"Up! Up and at it!" A gruff voice broke through Artemis' sleep as the shutters were pulled open sending in early morning light. "Chores. Let's go."
"I'm going," she grumbled, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Just as she began to tug her boots back on she caught sight of her father tromping out of her room and down the stairs. "Good morning to you too."
With a sigh, she pulled the blankets into place, tugged on her hat, and scurried down the stairs. Apollo was already awake sitting at the table eating toast and jam. He never had chores to do. Chores were a woman's work. While he helped on occasion it was never when Zeus hung around.
She reached for a piece of toast on Apollo's plate when Zeus stopped her, "Breakfast after work. You know that."
"Father, she missed dinner," Apollo reminded.
"Then she ought to be here next time and not fucking around on a horse," Zeus sighed, straightening his waistcoat. "Now, I'm off to the bank. No funny business you two. If I hear about anything-"
"We'll be fine," Apollo assured. With that their father left and Apollo quickly slipped a piece of toast into his sister's hand. "I'll take the slop to the pigs if you milk the cow."
"Why do we have farm animals if father likes to buy most things anyway?" Artemis asked. "Shouldn't we give them to someone who needs them?"
"Maybe but you're too attached. You'd cry yourself to sleep," the blonde chuckled.
"I'd visit them," Artemis protested, watching as Apollo stopped by the door to collect the waste bin. "Is that my dinner in there?"
"It was cold and not much was left," Apollo sighed, "father tossed it."
"Eh, better the pigs have it. His cooking is worth a horse's shit," Artemis laughed, earning a grin from her brother.
Collecting the empty pail stored beneath the cupboard's lowest shelf, Artemis made her way to the single cow roaming lazily in the fenced yard.
"Matilda! Benson!" Apollo called, smacking the side of the slop pale with a wooden spoon. Excited snorts soon signaled the arrival of the two prized pigs. Well, not prized. They were average according to Zeus. He'd hoped for something larger. Something worth eating. What he didn't know was that Artemis kept them just lean enough so that they wouldn't be eaten. She'd raised them up and the thought of both pigs on her plate made her sick.
"Alright Winnie, are you gonna be a good girl for me?" Artemis asked, giving a gentle pat to the cow's rump. She got a long and low moo in reply. "I take that as a yes."
Pulling up the rickety stool, Artemis sat down and set to work for the millionth time. She was so used to it now that she didn't even have to pay attention to what she was doing. In fact, she was thinking about a million other things than milking a cow.
"What kept you out so late last night?" Apollo asked, leaning on the stall's wooden wall.
"Stella," Artemis replied.
"She get going on an adventure and stop listening to you?" He mused, glancing over his shoulder where Stella was chewing at some fresh hay.
"That and a little girl thought I was a cowboy."
"Did you crush her dreams and say you weren't?" Apollo asked.
"No, her sister did that for her," Artemis laughed, standing and collecting the pail.
"Anyone in town by chance?"
"Nope," Artemis shook her head, carrying the bucket back towards the house. "I've never been there before in my life."
"Have they ever been to town?" Was the next question.
"I doubt it. The older one said she hated the people here. Can't blame her. Most everyone is a pain," Artemis admitted.
"Any brothers?"
"No, sorry," Artemis laughed. She knew Apollo fancied men and women but he'd never openly admit it to anyone other than her. Not when he was supposed to inherit their father's banking business. "Now, get going. Dad will wonder why you're taking so long to eat. His apprentice can't be late." Artemis reminded.
"I can help with one mo-"
"Go," Artemis insisted. "You've already helped. I appreciate it I do. But if you make father mad he'll be angry all week and I won't hear the end of it."
With a hesitant nod, Apollo hugged her goodbye before abandoning his sister and the house. He hurried off in the direction of the bank leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Now distraction free, Artemis ran through the list of things that needed to be done. She had to replace some of the broken shingles, redo the shutters that were rotting away, clean out the stalls, and if she was lucky repaint the porch.
"Just you guys and me now," she sighed, watching Benson and Matilda shuffle on past. "Anyone have thumbs and the ability to help? Didn't think so."
— — —
"Alright Stella," Artemis breathed, opening the stall door. "Finished it all. Now let's get going before father's home and gives me something else to do."
