That evening the supper table remained silent; no conversation, no questions.
The only sounds were of cutlery scraping the plates and glasses being sat back on the wooden tabletop.
That, and the horrendous sound of Soul eating his dinner, like the wild heathen he was.
Maka couldn't help but glare at him from across the table.
Soul finished his meal much quicker than Tsubaki and the kid had so he now sat silently nursing a cup of coffee. The quiet was grating on his nerves.
Finally, he breached the icy silence.
"Listen, kid, we're going to have to get along. I know I'm a blunt person. I don't know what you're used to, but men out West don't mince words. Best get used to it."
Maka gave him a belligerent look.
Soul took another sip of the coffee, then set it down. "It's obvious you're just a late bloomer. Sure you're scrawny now, but it doesn't mean you won't fill out. Some good, hard labor will help with that. After a month or so, you'll have some muscles. Fresh air and plenty of meat will give you something to grow on, too."
Maka frowned deeply at him. "Is this supposed to be some kind of olive branch?"
Tsubaki, who had quietly been listening the whole time sat her fork down and laughed. "I've been here on the ranch for almost 19 years and I've never seen Soul apologize for anything. That's probably as good as you're going to get darlin'."
Maka nodded, fearing as much.
Mr. Evans was a very proud man.
Heaving a longsuffering sigh, Soul rose from the table. "Look, until Stein gets back, I'm in charge around here. He asked me to take you under my wing. I'll hold up my part. I refuse to let him down."
Maka concentrated on buttering a slice of bread.
C'mon, Fancy Pants. Be a man. Say you'll do your part.
Maka set down her knife with great precision, raised the slice, and took a bite.
The kid was blatantly ignoring him.
I gave you a chance. You didn't take it.
Soul shook his head in disgust. He strode from the dining room, out the door, and to the barn.
He'd stay here til the kid went up to bed.
Earlier in the day, he'd dressed a mare's foreleg that had been cut. A cursory check showed the swelling and heat had gone down.
"At least something's going right."
"Boss?"
He turned. "Black Star."
"Wanted to tell you, I took care of the henhouse. Tsubaki didn't want to give me her cayenne, but I talked her into it."
"Tsubaki is pretty particular with her kitchen, how'd you talk her into it?"
"Didn't you know? I'm great with the ladies. Some might even say a God."
Black star grinned at Soul, but he didn't return it.
"What's wrong with you? I didn't even get a laugh or an eye roll from you."
Soul sighed heavily, wondering how to tell his best friend that he was being bested by a spoiled snot nosed brat.
"Its the kid, isn't it?" Black Star smiled knowingly.
Soul hung his head and nodded. "I don't know what to do with him, he's impossible to be around."
Black Star ran a hand through his spikey blue hair, a teasing smirk on his face. "You're not the easiest person to around either boss."
"I know my people skills ain't the best, I was raised up on this ranch my whole life. I'm a little rough around the edges as far as polite society goes, but at least I have some manners!"
"Maybe manners are different in England than they ate here?"
"Hmm maybe? I couldn't say. The fact is that he's not in England anymore, if he doesn't like our way of life then tough luck. He's stuck here for the time being, whether likes it or not. After Stein returns he has the choise to return to England, until then he's my problem."
"Give it time boss, it's only been his second day here." Black Star mused. "Besides, I rather like the kid."
"You would." Soul sighed.
"Why don't you let the kid work with me then? I wouldn't mind the help or the company."
"Do you even work around here?" Soul snickered.
"When I can't get out of it!" Black start cackles, causing the horses to stir.
"That's the problem I'm having, the ranch never lacks chores that need to be done, but Fancy Pants Albarn... Well, what could the kid do?"
"Getting him to round up cattle and drive them to the next pasture would be a disaster. He'd likely start a stampede."
Soul grimace at the very thought. "I'd rather him not work anywhere near the cows unless we're with him."
"Smart idea boss."
"Fencing is definitely out. Stretching barbed wire takes a steady hand and quick reflexes. If the wire snaps and snarls, a man could get cut to ribbons quick."
Black Star chuckes to himself. "I can picture Stein coming home to his new nephew only to find out we accidentally sliced a few finger off em'. Huh, what about branding boss?"
"The kid probably can't figure out which end of a branding iron goes where."
"Geez give him a little credit boss, he might be English, but he's smarter than the average rock you know."
Soul suddenly smiled, a big sharky kind of grin.
"What are you scheming boss?"
Soul just smiled wider.
"Black Star, sometimes you're a genius."
