CALAMITY COMEDY

 

 

            Jody found it thrilling to have Buck staying with them after Penny was snake-bitten, so much so that he followed the big man just about everywhere. It was not surprising, therefore, that Jody and Buck were together when the Baxters' hogs, which the Forresters had appropriated while angry with Jody and his father, made their reappearance at Baxters' Island, just as Mill-wheel had promised Jody that they would.

            Jody broke into an automatic broad grin at the sight of them, glanced involuntarily at Buck, only to see his bearded friend smiling ruefully at him with brows raised, and quickly looked away again, blushing deeply.

            Buck cleared his throat. "Well, I reckon that answers what I was wonderin': you knowed for sure we had 'em."

            "Yes, sir," he answered softly.

            "And you don't seemed surprised they're back, neither."

            Without thinking, Jody blurted, "Mill-wheel said they would be."

            Buck was startled. "You and Mill-wheel talked 'bout this?"

            He nodded.

            Buck realized suddenly, "When he takened you to hunt for the fawn."

            Another nod.

            "How'd that topic come up?"

            Jody murmured, "He was surprised where I wanted to go to hunt the fawn. He asked what Pa and me was doin' up that road. I admitted we was huntin' our hogs."

            Full reality struck Buck. "Hit's our fault, then! Our fault Penny was snakebit! You two never woulda been on that road, iffen we ain't takened the hogs. Jody, I'm sorry!"

            The boy shrugged self-consciously.

            "Did you and Mill-wheel talk 'bout the fight, too?"

            He nodded again. "He asked me why Pa and me pitched into you-all. I said it was 'cause it didn't seem right, a whole passel o' you-all whoppin' Oliver."

            "You right."

            "That's what Mill-wheel said, too."

            "Well, me and Mill-wheel think a lot alike. And with your hogs back, you kin bet Mill-wheel got th'others to forgive you and Penny, too."

            "Even Lem?"

            "Well, now I don't know 'bout Lem. But everyone else, I'm sure."

            Jody was slightly uncomfortable. "I was jest hopin' you-all'd forgive us like you forgive each other, includin' Lem. I mean, you-all fight amongst yourselves a heap, and you forgive each other."

            "That's 'cause we're family."

            "Well, but Pa and me been friends with you-all a good long time now, close friends. So cain't we seem like family? Pa says, folks that seem like kinfolks, is kinfolks." He carefully didn't mention that his father had been referring to the Huttos when he'd said it.

            Buck smiled at him. "That there's a nice way to look at it." He turned more serious. "And you and Penny ain't th'only ones shocked at us 'bout what we done to Oliver. After Doc Wilson saved your pa, he talked to me and Mill-wheel afore he left. Seems he was called to tend to Oliver after the fight. He said to us, 'You fellers sure messed him up good! I'd hate to be on the receivin' end o' your wrath!' Doc was 'shamed of us."

            A sudden thought struck Jody. "What iffen Oliver'd needed your he'p, 'stead o' Pa? Would you forgive him, too, and he'p him?"

            "I don't know, Jody."

            "What iffen Oliver come visit us whilst you're here? He might, you know!"

            "I don't know 'bout that, neither. 'Twould depend on him. How he'd act toward me would decide how I'd treat him."

            "Well, that's good news...I think. How did the fight end?"

            "Oliver come to and looked at us, but didn't git up. I ain't sayin' he was exactly scared, but he'd had 'nough. How long was you knocked out?"

            "'Til nigh on to sunset."

            "Lord! That'd be 'bout seven hours! Jody, you best stay clear o' Lem's fists in the future. Ourn, too. Anyways, Fodder-wing was wonderin' how long you was out. He was right smart fretted 'bout you. And riled at Lem for hittin' you. And riled at me and Mill-wheel for lettin' it happen. He fussed at us, and then runned away."

            Jody was wide-eyed. "Was you-all riled at Fodder-wing for that?"

            "A mite. Lem 'specially was."

            "You-all'd not hurt Fodder-wing, would you??"

            "Lem a'most did. Me and Mill-wheel stopped him. Anyways, Fodder-wing runned away, but we found him. But that's why he's ailin'; he was caught out in a storm."

            "I bet he was scared as much as riled."

            "Mebbe."

            "I was terrified when I had to go to you-all alone, for he'p."

            Buck smiled gently. "We noticed."

            Jody blushed again.

            "But the way you was all humble and cryin', there's no way we woulda hurted you. I kin tell you, nobody even thought about it."

            Jody smiled half-heartedly through his embarrassment.

            They both heard approaching horse's hooves in the same instant, and looked up to see Mill-wheel barreling into the clearing. He dismounted hastily.