In record time, Stella was saddled up and the saddle bags were full of anything Artemis might need. The sun was setting earlier than before, and she made sure to pack her revolver in case it was needed.
Giving the two click signal, a spur of the heels, and a gentle pat to the neck, Stella left the house behind. Already, Artemis could feel herself relaxing. The wind in her face, the freedom ahead, and the reassurance that she belonged in the world beyond. Not in the walls of Olympus but somewhere else. She just hadn't found it yet, but one day she would and it'd be thanks to Stella.
"Go girl, go," Artemis encouraged. The gatekeepers were hurriedly trying to close the heavy wooden doors before she arrived, but Stella was impeccable and slipped through with nothing but a snort of amusement. "Good girl. Now where to?"
What Artemis didn't expect was for Stella to take off West again. This time, Stella knew what she wanted and she wasn't open to negotiation. Merely a passenger for the time being, Artemis found herself somewhat frustrated as they came to a halt at the same farm as before. Only this time there was no farm girl to greet her. Instead there were yells in the distance and two figures scrambling about.
"Let's go," Artemis encouraged, and Stella trotted slowly towards the slew of curses.
"I hate chickens!" Calypso cried out, red in the face from exhaustion and anger.
"What seems to be the problem?" Artemis asked, as Stella came to a halt. A flurry of feathers crossed their path and squawks of distress soon followed.
"Cowboy!" Calypso grinned, momentarily forgetting her plight.
"What?" The oldest sister had two chickens by the feet as she followed Calypso's pointing finger inevitably spotting Artemis. "Do you make a point of bothering people?"
"Do you always need help?"
"I have it under control."
"She doesn't," Calypso interjected. "Coyotes got in the coupe."
"Can't put your chickens back in a broken coupe," Artemis noted. The farm girl looked like l she wanted to beat Artemis with one of the chickens she held .
"I am aware. I'm simply trying to contain the mess."
"Little one," Artemis smiled, gesturing to Calypso, "show me the chicken coupe."
"Okay cowboy," Calypso shrugged.
"Stay put Stella," Artemis warned, slipping out of the saddle and following the younger girl. She gestured grandly at the wooden structure whose wall was splintered. Hay and feathers were strewn about inside.
"They got some of them," Calypso sighed. "Not the babies though. I have them."
Much to Artemis' surprise, Calypso opened up the large pocket to the apron of her dress revealing a handful of baby chicks.
"Well, I'm glad they're safe with you," Artemis smiled. "Now, do you have any spare wood? Any tools?"
"Yeah, in the spooky shed over that way," Calypso gestured at a sun beaten shed leaning severely to the left. "Careful, there's spiders in there."
"I'll take my chances," Artemis laughed. Placing her hat atop Calypso's head she ventured over to the shed. There were indeed spiders but most appeared to be dead. Other than the amount of cobwebs clinging to the ceiling, Artemis was quite capable of finding what she needed. Grasping the wooden toolbox and an armful of boards she shuffled back to the chicken coupe.
Plopping her wares down in the dust and laying it all out, she assessed the damage for what it was. Nearly the whole siding needed to be replaced but luckily the frame was solid. Otherwise, removing the side would cause the whole thing to collapse.
Scooping up the hammer she set to work on removing the old bent nails. It took a lot more effort than she thought but after a dozen solid pulls the boards were tugged free with ease. Fortunately, the replacement boards were already cut to size eliminating some of the potential work.
Rummaging about the tool box and collecting a handful of nails, Artemis began to re-side the chicken coupe. It wasn't too long before she was driving in the final nail, but this would do little to prevent a pack of coyotes from getting in. Not when other areas of the chicken coupe were fragile.
Wiping her nose on the hem of her shirt, she managed to come up with a plan. Heading back to the shed, she found old wire netting. Taking the lot of it she coated the outside of the chicken coupe walls with a thin layer.
"What's that for?" Calypso asked.
"The coyotes can't get through metal very well, now can they?" Artemis asked. "Even if they break the wood they have to do a number on the wire to get it to break."
"Smart," Calypso nodded. She studied Artemis' work for a moment more before entering the chicken coupe. "Alright babies, out you go."
"I bet they like you," Artemis smiled.
"Zoë!" Calypso called, "you can bring the other chickens in! It's safe now."
