Done looking after Russ as he retired to his own bed, Will came back to himself and looked over at Quincy with concern. He wondered if Quincy might stay on the cot with him to sleep. Just then a flame jumped within the fireplace as a small piece of wood caught fire. The boy scrambled off the cot and went to that same spot by the wall where he was before. Will remembered how he would not get too close to the fire at his family's cottage, or was it Will's grandmother he avoided?
The fire had not risen much, but looking at its low flame, Quincy still decided he liked the floor better. Getting the blanket, Will took off his vest. He thought he might roll it up for a pillow, but now he thought it might make a bed for Quincy. Will limped over and sat on the floor next to the boy.
"It's not so cold that we have to be over by the fire. We'll be just fine here," he whispered to Quincy and spread out his vest for him to lie on. The boy did not lie on it though. He looked down at it then moved close to Will and rested his head against his arm. Will took up the vest and covered him up with it. Quincy stuck an arm out to free it, and Will saw that within it he clutched the turtle Russ made him.
Though Quincy snuggled in next to him as if ready to nod off, as long as Will was awake, the child never did close his eyes. Will could not remain awake. Tired as he was, sleep took him fast, dragging him down into unknown depths. Will slept soundly until morning light and the sound of footsteps roused him.
Blinking away the last traces of sleep, Will noticed a large shadow falling across the floor and sunlight filtering in through small windows. Just then remembering where he was, Will realized that the shadow was Russ. He was up then and so was Quincy, though he only sat quietly by Will's side.
Will was about to say good morning to Russ when he noticed how he stood stock still and stared at the empty cot. As he looked at it, Russ at first seemed distressed then absolutely wretched. A sad, strangled sound escaped his throat right before Will spoke up.
"Good morning. You'll find us down here, I'm afraid, though the cot would have been more comfortable," Will said as Russ flinched then turned to stare down at him and Quincy with a sad look that turned happy with relief. At that moment, Will felt just how lonely the big man must be to be so pleased to find inopportune guests such as them were still with him.
No doubt he hadn't expected to find the cot empty and the two of them huddled on the floor, and Will felt the need to explain as best he could. "The fire jumped suddenly and startled Quincy. That's why we moved over here and then fell asleep where we were."
After a shaky breath or two, Russ blinked and said, "I was afraid you had set out early and with your leg busted. I'm more than glad to find you still here."
"I could not have got far on this ankle," Will said with a smile. He was somehow pleased that Russ should be so distressed to think them gone and happy to see they were still there. With his gruff visage but a good heart, all this time Russ had been unfailingly welcoming. How could Will not like the man? It did seem to him that he liked Russ a bit much though.
"Did you sleep well enough?" Russ asked and came over to help Will stand.
Will felt a bit stiff from sleeping on the floor, but sleep he did. "I slept fine, but I don't know about the little one." He looked down at Quincy, who jumped to his feet and picked up Will's vest off the floor.
"He does not look overtired so he must have got a wink or two," Russ said, but Will wasn't sure of that at all. Hunger and thirst never showed on the boy, why would a lack of sleep?
As Will contemplated the boy, the child looked up at Russ. Quincy held up the turtle Russ had carved him and proudly said, "Turtle."
"He likes your gift," Will said always glad to hear Quincy speak.
"Maybe I'll try my hand at another. I might be able to manage a bird," Russ said. He did not seem to have much faith in his own talents though he was a most capable man and much in demand whenever any sort of work needed to be done.
Russ was well regarded for his strength most of all, but also for his hard work and his honesty. No task was too difficult for him. That did not mean that people were at ease around him. Most thought he might turn into a ruffian given half a chance and mistrusted him. They did not know him at all.
They would not think him frightening in the least if they could see how Russ despaired over his biscuits. They were not so bad, really. Yesterday, Quincy would not have them, but he did not have any food at all. That's why Will ate his own portion and the child's too then lied about it. The lies he told Russ still weighed heavy on him, but he saw no other way.
Going over to where Russ was frowning over his biscuit dough, Will drew Quincy along. "Don't let it trouble you. A biscuit need not be light as air." Will sat down in the chair while Quincy perched on the three legged stool and watched Russ at work.
"I would like to improve, but I don't know how to make them any different," Russ said. He was kneading the dough with his big hands.
"I can't be of any use to you there. I've seen my grandmother make them, but I never learned her trick. She's proud of her cooking but always careful to guard her recipes." Noticing how well and thoroughly Russ was kneading, Will had a thought. "One thing I do remember. My grandmother did not knead her biscuits so well. I few turns only, then she let them rest."
"Could that be her trick?" Russ wondered. "Too late to try it now. Tomorrow I will go easy on the poor dough and not work it so much."
Will smiled at how serious and determined he was. Looking at the other side of the table, he saw how closely Quincy was watching as Russ cut the dough into pieces. Anyone would think the child was hungry, but Will doubted he would eat. And to cover for it, Will would have to lie again. The way he shied away from any drink was harder to explain.
At breakfast, Will made sure to take a cup of cider before Russ brought it close to the boy. He pretended to share it with him, but brought the cup empty to the boy's lips. The drink was freshly made from the apples Russ had picked only the day before. They were dipping biscuits in the cider while Russ lamented that he did not have jam to give them.
"A bit of sweet might tempt the boy to eat," Russ said seeing that he was so indifferent to what was offered.
"He'll be all right," Will assured him. Quincy was such a happy boy and in apparent good health. There hardly seemed any good reason to worry.
To keep them from dwelling on Quincy, Will brought up something else that was on his mind. "Is it not lonely for you here? Have you not thought of taking a wife?" he asked though the thought of Russ marrying caused a stab of pain to shoot inside him.
