Upon entering the house, Adam noticed that Samuel had been placed in a little cradle in the Great Room while all his other children were already digging into the cookies Hop Sing had laid out on the table.

"Children, when you're finished with your cookies, please take these two bags up to your room. You can sort out all your toys and clothes."

"Yes, Pa." Nathan finished the last of his milk and set his glass down on the table. He looked over at the twins and noticed they were almost done with their own cookies and milk.

The second they put their cups down, he told them he was going to race them upstairs. All three took off from the table, rushed over to grab a bag, and then began to bolt towards the stairs. All three skidded to a stop just short of the staircase as Ben called out to warn them to be careful and to walk up the stairs so as not to fall.

Adam stood watching in amusement at his children. They seemed so happy despite everything that has happened the last several weeks.

His eyes followed his children up the stairs before they rounded the corner of the landing. He then took up one of the seats recently left vacant by his children, helping himself to his own glass of milk and a cookie. Ben followed suit with both men enjoying their cookies in uncomfortable silence.

In the silence, Ben used his finger to gather some crumbs into a small pile on the table. He looked up at his son before allowing himself to speak.

"I want this to be as easy of a transition as possible for both you and the children. My plan is to let you handle things as if this was your own house. I don't want to step on your toes or overstep your boundaries in how you run your household or raise your children. I'll let you take control of most of the daily activities regarding your family."

Ben waited to see what Adam would say to this arrangement, if anything at all. Adam gave a nod of his head while he continued to munch on a cookie. Taking this as a good sign, Ben continued.

"Of course, you are welcome to have dinner with your brothers and me. However, if you prefer, we can arrange it so you can eat separately, either before or after us. It might actually do you all good to have at least one or two meals a week alone together to help in the healing process as a family."

Again, Ben waited to see what his son's reaction would be to this statement. Adam had finished his cookie by now and slipped back into this pensive state, clearly, or hopefully, thinking about what his father had just told him.

When there was no acknowledgment to his statement, Ben pushed on. "Overall, we will allow you to handle things your own way, but will be here for support, or help if you need it. Our main concern, and all that really matters right now, is that you all take care of yourselves and start learning how to heal and move forward. All you have to do is ask, though, if you need help or some alone time."

Adam had finished his thinking and actually smiled a small smile at his father after he heard the last statement. "Thank you. And I'm sorry for my lack of focus. It's a lot to take in and a big change for all of us, but I do appreciate everything Joe, Hoss, and you are doing to make this easier for us. It really does sound like a viable plan."

"You're welcome. Now onto one other thing I had been thinking. I do think the children should have some chores around here. Nothing too intense, but it may help them feel like they belong here if they're helping out. I'm sure you remember from your younger years that there is quite an expanse of small things that need to be done each day. If you approve, I'll make up a short list and assign the duties to Nathan, Clara, and Helen."

"Oh, yes. They would normally have chores at our home, so that's a good idea. Plus, I think one or two of my children think this is going to just be a long vacation. Chores will ensure that they don't just take advantage of our time here."

"I'll get started on the list tonight then. I plan to ask your brothers as well which chores they think would be good to have them help with."

Adam nodded in reply as he finished the last of his glass of milk. "I'll take these dishes to the sink for Hop Sing. Then I think I'll head upstairs for a short nap, if that's all right with you? It's been a busy day already."

"That's fine. I'll keep an eye on the children."


The next morning, Adam went out with Hoss to check on some of the line shacks that had been damaged during the past winter. Before Adam left, Ben went over the list of chores that he came up with that he thought might be suitable for his children. Getting Adam's approval, Ben asked them to stay behind as breakfast was wrapping up so he could let them know about them.

"Your father and I talked it over and we want things to remain as normal as possible for all of you. One of the things I know you had to do back at your own house was chores. I'm also going to give you some around my house." Ben eyed all three of them carefully, waiting for an outburst at this decision.

"What kind of chores, Grandpa?"

"Well now… nothing too hard for you. I think you are all old enough to pick up your toys and help keep your rooms tidy."

"We had to do that before." Helen nodded contentedly that her grandpa chose something that she was familiar with doing already.

"Good, then it should be easy for you to complete that chore every day. Nathan, I was also thinking you could help Hoss and Joe with some of the barn chores, possibly getting the horses' feed ready and making sure the water buckets are full of clean water each day."

Clara leaned back in her chair with a smirk on her face. "Haha, too bad you're older and have more chores than us."