            "What's the matter?" demanded Buck.

            "Fodder-wing."

            Jody gasped; Buck turned gray with alarm.

            "No, no, not what you're thinkin'. He's a mite worse, not that much worse in my opinion, but a mite. Anyways, he thinks he's a heap worse; in fact, he's sure he's gonna die. Not today, but afore long. He keeps sayin' it. I cain't talk him outen it; I've tried. And he wants to see Jody, and you, Buck, afore it's too late."

            Buck rose quickly.

            Mill-wheel held up a hand. "That ain't all. Jody, you recollect years ago, you takened Fodder-wing to the Glen, and Oliver met you there?"

            Jody's eyes grew wide at the sudden new awkwardness provoked by the memory of an event that he'd barely thought about in years. He swallowed hard, and said quietly, "Yes, sir."

            Mill-wheel went on, "Well, seems Fodder-wing liked Oliver, and said he was kind to him. Wants to see him, too."

            Buck stared.

            Jody was already shaking his head in dread. "That ain't possible! I mean...you-all...I mean...!"

            Mill-wheel waved it away like he didn't have time for it. "We cain't move Fodder-wing; he's too weak. We'll have to fetch Oliver to him."

            Jody protested, "But Oliver's bad hurted, too!"

            "Still? Bad enough he cain't travel?"

            The boy shrugged helplessly. "I don't know!"

            Buck broke in, "Now boy, you was jest tellin' me he might come visit whilst I'm here." To his brother, he asked, "Is this really necessary, Mill-wheel?"

            "You didn't hear Fodder-wing. He begged me. He really likes Oliver. And he really wants to see him. And he wants to tell him how sorry he is that we...." Mill-wheel turned his eyes away from them.

            "Oh lord," Buck sighed, rolling his own eyes skyward.

            But then, Mill-wheel turned his intent gaze on Jody. "You kin git him. You kin talk Oliver into it. We'll fetch you to him. Your pa cain't he'p; he's too ill."

            Jody hated the thought of putting Oliver at further risk. But he owed these men. He owed them for his father's life. And he loved Fodder-wing, too. "I'll try," he heard himself saying. "I cain't guarantee he'll listen. But I'll try."

            Mill-wheel nodded shortly.

            Buck said, "Go tell your ma and pa we're goin'. Tell 'em I'll still stay agin and he'p after this is over. Tell 'em it'll not take too long."

            Jody ran for the cabin and returned shortly.

            Buck asked him, "What'd they say?"

            "Pa said, 'You ain't serious?' But then he wished me luck."

            The Forresters mounted their horses, and Buck pulled Jody up behind him. They broke into an immediate gallop. Jody's mind was frantically awhirl with multiple worries, about Fodder-wing, about Oliver, and about what he was going to say to Oliver, so much so that the twelve-mile ride seemed ridiculously short. They were in front of the Hutto house almost before he knew it.

            Buck let him down several hundred feet away, saying, "I don't think we two should go no closer, 'til after you talk to 'em."

            Jody agreed. He ran to the door and pounded on it. "Grandma! Oliver! Grandma, hit's me!"

            Mrs. Hutto opened the door with a smile already on her face. A smile which immediately deteriorated when she caught sight of the mounted, bearded men who'd obviously brought him. "What's goin' on here? Jody, where's your pa?"

            "He cain't come; he's been snakebit."

            Mrs. Hutto misunderstood the nature of the emergency. She snagged a shawl from inside and threw it around her shoulders. "Does Ezra need me? I'll go!"

            Buck and Mill-wheel looked at each other, impressed.

            "No, no, Pa's gonna be all right; he's recoverin'. We come for Oliver."

            "What!" She glowered at the Forresters accusingly, menacingly.

            They straightened in their saddles.

            Jody realized that he'd not explained well. "Hit's Fodder-wing! He's ailin' turrible! He may be dyin'!"

            She relaxed her posture somewhat. "Aw, the poor leetle thing."

            "Anyways, Fodder-wing wants to see Oliver afore it's too late. He likes him."

            She said slowly, "And Oliver thinks a heap o' him, too, and speaks well of him. But if you're suggestin' I hand my boy over to them wild-men...!" Her menacing look returned.

            Buck spoke mildly, "Please, Ma'am. This is for our baby brother. We'll not hurt Oliver no-ways. In fact, we'll take keer of him, and be his protectors."

            She still looked suspicious. "You aim to take him to your place? Enemy territory! That's insane! And what about Lem?!"

            Mill-wheel said, "Lem gives his word, he'll not hurt him. This is for Fodder-wing."

