Sixteen year old Mary Lou Baker was poor. Dirt poor. Her family lived in the hills of Tennessee and had very little of anything. Her Pa and twenty two year old brother Tyrone were coal miners and moon shine runners. Her other two twenty year old twin brothers Carson and Caleb, did the hunting, trapping, and fishing to put meat on the table. Her Ma ran their cabin home with a stern hand and made sure everyone did their job. There was a cave in at the mine last week and now everything was shut down. Fortunately it wasn't on her Pa's shift, so he hadn't been hurt or killed. But 9 others were and Government Inspectors were everywhere. The mine couldn't reopen until the debris had all been cleared and the Government men had inspected the tunnels.

Geological surveys were also being done, testing the stability of the earth surrounding the mines. It was feared that underground faults had shifted, making the tunnels and the entire mine itself unsafe. Now there was no money coming in at all and wouldn't be for quite a long time. In fact, depending on the surveys, maybe not ever. Her Pa was always in a bad mood lately because of not being able to work. What little extra money he made on the side selling his moon shine had stopped coming in too. There was to many Government agents running around to make it safe. He was so depressed that all he did was sit around and drink his shine.

Her older brother Tyrone was in the same boat. He worked in the mines too and delivered the moon shine to their customers. His wife left him and moved back to town last month because she wasn't happy. Now with the mine shut down and no shine deliveries to make, he had nothing to take his mind off of his wife. So he too was depressed and getting drunk all of the time. And things were about to get worse for Mary Lou. Her Ma had insisted that Mary Lou go to school. She wanted something better for her daughter then the life they led. Mary Lou was smart and pretty and her Ma knew she could make something of herself if given half a chance. Or at the very least, find herself a good man who would love and take care of her. Her Ma thought her 5 foot 6 inch 117 pound well developed body was perfect to catch herself a rich man. Her dark brown wavy hair and sky blue eyes made her very pretty face stand out. And her silky smooth skin was soft to the tough.

But with no money coming in, she had to quit school and stay home. Then a few days after the cave in, her Ma had come down with some strange illness. She was now bed ridden and delirious. Most of the time the woman didn't know what was going on around her. She was the glue that held the family together and now it was falling apart. So it was up to Mary Lou to get them back on track. But Mary Lou wasn't used to so much responsibility. Up until now, her jobs were simple. Go to school and learn all she could. After school and on weekends, her other chores consisted of gathering edible herbs and plants around the hillside. Climbing trees to get honey for the family to eat. Taking care of the animals to make sure they had food and water. And helping her Ma tend the small garden in the back.

Now she had to keep the cabin clean, do the washing, cook the meals, mend their clothes, and look after her Ma. Plus continue to do her regular chores. And then there was her Pa and her brothers. Her Pa and Tyrone's disposition had become very nasty lately because of all the troubles the family was having. And Carson and Caleb still acted like children. They loved playing practical jokes and Mary Lou had always been their favorite target. They started with small things. Pebbles in her moccasins when she got up in the morning. Dead snakes in her bed when she turned the covers back at night. But they quickly progressed to bigger and more annoying pranks and were really getting on Mary Lou's nerves with their childish games. Last week they scooped up an ant hill in a big jar and let the ants loose in her room. It took her two days to get rid of them all. And she was fed up.

One evening everything came to a head. Carson and Caleb had failed to shoot or trap any meat for nearly a week and they finally run out. They caught very few fish the last few days too and there was none of those left either. The twins had filled their stomach's with wild strawberries and blackberries while in the woods, so at supper time they were gone. Her Pa was really drunk that evening and Tyrone was getting there. They both were in bad moods. Mary Lou had worked very hard that day and was bone tired. She decided to take a nice hot bath before supper and it had really helped. She felt refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of her duties. Her cut off jean shorts showed off her firm, well formed ass and the red and white checkered top that tied in the front barely contained her pert round breasts. It felt good to be clean and in fresh clothes. With her dark brown hair tied up in pig tails she resumed her work. That's when things drastically went bad.

Her Pa was screaming that supper was late being put on the table and telling her to move her sorry ass. Tyrone was laughing at her for incurring Pa's wrath. And he made things worse by telling his Pa that supper was late because the silly girl took a bath before fulfilling her family duties. That made the old man even more angry. When she put the vegetable stew on the table and the old man found out there wasn't any meat, he went off. He began to rant and rave about nothing being done right since Ma took sick and was confined to her bed. Tyrone laughed at her harder. Mary Lou gave Tyrone a hateful look and tried to ignore her Pa. She knew he was really mad about the mine and not at her.

