Reverend Eastman was sitting in the same rocking chair with the same bottle of whiskey he'd been sipping on when the children had left, though most of the bottle was now gone. He watched in silence as Emily entered the house and started right away working on dinner. At first he thought to ask where Billy was, but then assumed that she'd simply opened her smart little city mouth and pissed him off the same way she'd done with himself.
He sat and watched her work instead, watched as her young body moved and how much she looked like her mother, back when they were young and still in love. Sarah hadn't always been a liberal bitch, back when they were young, before Emily had been born, She'd happily work around the house just like a good wife should. Cook dinner, clean house, serve her husband once the day's work was through and of course make love to him when he desired her. But as they'd grown more mature she seemed to lose interest in the simple way of life and start lusting after things more secular. That's really when the problems in their marriage had started. He could still remember the first time she'd tried climbing on top of him and having sex after he'd told her he was tired from work. The thought of having sex other than in a missionary position was absolutely lewd but she'd kept insisting and eventually he'd smacked her and called her a whore for the first time. It was all downhill from there.
Now though, it appeared that the Lord had offered him a second chance. Emily had been obstinate when she'd first arrived, but with a little bit of discipline here she was now making dinner, with her mouth shut just like a good woman should. With the whiskey swimming inside him, he was starting to stop thinking of Emily as his daughter and more of a second chance with a new version of Sarah that he could raise up to be a good wife, if not for him, than for some man.
It was just then that Billy walked in the house, his eyes were down on the floor instead of greeting his father, he simply walked to the table and sat down, staring at his plate.
"Where you been boy?" Hank asked, slurring his words a little.
"I had a few more chores to finish up before dusk." Billy lied. The truth was that he'd stopped any forward progress when Emily had run past him toward the house. It was just then that he'd realized how cruel he'd been to the girl he loved earlier. Sure she was a bit whiny by he and his father's standards but what could you expect. She'd been ripped out of her life and forced into something that was completely foreign to her. The shame set in and he took his time getting back to the house and when he'd finally arrived dinner was almost ready.
"Bill....you wanna take that spot your sister sat at the end of the table, I'd like for her to sit by me for supper." Hank said and pointed down to the far seat. Billy agreed in silence and moved down to the seat his father had indicated, still unable to raise his eyes up and meet either his father's gaze or dare look at his sister.
They all gathered at the table and Hank remarked at how good it all smelled. He saw Emily had prepared no steak for herself and drunkenly cut into his own cut of meat. He sliced off a hunk and slapped it down onto her plate, showing a big drunk smile to her as he did so. After a short prayer they were allowed to eat.
Hank hungrily chewed his dinner down, but Billy seemed only to pick and poke at the meal instead of eating. "What the hell is wrong with you boy?" Hank suddenly spat out, tiny piece of meat flying from his mouth and using curse words only showed that he was indeed inebriated.
"Nothing Pa, It's delicious really, thank you Emily. It's just I ain't that hungry tonight. Guess I got a lot on my mind is all." Billy said.
"Well don't let it go to waste, pass it down here!" Hank said and Billy obeyed.
"Pa, can I ask you something? Did you tell Mr. Sweet that I'd take Pru out on Sunday after church?" Billy asked hesitantly.
"Yes as a matter a fact I did. I saw Deek down at the shop when I was shopping for your sister and mentioned that you two kids were old enough to start courting properly. You are welcome by the way." Hank said, and both children could hear the anger swelling in his voice.
"Why Pa? I told you I don't like Prudence. If I find a girl I like, I'll take her on a date, but I don't need you fixing me up, I'm practically a grown man." Billy said, showing a bit of defiance which he'd never shown his father.
"Why you insolent little prick! You should feel lucky there is a good christian woman like Prudence Sweet for you to marry and here you are criticizing your own father's choices. I've raised you better than that Bill, and if you aren't hungry then maybe you should go to bed. You've got a big day ahead of you tomorrow, I am lending you out to the Sweets as a farmhand and they need an entire pasture re-fenced." Hank said, staring at Billy.
"Alright, I'll help Emily clean up dinner and then we'll head off to bed." Billy replied but his father cut him off.
"NO.....I'd like to speak with your sister for a while after dinner. I feel as though I acted harshly earlier and would like to make amends for my temper. She's my daughter after all and I'd like to get to know her better.
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