"Alright, Teaspoon. " Rachel said as she finished clearing off the table.
As Teaspoon got up from the table and started out the door, he stopped and turned around. "Jesse before you plan on hightailing it out of here today, the barn stalls need mucking and fresh straw needs to be laid."
"Aw, Teaspoon. I'm suppose to meet the fellas out by the swimming hole to go fishing at eleven." Jesse protested.
"Then you best get started." Teaspoon told him as he left the bunkhouse.
Jesse got up from the table where he had just finished off a second helping of peaches and cream. He carried his dishes over to the sink and handed them to Rachel, who put them in the basin of hot, sudsy water with the others to soak.
"Take them things on the table out to the cold pit on your way to the barn Jesse." Rachel told the teenager.
"Rachel! Why do I have to do it? Why can't Cody? He ain't doing nothing but standing there!" Jesse exclaimed.
"Because I asked you to do it! Lessen you be wanting some more chores added on to the one you have, I suggest you stop complaining and get to doing it!" Rachel told him sternly.
"Yes'm." Jesse replied, picking up a crate beside the stove and loading the cold items into it.
Cody couldn't help chuckling at the disgruntled expression on Jesse's face as he left the bunkhouse. He wondered briefly if he acted the same way when asked to do something and with some embarrassment realized that he did. He made a silent vow to himself to try to work harder at doing things people requested of him without arguing or complaining about it first.
"I don't suppose there's any of them peaches left after Jesse got a hold of them?" he asked Rachel hopefully.
"Matter of fact there is. I saved the last bit of them for you myself." Rachel told him. Handing him a bowl and spoon covered with a white cloth.
"Thanks Rachel." Cody told her gratefully.
"You're welcome, Cody. You're going to need all the strength you can muster to replenish the woodpile, fix the chicken coop." Rachel told him, continuing to name several more things.
Cody felt the same annoyance rising up in him that usually did when he was asked to do something. Instead of giving in to the urge to complain, Cody forced a smile on his face and said," I'll get started chopping wood as soon as I finish these delicious peaches Rachel."
Rachel's head swiveled around to stare at Cody in surprise. She didn't think she had ever heard Cody be so amiable when faced with a list of chores. Obviously the talk they had had the night before had made Cody think about quite a lot of things. If this was how the new Cody was going to be she rather liked it.
A few moments later Cody rose from the table, handed Rachel his dishes and left the bunkhouse, telling Rachel to call him if she needed anything.
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