"Nathaniel it  is time for supper!"  His mother calls out.

   "Awe, maw I was just got done with collection the chicken eggs though," He says and scowls.

   "Mom, ignore his rudeness here he has been in a foul mood all day,"  His older brother Calvin says.

    "I have not  'Cal,' you have been going on about that silly damsel you like all morning, yuck!" Nathaniel says.

  "Nathaniel quit teasing your brother, and Calvin do not give Nathaniel a hard time.  He is just going through puberty and you know-how awkward that is for him,"  Their mother remarks.

    "Yes, Mother," Calvin remarks.

   "Yes, Maw,"  Nathaniel says.

      The boys sit down at the table, their mother says the blessing and then ask, "Has your paw gotten back in from milking the cows yet?"

      "No, " Calvin says.

     "Well, you better go let him know the meal is ready," Their mother remarks.

    "Yes, mother, I will go tend to it now,"  Calvin says. He heads out the door to the barn.

         As soon as Calvin enters it he knows something is wrong, he can sense it.  He walks over to the area where his father sits on the stool still as a mule. He taps him on the shoulder, but instead of the usual reaction, he gets no response. It is then, Calvin panics. He looks at his hand and sees blood.  He looks closer at their father and sees the pitchfork in his back. 

     Calvin runs out of there faster than you can yell "murder,"  and does not stop until he gets back to the house. He comes back inside out of breath with tears in his eyes. He is still in shock about the entire ordeal.

    "Mother,  our paw is dead, he is been stabbed in the back," Calvin says.

     "What, papa is dead?"  Nathaniel screams. He runs to his room, slams the door and refuses to come out. He was close to his father and takes his death rather hard.

       "Are you sure?" Their mother asks calmy.

    "Yes, I am as sure as I am that you, Nathaniel and I are still alive.  It was just awful mom."  Calvin says.

      Their mother sits down at the table and cries, a few moments go by before she calms down.   Calvin hugs her and fixes her another cup of coffee. He goes out to search for the sheriff and pastor.  Somehow in a situation like this he figures they could use both of them.