He was missing everything these days.
Even after the shelter was erected, and Avrielle and her children were loaded into the wagon, Scott’s thoughts lingered on the sons he hadn’t seen in so long. Odd how they were so heavy on his mind now, but perhaps not so odd. Young Stephen had unknowingly unearthed some fatherly regrets. As the party from Canaan headed out onto the road that headed south through the vale towards Kendal, Scott came to wonder if it wasn’t too late to reestablish his relationship with his sons or, at the very least, express his regrets in abandoning them. For he had, indeed, abandoned them, much as he had abandoned the rest of his family.
As the party plodded along and he saw the expanse of road stretch out before him, he came to realize that his road to regain what he’d tried to push away – his family – was going to be a long one, indeed. But thanks to a young, widowed mother and her sweet and eager son, it was a road he was possibly willing to take.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“My lord, I fear there is a young lad trying to gain your attention.”
Stewart’s softly-uttered words had Scott fighting off a grin.
“How do you know?” he asked.
Stewart turned to glance over his shoulder. “He is looking at you most longingly.”
That statement caused Scott’s grin to break through. Riding at the head of the column beneath a bright spring sun, he finally turned around to see that Stephen, back in the wagon, was, indeed, looking at him with a pleading expression. The moment he saw that Scott was looking at him, he beamed that big smile that showed nearly every tooth in his head. The lad was sitting next to the wagon driver very politely, but it was clear he didn’t want to be there.
He wanted to be riding with the knights.
Scott faced forward. “He cannot ride with us,” he said flatly. “We are in armor and he is not. If we are attacked in any way, I’ll not have that child injured. He is going to have to be content with the wagon.”
Stewart turned to look over his shoulder at the boy again before returning his focus to Scott. “He is weeping now,” he said. “I fear you are going to have to tell him why he cannot ride with you. He does not understand.”
Scott groaned, his gaze moving over the landscape as they drew near to the large city of Kendal. “I cannot look at him.”
“Why not?”
Scott was forced to make an admission. “Long ago, there were two boys, named Will and Tommy, who would do anything to ride with the knights when we were on excursion,” he said, allowing memories of his older boys to come forth. It was something that seemed to get easier the more he did it. “I could not deny them; I never could. Tommy could almost always talk my father into it whereas Will would not waste time with talk. He once managed to steal old Ranulf Kluge’s horse and insert himself in a column of knights leaving for a border skirmish from Castle Questing. It was before you came into de Wolfe service because Will could not have been more than five at the time, but he somehow stole the horse from one of my father’s old knights and tried to ride to battle.”
Stewart fought off a grin. “Did you beat him or reward him for his ingenuity?”
Scott snorted. “I had to protect him from his mother, who did not think her son so clever to have done that.”
Stewart turned to look at young Stephen, who was rubbing his teary eyes. “There is a young lad among us who wishes to steal my horse and ride with you,” he said quietly. “I will have to stay away from him lest he accomplish his task and you congratulate him for it.”
Scott had to grin at the comment. Truth be told, this was one of the more relaxed moments he’d experienced with Stewart in the past four years. Usually, there was no talking between them whatsoever. Strict protocol was observed. But since their conversation yesterday when Scott had let his guard down, there was something more in the air now, something relaxed and almost pleasant. He’d forgotten that such moments with his men existed.
Still, Scott resisted the urge to give in to Stephen, maintaining a certain protocol of readiness as the escort made its way south. Even though he felt lighter of heart, of mood, than he had in a very long time, there was still a certain decorum to follow. He wouldn’t try to explain it to the child because he knew the boy wouldn’t understand, so he went about ignoring him as they headed into the outskirts of the berg. He was afraid any more glances at that sad little face might make him forget the protocol. Truthfully, there was nothing more he could, or would, do.
With Scott and Stewart at point, forty armed soldiers in the middle, and Jean-Pierre covering the rear, the road began to lead through clusters of small houses of wattle and daub construction, or wooden framed walls filled with clay or mud, or both, or purely constructed by twigs or branches. They were tiny homes, one room, with thatched or sod roofs, and at this time of day – midday – men were back from the fields. But instead of eating or resting, many of them appeared to be working on their homes.
With as brutal as the winter had been, Scott observed more than one man repairing the walls of his hovel as the wife helped him. Villeins had wagons in from the fields with spring produce in them, or wagons full of rock or sod, and everyone seemed to be working around them. This was a farming community and it was clear there was some struggle going on because of how difficult the season had been.
As the contingent from Canaan traveled down the road, hosts of pale and fearful faces turned to watch. Scott and the other knights ignored the stares for the most part but Stephen, riding on the wagon bench, was as curious of the peasants as they were of him. For a child that didn’t leave the safety of his fortress often, this was a rare experience.
“Mam!” he shouted, suddenly standing up and pointing. “That boy has puppies! I want a puppy!”
Avrielle, sitting in the wagon bed with her daughters on a comfortable seat that Scott had personally fashioned for her, tried to quiet her son.
“Sit down,” she hissed. “Be quiet!”
