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Albie Bramwell, no less.
Handsome, strong, stubborn Albie.
His boss, no less.
But a man. Something he never thought he’d ever do. When Albie had suggested he take the bed or share with him, Percy wasn’t letting that opportunity slip through his fingers.
Sharing a bed as children was common. He’d shared with his siblings most of his life. But as adults?
As grown men?
Never.
He closed his eyes and smiled, sinking into the safety, the impossibility, the dream...
Until someone in the room snorted and spluttered, scaring Percy half to death. He shot up, then saw it was Robert in the other bed, still asleep but not far from waking. Percy let out a huge breath of pure relief, and taking in the sight of Albie asleep one last time, Percy slipped out of bed.
It was almost morning. Daylight would be here soon enough, so he pulled on his boots and coat and went down to check on the horses.
He wasn’t sure why he expected something bad to have happened. He just didn’t trust McAllister’s men to not try to hurt Albie any way they could.
But the horses and dogs were fine. Their saddles were right where he’d left them. Everything was exactly as it should be. All the other horses in the stables were docile, so Percy assumed he might have been the first one there. It was still before dawn, and with the amount of liquor those men had drunk the night before, he didn’t think they’d be up for a while yet.
He set about saddling their three horses, and when he was done, feeling eyes on him, he turned to find Albie watching.
“Wondered where you got to,” Albie said. His cheeks were pink, from embarrassment or the cold, Percy wasn’t sure.
Would they talk of last night?
Would Albie bring it up?
Percy hoped he would and wouldn’t in equal measure. Wanting to know his thoughts and fearing the words out loud all the same.
“Wanted to check on our lot,” Percy replied. “I don’t trust... some people.”
Albie smirked, knowing exactly who those people were. “Me either. I’m grateful you came to check.” He held up a dish of something that looked terrible. “Clara caught me on the way out. She said she saw you come out here. A little something for our dogs.”
“Oh, good,” Percy said. “For a second there, I thought you were going to say it was for me.”
Albie laughed but fed the dogs, and with the few scraps remaining, he tossed them to the dogs in the stall across the way.
“I want to go to the store before the saleyard,” Albie said.
The saleyards was on the way out of town, so that made sense. “After anything in particular?”
“Just more supplies. Then I figure I don’t need to come back for a while.”
“Good idea. Between the three of us, we can ration out the weight of it.”
Albie smiled and stared as if he couldn’t bring himself to look away. Then he swallowed hard. “Uh... Did you sleep okay?”
So they were talking about it.
“Best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time,” Percy admitted. “Thank you. I know I said the floor wasn’t the worst thing I’ve slept on, but I dunno... maybe it was.”
Albie’s smile was brief. “You’ve slept in some less favourable places I take it.”
Percy wasn’t sure he wanted to admit this, but something told him to. That Albie deserved to know. “Outside. Under the stars isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Well,” he amended, “the stars are okay. But rain isn’t, and winter up in these parts is no fun.”
