Page 85 of Peach Tree Family

"Oh, it's nothing. If I get up all right, you can go ahead and laugh at me," Seth said but Theo stopped him from getting up.

"No. Stay put," Theo told him and kneeled next to him. "Did you fall the other way so you wouldn't trip me up?"

"Just a little," Seth said then he winced as Theo helped him move his foot. "That's not so bad."

"You hurt your ankle," Theo said. "It looks like a sprain, but you should have it looked at."

"No. As long as I can move it, the damage isn't that bad," Seth told him and showed him.

"OK, OK. Don't push yourself. Let's get you up carefully." Theo pulled Seth's arm over his shoulders and hoisted him up.

"I wanted to help," Ace complained while Theo kept a tight hold of Seth as he stood on one leg and tested out if his other leg could hold him up.

"I think I can limp on it," Seth decided.

"OK, Ace, you can help," Theo told him. He then looked toward the porch and told Seth his plan. "I want to keep working. You can sit on the porch and rest your ankle, and I can keep an eye on you? Ace, go unfold one folding chair."

"I can just sit on the porch steps," Seth said, but Ace was already running to do what his brother said.

In the meantime Theo took his time getting Seth over to the porch. "I can't believe you got yourself hurt just so I wouldn't get hurt. Damn it," Theo grumbled as they went, then he corrected himself. "I mean, thank you."

"It wouldn't be right for me to let you get injured because of me," Seth told him.

Theo still looked unhappy with him. And when Seth looked up, he saw that Ace looked mad at him too.

"Guess I got myself in trouble with Ace," Seth said, and Ace confirmed it.

"You did. You are not allowed to get hurt." Ace made a fierce face at him.

"Sorry," Seth told him but he was touched at how much he cared.

The porch steps were a struggle, and Seth leaned on Theo heavily. His hold was comforting even if he did glare at Seth worriedly as he helped him sit down.

"How's that?" Theo asked after he had Seth settled into the chair.

"Not bad, but I'm useless just sitting here."

Theo leaned over him to stare sternly into his eyes. "You're letting that ankle heal, and don't you even think of getting up without me here to help you."

"Yeah!" Ace added on top of his brother's warning then he stomped away, ready to help Theo.

It was kind of fun to watch them work together, Ace always trying to do too much. Butter came over to climb all over Seth, but some petting got her to curl up on his lap.

"I've been feeling real lazy watching you guys working hard," Seth said when Theo and Ace came over. They were done for the day and ready to go in, but first they had to get their sneakers off.

"Am I paying you for all this hard work you're doing?" Theo asked Ace.

"I don't know," Ace said but looked hopeful.

"I could pay you in brownies," Theo offered.

"Yay!" Ace said, running inside.

"Brownies?" Seth said.

"The oven is fixed. Finally." Theo pulled him up to stand, and Seth couldn't help but enjoy the contact between them. "Now I'm the one who stinks," Theo said.

"You smell fine," Seth told him and Theo gave him a sideways look.

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