The Houseman
Toni and Tomalee were peering out of the front window waiting to see how he would arrive, Kyle had let him through the gates without a clue as to what to expect.
“I hope I haven’t made a mistake,” Toni worried, “I always thought a woman….”
“Hah listen to you…you think only woman can clean house and do laundry.”
“Well no, Tomalee but it’s traditionally a woman’s position…oh look he’s on a motorbike. He looks smaller than I remember…ohhhh.”
“Do not worry yourself, I keep him straight.” Tomalee went to open the front door while Lee removed his helmet. “You can come in through here today but next you come to the back door.”
“Oh Tomalee!” Toni said from behind the door.
“He got to know where he stands,” Tomalee said holding the door open.
Lee walked up to the door with a big smile, “ladies, I am here your worries are over.” He gave a little bow.
“Hah, they just starting, you come in.” Tomalee closed the door behind him. “Where your things?”
“Saddlebags,” he smiled. “I travel light.”
“Good afternoon, Madam,” he bowed to Toni.
“Welcome, Lee and you can just call me Toni.”
“Yes, Madam Toni.” He smiled again.
“See already he don’t listen,” Tomalee raised her brows at Toni.
“Would you like to get settled in first?” Toni asked, he was to take one of the cabins down by the bunkhouse.
“You don’t ask him that, you say what he is to do.”
“I am here to work, just show me where to start, I can settle later.”
“Yah, that’s right you settle later,” Tomalee nodded her head. “You come with me I show you where everything is in house and you get busy.”
He bowed a little to Toni and set off behind Tomalee taking in everything as he went down the hall.
He had excellent references which Toni had checked out but somehow the blue jean clad young man following Tomalee did not look the part.
Travis came in through the kitchen and saw her standing in the hall, “you looking for something, honey?”
“Lee is here, Tomalee is taking him around and getting ready to put him to work. He…just doesn’t look like a housekeeper to me.”
Travis grinned pouring out a glass of lemonade he found in the fridge, “he’s not female is that the problem?”
Toni sat down at the table, “well no…I just can’t see a young man with his education wanting to do what he’s doing.”
“Maybe he’s saving up for something, honey. As long as he does the job what does it matter?”
“We’ll see how it goes. What are you up to today?”
“I’m getting ready to ride into the centre, wanna come with me?”
“Um, yes I think so Tomalee seems to have Lee in hand.”
“I’m going to see how Dad’s coming along with the Butchers Hook, that’s what he’s calling it now. Well get your shoes on and let’s ride.” Travis got up and set his glass in the sink and walked through to get his keys. Tomalee came up the hall with Lee in tow.
“Now see this is the big boss, you be careful around him.” Tomalee told Lee.
“Glad to meet you Lee, I’m Travis and I don’t bite,” he looked at Tomalee who had a ghost of a smile on her face.
“Mr. Travis,” he bowed.
“Just Travis will be fine we’re not formal here.”
“Travis and Toni and Madam Tomalee.” Lee smiled broadly.
Travis laughed, “you got that figured out already have ya.”
Tomalee finally left him to clean. Lee had a photographic memory and when he walked into a room he looked around to see where everything was placed, it went back in the exact spot after he’d polished the furniture. It wouldn’t be long before he’d recognize something out of place or left in the wrong room and know where it belonged. He worked fast and efficiently leaving a neat and clean place behind him as he worked in the bedrooms. In time he’d turn each room out from the bottom up but today was his first day on the job and he wanted to make a good impression.
He already liked his new family…even Tomalee.
