They didn't speak much on the way to Dorset, because Mavis wasn't in a mood to talk, and Lucas felt awkward talking over his shoulder to Mr. Humphries in the back. He did notice that they held hands over Mavis' shoulder for part of the trip, and he chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "Never thought I'd see the day," he muttered under his breath.

The doctor was able to see Mavis after only a short wait, so when she was gone, Lucas figuratively pounced. "So, Mr. Humphries. What's going on here?" He gestured toward Mavis' empty chair.

Wil flushed, blinked, and looked away. "Honestly, I have no idea," he admitted. "It's...new."

"I'll say!" Lucas said with a laugh. "Well, Miss Brahms says she's a very sweet little thing, and she's certainly very pretty. If you were going to, er, 'try something new,' as you say, you could do a lot worse."

Wil smiled. "I could do, and I have done!" he agreed. He sobered. "She's very young, though."

"Well, does she like, uh, older men?"

Wil shrugged. "I hardly know. She seems to like me, at any rate."

"Well, there's no accounting for taste," Lucas teased.

"I shall smack your hand in a minute," Wil warned.

The two men grinned at each other over how quickly they fell into their old banter.

Mavis came out a few minutes later. "I'm ready to leave," she said.

"What did the doctor say?" Mr. Humphries asked solicitously. "Are you going to be all right?"

She nodded, self-conscious. "Yeah, I'm mostly just bruised. He gave me some ointment for the cuts, and some painkillers. I'll be fine in a few days."

"Excellent! Home in time for supper." Lucas rubbed his hands in anticipation.

"There'll be no supper if I'm not there t'cook it," Mavis said.

"Well, the others are all still there... but considering Miss Brahms' cooking, perhaps we ought to stop for takeaway on the way home," Wil mused.

"Say no more." Lucas took them to a small restaurant and bought dinner for everyone. Their entrance back at the Manor was greeted with loud cries of welcome, as Rumbold, Peacock, and Miss Brahms had been working in the field all afternoon and they were ravenous.

The rest of the evening was filled with lighthearted conversation and reminiscing about the old days at Grace Brothers, and everyone went up to bed in a good mood.


[Author's Note: Yes, it's a short chapter, but fear not. The story is complete, and I will be posting 2 or 3 chapters per day until it's all here.

Also, please comment! I've enjoyed the comments from my 1 (one) noble reviewer, but I'd enjoy getting a little more feedback from the rest of you.

Doesn't matter whether you like it or not, please tell me. Only, if you don't like it, give me some legitimate critique explaining why. That's the only way I'm going to improve as a writer.

Thank you! -Clev]