Jamie still reacted with hatred to Hoss and Ben but Joe knew he was getting through to him. The following weekend Paul finally said he could get out of bed. Jamie was surprisingly resistant. Joe dressed him, chafed him, scolded him, and raised him to his feet.

"Alright, alright! I'm not an invalid! I can walk!"

"Walk, then."

He followed Joe downstairs and glared at the others in misery and anger.

"Hello, Jamie, how are you?" Ben asked.

"OK." There was a pause. "Thank you."

"Do you want some coffee?" Hoss asked.

"No, thank you."

"Well, we're going to have some. Sit down."

Jamie sat, staring in front of him. Joe was beside him, pouring himself a cup and taking a couple of the freshly made cookies. The boy gazed at him glumly.

"Nice cookies," Joe sprayed.

"I say it every day, but Hop Sing has outdone himself," said Ben. "What are you going to do with yourself today, Jamie?"

"I suppose you want me to return to work," Jamie said bitterly.

"Oh, no. Not for quite a while yet. You're nowhere near strong enough." Jamie muttered something. "What was that?" No answer. "What did you say, Jamie?"

"Nothing."

"I could've sworn you said something."

"I said what's the point in me being here, then?"

Ben noticed he had not "sirred" him once. It pleased him because he was no longer using that freezing courtesy as a weapon to beat him about the head.

"What's the point in any of us being here? It's your home. It's where you live."

"It's not my home. I have no home."

"OK, it's where you're living right now. Will that do?"

Jamie crossed his arms and scowled at the floor. Joe winked at his father, slipped a cookie onto a plate and gave it to him.

"I don't want any!"

"Don't eat it, then."

As so often, Joe's refusal to be goaded both frustrated and exhausted him. He finally stuffed half of it into his mouth and almost choked.

"Steady on!" Joe laughed, patting him on the back.

Joe went off to do his chores and the others could feel Jamie's hostility start to return.

"I was wondering whether you'd like to go for a walk later. Just a stroll, perhaps."

"No, thank you."

"Joe could go with you."

"No, thank you."

"Well, that's a shame. The doctor said you should have some gentle exercise now you've started to eat a bit. I think we've got an old wheelchair somewhere, don't we, Hoss?"

"Yeah, think so."

"I'm not getting in a wheelchair!"

"You'll walk, then?"

Hoss had already risen and was walking to the door. "It's in the lean-to by the barn, Pa."

"Hoss!"

Jamie realized what he had said. Hoss paused, his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, Jamie?"

"I...I don't need a wheelchair."

"So you're up to walking, then?"

"Godda...!" He managed to stop himself. "Alright! I'll walk!"

"Oh, good."

"You don't give me a choice in anything, do you?"

"Well, Jamie, you've been quite ill. Just a few days ago you wouldn't have been able to get out of bed," said Ben. The rest remained unsaid. Because you made yourself ill.

"Well, I could go with him, Pa," said Hoss. "Or you could..."

"I don't need anyone."

"Or there's Joe."

"I said, I don't need anyone."

"I'll do it," said Ben. "You're riding fence this afternoon, remember?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I don't want to go with you!"

"Oh, don't you? Well, then, there's Joe."

"Joe was supposed to come with me, Pa."

"Well, I can go instead, if Jamie wants to go with Joe. That OK, Jamie?"

"Or Joe goes with you and I'll walk with Jamie..."

Jamie knew he was being cornered but there was nothing he could do about it. He was so tired. The illness had taken it out of him and he found his former theatrics too exhausting. "Alright. I'll go with Joe."