But he kept after her and wouldn't shut up. "Look Pa. Carson and Caleb ain't killed or trapped anything in a week. And their luck at fishing ain't been much better. I can't put meat on the table if I don't have none." She tried to explain. The old man jumped up and slapped her. "SLAP!" "Don't you sass me girl." It totally took her by surprise. Then her surprise turned to anger. "I'm doing the best I can Pa. And don't you ever slap me again." She warned. He didn't listen to her. "SLAP!" "I said don't sass me girl. This is my house and I'll do as I damn well please." Tyrone was really laughing at her now. Mary Lou had had enough. She drew back her fist and landed a hay maker on the old mans jaw. "SMMMACK!" He dropped like a wet sack and was sound asleep. She looked at Tyrone and challenged him. "If you want yer ass knocked out too, then open your mouth one more time." Tyrone went into shock when he saw his Pa hit the floor. He came out of it when she threatened him. His 6 foot 5 inch 233 pound muscular body jumped up from his chair and charged at her.

"You ain't fooling with a 43 year old man now you little bitch. I'll tear yer fucking head off." He threatened. His large muscular arms began throwing heavy handed punches at her pretty face with the intent to do just that. But Mary Lou was much quicker and more agile then her muscle bound older brother. And he had consumed quite a bit of moon shine. His punches were cumbersome and easily avoided. Mary Lou was a fighter. She beat up several older boys at school when they made fun of her clothes and the way she talked. They were to ashamed to report her because they didn't want to be ridiculed and made fun of for being beaten up by a girl. So her parents and brothers didn't know she could fight and was pretty good at it. Tyrone was about to find out.

When she saw an opening, Mary Lou punched back. And she was far more accurate then her brother. "SMACK!" She jabbed him in the mouth. "I told ya not to open your mouth again." "SMACK!" Another jab landed square on his nose. "Now I'm going ta shut it for ya asshole." "SMACK!" A solid right caught him just above the eye. "Soon you'll be sleeping like a baby next to Pa." "THUD!..THUD!" A right left combination drilled him in his six pack abs. "But you'll be in much worse shape then him." "SMACK!" Tyrone was having trouble seeing her punches. Her fists were a blur as they pounded his face and body. She was so damn quick he couldn't get out of the way of any of them. And her punches hurt a hell of a lot more then he ever dreamed they would. As unbelievable as it seemed, his sixteen year old sister was whipping his ass. And he didn't know what he could do to stop her.

Mary Lou was enjoying herself. All of her anger and frustration was flowing out of her with each punch she landed. Tyrone and the twins had been a pain in her ass all of her life. Carson and Caleb had drove her to the edge with their practical jokes. And Tyrone had always acted like he was something special because he was the first born. Well she was going to show him he wasn't special at all. "SMACK!" His other eye was filled with pain. "Ohhhh that one was good and solid Tyrone." "SMACK!" She broke his nose. "I always thought ya needed a nose job ya big galoot." "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Both cheeks were bruised and his lip was split. "Now that's what I call a fat lip little man." "SMACK!..SMACK!" Both eyes were in more pain and beginning to swell. "Ya can't fight for shit can ya Tyrone? And I'm going ta show ya just how pathetic ya are ya pain in the ass little wimp." "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Tyrone hit the floor whimpering.

"Quit that damn whining and get yer ass up. I'm not through with ya by a long shot." She informed him. Tyrone climbed to his feet. The little bitch talking to him like he was a pussy really pissed him off. Hard shots with wrecking ball power came flying at Mary Lou. One solid connection was all he needed to turn around what was happening to him. JUST ONE! But that one never landed. Tyrone swung and swung until he couldn't lift his heavy laden arms and she was still standing in front of him smiling. When his arms wouldn't obey him and rise up to try and club her again, his frustration brought tears to his eyes. When he saw her fists getting ready to beat him senseless, his frightened eyes got as big as saucers and fear covered his entire muscular body.