            Mrs. Hutto hesitated, agonizing.

            "Ma? Jody?" They heard Oliver's strained voice from inside. "Come in here."

            Jody glanced quickly at the Forresters and at Grandma, and then ran for Oliver's room, yelling, "Oliver, Fodder-wing...!"

            "I heered. Window's open. Jody, I...I'm scared. To actually go there...!"

            "Buck and Mill-wheel gave their word. I b'lieve 'em."

            He hesitated. "Well, that...impresses me. But Jody, even iffen I wa'n't afraid, I'm so weak. I doubt iffen I could make the trip. I've hardly even been outta bed."

            Oliver truly did look bad. Jody hardly recognized his swollen, multicolor face: a canvas of vibrant red, torrid blue, and flaming purple, as of an artist gone mad. Through an expression, Oliver managed to convey to Jody that he wished that he could hide his bruises somehow, the bruises that they had given him; it was like wearing a badge of their superiority right in front of them, almost as if they'd branded him like their livestock. He also had to fervently worry that they might choose to deepen their mark upon him.

            As Jody struggled for a reply, both to what Oliver had said, and to what Jody had seen in his eyes, he heard a sound from the doorway behind him, and turned. Grandma Hutto stood in the doorway, her arms folded, and her lips set in a bitter, firm, thin line. Buck and Mill-wheel crowded behind her. She'd allowed them to come in, doubtless at their own persuasive urging.

            Buck whistled. "Oliver, you sure look bad! Look, I'm sorry! For what we done to you, and for botherin' you now. But you keer 'bout Fodder-wing, don't you?"

            Mill-wheel added, "He sure keers 'bout you!"

            Oliver nodded slowly, self-consciously from the bed. "Yes. I truly do. But...."

            "We'll take keer o' you. No one'll harm you. Not Lem, nor nobody," said Mill-wheel.

            Oliver thought about it, and then nodded again. "I b'lieve you." But then, he gestured helplessly. "But I kin hardly stand up!"

            "You'll not have to. We'll he'p you. Jest say the word, and we'll git you there," said Buck.

            "I...oh, all right."

            Buck tried to push past Mrs. Hutto, but she wouldn't budge. "Hold it! You ain't takin' my baby into the lion's den without me!"

            Mill-wheel scratched his head. "But how kin we carry all three o' you along on two horses??"

            "That's your problem."

            Buck turned to Mill-wheel impatiently. "We'll work that out." Then, he turned to her. "Hit's a deal, Mis' Hutto."

            She reluctantly let him pass. Mill-wheel followed Buck to Oliver's bedside. Oliver tried to rise, but was extremely weak and giddy. He nearly sank back to the bed, but Buck put one strong arm behind his back, bent easily, and caught his legs over the other. Mrs. Hutto's eyes widened, both impressed and terrified, at powerful Forrester strength being exerted again, albeit in a totally different and benign way, on her only child.

            Buck carried Oliver out easily, under no apparent strain, and the rest trailed behind him, Mrs. Hutto staying as close as possible to her son. Jody had no doubt that, at the slightest false move by either Forrester, the small woman would be a tigress unleashed. Oliver leaned his head heavily on Buck's shoulder, and Buck glanced down in concern and regret at the battered face.

            At the horses, he handed Oliver almost tenderly to Mill-wheel, mounted, and then reached down as Mill-wheel gently and almost effortlessly handed him up to Buck. As Buck cradled Oliver in his arms, Mill-wheel boosted Jody up behind him. Jody reached around Buck and found Oliver's hand. Oliver hung onto it and smiled at the comfort that the small gesture provided, Buck was touched to see. Mill-wheel mounted his own horse, and put down a helping hand to Mrs. Hutto. She accepted stiffly, and perched side-saddle behind him.

            "Now, hang on, Ma'am," he admonished her self-consciously.

            With obvious great distaste, she put her arms around him. Watching, Buck smiled in amusement.

            And they were on their way.

            The sixteen miles to Forresters' Island passed quickly, almost too quickly for Oliver, despite his discomfort at the bumpy ride. Still wondering slightly if he was riding to his own death, he kept seeing in his mind's eye Lem's angry face, as well as a forest of awesomely powerful bearded men ready to do Lem's bidding. As they pulled into the clearing, he looked up at the bearded face above him, and whispered, "I'm frightened!"

            "Shhh, it'll be all right." Buck held him tighter, reassuringly.

            Then, Oliver was busy with the business of being handed carefully down to Mill-wheel, his mother and Jody having dismounted already. This kept Oliver distracted enough that he didn't even see the other Forrester men emerge from the cabin. His first inkling of their presence was when he noticed his mother glaring venomously at them, ready to take on the entire crowd if necessary. Oliver turned in Mill-wheel's arms, saw them, and failed to stifle his gasp.

