A Knight in Central Park (31 page)

Joe bent down so that he could look into Rebecca’s eyes. So very innocent Rebecca was, so fragile, too. Kids, he was slowly learning, weren’t so scary after all. “Rebecca,” he said, sensing her dilemma, “this new doll, or baby,” he amended, looking to Alexandra and then back again, “isn’t supposed to replace your other baby.”

He took her armless doll and held it high. “No baby, no matter how new and shiny,” he added, holding up the new one with its rosy cheeks and perfect curls, “could ever replace Antoinette. That is her name isn’t it?”

Rebecca’s eyes brightened the slightest bit as she shook her head, her straggly hair covering half of her heart shaped face.

Joe let out an exaggerated sigh as if not knowing her ragdoll’s name was truly eating him up inside. Then he smiled and said, “The great thing about dolls, I mean babies, is that one doesn’t have to replace the other. They can be friends.”

He looked at the new doll. “Isabele, I want you to meet your new friend. We don’t know her name, but maybe when you discover it, you will tell me what it is.”

To Rebecca’s delight, he made Isabele nod in agreement.

“This other baby may be nameless,” he said to Isabele, “but she is loyal to her friends. With her by your side, you will never be lonely.” He had Isabele shake hands with the ragdoll’s leg since she had no arms and then he handed the dolls to Rebecca.

With both dolls held tight to her chest, Rebecca ran to the door, pausing to turn back and look at Joe.

“You’re very welcome,” he said.

Her eyes sparkled and without waiting for Alexandra, she flew from the room.

“I’ll miss her,” he said to Alexandra as she, too, headed out. A part of him was glad she didn’t turn to look at him, since he already knew what he’d see...disappointment, or maybe regret for choosing the wrong man. A real hero wouldn’t let her down. If he was The Chosen One, he would stay. If he cared about the children he would stay. If he loved her, he would stay.

Five nights passed since they left the inn. Each day they rode without stopping. Only when night fell would they set up camp, eat, and head for bed, too tired to talk or ponder for too long over Sir Joe’s eventual leaving.

They said goodbye to Sebastiano two days ago, and he assured Susan she would see him again as soon as he was done with his duties in London.

This was to be their last night on the road. Tomorrow they would be arriving in Brookshire.

And then Sir Joe would leave...

Alexandra tried to turn her thoughts to something other than Sir Joe. She stirred the meat stew within the iron cauldron that hung over the fire. Sir Joe had set off for the river to wash. Susan and Rebecca were busy finding smooth ground for their beds, while Garrett worked on the lean-to.

Susan laid out the new sheepskin Mary had given them and then ran her hand over its softness. “’Tis smooth like the beginnings of Sebastiano’s beard,” she said. “Is not Sebastiano simply wonderful?” Susan asked Alexandra for the dozenth time.

“Aye, he is a clever boy.”

“He is not a mere boy,” Susan said as if terribly affronted. “He is a man. A man who knows what he wants. A man who will never leave me.”

Alexandra had nothing to say to that.

Susan came toward her. “I am sorry. ’Twas cruel of me to say such a thing. I dare not know what has gotten into me of late.”

Alexandra gave the pot of stew another stir before wiping her hands on her tunic. “Do not fret over such things. The traveling has been much and we are all tired. Let us eat and be off to sleep for a few hours before we head off again.”

“Why must he leave us?” Susan asked, taking Alexandra by surprise.

Alexandra had asked herself that same question more times than she cared to remember. Always the answer was the same. “Sir Joe is confused,” she said as she dished the stew into bowls. “He has dreams, things he wishes to accomplish while he is of this earth. Unfortunately these things cannot be accomplished in our world.”

“I do not understand. He loves you. ’Tis written all over his face. I see it every time he glances your way. Remember the way Ari used to look at Lydia before they were married?”

Alexandra smiled, then shrugged Susan’s words off with a wave of her hand.

“’Tis the same look, I swear.”

Garrett took his bowl of stew and tore a stale piece of bread from the last of the loaves. “Women,” he muttered. “They see what they want to see.”

“You think Sir Joe does not love our sister?” Susan asked.

“If he did, would he leave?”