"SMACK!" "You're pathetic ya drunken bastard." "SMACK!" "Now I'm gonna beat ya like Ma beats her rugs." "SMACK!" "You're afraid ain't ya little man?" "SMACK!" "I can see the fear in yer eyes and on yer black and blue face." "SMACK!" "And it's gonna grow inside of ya like a tumor." "SMACK!" "Just like yer face is gonna grow outside from all the swelling I'm gonna give ya." "SMACK!..SMACK!" "I'll own ya when I'm through wimp." "SMACK!..SMACK!" "And you'll do what ever I say because of that fear." Tyrone was defenseless. His mighty muscular arms were hanging lifeless at his sides and his thick legs were buckling with every punch she landed. He never felt so helpless in his life. Tears were rapidly streaming down his face while she turned it a rainbow of colors. "SMACK!" His legs collapsed under him and he landed at her feet. Mary Lou raised her right foot and placed her moccasin on the side of his head to pin it to the floor. She spread her fingers out on her shapely hips and looked down smiling.

"Had enough ya big pussy? Or do I pick ya up and beat you some more to prove ya can't whip me?" "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" (SOB)..."PL.PLEASE..MARY L.LOU! I..G.GIVE..UP! Y.YOU..W.WIN! PL.PLEASE.. D.DON'T..HIT..ME..AG.AGAIN! I..Q.QUIT!" (SOB) She smiled and removed her foot from his face. "Get up on yer knees pansy ass and be quick about it." She ordered. The big man struggled to his knees sobbing like a baby. "That's my good little boy. Now listen up." She grabbed him by the hair and chin to tilt his head back so she could stare into his frightened black and blue eyes. "The mine may not open back up. We all know that may be a reality. I'm sick of you and Pa sitting around here getting drunk and feeling sorry fer yerself. Tomorrow, ya get your ass into town and see if ya can't find some other kind of work. You're good with motors, so go see if Bobby Joe needs help at his garage. Or pump gas at Dale's station."

"Anything to make some money. Don't come back here without a job or I'll beat ya till you can't walk." "IS THAT CLEAR TYRONE?" She sternly asked. "YES..M.MARY..LOU! I'LL..DO..WH.WHAT..EVER.. YOU..S.SAY!" (SOB) "Good. I'm glad ya see it my way. Now get yer ass in there and go to bed so you'll be plenty rested up to find that job tomorrow. Understand?" "Yes..Mary Lou. I'll..find..one." (SOB) He whined. "Good boy. Now run along and get yer ass ta sleep." She scolded. "Yes..ma'am." (SOB) Tyrone crawled to his feet and stumbled to his room with his sobbing head lying on his barrel like chest. She heard the bed springs squeak a minute later so she knew he obeyed her. She smiled to herself and turned to look at her Pa still sleeping in the floor. She straddled his big body and pinned his huge arms to the floor with her knees. Then she nudged him awake and sat up.

His eyes flew open and saw her sitting on his chest. When he tried to move, he realised his arms were pinned to the floor. "GET YER ASS OFF OF ME MARY LOU! OR I'LL USE THE STRAP ON YA!" He threatened. "No Pa ya won't. In fact, yer never gonna use that strap on me again. And I ain't letting ya up till ya listen to what I have to say." "I MEAN IT MARY LOU! LET ME UP OR I'LL TURN YER ASS RAW WITH THAT STRAP!" "I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this Pa. But ya ain't leaving me no choice." "SMACK!" "Now shut yer mouth and listen up Pa." "SMACK!" "Yer good with yer hands and there's other work in town besides the mine." "SMACK!" "Try the saw mill or the fertilizer plant. Or some of the other factory's in town." "SMACK!" "We need food to eat and medicine fer Ma." "SMACK!" "All you do is sit around here and get drunk and feel sorry fer yerself." "SMACK!" "And it's gonna stop Pa cause I'm sick of it." "SMACK!"

"Ma run this place with an iron hand and ya always listened to her." "SMACK!" "But Ma's not up to it now being sick and all. So I'm taking over." "SMACK!" "Ya can do as I say or I'll beat you every night till ya do." "SMACK!" "Now leave yer damn shine alone and go find some kinda work. Because we need the money to buy what we need. I mean it Pa. Do as I say. Or my hand ta God, I'll beat ya black and blue every night." She said in a no nonsense tone. Tears were pouring down the old mans face. He knew his daughter was right. He was so depressed he couldn't think of anything but how things had turned bad so quickly. His wife was the best woman he had ever met and she needed him now more then ever. He should be taking care of his family and doing something to help her get better. The depression drained out of him while he lie there crying. He felt so ashamed of the way he had been acting. And it was time to change that.