"Now wait a minute. I'm not done." The smirk on Clara's face faded as fast as it arrived. "Hop Sing could use your help with feeding the chickens and gathering the eggs from them every morning. Nathan will help you as well until you're more comfortable around them."

Clara wasn't too enthused about this. "But the chickens peck at you and bite you!"

"Sometimes, but if you learn how to do it correctly, especially with Nathan's help, I think you might enjoy collecting the eggs not to mention visiting with and making friends with the chickens. Soon getting pecked will be the last thing on your mind." Ben tried to encourage Clara and make it sound fun. However, one look at the scowl on her face told him she wasn't buying it.

"I don't think I want to collect the eggs." Clara gave her grandpa one of her determined and slightly defiant looks, crossing her little arms in front of her across her chest.

Ben was a little surprised by Clara's demeanor. Sure, chores aren't fun, but if you approach them with the right attitude, sometimes you can make them a little less boring. Plus, it was time they began to realize that with growing up there were more expectations and more responsibilities and as Adam said last night, this isn't just a free and fun vacation they are on for weeks or even months.

His own eyes met her determined ones. "We all have chores we have to do around the ranch and this is one I think you and your sister can do for the family. When we all pitch in and help to get the chores done, we will have more time for fun activities."

"But, I don't like the chickens and I don't want to collect the eggs!" Helen and Nathan couldn't believe how Clara was speaking to their grandfather. All they could do was sit, staring at the exchange between the two of them.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to collect the eggs or don't like the chickens. I'm not particularly fond of them myself and neither was your father or uncles growing up, but we all had to take our turn doing chores we didn't like to do. Since you are living at my house and are part of this family, I expect you to do the same, young lady. We can't pick and choose which chores we like or want to do. If that were the case a lot of things wouldn't get done around here."

Clara continued to pout, but made no response to her grandpa.

"Starting tomorrow, you will start taking care of the feeding and care for the chickens. Nathan will also help you with the collecting of the eggs. Both you and your sister only have to hold the basket while he does most of the work of actually getting the eggs, but you will have to be in the coop with them for several minutes. Is that understood?"

Clara sulked and shook her head from side to side. "I won't do it."

Ben's patience was wearing thin, so he attempted a different tactic. "Everyone has to pull their own weight and if you fail to help, you'll be punished. It's not fair to your brother or sister to have to do your portion of the chores." Ben told her sternly, thinking adding some consequences to not doing her assigned chores might help change her attitude about not wanting to do them.

Clara snuck a glance up at Ben through her long lashes. Seeing his stern expression, she decided the best response was to nod silently in agreement for now. She'd see what she could come up with today to get out of doing this dreaded chore tomorrow morning.


"I don't want to do this!" Clara complained loudly while outside near the chicken coop. Helen and Nathan were already inside the coop and she eyed them through the thin metal fence, refusing to go inside.

"Come on Clara, it's not that bad. Look, you can pet them like a cat or dog." Helen reached down to pat one of the chickens on the head to show her sister how friendly the chickens were being. However, Clara wasn't amused.

Meanwhile, Nathan was already over by the nest boxes and looking around for any eggs. He pulled two up ready to put them in a basket, only to see his little sister determined not to step foot inside the coop. "Hey! Get in here! I only need you to hold the basket for me. You won't even have to touch the chickens."

"What about her? Can't she hold the basket?"

Nathan followed his sister's eyes which were glaring in Helen's direction. "Your sister is going to be throwing down the feed. You holding the basket will make this chore go by much faster."

Clara took half a dozen hesitant steps towards the coop before unlatching the door and stepping inside the coop. However, she failed to close the door behind her and the chickens, seeing an opportunity to escape, strutted quickly towards the open door.

To Clara, it all happened so quickly and she panicked. She let out a blood-curdling scream as the chickens appeared to charge her, not realizing they were actually charging the open door behind her. In her panic, she lifted up her small foot, kicking one of the chickens in the neck. She then turned to run out of the coop, only to run straight into her Uncle Hoss. He caught her around the waist before shutting the door firmly to prevent any of the chickens from escaping.

Hoss wrapped his arms around her, who was now crying into his shirt, and began to caress her golden blonde hair. "Now, what's this all about?"

Clara couldn't speak, her breath hitching as she tried to regain her composure. After a few moments, she finally turned around, fury driving her words. "This is why I told you I didn't want to do this! I don't like chickens and they don't like me! They tried to attack me! I'm not doing this chore ever again and I'm never going back in there!"

