Saddle Up the RPG

"Hey Marshall, not too much stick, some but I just told them to politely keep their noses out of other peoples buisness," she replied.

Lucy came into the house and sat down in the kitchen. She was exhausted.

Summer had finished and went to see May. She'd rather not go inside, she did not want to deal with them. SHe grabbed a stool and sat by May. "Hey girl" she said sitting, just to be with her.

Jeb noded, " that a girl," he said in approval, " does anyone know where Summer went?"

She smiled, "No, not really, quite a few crazy roumers, she probebly wouldn't be too happy to hear some of them but they'll fade, things like this always do."

he nodded, " yeah it will." he sighed, " I think we need a family meeting."

Summer talked to May for awhile, then got up and headed inside the house. She went into the kitchen to wash her hands.

"Sounds like a good plan," she nodded.

"You want me to go get the others?" Marshal offered, sitting up.

he nodded, " I think Harry is in the barn and I...where is summer," he said getting up from the couch

Summer washed her hands in the ktichen sink and got the hand towel to dry them.

Marshal left, going to the barn to find Harry. "Harry?" he called as he stepped into the barn.

"So, how was the..cattle drive?" Summer asked her older sister.

"Longer than expected, but nothing too bad. I heard you slept in while we were gone."

She sighed, "It wasn't as long as usual, and I already apologized to Jeb." she said looking down at her glass of water.

"Sorry may not always cut it, Summer. We need everyone's help around here and sorry isn't going to make up for the extra work others have to do to catch up for your sleeping habits. I'm sure we'd all rather be doing something else, but this is our responsibility and you are included in that."

SHe didn't know how to respond to that so she simply nodded. She wanted to say; Well its not my fault that I'm no good at working on a ranch like you all are. But she didn't.

"It's probably hard for you to get back into the swing of things, but you need to keep trying. We can't keep letting you just try to get away with the minimum, we're all working our hardest," Lucy continued after a moment or two of silence.

"Alright alright" she replied. She finished her water and rinsed the glass.

"come on, I heard talk about a family meeting in the other room," Lucy said, standing.

Oh great She thought as she followed her sister into the living room.

Harry swung down from the hay loft and landed in front of his brother, " hey," he said

"Hey, they want to have a meeting," he said. "Family meeting."

he sighed, " really? was it Jeb's idea?"

Marshal shrugged. "Who else's idea would it be?"

he rolled his eyes, " wonderful."

"Come on, they're all waiting."

he shrugged, " sure...I mean its not like I can object right?"

Jeb never quite smiled, ever, but what he did do was smiled with his eyes and the features in his face though not with his mouth. so he "smiled" as summer came into the livingroom, " don't look so put out."

"That's true," Marshal smiled as he began walking back towards the house.

Lucy took a seat on the ground, her back up against the couch.

they guys headed back to the house and sat down as well. Jeb took a deep breath, " we are all family here but something isn't right here because every time I turn around there is some sort of fightin' going on with someone. I don't like it so lets get out our opinions and get it resolved now. who's first?"

Summer sat down in front of the fireplace, on the floor.

"you really want to do this?" Harry grunted
" yes." Jeb solidly replied, " I am tired of this talking behind backs that has been going on. we've never functioned that way and I don't think we should start...ever. so get it out Harry if you have something to say."
" Ok," he said taking off his hat, " for starters she sleeps in and then complains about being tired AND being hungry. On top of that she complains about very near everything to do with anything if it," he cleared his voice, " isn't what its like in teh city," he said mockingly, " I have a butt load oc complaints I'm sick of hearing."

"Well, Maybe the reason I sleep in so much is because I know you don't like it when I'm around you, have youe very thought of that posibility?"she said honestly.

he chuckled, " maybe I wouldn't mind you being around if you got up on time so you weren't complaining about being hungry and then did the work you are supposed to do in the given time frame. ever thought about that?"

"Well even if I did do my very best on my chores, it wouldn't be up to your expectations." she said.

"Okay, both of you, stop," Lucy said, looking to Jeb for help. "We're not here for an argument. We're here to figure out how to get this figured out."

"we wouldn't know that now would we Summer because you never do your very best. you do a half ass job just to get you by." harry said ignoring Lucy
" Cool it Harry." Jeb warned. he actually agreed with his brother but he didn't know how to proceed. he took a deep breath, " Lucy what are your thoughts?"

"Yes, Summer is obviously having problems readjusting. I think she needs more responsiblity so that she understands that this is her job and no one is going to do it for her anymore," Lucy said.

"What am I gonna have to make breakfast for everyone now?!?"she asked.

Jeb raised his eyebrows, " that's not a half bad idea there Summer."