Chapter 17

“My father died in the war and my mother took up with another man. I hated him and he hated me. I kept out of his way and worked on a farm in the summer and in inns where I could find work in the winter. I gave as much to my mother as I could, and kept myself to myself.” He paused and steadied his breathing and clenched his hands into fists to stop them shaking. “For as long as I…I always…” he coughed. “I like men. Always have. My stepfather caught me with another man.” He nodded. “Caught me.” The memory of it robbed him of words. He couldn’t look at Charlie. “He wasn’t big enough to take me on, I was almost twenty by then, so he waited and got friends. They set on me and…yes…well…I nearly died.” He sucked in another breath. “Anyway, he told the whole village and I was run out with no money. Everyone I’d ever known, friends…they…” He cleared his throat.