Snowed In(manxman)

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

The smell of something frying woke Will from his sleep. He was alone in the bed and Turner was standing over the cook stove in the kitchen stirring potatoes.

“Good evening, sleeping beauty,” he teased when he saw Will looking his way.

“How long did I sleep?” Will asked, rubbing at his eyes with his fists.

“Six hours.”

“Really?” Will glanced outside and saw that darkness was falling. “Guess I won’t be sleeping tonight.”

Beaux trotted over and laid his head on Will’s leg. Will scratched the hound behind the ears and smiled when he groaned and leaned more of his weight against his leg.

“I think my dog likes you more than he likes me,” Turner noted.

Will nodded as he stood up and stretched his arms over his head, “Of course he does. I’m nicer and I’m much better looking.”

Turner chuckled quietly and shook his head, “Is that right?”

Will just smiled and slid his feet into his boots before grabbing his coat, “Where are you going?” Turner demanded as he took the potatoes off the stove.

“The outhouse, daddy. I’ll be a good boy and come straight back home. I won’t talk to a single stranger.”

Turner rolled his eyes and grabbed a lantern from beside the front door. He lit it and placed it in Will’s hand, “It’s getting dark out there. Are you sure you can make it without help.”

Will nodded and rose on his toes to kiss Turner’s jaw, “I’ll be okay. Been peeing by myself for well over twenty years now.”

Turner frowned, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two. Is that a problem ol’ fella?”

“I’ll tell you what!” Turner snorted with amusement. “You’re in a mood to start trouble this evening aren’t you? I’ll have you know I’m only thirty and that hardly makes me an ol’ fella. ”

Will waggled his eyebrows, “Can you keep up?”

Turner growled and his eyes lit with the challenge. He reached out and swatted Will on the backside, “You’re gonna start something you might not be able to finish, young gun.”

Will shook his head, clicked his tongue and walked to the back door. He looked over his shoulder and winked, “I always finish what I start, ol’ fella. Don’t you worry about that.”

With that Will quickly ducked out the door leaving Turner standing there looking like a man who was torn between arousal and shock.

Will breathed in the cold air and felt it burn in his lungs a bit. He coughed lightly and winced. He had been really sick that was for sure. But right now he felt good. He was a bit surprised at the way he’d talked to and teased Turner but the truth was that Will was feeling more like his old self.

More like that easy going, laugh a lot, carefree, jokester that he’d been before Thompson Caudill and that brothel and he wanted to share that person with Turner. And he wanted to share a lot more with Turner..

Will’s body heated nicely at that thought as he made his way through the cold and darkness, holding the lantern high. He realized the snow was beginning to melt a bit. It didn’t seem to come as high up on his legs beside him as he walked through the path that Turner had made.

That caused Will to think about what would happen when the snow melted. Would he leave? He didn’t want to. He wanted to stay with Turner and he already knew from the way Turner spoke that the other man wanted him to stay as well.