Call picked up the box and paper and straightened, shaking out his legs before he started down the roof. Now that he was standing and facing a descent, he took note that the ground seemed quite a distance away. He also took note of Laurel Morrison watching him, hands on her hips, her head tilted back. He wondered how long she had been there and how much she had seen of his clumsy efforts to repair the roof. His gaze shifted to Rooster, who was grinning at him, obviously appreciating the moment.
His lips set in a wry twist, Call said, “Enjoying yourself, Rooster?”
There was no point in denying it. “Sure am. You gonna be able to get down all right or do you need me to hold your hand?”
“I’ll manage.”
Rooster’s grin faded when Laurel called to him. “Uh-oh,” he said only loud enough for Call to hear him. “I’m in for it now.”
“Rooster!” Laurel called again, cupping her hands around her mouth this time.
“Yes, ma’am. I hear you.”
Laurel dropped her hands to her sides. “You told me Mr. Pye fixed those leaks.”
“I told you Mr. Pye wasgonnafix the leaks. It was likely the prospect of climbing up here that sent him running. The man had a fierce fear of heights. Leastways he said he did.” Rooster shrugged. “I allow it could have been a lie. Always hard to tell with Josey.”
Laurel had no patience for hearing it now. Seeing Rooster up on the roof made her want to wring her hands and quite possibly his neck. Still, she tempered her frustration. “Would you please come down?”
“Coming. Thought I’d have to steady the greenhorn here, but he says he can do it on his own.”
Laurel’s gaze shifted to Call just as if she hadn’t been watching him all along. “Can you?” she asked.
“I’ll be fine,” said Call and hoped it was true. He saw Laurel was taking him at his word because her attention returned to Rooster as the man stepped from the roof and onto the ladder. Once again, Rooster made it look easy. Call wasn’t so sure that it was.
“Give me the paper and the box,” Rooster said. “You’ll want to have both hands free.”
Call believed him. He gave over both and watched Rooster disappear over the lip of the roof. When Rooster was standing beside Laurel, Call grasped the side rails and stepped sideways onto a rung. He hesitated and Laurel called to him not to look down. It was humiliating, but he reasoned that the feeling would pass when he did.
He stepped down and turned to face his audience. Rooster was grinning again, and Call noticed the man had a gap between his front teeth. It wasn’t big enough for Call to drive his fist through it, but he would have considered it if the gap didn’t make the man look so plainly ridiculous. Call found himself grinning, too. Laurel, in contrast, was shaking her head and dividing her disapproval equally between the two of them.
“Do not make me regret taking you on, Mr. Landry.”
Call sobered. Rooster did not.
“And, Rooster, show some sense.”
Now Rooster sobered.
Laurel left them staring at her back as she entered the house through the kitchen.
“Is that it?” Call asked out of the side of his mouth.
“That’s it,” said Rooster in a like manner. “You know she’s watching us from the window. Don’t hint that you’re amused.”
“I’m not.”
“Good fellow. You’ll do just fine. Get the ladder and take it to the barn. I’ll get the rest.”
When the stagecoach arrived a few hours later, Call helped Rooster unhitch the team of four and lead them to the barn while the brothers brought out the fresh team. Once that was accomplished, they each tended to one of the spent animals. Call pointed out that the mare he was caring for needed a new shoe before she could go out again. He was more diverted than insulted when Hank checked the animal’s hoof to verify it was true. He didn’t point out that he had far more experience than the boy did. Call simply did not have a need to assert himself in a way that might make Hank Booker feel small.
After the stage had departed, they all sat down in the dining room for a hearty meal of beef stew, which they sopped up with warm chunks of crusty bread. Mrs. Lancaster sat with them and served up big squares of berry cobbler for dessert. They cleaned their plates of everything but the floral design.
It was not until the coffee was poured that Laurel finally posed the question to Call that had been on her mind since his arrival. By the attention it received as others leaned forward to hear his answer, she realized she had not been carrying the question alone.
“So when do you begin?” she asked, folding her hands around her cup. And in the event he didn’t understand, she added, “Your interrogation, I mean. It’s why you’ve come here first, isn’t it?”
Call was the only one still sitting back in his chair. He blew out a short breath. “Are any of you going anywhere?” he asked, looking around. When they all shook their heads, he said, “Then there’s no hurry and no point ruining a good meal with unpleasant conversation.”
