Early the next morning she caught up with Hagbard outside the small cabin as he returned from the woods. The decision became as clear as the angel in the woods when she’d placed the coronet on her head. The responsibility forged into the silver straddled her crown like an empty stew pot. And she was the empty one. Oh, she could learn, it wasn’t that. It wasn’t what the country could give to her. Could they love her? It didn’t matter, what mattered was whether or not she loved them. And she did, enough to recognize her limitations and say “no.” No she would not go across the sea and supplant her uncle and her cousins who’d worked all their lives to serve the people of Fjellyoricket.
“May I speak with ye?”
He pointed to a couple of old stumps near her mother’s old sheep pen. Several of the rails suffered rot, but it could be salvaged. “What troubles ye?” Concern softened his deep voice. Hands rested on his thighs.
“I have remembered what the angel said.”
Hagbard inclined a few degrees forward. “Yes?”
“He said a horn is rising in Fjellyoricket and the land will know peace under his hand.”
Hagbard turned his gaze to the heavens as if he was hearing an angelic choir himself. A smile broke out across is face. “Dane,” he said.
“Dane?”
“Yer cousin. The eldest of King Anders.”
Slowly Beti’s spirit began to lighten. “I thought ye said the kingdom will be ruined if I do not come right away.”
“Agmund said that.”
“So it’s not true.”
Hagbard shrugged. “I would not have come if the king had not sent me, and I did not think it was the right thing to do. The kingdom will need a strong hand and King Anders’ sons have yet to prove themselves.”
Beti nodded her understanding. “When I put the coronet on I felt the responsibility press the circle to my head.” Tears brimmed the edges of her eyes. She didn’t want to disappoint the man she’d become so fond of. The man who treated her like a granddaughter. “Then I remembered exactly what the angel said. It is not me.”
The big man opened his arms and Beti laid her head on his shoulder. A rough hand rubbed her arm. A comfort engulfed her that she had not felt since her father had held her. She was safe here even if it was for a very short time.
“Yer mama was like a daughter to me. I would not have her give up her happiness and I will not let ye do so either.”
Beti wiped the tears. “I have no happiness here.”
“But ye will have, if that young man has anything to do with it.”
“He doesn’t want me.”
A chuckle rattled deep in his chest. “Aye, he does.”
Beti sat up and looked the man in the face. “He told the entire wagon train that he would not marry me after he’d kissed me in front of all of them.”
The twinkle did not leave the man’s eyes. “Aye. Sometimes a man has to make a wrong turn before he discovers the right road.”
Frustration replaced the comfort she’d felt not a second ago. “I shall leave the wagon train and come back here.” She surveyed the worn sheep pen and the little cabin. “It is a good plan.”
Hagbard slapped hands on his thighs and stood. “Aye. ’Tis a plan.”
Beti secured the door to her cabin before climbing onto Zeke’s horse. He mounted behind her.
She turned to watch the forest hide her old home once more. Peace filled her soul as the sun filtered through the canopy of gray and piney green. The promise of spring budded across barren branches along the sparse trail through the woods.
They waited for Hagbard to lead the way. Once settled on the trail, Beti pulled out her needles and began to work the stitches. The color of the silken yarn, obscured in the firelight, shown the palest of pinks in the clear light of the morning.
“Ye are knitting?”
“Do ye need me to drive the horse?”
“No, but it hardly seems the thing,” he paused. “When do ye leave?”
Zeke’s baritone tickled her ears all the way down to her toes. It was just this side of torture to sit so close to him when in a couple of hours she would part from him forever. She said another prayer for Nellie. Thoughts of her precious companion worked to keep her focus away from the man she loved.
“I am uncertain.” In truth her uncertainty lay only in when the wagon train would leave the tavern. When it left, she would turn aside and come back to this cabin. Her first home. It was small, but she didn’t need much. She’d plenty of practice replacing fence rails. There was enough clearing to add to the house on all sides. This time there would be windows, even if she had to import the glass from England. The area was much more settled than it had been when her parents had built here. Much more than Kentucky. It was close enough to major roads that she could get her cloth to market and far enough away to keep her safe. Yes, it would work.
“Ye’ve been quiet.”
“I have much to think about.”
“I thought ye’d already decided.”
“Mr. Smith—”
“Zeke.”
She turned to look him in the eye. An eye that twinkled in fun. “Do stop whispering in my ear like that.”
“Like what?”
“Mr. Smith.”
“Zeke.”
“Zeke. Ye are whispering in my ear because I have told ye not to kiss me, and ye are trying to provoke my patience.”
“Is it working?”
“Yes.” She answered too quickly. “I mean no. Yes, I do react to ye. How could I not? My feelings do not tend to the hot and cold. I am more like a pot put on to boil.”
She realized the error of her candor too late. The twinkle in his eyes turned tender, and she could fathom all the way to his heart. She placed a hand on his chest to steady herself.
He brought Copper to a pause.
“Beti.” Regret shown from the depths of his ale-colored eyes.
“Is all well, My Lady?” Hagbard bellowed from the front of the line.