Stephen sat down but he couldn’t seem to stop pointing. He saw a boy with several small black puppies and he was clearly feeling deprived.
“Will you ask him if I can have a puppy?” he asked his mother. “Mam, please?”
Avrielle reached up and yanked Stephen by the arm, pulling him backwards off the wagon bench and forcing him to sit beside her. They could all hear Stephen’s weeping as his mother softly scolded him. Nay, he could not have a puppy and unless he behaved himself, he would not even get sweets.
Scott, lured by the sounds of a young boy crying, broke from formation and turned his horse around, heading back to the wagon where Stephen was sitting next to his mother, sobbing quietly. His attention moved between Avrielle and her devastated son.
“We have entered the outskirts of Kendal,” he said to Avrielle. “Where is your man who sells flower seeds?”
Avrielle had to rise to her knees to get a look at where they were. The hills were brilliant green and the road they were on was located on a bit of a rise, so she could see a populated valley spread out below. Everything was wet and damp from the rains they’d had but spring flowers were beginning to bloom along the side of the road, giving the area a lush and vibrant feel. In spite of the harshness of the season, the brilliant blooms were nature’s reward. She immediately pointed off to the southeast.
“There will be a road around this bend,” Avrielle said. “There should be a sign that says ‘Mealbank’. That road will take us into a village and right at the edge of the village is the man we wish to see. He will be easy to spot.”
Scott eyed her, a twinkle in his eye. “So you know what the road sign says? Can you read it?”
Avrielle nodded, smiling because there seemed to be some humor in his expression. “I can, indeed,” she said proudly. “Nathaniel taught me when we were first married. I can also do sums in my head. Are you surprised?”
He gave her a half-grin. “Nay, I am not. You are an accomplished woman.”
She laughed softly. “I wanted to learn so that when I conduct
business, no man can get the better of me. If he thinks he is dealing with an empty-headed woman, then I am happy to show him otherwise.”
Scott’s expression turned warm. “Of that I have no doubt.”
Avrielle simply grinned, casting him what could have easily been construed as a flirtatious expression before settling back down on the cushioned wagon bed. It was a situation Scott hadn’t faced in many years, at least since he started courting Athena, and he had to admit he was a little out of practice. In fact, he was a little intimidated. The mere thought made him laugh at himself; what a fool he was.
Fool or not, he wanted to respond, but not with all of his men around. That last thing he wanted was for his awkward attempts at charming a woman to be observed by all. But he knew there would be a time and a place where he would have no such restraints and he intended to take advantage of the situation when it came. He would have to be ready and not intimidated like a silly squire.
He would have to learn to talk to a woman again.
With a lingering glance on Avrielle, he started to move away from the wagon but sniffles from Stephen caught his attention. The boy was wiping at his eyes, smearing dirt across his face, and Scott wanted to take pity on the lad. It took him back to the days when Athena, a strict disciplinarian, would deny his boys something they wished to do and he, as their father, would try to soften her up on behalf of his sons. Aye, he remembered those days well if he allowed himself to. He lingered on them, without the sorrow they usually provoked, as he made his way back to the front of the group where Stewart was riding at point. He rode up alongside him.
“The first road to the left coming up is the one we are to take,” Scott told him. “We are looking for a sign that says ‘Mealbank’.”
Stewart strained to catch a glimpse of the road beyond the bend and, perhaps, the very sign they were looking for. “Mealbank. Aye, my lord.”
It was shortly thereafter that they had made the turn on the indicated road and entered what was actually the northern end of the large, and longer, city of Kendal, into a district called Mealbank. It was on a rise above the city, situated among the rolling green hills. Once they made the turn, the road opened up and it was suddenly quite busy ahead of them. Very quickly, they were in the middle of a bustling village.
There were people everywhere, going about their daily business. Dogs barked, horses snorted, and children ran in the streets. Immediately to his left, he could see a property set back from the road with a moss-covered, stone house in the center of it and a good deal of agriculture spread around it. There were all manner of plants and wooden planter boxes, with a big pile of animal dung near the house. It was clear from the sight and the smell that it was some kind of agricultural business and Scott came to the logical conclusion.
“Look,” he said to Stewart. “That must be the place. Settle the men and the wagon here at the end of the road, out of the path of travel. I will fetch Lady du Rennic and take her to purchase her seeds.”
Stewart nodded, turning to motion the men over to the side of the road as Scott turned his horse around and headed back to the wagon. He’d no sooner turned around, however, when he noticed that Avrielle was already out of the wagon and making her way towards the gate that led to the green-stoned house.
In fact, Avrielle wasn’t paying any attention to the knights or the soldiers as they organized themselves off of the road. She had her own agenda to attend to. Making sure that Sophia was secure in the wagon holding her infant sister tightly, she took Stephen by the hand and headed for the house with the enormous dung pile next to it. But she was barely to the gate leading into the fenced yard when Stephen suddenly howled and pulled away from her.
“Mam!” he screamed with delight. “Look! The dogs are dancing!”
With that, he was gone like a flash and Avrielle took off after him, lifting her skirts to her knees so they wouldn’t drag through the mud.
