CRACK THUD

 

 

            The day after the Volusia fight, Fodder-wing pleaded with Buck, Mill-wheel, and Lem to go find out if Jody was still alive or if Lem had killed him. The worry had kept their boy awake all night. At first, Lem vehemently refused, but despite the fact that Buck and Mill-wheel shared his distaste for the project, they fretted over the delicate health of their baby brother. If he were to continue to have sleepless nights, there was no way of telling what ill effects he might suffer, in time.

            Very reluctantly, Buck suggested, "Well, we could make an excuse why we're over there, seein' as we don't want 'em to think we keer how they're doin'. We could jest say we wanted to know iffen they're havin' trouble with maraudin' wolves, like we are. But we'd still see for ourselves, 'bout Jody."

            Mill-wheel sighed, and admitted ruefully, "We did jest say this mornin', iffen we was still friends with 'em, we could ride over and ask 'em 'bout those dratted wolves."

            Lem growled and mumbled profanity, but he went along with the other two, not liking to be left out of a ride with them.

            Ironically, the three Forresters got the answer to Fodder-wing's question much faster than they expected, but couldn't manage to make a hasty, face-saving departure before being seen. As they rode into Baxter's Island, Jody was right outside of the cabin. He greeted their arrival with an earsplitting scream.

            Mill-wheel muttered under his breath to Buck, "Well, he sure sounds alive."

            Meanwhile, Lem, well-amused by the boy's panicky reaction, and wishing to get something out of this tiresome, humiliating trip, dismounted and sauntered purposely toward the small blond, flexing teasing fists.

            Jody backed away, blubbering, "Please don't hurt me!!"

            Sighing inwardly, Buck, too, dismounted, asking, "Where's Penny?"

            The child misunderstood. "What're you gonna do to Pa?? Oh, please don't hurt us agin!!"

            Sighing loudly, not keeping it soft like his brother, Mill-wheel also got down, saying, "Stop your fussin', boy. We ain't here to hurt nobody. We're here to talk to your pa. Knock it off, Lem!"

            Buck agreed, "Leave him be!"

            Lem cursed softly, disgruntled.

            Penny arrived at a run from the far fields, having heard his son's shrill scream. He stopped abreast of the barn and, not having heard the bearded men's reassurances, ordered in alarm, "Jody! Git inside! Now!"

            The boy needed no coaxing. He fled into the cabin faster than the Forresters would've thought that he could run.

            Tiredly, Buck told Penny, "He seed us and panicked, so Lem teased him. We jest come to talk to you."

            Marginally relieved, but still wary, Penny said, "I'm listenin'."

            Lem laughed harshly. "You're listenin' from mighty fur away!"

            Penny didn't budge. "I kin hear you jest fine from here."

            Accepting that, Buck announced, "We been havin' trouble with packs o' maraudin' wolves. We was wonderin' iffen you was, too."

            Penny blinked. "You...come all this way to ask me that??"

            Mill-wheel shifted awkwardly. "Well, we...mighta asked you that...uh, yestiddy, in...uh, Volusia, but...somehow didn't seem quite the right time." His expression was deadpan.

            Now, Penny nearly laughed. "Um...no. Wouldn'ta been."

            Buck relaxed a bit, and gave in to the humor, to relieve the awkwardness. "I kin see it now. I say, 'Hey, Penny!'" He pantomimed throwing a fist, and yelled, "Crack!"

            Penny caught the spirit, and played along with it. "Yeah, Buck?" he yelled, and feigned falling, while shouting, "Thud!"

            Mill-wheel jumped into it. "Wolves attackin' you? Crack!"

            "No! More like bears! Thud!"

            Buck and Mill-wheel guffawed, knowing full well that Penny was alluding to them, as the bears. Even Lem cracked a smile at the surprisingly casual and good-natured banter.

            Lem demanded, "How many bears? Crack!"

            Sure enough, Penny roared, "Three! Thud!"

            Barely getting the words out past his laughter, Buck asked, "What kinda bears? Crack!"

            "Biggest and darkest and strongest! Thud!"

            Mill-wheel grinned. "Sounds dangerous. Crack!"

            "'Tis. I'm lucky 'tis three and 't'ain't six! Thud!"

            All three Forresters smiled broadly and appreciatively.

            Now speaking more softly, gently, Buck asked, "But what 'bout them wolves? Crack!"

            Penny's smile faded slightly. "I cain't answer. I'm knocked out. Thud."

            The Forresters sobered somewhat sympathetically.

            Appreciating that, Penny allowed himself to walk over closer to them. He eyed them wistfully. "But to tell you the truth, no. I ain't had me no wolves." His eyes searched theirs more trustingly.

            Buck and Mill-wheel actually regarded him a bit tenderly. Responding to that, Penny stepped the rest of the way into their circle, yielding to being loosely surrounded.

            Quietly, the small man asked, "You sure you-all come all this way jest to ask me that?"

            Buck decided to come clean. "No. I mean, we wanted to know, but...Fodder-wing pestered. He was terrified Lem mighta kilt Jody."

            Penny smiled beatifically, awed.

            Shifting reluctantly, Mill-wheel confessed, "Fodder-wing even, ...well, ...wanted me to make sure we ain't...kilt Oliver."

            Instantly, Lem looked affronted, and Buck's brows rose.

            Defensively, Mill-wheel retorted to his brothers, "He asked me last night! I heered him cryin' in his bed! I goed in! Our boy was frettin' turrible! Said he was worried 'bout Jody, ...and 'bout Oliver, too! Remember, he admitted to us yestiddy he'd done met Oliver and liked him! I know how you feel, Lem, but iffen you'da heered our boy cryin' that-a-way...!"

            Buck said softly, "I kin understand that, Mill-wheel. And ain't no disgrace our young un is soft-hearted."

            Touched by their grudgingly-admitted kindness, Penny said, almost reverently, "No. You ain't kilt Oliver."

            Buck and Mill-wheel struggled to hide that they were at least somewhat pleased. Lem at least made an effort to hide that he wasn't.

            Buck would only admit aloud, "I'm...glad to hear that, Penny. Hit'll put our boy's mind at ease."