Four: SOME BROKEN WORDS

#Wren

I grimaced as I tried to get the cow dung off my boots, I smelled worse than a darn barn! I ran my boots through the grass again and was pleased with the final results. It was at times like these when I had to rack my mind for the exact reason I had chosen this darn profession! But I took a deep breath calming myself, I could survive the next couple of hours until I could get a bath. Putting my hat back on, I walked into the storage room to get a basket.

Mother had said she needed some carrots and spinach, which I needed to get for her now. I maintained a small garden for her, which was where I was going after acquiring a basket.

When I walked out, I was startled to an abrupt stop when I noticed the injured boy leaning against the storage walls. Except he was not so injured anymore! He was in brown overalls, with the sleeves rolled up to accommodate his small arms, which were just as smooth as his face. And he smelled worse than I did! I must have involuntarily wrinkled my nose in disgust because he chuckled.

"You smell just as terrible," he said. I had forgotten how soft his voice was!

"I was feeding the pigs before picking eggs, I could not possibly smell like a bathed infant!"

I narrowed my eyes at his banter and he shrugged. He was so tiny, and the extra fabric on him moved more than he did! I wanted to laugh then, but I could not, not in front of him! And who had told him I was here anyway?

"My brother and I will earn our keep, and the old doctor said I only needed a couple more days until he could declare me fit for travel." He said in explanation.

I only stared at him as he bit his lip, clearly expecting me to add my bit to the conversation. Which was not happening!

"Thank you for helping us, I would have died if not for you. How can I ever repay you?" He asked sincerely.

I almost felt ashamed to admit I had wanted to leave him on the road! If there was any thanks needed, it was due to Matthias. Kind, old Matthias. Ever so generous with my resources. Pugh, I would never be happy about that!

"I am all my brother has, and I cannot bear to imagine what would happen to him if left all alone." The boy continued.

I felt a pang of guilt then, even though I should not have. I was not a charity or an orphanage, and I was not obliged to help out all the urchins who needed help! I just wanted my peace and quiet, and now this boy was delaying me in my day's work!

"I am Hector by the way, but I suppose you already knew that," he said, appearing nervous now, "it is nice to officially meet you, Mr. Donoghue."

I looked at his outstretched hand and then back at his disturbingly beautiful face before nodding and walking away.

"Do you have a problem with me, or just people in general, Mr. Donoghue?" He called out, making me stop at a small distance from him.

How could I answer that? I did have a problem with people in general, but for some peculiar reason, he got to more than most. Perhaps because I did not want to keep my distance from him? I wanted to unearth all his secrets. And why he intrigued me so. Why, even now, I could feel his presence as if he was just beside me. What was the matter with me!? I suppose after all these years, living in my head, I had officially become insane. Perhaps I was just lonely, I did not know. But I was definitely suffering from an ailment I could not name yet.

"I know you were in my room the night before last," he said again, lower now that he had caught my attention.

"Why?"

I clenched my fists as I turned to face him slowly, and the boy just stared at me. His rosy lips were pursed as he waited for an explanation that would not come. I should just walk away, I thought, except, I could not. I felt compelled to stand there and tell him that I was looking for evidence that he was a crook. And that I did not need to explain myself, it was my house and I could do what I darn well pleased. Wait, was I contradicting myself?

The boy looked amused as my internal battle raged on. So not only was I watching him as he slept, I was probably insane to him too! I raised a brow at him and he shrugged.

"I am neither a thief nor a threat, Mr. Donoghue."

I almost scoffed, what thief would admit that they were, indeed, criminal. He spoke as if his word alone could change the world and how it functioned. Could change me and how I thought and felt.

"My brother and I were just travelling until we found a place to settle, once I secure employment of course. I am no stranger to hard work." He spoke on.

I nodded again and turned to walk away. I supposed he had said all he had to say, all he had to do now was wait until his leg was fully healed. Then away, they would go.

"I am done with my work, perhaps I could assist you?" He said again, making me groan.

I continued walking but I heard him behind me. Could this boy not take a hint! Hint being, leave me alone!

"Are you hurt?" He said beside me and I looked down at him with a frown.

He was rather small, now that he was standing next to me, barely reaching my shoulders. But he was also still a growing lad, I was sure he would catch up someday.

"You are limping," he explained his question and I narrowed my eyes at him, could he just not leave me alone? Besides, my limp was barely noticeable! Was he studying me?

I started walking again as he tried to keep up with my long strides, still chattering away. I had never met anyone less deterred by my lack of speech! I realized then we could spend the whole day together and he could speak enough for both of us! That was slightly concerning.

"I apologize for prying."

Somehow I doubted that he was sorry at all, and his next statement proved me right.

"You are making me nervous by being quiet, which is only going to make me ask more questions." He declared.

I rolled my eyes as I opened the gate and entered, the boy right behind me. Well, if he was going to stay, he better work! I turned and pushed the basket into his arms. A bit too harshly, it appeared, for he stumbled backwards a bit. He gave a smile nonetheless, as if somehow challenging me to bring on my worst. I groaned again as I walked to the carrots first.

#Hazel

Matthias had told me where he would be, which was where I needed to be. First, to thank him, and second, to question him. Although I had no idea what I would ask. What were you doing in your house, looking at a strange boy you do not know and have a right to investigate? Because I had no doubt he had been looking around to find out more about my brother and me. His eyes were too cold to only have been there out of concern for my well-being. Those silver eyes, beautiful, deadly, unsettling and intriguing all at once! And so, I waited outside as he was inside the storage room.

