“Outer Banks, North Carolina.”
Aggie went next. “My name is Agatha Thornton. Tom and I came out from Fincastle.” She moved to her pot. “Bring yer plates.”
The men hopped in line before Beti could bend to retrieve her cup. She went to her own kettle to fill her plate. When they were all seated, Captain Taylor nodded to Gordon.
“Let us pray.” He proceeded to bless the food and the night ahead. Nothing was said for at least five minutes while the men inhaled the contents of their plates. Beti had never witnessed anyone eating so fast in her life. They’d give Nellie a run for her money, and that was saying something. Zeke was finished by the time Beti was taking number two bite of her biscuit dipped in savory stew.
Ahh but it tasted good. She closed her eyes in a thankful prayer.
“Something smells awful good.” The longing in the young voice broke her reverie. She looked down to see Will.
“Do ye think so?” Beti tried to balance her plate on her seat, and Zeke offered his hand. Beti’s fingertips brushed his as she accepted. A frisson sizzled through to her belly.
She rubbed her hands together and made her way to the pan. The biscuits were just browned, and cinnamon goodness oozed from the creases. “They are done.” She pulled the pan from the fire and set them on the transom of her wagon.
“Would ye like one?” she asked Will.
“Can we Pa?” the boys sounded in unison.
He nodded. Beti smiled at the boys. “They’re hot.” She cautioned as she placed one on each plate. “Anyone else?”
The line formed again.
Zeke still held her plate, his own cinnamon biscuit waiting.
“Sorry.” She retrieved her supper.
“We haven’t had any of these since Aunt Mary made them at home,” Travis enthused.
“Ye have family still in Battletown?” Beti questioned, surprised.
“Aye,” Gordon answered. “My brother and his wife own the family farm. If I’m to make something for us, I need to search more land.”
“I thought ye had more than one brother,” Moses said while licking his fingers.
“Aye. I have two brothers.”
“Where’s—”
Captain Taylor put a hand on Moses arm to silence him.
“Gordon’s brother kept the boys while Gordon was gone to the Continentals,” Addie whispered.
Beti nodded.
The camaraderie about the fire warmed her soul, and the jitters she’d held deep inside began to release themselves into a wish to have her knitting pins and pattern before her. Around them golden dots of firesides adorned the winding ribbon of wagon train. Her mind started spinning patterns for new tapes. Perhaps tomorrow evening.
It was amazing, really, to think she’d have the energy to do anything after walking so far. But though she spent the last two days with her sheep, they didn’t walk fast and Nellie was the one doing the running after them. So Beti’s meal preparations were quite simple. Once she was done, the evenings unraveled before her like unpromised skeins of wool. She’d no doubt it would get better as she got stronger.
“That is the best biscuit I have had in a long time.” Zeke leaned in to interrupt her thoughts. Warm leather and pine greeted her nose.
“It was the least I could do after what ye did for me today.”
“I am just glad I noticed in time to do something. It was brilliant to train ye dog that way.”
She looked down at her half-eaten meal. “Ye can’t be the daughter of—” She caught herself before she said it.
“Can’t be the daughter of who?” Zeke leaned in again. Why should his smell be so alluring? He’d worked all day in the heat and the sun. She should be repulsed.
“Of a single gentleman and not learn how to defend oneself.”
Before long, Aggie hefted her now empty pot and said her goodbyes. Beti stood. The men followed suit except for Zeke who sat on his stool with his leg straight out in front of him.
“How fairs yer leg?” She asked as she turned toward the fire to retrieve her pipkin.
“So far so good.”
“That be a blessing then.”
“Aye.”
She’d been concerned about the night, but nothing was as unsettling as finding herself alone with Zeke. Yet, she was comforted to know he was near. His arms after her ordeal were more comfort than she’d known since her father died.
“Well, it is a long day tomorrow.” She felt him shuffle behind her. She spun to find him a heartbeats distance. His arms came around her, hands landing just below her shoulders.
“I wanted to—” The light of the fire illuminated areas usually hidden in the shadows of his hat. Brown eyes filled with concern and maybe something else as they looked intently into her own. A fine stubble grazed his chin. She held her hand back from reaching out to experience its stiffness. She let her gaze slip to his lips.
He dropped his hands and moved away like she’d slapped him.
