Going back to the house, Russ was already planning what he should do next. "Since you will be staying here, I thought I might get started on making Quincy more comfortable."
"You don't need to go to any trouble. It's enough that you're letting us stay," Will told him as all three of them walked into the house.
"At the very least I can make Quincy a bed of his own so he doesn't have to sleep on the floor," Russ said.
"It's only because he doesn't like to be by the fire. That's why he sleeps there," Will said.
"That spot is where the new bed will go then," Russ said and smiled at Quincy. "After we have breakfasted, do you two want to come with me and choose which tree we should chop down so I can make you a bed out of it?"
Quincy looked at Will, and he told him, "I feel up to it, if you do." Will smiled at the boy and he nodded.
Russ let Will and Quincy eat on their own while he went to sharpen his ax. "Wouldn't do if it failed me now," he said. But he wanted to get himself out of the way since Quincy was reluctant to eat in front of him. As he sharpened the ax, its edge started to gleam. It would do a fine job.
They set off soon after and started looking for the right tree. Russ had one or two good trees in mind already. But once they climbed over the ridge, Quincy went right for an old tree that would have too many knots in it for Russ's liking.
Leaning his cheek on the flaking bark, Quincy patted the trunk of the old tree several times like he was petting it. When Russ moved off to see if another tree might not be better, Quincy stayed by that same tree and patted it. He would have no other.
"Good tree," Quincy said, surprising both Russ and Will.
"I see you have made a firm choice. This tree it will be then," Russ said. If Quincy spoke up for that tree then Russ would do his best with it.
He got to chopping it while Will and Quincy watched then cheered when the tree came down. Russ split the old tree into the pieces he needed and then he and Will carried them back and set them up in front of the house.
Russ built the bed while Quincy watched. Will lent a hand and with his help, Quincy's bed was nearly done and ready for him by suppertime. Not wanting them to go hungry after all that hard work, Russ got to cooking.
Will and Quincy finished up with the mattress, which was made of three flour sacs stitched together. They stuffed it with fresh, clean straw. Quincy helped add small fistfuls of straw, each time looking up at Will as if asking if he did it right.
"There is no wrong way, my boy," Will told him.
"That's a hard-working lad," Russ said seeing them at work.
The bed still needed a bit more done, and that was deliberate on Russ's part. He had left the bed right outside and planned to be busy out there so that Quincy would be sure to eat. But he hoped that the boy would soon be cured of the shyness that didn't let him eat while Russ was around.
He told Will and Quincy his plan. "I'll have supper ready when you're finished up, but I won't eat just yet. I still have daylight left to work by. While you eat, I'll go and smooth out a few edges on that new bed before I lose the light."
He went out soon after and hoped Quincy would eat his fill. As Russ worked outside, he could hear Will talking to Quincy.
"That is going to be one fine bed Russ is making just for you," he said. "He wants you to feel welcome here and know that you have your own place."
Listening to his words, Russ smiled to himself. It was just as Will said. Russ wanted both Will and Quincy to know that this place was their home if they wanted it to be.
Quincy had been happy with his new bed when it was brought in and all set up. But instead of lying down, he sat on it sideways with his little legs sticking out and looked at Will and Russ sitting on the cot together. He didn't usually pout, but he seemed to be doing so now.
"I think he misses you by his side," Russ told Will.
"I'll come and sit by you," Will told him. "I'll always be close by. Don't you worry."
"I'd like to hear those words too," Russ said though he did not mean to make his words sound so ardent. "I'd like to know that you truly mean to stay."
"As long as you'd like us to," Will said growing shy after he had given his assurances to Quincy with such confidence. Russ hoped Will did not feel diffident around him because of the kiss he gave him. It was only last night, right there in his bedchamber, but now it seemed more like another dream of Will.
As he thought back to that moment, Russ had to steady himself so as not to reach for him again and repeat that mistake. It was vital that he not do anything that might send Will away. The pain of thinking he was losing him from this morning still stung him. He could not risk it no matter how tempted he was.
That's why Russ was surprised when he was about to retire for the night and Will came to his bedchamber door. Russ was sure he would shun being alone with him, but there was Will in the doorway while the fire cast his shadow on the wall opposite. He was like a vision from his dreams if only he would come in a little further and shut the door. But Will stayed in the doorway and smiled nervously.
"I wanted to thank you for everything – the bed, your hospitality and understanding, and for every kindness you've shown us," Will said his voice hushed and full of sincere gratitude.
"Think nothing on it, I'm glad to have you," Russ said while trying to keep any unseemly thoughts at bay.
He wanted Will to know that he opened his home to them with no conditions or expectations or lustful designs on him no matter how strongly Russ's heart and his body ached for him. But here he was now with his hair golden in candlelight, his eyes like clear waters shimmering in the night. His chest rising and falling with each breath, his lips beckoning him without a word, Will was more like a dream than a living man standing in his bedchamber.
The candle Russ brought into his room flickered and he realized that he and Will had been staring at one another for some minutes. It must be that Will's eyes made time stand still. Catching himself staring as well, Will smiled shyly and looked down.
"I should be going and let you rest," he said but he did not move from the spot.
If he did, Russ was ready to rush to him and command him to stay and to make his bed Will's only home. In that moment, Russ's need for him was so powerful, he doubted it could ever be satisfied.
He longed for Will in a way that was more than wanting to sink into his flesh. His heart wanted to leap out of his chest and go to Will, give itself over to him.
Telling his heart to be still did no good. It would not listen. Only Will had power over it now, like he was its true and rightful owner. He had kindled the blazing fire in Russ's body and in his heart. Nothing could extinguish it now. It would burn him up whole and Russ was glad to let it.
But as long as Will remained by his side, Russ would endure the torture of denying himself another taste of his lips and any touch of him. He would let Will say good night and not shackle him in his arms. He would watch him walk out the door and only whisper good night in return. Then he would sleep alone and dream of him. It was a harsh price, but Will was the one man who was worth it.