“Is that right?” She swung a look at Beti who was so surprised at Aggie’s intervention she stood tongue-tied. “I will have ye know that I’ll not marry until I have a darn good reason to, Kentucky or no.”
Beti nearly laughed outright at the struggle Captain Taylor had with his next words.
“Ye don’t have to marry.”
Aggie cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, and it is acceptable for unmarried women to travel with strange men in their wagons I suppose, in this new and free country?”
Sweat beaded on his broad brow.
“Of course not, but she can hire someone.” He turned from them to pace the room. “She can hire a man to get her to Kentucky and help her build a house. Then the man can leave. No harm done.”
“No harm to whom?” Beti threw back. “Just what right have ye to force me to hire someone to accompany me to Kentucky?”
“I am the leader of this wagon train, and I am afraid I shall have to insist. A woman cannot do this alone. Ye must hire a man to help ye.” By the time he’d finished his little speech he’d come back to the calm demeanor he’d displayed before.
“He can do that.” Aggie swung toward her arms still crossed.
Beti acceded that he could with a nod. Truth was she had not considered hiring someone to work for her. It might not be a bad idea if she could find the right person. That person could help with the sheep and the looters. She released her arms as the rightness of the scheme settled in her mind.
“I will see what I can arrange,” Beti offered.
“We’ll be honored to have ye travel with us.” He glanced at Aggie flipping his tricorn from brim to brim between his hands. “Fair warning—I expect it to be rough. I cannot offer ye safe travel.”
“I can take care of myself,” Beti answered.
He nodded a small curve lifted his lips. “I believe ye can.” He turned in the doorway. “Any problems with the men…or…well…anything serious. Bring it straight to me.”
“One question,” Beti called before he could exit the front door. He paused, eyebrows raised. “Who was the someone who came and suggested…”
“I will take care of that. There is no need for ye to concern yerself.”
“Oh, but I am concerned.”
“I will not allow poison in the ranks, Miss Sigridsdatter. I will take care of it.” The finality of his words told her he had better things to do than argue. Besides, she’d already figured out who the blackguard with enough vinegar to defame her had to be. The same man who’d suggested, after just making her acquaintance, that she shouldn’t go on this trip at all. Well, he may make the best wagons in the colony, but she’d just have to find another wheelwright. After she set the record straight.
Aggie relaxed her shoulders when she heard the captain close the door.
“Thank ye for coming to my aid just then,” Beti said.
“Ye are more than welcome.” Aggie balled her fists. “But ye will pardon me, I am still in quite a temper.”
“I cannot simply hire someone to accompany me on a trip to Kentucky.”
Aggie’s bluster deflated as she sat. “Aye, twill not be cheap.”
“It is not the money.” Beti took the seat across from her friend.
Aggie’s eyes widened. “Well I would have a problem with the money.”
Beti rose. “Can we talk about this later? I need to organize my thoughts before I say anymore.”
“Now I am intrigued.”
Beti gave her a smile as she made for the door. “It is not that interesting. I promise ye.”
Beti found Mr. Smith scraping a block of wood. Beti stood transfixed watching muscles bunch and thin across his shoulders with each swipe as curls and flakes dusted his forearms and the floor around him. He paused to wipe his brow. Slowly he turned to face her. Eyes the color of amber trimmed in a rich brown ale were startling themselves in their clear color. Pity she had such a hard time with brown dyes. She would love some wool in just that color.
“Miss Sigridsdatter.”
The smile he gave set her heart to drumming. She caught her breath and steeled her resolve. “A have a bone to pick with ye Mr. Smith.”
“I thought we settled that last night. Ye were correct, I have not the right to dictate to ye a future of any kind.”
“So ye thought to ambush me with Captain Taylor by questioning my character.”
“I did not—I would not—” The sincerity in the depths of those clear brown eyes told the truth.
Embarrassment heated her cheeks. “Captain Taylor told me that someone had spoken to him. After our conversation I assumed it was ye.”
“And now ye know it was not.”
“Please accept my apology. It was rash of me to assume such a thing.” Her apology was as sincere as the new worry that replaced it was real. Who here could know of her father’s past? And if they didn’t know of her father’s past, then why would anyone assume she was not respectable?
“The captain is a circumspect man. Ye have no need to worry that such ideas will go out from him.”
“That is at least something.” She threaded her fingers together.
“Is someone trying to hurt ye?”
