Nineteen.

A cock crowed and the farm slowly took to life. And Geoffrey finally climbed down out of the loft, entering into the daylight with heavy-lidded eyes. Selden thought, “The young sleep deep,” and he called to the boy, “You’ll see to the horse and mule, won’t you? I won’t be a minute.”

Geoffrey nodded yes.

“Good lad.”

The farmer’s oldest son came to milk the cows, a cat or two at his heels. And the farmer’s wife came out too, presumably to remind the priest that he could have had a bed inside.

“Wasn’t it cold a might, Pater? Not hardly spring, is it?”

“Not too cold, Matron. It’s how I slept as a boy. Always nice to visit the past.”

The woman looked at the priest with a serious expression. “It’s the future I look to. And will it bring promise?” She spat. Granted, away from the priest, but crude manners nevertheless.

Selden had seen pessimism before. Even in the brightest times, some people held on to their dark thoughts. And it came with age, along with aches and pains, a distaste for the naive young, a fear of falling or disease. There was no lack for things to dread, but still...

“Have you heard about the rooks then, Pater?”

Selden just stared.

“That they’ve all flyed away? You haven’t heard?”

“Matron, it’s no reason to fret a soul.”

“A soul’s one thing, but what about meat on the table? What about broke bones, those that won’t heal?”

Wives’ tales, Selden knew. “We’ll pray, Matron.”

“There’s that.” She looked unconvinced.

“Matron, here, please,” and he reached out his hand to hers and dropped a copper into it.

“Thank you, Pater.” She was quiet a moment, but then asked, “Are you sure?”

“Sure you’ll make good use of it.”

“Yes, Pater. Times what they are.”

He lifted an arm to bless her, and recited, “Every day I will praise You, for You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of all things. May you and all your family be so blessed, Matron.”

“God bless you, Pater.” She placed one hand on his arm. “Are you sure you won’t break the fast with us?”

“No. Thank you, but no. The boy and I are fasting till sundown.”

“So we best stay busy,” he added. “God bless.”

Geoffrey had the master’s mule and his own horse prepared and the two walked them back to the village church. Inside, the candle on the altar had burned down and gone out. Selden decided to save the other candles until the wake and funeral, if it came to that. When it comes to it, he realized.