Baylor's Choice - part 2

 Here's part 2...  It kind of ends at a weird place, but that's all I have so far...

A few weeks later...
    Henry and Baylor were once again in the horse barn, stroking their two favorite horses in the early morning light.  Henry cast a glance at the rising sun and noted regretfully that he’d need to be going soon.
    “Henry, one day we’re going to find a way to free all the slaves.”  Baylor said determinedly.  “That way friends won’t have to be always getting separated when it’s time for the one to go work.”
    “Oh, Baylor, that’d shore be fine, but how you gonna do it?”  Henry inquired.
    “Oh, I don’t know yet.  I’ll figure out a way, though.  When I’m grown up and smarter.” 
    “Baylor!   Are you going on about your crazy ideas again?”  Baylor was interrupted by a feminine voice and turned to see his older sister Julia entering the barn, with Daniel, their oldest brother, following behind.
    “They’re not crazy, Julia!”  Baylor protested.
    “Well, maybe not crazy, but impractical, that’s for sure!”  Julia retorted, and moved off to the other side of the barn to saddle her horse for a morning ride.
    “I’d better be goin’,”  Henry said, and hurried on out towards the summer kitchen.  Baylor sighed and sunk down to the floor, picking absentmindedly at the loose straw on the floor.
    “Hey now, Baylor, don’t be discouraged.”  Daniel lowered himself to the floor beside Baylor.
    “But, Daniel, it’s not fair, Henry having to go and do all that work, and me not having to do any of it.”
    “Baylor, you know we treat our slaves better than most people do.”
    “Yes, well, they still have to do all that work for no pay or reward.”  Baylor protested.
    “It’s just the way it is.  How else would we get our crops harvested?  We need our slaves, or we’d all go broke, and you and little Jacob and Minnie would be starving.”  Daniel pointed out.  Baylor sighed reluctantly.
    “But there’s got to be a better way.”  He insisted.
    “Well, I won’t argue with you if you can find it.”  Daniel said, patting Baylor on the shoulder and standing to leave.  “Don’t tax yourself too hard thinking on it, though, youngster.  Come on, have you have breakfast yet?”
    “No,” Baylor said, and the two of them walked to the house together.
    After breakfast, Baylor headed up to the nursery to find his younger siblings, Jacob and Minerva.  They were five and two, respectively. 
    “Bay!”  Minerva called out excitedly when Baylor walked through the nursery door.
    “Hey, Minnie!  You up already?”
    “We’ve been up for a long time!”  Jacob answered for Minnie.
    “What’ve you been doing?”  Baylor questioned.
    “Playin’.”  Jacob grinned, showing off his grimy hands to Baylor.
    “How did your hands get so dirty?”  Baylor asked, examining the two children’s blackened hands.  The two looked guiltily over at the fireplace, and Baylor saw the cause.  Ashes from the fire were strewn about all around the fireplace, and various toys and dolls were scattered in among them.
    “We’re pretendin’ it’s snow.”  Jacob explained.  “Wanna play with us?  It’s really fun!”
    “Jacob, Minnie, you’re not supposed to play in the fireplace!  How many times has Mother told you that?  The ashes could still be hot and you’d burn yourselves.”  Baylor scolded.
    “But they weren’t hot.”  Jacob rationalized.
    “You still made a mess, and disobeyed Mother.”  Baylor pointed out.  At that moment, Dinah, one of Henry’s older sisters, came into the room.  She gasped at the sight of the mess.
    “Oh, chilluns, look at de mess!”  She cried.  Jacob and Minnie began to realize their error.
    “We’ll clean it up,”  Jacob offered, and Minnie nodded happily in agreement.
    “No, I’ll send Anika up.”  Dinah said, calling down the stairs for Anika.  Soon, a small child of about seven years old appeared in the doorway.
    “Anika, I need ya to clean dis up whiles I get breakfast for the chilluns.”  Dinah instructed.  Anika nodded and went to the closet for a broom and pan. 
    Baylor watched as Anika cleaned up the mess, feeling guilty that such a little girl was having to do all the work cleaning up a mess she didn’t even make.  Jacob and Minnie tried to help, but they were just making matters worse, so eventually Baylor led them away to go wash their hands and get ready for breakfast.