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That made Des laugh. “Oh, yeah. Driven by greed and spite.” Des tapped his leg again. “He told the doc to take my leg off. I had to beg him not to. Though when the pain gets bad, I’m half tempted to take it off myself.”
Oh, good heavens.
Percy shook his head. “If it ever gets that bad, you let me know. I’ll do your work for ya so you can rest up.”
Des smiled at him, then rubbing his hand over his stubble and looking back at the house, he sighed. “We better not be late. Don’t reckon I wanna see if Albie’s temper matches his father’s.”
Percy snorted. “No, we better not. Though as mad as he was, he kept his cool twice up against the likes of McAllister while we were in town. And his men. Got more guts than brains, I’d reckon.”
Des laughed. “Been like it since he was a youngin’. If he sets his mind to it, consider it gettin’ done. Used to drive his old man mad.”
Percy smiled, despite his heavy heart.
Albie was respected by everyone who knew him well enough, and Percy could easily see why. He liked him the second he saw him. He might have had different reasons—being so handsome and all—but the more he got to know Albie, the more he liked him.
And then last night happened, sharing a bed. And then this morning in the stable...
And now he had to go face him.
“Better get this damper made then, huh?” Percy said.
“Please. And maybe try saving the stew while you’re in there. Don’t tell him I said that.”
Percy laughed. “I wouldn’t dare.”
He pulled on his coat and hurried across the yard and into the back door of the house, coming into the mudroom and then the kitchen, almost running into Albie.
“Here for damper duty,” Percy said, trying on a smile he didn’t truly feel.
Albie stopped, pan in hand. His eyes met Percy’s, and he licked his lips. “Thank you. Or you could teach me how to make it, then you wouldn’t have to worry about it again.”
“I don’t mind doing it,” Percy said. “Though I should probably wash my hands first.”
Albie winced. “Look, about this morning,” he whispered. “I, uh?—”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Percy said quickly. He wanted to explain, to speak his truth, but no. He needed to put his head down and do what he was here for. “I’m just really grateful for this job and a place to stay, so if you don’t mind, I’ll start the damper. Des and Robert can’t have a late supper.”
Albie opened his mouth to say something, but the front door swung inward and Robert came in. “Albie, I think there’s a newborn calf down.”
“Oh, blast!” Albie turned and went for his coat and stopped, looking back at Percy.
“Go,” he said. “I’ll fix dinner. It’s fine.”
With a nod, he pulled his coat and hat on and ducked out the door.
Percy didn’t dwell on the too-quiet house or the ache in his heart. He took the flour and put himself to work.
* * *
Robert and Albie came in late, mostly wet and cold, and warmed themselves by the fire while Percy served up dinner. There was a calf and cow now in the stable.
Born before spring and unlikely to survive, but they’d do all they could to help it.
“Thank you,” Albie said quietly as they sat down at the table. Percy had set the table and fixed dinner, both damper and stew, and because Albie wasn’t there to tell him not to, he’d made a little surprise for after.
Damper he could make, yes. As for the stew, he wasn’t entirely sure... Albie had started it, but Percy had taken over, and he’d added a pinch of this and that, something he’d seen his mother do. And from the way everyone ate in silence, shovelling it in, he figured it wasn’t too bad.
“And I made something else,” he said, getting up. “For two reasons. One, a successful run down the mountain to the saleyard. No injuries, no illness, and Albie didn’t punch McAllister in the mouth.”
