Morning

The group spent the rest of the evening in a quiet yet peaceful atmosphere. They gathered in the kitchen for a simple dinner of soup and bread. Despite its simplicity, the meal was delicious, made entirely from fresh ingredients. As they ate, they discussed their plans for the following day.

Ethan, Andrew, and Rose would head to town to stock up on supplies, while Mr. Kepler planned to visit nearby farms to familiarize himself with the residents and potentially purchase farming supplies. If their family was to stay at Betty's farm for an extended period, they would need to increase production to avoid running out of food. While they could always go to town for supplies, the uncertain future made self-sustainability a priority. It was better to minimize trips to town if possible, hence the need to become self-sufficient in the long run.

The remaining Kepler family members would stay at the farm, where Aunt Betty would introduce them to farm work. With harvest season approaching, it was crucial for them to quickly learn the ropes and be able to contribute.

Exhausted from the whirlwind of recent events, everyone retreated to their assigned rooms for the night. With Heather uncharacteristically silent, Rose saw no need to break the quiet. She simply collapsed onto her bed and, within moments, drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep. 

The next morning, Rose woke up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. She quietly got dressed, careful not to wake Heather, and made her way downstairs to the kitchen. As she entered, she found Andrew already there, looking outside the window where the sun was slowly creeping up. A rooster's cry echoed over the farm, as it welcomed a new day. 

The creaking of the stairs alerted Andrew to someone's approach. He turned, eyebrow raised in surprise at the sight of Rose awake at this hour. It was well-known that she typically enjoyed sleeping in. He wondered just how much she had changed. 

"You're up early," he remarked.

"Mhm," Rose hummed in response, busying herself with making coffee. She glanced at Andrew, lifting the kettle in silent inquiry. "Want some coffee too?"

"Yes, please," he replied with a faint smile.

As Rose poured the coffee, the aroma filled the kitchen, momentarily masking the underlying scent of old wood and farm animals. They sipped their drinks in comfortable silence, both lost in thought about the challenges that lay ahead. The peaceful moment was soon interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs, signaling the arrival of the others.

Ethan was the first to appear, followed closely by Luke, both looking eager to start the day. Aunt Betty shuffled in shortly after, surprised to find someone already awake before her. She grunted a greeting and immediately disappeared outside, likely to feed her animals as her first task of the morning. Mr. and Mrs. Kepler were the next to come down only a few minutes later. Both looked still tired, but probably didn't dare to sleep longer, then everyone else was already out and about. 

"Where's Heather?" Mrs. Kepler asked, looking at Rose. 

"Probably still asleep," Rose replied. 

Mrs. Kepler promptly headed upstairs to wake her daughter.

It was another sign of how things had changed. In the past, Rose had been the one to sleep in, appearing lazy, while Heather had always been the obedient and gentle one. Now, the tables were turning.

Hiding a smirk, Rose took another sip of her coffee.

After a quick but hearty breakfast of bread with scrambled eggs, Ethan, Andrew, and Rose prepared to head into town. They gathered their supplies and double-checked their list of necessities. As they were about to leave, Aunt Betty approached them with a stern look on her face.

"Now, listen here," she said, her voice gruff but tinged with concern. "Be careful on the road, especially if the weather turns. In these parts, you never know when a sudden downpour might make the roads slick. Keep your wits about you and don't cause any trouble in town. The folks around here aren't fond of strangers. And for heaven's sake," she added, eyeing the empty coffee cups on the table, "don't forget to pick up more coffee while you're there." 

Ethan nodded solemnly, while Rose tried to suppress an amused smile. Andrew, expressionless, simply added coffee to their already extensive list. If that was all it took to please Aunt Betty, they'd gladly oblige.

With a jingle, she handed them the car keys. "Here, ya can take my car too. This way you'll transport more supplies. It's easier than goin' back and forth multiple times. But mind ya don't scratch it!"

"Of course," Ethan took the keys, handing them over to Andrew. 

"Can I accompany you to town?" Luke appeared besides them, eager to tag along. 

Unsure on how to respond, Ethan looked at Mr. Kepler, who pondered it. 

"Please, I can help you packing the supplies into the cars. It will be quicker that way!"

Mr. Kepler considered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Luke. You can go with them. But remember to listen to Ethan and do as he says." 

Luke's face lit up with excitement as he rushed to grab his jacket.

Rose could only roll her eyes at the boy's enthusiasm as she grabbed her jacket and followed her brother and Ethan outside. They split up, with Ethan and Rose taking their own car, while Luke tagged along with Andrew in Aunt Betty's. The boy was clearly a little crestfallen at not being able to go with Ethan and Rose, as he was somewhat afraid of Andrew, but didn't dare disagree with their arrangement.