AN: Hey all yeah I know I have taken forever to update this story. But in
honor of my 21 st birthday I figured I would finish up this chapter and
post it. I hope someone is still reading this seeing as it has been forever
since I posted. Just for future reference I don't own Newsies or any
characters from that movie. Nor do I own the persons who my characters are
based on. Now I better make sure this is posted before I get dragged out of
my room and taken somewhere. *looks around frightened and waves*
The barking of the farm dogs and Ally's heel hitting her forehead woke her up as the wagon pulled into the farm and the older three girls jumped from the wagon. Kit sat up holding her forehead and scowled at Ally's retreating back.
"You okay Kit?" Tack asked concern filling her voice.
"Yes I am fine, I wish people would stop asking me that." Kit said as she stood up brushing the straw from the bottom of the wagon off her skirt.
"What should wes expect here Kit?" Spot as he climbed out of the wagon and stretched his arms lazily before reaching a hand out to help Kit out of the wagon.
"I don't have a clue, Just play it by ear I guess, thanks." Kit spoke taking his hand and jumping off the wagon tongue. Bait and Jolly jumped off after her, but stayed close to her side, their eyes taking in everything around them. Spot helped Tack down as Swan lifted down Lacy and Two Bit. Their progress was motored form the farmhouse door by an older woman.
Tack had stayed at Swan's side but looked around at the farm mentally taking it all in. She noticed a woman come out from the house wiping her hands on the apron. She assumed that this was Swan and Cray's mother and looked at her closely. The woman's hair was very dark and pulled up and away from her face in braids that seemed to wrap around her head. Her calico waist shirt was a light brown while her skirt was a much darker brown. Tack could tell she wanted to come off the porch but something was holding her back.
Suddenly the woman was off the porch and coming over to where they were all standing. Kit met her half way and they began to hug, the older woman sobbing openly. Swan had been holding Tack's hand and wouldn't let go as he walked over to the two women. They broke apart as soon as Swan got there and the older woman gathered him close, and began to sob louder. When she had let go of Kit, Kit had motioned for Spot and Mills to bring the younger 4 children over.
Swan finally calmed his mother down enough and stepped back to introduce their visitors. "Ma I have some people I would like you to meet." He put his arm over Tack's shoulder, "This is Jesse Malone and her sisters Rebecca and Rachel." Tack was surprised when Rose took her into a hug, but hugged the older woman back.
After releasing Tack, Rose turned to Kit, "And there young men are whom Ami?"
"Aunt Rose I would like you to meet Chris and Andy Conlon and their Uncle Robert." Kit motioned to the suddenly shy Bait and Jolly, "Unfortunately Chris, Andy, Rebecca and Rachel only answer to nicknames, which are Bait Jolly, Lacy and Two Bit." Kit the brought Mills into their discussion, "And Katie here is Crale's fiancée. Mills, Spot and Tack this is Cray and Swan's mother Rose."
Rose had gasped happily when she had heard that Mills was Cray's fiancée and Mills got one of the biggest hugs. After the introductions Rose stepped back to take it all in. "Well we can't stay out here in the sun all day. Y'all must be parched from the dusty wagon ride in. Follow me and we'll get y'all something to drink." She lead the group into the house and into the farm kitchen. The table was covered in mason jars that were full of assorted vegetables and jams.
"Rose I didn't realize we were interrupting your canning." Kit said surveying the canned goods.
"Now Ami I'll worry about my canning. You can help me clear off the table then we can sit down and have some tea."
As they sat down Cray came in from the barn. "Hello Ma."
Rose looked up and her eyes filled with tears, "Hello Crale." She walked over to her much taller son and embraced him tightly.
"I'm sorry we left without saying anything Ma."
"It doesn't matter you're here now. Let me look at you." Rose stepped back wiping her eyes, "Well I didn't think it was possible but you are taller. And what have you been doing?"
"Little bit of this a little bit of that. Mostly working as a bouncer at a couple of places." Cray looked down at his feet sheepishly. "Ma how is Pop doing?"
Rose's face fell and she seemed to lose all the pep that the return of the prodigals had brought her. "There hasn't been any changes since I sent you the telegram."
Swan led Rose over to a chair and had her sit down. "What happened?"
