Chapter 3 #2
“I suppose you also don’t know you can’t break an indenture.
Unless you’ve got thirty pounds?” She smiled as though confident of his response, and she wasn’t wrong.
He hadn’t the money to buy Henry out. She gestured to the common room, and a man with a bald head and bulging muscles lumbered into the front hall.
“I think you’d best find another inn for your supper.
Frank will take you to one that caters to . . . your sort.”
Joshua curled his fingers around the calluses on his hands. He’d spent his youth ashamed of who he was. He refused to linger in the feeling now. “I don’t require an escort. I require my brother.”
“Impossible. Your brother stays until he’s fulfilled his term.”
If Henry truly was indentured, Mrs. Cooper all but owned him until Henry turned twenty-one.
It sickened him. Little thought was given to the safety or happiness of an indentured child.
Joshua’s lips firmed. He’d find a way to break the contract.
Henry wouldn’t live under this unpleasant woman for a moment longer than necessary.
“I’ll buy his indenture.” He pulled his coin purse out of his pocket and did a hasty calculation. If he was very frugal, he could get by on five pounds this winter. The other five could go to Henry. “I’ve got five pounds to put toward it now.”
Mrs. Cooper fixed her eyes on the money as Joshua dumped the contents of the purse into his palm. “Five pounds is a long way from thirty.” Her tone was different now. Less dismissive and more interested.
“I’ll return with the rest as soon as I’m able.”
She reached for the money, but he held the coins tight. “I’ll need a receipt.”
Her eyes narrowed, her attention darting between Joshua’s face and the money in his hand, as though she couldn’t decide. The money won. “Follow me.”
Mrs. Cooper led him through the common room, where half a dozen men sat around a table with pints of ale, speaking in low tones. He felt their attention on him as he passed, but he kept his eyes on the innkeeper.
An open door led to a smaller room. Mrs. Cooper took a seat behind a table piled with ledgers, opened her receipt book, and dipped her quill in the ink. “Name?”
“Joshua Robertson.”
“Robertson? I thought you were his brother?”
“My mother remarried after my father passed away.” He kept his tone even with no hint of the years of sorrow behind those words.
“Place of residence?”
“Nassagaweya.”
“That’s a long way off from Toronto.” Mrs. Cooper pushed the receipt toward him with a speculative glance.
He checked the receipt, thankful again that Mrs. Norris had seen fit to teach him his letters. “I will return, Mrs. Cooper. I guarantee you that.” Joshua stood. “If there’s anything the boy needs . . . if anything should happen, you can leave word for me at Mrs. Norris’s.”
Mrs. Cooper didn’t reply, too busy spiriting his coins away into the locked cupboard behind her. He turned, his mind already calculating how to track down Henry before he left, and almost ran into a tall figure in the doorway.
The man wore a fine wool suit, his hair carefully combed, his long sideburns liberally streaked with gray. Joshua almost took a step back, years of experience teaching him to be wary when such a man sought him out.
Instead, he straightened his shoulders, reminding himself he had nothing to hide. Owed no man anything.
“Good day.” The man nodded affably, but the smile on his face didn’t reach his eyes. Joshua only nodded in response. “Hear you’re traveling to Nassagaweya Township.”
“I am.”
“I have some business there and I feel you could be of assistance to me.” The man sent a significant look at Mrs. Cooper, who was still busy counting her coins. He led Joshua to a corner and lowered his voice. “I’d pay well, of course.”
“I’m listening.” Truth be told, he was more than listening. He had a hard time not agreeing before he’d even heard what he was expected to do. Opportunities to make money didn’t come his way every day.
“I need you to find a man living in Nassagaweya. Find out where he goes, who he talks to, what he does. You’ll collect five pounds if the information is useful.”
Five pounds was a lot of money. Still, Joshua hesitated.
Experience had taught him offers from men in fine suits were rarely as good as they seemed.
“I think you’d best tell me more. I won’t be party to anything underhanded.
” No matter how much he needed the money.
Mrs. Norris had taught him better than that. So had Da, from what he could remember.
The man laughed. “Underhanded? Quite the opposite, my good man.” He moved closer as though he were imparting a secret.