"Hey, there now. You know we shouldn't yell out here around animals who might be skittish. And from what I saw, you weren't very nice to our chickens. No animal on this ranch deserves to be kicked, no matter what they did. We are supposed to treat animals gently with kindness and love."

"But they tried to kill me!"

"They were tryin' to get out the door you left open."

Clara's cheeks blushed slightly as she realized they weren't actually attacking her and she dropped her eyes to the ground. "Oh."

Nathan was still inside the coop with Helen but had come closer to the wire fence to address his uncle. "She didn't want to come help with the chickens. Grandpa told us all yesterday we had to do this chore together. She told us yesterday she wasn't going to do it and he said that if she didn't help, she'd be punished. Today she continued to not want to help and was putting up a fight."

Hoss glanced at his niece who was awfully quiet all of the sudden, her eyes still glued to the ground. "Is this true, Clara."

She stole a quick glance towards her uncle, before returning her eyes to the ground. "Yes, sir. But they're -"

Hoss held up his hand to stop her explanation. "But nothing. If this chore has been assigned to ya, ya need to do it. I think I need to have a talk with your Pa about this. I'll leave any punishment up to him."

All three children stood rooted in their spots as Hoss sauntered off to find Adam.


Three days later, Adam needed a quiet afternoon in his room to gather some thoughts and to rest, so the children were instructed to play quietly in the Great Room. It wasn't the ideal situation, but with a light rain occurring outside, it was going to have to do for now. However, as Ben was drawn from his desk to sounds of raised voices, the 'playing quietly' didn't seem to be happening.

Ben rose from his seat to make his way out of his study when he caught a glimpse of Nathan throwing his ball underhand to Helen. The ball dropped short about a foot in front of Helen. She quickly snatched the ball up and attempted to throw it back to Nathan.

Only four and a half years old, her hand coordination and power behind the throw wasn't as good as Nathan's. In an attempt to make the ball go further, she raised her hand above her head to throw it overhand. Sadly, the throw was directed nowhere near Nathan and instead headed straight for one of Ben's antique porcelain plates on the top of a shelf near the dining room.

As the plate fell, shattering on the floor, the children froze, and Ben began to take the few steps towards the broken plate. After leaning down and inspecting the shards of glass, he realized there would be no hope in repairing it.

Ben stood back up to full height. "Children, how many times have -" Ben began to reprimand the children about playing ball in the house when he was interrupted by Adam who had appeared at the top of the stairs.

"Pa, that's not necessary. I can take over from here. It was clearly an accident and there won't be any punishment."

Ben watched as Adam descended the stairs before ushering the children to the front door. Noticing it had stopped raining, he pushed them out the door followed by himself, leaving Ben in the room staring dumbfounded after them wondering what had just happened.

It was at this moment that Hoss appeared from the kitchen with a sandwich in his hand. His eyes scanned the scene trying to figure out what had taken place only moments earlier. "What happened out here?"

Ben shook his head in confusion. "I'm not quite sure myself; it all happened so fast. I heard some loud voices out here and when I got up, I saw the children all playing catch in here. I was just about to tell them to find another activity, when Helen threw the ball. The throw was extremely off and instead of reaching Nathan, it headed straight for one of those plates on display."

"Oh golly, was it the old one we had of Marie's?"

"Yes, that's the one. Unfortunately, it crashed to the ground, and I was just going to reprimand the children when your brother appeared. He told me he would handle it, but he didn't seem upset, or think the children should be punished."

"Hmm… that's odd."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I had a similar response from Adam the other day." Hoss then went on to relay what had happened outside a few days ago with the chickens. "Adam had almost the exact same reaction as you said he had just now. He made up some excuses for the children and said he wasn't goin' to punish them because they're adjustin' to this new living situation."

Hop Sing had appeared with a broom and pan to sweep up the shards of glass and couldn't help overhearing Hoss and Ben. "Hop Sing have same problem. Children not keeping room tidy. Children say father didn't say to keep room clean, only grandfather. Hop Sing talk to number one son. He say children need time to feel comfortable and can't force too much on them right away. Hop Sing always cleaning up after children."

"I'm sorry, Hop Sing. Well, we can't have the children not pulling their share of the work around here or not following the rules or doing their chores. Guess I'm going to have to make some decisions and sit down for another talk with Adam."

He let out a big sigh and closed his eyes as he settled into his red chair. Although he knew what probably needed to happen, he required some time to think of the best way to bring it up to Adam as he likely wouldn't like the outcome. But if Ben was to keep some sort of peace and stability in the house, he had to make some changes.