Alexandra felt her chest tighten. The smell of the stew was setting her stomach to churning, and so she took her share of bread and nibbled on that whilst Susan took care of Rebecca.

“Perhaps Rebecca and I should feign a terrible illness,” Susan said. “Sir Joe would never leave us sick and dying.”

“I would not put it past him,” Garrett said between bites.

Surprise showed on Susan’s face. “I thought you had grown to like him?”

Garrett snorted. “I say you have been drinking too much goat’s milk, for I have no idea what would cause you to suggest such an absurd notion as that.”

Susan clicked her tongue. “Sebastiano told me how you may very well have saved Sir Joe’s life. He said that you set yourself at much risk by jumping before a man with a dagger aimed and ready. You could have been killed. Nobody in their right mind would nearly give up their life for a man they did not much like.”

“I only helped him because I owed him for aiding us in getting away from those men who dared call me a thief. And speaking of thieves, I would not listen to everything your dear Sebastiano says. He is the very reason I was taken by those burly boars to begin with.”

Susan nearly dropped her bowl. “Alexandra. Are you not going to reprimand him for speaking so rudely?”

“Stop bickering, both of you. Sebastiano is a fine young man,” Alexandra said to Garrett, “and if he had not drunk from the wrong cup, he would have come after us himself.”

Susan looked at Garrett and lifted her chin with a “hrmmf“.

Sir Joe came through the brush, looking more refreshed, but tired just the same. His hair was damp and judging by his swiftness in returning to camp, Alexandra figured he must be famished.

He looked at each of them.

Nobody said a word.

The distant cry of a lone wolf filled the silence.

Sir Joe helped himself to a bowl of stew and took a seat on one of the sheepskins. He took a bite, looked around the campsite as he chewed. He took another bite and then peered up at the tallness of one of the oaks. Then he glanced at Susan. She quickly averted her gaze. He took another bite and chewed as he focused his attention toward Garrett who looked to his boots.

“Why is everyone looking at me as if I have the plague?”

“Nobody is looking at you that way,” Alexandra assured him. “We have been admiring the trees and the nice weather is all.”

“’Tis the truth,” Susan cut in. “Just before you came back from your washing, we were talking of storms and how quickly they come and go. One moment they are here and the next moment they are not. Like the rain,” Susan rambled on. “You never know when it is going to strike. You pray for it day in and day out and then it finally comes and saves your crops. And then...”

Sir Joe rolled his eyes. “And then it disappears and leaves you all wet and alone, is that it?” He set his bowl to the side. “For four days now you have all treated me as if I’m the bad guy. I’m the good guy,” he said, stabbing his chest with his finger. “I’m the hero. The Chosen One, and I did what I promised I would do. The King of England dubbed me a knight for God’s sake. But for a week now you have all made me feel like pond scum, acting as if I’ve done something wrong. I’m done explaining myself. I’m not like my father. I’m not abandoning anyone by leaving. You are not my kids!” he said, an arm flinging upward. “You are not my wife!” he said to Alexandra. “And this is not my home.”

All was quiet.

“I’m going to bed. I suggest you all do the same since we’ll be heading out before sunrise.” He grabbed his allotted blankets and headed for the far end of the campsite. Every time a wolf cried out, Rebecca shivered.

“Rebecca,” he said, causing all to look her way. “If those wolves are scaring you, just bring your babies and your blankets closer to me. I’ll protect you.”

Something scratchy rubbed at the very tip of Joe’s nose, making it itch. His blankets felt heavy and cumbersome. He could hardly move. He opened his eyes, sure that he was tied and bound, his arms trapped to his sides.

Instead, he discovered that not only had Rebecca joined him during the night, so had Susan and Alexandra. In fact, Susan and Rebecca were snuggled tightly to his right side, while Alexandra was clamped tightly to his left, her leg draped over his, her hair tickling his nose.

Even Garrett had moved closer, but not so close to make it obvious. The fire had long since died out. Through the canopy of trees, the sun’s rays already filtered through the leaves and branches. They had overslept. He shook Alexandra’s shoulder. “Time to wake up. We overslept.”

She opened her eyes and rubbed them, blushing when she saw where they had all ended up. Joe stared at her long and hard, something he found himself doing more and more.

