Page 62 of Repentance and Absolution
I laughed to lighten the air in the room a bit. “Well, you might not. ’Tis gonna hurt like hell.”
Clarence snorted. “I ain’t afraid of pain, Jimmy. There’s much more serious things to be afraid of in this world. Pain ain’t one of them. If I can’t take it, I reckon I’ll pass out again.”
“You want a piece of wood to bite on?”
“No, I’ll be all right, but I might yell.”
“You prob’ly will.”
He looked at me, then glanced to where Oscar was helping Irene in the kitchen.
“You and Oscar are awful good friends.”
My eyes flashed up from where I’d been looking, and Clarence met my gaze and held it. An unsettled feeling roiled in my belly.
“Well…I reckon we got pretty close while we were travelin’ together,” I said, in a measured tone.
“Mm-hm. I think you two are gonna need to work on your subterfuge.”
I stared at Clarence as Irene and Oscar came back to the sitting room.
“Oh, Clarence!” Irene said, grabbing his hand and kissing him. “You’re awake!”
“Mmm. Jimmy and I were discussing how he and Oscar need to work on bein’ only friends in public.”
Irene’s lips parted as she threw her gaze my way, and Oscar and I exchanged an anxious glance.
“Well, now,” Irene said, seeming unsure and a little taken by surprise, “I reckon we can talk about that once you’re all sewed up.”
“Hmph. Might as well tell ’em we know, so’s they can relax and be themselves while they’re here.”
I cleared my throat. “Know? Know what?”
Goddammit.Had we already revealed ourselves? We hadn’t been in Port Essington more’n two months, and we couldn’t hide it.
Irene looked down, then faced us with a kind smile. “’Tis obvious the two of you are more than friends—least it is to us. But only because we’re used to keeping Clarence’s secret.”
Oscar put his hand on my shoulder.
“Jimmy found me on the streets in Dawson City. He gave me a chance at a regular life, and I’m thankful for it.”
Irene’s smile widened. “I’m glad.”
I cleared my throat. “We ain’t ashamed of what…what we have.”
Clarence wrapped his hand around my wrist and managed a smile for a second, though he was in some discomfort.
“Good. ’Tis plain as day how much you care for each other. I reckon most people will only see two good friends. But Irene and me? We picked up pretty early on that there was more to it than that.” His grip loosened, and he sighed. “We’re glad to know you, and you can be yourselves around us.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And we think you’re mighty sweet together, too,” Irene added, grinning at Oscar, who blushed but seemed pleased with these developments.
“I’d best get to work,” I said, needing to remind them that we had bigger things to worry about than whether Oscar and I kissed each other goodnight. “The bleedin’s stopped for the most part. I’m gonna need to wash the wound with the water, though, and maybe a bit of brandy would be a good idea. The alcohol will kill the germs. T’will sting, though.”
“I know,” Clarence said.
“But this gash won’t kill you, and I can sew it up pretty well. The risk is gonna be with infection,” I said, getting some strips of bandage out of the kit Irene had brought. “You’re gonna have to keep it as clean as you can. And take it easy for a while, so’s you don’t rip the stitches I put in. No chopping wood or hunting for a week or two.”