            Arch, Pack, and Gabby regarded him mildly, and thanked him for coming. Oliver nodded to them gratefully. Then, he looked with pure fear at Lem. Lem was making an obvious effort not to look hostile, for Fodder-wing's sake. He nodded shortly, sullenly, in Oliver's direction, and then turned away prudently.

            Buck and Mill-wheel escorted Oliver into the cabin like bodyguards, with Mrs. Hutto and Jody immediately behind them. The rest followed after them. Oliver was unsteady on his feet, being supported by his two protectors on either side of him.

            Mrs. Forrester gasped when she saw him. She went close and tsked, and reached a hand gingerly to his face. "That's what they done to you!" She glared at Lem. "You...!"

            Buck said, "Ma, not now." They ushered Oliver into Fodder-wing's room; Buck was eager to see the boy himself.

            Everyone followed, and crowded into the little room.

            Fodder-wing, looking significantly weaker than Oliver, nevertheless gasped dramatically at the sight of his tall blond friend. Buck and Mill-wheel seated Oliver on the side of the child's bed.

            Fodder-wing began to cry. "Oh, I'm so sorry they done this to you!"

            Moved by her youngest son's reaction, added to her own, Mrs. Forrester folded her arms and said to Lem, "If you wa'n't too big, I'd take you out to the woodshed!"

            Still by the bed, Buck and Mill-wheel turned as one to stare at her in utter disbelief, making Jody laugh out loud at them, despite the solemnity of the occasion. 

            Mrs. Forrester said to them, "And you two, too! The very idea!"

            All three regarded her, nonplussed, and a bit embarrassed.

            Mrs. Forrester looked at Mrs. Hutto, and her angry expression melted. "Thank you for lettin' him come to my boy! Cain't've been an easy choice. It takened great courage from both o' you, I know!"

            Mrs. Hutto guardedly relaxed, and her own face softened. This female barracuda would obviously protect her son even if she couldn't. She said lamely, "Well, I was...glad we could he'p out."

            "Anyways, be assured, he'll not come to no harm here." She looked at Lem as if daring him to challenge her. He remained silent.

            Oliver bent and gently lifted Fodder-wing's upper body from the pillow, and into his arms, hugging him gently. "I'm so sorry you're ailin'."

            Jody went and perched on the other side of the bed. "I'm sorry, too, Fodder-wing."

            The dark-haired boy looked over at him. "How's your pa, Jody?"

            "Recoverin'. He'll be a'right."

            "I'm glad."

            Thus reminded, Mrs. Hutto put in, "After we're done here, we best go visit Ezra." She looked to Buck and Mill-wheel for assurance of transportation.

            They looked mildly surprised, but only because they were still not used to hearing Penny referred to by his right name.

            Buck nodded. "We'll take you there. And then home when you're ready."

            Fodder-wing broke in and surprised everyone, "Oliver ain't ready. Not to travel agin yit. He's near 'bout exhausted. He should stay here the night. Not set out 'til mornin'."

            Mrs. Hutto's suspicions returned. She trusted Fodder-wing, and, for that matter, Mrs. Forrester, but she couldn't imagine having her son asleep and vulnerable all night under the same roof as six potential killers. "We cain't stay here!"

            Mrs. Forrester was way ahead of her. "I understand. But we'll see to it he's safe."

            "I ain't leavin' his side!"

            "Course not," she said placatingly. "You kin sleep with your son. We'll put you in the room next to their pa's and mine, at the end o' the hall. No one kin sneak past my door without my hearin' and wakin'." She looked as if she were talking as much to her sons as to her guests, reminding them of the uselessness of trying anything.

            Lem was rueful. "We'll not try nothin', Ma."

            She smiled at Mrs. Hutto. "There, you see?" she soothed.

            Mrs. Hutto was mollified somewhat.

            Meanwhile, Oliver murmured to Fodder-wing, "You gotta git better soon, so's we kin go build a flutter-mill agin."

            "I'd love to!" His eyes shone.

            "You still remember how?"

            "I reckon, but I cain't build one, good as you."

            Buck said amiably, "Mebbe you should learn me to build one o' them flutter-mills, Oliver, so's I kin entertain Fodder-wing with 'em."

            Oliver met his eyes. "I'd be glad to." There was unmistakable trust in his regard, which Buck saw and appreciated.