“I only want to check on an investment. Got a fellow up there on some land I own by the name of Simon Carruthers. Hired him to start the homestead and I want to make sure I haven’t thrown my money away, that’s all. ”
It was common practice. Land granted for some service or another to the Crown, the only caveat being the owner must build a home and clear acres for planting. Men who could afford to often hired someone else to do the work for them. Joshua had worked on more than one homestead himself.
The man took a step back. “If you’re not interested, I won’t hold you up. I’m sure I can find any number of men to make the trip. I only thought, seeing as how you’re from the area, you’d find him quicker.”
Joshua didn’t like the man’s oily smile, nor the smooth way he spoke, as though every word was rehearsed. But he wasn’t in the position to turn down five pounds that would bring him closer to redeeming Henry. Joshua stuck out his hand. “I’ll do it, Mr. . . . ?”
The man returned the handshake with a brief clasp.
“Cole. Deacon Cole. Leave word here. Mrs. Cooper will know how to contact me. The allotment is at the end of Line 5.” He raised his eyebrows.
“You know where that is?” Joshua nodded.
“Excellent. I’ll expect to hear from you in . . . what? Three days?”
“It’s more than eighty miles there and back. Best make it ten days.”
The man’s lips tightened. “I can’t wait that long.”
Joshua shrugged. “I travel by wagon, at the mercy of the weather and the roads. I’ll do my best.”
“Four days. And I must know immediately if you run into difficulties.”
Joshua nearly rolled his eyes. The man had no clue of travel in the bush. “Meet me halfway, then, at Mrs. Norris’s Inn in a week.”
“Very well.” He poked a finger into Joshua’s chest. “Remember. All the details you can find.”
Joshua ducked his head. “Yessir.” The subservient gesture left a foul taste in his mouth. From the time he’d purchased his land, he’d vowed to answer only to himself and God. Yet he sensed this man expected deference, and Joshua needed the money too much to cling to his pride.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” The man’s voice was tinged with impatience. “Get on your way.”
Joshua nodded and headed out the door, though he didn’t immediately return to his wagon. Following the alley to the back of the inn, he scanned the mews for a glimpse of Henry. Chances were, they’d put him to work in the stables.
A groom emerged from the stable. Joshua quickened his pace to reach the man’s side. “Excuse me.” The man stopped, eyeing Joshua with reserve. “I’m looking for a boy.” He held up a hand to his chest, estimating how tall Henry was now. “Eleven years old. Red hair. Goes by Henry.”
The youth gave a huff. “Aye, I’m looking for him, too. If you find him, tell him I left him five stalls to clean, and I’m not covering for him again.”
“He’s gone?”
“Disappears every afternoon, and I’ve had enough of it.”
“Is he well?”
“Well enough. He’s fed, which is more than he deserves. The boy needs a good lashing, if you ask me.”
Joshua swallowed. “Could I give you a message for him?”
The young man shrugged. “I reckon.”
Joshua opened his mouth to leave a greeting but stopped himself. The last time he’d left Henry, he promised he’d be back to take him to a new home. Together. He’d failed. Now he’d disappoint Henry again.
A hand clamped around his shoulder and swung him about. “She told you to leave.” Mrs. Cooper’s muscled lackey loomed over him.
“I just wanted to see that he was well,” Joshua muttered, wrenching his shoulder from the man’s grasp.
“You’ve seen it, then. Now go.” He pushed Joshua down the alley and followed him back to his wagon.
Joshua jumped into his seat, his emotions in turmoil.
He wanted to sneak Henry away from Cooper’s Inn without a backward glance.
But he had nothing to offer the boy but a winter of hardship, a season of backbreaking work, and the looming threat of the law.
A broken indenture meant a stint in jail. Or worse.
Joshua slapped the reins, and the wagon jolted forward. His eyes blurred as he turned onto the north road, but he refused to give into despair. He’d paid five pounds. He was on the way to earn five more.
Joshua might spend one more winter alone, but he was used to that. He reached into his pocket and felt the wolf he’d carved. Phelan was Irish for wolf. Henry had been delighted when Joshua told him that tidbit. Wolves were fierce and brave. And they were stronger together.
I’ll be back, Henry. And we’ll never be alone again.