The seventeen year old officer lead them up to a blessed sight. A log cabin with smoke coming out of the chimney. It was the home of one of the Minute Men and they were welcomed in.
The men crowded around the fire place. bobby kept close to Louis and Louis longed to get closer to the handsome young officer. The cabin belonged to the Officer's parents. His Maw carried his little brother, who was only a year younger than bobby, on her hip, and she gave the men some porridge in wooden bowls which they took gladly enough.
The Officer, whose name was James passed Louis and bobby and overheard the little boy saying to Louis, "Hot damn. My feet are froze like a polar bears arse!"
Shocked, James put his hand on Louis' shoulder and indicated the little boy with a nod of his head.
"Your little brother?" he asked.
"Yeah!" bobby said hurriedly. He would soon regret it.
"I thought so," James said. "Do your Big Brother duty, man. Put that foul mouthed little imp across your lap, bare his bottom and spank the tar out of him. Wait! Here!" James handed 'Louis' a fine wooden hairbrush that belonged to his Mother. "This'll get the job done. Hop to it! And I expect to hear lots of wailing and see an apple red rump! DO YER DUTY SOLDIER!"
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