Grace Bradley lifted Rose Boone from Katie's arms and crossing the room laid her down in a crib.
"Good job, Katie! I don't know how you do it. She won't ever drift off for me. She must know she's safe when she's with her big sister." She smiled at Katie and the shy girl grinned. Looking at Mima who sat across the table snapping beans she winked.
"Oh, Rose, loves Katie Grace." Mima said. "She behaves better for her than even Ma!"
"Where did Israel go?" Grace said looking around.
"He's outside, Mama." Anna Lee said. "Can Katie Grace and I go look at the sheep?"
"Are your chores finished?" Her mother asked, hand on hip.
"Hours ago!" Anna said.
"Alright then, take the boys with you." She said indicating her two youngest children.
"Come on!" Anna said. They rushed out the door in happy pack.
"Peace at last." Grace said settling into a chair across from Mima. "Are you alright, Mima? You seem quiet."
"Worried about Ma, I guess." Mima said softly. "She looked just . . ."
"She's much better, Mima. Why you should be back at home in a few more days. She'd have you home now. You know your Ma, she'd rather take care of you than anything. Your Pa just wants to make sure she gets some rest."
"She never rests." Mima said. "I know its best we are here, otherwise, she'd never even sit down! I just . . .I don't know how someone could . . .it must have been so scary, but she acts like everything's alright. I know she must be sad." Mima said thoughtfully.
"Your Ma's the most stubborn person I know, and the only way she'll even consider resting or letting herself feel sad, is if you aren't around. Don't fret, Mima. Your Pa will make sure she gets better. We'll let her have a few more days of feeling safe at home, and then she can have all of you back. Besides, the only thing your Ma ever needs to make things right, is your Pa."
"That's true." Mima said. "One thing you can say about my folks, is they are happiest together, and no one can make Ma mind - except Pa."
"I'm not really sure he can, Mima. I think she just humors him from time to time." Grace winked at her. "Now, then what do you think we should do about Israel?"
Mima considered thoughtfully. "Well, do you have anything you need smashed?"
"What?" Grace looked surprised.
"Israel's got a temper. He's mad as can be about Ma. He'd feel better if he could smash something."
"Like father, like son!" Grace said and seeing Mima's confused look. "You didn't notice it. Your Pa pulled the door off the barn and smashed it all to bits. He might have torn down the whole barn, but Mingo stopped him."
"Too bad Israel wasn't there to help him. The thing with Israel is that he doesn't want to be a baby anymore, so he won't shed a tear. But if he smashes something up, it will give him an excuse to go ahead and cry."
"Mima, you might just be the smartest person I know." Grace said with a smile.
"Well, every single person in my family is stubborn when it comes to being upset about things. It has taken me twelve years to even come close to figuring them out. When Ma gets upset, she just acts mad. Remember when Israel ran off? She stormed around the cabin for days, even after Pa brought him home safe. She was out in the yard trying to bring in the wash and the line fell down and she kicked the wash bucket! She was so mad! It wasn't 'til Pa came out and put his arms around her that she finally cried."
"Your Ma isn't an easy person. She might be the most stubborn person I've ever known." Grace sighed.
"That's what Pa said! He put his arms around her and said, 'Becky Boone, you might just be the most difficult and stubborn person the good Lord ever created! Now, either you are going to smash that wash barrel to bits, or you're gonna go ahead have yourself that good cry you've been fighting. But I have to leave to get supplies from Salem in four days, so if you expect me to hold you tight while you're crying, you better do it now.' And she finally did."
"Your Pa's a smart man, sometimes. But don't tell him I said so." She winked at Mima and rising she said, "I guess I better go find Matt and see if we can't find something for your brother to smash. I've just got the one wash barrel and I really need it."
Mima watched her Aunt Grace as she walked out the door. She glanced at her sleeping baby sister. Aunt Grace was just about as comforting as having Ma around. She longed to be home, especially now. She'd be leaving home soon and wanted as many days as possible with her parents. She couldn't imagine living far from home surrounded by strangers. Maybe leaving wasn't such a good idea.
***DB***
Israel looked up warily as Matthew Bradley approached him. He sighed and kicked at the stump at his feet.
"Israel, you busy just now?" Matthew asked.
"No, sir." Israel said.
"Well, I was wondering if you come with me. I need some help and the little boys are off playing somewheres." He studied Israel thoughtfully.
"I can help you." Israel said. "What do you need?"
"Well, your Aunt Grace has been after me to get rid of this old chest. It takes up too much space or some such nonsense. You know women folk! Anyway, we need to bust it up and then we should be able to burn it. Come on, it is over around by the barn."
"I can do that easy." Israel said. "Most of the time I get in trouble for smashing things."
The old chest sat beside the barn and Matthew turned to tell Israel to go ahead and start but the small boy had already grabbed a nearby hammer, and began to smash away. Matthew stepped back, amazed that so much anger and violence could come from so small a body. Israel's face turned first red then purple with rage as he swung at the chest again and again. Splinters flew and Matthew had to duck more than once. The chest was soon just a pile of splinters, and yet still Israel swung. Matthew watched concern over Israel's safety, but knowing the boy needed an outlet for his anger. It was only when there was nearly nothing left, and he became afraid that Israel would end up hitting his own leg, that he finally stepped in. Reaching out at just the right moment, he took the hammer out of Israel's hand. Israel stood panting, face still purple with rage.
"Uncle Matt, how could they hurt her? How?" He asked looking up, his bright blue eyes filling with tears.
"I don't know." Matthew said waiting.
Israel turned away, his shoulders down. Matthew sighed he could see Grace watching from the porch.
"Israel, there are times when it is appropriate for a man to cry." He said gently. Israel said nothing. Matthew sighed and trying to ignore his own anger which was building and building as he thought of the many ways that the Boone family had been harmed. "You've seen your Pa cry, Israel. It is alright son. A man cries when the time is right, and the way your Ma was hurt, well, lots of men have cried over it."
"I want to hurt all of them." Israel said angrily turning at last to face Matthew. "I hate them."
Matthew said nothing but only nodded and Israel stepped into his uncle's open arms. "I should've run after her, Uncle Matt. I hid with the girls." He could hear the shame in Israel's voice.
"Israel, you protected the girls. Mima said so. They all wanted to get out of the reeds, but you kept them there, and you kept Katie-Grace calm. You did right. If you had run out, they would've took you too. Your Ma would've done anything to get you free, and she probably would've got hurt even worse, maybe even killed. You did right, Israel."
"I wish . . ." Israel said.
"Me too, Israel. I wish, too." Matthew said. He looked in the distance as he held the sobbing boy and saw his wife nod her head and turn back inside the cabin. She would, no doubt, have a plate of cookies waiting for Israel, and maybe even a pie. If only cookies could heal everything.