Page 9 of Resilience on Canvas

Chapter Five

Robert

When Robert woke, his mind was foggy, his eyelids were heavy, and there was a stiffness in his muscles that seemed to suggest he must have been sleeping for a long time.

Somehow, he felt both well rested and exhausted.

What a thing that was. When Robert tried to stretch, he noticed that his legs had crept up onto Henry’s lap while he’d been out.

Shit.

Robert started to pull them back, moving slowly so as not to rouse his companion, but the moment his feet left Henry’s thighs, Henry stirred.

“Sorry,” Robert whispered. “I was too comfortable, I think.”

Henry cleared his throat. “Oh, uhm, it’s fine.”

Christ, how awkward that must have been for Henry.

Robert tried to change the subject. “Is it night now or..?”

“Yeah, I saw the sun settin’ not too long ago. I think the storm passed. Visibility still seems poor, though. It was like the last bits of sunlight were shinin’ through a bedsheet.”

Robert sat up and rubbed his forehead.

“Goddammit,” he said. “I need to find a way back home. ”

“We will,” Henry said. “I think we can make it together. We can leave now, if you want. Try our cars. Or walk. I’ll walk with you.”

“Yeah?” Robert said. “Well, we better put some rags over our faces. I have one in my pocket from walkin’ to church earlier. Got to find you one, too.”

Henry stood. “Hope we can locate a lamp.”

“We’ll search together,” Robert said, standing up next to him. He took Henry’s sleeve.

After a few minutes of searching, they found a couple of rags and a kerosene lamp, one that had a bit of fuel left in it.

They managed to light it and then worked together to force open the front door.

The son-of-a-bitch storm had pushed huge mounds of soil right up against the house.

Luckily, with both of them shoving their weight against the wood, they were able to push it open.

They considered heading back to town to try their cars but were too worried that the engines might short out, and so, they began walking to Robert’s instead.

It wasn’t easy to navigate the roads and fields, what with the visibility being so poor.

Even the light from the kerosene lamp was barely helping.

Dust was still lingering everywhere, blowing this way and that, settling like falling snow.

Neither of them talked much on the way. Robert was saving his breath.

Maybe Henry was too. With how bad it was outside, Robert was worried that once they started talking, one or both of them might begin coughing, and then, what if it caused one of them to faint?

Robert had seen that happen to folks in storms that were even less intense.

No conversation was worth that. Although. ..

Robert had to admit that he was enjoying his time with Henry. He was really starting to like the man. Henry wasn’t too bad for a son-of-a-bitch coward who had broken off his engagement. Hopefully the two of them would have the chance to talk plenty in the future .

It took Robert and Henry a long time to reach Robert’s home.

Probably close to one hour. Once they arrived, Robert found himself wheezing a sigh of relief.

All the windows were shut, and he hoped that meant his family had stayed safe during the horrible black blizzard.

Even though a bunch of soil had settled against the house, it was mostly on the north side, and not so much near the front, which faced west. Getting inside would be easy.

Robert tried his best to stay silent as they made their way into the house, turning the knob with care, but the floorboards still creaked beneath his feet when he entered.

While Henry was rinsing that injury of his with water Clara must have brought in earlier, Robert stood nearby watching.

As Henry finished up, Clara emerged from the bedroom.

The moment she and Robert locked eyes, she rushed over.

“Thank the Lord,” she said, throwing her arms around Robert’s neck.

He hugged her back with one hand, still holding tight to the lamp with the other.

“We found some shelter in a farmhouse,” he said. “How’s everyone here?”

“Asleep. Except for Pop. He never came back from wherever he was.”

“Bastard,” Robert snarled before catching himself. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine, Robert. I feel the same way,” she said, releasing him.

Clara and Henry nodded at each other, and then Henry’s eyes fell to the floor.

“Evenin’, Clara,” he said. “Robert was real worried for you, and so, I thought I’d come with him to check that y’all were safe. I hope you ain’t upset that I’m here?”

“Not even a little,” she said. “I thought I told you that we could be friends.”

Henry smiled bashfully. “Right, yeah. I remember. ”

Robert cocked an eyebrow. Friends? Clara must have been bein’ truthful when she’d told Robert that she wasn’t feeling heartbroken, then.

Clara began twirling her hair. “Robert... I checked the crops earlier, and I think we’ll have a lot of shovelin’ in the mornin’.”

Robert blew out a breath. He’d expected as much.

