Work on the Farm

[Wilhemia]

The days following the return of Mena and the rest turned out to be productive ones. The women took turns cooking the meals while the others put themselves to work. Mena had hired a few of the other farm's lads to lend a hand with adding on additional rooms to the cottage. The stones that had been pulled from the fields and made into a small fence were gathered and drug back toward the cottage. With the coming winter approaching they all chipped in and worked on getting the house big enough to accommodate them all.

They had also borrowed a mule to lend a hand with the pulling , bringing the stone closer while others dug into the earth to clear a way for the new walls and so forth. While the work was hard and at times intense for soo many people to put in ideas, Mena couldn't help herself from smiling all the while. It was nice to be around people, in an odd sort of way.. a family. The children helped but were given breaks to run and play in the fields.

Yes.. this was going to work out nicely.

[Wilhemia]

The morning broke with the "family" having breakfast. Mena looked around the table and listened to the conversations as she just smiled. Hell how could she not? The quiet was frightening anymore.. now.. it was illusive. The children chattered away at a smaller table while she and the adults talked about how things were coming along. She lifted a brow to a question asked.

" I'm sorry.. what ? "She asked with a chuckle as they looked at her and one of the women shook her head.

" I said i am going to talk with the farmer down the road.. with luck I can trade off some of the yarn I made for a few chickens. "She spoke up as Mena nodded.

" Sounds wonderful, Emma.. the rest of us will work on getting the walls up on the rest of the house. "She grinned and looked to the others. Truth was, Mena hurt in more places then she could possibly count. Hauling stone and wood and shoveling dirt.. she hadn't been so tired. Ever.

" I still have to go back into town " Jacob spoke up. " Need me to take that washin back fer ya? " He asked as Mena looked over to him.

"I'd appreciate that, yes. " She nodded as one of the other women began to add a few other things needed. The man sat there and glared at the gaggle of hens.. as he called them.

" Bah..should have stayed beneath ground.. none o' this nagging.. "He announced which brought a string of laughter from all involved.

" You could take the boys with you, they can lend a hand lifting and such. " Mena offered as Edward and the other boys looked at the adult table.

" But Momma.. Gabe found a snake hole... we were gonna.. " was about as far as he got when he got kicked by Gabe and the whole table of women gave him a dark look.

" Edward, you and the others are going to help. Else.. no dinner. "She gave him a small warning look as he sighed and bent to rub his shin.. giving Gabe a dark look.

Even now Mena couldn't help but offer a small dry smile. Breakfast soon broke up and Jacob and the boys were off in the wagon heading back toward town. The ladies all looked at each other and set back to work. Granted..it wouldn't be the prettiest thing but it would work. And thats all that mattered.