“They can get over the notion.”
“And why should they want to do that when ye kissed her in clear view of the entire wagon train and,” she lowered her voice conspiratorially, “she clearly makes ye happy.”
He deflated down to his stool. “Aggie, I can’t do things.”
She suspended the spoon above the pot. “Are ye speaking about married things?” She took a stump across from him.
The thought made him shutter. “No.” Came out a bit more emphatically than he meant. “I cannot provide the way a whole man can—like Gordon—I’m not sure about plowing yet, and it will have to be done. There is so much uncertainty. I cannot subject her to that.
“Pride is a sin, Hezekiah Smith.”
His whole body stiffened at the thought of the lecture she was sure to give him.
He held up a hand. “Before ye get started, let me say that it is not pride but practicality that stays my intentions. I am not confident I can provide for my family. Would ye have me plan my life based on fairytale fantasies instead of what I see before me? A man who is unsteady on his feet, untried behind a plow?”
“Ye are confident enough to leave a successful business and remove to a savage-threatened wilderness.”
That caught him up short. His determination to fulfill his dream was just that. Determination to start fresh in a place where his livelihood was not a military target. To prove to himself that his life was not over just because of his injury. At some point he supposed that would have included a wife and children. Family made life rich, he knew that, but now he wasn’t so sure.
She turned her eyes to meet him square on like she always did when she wanted them to hear her. “Beti is the type of woman that leaves her home to protect those she loves from looters and travels west in a wagon alone with some sheep. She hopes to have a large sheep farm. Weaving, yarn, all things wool. And she’s good. I’ve seen her cloth. People will buy it.”
Images of Beti flooded across his mind. She was strong, capable. The only person who’d dared to laugh at him since his injury. The memory of her laughter caused an unbidden lift at the corner of his mouth.
“She is a real princess, Aggie. I saw the papers. She needs to be free to choose without any interference from me.”
Aggie was quiet long enough that it became awkward. He took to staring at the dirt at his feet. He shuffled and made to get up when she spoke.
“When Tommy decided he was going to join the Continentals, I chose to go with him. Our families thought I’d lost a hairpin in my brain.” Softness lightened the grief and worry on her face. Zeke could see why Tommy chose her. “It was a hard life following the Army. I’d never washed so many clothes, sewed so many seams. I pray I never do again.” The left side of her mouth hitched up in another little laugh. “I wouldn’t have missed it for all the world. I miss him, but I think he was glad I came.”
Zeke frowned. “Are ye saying I should go with her there and be what? The queen?”
Aggie bellowed. She laughed until tears pooled in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Zeke didn’t know what was funny, but he felt himself relax a little in her laughter. After a few minutes, Aggie sobered up a bit. She was still breathing hard, mopping up tears with her apron. “Ye’d be the royal consort.”
It sounded illegitimate, like concubine. He did not like it the sound of it.
“Do ye know where she is?”
“No, I’ve been helping Gordon with the boys.”
Speaking of obvious attachments. “The boys like ye.”
Aggie flamed up to her ears. “I know.”
“Ye will need to be refining on yer prospects.”
The whites of Aggie’s eyes became visible as they rounded in surprise. He nodded once and took off toward Beti’s wagon.
Zeke carefully picked his way through muddy pools to Beti's wagon. Maybe she'd have cinnamon biscuits cooking. He rounded the back of her wagon to find Toby nursing a fire. Absent was the usual pipkin admitting a savory smell that made his mouth water.
“Ye seen Miss Beti?” he asked.
“No. She's probably visiting her sheep. She's crazy about them sheep.”
“A bit dark for that, have ye seen her at all?”
Toby looked sheepishly at the ground. “Nope.” He scanned the area. “I've been in the tavern. Me and a couple of the boys been playing cards."
“Ye we’re supposed to keep an eye on her.” Zeke stomped off toward the tavern. Maybe Isaac or Mose had seen her.
The tavern smelled of tobacco smoke, savory spices, and men. It was dry, and that was a comfort from the damp of the day. Isaac and Mose occupied a table in the far corner of the room. Isaac waved Zeke over as soon as he stepped inside.
“I reckon our worries are over concerning those men,” Isaac offered.
“Which ones?”
“Them pirates what said those nasty things about our Miss Beti,” Mose answered. “I saw them leave the tavern late last night. Headed to Carolina by their direction.”
Relief released in areas he didn’t know could be tense. “Have ye seen Beti?”
“Not since yer outburst. I thought the better course was to leave the two of ye alone while ye worked things out. I am guessing ye have not worked them out.” Isaac adjusted his tankard on the table.
“Ye mean she is not with ye?” Mose nearly yelled.
“She is not.” Tension took up residence once again.
“I thought ye had her in ye sights or I would have stood there all night instead of watchin’ those pirates.”
Zeke did an about face and headed for his horse.
