CHAPTER 13

NEXT MORNING

"River put your boots on before goin out."

"No."

"OW" Jayne yelps "gorram River that hurt!"

"GOOD!"

Grace looks up as her son enters the kitchen looking annoyed, "Trouble in paradise?"

"As it is every time we try to get her to wear her boots." Jayne shrugs. "Saw the south fence needs some mendin." He takes a cup of coffee from his Ma as he sits at the table.

"Mmm Timmy was supposed to do it but as always with him somethin came up."

River enters the kitchen holding her boot out to Jayne, "Do I have to wear them? I get lost with them."

"You get lost without them." Jayne takes the boot and starts untying the knot in the laces. "Besides I promised I would keep an eye on you. Can't do that if your here and I'm fixin the fence."

"Jayne's good at getting knots undone." River informs Grace.

"He's always been good at gettin them undone and tyin them." Grace says with a laugh. "When he was younger he used to tie his sisters shoe laces together."

"Oh Jayne stories." River says happily.

"His sisters got so mad that one night in the middle of winter they put his boots outside. Froze em. It took forever to thaw them out." Grace sets plates of food before them.

"Thank you."

Jayne sets the boot down and digs in to his breakfast while listening to his Ma tell River little stories.

LATER

Jayne lifts River off the horse, "Don't go wanderin off Baby."

"I won't." River promises as she pats the horse's neck.

Jayne turns his attention to the fence listening to River talk to the horse.

"Jayne"

"Yeah?"

"He misses his family. He doesn't remember you much."

"Been a while since I been back, River girl."

River continues petting the horse moving along his body. She stops when she sees a brand. She walks over to Jayne and kicks him.

"OW" Jayne yelps, "What the ruttin hell was that for?" He rubs his shin.

"He didn't like that."

"Like what?"

"Being marked."

"You mean the branding? Do to all the animals.