Chapter 13

As soon as I got the menfolk taken care of. And all bundled up, in their pj’s and blankets, I went into the kitchen to give Suzy a hand.

“Matt,” she whispered, “You do know who that is, right? Tell me you recognize the bastard.”

“Yep, I spotted him almost immediately. He didn’t recognize me until we got to the barn, and I took off my cold-weather gear.”

“Well, what are we going to do? What are you going to do?”

“What can I do, Suzy? I can’t throw him out. He wouldn’t last 30 minutes in this weather. I can’t keep him in the barn. No telling what kind of mischief he would cause. The best thing we can do is keep an eye on him and stay alert.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling here, Matt. The girls are afraid of him. They refuse to be in a room alone with him.”

“Ok, I’ll let all the boys know that upstairs is off-limits. In the meantime, put these somewhere convenient.” I handed her a bundle of flex ties I had brought back from the barn. “I hope we won’t need them, but I’d rather have then close by, just in case.”

While we were talking, we were also getting dinner ready for the guys. It was simple, just a bone broth and veggie soup. The girls had gotten the same meal earlier. A couple of slices of homemade bread and coffee. While Suzy carried the bread, cups, and utensils, I packed in the soup kettle and coffee pot.

We set everything on the sideboard, and Suzy started handing out bowls and cups.

“That smells really good ma’am, what is it?”

“Please call me Suzy, it’s a venison bone broth with veggies. Some from my garden, some wild. It’s hot and nutritious.”

Nigel was trying to elbow his way to the front of the line when I stopped him. “Hang on your highness. The kids get theirs first. You and I can have what’s left. There’s plenty.” He glared at me but stopped trying to force the issue.

When it was his turn, he asked Suzy, “What is in this? I’m a vegan and don’t eat meat.” I was standing close behind him. “It’s a bone broth. From a deer, I stalked and killed. The veggies are from our garden. You are a guest in my house. And I will do everything in my power to make you as comfortable as possible. That doesn’t include going out of my way to provide you with a special diet. If you don’t want what is provided, you don’t have to eat it. Just means more for me.”

Nigel stuck his nose up in the air, sniffed, and said. “Well, at least tell me the bread is gluten-free. I have an allergy to gluten and gluten products.”

I looked at Suzy, with a confused look, which she mirrored. “What’s gluten? Never heard of it.”

Exasperated, Nigel explained. “Gluten comes from processed wheat flour. Is this bread made with almond or soy flour?”

Suzy started laughing, “Mr. St. Gaudens, I don’t even know what that stuff is. So, as this is homemade bread, and damn fine bread at that, no, it isn’t gluten?” Suzy looked at me, I just shrugged. “It isn’t gluten-free. Now, do you want some or not?”

I could see that Nigel was getting frustrated. “No,” he snapped, “I don’t. I’ll have a cup of coffee. Please tell me it’s free-trade coffee.”

I spoke up, “I’ll tell you what your highness, We’ll set up a bowl of soup and a couple of slices of bread. Along with a cup of coffee. If you change your mind, it’ll be right over here waiting for you.” With that, I grabbed my bowl, bread, and coffee cup. With Suzy following, I sat in one of the dining room chairs that had been brought in. Suzy sat next to me.

With everyone eating, well, almost everyone, and in between bites, I explained the situation to the guys.

“Gentlemen, let’s get something straight right now. You are guests in my house. As such, I will do everything in my power to make your stay comfortable. I won’t say easy. I will expect a certain amount of assistance in running this household and homestead. Your being here has, in effect, quadrupled Suzy’s and my workload. As well as the stress it has put on our supplies.”

I didn’t mention it, but I could see several feminine feet on the stairs.

“There is an increased need for water. Therefore someone or several someone’s will need to go to the pump outside and replenish our supply. There is also an increased need for firewood. As you may or may not have noticed, we do not have electricity. Our heating and cooking are done using fire. That means someone, or again several someone’s will need to cut and split firewood and haul it into the house.”

“As there are more mouths to feed,” I paused and looked to Nigel. Who, while I had been talking, had started eating his soup and bread. “We, both Suzy and I trade cooking duties, will need help in the kitchen. And believe me, several of you will be needed.”

“Now, you can look on all this as a once in a lifetime adventure. Something to tell your grandkids about, and pitch in with gusto. Or, you can bitch and whine and complain the whole time. I won’t force you to work. I won’t deny you food, water and a warm place to sleep. But, and this probably will have absolutely no impact on your life, I will deny you my respect. And gentlemen, and you ladies listening in, respect is all you have in this life that has any meaning. Respect for yourself, for others, for hard work, for family. These are the things that others will gauge you by. It is difficult to earn. It requires effort and hard work. And it is easily lost. One little white lie, and it disappears.”