AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Percy knew Albie worried that taking in Elsie and Clara might be an overstep in the ability to feed and pay everyone, but having them both was a blessing.
Clara took over most of the cooking, while Elsie tended the house, the gardens, chickens, pigs. She’d carry water or hay—no job a man could do that she couldn’t, Percy was sure.
But they brought something else with them too. Order and structure and an easiness Percy hadn’t expected. Instead of Albie and Percy stopping work and then scrambling to get meals done, they got more work done which made Robert and Des’s lives easier too.
And the cooking was so much better. Though Percy’s damper and Cocky’s Joy had been welcome, even he could admit it paled in comparison to Clara’s cooking.
Albie was happy, which made Percy happy, and life at Echo Creek was good. There was no bickering, only laughter, no power struggles, just everyone doing their jobs the best they could.
Though Percy did notice one thing.
When he was helping Albie with his reading—his reading was improving just fine. He was so much better already—but the ledgers...
Albie’s father’s records of income and taxes, and what Albie could add to that in the weeks since his father’s passing were lean. Too lean, probably.
They needed money.
Self-sufficiency would only get them so far. If Albie wanted his farm to be successful, if he wanted to prove to those naysayers that he was capable, that he was man enough, something needed to change.
“It doesn’t look good, does it?” Albie asked.
He was looking at the same numbers Percy was studying, and he was no fool.
“We’ll do better at the next sale,” Percy said.
Not wanting to think about how Mr Bailey at the saleyards had duped Albie last time, swindling him out of a fair deal.
Clearly that was where Albie’s mind had gone too. “Hmm. Doubtful when the likes of John Bailey is in McAllister’s purse.”
Percy hated that he was right.
“What about the horses?” Percy hedged. “The wild horses Des and Robert saw.”
Albie’s gaze shot to his. “The brumbies?”
He nodded. “We could round them up. Take them to the sales. They’d have to be worth a few decent pounds. Keep some for breeding, even.”
Albie’s eyes danced, first with possibilities, then hardened with reality. “We’d never get them up the mountain.”
“So we don’t bring them back this way. We can take them around and back into town. Or further south to a saleyard in the next town, and not in Alpine Falls,” Percy said, liking the idea of it more and more. “McAllister can’t have his hand in pockets in every town, surely.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Albie mumbled. He frowned at the books for a few long seconds, then his eyes met Percy’s. “It’s not a bad idea. We should think on it and ask Des and Robert.” Then he frowned. “Well, I think I know what Des will say. There’ll be some name-calling, I’d reckon.”
Percy couldn’t help but chuckle. “I’d reckon you’re right. But there’s one thing he’ll never be able to call you, Albie, and that’s a quitter.”
“He might question the size of my brain. And my sanity.”
Percy laughed and gave Albie’s knee a squeeze. “He’ll come around.”
Albie smiled but it soon faded. He was serious then, his brow knitted. “You know, I reckon I’d get more for them if they were broken in. I could make good stock horses out of some of them, I’m certain of it.” Then he made a face and sighed. “But that’d mean getting them back up the mountains.”
Percy closed the books. “We can think on it. It’s time for bed.”
Albie was quick to stand up. “My favourite part of the day,” he whispered.
Percy gave him a playful shove. “Mind your manners.”
“I’d rather mind yours,” he murmured with a wicked gleam to his eye. “If you know what I mean.”
