CONTRADICTIONS

 

 

            Lem, Buck, and Mill-wheel had just returned from the fight in Volusia, and told their family about it. Uncharacteristically, Fodder-wing had dared to rage at Lem: for hitting Jody, leaving him out cold, and not finding out whether his only little friend was alive or dead. Fodder-wing had beaten small fists on Lem's chest, Lem had seized both thin arms and glared down at the boy threateningly, and Buck and Mill-wheel had ordered Lem to release the child or suffer their wrath. Lem had complied. Fodder-wing had stalked sullenly out of the Forrester cabin and to the barn.

            Leaving the volatile Lem behind, Buck and Mill-wheel went roaring after him.

            "What'd you think you was doin'??" demanded Buck. "Lem mighta plowed you one!"

            "Well maybe you shoulda let him!" the boy fumed back at him.

            "What'd you say?" Mill-wheel took a menacing step toward him.

            "You...heered me," the child said more softly, backing up one step.

            Noting the quieter tone and the retreat, Buck commented, "Not so uppity now, eh?"

            Fodder-wing turned away, hiding his reaction.

            The two big bearded men approached more gently, and turned their crippled brother back to face them. They were surprised and dismayed at the torment visible there.

            "What really ails you?" asked Buck.

            Mill-wheel nodded. "There's more goin' on here than we figgered. Tell it."

            "I'm tired o' feelin' left out," the boy whined. "I'm one o' your brothers, too, but I'm sick o' bein' so diff'rent. I cain't do none o' the things with you that you-all do together. I cain't ride around on horses with you-all; I cain't play the music with you-all; I cain't git into your fights...."

            "You wanta git into our fights??" Buck demanded in disbelief.

            Fodder-wing squirmed. "I don't know! I jest hate not fittin' in nowheres!"

            Mill-wheel shook his head. "Our fights is serious business. I don't figger you'd like it much."

            "I reckon not, but...."

            "We've tried totin' you along on our hunts, but you hate it when we shoot somethin'."

            "I know!"

            "We let you git drunk with us once, but hit made you sick."

            "I know!!"

            "We told you 'bout that leetle harmonica we seed in Boyles' Store; we told you we'd fetch it for you, but you said you didn't know how you'd learn to play it."

            "I know!! I know!!!"

            "And when we git into our fights, you allus git scairt."

            The child nearly shouted, "All right!!! But now Jody got into one o' your fights, and he's as leetle as me! He fits in with you-all better'n I do, and I'm the one that's your brother!"

            "So that's it," realized Buck.

            Mill-wheel scratched his head. "You're jealous o' Jody 'cause he got into it with Lem??"

            The youngster was a bit sheepish. "Sounds stupid, I reckon."

            "Iffen we'd let Lem hit you, I don't figger you'd be too happy 'bout it right now."

            "I reckon not." Fodder-wing scuffled his feet in the dirt.

            "You wish we had let him?"

            "No," he said automatically. "Yes," he contradicted more stubbornly. "I don't know!" he bellowed in frustration.

            "Well, you best be mighty sure, before you take on somethin' like that," Mill-wheel asserted firmly.

            Buck agreed. "Once you provoke him, there'll be no backin' out, iffen we ain't close enough to stop him, or iffen you've got us thinkin' we shouldn't."

            "I know!" he admitted miserably. He fumed internally for a moment, and then relented. "Right now, I ain't sure o' nothin', 'ceptin' I'm riled at Lem, and cain't do nothin' 'bout it." He hesitated. "I...reckon we oughtn'ta tell none o' the others 'bout this yit, okay?" He tried not to appear or sound pleading.

            But they both readily agreed.

 

            A baffled, discouraged Buck and Mill-wheel exited the barn, only to come upon Arch and Pack coming from the cabin.

            "You git him settled down?" asked Arch.

            "Only a bit."

            "Not really."

            Pack and Arch exchanged a look that Mill-wheel and Buck didn't immediately recognize or interpret. But the two twosomes moved on past each other without further comment.

 

            Later that evening, shortly before dinner time, most of the Forrester brothers were gathered in the cabin, awaiting their mother's announcement that it was time to draw up to the table. Last to arrive, in walked Gabby.

            "Where you been?" Lem demanded crossly.

