The Forgotten Man (mature content )

Katherine gave him a huge list of things that needed done. From mowing the enormous yard, to pruning the bushes, checking Robert's fields for weeds--and the list went on and on. Robert kept a written list of regular chores, and a great number of them had been undone now for days. Katherine hated how shabby she thought things were starting to look. The only things that were in rather pristine shape were the flowerbeds and her animals--well, and ouf course, the house.

Steven looked at the list and made a mental note of each one"ok first i'll start in the barn" he said and slipped off his shirt to pick up a rake to muck out the stables, he glanced at the wolf then at his chest even thought Robert had head the broken ribs some bruising still showed and he sighed contining to do his jobs, this time he felt happy to do it he eve started to hm a small tune to him self and smile .

Katherine was glad to see Steven appearing to be a lot like his old self again. She continued to tend her animals, saying little, except to the animals, as was her habit. Once she was satisfied with their care, she moved out to the yard to add some flowers to her flowerbed and also to check a very large herb garden she had that she used not only for culinary purposes but that Robert used as well for his medicinal purposes. She hlped that it would be bursting full of useful herbs this year, and she was doing her best to encourage it. She liked working with plants--almost as much as she liked doing everything else. Robert had always called her a woman of many talents, and although she didn't take that title seriously, she did acknowledge she had a lot of interests and hobbies.

Steven continued till all the stalls were clean, he then moved out side and was about to lift some bails when he dropped it and held his side he forgot about Roberts words and sat dowen for a moment to catch his breath and to let some of the pain subside , with the waether being hot and dry he moved to a water barell he saw taking some of it he let it run down his back sooling him from his hard work.

"Didn't Robert tell you not to overdo?" Katherine called to him. She could recognize bruised or broken ribs when she saw them. She presumed Robert had tended them, and knowing him, he had specifically warned Steven about that, but Steven could be both stubborn and a bit of a workaholic, though not necessarily at the same time. "Perhaps you need to slow down a bit. The work has been here awhile. There's no reason you have to do it all in one day, you know."

hearing Kates words he smiled and nodded "yes maam, you would't happen to have anything cold and non alcaholic by chance" he said now sitting back on the hay bail as he looked out over the farm as he waited "hey!! Hay!! hay cherakee you have a chicken loose" came the wolfs voice from inside the barn just as a red roster ran past "what the?" he said standing up and walking to the chicken coop to see the wire half hanging "well this can't wait till later." he said with a chuckle just as a hen flew at his face making him fall back and land in teh water trouph he gasped at the cold water and sat looking rather comical.

Katherine just stood, her hands on her hips, frowning. "That is no way to catch a rooster," she said. She went into the barn, got a handful of grain and called to the rooster, bribing it to come back with the promise of more grain. "When you can talk to them, you simply ask them for what you want," she told him. "It really is so much easier. Go get yourself some dry clothes, and I'll get you a glass of iced tea."

steven pulled himself out the water standing for a moment dripping and smiling. " The hen did it maam , and it would, sometimes I forget that i can gues from not using it for along time " he gave ashiver and ndded "yes maam" he said and moved to the house finding the same room he had ocupied he accioed some dry clothes and changed sending the wet ones back to his home , he now wore a light blue pair of jeans and a white teeshirt with trainers . quickly he walked back picking up a hammer and hook nails on his way past "ok now you guy stay put till this is done and i'll feed you " he said they all corused "yay food" an ran around but true to word they staid in there pen and he finally placed the rooster back in.

Katherine saw Steven was coping a bit better. She accio'd him a glass of ice tea and then headed back to her herb garden. She was pleased at how well her herbs were coming up. Even some of the odd things that Robert had asked her to plant. She tried to keep some of the magical plants away from the kitchen herbs because that somehow always seemed to invite trouble for some silly reason. She didn't understand why, but resolved herself to go explore Robert's expansive library to see if he had the answer in any of his hundreds of books. She most often found that if one looked hard enough, the answers to most questions were already in the books in Robert's massive collection. She was wondering about Khaat. She found herself getting a bit preoccupied today and wanting Robert to hurry up with his daily update about her. Some days, she thought, Robert could be so slow with things that were important to her.

steven took the hreb tea and watched the chickens peck at teh last of the corn on th ground , moving he sort of followed her to the herb garden "herb garden loks nice Maam" he said drinking his tea as he stood with one hand in his pocket even his hair seemed relaxed and lighter as he stood in the sun. He looked up and saw the barn and the lake beyond and smiled s he drank feeling calmer and at peace with himself "you want a hand maam?" he asked