Across the Sea by Wayne Mansfield

Author:Wayne Mansfield [Mansfield, Wayne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JMS Books LLC
Published: 2016-06-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

A week had passed since the incident by the river. Jacob hadn’t told anyone about it and he wagered Samuel hadn’t either.

“When you get a chance, could you nip out and get me some firewood?” asked Polly.

“Aye, aye,” Jacob replied, for there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Polly, even if it meant having to come face to face with Samuel.

He finished making Jasper’s bed and tidying up his room, and then went to get Polly’s firewood. There was no sign of Samuel and for that he was grateful. On many occasions Samuel had to work elsewhere on the property, mending fences or overseeing the fruit pickers Jasper had hired from a neighbouring farm for the two weeks or so it took to pick the available oranges and lemons. He loaded up his arms with firewood and brought it into the kitchen, stacking it in the alcove by Polly’s stove. He returned to the stable two more times, carrying as much wood as he could manage.

“That should be enough, Jacob,” Polly said. “Are we expecting snow?”

“No, Polly, but the more I bring in now, the longer it’ll be before I have to bring in more,” he explained.

Besides, Polly wasn’t the only one who used the wood. He needed it to stack the fireplaces in the drawing room, the dining room, and Jasper’s bedroom.

On his third and final trip out to the stable, he was surprised to bump into Samuel leading one of the horses out. Samuel had seen him, Jacob knew he had, but the man averted his eyes and carried on as though he hadn’t. Jacob would rather have turned and strolled casually back to the house than have to interact in any way with Samuel, but something urged him on. Something inside him refused to back away. Steeling himself, he took a deep breath and continued to the wood pile.

“Jacob.”

He’d been about to bend down to get some wood.

“Yes,” Jacob replied.

He turned slowly and did his best to look Samuel in the eye.

Samuel looked almost remorseful. “I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot.” Samuel appeared to be finding it equally as difficult to look Jacob in the eye. “It was all my doing, make no mistake. I thought…well, it doesn’t matter what I thought. I apologise to you.”

Jacob’s first reaction was to thank the man, yet he couldn’t forget that day by the river when Samuel had offered him his cock. He’d been about to take it into his mouth and then Samuel had pulled away, citing some ridiculous conflict of allegiance. Quite obviously he’d never intended to follow through on his offer. It had been no more than a cruel joke.

He studied the man’s face for any sign the next words out of his mouth were going to be mocking words. He could find no such sign. This time Samuel’s words appeared genuine. Even his posture, slightly bent, was that of a remorseful man.

“Thank you, Samuel,” he said finally. “I don’t rightly know what happened to make you not like me, but thank you.

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