            Ignoring his demand, along with his obnoxious tone, Gabby bypassed Lem, and walked straight to Fodder-wing. He bent down to the youngest Forrester, smiled, and said, "I got news'll be sure to cheer you up. Your leetle friend Jody is jest fine!"

            As Fodder-wing beamed delightedly, the other five adult Forrester brothers turned as one to stare at Gabby.

            Lem snarled, "Now how in hell do you know that?!"

            Gabby rose to face Lem matter-of-factly, and declared, "I goed over to see."

            All of the other men were affronted to various degrees.

            "We're quarrelin' with them!" retorted Mill-wheel.

            "What was you thinkin'??" demanded Buck.

            "Did they see you? Or did you jest spy 'em from the road?" Arch insisted.

            "You didn't talk to them traitors, did you?" Pack demanded.

            "Oh now jest hold on!" Gabby declared. "I ain't visited; I jest asked Penny iffen Jody was okay from Lem hittin' him, and Penny fetched Jody out to show me he's fine. I jest told 'em Fodder-wing was turrible fretted 'bout Jody, and they was right pleased to hear it. Then I left."

            "You idiot!!" Lem roared, stalked the remaining steps to Gabby, and knocked him flat.

            At the sound of the loud crack of Lem's fist, Fodder-wing screamed shrilly, yelled, "No!! Don't you hit Gabby for bein' good to me!"

            Lem spun toward him, with fist again ready.

            Fodder-wing shrieked deafeningly, whirled, and buried his terrified face in Mill-wheel's chest. Protectively, Mill-wheel gathered his baby brother into his strong arms, and backed out of Lem's reach. He sat down, settling the boy comfortably in his lap.

            "Hit's all right, young un; I gotcha," Mill-wheel soothed.

            Undaunted Lem strode toward them. "You figger you cain't be hit whilst he's holdin' you?!"

            Buck stepped quickly into the narrowing gap between Mill-wheel and Lem, and confirmed icily, "That's right; he cain't be hit whilst Mill-wheel's holdin' him, and I'm standin' here betwixt you."

            All anger toward Gabby now gone in favor of a far stronger anger against Lem, Arch and Pack concurred with the united front to protect the boy.

            Meanwhile, Gabby rose from the floor, advanced, and struck Lem in turn. Lem went down.

            Buck knelt by Mill-wheel and Fodder-wing to help to console the boy.

            Near hysteria, Fodder-wing was whispering, "I cain't! I cain't!! Look how hard they hit each other! I cain't!!!"

            "Sshhh," Buck and Mill-wheel comforted him.

            Through his tears, Fodder-wing saw Pack and Arch watching him, studying him. They appeared to comprehend at least some of his torment, but how? He hadn't told them. But now he was profoundly uneasy to see how much they seemed to surmise.

            Meanwhile, Lem roared sarcastically at Gabby, "Maybe tomorrer you'd like to go to Volusia, and ask Ms' Hutto iffen Oliver's all right!"

            Gabby deadpanned, "Sure, iffen somebody wants me to."

            They went on fighting as Fodder-wing wept, and winced at every loud, cracking blow. His tiny fingers tangled spasmodically into Mill-wheel's beard as they had not done since he was much younger. Buck and Mill-wheel exchanged a meaningful look to which the boy was oblivious.

 

            After dinner, in the early evening, Arch and Pack entered the barn. Arch said to Buck, Mill-wheel, and Fodder-wing, "Figgered we'd find you three in here."

            The two men looked up from where they were seated, holding the boy. Their expressions were open, but Fodder-wing regarded Arch and Pack in something nearing dread and suspicion.

            Arch went on, "We two figger we know what ails Fodder-wing, besides frettin' 'bout Jody."

            The boy gave Buck and Mill-wheel a worried, somewhat accusatory frown.

            "We ain't said nothin'," Mill-wheel assured him.

            Buck shook his head in agreement.

            Pack said, "We been expectin' somethin' like this. Fodder-wing's gittin' older. He's startin' to think less 'bout boy-things, and more 'bout man-things. He sees the six of us livin' right diff'rent from his ways, and he wonders what he's missin'. And now he hears his leetle friend, his same age, has got into one of our fights. And maybe he feels jest a mite left out."

            As Pack spoke, the boy's eyes grew wider and wider.