Tsubaki knocked on the bed chamber door, causing Maka to bolt straight out of bed.
"Are you up? Breakfast will be ready in 15 minutes. Why don't you come down a little early so we can talk?"
"I'll be right down!" Maka called as she hastily grabbed her clothes. She had laid them out the night before incase she needed to dress quickly.
Keeping her secret meant she had to stay one step ahead of everyone.
Maka had filled her pitcher the night before, and she quickly splashed herself clean with the cold water, yanked the binding around her chest with vicious intent, and knotted it securely in place.
She carefully tucked in the edges of the binding so she wouldn't have to worry they might flap around.
The shirt was so big, she didn't need to unbutton more than the top fastener to slip it over her head.
She made a mental note to repeat that time-saving trick.
She refused to let Mr. Evans throw her out of bed again.
Fighting her way into the legs of some britches, Maka decided men's clothing wasn't quite as simple as it once seemed.
Neither is being a man.
Back home, the things men did seemed so simple.
They rode and went on fox hunts. Courted women, played billiards, and went to gaming halls. Retired after supper to smoke and drink port.
At least that's what her papa did.
Her experience with men had been limited growing up. Her papa had seen to that, always being over protective of her.
She shook her head. He was gone now and she was on her own.
Everything is so different here.
It was turning out to be far more involved and complicated than she could have imagined.
Maka made her way down the stairs cautiously, keeping an eye out for Mr. Freight Train Evans.
The house was quite though as she slipped into the kitchen.
Tsubaki stood at the stove, her willowy frame bent over a frying pan.
To Maka's surprise Black star sat at the little kitchen table watching Tsubaki as she cooked.
He sat very still, so still she would have missed his form in the corner if it hadn't been for his wild hair color giving him away.
His face looked placid and a small smile curved his mouth, as is he was thinking of something pleasant.
Maka froze in the doorway, unsure if she should continue, but Black Star swung his gaze over and gave her a slow wink.
"Mornin' English. Come pull up a chair." He called softy as he patted the wooden stool next to his.
Maka sat down next to him, feeling a little dazed. She hadn't know the loud cowboy for long, but she had always assumed that his voice only had one level of pitch. She had never heard him talk so quietly.
She eyed him suspicious and he chuckled softly.
"I don't want to wake up the boss." He stated as he jabbed a finger upstairs. "He's awful cranky in the mornings."
Maka couldn't help but snort at that.
"When is he not cranky?"
"True." Black Star chuckled. "He's not so bad once you get to know him though."
Tsubaki nodded her head in agreement. "He's a very complex man, he's been through more trying times than most people have. Because of that he has trouble expressing himself."
"What happened to him?" Maka asked curiously.
Tsubaki grimaces, as if she's said too much. "When you two become more friendly, why don't you ask him yourself?"
Maka nods, knowing it isn't really her business.
It makes sense though, no one is just born that cranky or sour.
Maka doubts they will ever be on friendly terms, but she thinks she understands him a tiny bit more now.
"So what are you doing here?" Maka asks, trying to change the subject. "I've never seen you in the house before."
Black Star throws Tsubaki a warm smile before answering. "Tsubaki's cinnamon rolls are to die for. I sneak in every morning to snag one before the boss gets up."
"Are you not allowed to be here?" Maka asks shocked.
"It's not common for the cowpunchers to be in the main house unless invited. We have our own sleeping quarters at the bunkhouse and our own cook so there's really no reason for us to come in here."
"Except to track mud into my kitchen." Tubaki laughs as she looks at a Black Star's boots.
Black star has the decency to look slightly ashamed.
"I'll sweep that up for you Tsubaki."
"No, I'll take care of it, Soul will be up here pretty quick and I don't want you getting grouched at this early."
Black Star grinned as he pushed away from the table.
"I guess I better skidattle then. Good luck today English, give the boss hell for me." He said with a wink.
Maka grinned in return.
Black Star stopped in the little doorway that led from the the kitchen to the back porch, him and Tsubaki locking eyes. "Thanks for breakfast Tsubaki."
She smiled sweetly in return.
He hesitated his hand clenching his dusty hat.
For a moment Maka thought he was going to say something else, but he spun on his heels and strode out the door.
Maka glanced slyly at Tsubaki who was clutching her spatula and staring at the door.
Maka cleared her throat and Tsubaki shook her head and smiled.
"I'm sorry hun, I wanted to talk to you for a bit, but Black Star showed up unannounced and Soul will be galloping down those stairs soon."
