Chapter 4

A few months later, the sun rose on a chilly morning. Thomas, laid in his bed like his brothers, yawned as his eyes slowly opened. Despite the pain in his heart he still felt over his mother's death, he smiled ever-so-slightly. Though he would have wanted his mother here, to know what she had to say, the fact was still the same. The fact that today he would become a man, or close to it, for today he turned fifteen.

Yawning, once again, he stretched. Sitting up, he took in the room around him. His brothers, minus Henry, all slept in the still of the morning.

Shivering ever-so-slightly, he climbed out of his bed, quietly slipped on his shirt and pants, before heading downstairs to start the fire for his Aunt.

After getting the fire nice and warm, he sat, rubbing the bottoms of his feet, which had begun to hurt lately, he guessed from the last couple of years he worked with his father in the mine.

He sat for a few minutes when he heard the familiar cry of his youngest brother. Not very loud, not even sounding as if he wanted something. Merely that he was awake.

"Morning Thomas.", Aunt Mary called to him a few minutes later in her usual cheery voice.

Looking up, Thomas smiled, attempting to also hide the fact that he had been rubbing his feet. "I have the fire ready. I guess Pa will milk the cow. I'll go help him if you don't need anything."

Smiling, Mary looked at her nephew, lips curling up just a bit. "Thomas, you're too much. I love you so much.", she whispered, now looking down at Henry. "I only hope Henry will be as wonderful as the rest of you."

"If you find me a bottle, I'll feed him for you.", he offered, pulling on his shoes. "I'll go see if Pa has Millie milked."

"No. I'll do it."

Now the pair turned to see Adam at the top of the staircase, a determined look in his eye. "I'll go do the chores and bring the milk back."

Despite the fact that he wanted to argue, Thomas merely nodded, sitting back down as Aunt Mary gently placed Henry in his arms so she could start breakfast.

The two of them watched silently as he walked out the back.

"He needs that time Thomas. He needs to be able to talk to your Pa alone for just a few minutes."

"Yeah, I know. I just wish the whole thing with Ma wasn't . . .That he didn't take it so hard.", Thomas replied.

"I know what you mean sweetie. It just takes time." Aunt Mary answered.

Thomas nodded as his aunt laid his baby brother into his arms.

"I can tell Henry loves all of you so much.", Aunt Mary commented.

"Yes. We love him, but too bad it cost us Ma."

Mary merely nodded, handing a bottle to Thomas, after pouring what was left of the previous day's milk.

After watching his aunt walk back to the stove, Thomas smiled, gently rubbing Henry's cheek to wake him up.

A moment later, to his pleasure, the baby's eyes slowly opened, showing his beautiful blue irises. Looking up at his eldest brother, Henry gratefully accepted the bottle Thomas offered him.

The next moment however, the silence was broken when Adam came in, his usual annoyed expression on his face as he walked over, sitting down in his chair. "I don't see why you bother with that thing. He ain't nothin' but bad luck and trouble!"

Sighing, Thomas secretly wondered if Henry picked up anything from Adam, meaning the mood his brother emanated.

Though, he had but a few moments to think before his father came in the door, turning to face his brother. "Adam, please. Son, these last few months haven't been any easier on me than you. Your brothers . . .They need you to be there for them like you used to be.", he said in the calmest voice he could manage.

Looking somewhat ashamed, Adam merely nodded, giving his father the respect he deserved. "I know Pa. I'm sorry.", he whispered. Then, shaking his head he sighed. "But, I just don't understand why she had to leave us. She had six of us and was just fine. . . Why did Henry

and . . .whatever her name would have been . . .Why now?", he whispered, tears welling in his eyes as they had for what seemed to be every morning for the past months.

Not really knowing what he could say in response, Simon merely sighed, sitting down in his chair at the head of the table. Shaking his head, he sighed. "Adam . . .I understand what you're feeling. I miss yer Ma too. But, you've got to . . .You can't treat your brothers so horribly. They need

you . . ." He swallowed, realizing the truth of what he was about to say, as well as how much Thomas already applied. "They need you to be a father of sorts to them."

Adam sighed. "And, that's the problem pa. I don't know how to be a father. I'm only twelve years old."

Simon sighed. "I wish I could tell you son. It was because she got sick and just didn't have the strength. I can't tell you why it happened."

Adam could only nod.

"Pa, when do you think Jeffrey could start coming to the mine with us?", Thomas asked, merely wanting to shift the conversation.

"In a year or so. Adam will need to teach him.", Simon replied as his son looked up.

"Why does he get out of digging?",Adam thought to himself.

Nodding, Thomas lifted Henry to his shoulder to burp him. "Shouldn't one of us stay back to help Aunt Mary? I know she's perfectly capable, but seven of us at once is a big change even though there'll only be four of us who stay home."

Giving Thomas a thoughtful look, it was obvious he appreciated his son's thoughtfulness. "Well, I'm sure Billy and Walter will help her in any way they can.", Simon said looking down at his boys. Smiling, he laid a hand on each boy's back.

"D-Don't w-worry we w-w-will.", Billy said before accidentally sneezing on his father's pant leg.

"I know you will.", Simon said, wipping off his leg, then wipped Billy's nose with his handkerchief.

Not long after that, Simon left, Thomas and Adam following behind him, but all to soon, it seemed that the sun was setting, meaning Aunt Mary was getting supper ready and the three would be home shortly.

Sighing, Aunt Mary looked around the darkening cottage. Henry laid in a basket close to her side. Jeffrey, having set the table, now played out side with Billy and walter.

Now, turning away from the bubbling pot for a moment, Mary reached down, taking her laughing nephew into her arms. Truthfully, she had always wanted a family of her own, but none of the boys had taken any interest in her. Simon, apologized to her for asking to leave their family farm, but she merely protested. To her living with Simon and the boys appealed to her much more than living alone on the farm, her only companions, the animals.

Sighing, she sat, rubbing Henry's back while he laid his head on her shoulder. Humming, she jumped when the door opened suddenly, startling her.

"Sorry, Mary.", Simon appologized, walking over to sniff the pot that held their supper.

"How was it at the mine?", she asked, also realizing that Henry was now awake again.

"Alright.", he replied when Adam walked by, looking to his father, his expression telling that he obviously wasn't pleased.

"Alright? What's that supposed to mean?", he asked in a disgusted tone of voice.

"What's this all about?", Mary asked clearly confused.

Simon sighed. "Well, I've been trying to teach Thomas how to inspect the jewels and he didn't like it."

"I see."

Though the next moment she was glad as her eldest nephew wrapped his arms around her neck, kissing her on the cheek. "Want me to take Henry for you?", he asked.

Smiling, his aunt turned her head to look at him as best she could. "I'd love it if you don't mind sweetie."

"Of course I don't.", he replied, gently taking his youngest brother from her arms.

Chuckling, she reached forward to stir the soup she had cooking the the large kettle.

"They're good boys.", Simon said, absent-mindedly, watching his sons.

Nodding, Mary looked up, feeling for him, seeing the look of longing in his eyes.

She knew he missed Jane and truthfully she understood how he felt. She remembered how devestated they both were when they're own parents died.