Russ looked over the rocky hillside, thinking of all the hiding places that were out there. Glancing over at Will, he saw how pale he was and how wide his blue eyes were. Though the child had not been gone that long, Will was shaken by a terrible worry for that little one.
"What if he fell? There are so many high and steep places," Will said, imagining how Quincy might come to a terrible end.
Russ squeezed his hand harder. "The lad is all right. We only need discover him, and all will be well." His words were meant to comfort, but Russ was worried for the boy too. He was so little and he did not know these hills. Will was not wrong when he mentioned the dangers that lurked out there for the unwary.
Will called to Quincy over and over again, his voice becoming shaky and frightened. The boy meant so much to him. It broke Russ's heart.
To think only a little while ago, Will was about to take him away from here. What had possessed that little one to run? Russ could think of only one thing. The same thing that made Russ's heart constrict and his throat close up.
At the news that they were leaving, Russ had dropped his gaze not wanting Will to see his pain. But he had seen pain in his eyes too as if each of them silently said, "Leaving hurts just as being left hurts."
Russ did not want them to leave, but what right did he have to ask them to stay? They had stood only a few paces apart, but he did not know how to cross that distance.
He and Will were peering in every hiding place, every small space where a child might fit himself. Standing under a copse of trees, they looked all around in the undergrowth then up above. Alert for any noise that wasn't the wind moving in the treetops, Russ thought he heard a bit of movement. He took hold of Will's elbow to keep him still so he would be able to listen better.
"I hear rustling up above. It's faint so I can't be sure that it is him," Russ said to Will. He looked up but his eyes did not settle on any one spot. Doubting what he heard, Russ shook his head. Any number of creatures that weren't Quincy might be up there.
Will took him at his word anyway. "Quincy, if you are up there, come down this very instant or I will be very cross."
Russ was surprised at his strict and commanding tone, but it had its desired effect. Though Russ did not spy him climbing down, Quincy emerged from among the tree trunks and came forward at a run.
"Quincy," Will almost sobbed and opened his arms to the little boy.
Knowing just what to do, Quincy ran straight into those welcoming arms.
"You gave me a fright. Where did you go?" Will said as he held the precious child to him.
Quincy pointed up into the branches of the tree. It was just as Russ thought.
"Didn't you hear me call?" Will asked, a little strictness returning to his voice.
Quincy nodded then hugged him again as if to console him for his worry.
"Were you playing?" Russ asked and Quincy shook his head. The boy came close to Russ and took his hand. Next he pointed to the house and stomped his foot on the ground. "Stay. Stay here."
"What...?" Will started to ask but Russ spoke up right then.
"Your lad wants you to stay," he stated simply as the child's meaning was plain to him.
"But..." Will started to object, but Russ didn't let him continue. He wanted to have his say as well.
"And I want you to stay too. You're both welcome to remain with me as long as you like," Russ said. He wished he had said it before.
Will stared at Russ then down at Quincy. As Russ smiled at him, Quincy held up the toy horse. He then put it inside his shirt and took hold of Russ's hand. Reaching over, he grabbed onto Will's hand as well. He formed a chain between the three of them, but Russ wasn't sure it would hold, and it was his own fault.
He placed his hand on the child's shoulder and asked him, "Will you remain here while Will and I have a word?"
Quincy nodded and immediately sat down on the ground. From inside his shirt, he got out the toy horse and the turtle as well and started playing with them.
Russ led the way to the outcropping of stone and motioned for Will to have a seat on a rock ledge. The reason for Will's haste and determination in leaving weighed on him. Will was in a hurry to leave because he kissed him. Russ was sure of it. Now he had to set things right if he could.
"Please do not rush to leave on account of my actions last night. I was too forward. When I kissed you..." Russ started to say but he didn't know how to explain such a thing. "I am very sorry if I caused you offense. That sort of thing will not happen again. For a moment, I was overcome, but I will keep firm hold on myself from now on."
Will was silent and Russ was not sure if his words made it through. As Will did not meet his eyes but only looked toward Quincy where he played, Russ was sure that his entreaty had failed.
"I know you have Quincy's family to search for in eastern hills," Russ began, but Will shook his head. If they were not to remain, Russ was going to offer to go with them, but what Will said next stopped him.
"That was a lie," he said and hung his head. "I do not know where Quincy's family might be or if he has any."
"So you're not going to any village in the eastern hills?" Russ asked, dumbfounded by Will's revelation.
"No. I've had no word whatsoever of Quincy's family," Will admitted and looked worriedly at Russ as if expecting rebuke for his lie.
"Then where were you off to?" Russ asked, more concerned than angry.
"I thought I might go to Lathberg and take Quincy along with me. I could find work there." Will's plan did not seem definite, but the sort of thing one undertakes out of desperation, when a body has nowhere else to go.
"What about your village and your kin?" Russ did not understand what could have caused him to leave them. When they last spoke, his father had been welcoming of the boy.
"They will not have us. My grandmother believes that Quincy carries a curse that will blight our house, and my father has come to believe it too," Will said and his face took on a mournful expression overlaid with anger and hurt.
"You were cast out of your house and your village?"
"More like driven out by fear. If folks find out that Quincy might be cursed, they would not be likely to offer us any hospitality, or they might even do worse. That's why I was so determined to move on from here," Will said.
"Not from my house, surely. You and the boy are welcome here," Russ told him vehemently.
"We could not impose on you any longer," Will said.
"You said you have family, an uncle you might turn to?" Russ recalled and wondered why Will made no mention of him. "Won't he help you?"
"I have no uncle," Will admitted. "I only said that so I would not seem like a vagabond. I have no one to turn to."
"Why didn't you say? Were you going to go off only to wander aimlessly and hope to find work in a town full of strangers?" Russ said, appalled.
"Yes," Will stated simply.
"But you can stay here. You see that I have enough room," Russ told him.
Will did not accept his offer though, only looked grim. "Don't be so quick with your hospitality. I have not told you all there is to the tale. The boy was by the river at night and so was I. That's where I found him. If there is any such thing as the river's curse..."
Russ did not let him finish before declaring, "There isn't. And if there is, you two don't have it."
"How can you be sure?"
Though Will questioned his certainty, Russ had no doubts. "Because I say so."
Will laughed, a half relieved, half sobbing sound.
"Will you stay then?" Russ asked, growing hopeful that he and the boy would remain now that the truth was out.
Will did not agree just yet. "It seems too much to ask."
"It isn't. I'm glad to have you. These hills are a lonely place. I can use the company," Russ told him. He was ready to beg. Knowing that Will and Quincy had no place to go, he was desperate to have them stay.
"But you said you were well contented with a solitary life and wouldn't have it any other way," Will reminded him.
Russ waved off his words. "That was just empty talk to make myself appear less lonely and pitiful in your eyes. I can't say that I'm glad for the ill fortune that brought you here, but I am glad to have you stay here with me. I have become accustomed to having you and the lad around the place and would miss your company," Russ confessed.
"Then you truly do want us to stay?" Will said, his eyes questioning but shimmering with tears of gratitude as well.
"Yes. Fate brought you to me when you were in need of help and shelter. This is where you and the boy are meant to be," Russ declared.
"Quincy and I like it here, and you've seen for yourself how taken he is with you and this place." Will looked toward Quincy where he played. The child did not raise his head as he made the horse jump over the turtle. "Thank you and as you can see without anyone telling you, Quincy is happy to stay."
"Let's tell him the good news then," Russ said and stood up. He felt like relief and happiness were choking him, and any moment now tears would come to his eyes. They were to stay. This was the happiest Russ had ever been in his life.