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“So we make a deal,” Albie declared. “A promise, between us, right here and now.” He held up the little nugget of gold, letting the sun hit it. “We will not let this rule us or ruin us. We can look only when we come down here to run cattle or if we need another night when it’s just the two of us, if the weather’s good. We keep this a secret until we both decide otherwise, but we don’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Agreed.” Percy felt better immediately. “And whatever we find, we don’t take to Alpine Falls. We take it two towns over if we have to. Like you said, we use the money to make the farm better. We won’t let each other be blinded by this,” he said, searching Albie’s eyes. “I promise. You have my word, Albie.”
Albie’s smile was something special. “And you have my word, Percy. My promise to you, and my heart. You have that too.”
Before Percy could be embarrassed, Albie looked out over the river and sighed before he slipped the nugget of gold into his pocket. “Let’s forget about this for now and make some breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I’ll get the bread. You make the tea.”
“Deal.”
Epilogue
Ten Years Later
Time was a funny thing.
It moved in cycles, both fast and slow. Some days Albie could have sworn time flew by too fast, seasons merging into years far too easily. Some days working cattle and horses outside was so cold time seemed to stop altogether.
And then some days it seemed like just yesterday that he said a final goodbye to his father.
It had been ten years to the day that Albie had inherited his father’s farm and signed the title deeds to his property. Ten years to the day that a thin and wiry blond man not much younger than him smiled his way into Albie’s life.
And into his heart.
He wasn’t so thin and wiry anymore.
Percy had filled out nicely. A strong man of almost thirty years now. His blond hair still probably a little too long, but those blue eyes still sparked with mischief, and his smile...
That smile still stole Albie’s breath.
He’d never tire of it.
Never tire of waking up next to him, working alongside him.
And never tire of seeing Percy’s name next to Albie’s on the deeds to his property.
“Mr Bramwell, Mr Collins,” Mr Flannigan said. “Congratulations.”
Congratulations, indeed.
It had taken ten years, but Percy finally agreed to be partners.
Life partners, always.
Business partners, starting now.
“I’m sure your father would be very proud of your success, Albie,” Mr Flannigan added. He gestured to them both in their nice attire, sitting across from him.
They both did look good today.
Clean suits, hair brushed.
A far cry from the kid that walked into this office ten years ago in his too-worn clothes, covered in dirt and sweat, full of grit and determination.
Well, the determination still remained.