            They all continued to visit for a while, until it became clear that Oliver's exhaustion was beginning to catch up with him, as was Fodder-wing's. Buck and Mill-wheel helped Oliver up, again supporting him between them, and shepherded him into the chosen room, while Mrs. Hutto followed closely behind. She was still jittery, although trying not to show it. Mrs. Forrester tucked Jody in next to Fodder-wing.

            When Oliver was safely tucked into a different bed, Mrs. Hutto turned to Buck and Mill-wheel. "Where'll you-all be? Which rooms? Jest in case."

            They warmed at her new trust in them, and stepped out into the hall with her, to show her.

            Then, Buck sought again to reassure her. "Lem'll not do nothin'. But, ...jest in case..., you call us. We'll come quick."

            "You'll...stop him?"

            "We'll stop him."

            Mill-wheel added, "Or, if you need somethin' else. Iffen Oliver need to git up in the middle o' the night, fr'instance. You call us; we'll take him."

            "That's right," Buck agreed. "As bodyguards, and guides, and support."

            She thanked them and they bade her good night. She went back in to her son.

            "Ma?"

            "What, Baby?"

            "That'd be so embarrassin'. Havin' 'em take me out and watch me pee."

            "Now, jest don't you fret 'bout that. You need their he'p, and you sure ain't goin' without 'em. I ain't lettin' you go nowheres in this house alone."

            "All right, Ma," he yielded reluctantly.

            "Ain't jest Lem, neither. I ain't that sure o' them other three."

            "Arch, Pack, and Gabby's their names. But I don't know 'em good."

            "I don't, neither. And they're kinda quiet, which don't tell me much."

            "No. But ain't it ironic, Ma?"

            "What's that?"

            "Buck and Mill-wheel. We trust 'em now. And we usedta fear 'em near 'bout the most, after Lem, 'cause they he'ped beat me."

            "Well, I mostly trust 'em."

            He frowned in worry. "Any doubt?"

            "Here and now? No. They needed you and they're grateful you're here. We're safe 'nough with 'em, for now. But in the future? Who knows."

            "Oh. I reckon. But I think I'd like to ask 'em iffen we kin allus be friends, after this."

            "Go 'head. Ask 'em. No harm in it, I s'pose. Jest be wary, of where they wanta meet you, or take you."

            "All right."

            "And if you do learn Buck how to make a flutter-mill, be keerful you know where he's takin' you. And who else'll be there."

            "Yes, Ma. G'night."

            "Night, Darlin'."

            It was an eventful night. It began with Oliver's nightmare. It was understandable that he'd have one, considering the circumstances. Oliver's screams brought Buck and Mill-wheel at a dead run, as promised. They burst into the room, fully expecting to see Lem's dark shape looming menacingly above their helpless blond guest. Instead, they saw Mrs. Hutto's frail shape poised above him, trying to calm him. When the two men, puzzled but trying to reassure him, moved closer, Oliver shrieked again at the sight of them. Bewildered, they looked toward the window, wondering if Lem had frightened Oliver and then escaped. Once Mrs. Hutto had managed to shush Oliver's cries, she turned to explain.

            "Lem wa'n't here. Oliver had a nightmare.  He dreamed the fight agin; happens to him often. That's why he got scared agin when he seed you two; for the moment, you was the enemy all over agin. Sorry he disturbed you."

            They were not too perturbed. Buck said ruefully, "Happens to Jody often, too. I was there when he had one. I'm used to it by now." He cautiously went closer to Oliver. "You remember agin yit, you kin trust us? We ain't gonna hurtcha, Oliver."

            He smiled feebly at them. It was then that they saw the dried tear streaks on his bruised cheeks, and their hearts went out to him. They both moved closer on opposite sides of the bed.

            "Aw, I'm sorry we done so much to you." Buck gently tried to brush away a tear with one finger, but it was already completely dried.

            "The nightmares is our fault, too." Mill-wheel took his hand, and gave it a careful squeeze.

            "I'm sorry I woke you." Oliver still sounded teary and shaken.

            "You got nothin' to be sorry for," Mill-wheel said.

            "You gonna be all right now?" Buck asked, almost tenderly.

            "Yeah, but...." The blond was sheepish.

            "What?"

            "Mebbe, now we're all awake, mebbe I should...go outside a minute."

            They grinned. "Why sure! We'll git you up."

            They raised and supported him, and took him outside. It was all Mrs. Hutto could do not to follow, but she supposed that she would accomplish more by proving her trust to the two men, plus she did not want to add to Oliver's embarrassment.

            No one counted on Lem going behind the same tree at the same time. Oliver was instantly overcome with fright at the unexpected sight of him. With Buck and Mill-wheel to the left and right of him, and Lem abruptly directly in front of him, it was too similar to a too-fresh nightmare, and to a too-dreadful previous reality.

