Chapter 16

Throughout the night, both Simon and Mary had Adam on their minds, both worried, knowing all he was going through and had been through.

The next morning, Simon struggled to pull himself up off the floor, hearing a cry. But, once he looked toward the bench however, he was thankful it wasn't Adam. Leaning back, resting on his hands, he looked toward his bedroom, smiling ever so slightly when he saw Mary standing there, cradling Henry in her arms.

Letting out a sigh, he stood up, groaning as he stretched his back.

Then letting out another sigh, he slowly headed out back as Mary came in with Henry.

As she walked up to the fireplace she glanced toward Adam, noticing how tense he looked, knowing he needed her to give him another shot for pain.

"Sweetie, just sit here for a few minutes and I'll get you a bottle, she whispered, gently setting Henry down in his special chair.

"Adam?", she whispered a moment later, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You awake?"

"Yeah.", he replied in a grunt.

"Well hang on.", she whispered, taking out a small needle and the tiny glass bottle she'd kept close in case her nephew needed it.

A moment later Adam gritted his teeth when he first felt her take his arm, then the needle stick him as she injected the medicine.

"How you feel this morning?", Mary asked a moment later.

"Like I hurt.", he mumbled.

"At least you're here... I was terrified when I can in from the garden yesterday and saw Lily and Jake."

"You really... you know?", Adam hesitantly asked.

"Yes. Until I realized how he treated women and broke up with him. Adam, I hope none of you boys ever do anything like some of the things he did.", she replied with a shake of her head.

"I don't think Jeffrey will unless he's drunk. I sure won't... I can't... see any of us.", Adam replied with a yawn.

Nodding, Aunt Mary let out a sigh while she stirred the kettle, knowing their breakfast wouldn't take long. Then, with a smile, she heard the upstairs bedroom door open, then the sound of her nephew's footsteps.

She turned, seeing Jeffrey, followed by the three who usually stayed near him. And, Thomas at the back, his weary expression obvious.

"Thomas, are you alright?", she asked, moving the pot away from the fire.

"Just worried about my brothers.", he replied meaning Adam.

Nodding, his aunt gave him a sad smile. "Well, everything ok?", she asked.

"Not really.", Thomas replied, scratching the back of his head. "I've been wondering about you and Lily's pa.", he answered nervously.

"Oh. Well, nothing wrong with that I suppose... Um, is there anything I could tell you?", she asked, thinking she knew what he wanted to ask.

Letting out a sigh, Thomas gritted his teeth, thinking. He knew his Pa would be furious if he heard, especially in front of the younger ones.

"No, I don't guess so.", he whispered.

"Tommy..." Laying a hand on her nephew's shoulder, Aunt Mary gave him a small smile. "He tricked me... I'll tell you later.", she replied.

The fact dawning on him, that his father could come through the door any second, Thomas merely nodded before going over to where Adam laid, having not moved from the same spot since last night when their aunt had laid him down.

"Feeling any better?", Thomas asked, hoping for a remotely positive reply from his brother.

"Not really.", Adam answered while letting out a sigh.

"Yeah. Sorry, I urged you into that date with Lily. Guess, I learned my lesson there.", he replied with a sigh.

"It's ok... You were just trying to help me.", he whispered himself with a sigh.

"Adam...?"

Looking up, he was surprised to see his father standing there, something hidden in his hands.

"Y-Yeah, Pa?", he whispered, a bit nervously, since he didn't know what he wanted to tell him.

"I have something to show you.", he whispered, getting down on his knees before moving a hand aside.

Adam gasped, surprised when he saw a baby chick in his father's hands.

Eyes wide, he looked up. "Pa... is that...?", he whispered curiously.

"Yep. Your girl.", he replied, then winced realizing his poor choice of words. "Sorry, son. But, yeah. This is her chick... the only one that survived."

"Wow..."

Gently laying the chick in his son's hands, Simon smiled to himself. "Well, it's yours son."

Smiling to herself, Mary laid a hand on her brother's shoulder, startling him.

Turning, Simon smiled, taking the chick so she could give the bowl to his son.

And, after handing it over, she turned, looking to her brother.

