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“Eight,” the boy replied.
“Do you enjoy working here?”
The boy smiled, revealing missing teeth. “I do,” he said. “They treat me real good.”
“Very good.”
The boy led him down a dimly lit hall and stopped at a door with the number three painted on it. “This is your room.” He unlocked the door and opened it. “Would you like me to start a fire for you?”
“Not at this time.”
The boy extended him the key. “I am to inform you that we are serving stew all day, if you are hungry.”
“That sounds delicious.”
“It is,” he replied, puffing out his little chest. “I even helped trap the meat myself.”
Reaching into the pocket of his waistcoat, Guy pulled out a few coins and handed them to the boy. “Thank you for showing me to my room.”
The boy’s eyes grew wide at the sight of the coins. “Thank you, Mister,” he said as he clutched them tightly in his hand.
“What is your name?”
“Henry.”
“That is a strong name.”
Henry bobbed his head. “I was named after my father, but he died a few years back.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
“My mother is dead, too.”
Guy reached out and placed his hand on the boy’s thin shoulders. “It sounds like you have had a rough go of it.”
“It’s all right,” Henry said. “At least I don’t have to work at the mines anymore.”
“Why don’t you want to work there?”
“That’s where my parents died,” he shared.
“I am pleased that you were able to find work with Mr. Croke.”
“He is nice to me,” Henry shared. “I sleep in the kitchen near the hearth. It’s nice and warm at night.”
“That is most important.”
The boy took a step back. “I should be going,” he said. “Mr. Croke doesn’t like when I dilly-dally.”
“I imagine that most employers would not.”
Guy watched as the young boy walked swiftly down the hall before he stepped into his room. It was exactly what he had been expecting. The bed was pushed up against one wall, which was adorned with faded blue paper, and a writing desk sat next to the cracked window.
He came back out and locked the door. He didn’t have time to waste in his room, especially if he wanted to be home by the end of the week.
As he descended the stairs, Mr. Croke walked over to him. “Is everything in order?”
“It is, but I’m afraid I have an important errand to run,” he replied. “May I ask where the bank is in town?”
