Five: CHASING BOYS

#Wren

Take another horse, he said, follow those boys, he had ordered. Pugh! Had I lost all control over my life?? I admit, I felt bad, not much though. But just enough to actually listen to Matthias and go after the brothers. Offering them employment, however, was not what I wanted! The elder boy could take time to heal, but I did not want them permanently in my employ!

I cursed under my breath as the wind hit my face. It had gotten chilly all of a sudden and the clouds looked angry and ready to pour. There was no sight of Hector and Henry and I hoped they had not taken another darn shortcut again! If not, how had they gotten this far already! It had been two hours since they left, or more accurately since I chased them out, surely they did not walk that fast! I carried on as I led the other horse by my side, all the while thinking what if I just turned around and told Matthias I could not find them?

After about ten more minutes, I finally spotted two figures ahead. I smiled as I galloped faster, and Hector turned to look at me as I approached. His face had unmasked surprise and he frowned at me as I drew to a stop.

"Mr. Donoghue? What are you doing here?"

The younger boy looked at me with the same haunting questions in his eyes and I sighed, indicating the other horse I had brought with me.

"You rode all this way to give us a horse? What, you cannot get us farther enough from your farm?!" Hector scoffed.

This boy was something else!

I bet he impressed a lot of girls with that face and wit. I shook my head and he narrowed his eyes at me.

"You are inviting us back with you?" He asked in a disbelieving tone.

I nodded, wanting to get this over and done with already. I could still change my mind!

"What changed your mind?" He raised a brow.

I rolled my eyes and got back on my horse instead. Playing twenty questions was not getting us anywhere. Especially since I had no desire to give twenty answers.

"Wait!"

I looked expectantly at him and he looked at his brother before asking, hesitantly.

"Will you be offering me a job?"

I nodded as I drew the reigns, leaving without waiting for them. I had done what Matthias had asked, it did not mean I had to be nice about it!

#Hazel

"Just like that?" My young brother asked as we watched Donoghue ride away.

I shrugged, "I suppose."

I was angry with him though, furious in fact. And hurt too. He thought he could just play with us? Chasing us away, then riding after us like some hero! I have to admit that seeing him did make my traitor heart skip a beat, but I was still mad at him!

"What do you think changed his mind?" Henry said as we rode back, slow enough to maintain the distance between Donoghue and us.

It looked like it would rain soon and I was glad Henry and I would be indoors by then. As much as my pride wanted me to tell the man to take his change of heart and shove it, I could not for two reasons. One, I needed to think of providing for Henry. We were safe here, Matthias was good to us and so were the other workers. Plus my brother loved everything about the farm already, he was truly happy doing different chores around the place. Second, I could not say no to Donoghue. I had already fallen in love with his home, and he intrigued me. I wanted to know more about the man, the story behind his scars and to hear his voice again. I could tell he never showed kindness to anyone he did not trust so I wondered why he had shown kindness to my brother and me. I could tell it took a lot for him to come after us.

"I do not know, Henry, but I am glad he did." I answered honestly.

"Do you like him?" My brother asked curiously.

"He is a difficult man to like!" I laughed nervously.

"Yes that he is. But I like it at the farm," Henry shrugged.

"I know, I like it there too," I agreed.

"You should tell him now, you know, that you are a girl."

"He would probably throw us out again!"

"He would understand our reasons for doing so," my brother argued.

"He would not, Henry! The man is unpredictable and easily tempered. Besides, what work is there for a girl to do at the farm? He would never let me work in the fields if he knew! Or with the animals."

"Alright, but do not say I did not warn you."

Henry was right of course, my wise little brother, but I was too afraid of Donoghue being mad at me again. I just needed to prove myself irreplaceable at the farm, then I would tell him. What would he think of me? It was not a big issue, was it? But then again, I did not know Donoghue well enough to judge whether he would laugh about all this or think we were cons with some agenda! And if I remained a boy, perhaps I would have enough incentive to not like the man. I bit my lip, yes, I had to remember to keep away from the man!

:::::

It started pouring just as we got to the farm, really pouring. The kind of rain that hits mercilessly on your skin and could leave a bruise. The stables were closest to Donoghue's house and he pointed to it as he locked in the horses.

"I will help you," I said but he just glared at me, pointing to the house.

I hesitated before leaving him behind as we ran to the door. We should have waited for the rain to calm, I thought as the drops attacked us. But the distance was short and it did not look like the rain would stop anytime soon.

I felt bad as we drenched the floor by the doorway, waiting for Donoghue.

"Oh you poor darlings!" A voice shrieked, making us look up.

A tiny woman looked at us with a horrified look upon her beautiful face and I looked all round us.

"I apologize ma'am, we are ruining your floor-"

"Pish posh, I do not care about the floor! But you are soaked to the bone, Wren should never have chased you out in this weather! That boy!"

This must be his mother then! Henry and I chuckled as we looked at her. She had just called Mr. Donoghue a boy! Ha! The man was almost twice her height and intimidating to boot. There was nothing boy about him. I wondered if the woman kept a watch on the activities of the farm since she knew about us, I had never seen her till now!

