AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Albie grumbled under his breath, and Elsie looked up at him and smiled. Percy dropped Albie’s arm but not before Elsie saw. “He’ll get what he’s owed, don’t you worry,” she said. “The likes of men such as him always do.”
“Not often enough,” Albie said. Then he looked again at Clara and sighed. “Sorry.”
“I should set the table,” Percy said, remembering.
Elsie put her hand up to stop him. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d rather we didn’t eat with company tonight. I don’t mean to offend, and your generosity is already too much, but perhaps Clara could have something to eat away from the scrutiny. Some privacy, if that suits you, Albie. I don’t know what you have in way of accommodations. We’ll take whatever you can spare.”
“My room,” Percy volunteered.
“No,” Elsie said quickly. “We couldn’t do that.”
“I insist,” Percy said. “Let me clear you some room for your things.”
He didn’t want to move back into the bunkhouse, but he certainly didn’t expect Elsie and Clara to share with Des and Robert. As he shoved his few things into his rucksack, he reminded himself of worse places he’d slept.
And Clara needed this more than he did, so it was only right.
Albie was soon beside him, helping him pack his things, and when the drawer was empty, he took Percy’s rucksack and walked it into his bedroom.
“What are you doing?” Percy whispered, following him in.
Albie spun to face him and there was a different look in his eyes now. Something Percy hadn’t seen before. A determination, but also a fierceness and an authority that made Percy’s belly tighten.
“If I cannot come to your room tonight, then you shall come to mine.”
“But the others?—”
“I don’t care. Des and Robert don’t need to know, and I’m certain Elsie and Clara are to each other as you are to me.”
Percy’s belly swooped. “Oh. Really?”
He had noticed that they were close, affectionate even, but he never realised... he never thought... “Oh. And what am I to you, Albie?” he whispered.
Percy didn’t know what possessed him to ask that, to be so bold to ask such a thing.
Albie softly tapped his finger to Percy’s chin, briefly, perfectly.
“You are everything to me.”
A quiet knock on the front door made them both turn, and Albie darted out of the room, Percy following.
It was Des and Robert, bringing in the items from the cart. “Sorry to interrupt,” Des said. “Thought you might like your belongings.”
Clara turned toward the fire, hiding her face, and Elsie gave her a squeeze before standing up. “Thank you so much. I do appreciate it.”
She picked up one sack, weighing a few pounds at least, and handed it to Albie. “I have little money, but hopefully this will help.”
Albie looked inside, then he looked at her. “What is this?” He put the sack on the table and pulled out smaller paper envelopes. Many of them. He opened the fold on one and inspected its contents, giving it a shake. “Seeds?”
She gave a nod. “All kinds. Mostly vegetables, some fruit trees, I believe. The names are written on them. Enough to plant an orchard, I’d reckon.”
He rifled through the sack, his eyes wide, before smiling at her. “How did you get these?”
She shrugged. “The saloon acquires payment in all kinds. I considered it compensation in lieu of wages. Old man Doyle owed me more than this, and I told him I was taking it. He weren’t game to argue.”
Albie snorted, and Percy smiled. He really did like Elsie. She had more fortitude than half the men he knew.
“There’s some oats and sugar too,” she added. “Now, those he didn’t know about, but they’ll be eaten before he realises. If he realises at all.” She looked at Albie, serious now. “We come with little else, but I promise we’ll earn our keep. We’ll cook and clean, and tend the vegetable garden, and keep the house. We’ll be no bother at all, and you won’t hear a peep of trouble, I swear it.”
