My Home From Home (ManxMan)

Chapter 8

Calgary, Alberta 1920

Thomas huffed as he took the last of Henry's cases and hoisted it up onto the back of his horse drawn carriage; his body finally allowed to relax as he felt the weight finally relieved of him. He glanced towards the kerb up to see the pretty dark haired doctor hastily averting his gaze, running a hand through his gorgeous wavy hair; he looked so shy, so scared, but there was a look of hope and life in those sapphire blue eyes that made Thomas' heart feel a warm and fuzzy sensation deep within him. A sensation that he knew better than to let bubble to the surface. His eyes were so beautiful, so clear, so pure; like that of an angel from heaven sent to guide in an injured soldier to safety, to live yet another day on God's earth.

"Just to clarify, I might be handling your cases, but I'm still not a porter." Thomas teased, flashing Henry a half smile as the pretty young man let out a pained, grimacing exhale.

"Once more, I apologise profusely." Henry awkwardly scratched the back of his neck as he shifted weight from one foot to another. "Though if I may be so bold, I should think there are far worse professions to be mistaken for in the world than being a railway station porter."

"Never said there was anything wrong with it." Shrugged Thomas with a cheeky smirk as he shut the tailgate of the carriage and suavely moved towards Henry whilst clapping the dust off his hands; his dangerously attractive dimples making Henry go weak in the knees. "I just think it's funny, is all." He winked, making Henry's body tense up. Thomas didn't quite know why he winked at the man, winking wasn't something he did but he felt it right in that moment, though he a part of him instantly regretted it; an indiscretion like such was terribly dangerous in that day and age. Thomas prayed to God that it went either unnoticed or merely interpreted as friendly whilst he stepped up onto the carriage and took the reins in his leather-glove clad hands.

"Funny?" Henry cocked an eyebrow at the handsome blond as he struggled to pull himself onto the carriage, nearly loosing footing on the wooden step between the unpaved ground and the inside of the carriage.

"You alright there, bud?" Thomas furrowed his brow as he noted the boy's visible inability to climb into the carriage.

"Oh yes, sorry I reckon I've been on the train too long. All but lost control of my legs, I have." Henry admitted thoughtlessly as he sat himself down on the bench beside Thomas. The truth of the matter was that Henry had never rode in the front of a carriage, only in the back; not to mention those were luxury coaches where passengers rode on the inside whilst the driver sat on the outside, not open carriages like this that only had a mere awning to cover the driver and one passenger.

"Ah, I see." Thomas nodded to himself as Henry let out an internalised sigh of relief that the man bought his story. The handsome young officer leant over towards him and offered him a hand so he could successfully gain his footing onto the wooden ledge before giving him a firm pull onto the carriage.

"Thank you." Henry cleared his throat as he got ready to sit down in the seat next to Thomas , only stopping as he realised Thomas was still holding his hand. "Erm.. Constable?" Henry glanced between Thomas' eyes and down to their inter-clasped hands.

"Oh um." Thomas immediately released his grip on Henry's hand, his lightly sun kissed skin flushing bright red as he settled back into his seat tensing his jaw anxiously. "Alright wel... Shall we head off then?"

"Yes, do lets." Henry shifted uncomfortably in the rather uncomfortable wooden seat, flashing an awkward half smile before once again breaking off eye contact to make it less painfully awkward.

Thomas pulled the reigns and clicked his tongue, prompting the beautiful brown horse to set off to begin their steady trot towards Fir Creek. Henry was usually good about not staring at people; his Mama said staring was terribly un-English, but there was something about this stranger that he couldn't help but stare at; he was perhaps the most gorgeous man he'd ever seen. Though clean cut with perfectly styled straight blond hair peeking out from under his wide brimmed hat, a part of him found there something rugged about his striking good looks.