            "I be dogged," said Buck, impressed.

            "Yep, you've done guessed," agreed Mill-wheel. He looked at Buck. "Reckon we jest wa'n't payin' attention."

            Arch waved it away. "Hit's jest somethin' me and Pack thought of some time ago and talked 'bout then. So now we seed it happenin', we noticed it, easy."

            The two sat down with the rest, forming a circle.

            "I'm scairt!" whimpered Fodder-wing.

            "We know, young un," Buck soothed.

            "No, I mean, iffen they kin figger it out, maybe Lem kin, too!"

            Pack said carefully, "Well, would that be sich a bad thing?"

            "Course! It might be all the excuse he needs! He's riled enough at me a'ready!"

            Arch suggested, "But, ain't Lem the one you're thinkin' o' tanglin' with? You ain't quarrelin' with none o' the rest of us."

            "No, but...! I mean...! No!!! I ain't thinkin' of it no more!! I cain't!!! You-all hit too hard, all o' you! I cain't take it!! He'd kill me!!!"

            "Well," Mill-wheel said, "I agree we shouldn't go through with this, but even iffen Lem finds out, don't mean he'll really hit you. 'Specially iffen you jest be humble and don't rile him agin."

            Arch shook his head. "I don't think we should jest drop this. I figger we should tell Lem, and Fodder-wing should go through with it."

            Fodder-wing stared in horror, shocked scream-less.

            "Now hold on," Buck argued. "Our boy here is too young and too leetle for sich as this."

            With a tiny whimper, Fodder-wing turned and buried his face in Buck's beard.

            Pack asked shrewdly, "Oh, but Jody ain't? And he survived it fine. Plus, I don't figger Lem'd hit him full out; he'd take it easy. 'Specially iffen we all talk it through first. I ain't suggestin' the boy jest go up to Lem and provoke him."

            Arch nodded. "And iffen we do jest drop it, hit's gonna be tormentin' the boy agin, in no time."

            "I'd rather that kinda torment!" Fodder-wing wailed. "That kind I kin take!"

            Arch ignored that as if the boy hadn't spoken. "'Sides, he's still a Forrester. And he's seen how things is with us, all his life. And now we know he don't like not fittin' in with the rest of us."

            "Please!!! Protect me!!!" Fodder-wing cried.

            Automatically, Buck held him tighter, and the child's nervous fingers again began to burrow into the beard.

            Seeing that, Pack shook his head. "You ain't doin' him no favors, babyin' him that-a-way."

            Mill-wheel appeared a bit vexed, and said, "All right. Let's drop this for tonight. Sleep on it. Talk 'bout it more in the mornin'."

            All of the adults nodded that that was a good idea. But the boy eyed Arch and Pack in clear trepidation. He whined, "Now I'm scairt o' you two, too!"

            Arch's brows rose. "We ain't gonna hit you. Less'n ever'body decides, should be one of us."

            "No, I mean, you'll tell on me! You'll tell Lem!!"

            Arch and Pack both shook their heads. "No. We'll not. Less'n we all agree to it. Tomorrer or later."

            The five trouped back into the cabin. Gingerly, Fodder-wing approached Gabby, timidly took his hand, and said, "Thank you for findin' out Jody's okay. Gabby, I'm so sorry you got hurted, jest for doin' somethin' nice for me."

            Gabby was cheerful. "That's all right, young un. I'm fine." He patted the youngster's back.

            Lem loomed. "You got somethin' you wanta say to me?" he challenged the boy.

            Fodder-wing's eyes instantly dropped submissively. "No, sir."

            All of the other Forresters observed the interaction watchfully.

            Lem was smug. "Oh, so you're not so biggety now, eh?"

            "No, Lem. No. I ain't. Kin I be excused? I'm awful tired. I need to go to bed."

            Lem acknowledged and dismissed him, and the boy all but fled.

 

            The next morning, when Fodder-wing was in the barn feeding his pets, the four conspirators entered. The boy looked up at them uneasily. He saw at once an expression in Buck's and Mill-wheel's faces that he didn't like. Anxiety enveloped him.

            "Noooo...."

            "Easy, boy," Buck said comfortingly.

            Looking quickly between the two faces of his most trusted brothers, he said, "You two has changed sides. I kin see it. Noooo!"