"OK..M.MARY..LOU! YER..R.RIGHT! (SOB I'M..S.SORRY.. FER..THE..WAY..I...B.BEEN...AC.ACTING! (SOB) I'LL.. F.FIND..W.WORK..T.T.TOMORROW..(SOB) AND..T.T.TAKE.. B.BETTER..C.C.CARE..OF..TH.THIS..FAMILY! I..SWEAR!" (SOB)She looked into the old mans eyes and knew he was speaking gospel. "I'm glad ya finally come to yer senses Pa. Ma would be proud." Mary Lou climbed off of her Pa's chest and helped him to his feet. "I'm sorry I had to do it this way Pa. But Ma needs us all to pull our weight till she gets better. And I didn't see any other way of making ya understand." "It's OK daughter. Ya done the right thing. Ya know, ya got some of yer Ma in ya girl. She's the only other woman to ever lay a hand on me. And she done it out of love too. I love ya Mary Lou." He confessed.

Tears began to trickle down her face because she felt so happy. "I know ya do Pa. And I love you and Ma too. Now lets see if we can't get her back on her feet and make this family whole again." The old man grabbed her in a big bear hug and cried on her shoulder. "Yer a special girl Mary Lou. I'll make sure yer Ma knows who kept their head on straight and held this family together so it wouldn't fall ta pieces. Now I better get ta bed so I can be up early tomorrow. Good night Mary Lou." "Good night Pa." Mary Lou cleaned up the supper dishes and went to her room. She stripped off her clothes and put on the short pink pajamas that her Ma sewed together for her. She thought they were the prettiest things she ever saw. And they were comfortable and cool to sleep in. She slipped off her moccasins and crawled into bed. Maybe things were going to be better around the cabin since she straightened out Pa and Tyrone. She sure hoped so.

About ten minutes later, Carson and Caleb came busting through the door. They were screaming like hyena's while they wrestled around with each other. Mary Lou climbed out of bed to quiet them down. "Hey you two. Pa and Tyrone are trying to sleep. So keep the noise down." She scolded. "Shut up Mary Lou. Pa and Tyrone ain't sleeping. They're passed out. They wouldn't wake up if we blew the cabin apart. So shut yer mouth or we'll shut it fer ya. Right Caleb?" He asked his brother. "Yup. Keep yer trap shut Mary Lou. Or we'll hurt ya good." Mary Lou decided it was time to put these two idiots in their place too. She placed her hands on her shapely hips while he spread her legs wide and firmly planted her bare feet on the floor. "You two have been a pain in my ass long enough. It's time I taught ya to mind me. I'm going to beat the tar out of both of ya if ya don't keep yer big mouths shut like I told ya to." The two twenty year men looked at each other and burst out laughing. Their 6 foot 3 inch 213 pound muscular bodies were shaking from the laughter and tears were forming in their eyes. "You and who's army Mary Lou?" Carson asked. "Yeah!" Caleb chimed in.

She smiled as she stepped up and threw a hard right to Carson's jaw. "SMACK!" And then backfisted Caleb on his. "SMACK!" Both boys stumbled back from her attack. Carson got his bearings first and fired a mighty roundhouse at her pretty pig tailed head. When she ducked under it, the punch landed on Caleb's nose who was charging towards her. "SMACK!" He staggered back to the wall. Mary Lou snapped a hard left to Carson's nose. "SMACK!" He hit the wall too. With the boys standing side by side and disoriented, she drilled them both in the mid section at the same time. "THUD!..THUD!" When they doubled over, an uppercut exploded on each of their chins and sent them sliding down to the floor. "CRACK!..CRACK!" She stood over them and grinned as she looked into their surprised faces. "If ya stay down there and say you'll mind me, I'll not beat ya up anymore. But if ya get to yer feet, I'm gonna beat the stuffing out of ya until ya agree to do what I say. And if ya don't think I can, just ask Pa and Tyrone. I beat them up and sent em to bed." She proudly informed them.

Obviously the boys didn't believe her. They began to climb to their feet. "OK boys. I gave ya fair warning. Now I'm gonna show ya why ya should have listened to me." Mary Lou backed up to the middle of the room and waited with a large smile on her pretty face. Carson was the first to make it to her. He started throwing punches with abandon. While she ducked and dodged his punches, she saw Caleb coming out to meet her too. She fired a quick hard left to Carson's jaw. "SMACK!" It knocked him sideways and forced Caleb to step around him to reach her. It gave her the time she needed to ready herself to meet him. He threw a right cross which she easily blocked before throwing her own right. "SMACK!" The punch broke his nose and made him yell out in pain. "YEEOOOOWWWWWWWW!" When he grabbed his nose, she let him have it on the chin with another right. "SMACK!" Caleb stumbled back towards Carson and got right in his path. "SMACK!..SMACK!" A right and left to Carson's eyes made him wince in pain and stagger back.