“That’s fine,” he said. “Goddamn black blizzard from hell.”

“I’ll shovel!” Henry blurted out.

His voice reminded Robert of an overly excited puppy.Goodness, that was endearing. It was strange how endearing it was.

“Thanks, Hen.”

“And, well...” Clara’s lock of hair was practically knotted up now.

Robert’s muscles tensed as he waited for her to continue.

“I think one or two of the cows might not have survived. Which means we won’t make even a penny from them.

I couldn’t bring ’em to the barn myself. I was with May and the twins and—”

Robert interrupted her. “Clara, I figured that might happen. Don’t worry about the money. I might be workin’ in Henry’s store soon. Bringin’ home a few extra cents every week.”

“Dried food, too,” Henry said. “I mean, you can take some cans home, too. After yer shifts.”

“Wow, that’s... God, that’ll help a whole lot,” Robert said, wonderstruck.

“Goodness!” Clara exclaimed. “Maybe we’ll have enough to replace May’s shoes soon. Oh! And Thomas’s pack for school!”

Henry’s sweet smile widened, and Robert’s breath caught.

Damn, that Henry Sherwood really was a fine man.

Clara said, “I can only imagine how tired you both must be. And we can’t handle none of the work on the farm ’til mornin’. Should we go to bed, maybe? Thomas and Peter are sleepin’ in my room with May, so you two can share Robert’s. ”

Robert and Henry looked at each other. Even in the low light of the lamp, Robert could see that poor Henry’s face was reddening.

Probably Henry was thinking back on how Robert had been resting his feet in Henry’s lap earlier.

Or maybe the man could sense the strange thoughts that had been flitting through Robert’s head ever since.

“I promise I won’t be using you for a pilla,” Robert said, trying for a playful tone.

Henry huffed an uneasy-sounding laugh.

“Alright, well, that’s good,” Henry replied, his voice cracking once in the middle.

Clara smiled. “Well, I better head off to bed now.”

“Night, Clara,” Robert said.

“G’night,” Henry echoed.

And then Robert and Henry were alone. Henry still had a nervousness about him. He was chewing on his lip, his eyes fixed to the floor. Robert knew he had to fix it somehow. He took Henry by the sleeve.

“Dammit, Henry,” Robert said, pulling him forward, the lamp swinging in his other hand. “Don’t tell me I ruined this new friendship of ours by puttin’ my stupid feet up on yer lap earlier. Ain’t like I’d been tryin’ to cuddle up on you back there. I wasn’t even awake!”

Henry stumbled forward. Once they were in lockstep, Robert released Henry’s sleeve, and they continued toward the bedroom.

“Are we really friends?” Henry asked.

Robert nearly laughed. He had chastised the man, and this was his reaction?

“Why wouldn’t we be?” Robert said. “Or are you only friends with women?”

“No! I can be friends with men, too. ”

“Alright, then we’re friends,” Robert said, pushing Henry into the bedroom. He pointed toward the bed on the left. “That’s the bed the twins normally sleep in. It’s yers tonight.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, you ain’t sleepin’ in mine,” Robert said with a sarcastic laugh, though his stomach tumbled strangely as the words left his mouth.

Dammit, what was wrong with him?

“Right, yeah,” Henry said, his voice shaking a bit. “Certainly not.”

Robert winced, embarrassment over his remark warming his cheeks.

“Look, we need some rest,” Robert huffed. “Get in yer Goddamn bed before I make you sleep on the porch.”

Not that he’d really ever make Henry sleep outside in these conditions. The poor man’s lungs would probably wind up looking like bags of sand.

Henry kicked off his brown leather boots and scurried toward the bed like a wounded puppy. Lord, here Robert was comparing his friend to a puppy for the second time that evening. It was probably because Henry was kind of cute. He was cute like a puppy was cute.

Robert swatted a hand back and forth in front of his face to rid himself of the thought. Christ Almighty, this newfound fondness for Henry was like a fly he couldn’t seem to be rid of, one that kept on buzzing in his head, irritating him.

“Night, Robert,” Henry said.

“Night,” Robert replied.

After putting out the lamp’s flame, Robert climbed into bed and rolled onto his back. Immediately, he found himself thinking of Henry. Son-of-a-bitch, break-off-a-marriage Henry. Who had a huge heart. And a handsome smile. And a nice, prominent nose. And full, kissable lips.

Dammit.

He should not be thinking those kinds of thoughts. Ever. But especially not now. Not with Henry right there in the room.