            "Oh no! Surrounded...!" He nearly fainted in Buck's and Mill-wheel's arms.

            "Easy! Easy!" They struggled to reassure him as they supported him.

            "Lem!" Mill-wheel admonished. "What timin'! How come you to show up here right now?"

            Lem looked vexed. "Ain't no big mystery. Somebody woke me with a heap o' screamin' racket, and I figgered out I had to piss." His put-upon look at Oliver made it clear that he knew very well who the somebody was. "What happened anyways? Did Arch or Pack or Gabby git after him?" He couldn't suppress a grin; the idea tickled him.

            "No," Buck said, in between patting and shushing the still emotionally fragile Oliver. "He had a nightmare about us, is all."

            "Oh yeah?" That amused Lem still further. Completely unembarrassed, he lowered his trousers and cut loose.

            Buck became aware that Oliver was trying to get his attention, tugging at his sleeve. "What's the matter?"

            Oliver was blushing crimson through the bruises. "I'm...so 'shamed to tell you this, but, ...when I seed Lem and panicked, I...peed myself. I got nothin' left to pee, but...I'm all wet."

            Lem guffawed. He threw back his head and roared.

            Buck looked down, and saw that it was true: the legs of Oliver's trousers were soaked. He sighed. "That's all right, Oliver. We'll take you back in and peel you outen them wet things."

            Mill-wheel said, "We'll find somethin' else'll fit you, some'eres."

            Lem bellowed, "Take him in and diaper him! And, what growed man says 'pee', 'stead o' 'piss,' anyways?!"

            "Ma don't like it when I say...." Oliver silenced himself, realizing that he was just adding to Lem's hilarity.

            "Mama's boy!" Lem was still roaring with laughter.

            "Shut up!" Mill-wheel shouted back in irritation.

            "Let's go," said Buck. "And Lem, don't foller us."

            Lem was still laughing as they left.

            They found an old pair of trousers that Gabby had outgrown, that were the right length, although they were still a bit bulky for Oliver. Mrs. Hutto pinned then snuggly around her son so that they would not fall down off of him. Then, they got him tucked back into bed.

            "You're very kind," Mrs. Hutto told Buck and Mill-wheel.

            Buck look faintly guilty, and muttered, "Sometimes." He was still blaming himself and his brothers for the night's entire escapade. Then, with forced cheerfulness, he addressed Oliver lightheartedly, "Want me to rock you to sleep?" He patted his hand comfortingly.

            Oliver joked feebly, "With real rocks?" Then, more sincerely, he said, "No, I'll be fine."

            Mill-wheel was slightly uneasy. "I hope we ain't give Lem ideas."

            Mrs. Hutto told them, "I'm a light sleeper. Nobody'll git by me. Anybody comes in here, I'll sound the alarm. We'll jest hope Oliver don't sound no more false ones."

            "That's all right," Buck assured her.

            No one counted on Mrs. Hutto sounding a false one. When she awakened hours later, to see a shape silhouetted in the doorway of the room, she instantly assumed the worst and began shrieking shrilly, and calling Buck's and Mill-wheel's names. She didn't stop to evaluate the height of the intruder. Jody had gotten awake in the night, needing to pee, disoriented, and unsure of where he was. He'd simply gone the wrong way down the hall. Mill-wheel, two steps ahead of Buck, tripped over Jody as he barreled into the room, and down they went. Shocked, confused, startled, and scared, Jody peed himself on the way down.

            After the two disentangled, and after Buck, Mill-wheel, and a frantically worried Mrs. Hutto determined that Jody was not hurt, except for his dignity, Mill-wheel muttered sleepily, "We ain't gonna find no pants to fit him!"

            "Fodder-wing's," Buck said immediately.

            "Oh yeah." Mill-wheel rubbed his head. "I ain't awake yit."

            That's when Lem did appear in the doorway. "What in hell is goin' on?!"

            Buck glanced at a nervous Oliver and a humiliated Jody, and reluctantly filled Lem in on events.

            Lem bellowed with laughter again. "Jody? Oliver? You two should open a comedy act some'eres!" He thought a moment, and declared, "Leaky and Junior Leaky!"

            "Oh, Lem, be quiet!" Jody fussed.

            Mill-wheel warningly hushed the boy, but Lem was enjoying himself too much to take offense.

            When Arch appeared, yawning, in the doorway, Buck and Mill-wheel sent him to retrieve a pair of Fodder-wing's drawers, not wanting to thin out Oliver's protection by going personally, while Lem was standing right there, however jovially. They knew how changeable his moods were. Plus, it didn't help that Jody was suddenly an unpredictable and provoking element, in his cranky, sleepy-headed, irritable shame. He might set Lem off in an instant, while poor Oliver lay trembling in the bed.