With them off balance and standing side by side again, she repeated her double punch to their stomachs at the same time. "THUD!..THUD!" When they bent over from the unexpected blows, a hard right to Carson's mouth was followed by a devastating left to Caleb's chin. "SMACK!..SMACK!" They both hit the floor again. "You boys starting to believe me now? Or do ya want me to prove it to ya a little more?" She asked with a smile. The twins shook their heads and stood on their feet. "Ya ain't proved nothing to me ya little bitch. Except that ya can get lucky." Caleb replied. "Yeah Mary Lou. You'll be the one in the floor in just a minute. So shut yer mouth." Carson agreed. "Alright boys. I just thought I would give ya one more chance ta give up before I beat yer faces in. But since ya refused to listen, then I'm done playing around with ya." She raised her fists and smiled. "Now I'm gonna put ya ta sleep with these and tuck yer little butts in bed myself." The twins spread out with hateful looks on their determined faces.

Mary Lou snapped a crushing right to Carson's nose on her left and shattered it. "SMACK!" It sent him reeling back. At the same time her right leg shot back like a kicking mule and buried her bare foot deep in Caleb's stomach. "WHAM!" He dropped to his knees trying to get his breath back. She stepped towards Carson and let him have it with a solid left to his cheek. "SMACK!" Then she followed that with a hard uppercut to his chin. "CRACK!" It dumped him in the floor on his ass. She turned back to Caleb and plowed into his chin with her bare foot. "WHAP!" He flopped over on his back, dazed and moaning. She went back to Carson who had gained his feet and was coming at her. She ducked under his big roundhouse which caused him to lose his balance and stumble past her. When he spun back around, he was met by a barrage of quick female fists that repeatedly snapped his head around.

"SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" The final right put him in the floor next to his brother. With them both slightly out of it, there was little resistance from the two when she wrapped her fine looking legs around Caleb's neck in a scissors and lifted Carson up to a sitting position. She applied a choke hold around his throat and grinned. The muscles in her lovely legs rippled when she clamped down on Caleb's neck. And her strong arms showed evidence of medium size muscles when they tightened on Carson's throat. The two muscular men feebly struggled against her holds but were unable to break free or loosen them even an inch. Soon, their large muscular arms dropped to their sides and they drifted off to sleep. She released Caleb from her scissors and left him lying there sleeping peacefully. Laying Carson on his back, she straddled his huge body and pinned his big muscular arms up by his head with her knees. Then she slapped him awake and sat back smiling.

"Now yer gonna be sorry ya didn't listen to me Carson. Ya minded Ma when she was healthy and in charge of the cabin cause ya love and respect her. Well I'm in charge around here till Ma gets better. So yer gonna mind me too. When I tell ya ta do something, ya better do it quick. Cause if ya don't, I'll beat ya up until ya learn like I'm gonna do now. Get it through yer thick head that I'm the boss and ya gotta do as I say. And this is why." When Carson failed to unseat her with his big body flopping around, fear covered his face when she clenched her fists and began beating his face to a pulp. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Tears began to flow down his multi colored cheeks and wailing sounds escaped his wide open mouth. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" She beat his face to a bloody pulp while he lie there pinned to the floor crying like a baby.

"Are ya gonna do as I say from now on Carson? Or do I beat yer face up some more till I make ya mind?" She firmly asked. Carson looked up through his nearly closed black and blue eyes at his younger sister who was perched on his chest. His tears of shame poured out in buckets. His swollen face was killing him from all the pain he felt. His very puffy lips and busted mouth opened up to scream out his surrender. "OK! OK M.MARY L.LOU! Y.YOU WIN! I G.GIVE UP!" "Good boy Carson, good boy. Now keep yer mouth shut and listen ta what I'm telling ya. Pa and Tyrone are gonna see if they can get jobs in town so we can get by. You and Caleb are gonna have ta do their chores besides the hunting, trapping, and fishing ya do now. You get yer ass out of that bed early in the morning and chop us some wood fer the stove. Then you go out and bring home some meat ta put on the table. No more playing around eating berries and swimming in the creek. Ya have to grow up and meet yer responsibilities."

