"How ya been, old man," I drawled, tipping my hat low to keep the sun out of my eyes.
"Can't complain," Jacob replied, spitting at his feet. "'Cept I always do." He grinned then nodded at the sheep. "They're looking real good, Jesse. Earning yer keep nice and good." He looked up then, noticing something behind me and I turned to see Grey had come outside. He was standing there in the doorway, in my shirt and jeans, barefoot with his silver hair curling down around his neck and upper shoulders. His body was tensed though, poised as if ready to attack. to him, Jacob was a threat, one he wanted gone. He was keeping himself in check though, and I think it was only because of me.
I cleared my throat. "Ah, this here's a friend of mine," I said by way of introduction. I stepped a little closer to him, hoping my nearness would keep him calm.
Jacob tilted up his own hat, squinting up at Grey. "Yeah well I was jus' checkin' in to make sure you were still good on supplies." He pursed his lips and then addressed Grey, "So where ya from, boy?"
Grey glanced at me, but remained silent. He didn't understand Jacob, and he couldn't respond.
When Jacob scowled and added, "I asked you a question, boy," I had to step in. "Sorry boss," I interjected. "He don't speak so good. Best not to worry about tryin' to make conversation." It was the truth, and Jacob would likely write Grey off as being deaf, mute, maybe just plain simple. I didn't like the thought, but if it stayed Jacob's sometimes sharp tongue, then it would save the man's life. I doubt I could move fast enough to stop Grey from shifting and tearing out Jacob's throat if he so chose.
But Jacob just nodded and gave up addressing Grey. "Boy's got some strange hair. Ain't never seen it that color," he mused. He looked back at me then and offered, "So you all right then? Not be needin' anythin'?"
Before I could answer Grey nudged me, What are you both saying? in his eyes.
Trying to make him leave, I conveyed back and smiled at Jacob. "I'm fine here, Jacob. Don't need a thing."
Jacob nodded at the sheep again, spitting once more for good measure. With another curious glance at Grey Jacob tipped his hat and turned back to his truck. He wasn't needed there anymore.
"Can't complain," Jacob replied, spitting at his feet. "'Cept I always do." He grinned then nodded at the sheep. "They're looking real good, Jesse. Earning yer keep nice and good." He looked up then, noticing something behind me and I turned to see Grey had come outside. He was standing there in the doorway, in my shirt and jeans, barefoot with his silver hair curling down around his neck and upper shoulders. His body was tensed though, poised as if ready to attack. to him, Jacob was a threat, one he wanted gone. He was keeping himself in check though, and I think it was only because of me.
I cleared my throat. "Ah, this here's a friend of mine," I said by way of introduction. I stepped a little closer to him, hoping my nearness would keep him calm.
Jacob tilted up his own hat, squinting up at Grey. "Yeah well I was jus' checkin' in to make sure you were still good on supplies." He pursed his lips and then addressed Grey, "So where ya from, boy?"
Grey glanced at me, but remained silent. He didn't understand Jacob, and he couldn't respond.
When Jacob scowled and added, "I asked you a question, boy," I had to step in. "Sorry boss," I interjected. "He don't speak so good. Best not to worry about tryin' to make conversation." It was the truth, and Jacob would likely write Grey off as being deaf, mute, maybe just plain simple. I didn't like the thought, but if it stayed Jacob's sometimes sharp tongue, then it would save the man's life. I doubt I could move fast enough to stop Grey from shifting and tearing out Jacob's throat if he so chose.
But Jacob just nodded and gave up addressing Grey. "Boy's got some strange hair. Ain't never seen it that color," he mused. He looked back at me then and offered, "So you all right then? Not be needin' anythin'?"
Before I could answer Grey nudged me, What are you both saying? in his eyes.
Trying to make him leave, I conveyed back and smiled at Jacob. "I'm fine here, Jacob. Don't need a thing."
Jacob nodded at the sheep again, spitting once more for good measure. With another curious glance at Grey Jacob tipped his hat and turned back to his truck. He wasn't needed there anymore.