I could see my presence had startled him, but he tried to appear calm and unfazed, choosing instead to frown. He was just as beautiful as I remembered, meaning Henry had been wrong! I had not been dreaming that night, he really was there! The beautiful man with a scar. The beautiful man with the sad and angry eyes. The beautiful man who intrigued me above all else.

I probably looked hilarious in my borrowed brown overalls, with the sleeves rolled up to accommodate my small arms. One of the smaller boys had let me borrow it, even though it was still huge on me. I watched as Mr. Donoghue wrinkled his nose in disgust before I chuckled nervously. It was apparent he was content with just glaring at me without introductions, so I decided to break the ice.

"You smell just as terrible," I said. I winced inwardly after saying that, and decided to talk about work. Yes, work, that seemed like safe ground.

"I was feeding the pigs before picking eggs, I could not possibly smell like a bathed infant!"

He narrowed his eyes at me as I tried and failed to jest, making me shrug. His eyes shone with amusement then, but it was gone so quickly I supposed I had imagined it.

"My brother and I will earn our keep, and the old doctor said I only needed a couple more days until he could declare me fit for travel." I said in explanation.

He continued to only stare at me as I bit my lip nervously. I could see he would not be replying me any time soon! It was just not happening.

"Thank you for helping us, I would have died if not for you. How can I ever repay you?" I said sincerely

Even if he did not want to speak with me, I still needed to thank him. Though I still hoped for even the smallest response from him.

"I am all my brother has, and I cannot bear to imagine what would happen to him if left all alone." I continued.

Still, the man would not say anything.

"I am Hector by the way, but I suppose you already knew that," I said, becoming more nervous now, "it is nice to officially meet you, Mr. Donoghue."

He looked at my outstretched hand and then back at me before nodding and walking away.

"Do you have a problem with me, or just people in general, Mr. Donoghue?" I called out, making him stop at a small distance from me. I was annoyed now.

"I know you were in my room the night before last," I said, hoping he would react to that. "Why?"

I watched his clenched fists as he turned to face me slowly, and I just stared at him. He looked like he was debating with himself on whether to answer me or not. I almost laughed at the look on his face, making him raise a brow at me and I shrugged in turn.

"I am neither a thief nor a threat, Mr. Donoghue." I said in amusement. Probably he was worried about that, although my saying it was neither proof nor would it put him at ease. I felt better saying it anyway.

"My brother and I were just travelling until we found a place to settle, once I secure employment of course. I am no stranger to hard work."

He nodded again and turned to walk away. I did not want him to go though, no matter how rude he was being. I felt a pang in my chest at seeing his back, I just wanted to be near him, well as near as his present odor would allow me.

"I am done with my work, perhaps I could assist you?" I offered, making him groan audibly.

He continued walking but I followed him. And no, I had no pride at all. He had a slight limp as he walked, you could barely tell since he was walking so fast, but I saw it. And I was curious.

"Are you hurt?" I asked

beside him and he looked down at me with a frown.

The man was really tall, now that I was standing next to him, I barely reached his shoulders. His size was surprisingly not intimidating, it was actually rather comforting. I almost laughed at that. Here this man was, never saying a word and evidently in a hurry to get away from me, but I was finding his presence comforting! And he was frowning at me again.

"You are limping," I explained my question and he further narrowed his eyes at me.

As I had expected, he just ignored me and started walking again as I tried to keep up with his long strides.

"I apologize for prying." I said.

"You are making me nervous by being quiet, which is only going to make me ask more questions." I said, rolling my eyes.

I followed him as he opened the gate and I almost fell when he turned and pushed the basket into my arms. A bit too harshly, I might add. But I took it with a smile as this was his way of saying I could stay. Perhaps I was getting somewhere.

:::::

We had been working for over an hour now, weeding, picking out the ripe vegetables and had planted some onions. I was tired now, and I bent over to scratch my leg for the hundredth time, darn thing was itchier than dry hay! The after effects of healing, or perhaps just the ointment the old physician had given me. When I finally straightened and looked up, Mr. Donoghue was looking at me like I was some peculiar being! I frowned at him.

"What?" I asked, watching him closely.

The man never uttered a word, no matter what I attempted! So I had been studying him the whole day, memorizing his reactions to everything. He shook his head and went back to uprooting the carrots, removing the leaves to feed the rabbits later.

"Why do you not speak?" I asked curiously, needing to get to the bottom of this. His silence had to have a reason somehow.

"Are you a narcissist and believe everyone is beneath you?" I teased, not managing to draw even a smile from him.

"Perhaps you enjoy being intimidating and threatening?" I tried again.

No response, of course.

"Do you have a terrible voice?" I chuckled.

"Or just-"

"Will you s-s-stop!" He finally burst out and I looked at him in surprise.

He stammered?

His face changed from beautiful to menacing as he pointed to the gate.

"L-l-leave my farm! Now!"

"Why-"

"Now!" He repeated.

All this time trying to get him to talk and these are the first words he utters to me? I glared at him as I turned to walk away. He wanted me to go away, then go away I would! I did not care where we would go at this hour but we would make it. Whatever Mr. Donoghue was angry at the world for, I was not going to stay and find out!

I was still breathing heavily in anger mixed together with so many emotions, when I found Henry in our room. I grabbed his bag and threw it at his feet.

"Pack up, we are leaving!"

My young brother narrowed his eyes at me in confusion," What are you talking about? Where are we going?"

"I do not know, anywhere!"

"The physician said two more days!" He argued.

I knew he did not want to leave this place, but it had been an illusion. It was temporary and sooner or later, in this case sooner, Mr. Donoghue would have kicked us out anyway. He was an angry man and my finding out about his speech disability had somehow set him off. I did not understand, was he ashamed of it? Did people make fun of him because of it?

I did not know, but I would not be staying to find out.