"Mama?" Another female voice called out and the tiny woman turned away for a second.

"I am at the door sweetheart," she called out.

She turned to us again and sighed, "You boys, come with me."

I looked at the door again as she ushered us into the house, wondering what was taking Donoghue so long. Had the woman called him Wren? Hmmm, the name was unusual but it suited him I supposed. He was an unusual man.

Mrs. Donoghue had led us to a bathroom," You boys can change in here. There are some of Wren's old clothes in that cupboard there."

We looked at her blankly, did she know how tall her son was! Even though Henry was taller than I am, he still would not fit in Mr. Donoghue's clothes.

The woman laughed," They are from when he was but a lad, he was smaller then. I kept his clothes to give to the boys who work here, it seems such a waste to throw clothes away when someone can use them."

We nodded as she left, closing the door behind us.

Henry changed first while I faced the door and then it was my turn. There were not many items of clothing to choose from so I had to settle for a pair of trousers that I had to roll at the bottom. It felt nice to be in his clothes for some inexplicable reason and I failed to stop the grin spreading across my face. I found a small shirt though and I cursed the wet binding I still had on across my chest.

"My binding is wet," I told my brother, who chuckled.

"Are you sure it is worth all this trouble? Pretending to be a boy?"

He was right, it was too much hard work.

"It was your idea," I accused.

"Which I do not like anymore." He pointed out.

I rolled my eyes and looked at myself again, thinking I was too small for anyone to notice anyway. Unless they embraced me, and no one was going to do that anyway. So I put on the shirt and a jacket I found at the bottom of the clothes pile, no, no one would be able to tell. When we walked out, we followed the voices to the kitchen where the tiny woman was cooking. Mr. Donoghue was back too, in dry clothes! That was fast, I thought. His hair was still wet though, making him look daringly beautiful. His white shirt had wet patches on it, and I found his eyes on me when I finished studying him. He frowned, probably because I was wearing his clothes. I only smirked, I was never returning these!

"Are you sure he is a boy, mother?"

I finally noticed the girl in the room. She had brown hair, just like her brother, and was every bit as beautiful it made me slightly envious. I could tell by the blush on Henry's face, he thought her beautiful too. But the look that her brother gave her then, he certainly did not find her charm endearing!

"Of course!" Her mother laughed, "But he is rather handsome, is he not?"

My face instantly heated up as the girl looked intently at me!

"Definitely," she replied, grinning at me.

I could see the slight smirk on my brother's face, glad to see he could find some amusement in this!

"Now now, do not embarrass the poor boy," her mother said. "Help me set the table."

We sat down as the ladies set the table but Wren just took his plate, serving himself before leaving. His mother must have caught my stare because she waved her hand dismissively.

"Do not give mind to him, he is set in his ways. But Lord knows I try."

I nodded as I looked to where he had disappeared to before returning my attention to the table again. Even though Donoghue had taken all my interest in food with him. Supper was an awkward affair, with Michelle staring at me throughout. I swear she had even winked at me at one time! This was the most uncomfortable I had felt since having a trap stuck in my flesh! I could also swear her unwanted gaze was just as painful.

I offered to help clean up after we were done, but Mrs. Donoghue was adamant there was no place for a man in the kitchen. I almost laughed then, and Henry had the biggest smirk on his face. Michelle was still eyeing me in the most peculiar of manner, and since it was still pouring, I could not escape her. And so I politely asked Mrs. Donoghue to show me where her son's room was, in hopes that I could thank him. Henry smirked at me again as I walked out, making me roll my eyes.

I was at his door and hesitating to knock, reminding myself that I needed to stay away from this man. He was trouble with a capital T, Lord help me. I had never felt this way before and I appeared to have lost all my free will as I finally knocked.

There was no answer even as I knocked a second time, then I remembered the man did not speak. And I doubted he would come to open the door for me either! I smirked when I thought that I was a boy now, it would not be improper for me to just enter. Ha! Take that Donoghue!

He glared at me as I walked, frowning when I did not say anything, which evidently annoyed him. If he wanted me to leave, he was just going to have to speak now, wasn't he! Or drag me out, and who knew what the man was capable of? I was pushing him here.

His room was exactly as I expected it to be, cold and dull. Too much black and brown. I looked around as I ignored his eyes on me; from the shelf filled with books, books everywhere really, to the beautiful portrait on the wall. I held my breath as I looked at her, golden hair, blue eyes and a gorgeous smile, everything I was not. I bit my lip as I finally turned to face him.

I wanted to thank him for changing his mind, for offering my brother and me employment, for riding after us and making amends, in his own way. But all I could seem to say was, "Who is she?"

He was quiet for what seemed like ages, not that I even expected a response from him! The man never spoke, after all. I finally opened my mouth to thank him anyway, perhaps apologize for prying, but he beat me to it. I barely heard him but I was not mistaken.

He whisper-said, "My wife."

I gasped.