“Supper is ready!”
Gerard paused again, a mock look of exasperation on his face. He was beginning to think that the land itself didn’t want him to finish his story.
“On our way,” Gerard called back.
“But what about the rest of the story?” William asked, his voice a low whine when he realized that his father wasn’t going to continue.
“Don’t you worry,” Gerard replied. “I won’t leave it there. But you wanted a long story and that’s got to come with a price. Now go on, boy. Go wash up and help your momma finish setting the table.”
William frowned but did as he was told, jumping off the bench and racing towards the cabin. Gerard leaned back and watched the last of the light struggle to reach him through the trees. William was a good lad, but he was also quite talkative. It left Gerard without much in the way of a moment’s peace to himself.
A warm breeze rustled the leaves around him, surrounding Gerard with a low, pleasant hum. It was the type of sound which could lull an unwary man to sleep. But Gerard wasn’t quite there yet. He had a lot of thoughts on his mind, not the least of which was William. He was still Gerard’s little boy, but he was starting to ask questions, which meant that he was beginning to see the world in his own way. Where would that go and what would it lead him to? Gerard watched the fading light as he wondered.
“Would that the spirits of the land still watched over us,” he whispered to the flighty wind.
The call for supper came again and this time Gerard rose to join his family.
