[ WP ] Couple raises group of orphans in a barn , working with goats . Every year the orphans must vote one of their own to move into the house and join the family .

John, red-haired and freckled, is one of the older boys, sixteen and growing. He ai n't got a lot of meat on him, and he's short for his age, but he's as slippery as a fish, with a smile like the sweet curve of a sickle. He butts heads a lot with the oldest of the boys in the barn, Thomas. What Thomas says usually goes because he's bigger and more experienced than the other, more younger boys. He is nineteen and handsome, dark haired and blue-eyed with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He's good with the goats, dedicated and intuitive, but even with his experience they have had bad years. 
 
 John never gives up the chance to pick a fight with anybody, especially Thomas, but he more often than not also has Thomas' back. When one of the younger boys asks him why he always attacks and defends Thomas, John just shrugs. ``'T's good to keep him humble.'' He does n't really mean that, though, because culling the boys do the same thing. It's good to keep him fighting, John supposes in the bad years,'cause they need Thomas to see them through again. 
 
 The goats this year have been especially good because of Thomas, with only one lost in the winter months, an old nanny unable to produce anymore milk. Three goats have rounded bellies, and the pastures promise to be full and sweet this summer. By the time market comes, the goats will be healthy and strong, and that means one of them will be going to the house. 
 
 `` Who's Thomas gon na pick, John?'' asks a blond boy, Billy, who is good at milking the goats and not much else. 
 
 `` How should I know?'' John scoffs. 
 
 ``'Cause you're Thomas' best friend,'' Sam, a young boy of ten, says. He's new and a little in love with Thomas. 
 
 `` Just ask him yerself. Ai n't like he only talks to me,'' John replies, exasperated. 
 
 `` He's at the house right now,'' Sam says, and one of older boys, Red, whistles. 
 
 `` I bet he and the Missus are having some *private words*, if y'know what I mean,'' David leers. 
 
 `` He's probably just telling the one's at the house how things are,'' Billy says, face flushed and voice scandalized. `` They're the ones who go ta market with the goats.'' 
 
 `` Wonder when they're gon na come by the barn again. It'd be real nice to see Red again,'' David says with an obscene roll of his tongue. 
 
 Billy cover Sam's ears. He opens his mouth, but John beats him to the reply. 
 
 `` Wait until ya fill in your breeches before you start going after Red like that, or else he'll be mighty disappointed to see that worm between your legs,'' John shoots just as Thomas walks through the barn doors. 
 
 `` What the hell are you all doing, standing with your mouths open like you're catching flies? Quit slacking off to daydream, market ai n't coming yet!'' Thomas roars, and the boys rush into motion. `` What we you fools doin?'' he asks John when the red-head just gives him a side-eyed look. 
 
 `` How much the Missus fancies you,'' John says. 
 
 Thomas frowns. `` I would never --'' 
 
 `` I know,'' John dismisses with a wave of his hand. `` Does n't stop her, though.'' He watches Thomas for a moment before the older boy motions to him. John falls in step with him and they leave the barn to change shifts on overseeing the goats in the pastures. The air is light between them, and John asks casually, `` Who're you gon na pick this year for the house?'' 
 
 Thomas' easy expression darkens. `` There ai n't no guarantee that this year will be good.'' 
 
 `` You worked hard this year,'' John says, and he can see hear the goats in the distance and boy's laughter. `` This year will be good.'' 
 
 `` I'm tired,'' Thomas sighs after a moment. `` I'm tired of having to choose.'' 
 
 `` It's a hard thing,'' John nods, `` and that's why we have you do it,'cause you're the best of us. You coulda have gone to the house years ago, but ya stayed instead.'' He pauses for a moment as the thought strikes him. `` You wan na take care of us, and, Hell, you try to do us right... We'll be okay as long as you're with us.'' 
 
 Thomas does n't reply, and for a moment John worries that the air has become suddenly uncomfortable. He is about to speak through the awkward when Thomas says, `` I'm thinkin' about ending it.'' 
 
 John makes an inquisitive sound because he ca n't quiet shake the awkward yet. 
 
 `` I'm thinkin' we either run or kill'em.'' 
 
 `` Ai n't got no place to run to,'' John says after a beat. `` As for kill'em... I could do it.'' 
 
 Thomas' eyes turn sharp. `` I ai n't gon na let you do it.'' 
 
 `` Why?'' 
 
 ``'Cause it ai n't your place to.'' 
 
 `` Could be,'' John shoots. `` It ai n't like I've not done anything less for you in the past.'' 
 
 Thomas looks away. `` I know.'' 
 
 `` Are you for it, then?'' John probes. He's been wondering if Thomas would do this someday as the Mister and Missus began to demand more and more. 
 
 `` I'll do what I have to do,'' he says, still not meeting John's gaze. 
 
 `` Good,'' John says. `` We always know you do.'' 
 
 
 