Rose seemed to gather herself together, "Well it started about 4 weeks ago. Your father was out checking the crops like he always does and he didn't come back. So I sent Wil out to find him. He came running back saying that he had found Sid at the side of the field and he couldn't talk. I went back out with him and we brought him back here. Then Wil took one of the horses to go get the doc. The doc checked him over and said it was probably a stroke. He couldn't tell me what caused it but just that your father is paralyzed on the left side of his body. The outlook isn't very good, but I needed Wil here for a while to make sure everything got in. So when they went back for the school year I had him send the telegram.
Some of the neighbors, especially Christi's father and brothers have been helping me keep the farm up. But it has been so hard. The corn and wheat are going to ready for harvest in the next couple of days. But I don't know if I can pay anyone to help me with it. And your father, he seems to be letting himself die. He eats enough to stay alive and that is it."
"Well Ma Swan and I are here now. I am sure we can get the crops in before winter. And I'll talk to Pop and we'll get him to eat more. If nothing else he'll get better just to throw us out." Cray said jokingly.
Rose felt herself smile just a bit. "Now boys don't talk about him like that I would think he would be happy to see you. He has been asking for you. But where will you all live? We don't have the space for all of you. And only the two of you bringing in all the crops, that is almost impossible."
Cray, Swan and Kit exchanged a look. "Well Aunt Rose what sort of condition is my parents house in? I am sure we could move in there, even if it is just for a little while."
"And Ma we saw Josh and Jeremy in town. I'll need to return the wagon to Joel so I can ask them to come help, and Robert here could lend a hand too couldn't you Spot?"
"Well youse have ta tell me wat youse wanted me ta do," Spot looked shocked that he was asked to help, but nodded "But sure Ise up for it."
"Good then it is settled. I'll take the wagon back to Joel's tomorrow, and drop the girls and Wil back for school. Then ask the Olsens if they want to help, in exchange for food and a place to sleep at night."
Wil spoke from the doorway where he had been standing for the past couple of minutes. "Well I can stay and help too, the more the merrier."
"Can you get out of school for harvest and threshing?" Swan looked at Wil in surprise.
"Yeah I've gotten off for every year before." He shrugged before turning to Rose. "Rose is everything ready for dinner tonight?"
"Oh dinner." Rose looked around the kitchen in surprise. "I almost completely forgot. At least I had that chicken pie stew on now." She got up and began rushing around, shooing the boys out of the kitchen. "Go take these little ones out to play, show them what real animals look like. Girls do you mind taking these preserves down to the cellar? Oh and Ami could you go to the garden and bring me some beans and some sweet corn."
"Yes ma'am. Tack bring that basket out with you. Ally can you show Mills where to take the jams and such then bring her out to the garden."
The dinner preparations took almost no time at all. Rose sat the four younger children at the table in the kitchen with the three older girls, the rest of the family took their plates out into the yard sitting on an old blanket that Kit had found. Most of the talking was centered around the guys as they discussed the best course of action to bring in the harvest. Rose came out after trying to get Sid to eat some, her face drawn into a frown.
"Is he still refusing to eat Ma?" Cray asked with a look of concern.
"Yes your father is as stubborn as that mule in the barn. He just sits looking out the window refusing to even acknowledge that I am there. I don't know what I am going to do with him." Rose lowered herself to the ground wearily.
Kit got up suddenly and began to pick up the empty plates. "Well Rose you sit out here and enjoy the evening. I'll clean up, Ally and Celeste can help me. Heather will bring the rest of the kids out here. Cray why don't you show them the barn and the rope swing. I bet the boys would love to play up in the loft. And Lacy would like looking for kittens. Rose have we had any recently?"
"Yes the tabby had a litter about 5 weeks ago. They should be in the loft still."
"Good I'll send the kids out when they are done." Kit gathered the last of the plates and balanced the uneven stack in both of her hands and slowly made her way toward the house. Spot rose to follow her but stopped when Swan gave him a look. Kit made it into the house and set the dishes into the wash tub. "Heather when you all are done can you take the kids out to the barn. Swan and Cray said they would show the boys the rope swing and maybe you can show the girls the kittens. Ally do you think you and Celeste can handle starting the dishes? I am going to take some of this stew upstairs."
