until I'm 18," Kit said. "She said when I'm 18, I can go out into the world and bring back a woman to marry and have kids with."
"Are your brothers doing the same?"
"Caleb won't leave the place, says they need a man's hand to raise us," Kit told him. "John and Jim are planning to leave in the spring to find their wives, then Joseph will go after he turns 18. We'll expand the land to build them shacks after they bring their wives home."
"This land doesn't seem too big," Mark told him.
"We'll find a way to get more land," Kit promised.
"So, you'll be the last to leave and find a wife," Mark said. "Aren't you scared of going out into the world alone?"
"Nah," Kit told him. "Truth be told… I really don't want to find a wife. I'd rather just live alone in piece. I don't think I'll ever find love."
Mark was about to save say something when Gabriel and Jospeh started carrying their clothes to the river. Like Kit, all of the Carson boys had reddish-brown hair, while Mark's hair was sandy blonde.
"What are you looking at, new boy?" Joseph asked as he bumped Mark, knocking him into the water while he laughed. Kit went to grab his hand when Joseph pushed him in as well. "Weaklings."
Mark helped Kit stand up. "Oh, if I wasn't naked in a stream, I'd give that bully what-for!"
Mark felt his anger rising as he stood there. If there was thing he hated, it was a bully.
"It's okay, Mark, I'm used to it," Kit said as he held Mark back. "My brothers are always bullying me."
"Well, it ain't right!" Mark shouted. "I wish I could just run back to Northfork!"
"Northfork's three hours aways without a horse," Kit told him. "You'd never make it barefoot."
"There has to be a way," Mark said. "There has to."