So that was the farm girl's name. Artemis tucked that piece of information away.
"No need to yell to high heaven," Zoë sighed, bringing in two chickens and setting them gently upon the floor. Calypso watched over them while Artemis and Zoë retrieved the others. "That's all of them. Well, the ones that survived anyways."
"Shouldn't be any other casualties," Artemis promised.
"If there are," Zoë sighed, "l'll blame you and pelt you with eggs."
"It's not a joke," Calypso warned,"she's done it before."
"Then I'll be prepared," Artemis snickered. "Now, to get Stella home."
"Did your horse bring you back here?" Calypso asked.
"Yes," Artemis sighed, "though I don't know why. I think she might like you."
"Sweet, I always wanted a horse," Calypso grinned, slipping over to Stella and giving her a pet on the nose.
"Alright Stella, let's go. Apollo will be worried," Artemis mumbled.
"Apollo? Is that your boyfriend?" Calypso teased.
"Brother. Twin brother, actually," Artemis explained, careful not to kick Calypso as she climbed into the saddle. "Men aren't fond of-"
"Cowboys like you?" Calypso asked.
"You could say that. But I also talk back when I shouldn't. They don't appreciate it," Artemis pursed her lips. "But that's not something you ought to worry about. Until next time Small One."
"My name is Calypso."
"I know," Artemis grinned, "but if I'm Cowboy then you're Small One."
"Deal," Calypso nodded.
Sitting straight in the saddle, Artemis caught sight of Zoë watching the interaction from a slight distance away. Giving a small nod and tip of the hat, Artemis set Stella back in the direction of home.
— — —
"You didn't paint the porch," Zeus noted as soon as Artemis had set one foot on the floor.
"We didn't have paint," she explained.
"The store isn't far."
"I have no funds."
"Ask."
"You say no."
The two stared at each other in a charged silence for a handful of seconds that felt like painful years. Part of her wanted to let lose a string of insults but Artemis held her tongue.
"Where were you?" Came his question.
"Out of town," Artemis replied curtly.
"With who?"
"No one."
"You expect me to believe that? No one comes home late at night without having been somewhere with someone," Zeus glowered.
"I saw someone in need. I helped repair their chicken coupe." Though this seemed like a dissatisfying answer for the banker, he found no reason to argue. "Did you leave me something?"
"It was too cold. I threw it out," Zeus explained. "But there's plenty in the cupboard for you to find something."
Artemis gave a silent nod as he stood sending his chair scraping across the floor. He said nothing else as he headed to his room.
"Goodnight," Artemis called, but there was no response. With a sigh, she rummaged in the cupboard for something worth eating. In the end she settled for a measly meal of bread, an apple, and a piece of jerky. It wasn't much but it was enough.
Stretching her arms over her head, she felt her back pop in a few places relieving built up tension. Moving with heavy and tired feet, she found her way to her room. She would have to wash up tomorrow. It'd been too long since she had and she was beginning to dislike the persistent grime and grit on her skin. But bathing wasn't something one did all the time. Not when other important jobs needed to be done. And certainly not when others had priority over yourself.
So, after a decent night's sleep, Artemis woke up far before the sun and slunk outside to where the large tin tub rested. She made far too many trips to the local well and back before the water level was decent enough to bathe in.
Though she wanted to do nothing but sit in the water and hopefully disappear, that wasn't an option. After scrubbing nearly every inch of herself, she dressed for the day and clambered back into bed in hopes of getting a bit more sleep. She was nearly out of it when the familiar footsteps of her father told her she had no such reprieve.
"Get to painting the porch today, would you?" Zeus asked, not checking to see if she was actually awake. That was the only thing Artemis heard before she fell asleep for the second time.
What she dreamed of was a time long ago when chores were the least of her worries. She could sit on the porch and watch her mother run away from Winnie's mother who was only a few years old at the time. It filled her small heart with joy.
She and Apollo would help feed the cow, and they were taught how to milk her, and when they had finished their mother smiled with pride. She wasn't like the other ladies of the town. She wore boots and pants, a hat, and a vest over her shirt. She enjoyed riding horses and often took them out past the town gates. Those were fun times, carefree times, and Artemis wished they never ended. She'd give anything to have moments like that again. But she never would. That part of her life had come and passed. Just as all things did.