"This family is gonna pull together and get through this till Ma gets better. And I'm gonna make sure ya all do what yer supposed ta do. Even if I have to beat all yer brains out." "AM I MAKING MYSELF CLEAR?" "Yeah..M.Mary..L.Lou. I'll..d.do..w.what.. ever..ya..s.say." He whimpered. "That's my good little boy. I think yer learning. Now get up and get yer ass ta bed. I don't wanna hear another peep out of ya tonight." "UNDERSTAND?" "Yes..Mary..Lou. I..got..it. I'll..go..right..ta..sleep." He replied with fear spreading throughout his body. "Good boy." Carson climbed to his feet and shuffled off to bed with his head hung down in shame. Mary Lou smiled when she heard his bed springs squeak. He was under her control. Now it was Caleb's turn. She straddled his bulky body and pinned his huge arms down with her knees. After slapping him awake, she explained the rules to him. "It's yer turn ta learn who's boss Caleb. Things are gonna change around here and you're gonna change with them. Whether ya like it or not."

Caleb thrashed and bucked his big body as hard as he could. But he couldn't throw her off. "Get yer ass off of me Mary Lou. Or I'll beat ya ta death when I get up." He angrily told her. "I guess I'll have ta teach ya who's in charge the hard way Caleb. When yer ready ta shut yer foolish mouth and mind me, just start begging. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" Caleb didn't stand a chance. "SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!..SMACK!" His face quickly ballooned up from her hard female fists. Cuts and bruises were scattered everywhere. "Are ya ready ta shut yer trap and pay attention wimp?" The large young man was bawling his head off. There wasn't one spot on his face that didn't feel the pain she had inflicted on him. "I asked ya a question little man. Are ya gonna mind me? Or do I need ta beat ya up some more?" "NOOOOOOOOOOOO! PL.PLEASE..M.MARY..LOU! DON'T.. HIT..ME..AG.AGAIN! I'LL..BE..G.GOOD!" He whined. She smiled and lowered her fists. "That's what I wanted ta hear Caleb. Now keep yer mouth shut and listen. I ain't gonna repeat this to ya again."

"No more fooling around like ya don't have a care in the world. Pa and Tyrone are getting jobs and you're taking over some extra chores till I say different. While Carson is chopping wood in the morning, you feed and water the animals and clean out the chicken coup. When yer done, ya get yer ass out on the river bank and catch us some fish. No swimming or berry eating till you have fish ta bring home. We need meat and it's yer job ta get it. Now I'm gonna let yer ass up so ya can go to bed and get yer rest. Don't give me any trouble or I'll beat you until sunrise." "UNDERSTAND WIMP?" She sternly asked. "YEAH! I..underst.stand..M.Mary..L.Lou. I'll..m.mind..ya. Just..pl.please..d.don't..h.hit..me..ag.again." He pleaded. She stood up and Caleb slowly climbed to his feet. Tears were still cascading down his swollen battered face when he looked at his dominate younger sister. "Good night Mary Lou. I'll see ya in the morning." She smiled at his submissive manner and knew she had cowered him. "Good night Caleb. Good luck tomorrow with yer fishing."

Caleb nodded his head as he turned toward his room and stumbled to the door. A minute later she heard him climb into bed. She returned to her room to get a good nights rest. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. She would need her strength if anyone balked about what she ordered them to do and she had to show them who was boss. She was going to put this family back together if she had to beat up the men every night. She was not going to tolerate any slacking. They would do what they were told or else. Her Pa got a job at the sawmill and Tyrone became a mechanic at Bobby Joe's garage. The twins did their work like she told them before setting out to try and get meat for the family. When they returned, Caleb had caught a dozen fish and Carson had shot himself a big buck. The family had meat for quite a while and everyone felt better. A Doctor was brought in for Ma and he gave her a shot and some pills to take. About a week later she was back on her feet.

She was healthy and could get around, but the illness seemed to have taken the fire and brimstone out of her. She did her daily chores and tended to her family's needs, but her take charge attitude had disappeared. Mary Lou remained the boss of the cabin and no one argued with her when she gave an order. Even her Pa did what she told him without a word. Tyrone's wife came back to him a while later and he was a happier man after that. The twins learned responsibility and quit pulling practical jokes. Partly because they decided to grow up and quit acting like children. But mainly because their favorite target for their pranks had turned into a fierce fighting machine who scared them shitless.

Mary Lou never got to return to school. But it didn't bother her as much as she thought it would. Her family needed her and that was much more important then book learning. She put the family back together and they were going to stay that way. Because the sixteen year old girl with dark brown pig tails and sky blue eyes was going to make damn sure of it. She had dynamite in her fists and certainly knew how to use them. You didn't want to make her angry because it was way to painful. And a hell of a lot safer.