Chapter 1William Neilsen raised his head and turned toward the abbey. The bell had rung, calling the monks to vespers. He sighed. “Screw it,” he said aloud and went back to milking Bessie. He still had five cows to milk and then the goats.
“If they want their fuckin’ milk to make their fuckin’ cheese, they’re just gonna have to cut me some goddamn slack.”
He’d already missed daily mass. He’d just have to miss evening prayer as well.
William finished with Bessie, said penance for his foul language, and picked up the brimming bucket of fresh milk. He poured some into a metal pan for the barn cats which were demanding their pay for services rendered in keeping down the rodent population. He dumped the rest into a large milk can. He capped it and carried the heavy, metal container into a co
