“Nothing. That’s what,” Charles bit out. “You can’t take our goldmine with you, and I doubt Meredith would be satisfied for long as the wife of an impoverished, landless farmer. What will that do to your pride? How long will it take before the love between you two dimishes? When taking a wife, there’s far more to consider than fanciful, romantic notions.”
They’d come to blows if he didn’t end this conversation now. Daniel scooped grain into a bucket and headed for the mules’ stall. “Brush them down, and I’ll fetch water and hay.”
“That’s it? The discussion is over?” Charles asked, his tone incredulous. “You always do this when you know I’m right.”
“I always do this when the conversation gets out of hand, and it has naught to do with who is right and who is wrong.” He cut Charles a pointed look. “We’ve an ambush to survive. Let’s focus upon that for the time being.”
Charles continued to grumble to himself, and Daniel refrained from mentioning that his friend always continued their arguments on his own—presenting only his side and never Daniel’s. Instead, he went about filling the feed bins with grain and the rack with sweet-smelling hay. Then he pumped and carried buckets of water and topped off the trough, leaving Charles to do the rest.
The windows glowed warmly against the gathering dusk, and Meredith waited within. He refused to consider any outcome that didn’t see them wed and living together for the rest of their lives. Whenever his mind strayed to the unpleasant truths Charles had stirred, he forced his mind to other things, like the feel of his lover’s warm, soft form snuggled against him. His pulse quickened, and he could hardly wait to lie beside her again.
He stomped the dirt from his boots and entered. Oliver sat upon his pallet of blankets, his back against the wall, and one of the dime novels opened on his lap.
The lad looked up briefly and grinned. “These are ridiculous,” he said, his tone gleeful, holding up the western adventure book. “And addicting. I’m going to have to go back for more.”
Meredith sat at the table, a cup of tea in front of her, and another of Oliver’s books in hand. “I agree. This is an outrageous example of hyperbole.” She laughed, holding up the book so he could see the sensationalized cover.
Daniel helped himself to a cup of tea. He took a seat by the stove and settled in to wait the interminable time it would take before Charles and Oliver went to bed. “How many of those novels do you have?”
“Six.”
“May I borrow one?”
“Sure. Of course.” Oliver set his book down and rose from the floor. He went to the corner where he kept his belongings and reached into his pack. “Take your pick,” he said, setting the four remaining books on the end table. “Charles can borrow one too. We can read them all in turns.”
“Grand, thank you.” Daniel picked up one of the novels just as Charles entered the cabin.
“We’ve all decided to read tonight,” Oliver announced.
“Have we now?” Charles said, his tone flat.
The lad gestured to the books. “Yep. Help yourself.”
Charles scowled. “I’m turning in early. I’ve books of my own to read, thank you just the same.”
Charles washed his face and hands at the sink, brushed his teeth, and left the room without another word, closing his bedroom door behind him. Meredith arched an eyebrow at Daniel in question.
“We had words,” Daniel said. “He’s the testy sort, always has been. Charles is a pessimist.”
“I suppose he keeps you grounded since you’re a dreamer who sees the silver lining in every gray cloud,” Oliver said.
Meredith’s eyes widened in surprise as she gaped at Oliver. “Nailed it,” she said.
“What does nailed it mean?” Daniel asked.
“It means Oliver has you both pegged. You and Charles are the perfect balance for each other, an optimistic dreamer, and a pessimistic pragmatist.” She smiled his way. “Both of you possess determination and the will to work hard. No matter what you two choose to undertake together, I’ve no doubt you’d succeed.”
“High praise indeed.” Which only made him feel guiltier at the possibility that he might soon forsake his best friend.
Oliver cleared his throat. “Look, I know you and Meredith are into each other, and I have no problem with the two of you shacking up. I enjoy solitude, so … feel free to head upstairs whenever.” With that declaration, he returned to his pallet and took up his book.
“I wouldn’t mind going to bed early. I think I’ll take one last trip to the outhouse,” Meredith announced as she rose from the table, taking a lantern with her.
Once she left, Daniel turned to the lad. “Are you certain you’d not be offended by our shacking up as you put it?”
“I’m from the twenty-first century, Daniel. It’s a common practice for couples to live together without the legal document proclaiming them husband and wife, wife and wife, or husband and husband. It’s all good.”
Daniel blinked. “Wife and wife? Husband and husband?”
“Yep. The LGBTQ+ community has come a long way by the twenty-first century. Gay couples can legally marry if they want.” Oliver dropped his gaze to his opened book. “Don’t you need to visit the outhouse one last time before you head upstairs?”
“Hmph.” He took the hint and left the lad to his book, encountering Meredith on her return trip. She handed him the lantern.
“Meredith, what does LGBTQ+ stand for?”
“Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer. Queer is kind of an umbrella label for all the forms of sexuality that exist within the LGBTQ+ community, and to those who don’t wish to label themselves as specifically one thing or another. That’s where the plus comes in.”
“Ah.” He nodded, a little overwhelmed. “If it is acceptable, I’ll be up in a bit. You can explain then what gayness has to do with any of that.
