Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure)

Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell Page B

Book: Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell Read Free Book Online
Authors: Nathan Lowell
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stopppin’?”
    Frank shrugged. “Daylight’s burnin’, but the horses could use some water and the barrel could use some freshenin’ if you got it to spare.”
    Rupert grinned. “Water—we got plenty o’ that.” He turned his head and shouted back over his shoulder. “Daniel? Bran? You boys grab a couple buckets and get your lazy behinds out here.”
    Tanyth heard a grumbled response from the depths of the barn and two rangy boys in their middle teens shambled out, each with a bucket in his hand and a surly expression on his face. They wore tired denim overalls that lacked the stains and dirt that Tanyth expected to see. Rupert wore the same.
    “Mr. Crane’s team needs waterin’,” Rupert said. “And when you’re done, toss a couple of buckets in his water butt.”
    The two nodded and shuffled off to the watering trough.
    “Manners, boys,” Rubert said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning a shoulder against the barn.
    The two turned faces toward Frank, and nodded. “Howdy, Mr. Crane. Mum...” They didn’t know how to greet Rebecca, so just nodded once in her direction and kept walking.
    Rupert ran a weathered hand over his mouth as he watched the pair of them drag themselves to the watering trough. Tanyth thought he hid a grin behind the hand and became sure of it when he glanced up at Frank, shaking his head.
    “I see they’re growin’ up,” Frank said, a grin on his face.
    Rubert nodded and tsked. “Slowly. They keep growin’, sure enough. I think it’s all the manure in their boots, but their maw says it’s ’cause we keep feedin’ ’em reg’lar.”
    As the two worked either side of the team, offering their buckets to the huge draft horses a pair at a time, Tanyth saw them forget to be sullen. They knew their business and took pains to keep the horses from drinking too much, giving each a scratch on the ear and a pat on the flank as they moved along. By the time they finished and drew fresh water for the wagon, they had recovered from the sulk enough to be casting shy glances at Rebecca.
    Frank reached into a pocket and flipped a pair of silver coins through the air. Each boy caught one even as Rupert stirred himself.
    “Here, now! No need for that,” he said.
    Frank scoffed. “Boys earned it, Rupert. Simple business.”
    “We don’t charge for water here, Frank Crane. You know that.”
    Something in the man’s face, some hint of distress made Frank’s mouth close against whatever he was about to say. After a moment, he said, “Nope. Ya don’t and I’m grateful for the water.” He jerked his chin at the boys. “I paid for service and them two did a fine job of it. They do ya proud, Rupert.”
    The wind went out of Rupert’s sails and he raked a hand through thinning brown hair. He blew a breath out and nodded. “Sorry,” he muttered and turned to the waiting boys. “Say thank you.”
    “Thanks, Mr. Crane,” the taller of the two said, nodding his head.
    “Yeah. Thank ya,” his brother chimed in.
    “Now you two go take those silvers and stash ’em in the house. See if your mother has any chores for ya.”
    “Aw, pa,” the taller one said but turned to do as he was told.
    The two boys scuffed their way through the large barn and out the back door, disappearing in the direction of the village.
    Rupert snorted in what might have been a laugh and might have been exasperation before turning back to Frank. “You don’t have any of your own, do ya, Frank?”
    Frank grinned and shook his head.
    “Y’ever think you wanna start? Get a hound instead,” Rupert said with a shake of his head. “He’ll crap on the rug, piss on the floor, and gen’rally behave like a kid, but he don’t eat as much and after ten winters or so he’ll die and leave ya in peace with fond mem’ries.”
    Frank laughed and even Tanyth chuckled at the woebegone tone.
    “You love them boys more’n you love horses, you old coot,” Frank said, shaking his head. “And you’d die yourself

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