Tobias inspected the boy. Looking for a job, was he? That made more sense, though Tobias was still suspicious. Normally people responded to ads in the newspaper or to the mouth to mouth word. He had never had someone come up to him and ask him for a job out of nowhere before. The kid seemed nervous too.

He cast another glance at the cart. Nobody there. He steadied his grip on the horses' reign and brought them back to the trough, before turning back to the boy. "I already have a permanent help. Don't need another. Sorry, lad..."

He hesitated. "I'll be hiring for shorter jobs soon, haymaking, first potatoes, that stuff. What's your name, son? Where are ye from?" Another glance at the wagon.