“Yes.” She hollered back. “Don’t worry, Zeke. All will be well. Someday ye will find someone worthy to trim ye lamps.” She turned from him to preserve her heart. It took the longest fifteen minutes of her life to hear the tavern in the distance.
The tavern stood amidst the bustle of children playing and parents working. Beti sat quietly taking it all in. She would miss her friends, Aggie the most probably. She couldn’t think of how much she’d mourn the loss of Zeke. Even now he encompassed her in his warmth. His arms as he held the reins a constant reminder of what he had decided for both of them.
The first thing she heard was Nellie. Before they peaked through the bend in the road leading to the tavern the dog swept the corner. Beti slid down to her knees to hold her old friend.
“I missed you.” The dog licked and bounced and wagged until Beti was sitting in the road laughing. Nellie walked over her legs and back again. Beti could barely get a purchase to scrub her fingers into her soft fur. “That’ll do.”
Nellie quieted and took her place in Beti’s lap. It was not a spot Nellie was used to having access to, but Beti couldn’t give up the contact just yet either. Still smiling she glanced up to see a joyous smile on Zeke. She ducked her head back to Nellie. It was not to be, but there was still joy in this life. God always saw to that. She gave Nellie one more lingering hug before regaining her feet.
Beti kicked at the long, heavy mantle as she walked toward her wagon. Hagbard had been right, the robe was warm, if a bit musty. Thankful didn’t begin to describe her feelings about the cloak, but now all she wanted was a bath and her own clothes. Clean clothes that fit. Her own cloak. Her own bed, such as it was, all welcome.
“Welcome back, Miss Beti!” Moses Woodbridge sauntered up to the returning party leading a small group of folks from the wagon train.
Aggie grinned. “Looks like there was a treasure after all.”
“Aye.” Beti answered.
“How are ye?”
“Filthy, but I am not harmed.”
Aggie’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank God for that.”
“Aye.” Beti nodded her agreement and kept striding forward. Finally her tidy little wagon came into view. She was glad to see it. It wasn’t a house yet, but it was the promise of a bright future.
“Miss Beti.” Toby glanced around before offering a bow.
“Toby.”
“We were afraid we’d lost ye.”
“Thank ye.” Beti placed a tired hand on Toby’s forearm. “Would ye ask the innkeeper to prepare a hot bath?”
“Aye.”
“And Toby—” the man spun back around to face her. “Thank ye for taking care of Nellie.”
“Ye are most welcome, Miss Beti. Weren’t no trouble at all, she’d the best dog I have ever cared for.” He gave her a grin and headed off to the tavern.
Beti placed her foot to climb into the wagon. “Allow me.” Zeke’s words deep and soft still rattled down to her toes. She turned to see a cluster of folks from the wagon train smiling and poking one another.
“I can manage, Mr. Smith.”
“Right she can, Mr. Smith.” One of them hollered.
Beti smiled at the crowd.
“I meant no harm.”
“I hold no grudge, Mr. Smith. I aim to refresh myself, take a look at my sheep, and cook supper. I thank ye for the rescue. For that I will always be beholden to ye, but ye duty to me is done. Thank ye once again from the bottom of my heart, sir.” She gave him a little bow and turned back to the wagon.
“I will always come for ye, Beti.” He whispered.
Beti refrained from a tortured sigh of exasperation. “I am not yer responsibility, Mr. Smith.”
Nellie came to her side.
“Ye will always be my responsibility, Beti Boatman.”
Her eyes widened in outrage. “Mr. Smith. I have thanked ye from the bottom of my heart for coming after me and saving me from the fiends who kidnapped me. Since ye have made it very plain that ye have no further use of me,” she glanced around at the crowd and lowered her voice to a whisper, “save for kissing me whenever the thought pops into ye head, our relationship is at an end. I can make it no plainer than that.”
Giggles ran through the crowd which had multiplied since she started addressing Zeke.
Zeke removed his tricorn and attempted to lower himself to one knee. After sliding on his right leg Beti offered a hand to pull him upright barely stifling a giggle of her own.
“Do not ye make me laugh, it is not fair.” She pointed a finger at him.
“Beti.” The twinkle in his brown eyes deepened into something more. “I am truly sorry for kissing ye and telling the world that I would never marry ye.”
Beti searched his eyes and found his soul open. “I don’t want anyone else near my lamps.” He ran his thumb down the side of her cheek. “I have never met a woman like ye. I love ye.” Beti’s heart swelled to beat in great thumps.
“Why should she have ye?” Hagbard stepped up behind Beti’s shoulder.
Beti put her hand out to quiet the man. Hagbard took a step back.
“And if ye cannot pull a plow?”
“I can tend sheep.”
“And if I become a queen?”
“Yer already a queen.”
Beti shook her head. A coronet and mantle did not make her a queen.
“Ye are the queen of my heart, and I do not care who knows it.”
The last barrier of her heart broke lose, and Beti jumped into his arms. His lips descended and joy burst forth from both of them wrapping securely around them even as their arms kept them close.
Her heart was still thumping when he ended the kiss.
Whistles and calls filled her ears.
Nellie rubbed against her legs.
She was home.