Gifted (Cainsville 0.6)

"Language, Mom," Kate said.

Logan lifted his hand, "Don't come any closer."

"Don't worry," Kate said. "We're not. What happened?"

"Ice."

Kate's lips twitched. Then, she burst out laughing. Mom tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to stifle hers, snorting half-choked laughs.

"Thanks, Mom," Logan said.

"Sorry, baby. It's just . . ." She struggled to swallow more laughter.

Dad's footsteps thudded down the stairs. He poked his head into the mudroom. "What's . . ." His nostrils flared, and then he drawled, "Well, that's unfortunate. Ice?"

Logan nodded. He turned and pulled off his boots.

"On your back too?" Mom said. "How'd you manage that?"

"Ice. It's slippery. Very slippery if it's covered in snow."

"So you fell on your face in deer poop," Kate said. "Got up and fell in backwards?"

"My face is fine."

"Uh, no, actually there's a little . . . Eww. Sorry, Lo. You really stink. I'll go watch Jeremy make dinner."

"You could help Jeremy," Mom called after her as she left.

Kate laughed and kept going. Dad followed. Mom turned to Logan.

"Okay, baby, strip down, and I'll get your clothes into the laundry."

"I can handle it. It's my mess, so it's my cleanup."

"You don't have to--"

"I've got it." He gave her a wan smile. "It's not something you want to do before dinner."

"Just toss your clothes in the washer, and I'll run it after we eat."

"No, I--"

Dad reappeared with a wet washcloth.

"Please tell me Kate was kidding about my face," Logan said.

Dad shook his head and walked toward him, as if to wipe it off, but Logan took the cloth and backed up. "Got it. I've got the laundry too, Mom. I want to learn. I've been thinking I need to take on more responsibilities."

"All right. I'll show you how to run it. I am sorry about laughing."

"But it was funny," Dad said.

"And it'll get funnier each time your sister retells it."

Logan sighed.

Mom gingerly reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "You just need to find something to hold over her so she doesn't tell everyone at Christmas. Not that I'd recommend blackmailing your sister . . ."