            Mill-wheel said to Jody, "You, uh, don't need to go out and pee?"

            "No," Jody replied bitterly, "I done it all right here."

            "That's all right, Punkin," Grandma soothed him, stroking his hair.

            "Sorry, Jody," said Mill-wheel somewhat contritely for even having asked.

            "Ain't your fault. I'm jest so 'shamed!"

            "I'm jest glad I ain't broke your poor leetle neck, fallin' on you that-a-way."

            Arch returned, and tossed in a pair of britches.

            Jody glared up at the smirking, watching Lem. "Do you mind?!"

            "Jody!" Buck cautioned him.

            "Well, I don't want him watchin' me! He's makin' fun o' me!"

            Buck rose and confronted a Lem that was just starting to frown. "Com'on, Lem, show's over. Leave us be."

            "Mebbe I should learn that leetle brat some manners, afore I go."

            "He's jest upset; he'll git over it."

            "That don't give him no right to talk smart to me!" Lem took a step farther into the room.

            Mill-wheel rose to stand next to Buck.

            Oliver moaned softly with dread, and pulled the covers up higher. Jody's face exchanged anger for fear.

            Mill-wheel ordered, "Leave 'em be, Lem; you're scarin' 'em. Out."

            Lem crowded his brothers. "Mebbe scarin' 'em's what they need. 'Sides, mebbe I kin make 'em wet theirselves agin. Course, this time Oliver'll wet the bed, 'stead o' jest hisself."

            Buck and Mill-wheel each put a restraining hand on Lem's chest, and Arch tugged his arm from behind.

            Buck commanded, "Out, Lem. One way or another."

            Vulnerably on the floor, directly behind the men, Jody scrambled to increase his distance. Heart thumping, Mrs. Hutto rose hastily, grabbed Jody by the upper arms and hauled him away, toward the bed.

            Arch yanked harder on Lem's arm. "Hey, com'on."

            Lem shook him off, and swung at Buck. Buck ducked the blow, and Mill-wheel plowed Lem in the eye. Mrs. Hutto screamed, dragged Jody up on his feet, and bodily shoved him onto the bed. Oliver reached out from under the covers long enough to seize Jody,  pull him under the covers with him, and then he jerked the covers completely up over the both of them, burying them in bedclothes. Mrs. Hutto whirled, turned her back to the bed, and faced out into the room as if daring anyone to try to get past her. By this time, Lem was on the floor, gang-clobbered by three of his brothers. Mrs. Forrester appeared in the doorway.

            "All right, that's it!" she bellowed.

            "Ma...," Mill-wheel began to explain.

            "Don't bother; I kin guess. Lem! Up and out!"

            Grumbling and glaring, he rose and followed her pointing finger.

            Once he'd gone, she smiled sympathetically at the guard-dog-posing Mrs. Hutto. "You all right?"

            "Am now. Thanks."

            "Don't mention it. Night, all." She left.

            Hardened expressions softening, Buck and Mill-wheel went back to the bed, and gently peeled the covers off of the quaking pair, Mrs. Hutto yielding her protective spot willingly in the process. The two blonds trembled in each other's arms.

            Shakily, Jody mumbled, "Sorry. I reckon that was all my fault."

            "Naw," Buck said kindly. "He provoked you."

            "I jest hope my pants ain't got the bed wet; we ain't changed me yit when I got shoved in here."

            "Don't worry 'bout it." Buck tousled his hair. "I'm jest glad you're all right."

            "Yeah, Jody," Oliver murmured. "You takened an awful chance rilin' Lem that-a-way!"

            Mill-wheel grinned. "He takened a worse one bein' behind me like that; I mighta fell on him agin, or Buck mighta, iffen things'd goed wrong."

            Jody was rueful. "Well, leastways I didn't have no more pee to leak iffen you had."

            Buck grinned, too. "Com'on, let's git you changed."

            The only one still frowning was Mrs. Hutto. "Lem'll try to come back in here sometime tonight. Mark my words, now he's riled, he'll not stop at nothin' to git to these two." She looked to Buck and Mill-wheel for guidance, as the two blonds shivered at her words.

            "You might be right," Buck admitted solemnly. He gazed around the room. "Well, we cain't all five fit in this bed."

            Mrs. Hutto looked shocked, as if that bizarre idea certainly had not occurred to her.

            Buck went on, "But we daresome to leave you and go back to our own rooms; that's askin' for it."

