Isaiah quickly grabbed a chair from the other room and the four of them settled down to a nice meal.  The stew was delicious!

Josh sat on his knees so he could be taller and reach the table better. His eyes lit up at the offer for pie. "Pie's my favorite!" He exclaimed, though any sweet she offered him would have been his 'favorite'.  Josh dug into his stew, shoveling almost quicker than he could chew. 

"Slow down." Isaiah told him and Josh tried, but it was too good and he was too hungry.

Isaiah nodded to his sister at her offer for a bed and then to building on the house.  He could definitely help with that, but he also needed to figure out a way to bring in some money for them too.  Addy had so graciously taken them in, without so much as a question, there was no way he was going to be a burden to her. He would pull his weight around here.

"Good plan." He approved. "You know I'll help, but any idea on what I can do to help bring in some money too?" He was a trust worthy man, kept his word and was a hard worker.  Surely he'd find something around here and he knew Addy would help.

Josh had finished up his bowl of stew and he really wanted those extra bits in the bottom that his spoon couldn't get to, so he picked up the bowl and started drinking from it like it was a cup. When he heard Addy say something about school, he dropped the bowl, his mouth wide open, stew all around his mouth. "School?!" In a new place, with no one he knew but Weedy. "I ain't goin' to no school." He shook his head, his brow wrinkled together.

"Way th' boy eats reminds me a' Josh, don't he?"  Addy chuckled at the fond memory of one of their older brothers who had been lost in the war.  "That boy could pack down th' food faster'n a rabbit runnin' from a coyot'!"  It really was uncanny how many traits her nephew shared with someone he'd never met.

Then the subject of school came up.

"School?!" In a new place, with no one he knew but Weedy. "I ain't goin' to no school."

Weedy's eyes widened at the declaration, not that he disagreed, but you didn't talk to an elder like that without some sort of trouble.  But Addy simply shrugged...and agreed!

"A'right, got no problem with that.  Whadda you think, Isiah?  He can just spend his days muckin' manure in th' barn.  That'll give Weedy more time fer his homework."

Isaiah smiled at the memory Addy brought up about their brother Josh and he chuckled.  "Ain't that the truth." He glanced over at Weedy. "Can't tell ya how many times he stole food right off my plate!  Made me so mad." He laughed and internally thought how much he'd love to get angry at his brother for stealing his food again.  D@mn war.  He shook his head.

When Josh piped up and talked back like that, Addy spoke up just in time to save Josh from feeling a swat on his backside for talking to his aunt like that. Isaiah cut his eyes at his son and Josh could tell by that look on his Pa's face that he won't happy with the way he just talked back.

"You watch your mouth." Isaiah said before he agreed with Addy. "But she's right.  If you ain't goin' to school then shoveling manure is about all there'd be left for ya to do.  So is it settled?" He asked as he shoveled another bite of stew.

Josh sat back on his legs as his bottom lip pouted out a bit.  School didn't sound like no fun and neither did shoveling manure. "Well I don't wanna do that neither."

Isaiah shrugged. "Well you have to choose one or the other." He grabbed a biscuit and dressed it up with some honey.

Josh looked at Weedy. "Would we be together?" He asked, thinking that if school and manure were his only choices, then maybe he could tolerate school.  Isaiah looked at his sister, winking and smiling as it was obvious her plan was working. 

Weedy glanced at Addy, not sure if she was serious or teaching Josh a lesson.  It wouldn't be the first time Addy had used that trick, and he didn't want to get into trouble.  Not that he'd done anything wrong, but every kid knew that wasn't a factor in getting in trouble!

When he couldn't think of any reason not to answer, Weedy nodded.  "Sure, it's just a one room school, so we'll be in the same room," he assured his cousin.  "Little kids have to sit toward the front, but we can walk together and I can introduce you to the teacher."  He was sort of proud to be able to take care of Josh and show him the ropes.  It hadn't occurred to him that it might be an inconvenience at lunch!

"Well, dang!" Addy exclaimed, shaking her head, "reckon that means I'll be muckin' them stalls!"  Then she grinned and looked at her brother.  "Oh, that's right, there's someone here don't got nothin' better ta do!"

Josh wasn't buying it just yet.  He listened as Weedy talked about school.  When Weedy mentioned the teacher Josh's brow pulled together and he got right serious. "Is tha teacher nice?  If she ain't nice then maybe I will clean up the stalls." He nodded his head once.  "Since I ain't little I guess I'll get to sit with you if I go." Weedy had mentioned the little kids sat up front, and, well, to Josh he was nearly as big as Weedy so that meant they'd get to sit together! 

Isaiah laughed when Josh said that about not being little and maybe mucking the stalls if the teacher wasn't nice.  "Josh, Weedy means that you will be sitting up front with the kids your age and he'll be sittin' behind you somewhere with kids his age." 

