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“Bailey gave Albie a lower price than the others,” Robert explained. “Because McAllister told him to.”
“What?” Percy cried. “That’s not right!”
“There’s no right or wrong with him,” Albie said. “Only whatever he says goes. It’s because I refused his offer yesterday in the saloon. I showed him up in public, being agreeable and polite when he wanted a fight.”
“You showed him respect,” Percy said.
“More than he deserved,” Albie mumbled. “And never again. The way McAllister stood there today and watched with that smug smile on his face. He wants to see me fail, and I’ll be damned if I let him.”
There was that stubborn pride again. And for what it was worth, Percy loved to see it. Being determined and proud is what it took to survive in these mountains, Percy was sure of it.
“What did you say to Bailey?” he asked. “Was it a bad price?”
Albie sighed. “It wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t low enough that I’d take my stock back, but it wasn’t the market price, and he knew it. He couldn’t even look me in the eye.”
“He told him thank you,” Robert said. “He said he’d hoped for better. Bailey said that was the best price he could do, and Albie said no, not the price. He’d hoped better from the man his father had called a friend. Albie took his money, I tipped my hat, and we left.”
Percy laughed. “You said that?” he asked Albie. “For real?”
Albie finally smiled. “Meant every word of it too. My father would be disgusted. That’s what I should have told him.”
“Nah,” Robert said. “You did well. You were more a man today than the likes of any of them could ever be. Don’t let ’em get to ya, Albie.”
That made Albie smile, and the rest of the ride was easy then. The mood between them, anyway. The day was warm for winter, though there were dark clouds coming in, and Percy hoped it held off until they were home.
They arrived back at Echo Creek in the late afternoon, low clouds promising sleet. It was cold and bitter, which was an odd contrast because coming through those gates and riding down the drive to the house, Percy felt nothing but warmth in his bones.
Like coming home.
He wanted to belong here with his whole heart.
They unloaded the horses and Percy took them into the stables. He didn’t miss the wary glances from Albie, but he ignored them all the same.
Pretending nothing had happened—that he’d said nothing, that he’d admitted nothing—was the only way forward.
Then he went to check on the chickens and grab some more firewood, but Des had beaten him to it. So he decided cleaning up the bunk quarters was in order. Not that it was terrible but changing out of his now-damp clothes seemed like a good idea. Then he decided washing his dirty clothes and drying them by the fire while the place was empty was worth doing.
And that’s where Des found him.
“There you are. Albie wanted to know if you’re making damper again, which I gotta say, I hope you were,” he said with a smile. Then he was looking around the now-tidy room. “Are you not getting worked hard enough you need to find extra?”
I’m avoiding someone...
“The chickens were done, and the firewood was too,” Percy said. “Horses are all good, dogs are fed, and the vegetable garden is covered.”
Des nodded slowly. “My knee told me this morning there was a cold snap coming. And I’ve been here two days by myself with nothing but time.”
“What did you do to your knee?” Percy asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Was breaking in a horse that wasn’t ready. Came off and broke it bad,” he said, tapping the side of his knee. “I was workin’ for McAllister at the time and I told him the horse weren’t ready, so he told me he had no use for me not bein’ able to walk right.” He shrugged. “Albie’s old man took me in. Said my mind for work was worth two able bodies.”
“He sounds a lot like Albie.”
Des nodded. “The apple, it never falls far.”
No, it doesn’t...
“So McAllister’s always been a horse’s behind, huh?”