As soon as the three of them had nodded Kit turned to the pot and dished out some stew into a bowl. After grabbing a spoon and a towel she squared her shoulders and headed up the stairs to Sid and Rose's room, readying herself for the battle she knew would come.
The barking of the farm dogs and Ally's heel hitting her forehead woke her up as the wagon pulled into the farm and the older three girls jumped from the wagon. Kit sat up holding her forehead and scowled at Ally's retreating back.
"You okay Kit?" Tack asked concern filling her voice.
"Yes I am fine, I wish people would stop asking me that." Kit said as she stood up brushing the straw from the bottom of the wagon off her skirt.
"What should wes expect here Kit?" Spot as he climbed out of the wagon and stretched his arms lazily before reaching a hand out to help Kit out of the wagon.
"I don't have a clue, Just play it by ear I guess, thanks." Kit spoke taking his hand and jumping off the wagon tongue. Bait and Jolly jumped off after her, but stayed close to her side, their eyes taking in everything around them. Spot helped Tack down as Swan lifted down Lacy and Two Bit. Their progress was motored form the farmhouse door by an older woman.
Tack had stayed at Swan's side but looked around at the farm mentally taking it all in. She noticed a woman come out from the house wiping her hands on the apron. She assumed that this was Swan and Cray's mother and looked at her closely. The woman's hair was very dark and pulled up and away from her face in braids that seemed to wrap around her head. Her calico waist shirt was a light brown while her skirt was a much darker brown. Tack could tell she wanted to come off the porch but something was holding her back.
Suddenly the woman was off the porch and coming over to where they were all standing. Kit met her half way and they began to hug, the older woman sobbing openly. Swan had been holding Tack's hand and wouldn't let go as he walked over to the two women. They broke apart as soon as Swan got there and the older woman gathered him close, and began to sob louder. When she had let go of Kit, Kit had motioned for Spot and Mills to bring the younger 4 children over.
Swan finally calmed his mother down enough and stepped back to introduce their visitors. "Ma I have some people I would like you to meet." He put his arm over Tack's shoulder, "This is Jesse Malone and her sisters Rebecca and Rachel." Tack was surprised when Rose took her into a hug, but hugged the older woman back.
After releasing Tack, Rose turned to Kit, "And there young men are whom Ami?"
"Aunt Rose I would like you to meet Chris and Andy Conlon and their Uncle Robert." Kit motioned to the suddenly shy Bait and Jolly, "Unfortunately Chris, Andy, Rebecca and Rachel only answer to nicknames, which are Bait Jolly, Lacy and Two Bit." Kit the brought Mills into their discussion, "And Katie here is Crale's fiancée. Mills, Spot and Tack this is Cray and Swan's mother Rose."
Rose had gasped happily when she had heard that Mills was Cray's fiancée and Mills got one of the biggest hugs. After the introductions Rose stepped back to take it all in. "Well we can't stay out here in the sun all day. Y'all must be parched from the dusty wagon ride in. Follow me and we'll get y'all something to drink." She lead the group into the house and into the farm kitchen. The table was covered in mason jars that were full of assorted vegetables and jams.
"Rose I didn't realize we were interrupting your canning." Kit said surveying the canned goods.
"Now Ami I'll worry about my canning. You can help me clear off the table then we can sit down and have some tea."
As they sat down Cray came in from the barn. "Hello Ma."
Rose looked up and her eyes filled with tears, "Hello Crale." She walked over to her much taller son and embraced him tightly.
"I'm sorry we left without saying anything Ma."
"It doesn't matter you're here now. Let me look at you." Rose stepped back wiping her eyes, "Well I didn't think it was possible but you are taller. And what have you been doing?"
"Little bit of this a little bit of that. Mostly working as a bouncer at a couple of places." Cray looked down at his feet sheepishly. "Ma how is Pop doing?"
Rose's face fell and she seemed to lose all the pep that the return of the prodigals had brought her. "There hasn't been any changes since I sent you the telegram."
Swan led Rose over to a chair and had her sit down. "What happened?"
