Chapter 17: Home, Part 2

"Thank you, boy," the man said to Seth, looking into his eyes as they neared the cottage. The man's eyes were piercing, the color of milk chocolate, eyeing Seth intently as he extended a hand toward Seth. "My name is Colin of Cambria. Please feel welcomed to my home." Colin grabbed Seth's right arm in a strong grip from elbow to hand in a handshake, as Seth slid from the unicorn's back.

Seth nodded appreciatively. "My name is Seth. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Colin's eyes went blank abruptly as he looked into Seth's eyes. "The pleasure of the meeting is all mine," Colin said blankly without a smile.

Seth nodded reluctantly with a half smile, feeling a bit uncomfortable, noticing the elder man's coldness.

"You are welcome to stay with us for a spell, if you like."

"If you don't mind, sir," Seth replied, squaring his shoulders.

Then the two younger men from the field approached, minding their distance, listening.

"Then stay as long as you wish," Colin replied with a nod of his head, recovering himself. "Please, let me introduce Bryce," Colin said, pointing to the muscled young man with light brown hair and blonde streaks, "and Reese," Colin said, pointing to the young man with shoulder length, dark brown hair.

Colin once again looked directly into Seth's eyes. "Are you here with your family?"

"No, sir," Seth said, thinking of his mother. "My mother is far away and I never knew my father."

Colin nodded, understanding.

"Come, then. Bryce will find you appropriate clothing to wear. It's not appropriate to be seen in your under garments," Colin said, referring to his black T-shirt, and noticing his blue jeans and tennis shoes. "I've never seen shoes such as these before. What are they called?"

"Tennis shoes," Seth said with a smile.

Colin nodded. "You can help in the field for now, and then we shall pause for our midday meal."

Seth nodded with a half smile and followed Bryce. Great, more garden work. But he also knew that if he didn't help, he wouldn't eat. He was sure that everyone was expected to help with chores, even guests.

Once inside, Bryce gave Seth a change of clothes, which consisted of trousers with a belt and a loose fitting button shirt.

"I'm sure these will fit," Bryce said, also handing Seth a pair of men's riding boots.

"Thank you," Seth said appreciatively, taking the clothes.

Bryce then guided Seth to a room. "I'll leave you to yourself to change," Bryce instructed. Before closing the heavy wooden door, Bryce added, "Come outside when you have finished," then added with a menacing look, "and don't be long."

Seth dressed quickly. Trying to figure out how the pants fastened was a bit of a problem, but when he was finished, he was surprised at how well the clothes fit and how comfortable they felt.

"Go over there," Colin said to Seth when he returned. Colin was working with the horses in the corral. "Bryce and Reese will show you what to do."

When Seth walked to the garden, Bryce thought for a moment and said with a menacing smile, "Actually, we need some goat's milk. Would you like to milk the goat?"

Seth's eyes flew open wide when he considered the possibility. "I don't think that would be such a good idea," Seth replied with a bit of fear in his eyes.

"Are you scared?" Bryce asked, while Reese looked on, watching and listening.

Seth shook his head. "Of a goat?Of course not!"

"Then milk the goat," Bryce said as he handed him a bucket and pointed to the goat. "Meet us in the garden when you've finished."

"Are you serious?" Seth asked in disbelief.

"Very," Bryce answered, smiling mischievously, as Reese frowned and shook his head.

Seth wondered how in the world he was going to milk a goat, since he had no experience in such matters. The first thing he had to do was to catch the goat. He chased it with a rope around the field, then into the garden. It eluded him a few times, with Seth repeating a chorus of, "Here, goat! Here, goat!" The goat would seem to wait until Seth was right next to him and then run away. Seth thought that the goat almost seemed to laugh at him a few times. But once inside the garden, he finally cornered the goat and was able to slip a rope around its neck. At that moment, Seth wished he had access to Uncle Herman's magic. Bryce watched from the corner of his eyes, trying to conceal his laughter. Even Reese concealed a smile.

Seth led the goat out of the garden and tied him to the fence. Seth thought that the next thing he should do would be to find a milking stool, like he had seen people use in old movies and on Little House on the Prairie reruns back home. Next to the fence was a short stool that he thought would suffice. He sat the milking stool next to the goat and placed the bucket underneath. Once the stool was in place, Seth wondered how in the world he was going to milk the goat, but thought it couldn't be that hard.

He took an utter into each of his hands and pulled down toward the bucket, but nothing happened. He looked over and Bryce was watching, smiling. Seth then thought that maybe he didn't pull down hard enough, so, with an utter in both hands, he pulled down hard again. The goat bleated loudly and kicked the bucket, sending it flying across the field. Seth heard laughter behind him and eyed Bryce, who was now openly laughing. Reese even cracked a smile.

"Don't you two have anything else to do?" Seth asked Bryce and Reese.

"No," Bryce answered, concealing a smile. "This is much more entertaining."

"They must live simple lives," Seth muttered to himself under his breath.

"Yes," Bryce answered, having heard the comment while leaning against the fence. "At the moment, we do."

"Would either of you like to do this?" Seth asked, pointing to the goat.

"No, you're doing fine," Bryce answered, smiling mockingly.

"That's what I thought," Seth said to himself, as Bryce and Reese stifled another laugh.

Seth decided to ignore them and continued with the task at hand. Seth couldn't believe that he was actually trying to do this. Seth retrieved the bucket, tied the goat tightly to the fence, and tried again. Once the bucket was in place, Seth once again took an utter into both hands and pulled. This time, milk shot him in the face. Abruptly, the goat reached back and kicked Seth in the chest with all of its might, sending him flying backward off the stool while bleating a laugh. Bryce burst into cackles of laughter as Seth sat on the ground, holding his chest, trying to catch his breath. Reese was smiling as he offered Seth a hand up, while Seth debated whether to take it or not.

Unfortunately, that was when the goat got loose and ran into the garden through the corn, tomatoes, green beans, and other vegetables. Then Seth, Bryce, and Reese chased the goat through the garden, trying not to step on the plants. All three were laughing and falling down while chasing the goat, which seemed to be enjoying himself at Seth's expense.

"What, pray tell, is happening here?" Colin asked, interrupting the chaos as he grabbed the goat's leash as it passed by. All three of the men froze. Colin looked around, surveying the mess and damage.

"I was milking the goat," Seth replied soberly. A moment later, fresh peals of laughter came from Bryce and Reese.

"That's enough!" Colin bellowed to the two, and then said to Seth, "Bring me the bucket, boy, and I'll show you how it's done." Then he looked at Bryce and Reese. "And as for the two of you, get back to work and clean up this mess!"

Colin expertly tied the goat to the fence, placed the stool next to it and the bucket underneath. "Make sure to sit off to the side where the goat cannot kick you," Colin began the lesson on how to properly milk a goat, then he said louder, knowing Bryce and Reese could hear, "This goat has already been milked today, but this is how you will do it tomorrow. Usually, this is Briana's duty, but you can do it if you wish." Bryce and Reese stifled their laughter as Seth shot them a daggered look. Colin continued the lesson and as Seth listened, he was sure that he'd get even with Bryce and Reese; maybe not right away, but soon.