Loved it! It makes so much more sense that the lads would go off somewhere to think out their situation, after Cowley's betrayal, rather than meekly falling back in line.
Village life, so true to life, wonderful descriptions of snow and a mention for the slanted lights! Really laughed about the bed being "borrowed" and then returned, along with all the other stuff. elizabethoshea is exactly right about the sense of timelessness and the sense of danger, and George turning up and finding his boys being backed up by the locals!
A lovely thoughtful, thought-provoking story and one I shall enjoy re-reading - thank you very much! Taking you well up among the great Pros writers, I reckon.