Rose seemed to gather herself together, "Well it started about 4 weeks ago. Your father was out checking the crops like he always does and he didn't come back. So I sent Wil out to find him. He came running back saying that he had found Sid at the side of the field and he couldn't talk. I went back out with him and we brought him back here. Then Wil took one of the horses to go get the doc. The doc checked him over and said it was probably a stroke. He couldn't tell me what caused it but just that your father is paralyzed on the left side of his body. The outlook isn't very good, but I needed Wil here for a while to make sure everything got in. So when they went back for the school year I had him send the telegram.
Some of the neighbors, especially Christi's father and brothers have been helping me keep the farm up. But it has been so hard. The corn and wheat are going to ready for harvest in the next couple of days. But I don't know if I can pay anyone to help me with it. And your father, he seems to be letting himself die. He eats enough to stay alive and that is it."
"Well Ma Swan and I are here now. I am sure we can get the crops in before winter. And I'll talk to Pop and we'll get him to eat more. If nothing else he'll get better just to throw us out." Cray said jokingly.
Rose felt herself smile just a bit. "Now boys don't talk about him like that I would think he would be happy to see you. He has been asking for you. But where will you all live? We don't have the space for all of you. And only the two of you bringing in all the crops, that is almost impossible."
Cray, Swan and Kit exchanged a look. "Well Aunt Rose what sort of condition is my parents house in? I am sure we could move in there, even if it is just for a little while."
"And Ma we saw Josh and Jeremy in town. I'll need to return the wagon to Joel so I can ask them to come help, and Robert here could lend a hand too couldn't you Spot?"
"Well youse have ta tell me wat youse wanted me ta do," Spot looked shocked that he was asked to help, but nodded "But sure Ise up for it."
"Good then it is settled. I'll take the wagon back to Joel's tomorrow, and drop the girls and Wil back for school. Then ask the Olsens if they want to help, in exchange for food and a place to sleep at night."
Wil spoke from the doorway where he had been standing for the past couple of minutes. "Well I can stay and help too, the more the merrier."
"Can you get out of school for harvest and threshing?" Swan looked at Wil in surprise.
"Yeah I've gotten off for every year before." He shrugged before turning to Rose. "Rose is everything ready for dinner tonight?"
"Oh dinner." Rose looked around the kitchen in surprise. "I almost completely forgot. At least I had that chicken pie stew on now." She got up and began rushing around, shooing the boys out of the kitchen. "Go take these little ones out to play, show them what real animals look like. Girls do you mind taking these preserves down to the cellar? Oh and Ami could you go to the garden and bring me some beans and some sweet corn."
"Yes ma'am. Tack bring that basket out with you. Ally can you show Mills where to take the jams and such then bring her out to the garden."
The dinner preparations took almost no time at all. Rose sat the four younger children at the table in the kitchen with the three older girls, the rest of the family took their plates out into the yard sitting on an old blanket that Kit had found. Most of the talking was centered around the guys as they discussed the best course of action to bring in the harvest. Rose came out after trying to get Sid to eat some, her face drawn into a frown.
"Is he still refusing to eat Ma?" Cray asked with a look of concern.
"Yes your father is as stubborn as that mule in the barn. He just sits looking out the window refusing to even acknowledge that I am there. I don't know what I am going to do with him." Rose lowered herself to the ground wearily.
Kit got up suddenly and began to pick up the empty plates. "Well Rose you sit out here and enjoy the evening. I'll clean up, Ally and Celeste can help me. Heather will bring the rest of the kids out here. Cray why don't you show them the barn and the rope swing. I bet the boys would love to play up in the loft. And Lacy would like looking for kittens. Rose have we had any recently?"
"Yes the tabby had a litter about 5 weeks ago. They should be in the loft still."
"Good I'll send the kids out when they are done." Kit gathered the last of the plates and balanced the uneven stack in both of her hands and slowly made her way toward the house. Spot rose to follow her but stopped when Swan gave him a look. Kit made it into the house and set the dishes into the wash tub. "Heather when you all are done can you take the kids out to the barn. Swan and Cray said they would show the boys the rope swing and maybe you can show the girls the kittens. Ally do you think you and Celeste can handle starting the dishes? I am going to take some of this stew upstairs."
As soon as the three of them had nodded Kit turned to the pot and dished out some stew into a bowl. After grabbing a spoon and a towel she squared her shoulders and headed up the stairs to Sid and Rose's room, readying herself for the battle she knew would come.