small amount of wool she sold to make them worthwhile. He’d been a fool to go along with her sentimental attachment to the damn animals. He needed to rectify that mistake.
Josiah shifted on his saddle and winced again, this time in pain. He knew his condition was getting worse, and he wanted Casey to go to town at least one more time to get him a fresh supply of pain medication. He didn’t know if he still had it in him to make the trip clear across the island.
After that though, Christopher Casey needed to vacate his premises. He’d had enough of this foolishness to last whatever lifetime was left to him. And he wanted the boy gone before the spring came and more neighbors would be about. He could only imagine the talk if anyone else saw Stella carrying on like this. He’d be damned if he’d allow his name to be the subject of island gossip.
Josiah gritted his teeth and maneuvered Grover into the drive of his home. He saw the smile leave Stella’s face the instant she noticed him. The sound of laughter immediately died as both she and Casey turned and watched him come towards them.
Josiah took some satisfaction in knowing his return had spoiled his wife’s fun. She’d made him miserable long enough. It was high time he returned the favor.
****
A week passed before Josiah made good on his promise to make his wife miserable. He waited for Stella to retire to bed for the night, then grabbed a lantern and headed outside to the barn. He found Christopher talking to Grover and nuzzling the horse’s snout.
“ Trying to take my horse from me, Casey?” Josiah asked.
Christopher jumped, startled at Josiah’s interruption. “I hadn’t realized you’d come in the barn, Doctor Winslow. Do you need something?”
“ How about an answer to my question to start.”
“ About Grover? He’s a fine horse, no question. I can’t deny I’ve become fond of him.” Christopher forced a smile onto his face. “We’ve become friends sharing our living quarters.”
Josiah stared at Christopher with undisguised hatred.
“ Is there something I can do for you, Doctor?” Christopher asked. “Did you get the bundles I picked up for you at the apothecary today?”
“ I did get my order, yes. What business are those bundles of yours, boy?”
“ No business at all. I just thought perhaps there was a problem.”
“ And what makes you think I have a problem?”
It was clear to Christopher that Josiah was not interested in a logical conversation. He cleared his throat and tried to defuse what had become an unexpectedly tense situation.
“ I don’t, sir. My apologies if I misspoke. What can I do for you?”
“ What you can do is remove yourself from my property. Your debt is paid here.”
Christopher was disheartened to hear this but not entirely surprised. He knew Josiah wouldn’t keep him around forever, in spite of the free labor he was getting. He’d never hidden his feelings about his former patient, although Christopher had never understood what he’d done to offend the man.
“ I understand,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to make reparations to you and your wife. I’ll make arrangements to leave and will be gone as soon as possible.”
“ You’ll be gone now.”
“ Sir?”
“ You heard me. I want you gone now.”
“ In the dead of night? It’s pitch black outside.”
“ Are you afraid of the dark?”
“ No sir, but..”
“ No buts. This is my home and I make the rules.” Josiah glanced around the barn. “It’s not as if you have anything to pack up, is it? So get out. Off my property and out of my home.” Josiah sneered. “And away from my wife.”
Christopher tried unsuccessfully to swallow his anger. “That’s what this is about then? Mrs. Winslow?”
“ It’s not about anything but the fact that I’ve had enough of you and I want you off my land. I don’t need a squatter here.” Josiah turned away and waved his hand in a gesture
Josiah shifted on his saddle and winced again, this time in pain. He knew his condition was getting worse, and he wanted Casey to go to town at least one more time to get him a fresh supply of pain medication. He didn’t know if he still had it in him to make the trip clear across the island.
After that though, Christopher Casey needed to vacate his premises. He’d had enough of this foolishness to last whatever lifetime was left to him. And he wanted the boy gone before the spring came and more neighbors would be about. He could only imagine the talk if anyone else saw Stella carrying on like this. He’d be damned if he’d allow his name to be the subject of island gossip.
Josiah gritted his teeth and maneuvered Grover into the drive of his home. He saw the smile leave Stella’s face the instant she noticed him. The sound of laughter immediately died as both she and Casey turned and watched him come towards them.
Josiah took some satisfaction in knowing his return had spoiled his wife’s fun. She’d made him miserable long enough. It was high time he returned the favor.
****
A week passed before Josiah made good on his promise to make his wife miserable. He waited for Stella to retire to bed for the night, then grabbed a lantern and headed outside to the barn. He found Christopher talking to Grover and nuzzling the horse’s snout.
“ Trying to take my horse from me, Casey?” Josiah asked.
Christopher jumped, startled at Josiah’s interruption. “I hadn’t realized you’d come in the barn, Doctor Winslow. Do you need something?”
“ How about an answer to my question to start.”
“ About Grover? He’s a fine horse, no question. I can’t deny I’ve become fond of him.” Christopher forced a smile onto his face. “We’ve become friends sharing our living quarters.”
Josiah stared at Christopher with undisguised hatred.
“ Is there something I can do for you, Doctor?” Christopher asked. “Did you get the bundles I picked up for you at the apothecary today?”
“ I did get my order, yes. What business are those bundles of yours, boy?”
“ No business at all. I just thought perhaps there was a problem.”
“ And what makes you think I have a problem?”
It was clear to Christopher that Josiah was not interested in a logical conversation. He cleared his throat and tried to defuse what had become an unexpectedly tense situation.
“ I don’t, sir. My apologies if I misspoke. What can I do for you?”
“ What you can do is remove yourself from my property. Your debt is paid here.”
Christopher was disheartened to hear this but not entirely surprised. He knew Josiah wouldn’t keep him around forever, in spite of the free labor he was getting. He’d never hidden his feelings about his former patient, although Christopher had never understood what he’d done to offend the man.
“ I understand,” he said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me to make reparations to you and your wife. I’ll make arrangements to leave and will be gone as soon as possible.”
“ You’ll be gone now.”
“ Sir?”
“ You heard me. I want you gone now.”
“ In the dead of night? It’s pitch black outside.”
“ Are you afraid of the dark?”
“ No sir, but..”
“ No buts. This is my home and I make the rules.” Josiah glanced around the barn. “It’s not as if you have anything to pack up, is it? So get out. Off my property and out of my home.” Josiah sneered. “And away from my wife.”
Christopher tried unsuccessfully to swallow his anger. “That’s what this is about then? Mrs. Winslow?”
“ It’s not about anything but the fact that I’ve had enough of you and I want you off my land. I don’t need a squatter here.” Josiah turned away and waved his hand in a gesture
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