Hotch's days on the island settled into a familiar pattern. Mornings, assisted by 343, he worked on his current construction project. When they had finished rebuilding the shelves in the pantry, the two men had moved on to rebuilding the shelving used to store fabric and notions in each of the three sewing workrooms. Again, the plans they followed had been designed by 586.
"She can just look at something and know exactly what needs doing," 343 told him as the two men reviewed what needed to be done. "It's almost scary."
"I know how you feel," Hotch replied. "I know someone like that, too." Not for the first time he thought about Reid and how much he missed his team and his family.
Afternoons, Hotch either rested (if he had an assignation scheduled for that evening) or continued working on his current carpentry project. While 343 continued helping, 603 was replaced by 612, who was also making the rounds of the various jobs on the farm.
"Smart, hard working young lady," 343 observed during one of his frequent rest breaks. "Wherever she decides to go, they will be lucky to get her."
"She has a choice where she goes?" Hotch asked curiously.
"Her preference will be taken into consideration," 343 explained. "Along with the observations from the people she has worked with. Sometimes it takes a couple of moves before the right fit is found for a young person." He coughed.
"I think it's time for me to go inspect the chicken coops," he commented as he walked slowly away.
Evenings, Hotch either fulfilled his obligation with the women who were sent to him (He always took the time to talk with them and get to know them during the three nights they met; and then they were gone and he was again left to his construction projects.) Or, he and, increasingly, the grey stripped tabby cat, visited with the various men who had taken to dropping by. Quite often now his manacle and chain weren't put on until after the last of his human guest(s) had left.
The days had assumed a comfortable sameness until one morning when 415 was late arriving to unchain Hotch.
"Three forty three didn't wake up this morning," he told Hotch mournfully. "And, as you can imagine, Cook is hysterical. They have been married for a very long time. Mistress and 586 are with her now trying to calm her down. Five oh two has taken over running the kitchen so meals will be a little late this morning. I suspect that everything will be rather chaotic today." He tried but failed to stifle a sniff.
"I knew him all my life," 415 choked out.
"He was a good man," Hotch replied thoughtfully. "And he will be missed."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
The funeral was held the next day at noon. Hotch was surprised to learn that all six of the pallbearers were people that Cook and 343 had reared after they had been brought to the island, and he strongly suspected that the group of people gathered protectively around Cook was also comprised of children she and 343 had cared for. He also noticed that there were some unfamiliar faces in the group gathered around the freshly dug grave, including several which were obviously of African descent.
"That group is from Farm #4," 658 whispered when she noticed him staring. "I know them from when I visit there to cut their hair."
"They fish and do wood carvings," Hotch remembered. "Probably remnants of their original culture here on the islands."
As the assembled group stood in the old cemetery encircling the newly dug grave, various people took turns speaking about their remembrances of 343.
"Even though I didn't know him for as long as some of you," Hotch said when his turn came. "I was still proud to call him my friend, and I can only hope that he was just as proud to call me his friend."
Lunch (organized by 502) followed the service and then everyone had the afternoon off to mourn in their own way. Hotch wandered over to the sewing workrooms and began a desultory inspection of the last project 343 had helped him with.
"What are you doing here?" 603 asked as he wandered into the room.
"What you said at the service was nice," he added sadly. "And I know he considered you to be a friend.
"I can only hope so," Hotch replied. "Sometimes it was kind of hard to tell with him."
"He could be rather gruff," the boy agreed. "But, underneath it all, I think he really liked a lot of people."
"He did," 586 agreed as she joined them.
"I thought I would find you here," she told Hotch. "This is the last place the two of you worked together. And, I must say that you are doing a very good job on this. It looks just like what I had in mind."
"Thank you," Hotch replied. "You were very explicit in your drawings. I couldn't go wrong."
"Now, would the two of you like to join me for a walk?" the young woman continued. "I was thinking of walking down to the dock and looking out over the water for a little while."
"The dock?" Hotch had been wanting to take a look at it. "That sounds good – 603?"
"Sounds good to me, too," the boy replied enthusiastically. "Maybe we can see some fish."
"Most likely we will see people from the other farms leaving to go home," 586 laughed. "They are going to have to get going soon if they want to get home before dark."
"They are traveling by horse and wagon?" While Hotch hadn't seen anyone arrive he had noticed the additional animals in the pens by the barns.
"That's the best way to travel on the island," 658 confirmed. "Now, come on." She smiled as she held out her hands to both of them. "Let's go see if we can find some fish."