Page 45 of The Earl's Wrangler
“No, I don’t want you making the repairs.Like you said, we’re going to need to renovate the cottages a few at a time.I need someone who can prioritize what needs to be done and manage the repairs and upgrades.You’ll be amazing at that, and the people in the village already like you.”Randall slipped his hand under Sawyer’s shirt.“I more than like you.”He kissed him, pressing Sawyer back in the chair.“Will you at least think about it?I’m hearing from villagers almost every day.There’s a lot to be done.”
Sawyer growled and pulled Randall to him, deepening the kiss.“I’ll think about it as long as you consider my ‘tea with an earl’ idea to help pay for it.We’re going to need money to make all this happen.”
Randall rolled his eyes.“Fine.I’ll think about it.But it seems kind of tacky, and who is going to want to spend money just to have tea with me?Really.”
Sawyer snorted.“I don’t know, but we’ll see.Maybe Mrs.Cook would like to run it for us.I can see.”He was so excited.“We can serve those little cucumber sandwiches and give them so much tea, they float out of here.”
Randall snickered.“You’re having way too much fun with this.”He glowered slightly.“You know that if I have to attend these teas, you will too.”Sawyer growled.“I mean it.”
“We’ll see.”He kissed him once more, and it seemed that at least for a while, the conversation portion of the afternoon was over.
Chapter 17
“DO YOUthink you could help me?”a man asked as Sawyer rode one of the trails around the edge of the village.He pulled to a stop and dismounted.
“I can try.”He was becoming used to folks stopping to talk to him.Word had gotten around that he had made repairs in the village, and a lot of people now asked for his advice.
“I don’t want to bother his Lordship.”Sawyer was quickly realizing that was their code for the fact that Randall still intimidated a lot of the people in the village, but they felt they could approach Sawyer.“But we are having troubles.The windows in our cottage don’t always close well, so it can get cold in the winter, and the wind will blow in if it comes just right.”
“How close by do you live?”
“Number 10, just up there,” he said, pointing.
Sawyer nodded.“Okay.Give me a few minutes and I’ll stop in to have a look.”Great, he was going to end up drinking a ton more tea.It was the villagers’ way of being polite, but he really wished they served coffee.Still, he climbed back on Augustus and rode slowly into the village, paying close attention to traffic.At number 10, he hitched the horse to one of the fence posts, which seemed sturdy enough.There was plenty of grass for him to eat.
The front door opened and the man stepped out.“Charles Whinton,” he said.
“I’m—”
“We all know who you are, Mr.Kincaid,” he said, shaking his hand.“And thank you for coming.My wife has rheumatism pretty badly, and the cold and damp aren’t good for her.”
“How long have you lived here?”Sawyer asked as he followed Charles inside.
“Oh, almost fifty years one way or another.I grew up in this cottage, and when my mum was ill, we returned to help her, and after I got a job here in the village, we stayed.”He led Sawyer to the kitchen, where the windows had developed gaps.
“The frames seem sturdy enough,” Sawyer said as he checked around and then stepped back.“The window frame is fine, but the sill under the window has gone soft, probably from years of cooking and dishes.”He checked the other areas around the window.They seemed solid and dry.“Let me see where I can find a new sill.What I’ll need to do is take out the old window, put in the new sill, and then size it before putting the window back in.That ought to fix it, and it shouldn’t take too long.”
“Oh, thank you.It will be nice this winter not having to worry about the cold air.”He seemed relieved.
“It’s no problem.Let me see what I can do, and I’ll stop in to let you know.”He paused before leaving the cottage.“You know you can talk to Randall about your issues.”
“His Lordship….”
“Is a real good man, and he cares about the village and everyone in it.I know he’s been gone a lot, but that’s going to change.And he’s no more important than you or your wife.Maybe it’s the American in me, but everyone is equal.If the earl is your landlord, then he owes you the maintenance of your cottage, just as surely as you owe him the rent.I’m happy to help, but Randall will help you as well.”
Charles seemed shocked.“I can’t go directly to his Lordship.That’s just… it almost doesn’t feel right.”
“I’m starting to understand that, but Randall is a good person and he wants to help.”Sawyer smiled and then left the cottage and got back on Augustus before heading back toward the estate.They made their way back around the village on the back trail.All the people they passed waved, and Sawyer tipped his hat before heading off into the woods.
“Where have you been?”Randall asked warmly as soon as Sawyer approached the stable.
“I rode to the village and got corralled.Charles at number 10 is having trouble with one of his windows.The sill is gone and it’s letting air inside.Is there an issue?”
“I don’t think so.Arthur said he tried calling you, but he didn’t get an answer, so he contacted the office.He wants to come out tomorrow to speak with you before he returns to the States.”
“I’ll call him and set it up after I rub Augustus down.I also need to find something to use to make a new windowsill.”He walked Augustus into his stall, removed the saddle, and got a brush to rub him down.
“I got up and you were gone,” Randall told him.
