He didn't always tell his father when it happened, because the old man's face turned mottled blue over his doublet, and unless Will got in first, he would send a runner round all the estates, and the threshing would stop while grousing, reluctant men straggled back for their pikes and swords and mail shirts, taking a long time about it, waiting for Buccleuch the Younger to come up, furious on his sweating horse, and tell them curtly to get back to the fields.
Will often chose not to inform his father immediately about certain events because the father's face would turn mottled blue as a sign of anger. If Will didn't act quickly, the father would send messengers across the estates, causing interruptions to work and delays as the workers, complaining, fetched their weapons and armor. This process was slow and frustrating, involving waiting for Buccleuch the Younger to arrive and command the workers to return to their tasks.
These episodes highlight the tension between Will and his father, illustrating the father's quick temper and the chaos that ensues when authority is challenged or not promptly acknowledged. The description emphasizes the volatility and the disruptive nature of their interactions, which are characterized by swift, harsh commands and underlying frustration.