            Mill-wheel admitted reluctantly, "Well, one thing Arch and Pack said, we cain't deny. Iffen we drop this, sooner or later hit's gonna upset you all over agin."

            "No! It'll not!" Fodder-wing assured all of them breathlessly. "I...I didn't know what I was sayin' yestiddy! I was jest upset and riled! I ain't meant a word of it!"

            The four adults regarded him sadly.

            "Yes you did," Pack told him softly. "And this trouble o' yourn'll bother you agin, jest as soon as we have our next fight. Or sooner."

            The boy crumpled to the floor in terror and tears. Buck sighed heavily, sat down in the straw, pulled him into his lap, and held him close.

            "Now why ain't I surprised to find you-all in here, and him cryin' agin?" demanded Lem from the doorway.

            The child shrieked at the sound of the dreaded voice.

            "What in the hell is goin' on?"

            "No no no no!!!" Fodder-wing clung to Buck as if he were a lifeline, as if he were the only thing keeping the child from drowning, perhaps in his own tears.

            "Tell you what, lemme guess. I might jest have it figgered out: the boy is scairt silly o' me, 'cause I done hit his leetle rat of a friend. So he figgers, iffen I'd hit leetle Jody, I'd likely hit him, too."

            Arch and Pack exchanged a wry look.

            "Well? Did I git it right?"

            "Not exactly," said Pack. "Kinda the opposite."

            "Huh?"

            The four bearded ones explained, taking turns adding facts and assumptions. Fodder-wing sobbed steadily throughout the explanation, face buried in beard. Lem stared at the boy in increasing fascination.

            "Well, I'll be damned," Lem said at last.

            Buck was rocking the child gently, but he said, "Young un, how 'bout we git this over with?"

            "Now??!" Fodder-wing cried, as if that timing were outrageous and unimagined.

            "What's the point in puttin' it off?" Mill-wheel said with a weary sigh, as he sat down beside Buck and Fodder-wing.

            "You're...gonna...force me to go through with this???"

            "We think it's best, young un," Buck said sadly but firmly.

            "Even...though...I...changed my mind??"

            Mill-wheel told him, "You ain't changed your mind; you're jest panickin'."

            The crying escalated. Mill-wheel rubbed the small one's back. Arch and Pack sat down next to Buck and Mill-wheel respectively. Lem squatted in front of Buck.

            Sensing everyone's sudden nearness, Fodder-wing looked around frantically and began panting and trying to speak. "Wait...wait...Lem??"

            "What?"

            "Are...you...real riled at me...now???"

            "Not really."

            "Then...then...you don't hafta...hit me...hard???"

            "No."

            "You'll do it light and keerful, right Lem?" insisted Buck.

            "Sure."

            Buck added reassuringly, "And Fodder-wing, I'll hold you agin me and cushion you. We don't want you should fall back, hit your head."

            Fodder-wing was nearly hyperventilating. "Where...where...you gonna...hit...???"

            "I figger I'll punch you easy in the tummy, and then clip you quick in the jaw. Iffen the others agree."

            All nodded, if reluctantly.

            "Likely as not, you'll not even black out, or jest for a minute."

            "How...how...bad...will it...hurt????"

            Lem said carefully, "Not too bad, I reckon. Not for long. And then you'll be a mite sore for a bit. Likely, you'll not even feel it by tonight."

            Fodder-wing gulped in fright and squirmed in Buck's lap. His hands automatically, protectively covered his tummy, and Buck gently pulled his arms to his sides, eliciting a sob. Lem formed a fist; Fodder-wing readied a scream; Mill-wheel momentarily covered his mouth to stifle the scream, but not long enough to get in Lem's way; and the double-deed was rapidly done. Fodder-wing sagged very briefly, insensate, and then came to with a wail. Now, Buck allowed the boy to cover his tummy, even helped him to rub it soothingly, and Mill-wheel massaged his jaw. Sobbing was soft and steady, but the screaming was finished.

            Arch caught Fodder-wing's attention by rubbing one arm, and then he said, "Now, next time we have a fight, you kin decide whether you wanta git in it, and ary one of us you tangle with'll know to take it right easy on you."

            Fodder-wing nodded, weakly, exhaustedly, not offering any real agreement, but clearly just relieved that the ordeal was over and done.