"Don't worry. I'll put the pair of them in one of the isolated pens a little later.", Simon replied, knowing what she meant by her look.

Nodding, Mary turned back to the kettle, scooping some of the oatmeal into a bowl before handing it to her brother.

Setting it on the table, Simon then headed back outside to put the chick where it needed to go.

Aunt Mary?", Adam whispered later that afternoon just as she sat down after putting Henry down for a nap.

"Something wrong, Adam?" she asked while picking up one of the boy's shirts that needed mending. The tone in her nephew's voice had told her something bothered him a great deal.

"Well... you were talking about Lily's father earlier... what did he do to you?" Adam hadn't intended to be nosey, but at the same time not knowing bothered him.

Slowly letting out a sigh, Aunt Mary laid the shirt down in her lap. "Well... I-I'm not sure what to tell you..." Slowly letting out a sigh, she looked straight at her nephew, her own eyes somewhat hollow.

"He beat me.", she finally whispered after a moment. "Luckily, your father had followed me or..."

"You'd be dead?" Adam whispered hesitantly.

"Maybe... He was furious with me, but he couldn't have lived with himself if he hadn't gone after me. So I knew when I saw him..."

"You knew I was in danger?" Adam whispered.

With a sigh, Aunt Mary nodded. "Yes... I love you so much Adam... It pains me to see you go through this." she whispered herself.

Nodding Adam looked down at his hands, letting out a sigh.

"Want to help me?" Turning to look at her nephew, Mary smiled, hoping this helped.

Looking up, Adam sighed. "I would if I didn't hurt so much."

"You're right." she whispered, suddenly realizing how ridiculous she sounded.

"It's ok... Maybe I should stop going with the others and help you." Adam mumbled, despair heavy on his tone.

Taken aback by this Mary gently took her nephew's hand, trying to take it all in as she rubbed her thumb over his skin.

"Aunt Mary?" Adam asked a few moments later when she still hadn't replied.

Startled by the sound of his voice she jumbed before giving him a small smile. "Don't worry dear, you'll find the right one someday. Who knows maybe she'll even be a princess." she replied jokingly.

In response to this, he merely rolled his eyes, giving her a light glare. "Never... The village girls are bad enough, I couldn't imagine..."

With a sigh, Mary nodded, gently patted his hand. "Well, you never know sweetie..." she whispered.

"Yeah, maybe you'll find someone who treats you like Pa did Ma." Adam countered.

Touched, she let out a sigh, giving her nephew a little smile.

"I appreciate it sweetie, but I couldn't. I'd be too concerned about you boys." she replied.

"I'd be worried about you too." Adam admitted himself.

Throughout the afternoon, Mary couldn't stop thinking about the talk she and her nephew had, had. She knew, as did her brother, the way Adam had been since the boys mother died, but the changes became increasingly worse-and it scared her.

When the others returned from work, Adam laid on the bench, Henry playing at his feet.

Walking over, Simon reached down, taking Henry into his arms.

Then, looking to his second eldest, he let out a sigh. "How you feeling?" he asked.

"Ok, I guess. My back hurts a little less."

His father nodded. "Son, I'm really worried about you. You've changed... a lot... And I'm not sure it's good for you."

"But.." Adam began when he was silently cut off.

"Sticking up for your Aunt, there's nothing wrong with that. But, I'm a little worried about just how nothing makes you happy anymore-except your Aunt. Adam, I'm afraid it's hurting you emotionally and that your brothers are suffering as well... They care about you, especially Thomas."

Letting out a sigh, Adam thought for a moment.

"Son, I love you and I just want what's best for all of you." he said as calmly as he could.

"I know, Pa." he whispered, his head down.

Thinking, Simon looked down at his hands, resting in his lap.

Then, looking back up, he sighed. "Adam, do you think maybe... once you're better..."

"Pa, I'll do whatever you want." he whispered.

"I just want you to be there for your brothers is all." he gently answered, patting his son's hand.

"I'll try." he mumbled, the fact that he meant it, clear to see in his eyes.

"All right."

And Adam was eventually given the chance to prove himself, unfortunately it would also mean another tragedy for the brothers.