"I don't mind talking now," Maka said, feeling a spark of interest.
"Don't worry hun, I'll come find you later this evening. If you don't get a head start into the dining room now you run the risk of Soul not saving you any food."
Maka's stomach at that moment growled very loudly in agreement.
Maka blushed at her stomach's protest and Tsubaki laughed merrily.
"Go on hun, I'll be along shortly with the food."
Maka nodded and shuffled from the kitchen. She looked down the hall and up the stairs, but all was quiet.
Maybe Mr. Evans wouldn't be joining them for breakfast?
Before she could even complete the thought she was practically ran over in the doorway to the dining table. "
Move it kid," he barked. "Didn't your momma teach you not to block doorways?"
Maka glared at his back as he swept past her.
He was a trainwreck of white hair and long legs.
Maka sat primly across the table from him, as far away as possible.
If she had it her way she'd eat breakfast in the cozy little kitchen with Black Star instead.
Or even out in the pasture with the bloody cows at this point.
The silence hung like a dead thing between them at the table, neither acknowledging the other.
Maka refused to break eye contact with him though and she could tell it bothered him.
He seemed restless in his chair and his throat bobbed up and down.
With his strange eyes he probably wasn't used to people keeping eye contact.
Tsubaki chose that moment to save the day by bringing in three steaming plates of food.
She sat them down and hummed a soft song as she poured three cups of coffee before settling in her own chair.
Maka relaxed a little easier having Tsubaki in the room with them.
She hadn't realised how much tension she was holding in her body until she felt it slowly melting away. Tsubaki truly was an angel.
They began to eat, and Maka wondered what Tsubaki had set before her.
The taste wasn't objectionable, so she decided she'd inquire about the meal once Mr. Evans finished his and stalked off.
"Tsubaki, this is really-" She caught herself just before saying, "delicious." A man wouldn't be that flowery with words. "—tastes good." she finished, taking a quick sip of her coffee to cover up her blunder.
"Everything Tsubaki makes is good." Soul shot the housekeeper a warm smile.
Maka almost spit her coffee out in surprise.
Mr. Evans was actually capable of paying someone a compliment?
Tsubaki titters softly and shakes her head at him, but doesn't seem surprised by his kind words.
As soon as he finishes inhaling his portion, Soul looks up at the housekeeper with a stunning smile.
"Tsubaki, honey, that's a meal to make a man's belly dance a jig. Got any more?"
That's two smiles, one after another from him.
The man was positively full of charm and surprises today.
Maka can scarcely fathom this side of him.
Maybe he was having a few bad days before, maybe today he was over them.
"I know it's your favorite. Of course there's more." Tsubaki padded off to the kitchen and came back with a skillet clutched in a bright red dishcloth.
Soul scooped up another heap onto his plate, but instead of digging in again he leaned back in his chair, his gaze swinging to Maka.
He slyly waited until she took a bite and her mouth was full before speaking.
"Yep. Nothing beats a good plate of calf brains and eggs!"
He patted his stomach and gave a wicked grin.
Maka completely forgot to chew.
She didn't really want to swallow, either.
The food in her mouth suddenly felt very wrong.
The urge to bolt from the table and empty her stomach rolled over her.
Maka sat perfectly still.
Then she saw it, the gleam in his crimson eyes.
He was teasing her, or maybe even testing her.
It took all of her will power, but she swallowed the food.
Giving him a mocking grin, she commented as she scooped up another bite of egg, "This is a great meal. In England we usually eat kidney pie, blood sausage, or a little liver for breakfast."
Soul's smile fades a bit, the corner of his mouth turning down.
Maka wonders if it was because she hadn't raised to his bait or if it was the description of her English food.
"So you like unusual foods, eh?" He gave her an assessing look.
The back of her neck prickled.
He was definitely up to something, but she wasn't going to allow him to trap her.
"I do enjoy trying new foods, even if they are on the exotic side."
"How... proper."
He said the last word like it was a dirty word.
Once again he was mocking her for being different.
"You know what is proper Mr. Evans?" She asked, her voice raising slightly. "Not shoveling your food in. You eat like a common barn animal."
Tsubaki burst out laughing, tears nearly spilling from her eyes. "I swear, you two deserve each other in the morning."
Soul glared at Maka for her audacity.
Maka mearly grinned back.
Tsubaki smiled between the two. "The kid's a cheeky little rascel, isn't he?"
"Not for long."
It was a warning.
Maka's stomach flip flopped at his words, even more than the cow brains had cause.