Caleb mixed the vat of dip to keep the vermin off the sheep once they were shorn. She and Alexander began to herd them into the pen with the help of a couple of lively dogs borrowed from one of the neighbors down the road.
Alexander clapped his hands together and shouted, "Shoo!"
For the most part they did as they were told, and went into the pen. A few of the more fractious ovines tried to break away, but one of the other people who could see would round them up. Jenny also showed him how to milk an ewe amid much laughter and teasing.
After they were all milked, Alexander felt around until he grabbed a sheep and heaved it upwards to expose its stomach. His muscles rippled and bulged as the woolly beast struggled, then lay still.
Sarah worked quickly with the shears, whilst Jenny, paired with Caleb, did the same. When each fleece had been removed, the sheep was immersed in the trough and sent away bleating.
It was a glorious day, full of hard work and fun. Sarah felt she had never been so happy in her life, though it was a rather odd notion of perfect bliss. She and Alexander joked, fell over into each other's arms, supported each other, and worked well as a team. He might have been a gentleman in his past life, but he seemed a perfect match for her, humble and unspoiled despite his background. Every moment she spent with him was a new revelation, of both his character and her own. If this wasn't love, she wasn't sure what love was.
But she also knew she ought not to push him too hard after all he had been through. And after what he had said about him having no past or future. She couldn't keep basing her longings on a man who might not even exist. A man who was as insubstantial as air, for all he was right within arm's reach.
At one point, she asked, "How's you back?"
"Not the best I've ever felt. But I'm having fun, and am glad to help."
"We can stop and rest if you like."
"No, not at all. I want to keep going."
"If you're sure."
"We're doing well, I think. The weather is glorious, and the sheep all gathered in the pen. We should keep it up."
They took occasional breaks for water or milk, but Alexander was determined to finish. So they labored on until the sun was just going down.
"All finished?" Alexander asked.
"All done. Besides, the sun is setting."
"That makes no difference to me," Alexander said with a smile.
"Well, it does to us. Besides, it's getting a bit chilly."
He nodded, and held his hand out to her, squeezing hers warmly, while he grinned from ear to ear, proud of what he had accomplished.
She took his arm and led Alexander back to the house. Jenny and Caleb went back to their own cottage. Sarah excused them despite their protests, telling them that they had done more than enough for one day.
Once they were bathed and changed, she served them soup, bread, cheese and cold meat, washed down with some beer.
"That was wonderful. I really enjoyed it."
"No memory of ever having done it before?"
He shook his head. "None."
"Tomorrow you shall learn how to card and spin. You'll certainly be busy with that for the next few days."
"I don't mind, so long as you let me go into the garden every so often, or ride."
"You can even work out in the garden if it's nice."
"With all of us working with the wool, we'll finish it in no time."
"You sound almost eager to get to Bath now," she observed.
He nodded. "I want to get well. Each time I have a good soak, I feel myself improving."
"I'm glad to hear it," she said, at least half truthfully. She tried to silence the more selfish other half which told her once he was well, he would leave forever.
"What would you like to do now?"
"How about play cards?" he suggested.
She stared. "Cards? But you can't-"
He grinned. "Caleb was kind enough to suggest it. He's pricked out a deck for me, so if you're willing to be patient, we can try."
He showed her the deck, and how he could feel the raised bumps on the cards, which told him number and suit. Caleb had painstakingly pricked each picture on the card, and then a little heart, spade, diamond or club in one corner.
She laughed, but was also touched at the old man's kindness to Alexander. "All right, we can try to play, but no gambling, and I'm shuffling."
They started with vignt-et-un and graduated to rummy. Then he attempted a couple of games of patience.
"Not bad at all," she praised, when he had won the second hand.
"And do you play chess, draughts, backgammon, cribbage?" he asked hopefully.