Chapter 8

Maggie wasn’t sure if she was happy or not to be leaving her house for good. The ship had landed in the unused field between the house and the lake.

“Home sweet home.” Maggie said as she ran to the barn to finally take care of her animals. Half the crew followed her into the barn. “Jayne, I can’t even tell that you two opened the secret hold.” Maggie started to milk her cows.

“Need some help with that?” The Shepard asked as he sat down on the extra stool near Millie “I was in charge of the milk cows at the Abby.” He started milking.

“What can I do?” Kaylee asked looking at the pigs in the pen outside.

“You can feed the pig, slops in the bucket.” Maggie answered “When we’re done I’ll fix dinner, what would you guys like?”

Jayne looked at the cows “Steak looks good to me.” He grinned at the Shepard.

“Jayne, these are milking cows, not eating cows” Maggie laughed, she handed Jayne the bucket of milk “Could you pour this into the barrel over there please. Eating cows are out back, but it takes hours to dress down a cow. I do have some stuff in the freezer if you don’t mind frozen again?”

“I could eat it frozen if I had too.” He smiled back at her.

“I’m sure I can cook some of it.” Maggie finished feeding the chickens “What am I going to do with all these animals?”

“I could eat them for you too, if you’d like.” Jayne offered, he handed the empty bucket to Book and took his full one. “Might take me a few days, I’m sure Book here would help.”

“You know I’ve not had a good old BBQ is ages.” Book looked over to where Maggie was holding a basket of fresh eggs. “Maggie, you think we could have a big bonfire and cook the steak out side?”

“Well we can sure have a big fire, but I’ve got a separate grill for cooking. If you want you can go out in the field and pick some corn.” Maggie turned the milk sterilizer on “We’re done out here. You boys you want to come and pick out some steaks?” She walked towards the house with her basket of eggs.

Wash, Zoë, Simon, Mal and Inara were waited on the front porch