"Hey, Jason! Jason! Guess what!" Jeremy shouted, racing into the camp, pleased to see his brother standing in the middle of the tent area.

Jason looked up from the papers he was reading, and smiled. "I couldn't begin to. But it must be something to have you so excited you came straight home."

"Th-there's gonna be a m-magic lantern show! And a – a p-picture t-taker and a d-dancing b-bear, and a -a-a — b-band with real ins'ruments, for d-dancing for a p-party. And a – and a– " Jeremy took a deep breath.

"For the festival?" Jason asked, leading the two of them to a place to sit.

Jeremy nodded vigorously. "An' w-we're gonna tell st-tories an' have a b-big f-fire in the s-square an' – an' l-lots of stuff!"

"Who's telling stories?" Jason was looking at his paper again, but was pleased at this little brother's enthusiasm. This was the first time he'd ever seen Jeremy interested in a town-wide group event.

"W-we're g-going to write a s-story in class, and the best ones get to r-read 'em."

Jason tried, and failed, to imagine his bashful brother reading a story to the entire town. "Any particular kind of story?"

"S-scary. B-because of Halloween. Jason?"

"Hmm?"

"How c-come we're having a p-party for that? Did we ever have one before? What's Halloween?"

"Da'd be spinning in his grave," Jason mused.

He didn't see Jeremy's shiver.

"Well," Jason continued, "answering the easy question first: No, we've never had one before. We do usually try to have a party this time of year, just to get one last one in before winter sets in. Halloween is a little harder to explain. I'm not sure I understand it myself. Something to do with spirits and demons walking the earth pretending to be real people and trying to snatch your soul so you'll be one of them, or something. Some of the men can probably explain better. Our – traditions – don't include celebrating spirits and demons. Such things are better left unspoken-of." Jason grinned, "Although we have always had bonfires; you know that."

"Not in town. On the mountain."

"Mmm. Correct. The bonfires came from the old country and predate Halloween. I think. This Halloween, it's a new thing."

"L-like Christmas trees?"

"Hmm. M-maybe. It's this country, mushing everything together."

"And making it a p-party?"

"Yeah, maybe." Jason put his paper back in his pocket, stood up, and said, "I have to get back to work. And since you've been coming in so late, there's plenty of sharpening work piled up and waiting for you. See you at supper."

"Okay." Jeremy'd rather work than do nothing, although some kinds of nothing were a lot of fun.

He wondered if his teacher would know more about Halloween and demons and stuff. Or maybe Josh understood it better than Jason did? When they'd all been a family, Da used to tease Mama about she made Jason a pagan like her. He'd be seeing that that didn't happen again.

But Da still thought Mama was a fey. That was a fairy.

Huh. He hadn't thought about that for a long time.

CHAPTER BREAK

Another Day

"Jason, how come we call Ms. Am-melia a witch? Aren't witches b-bad?"

Josh groaned. "Not as bad as little brothers who ask questions after bedtime."

"You should be used to it. God knows I am. Da started it, calling her and her

friends after the witches in MacBeth. It made Mom laugh. I think he and she liked their

advice and interfer– I mean, interest, in their affairs about as much as we do – did."

"But we was wrong 'bout that."

"We were wrong about their motives, yes. Their behavior's another story."

"Jason, would you b-be mad if I don't write a story?"

"What, for that contest? Or for a grade?"

"B-both, I g-guess."

"I'll sleep on it. Good night. Jeremy."

Jeremy giggled, but didn't speak again.

"Oh, gawd." Josh pulled the cover up over his head.

Jason smiled.

At breakfast, he asked, "Why were you asking about the Wyrd Sisters, Jeremy? Are they – hmm – bothering you?"

"Interfering with you," Josh elucidated.

Jeremy scoffed at him with a look., before answering Jason. "No. Sometimes, Ms Amelia has cookies and lemonade when school is over."

Jason laughed. "I see. I hope you aren't being rude."

"When he's getting cookies? Are you crazy?"

Jeremy looked doubtful. "D-don't th-think so. She tells me st-tories 'bout Mama an' Da. An' when Seattle wasn't. I m-mostly just listen."

"Well, she was with us when we got here," Jason said. "We came overland, and the others came by boat, and there were Indians, too.A few trappers. None of the groups liked each other very much, but we've eventually, for the most part, blended. Are you alright with her telling you about these things?"

"Uh-huh. I g-gotta g-go." Jeremy wiped his mouth, gathered up his books and headed for his horse.

"That was quick."

Jason agreed. "Something's bothering him, or he'd never have brought the subject up."

"Maybe the old lady's telling him things about Mom and Da he doesn't need to know."

"I doubt that. The 'old ladies' don't talk about that kind of thing, especially not to children. Well, he'll let us know, when he figures out how to ask."

"In the dark a half hour after we've gone to sleep."

Jason laughed. "More than likely. It doesn't matter, Josh. I hope we all know we can talk to one another at any time."

"I prefer daylight," Josh declared with dignity, then laughed at himself. "Let's get to work."

"The best use of daylight," Jason agreed.