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Albie closed his mouth, his lips a tight line.
It made Percy laugh more.
He left the dough in a ball, wiped his hands, and found the cast-iron pot and lid.
“What are you doing with that?” Albie asked.
Percy floured it before dropping the ball of dough in it. “Making damper,” he replied. Wasn’t it obvious?
Then instead of placing it into the wood stove, he carried it into the living room and placed it on the edge of the wood fire.
“Uh.” Albie stood there, clearly unsure. “We have an oven.”
Percy raised his hand. “No making fun of it until you’ve tried it.” He used the fire poker to turn the heavy iron pot one-quarter turn.
Albie’s lips twitched as he fought a smile, then he sighed. “Thank you,” he said. “For before. For reading that letter. I would have muddled through it if I had time, but with everyone watching, I...”
“It’s fine. That fancy writing isn’t easy to read,” Percy allowed.
“You managed it.”
“Practice.”
“Your grandfather’s writing? Is that what you said?”
Percy shrugged one shoulder. “I used to read his books and papers.”
Albie’s eyes met his once more. They were kind and a little determined. “One day you’ll tell me about your life and what brought you here.”
Percy swallowed but conceded a nod.
“And about you teaching me to read,” Albie added quietly.
Percy grinned at him. “Starting tonight. After dinner. You can tell Des and Robert I’m cleaning up?—”
Albie raised his hand in a stop fashion, but he did manage that half smile that Percy liked so much. “When we get back from the sales. Tonight, we’ll need to get ready.”
“Do we all go? Who stays behind to watch the place?”
“Des will stay,” Albie said quietly. “His leg’s no good on long trips unless we take the wagon, but we’re droving the cattle, so... He’ll stay behind. He treats this place as if it were his own, and I trust him. But you, me, and Robert will take the cattle.”
Percy couldn’t stop his grin. It sounded like an exciting adventure to him.
Albie sent him a disapproving frown. “You’ll be on Minnie. I’ll take Ox. He’s not used to me so much but I’d rather you were with Minnie. I can’t have you getting hurt.”
Oh.
Percy wasn’t sure if that was out of kindness, concern, or because he wasn’t yet fully competent.
It’s all out of concern, he reasoned as he turned the pot in the fire another quarter turn. And it had been so long since someone had cared...
You’re his employee, his responsibility, that’s all there is to it.
“Ow, blast!” Albie cried from the kitchen.
Percy raced over, seeing him holding his wrist. “What is it?”
“Oh, nothing,” he winced. “I caught my arm on the pot. It was foolish. I wasn’t paying attention.”