            Jody put in, "Fodder-wing'll be expectin' me back with him."

            "No!" Mrs. Hutto spoke more loudly than she'd intended. "We ain't splittin' up, with Lem riled! He'll git to you, easy, in Fodder-wing's room!"

            Buck nodded agreement. "Best you keep him. We'll leave Fodder-wing know, so's he'll not fret."

            "Cots," Mill-wheel suggested. "We kin move cots in here, for you and me, Buck. We'll put 'em betwixt the door and the bed." Then he grinned suddenly. "Lem'll fall over us, do he try to git in!"

            Jody rolled his eyes at the reference, and Mill-wheel mussed his hair affectionately.

            The men got set up quickly, and bedded down. Mrs. Hutto watched them, marveling to herself that it had been a very long time since she'd slept with a man in the room, and she'd never dreamed that it would be Forresters, not in her wildest nightmares.

            Lem didn't fall over Buck and Mill-wheel. Pack did. He went down in a torrent of cussing and tangled limbs. His brothers cussed along with him, in chorus. Mrs. Hutto, hoarse by now, screamed anyway, now harshly. Oliver gasped, and again yanked the covers up over his and Jody's heads. Although disadvantaged by being on the bottom of the pileup, Buck and Mill-wheel managed to pin all four limbs of their unwanted visitor, as he sprawled across their chests. Mrs. Hutto took a few timid steps closer and peered at him as they restrained him.

            "Ain't Lem," she told them.

            "What?" demanded Buck.

            "Ain't Lem. Ain't that Arch feller, neither, 'twas here. Whoever he is, he's bearded like most o' you. But I don't know this un."

            "Let me up," growled Pack.

            "Pack!" Buck groused. "We thought you was Lem."

            "Now how much do I look like Lem?!"

            "Not much," Mrs. Hutto supplied.

            "Well, who kin tell from here?" Buck complained. "All I got's one arm and one leg and half a body!"

            "That's all I got, too!" piped up Mill-wheel. "Head's gotta be hangin' some'eres betwixt us!"

            "Yeah, and as you kin imagine, that ain't comfortable!" Pack fussed irritably. "He'p me up!"

            As they did so, Buck protested, "Well, what you doin' sneakin' 'round in here?!"

            "I goed outside to take a piss, and met Arch doin' the same thing. He mentioned there'd been a ruckus earlier, with Lem. I come in here to see iffen our guests was a'right. I ain't expected to find you two jaybirds layin' right in the doorway!"

            "Ever'body makes it outside to pee, but me," came Jody's muffled voice from beneath the covers.

            "Sometimes even makin' it outside ain't 'nough to save you from wettin' yourself," was Oliver's stifled reply.

            "You two come out from under them covers afore you smother!" Mrs. Hutto ordered.

            Four blue eyes peeked obediently out at her. But Oliver whined, "Ma, I feel safer under there. Nobody cain't hit me in the face iffen they cain't find my face!"

            "Now what?" demanded a sleepy Arch as he shuffled into the already overcrowded room.

            "I come in to check on 'em," Pack explained, "and I done fell over Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum."

            Arch was unimpressed. "Anybody need dry drawers?"

            Jody and Oliver groaned in concert.

            "No!" barked Buck.

            "Fine." Arch shuffled away, back to his room.

            "Reckon I'll be goin', too." Pack lurched out of the room behind him.

            Lem stuck a smug face in just long enough to remark, "Reckon I don't need to come in here to scare nobody. You-all're doin' jest fine without me."

            Buck and Mill-wheel glowered at him as he left laughing.

            "Well!" Buck sighed. "Reckon we could try to git some more sleep."

            "What's the point?" asked Mill-wheel, looking out the window. "Hit's dawn."

            In the broad daylight of full morning, the visitors said their farewells. Fodder-wing was warmly grateful for Jody's and Oliver's visit. He was also the only bright-eyed individual, the only one who'd slept through absolutely everything. The rest were not a very lively crowd. Arch and Pack yawned continually, and Pack frequently rubbed a bruised knee. Lem was rather sullen upon his discovery that he had acquired quite a shiner. Jody slouched in continued embarrassment, and Oliver slumped in constant pain, as well as embarrassment. Weary Mrs. Hutto had developed quite a raspy voice, and even Mrs. Forrester sagged a bit. Buck and Mill-wheel had dark circles under their eyes. Even Gabby, who hadn't been involved in any of the altercations, had clearly been disturbed by them, and drooped.

            "Well," Buck told Mrs. Hutto, before going with Mill-wheel to fetch the horses, to take her and Oliver and Jody to Baxters' Island, "It ain't been dull."