Isaiah laughed more when his sister starting pokin' at him about pulling his weight around the house. He pointed his spoon at her before digging it into his bowl for another bite. "You better watch it." He winked and added... "and you know I'll do whatever's most helpful.  Do whatever you need around here or go out and get to work and bring some money in for us."

"Teacher's really nice," Weedy assured his cousin, then grinned.  "And pretty, too!  I have an extra slate you can have, and we can walk together.  And, after school, we can ride my horse!  He's a real Indian pony!"  He looked hopefully at Addy.

"Reckon, once ya get yer homework an' chores done."  Addy then glanced at Isiah.  "Ya don't mind th' boys ridin' a bit, do ya?  Weedy's real good, an' his pony's real tame now."  She shrugged.  "Or ya can go with 'em.  An' we'll talk about work once th' boys go ta bed."

She smiled then, and looked around.  "Who's ready fer pie?"

Josh would never admit it but the more he talked to Weedy about school he actually felt kind of excited, but also a little nervous.  He looked at his Pa and then Aunt Addy. "Can ya come with me too?" He liked the idea of walking with Weedy but he wanted his Pa or Addy to come along as well.  Since his Ma passed he didn't like letting his Pa out of his sight.  Mention of the horse had him practically forgetting school! "Oh I wanna go ride!" He exclaimed and looked at his Pa with the widest, most excited eyes.  Even if they were just getting back from being out of town he always loved riding horses!

Isaiah chuckled when Weedy mentioned that the teacher was pretty and pushed his bowl away as he finished up his food. "I don't mind if you two go out and ride.  If Addy's good with it, I am too." She knew way better how Weedy would handle the pony and if she trusted him then he did. "I'm right exhausted." He said shaking his head, not feeling up to going out if he didn't have to. "I'd rather sit here and eat pie." He winked at the boys.

Josh jumped when he heard mention of pie! "I want pie too!"

"Pie on the way!"  Laughing, Addy rose and went to the pantry, where she pulled out an apple pie with a brown sugar crumble. "Here we go, pie right from th' Lickskillet!"  Because it was a special occasion, she doled out big portions, then called, "Dig in!" 

The pie was good, but it didn't come close to having family around, and the joy that brought.  "Reckon me or yer Pa'll hafta go ta school with ya tomorrow ta get you all signed in," Addy explained, "but after that, you can walk with Weedy."

"Best that way," Weedy agreed, "or the other kids might tease you and call you a baby.  It'll be all right."  Even though he wasn't exactly sure he wanted a little kid hanging around, Weedy appreciated having a real family, including an uncle and cousin, and family looked out for family!

The pie was as good as she remembered, and the coffee she poured for herself and her brother actually was good, without any bitterness. 

"When yer done, boys, clean up an' git ta bed.  My brother an' I got some discussin' ta do."

Isaiah and Josh enjoyed their pie, but now Josh was feeling butterflies and nerves about school tomorrow.  This was sprung on him out of nowhere.  His Pa aint' said nuthin' to him about school!  The butterflies were nerves and excitement though if he was being honest.  Maybe school would be fun and plus Weedy had said the teacher was nice and they would be together.

Josh wanted to stall going to bed....sooooo "Can I have some more pie?!"

Isaiah had honestly been surprised that he'd eaten the serving he got.  He shook his head and reached for his plate and then grabbed the other now empty plates. "No way, bud...it's time for bed, like you Aunt Addy said."  He stood and walked over to the sink, sitting them down.  Turning he walked back over grabbing his coffee, it was the best cup he'd had in a while.  On the trail he never could make a good cup. 

"Best I've had in a while." He commented to her with a smile. He looked at his son.

"I told ya, it's time for bed." He motioned with his head. "Now get going." He smiled at Weedy. "Thanks for encouraging him." He commented appreciating Weedy's positive and encouraging spirit, knowing he could easily not be. 

Weedy wasn't excited to get to bed, but he figured the adults were going to talk, so he and Josh could, too!  "Come on."  Following his uncle's example, he set his plate in the sink, then led the way to the bedroom.  There was a washstand with a pitcher and bowl.  "We need to clean up first," he explained to his cousin, pouring some water into the bowl then dipping his fingers in and shaking them off.

"I want to hear all about your trip!  Was it fun?" 

=================

"We'll be there to tuck you in!" Addy called as she glanced at her brother and chuckled.  "It's good for Weedy to have someone to look after...and more family."

Working together amid idle chit-chat and reminiscing, dishes were quickly done and the kitchen cleaned -- with much less fussing and fighting than when they'd be young!

"Let's get them little ones tucked in," Addy said, "then have a shot an' a talk."  It wasn't as serious as it sounded!