River

Jake

I keep checking out the window to see if the man from yesterday comes back to sit under the tree, but he doesn’t. I don’t see anything interesting happening at all. I don’t even see Gregor leaving his house, although it’s possible that he did it before I woke up. I was so comfortable laying in a real bed that I didn’t get up until the sun rose.

Gregor’s servants get there and go in the house. I watch the big man servant moving around working in the garden on the side of the house for a while.

I’m sitting in the armchair next to the window, sorting through the food in my sack, wondering if I should have some more candy for breakfast, or whether I would rather have some of this other stuff. There’s some beef jerky and bread rolls and apples and stuff like that. Nah, definitely more candy.

A flash of movement from the window hits the corner of my eye, and I duck down quickly. Then I slowly peek out through the lace curtains, and see another man, not the one from yesterday. This one has a lot of hair, a big bushy beard, and he looks dirtier. But he does the same thing that the man from yesterday did. He goes to the side of the house two doors down, and ducks behind the tree. He stands there, looking at Mister Gregor’s house from behind the tree.

I watch.

I am still Gregor’s watchman.

Rosy

Gregor has been acting oddly the last couple of days. But he has been acting oddly since the first moment that I met him, so it isn’t really anything new. I was sorry not to see him this morning before he left, but he did write a very sweet note for me, and left it on his pillow for me to find when I woke up.

I smile to myself, thinking about the conversation we had yesterday morning. He seemed so surprised when I told him what I have learned about him. He said it himself, he is a very strange person. So it is funny that it surprises him when somebody else notices that.

He is more than just a strange person, of course. He is not just a person. Normal people can’t heal like that. Normal people can’t heal others. Normal people don’t know what you are thinking. He is far more than just a person. I don’t know what he is. All that I know, though, is that whatever kind of person he is, I am so lucky that he loves me. And, as he tells me repeatedly, that he is mine.

I feel the baby moving around inside, kicking against me. I was so worried about Gregor not wanting to raise another man’s child, but he has never for one second made it seem like it bothers him at all. I wonder what it will be like for the little one, to grow up with somebody as unusual as Gregor for a father.

Well, it will probably be like having Gregor as a husband.

Weird and wonderful.

Moses

It’s a different fellow today. Hairier. Dirtier. I don’t know why these people think they are being so sly, slipping behind that tree across the street, thinking that nobody can see them. I’m ignoring him just as much as I ignored the other one yesterday, but I am definitely keeping my eye out. Too bad Gregor told me to just let it happen, because I would love to go over and pound this fellow. But Gregor wants them to think we don’t know what is going on, so that they fall into whatever trap it is he is setting for them.

I don’t know how it is going to unfold, or when it will happen. But, anything that happens, I am going to be ready.

Ben

David is actually awake. Bleary-eyed and weak and exhausted and in pain, but conscious. I’ve gotten him to drink some of the water like Samuel said, and helped him sit up to use the chamber pot once. He doesn’t feel as hot as he did.

Gregor has come back to check on him two or three times in the last couple of hours. He’s spent a few minutes each time fussing with David, holding the cloth to his forehead, checking his breathing, seeing if there is any way he can help. It still seems surprising to have him taking such an interest, especially since he knows what we were doing with Mason, but I guess that he’s just a nice fellow who wants the best for his employees.

He’s still here when Samuel arrives. It’s crowded again with all four of us in the room, but Gregor and I both want to hear what the doctor says after examining David.

“You look much better than you did last time I was here, David,” he tells him. David looks confused - he obviously doesn’t remember Samuel’s first visit. “I think the fever is breaking, that is a very good sign. I’m a little surprised, usually it is harder to get blood poisoning under control.”

Gregor and I watch while he checks the wounds, which are looking much better. David would normally feel a little abashed to have a roomful of people staring at his groin, but he clearly just wants the doctor to make him well again and has overcome any sense of modesty. Samuel cleans the wounds again and applies more honey, and has David drink some more freshly made tea from the bark.

“You must be very strong, David,” Samuel notes. “You are really fighting this off quickly. I’ll keep checking on you two or three times a day, but I think you are going to be fine, after a few more days of rest.” He looks at him with a stern expression, and says, “No more bar fights.” I see his lips twitching in a little smile. David huffs out a little laugh.

The strength leaves my legs, and they suddenly won’t hold me where I am standing. I plunk down onto my bed, a vast sense of relief washing over me and leaving me light-headed.

Gregor looks down at me and smiles. “Well, Ben, if Doctor Duncan approves it, how about we leave David here to rest, and go on back to work. Geoffrey is short-handed with all three of us neglecting our duties.”

Samuel nods. “Yes, I think he is out of danger. Someone should come by to check every couple of hours, but I don’t think he needs to be watched constantly now. Um, David, are you hungry? If you can, you should eat something.”

David nods. “Yeah, a little.” I realize that the color in his face has returned almost to normal. It’s amazing how much better he seems, when just a few hours ago he looked like he was on death’s doorstep. He hasn’t seemed as talkative as usual, but give him a couple of hours. I imagine tonight he’ll be chattering nonstop to make up for the hours wasted being unconscious.

Gregor says, “On the way out, we can ask the cook to bring up some soup.” He leans over and puts his hand on David’s shoulder, leaving it there while he looks at me. “You about ready to go, Ben?”

I stand back up. “Yeah. I’ll come back in a while, David. Glad you’re feeling better.”

He nods. “Thanks.”

After we stop by the kitchen and Gregor gives the cook some instructions, we leave the boarding house and walk towards the pile driver. “I’m sure you want an update about the Mason situation,” he says.

I exhale sharply. I wish it wasn’t happening at all, but I need to know how bad it is. “Yeah.”

“After you talked to Stu, he took off and hasn’t returned. I have to assume that Mason told him to go watch my house where David was yesterday. I think it’s possible that you and David are off the hook here.”

I stop walking and stare at him. “Really?”

He shrugs. “As far as I can tell. Neither Stu nor Mason has been on the dock all morning. I think Mason might have just given up on you.”

Well that’s a relief, but, “What about you? I don’t think he’s given up on that.” I feel my face screw up with shame, still embarrassed that he knows I was part of this. “He’s still planning to do something bad to you. Why else would he be watching your house?”

He claps his hand on my back, and we start walking again. Odd, it makes me feel better. “I don’t think that Mason is going to manage to do any real mischief. I have made a plan of my own.”

He doesn’t tell me anything else about it, but I guess he figures the fewer people know whatever he is planning, the better.

I nod, but I don’t feel like I can let it go. “Well, er,” I say, not sure how to get this out, “I want you to tell me if there is anything I can do. I’m real sorry about everything, and real grateful for what you’ve done for me and David. Not just today. I want to be of help if I can.”

His hand is still on my shoulder, and I feel it squeeze me a little. He nods. “Thanks, Ben.”