44. I have come a long way because I want to find out.”

Luke could tell that Richard was telling the truth. His attitude towards him was rapidly changing. Of course he was no longer a threat tied-up. He offered up some biscuits to his mouth. Richard bent his head and took them from his hand; he had not realised that he was so hungry.
Luke was laughing,”Youse like a mother bear looking after cubs,” as he cut through Richard’s bonds with his razor-sharp knife. Richard couldn't help but laugh too. Here was the man he believed had taken a pot shot at him calling him a mother bear. He couldn't help but see the funny side and admire him. He hadn't seen, heard or smelled him. He hadn't seen him coming and he still didn't know why he had woken up with a pounding headache inside his cabin. The last thing he remembered was running across the clearing. They both knew the other was no threat and their subsequent friendship was born out of mutual trust and admiration.
Richard rubbed his wrists with his hands to get the blood flowing again. His circulation had been very nearly completely cut off but expertly not quite. He realised he was up against a master in his own backyard.
Pleasantly surprised that Luke had let him go so quickly, his feeling of animosity had dissipated. He still felt a desire for revenge but he was more interested in finding out what Luke knew.
Luke pushed a plate of cooked fish and partridgeberry jam across the floor to him. Richard accepted and as they sat on the cabin floor they began to get to know each other. Luke’s instincts told him that Richard was a good man. He had misjudged him because he acted upon what you had overheard in the place of many people. He was willing to help.
“I heard that you were left on the Dawson's doorstep the same night as Mrs. Jeffrey, the widow and Quigley, the Company Manager left