Thomas jolted upright, looking across the creek. There stood a young lad, mirroring Thomas in age - he had dark hair, dark eyes and an Aegan cap atop his head. There was a large, black horse by his side.
"Salut," the boy repeated, his concern evident in his tone, the French accent curling around his words "are you alright?"
Thomas, mindful of his injuries, subtly adjusted his stance to hide his arms, not wanting his recent ordeal to become the subject of concern. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you," he responded, his curiosity piqued by this unexpected visitor.
"Is this Creekside Manor?" the boy inquired, his gaze taking in the surroundings with an exploratory interest. "I'm looking for Rocksports."
"Rockport," Thomas corrected a little too harshly, the adrenaline from his training still lingering "I'm Thomas. How can I help?"
The boy introduced himself as Jerry Baynard, and through a mix of mispronunciation and the occasional struggle to find the right English words, he explained his mission. Mr. Cuthbert had sent him regarding a wagon that had become available for purchase nearby - a piece of news could hold significance for them.
"Hold on a moment," Thomas said, excusing himself briefly as he dashed inside the manor. He quickly retrieved a pouch of money. Moments later, he was saddling Luna, their faithful horse, preparing for the journey ahead.
Together, Thomas and Jerry set off down the road, the snow rhythmically crunching beneath their horses' hooves.
As they travelled down the road, Thomas couldn't shake a nagging suspicion that gnawed at the edges of his thoughts. The suddenness of the encounter with Jerry, the unexpected errand - it all seemed too coincidental, sparking a wary skepticism within him. Could Jerry's arrival and offer be a façade, masking some less benign intention? Thomas's training, both physical and mental, had honed his instincts towards caution, yet as they rode, Jerry's constant stream of chatter began to erase Thomas's initial doubts.
Jerry, despite grappling with the intricacies of English, filled the silence with tales and observations that painted a picture of his life. His role as a farmhand at Green Gables struck a chord with Thomas, the mention of the place bringing Anne's image into his thoughts. Learning about Jerry's large family and the necessity of his work evoked a sense of empathy in Thomas. It was clear Jerry bore his responsibilities with a resilience that Thomas couldn't help but admire, even as his own circumstances danced at the back of his mind.
Throughout their conversation, a question lingered on the tip of Thomas's tongue, a curiosity about Anne that tugged at him with increasing insistence. Yet, he restrained himself, choosing instead to focus on the task at hand and the unfolding road before them.
Their destination revealed itself as a farmhouse set against the backdrop of the stark yet serene winter landscape, its grey masonry a testament to enduring craftsmanship. As they drew near, Thomas felt a mixture of relief and anticipation.
Thomas dismounted, his gaze lingering on the farmhouse for a moment before he approached the front door, Jerry staying behind with the horses.
He knocked on the door and waited. The moment the door swung open to reveal Gilbert standing on the other side, Thomas was taken aback. Gilbert's equally surprised greeting soon gave way to confusion as Thomas outlined the purpose of his visit.
"What brings you by?" Gilbert inquired.
"I was informed you're selling a wagon," Thomas replied.
"We are?" Gilbert's bewilderment at the mention of a wagon for sale brought a reaction from Thomas. Driven by an instinct, Thomas spun around in an instant, his body rigid and at the ready - awaiting confrontation of some sort - he knew it! It was a ruse after all.
Instead, he found Jerry, seemingly oblivious, still attending to the horses, gently scratching Luna's muzzle.
Thomas's odd behavior confused Gilbert even further, who quickly excused himself to consult with his father, leaving Thomas alone on the front porch. Thomas, now relaxed, still found his gaze wandering, in search of some imminent threat. None came. He heard conversing inside, moments later Gilbert returned, his demeanor carrying a hint of resignation - he confirmed the sale of a wagon.
Leading Thomas to a nearby storage building, he revealed a basic transportation wagon. Jerry brought Luna across and began to hitch the wagon to the horse.
As Gilbert and Thomas settled the matter of payment for the wagon, a momentary pause allowed Gilbert's gaze to drift to Thomas's hand. The fresh wound on Thomas's palm, a vivid mark against the skin, caught his attention, sparking concern.
"What happened there?" Gilbert inquired, nodding towards the injury with a furrowed brow, the worry evident in his voice.
Thomas, caught off guard by the sudden focus on his wound, scrambled for an excuse.
"Oh, this? Just bruised myself during some work at home," he replied, attempting to brush off the concern with a casual explanation. Yet, the tension in his voice betrayed the fact that there was more to it. Gilbert, though acknowledging Thomas's explanation, seemed unconvinced.
"You need to clean and bandage that," he advised with a seriousness that underscored his concern. "Otherwise, it might get infected."
Thomas knew Gilbert was right; the basics of wound care were familiar to him, yet the day's events had pushed such practical considerations to the back of his mind.
"I know, I just haven't gotten around to it yet," he admitted.
Gilbert's insistence cut through Thomas's reluctance.
"Let me help you with that," he offered, leaving no room for refusal. It was a gesture of genuine concern, a willingness to aid despite the questions that lingered in the air between them.
Led inside, Thomas found himself directed to a basin where he carefully washed the cut under Gilbert's watchful eye. The cool water stung, a sharp reminder of the day's earlier trials, but the pain was a small price to pay for the cleansing.
Gilbert then provided Thomas with a bandage, his actions deft as he ensured the wound was properly covered. With his palm now tended to, Thomas felt a mixture of gratitude and awkwardness.
As they returned to the wagon, the air between them was charged with a new layer of mutual respect. Gilbert's concern and Thomas's acceptance of his help were small steps in a growing friendship.
With the wagon hitched and ready to embark on the journey back home, Thomas turned to Gilbert.
"Thank you for your help," Thomas expressed sincerely, his appreciation evident in his tone. "I'll see you at school, I guess?" he added.
"Yeah.. yeah I'll see you around," Gilbert responded, seemingly distracted all of a sudden, before he headed back to the house.
Thomas climbed onto the wagon, taking hold of the reins. He gave Jerry a thumbs up, an acknowledgment of their shared venture and the bond forged. As they passed each other by on their way to their separate paths home, Thomas thanked Jerry for his help and bid him farewell.
As their paths diverged, with each heading towards their respective homes, Thomas called out to Jerry, a final message carried by the crisp air:
"Give my regards to Anne," he hollered.
Jerry's response, a smile brightening his face and a thumbs up, was a perfect capstone to their journey.
As Thomas guided the wagon down the familiar path home, the warm feeling within him quickly faded, replaced by a mix of conflicting emotions from the days earlier trials. He sighed, finding himself torn between two different worlds, each seemingly unaware of the other's existence.
Before long he was back at the manor, he unhitched the wagon and led Luna back into the stable, providing her with fresh hay and water. As he walked inside, he found his father by the hearth again - seemingly his favorite place in the entire house.
"Got us a wagon," Thomas informed, his voice emotionless as he chucked the pouch of leftover coins on the kitchen table. As he headed upstairs, his father was watching him intently, his face unreadable.
Thomas threw himself on his bed, he tried to suppress the looming thought of the next session of training due tomorrow.