“Stephen!” she cried. “Stephen, stop!”
But young Stephen couldn’t stop. He had his eye on the prize – a man who had at least five dancing white dogs, perhaps more, and a gaggle of children and eager adults gathered around him. The little boy was so excited that he was darting through traffic, around people, and beneath horses that were stopped on the avenue. He did that at least twice and both horses had startled, dancing around excitedly as Avrielle dashed around them. Stephen was just nearing the man with the dogs when a big figure abruptly intercepted him, lifting him off the ground. Stephen screamed as Scott picked him up and prevented him from making contact with the dancing dogs.
“Nay!” the boy cried. “I want to see the dogs! The dogs are dancing!”
Scott was out of breath from his sprint across the road. In fact, he was a little surprised with how fast he’d moved, but panic had caused the speed – all he could see was Stephen plastered against the mud by an angry horse, so he’d moved even faster than Avrielle had in order to catch up with the boy. Now, the kicking, squirming child was in his arms just as Avrielle caught up to them. The first thing she did was pull the boy out of Scott’s arms and whack him twice on the behind with her palm.
“I told you what would happen if you did not behave,” she said, winded and angry and frightened. “Now you must sit in the wagon bed while I conduct business.”
Stephen was sobbing as his mother hauled him away from the dogs. “Nay!” he cried. “I just wanted to see the dogs, Mam! Please let me see the dogs!”
Avrielle’s heart was still pounding from the scare. “If you had not run from me, I would have let you see them,” she said firmly. “Now you must sit in the wagon. Naughty boys are not allowed privileges.”
Stephen wept loudly all the way back to the wagon, being dragged by his mother as Scott followed behind. Truth be told, he was watching Avrielle as she dealt with her disobedient son and he admired her all the more for it. She was firm and she was in control no matter what Stephen did. It reminded him very much of Athena and he found comfort in that. But he was also watching the sway of her hips, inspecting the curvaceous line of her body from behind. She was quite delicious, in his opinion. But he didn’t say a word as she lifted Stephen up to the wagon bed and made him sit beside his sisters. As the miserable little boy sobbed and carried on, she turned to Scott.
“I am sorry he troubled you,” she said. “He will not leave the wagon again, I promise.”
Scott’s gaze lingered on her a moment before moving to Stephen, who had his face in his hands. Beside him, Sophia was looking at her brother with great concern while the baby in her arms slept peacefully.
“He was no trouble,” he said. “But I will admit, I had visions of one of those horses he darted beneath crushing him.”
Avrielle took a deep breath, clearly attempting to calm her anger and her fright. She smiled weakly. “As did I,” she admitted. “Thank you for saving him.”
He cracked a smile. “It was a close call. He is very fast.”
“Thankfully, you were faster.”
“My legs are longer.”
She laughed softly as they both experienced a surge of warmth between them, warmth that was coming more easily by the moment. It was becoming fluid, liquid, rushing between them, through them, and around them, binding them together until they could only see one another.
It was magical.
Here they were, standing in the middle of a busy road, and all Scott could see was that flawless face before him. He found himself wanting to say so much more to her but, thankfully, at the last moment he realized that he couldn’t. This was no place for anything sweet he might wish to express, the feelings of a man who was only just allowing himself to experience emotion again. It was difficult for him to control it. Feeling foolish, he labored to change the subject.
“This is your man?” he asked, pointing to the moss-covered house. “Mayhap you should go and conduct your business before the day grows too late.”
Avrielle hadn’t been oblivious to the warmth between them. It was difficult to
look at the man and not feel her cheeks grow warm or her knees grow weak. And that fluid warmth he had experienced was coursing through her veins even now. But she tore her gaze away from him, looking at the house he was indicating.
“I will,” she said, gathering her skirts again to keep them out of the muddy road. “I shan’t be long, I promise.”
“Take your time. I shall wait here. Call if you need me.”
Smiling, she nodded and turned for the house again, picking her way through the muddied road and passing through the gate that led to the yard of the house. Scott simply stood there and watched her, wondering if he had the same silly smile on his face that she had and trying to straighten out his lips just in case. He really couldn’t tell. As he stood there and watched, Stewart came up beside him.
“It is a good thing you were faster than the boy, my lord,” he said. “I have a feeling had you been any slower, it could have been a disaster.”
Scott nodded, pulling his gaze away from Avrielle and turning to the children in the wagon. Stephen was still sniffling. He was still feeling some pity for the small boy who, he was sure, had simply been excited when he ran off more than he’d actually been disobedient. Still, he wouldn’t dream of undermining Avrielle’s parental authority by offering comfort or compromise to the child.
But… perhaps there was another way.
“Had the dogs not been so far away, we would not have had the issue,” he said. “Stu, go to the man with the dogs and see if he will bring them over here. That way, young Stephen can watch them from the safety of the wagon and so can his sister. The children will not have to go anywhere and there will be no risk of someone being run down by a horse.”
The Original de Wolfe Pack Complete Set: Including Sons of de Wolfe Page 194
