The house wrapped us in savory aromas as we stepped inside, cinnamon, sausages, and coffee. Austin inhaled and closed his eyes for a second. Colby kicked off his snowy boots, tossed his coat on a hook, and headed on back. I did the same, but Austin hesitated. “Is it okay if I keep my coat?” He had his hands dug deep in the pockets.
I figured that everything he owned that wasn’t in his truck was probably stuffed in those pockets. He’d been kicked out once without time to grab anything. “Sure. If you get too hot, stick it on the back of your chair.”
Kendrick looked up from his coffee as we reached the kitchen and his gaze sharpened. “Seth. And Austin. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Austin ducked his head. “Sorry, sir.”
I put my two cents in. “Austin’s truck wouldn’t start, so he’s stuck for a couple of days. I thought, with you heading to New Mexico, and Tiffany and Big John in San Francisco, a pair of extra willing hands couldn’t hurt.” I added, “I’ll pay him out of my own wages.”
“No, you won’t.” Kendrick looked Austin up and down, then frowned at me. “I don’t have time to follow up on references, barely time to get his paperwork filled out. You’re not paying him. My liability wouldn’t like that. But if we do this, you’re vouching for him.”
I swallowed, because that made me responsible. I was allergic to being responsible for other people. But I remembered the shaky thread of Austin’s voice in the dark saying,“As I got older, he got meaner,”and“I ran.”Maybe he was playing me, but I didn’t want to be the guy who walked away from him when he needed me. “I will.”
“Right.” Kendrick pointed at the table. “Davis put those instant cinnamon rolls in the oven, and made bacon and sausages.” Davis waved to Austin from the end of the table. “Sit, eat, I’ll go quick write up some paperwork.”
“I don’t mean to be a bother,” Austin said. “I’ll work for food and a place to sleep. No need to make it official.”
“My sister-in-law is my insurance broker, and she would kill me.” Kendrick stuffed his last bite of roll into his mouth and stood. “You have your social and driver’s license?”
“Yessir.” Austin dug his wallet from deep in his pocket and held the two cards out.
“Sit. Wait.” Maybe Kendrick saw the weight of worry in Austin, because his tone gentled as he took the cards. “Get some breakfast into you. We have too much, with Tiffany and John away. I’ll be back in ten minutes. How much tax withholding d’you want?”
“What’s the least I can get?”
“I’ll do the minimum.” Kendric strode out.
Austin turned worried blue eyes on me. “I didn’t mean to make extra work.”
“Sit down and eat,” I told him. Without meaning to, I stretched a hand near the small of his back, but this time I managed not to touch him without asking, pulling out his chair instead. “I’ll make sure you earn your keep.”
Austin hesitated, then perched on the edge of the seat. Despite the way he stared at the laden platters and bowls, he didn’t reach for anything, so I loaded a plate and set it in front of him. He clutched his hands together in his lap and glanced at Colby’s and my plates. I’d given him the same amount as me, maybe a little less than Colby had loaded up on his. Whatever Austin was thinking, when I stuffed a whole strip of bacon into my mouth and let a sound of pleasure escape, he colored and picked up his fork. Maybe he thought I was a heathen for not saying grace, though I doubted it. Maybe he just needed to be sure he had the right to join in.
Davis told him, “Eat the damned sausages before they get cold. I cooked ’em and I don’t want them going to waste.”
“Yessir.” Austin bit the end off a breakfast link.
I didn’t want to analyze why I was miffed that he saidsirto Davis as easy as to me and Kendrick. Or why I was sad that the taste of the hot juicy sausage made his eyes widen, but didn’t draw any sound from him. I looked at the slick of grease on his plush mouth and pretended I wasn’t playing with fire.
We’d wolfed most of the breakfast spread by the time Kendrick came back with a suitcase, a carry-on, and two forms he laid on the table for Austin to sign. Once done, Kendrick tore off the back duplicates and handed them to Austin. “I’ll be gone a week. You’re hired for one week, starting today, and we’ll discuss further when I get back.” Kendrick gave me a hard glare. “Istilldon’t have the need for another fulltime hand, just to give you both warning.”
“That’s fine, sir.” Austin folded the pages carefully and slipped them into an inner pocket of the unzipped jacket he still wore. “This is more than I expected.”
“Thank Seth for that.” Kendrick asked me, “Where will he sleep? The bunkhouse is winterized and I don’t want him here in the house.”
“I’m fine with the barn,” Austin said, but Kendrick snorted.
“He’ll stay with me,” I put in, before some other idea like him rooming with Colby got floated. “My responsibility.”
“All right.” Kendrick picked up his bags and swept his gaze around the table. “There’s a storm coming in after midnight. If you’re going up to Mama’s for the holiday feast, make sure you head back early. Davis, you have the house keys and the business phone. Seth, you’re in charge of the stock. Let me know if Ebony has her calf.”
“Of course.” I tried not to bother him when he took his rare time off, but I wouldn’t withhold that news.
“I’ve got to hustle to make my flight. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.” Kendrick strode out to our chorus of replies. A few thumps sounded in the entryway, the door opened and shut, then we heard his SUV rev up and rumble away.
“While the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Davis grinned.
“Right, old man.” Colby elbowed him. “Your idea of play is using his fancy cheddar in the mac-and-cheese.”