"I am well contented with this life. I lack for nothing and no one bothers me here," Russ said easily. He showed no longing for a different life or for human company.
Will nodded. He must have got the wrong impression of Russ when he had thought they were gone. It was only worry about Will's ankle that had distressed him earlier. Realizing that he would not be missed once he was gone, Will could not but feel dejected.
Russ surmised that he was thinking that he and Quincy might be a bother to him. "Don't take my words the wrong way. You and Quincy are good company. I'm glad to have you."
"I know we've caused you trouble."
"No. You've been no trouble at all," Russ assured him. "But I can't idle away all my hours even in such a pleasant pastime as sitting here with you." Russ stood up and got the pail. "I'll be going up to the spring to fetch some water," he said.
Taking the pail with him, Russ went over to where Quincy was sitting on the floor making his wooden turtle climb the legs of the table. "Would the little one like to go up to the creek with me to fetch some water?" Russ asked.
Immediately Quincy looked alarmed and moved to hide behind Will's legs.
Will smiled at Russ in apology. "It's not your company he shies away from. He's not used to being away from me. He was like this with all in my family as well." Russ had seen the boy run from Sally for much the same reason at least.
"I'll take no offense. It's only natural for him to want to stay with the one he knows best," Russ said and smiled at the boy.
Quincy looked up at him and shook his head, but he did not seem unfriendly, only a bit scared.
He looked even more frightened when Russ came back with the pail filled with water. Will decided to take him outside and away from it before Russ noticed how strangely he reacted. Being busy pouring out the water, some for drinking, some for washing up, Russ did not give Quincy too much of his attention.
Taking a seat outside on the bench, Will saw that Quincy was at ease once again. He ran all over and peered at birds and bugs. A little later, Russ came out. He found Quincy sitting on the ground with a pile of pebbles he had gathered. He was showing them to Will, who called each stone very nice.
"I got plenty of water for washing up," Russ said. He looked at Quincy, who was sitting on the ground but remarkably unsullied. "But I see that Quincy has washed up already. You do take good care of that boy."
Russ was giving Will praise for Quincy's cleanliness, but it was not his doing. No matter how he played or what he touched, dirt would not stick to the boy – another thing about him that Will could not explain.
In many ways Quincy behaved like any other child. He was inquisitive and eager to poke around. It was only those few unexplainable things that set him apart. Still those few things might be their undoing and lose them the friend they found in Russ. Will had to stay alert, come up with a quick excuse and even lie when he had to.
For the rest of the day Will did not have to worry about what Russ might think of Quincy. Russ had work to do over in Paddock Vale where he went to help plough a field. That's the kind of work Russ had done for Will's father as well. At those times, instead of doing his own work, Will had watched him and wondered why he watched a brawny man the way other men watched a comely lass.
By the time Russ came home, he was tired and filthy, but he smiled as soon as he saw Will and Quincy sitting on the bench in front. Will smiled in return as did Quincy.
"This one is happy to see you," Will said of Quincy, but he only wanted to hide how happy he was himself.
They all went inside and Russ discovered what Will had been busy doing. "I smell something good," he said.
"I hope you don't mind. I hobbled around and cooked up some supper. It's only some potatoes roasted up and..."
Russ frowned and cut him off. "You did not go down into the cellar on that bad foot?"
"It's not so bad, and Quincy went into the cellar for me," Will told him.
"He's a helpful lad," Russ said and he got another sweet smile from Quincy. It seemed to Will that the boy was quite fond of Russ already. That was only natural considering how good he had been to them.
That night instead of Will, it was Russ who told stories. He had no fantastic tales that he heard as a child, but he had plenty of adventures to tell of. Since he was very young, Russ had been on his own and done all sorts of work. There was often some adventure or misadventure involved in the jobs he took.
Will loved listening to him, his voice, his way of speaking, his eyes with the glow of firelight and good cheer. They sat together on the cot while Quincy and his wood turtle listened from under the table. Quincy seemed happy under there, and Will was most glad to be so close to Russ. But then he realized they should not keep him up after a hard day's work.
"You must be tired. We should let you get your rest," Will said.
"I feel restored just sitting here and talking with you two," Russ said gallantly.
"It's chilly tonight. I wish I wasn't taking this fur blanket away from you. Won't you take it back?" Will asked, placing his hand on it.
Russ looked at his hand then into Will's eyes. "Not on your life," he said with a smile. "A blanket is but a small price to pay for good company."
"On a cold night, I'm not as good as a blanket," Will said. He did think how he might press himself against Russ to keep him warm, then cleared his throat as if that might dismiss the idea from his head and the heat and tingle from his skin.
"If it's between you and a blanket, I'd rather have someone like you keeping me warm," Russ said.
"Russ," Will gasped as his heart began to beat too loudly. It was as if Russ had stolen the thoughts right out of his head. Will was not so bold as to speak them, but Russ was.
Might Russ be flirting with him, Will wondered. But that couldn't be. Men did not flirt with one another. Did they?
Whether they did or not, Will did not know what to do about it other than blush and tell his heart to quit pounding so hard. With his head down, not knowing where to look, Will remained still. He told himself that Russ was only jesting, nothing more.
He was still in that confused and excited state as Russ stood up and said, "Good night, Will. Good night, little one."
Hearing him, Will wanted to grab hold of his rough, calloused hand and ask him to remain there. Or he might have asked to go with him to his bed. All Will did was raise his eyes to Russ and say, "Good night, Russ, and thank you for everything."