She stared back, her expression filled with compassion. Their journey was coming to an end...just like the storm Susan had spoken of last night. He reached out a hand and pushed hair from her eyes. A few more freckles had gathered across her perfect nose. He wanted to kiss that nose. “Have I told you recently how very beautiful you are?”

She placed her palm against his jaw, her fingers touching him as if for the last time. His heart ached to think he was hurting her this way. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to forget all about today, tomorrow, and the next day, and just kiss her.

Her lashes fluttered, her gaze set on his. Her eyes were the same bright green as precious stones. He could write a poem about her eyes, her nose, her lips. Those lips enticed him, made him ache for her. Nothing short of an army could stop him from kissing her.

“Time to set off,” Garrett said in a loud grating tone.

Joe returned the boy’s steely gaze. Neither one of them blinking.

“What?” Garrett asked, mimicking Joe’s line as he came toward them and shook both his younger sisters awake. Garrett hovered over them for a moment longer than necessary, daring Joe to try and kiss his sister.

“I guess we better get going,” he said to Alexandra.

“I imagine we should,” she replied.

“Garrett,” Joe called out as the boy headed for the denser area of the woods. “Don’t forget to wash behind your ears.”

“Why should I listen to you? You are not going to be here to tell me to wash my ears tomorrow or the next day, are you?”

Joe looked at Alexandra. She shrugged, letting him know she had no answer for him and was too tired to get involved in their early morning bickering.

“No, you’re right, Garrett. I’m not going to be here tomorrow or the next day. But I’m here right now and I’m telling you it’s a good idea once in a while to wash behind your ears. But hey, I’m not your father, am I? You don’t need to listen to me.”

Garrett had already turned away, already disappeared before he finished his last sentence. “That is one stubborn kid,” he said to Alexandra, but she was already up and moving, gathering the blankets and telling Susan to take Rebecca to the lake for a quick washing.

Thirty minutes later, the horses had been readied. He and Alexandra were just beginning to worry when Susan came hobbling through the brush, her arm heavy about Rebecca’s small shoulders for support.

“What happened?” Alexandra asked as she ran toward them.

“I think I broke my leg,” Susan cried. “I tripped on an old rotted stump.”

“Can you ride?” Joe asked.

“I dare not even try it hurts so badly.” She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling as if she were crying.

Acting was not Susan’s forte, Joe realized as he went to her. “Where does it hurt exactly?” He touched her leg.

She groaned and moaned as if he had kicked her in the shins. “Oh, the pain.”

Joe lifted a brow, flattered to see that the two girls were scheming, stalling, trying to delay them from setting off so that he would be forced to stay.

“Don’t move,” Joe said in a panicked voice, his eyes wide as he looked over Susan’s shoulder, winking at Garrett who was just returning from the lake.

“What is it?” Susan asked, worry lining her brow.

“A snake. Twice as big as the one before.” He took a few careful steps backwards.

Susan shuddered and then jumped out of the way, both legs vigorous and strong as she ran for cover.

Joe broke down laughing, holding his gut with both hands.

“’Tis not amusing,” Susan said when it became clear there was no snake. “Verily I did trip over a stump.”

“And I have wings,” Garrett said.

Joe and Garrett laughed together at that.

Susan, Rebecca and Alexandra stared at both of them as if they had grown identical horns and tails.

“What?” Garrett and Joe asked simultaneously.

T
he day's ride was longer than most and they reached Brookshire with little fanfare, for the hours of darkness were upon them and most everyone in the village was asleep.

Alexandra woke Grandfather. The old man was in high spirits to see them healthy and safe. As it turned out, he had received Mary’s message and thus he had not been fretting these past many days. Grandfather agreed, reluctantly, to hand over the last of the stones to Sir Joe.

As she stood in the meadow, peering into the night, Alexandra looked to the moonlight. Branches of an oak swayed above as her adventures with Sir Joe swirled within her mind. To think her sister, Mary, had fallen in love with Sir Richard and was living in a fine castle. It filled Alexandra with peace to think of her sister so happy, so content.

Sir Joe came up behind her and laid his hands upon her shoulders. Strong capable hands he had, warming her insides with one gentle touch.