The Rebels of Cordovia (19 page)

He rushed into the shack, grabbed some towels
and met her by the well. With a smile, he took her arm and led her
to the lake.

Robin was amazed as she stood beside a beautiful
pristine lake. At the north end was a small waterfall. It wasn’t
very high, but just perfect for standing underneath to wash her
hair.

Daniel smiled when he saw the pleased look in
her eyes. “I won’t have to stand guard. This place is so remote. No
one knows about it. You’ll be safe enough. You can have the north
end with the waterfall and I’ll take the south end. Is that all
right with you?”

She looked at him with astonishment. “You’re
going to bathe, also?”

He nodded as he handed her a towel. “I really
need to. When I awoke this morning, I noticed it was time. I can’t
put it off any longer.”

Robin laughed. “Sounds good to me.”

She watched him walk to the other end of the
lake, and then she found a perfect place to undress. After taking
her dress and petticoat off, she noticed some mud on the neck of
her dress, a result of the mud Daniel had accidentally flung at
her. So she took it to the lake and washed it off. Then she hung it
on a shrub to dry.

After taking off her rosy corset and chemise,
she stepped into the cool water and shivered, but soon her body was
able to adjust to the temperature. She swam over to the waterfall
and stood beneath it. The water hit her on the back. It felt
wonderful, just like fingers rubbing against her skin. That was her
weakness and she knew it. She had to beg her sisters to rub her
back at night so she could relax. As she stood beneath the
waterfall, she washed her hair. Then she swam around for a while,
enjoying the freedom of being alone.

As she swam, Robin thought she heard voices. It
was children’s voices. Her eyes searched the bank of the lake until
she finally saw two young girls and a boy at the other side. What
were they doing there?

Robin shook her head with dismay. Daniel said
this place was safe. She watched as the children turned around and
headed toward the south end of the lake. She was relieved as she
continued to swim.

Then it dawned on her where the children were
going. Robin’s eyes widened as she gasped. Daniel! They might
discover him in his nothings. Quickly she swam toward her clothes.
After drying herself off and dressing, she ran to the south end as
fast as she could go.

When she came upon Daniel, Robin realized she
was too late. He was standing waist high at the edge of the lake,
his face was flushed, and he was staring at the children who were
watching him. They were giggling and pointing at him as they talked
among themselves. The poor man acted as if he didn’t know what to
do and was quite flustered.

Robin waved her hand in the air and called out,
“Don’t worry. I’ll distract them.”

When he turned and saw her, he acted relieved.
“Thanks. You do that. I’ve been trying to convince them to leave,
but they won’t go.”

Robin smiled at his predicament and then walked
around the lake toward the children. As she approached, she greeted
them. “Hello! I’m Marie. Who are you?”

They each introduced themselves. The
twelve-year-old was Joanna, the ten-year-old boy was Philip, and
the six-year-old was Rebecca…who had the cutest little dimples in
her cheeks.

Rebecca pointed to Daniel and said, “That man is
swimming.”

Robin smiled. “He sure is. Where are your
parents and why are you here at the lake?”

“We’re camped over there,” said Joanna as she
pointed toward the forest. “We were just playing until it was time
to eat.”

“Well, how about if all of us turn around and
let this man get out of the water? Then we can meet your
parents.”

“Why do we have to turn around?” asked Rebecca
innocently. “He’s just swimming.”

Robin held back her laughter and said, “Oh,
because he would appreciate it and it’s polite.”

“All right,” said Joanna as she turned to her
brother and sister. “Come on. Let’s do what she says.”

When Daniel saw the children turn their backs on
him, he breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Robin had come to
his rescue. He turned around and started toward the bank. He was
almost to the edge when he heard a high-pitched scream in back of
him, which startled him greatly.

Daniel froze when he heard six-year-old Rebecca
say, “That man is naked.”

Embarrassment spread all over him and he quickly
slunk back down into the water and waited. He had never known such
awkwardness in all his life.

“No, no, no,” he heard Robin scolding. “You’re
not supposed to look. That’s not nice.”

“But…” said Rebecca.

Biting her lip, Robin took a breath and said,
“It’s not polite to see someone naked. Now turn around,
sweetheart.” Robin giggled and then quickly sobered. “Like I said,
it’s not nice…even though he does deserve it for throwing mud in my
face.”

“He threw mud in your face?” asked Rebecca.

“That’s right. But no matter, you still have to
give him some privacy.”

“Why did he throw mud in your face?” asked
Rebecca.

“Well, we were playing around and it was an
accident. So I forgive him.”

“That happened to me, too,” said Rebecca. “I was
playing with my brother and he got mud on my dress and Mama was
mad.”

“It wasn’t my fault,” defended Philip. “You
started it.”

“Have you got those children distracted now?”
asked Daniel with frustration. “I’d like to get out.”

Robin smiled and said, “All right, Rebecca. I’m
trusting you to not peek.”

Rebecca sighed and agreed.

When Daniel glanced over his shoulder and
noticed the children were facing the woods, he quickly jumped out
of the lake and ran right for his clothes.

He was so embarrassed. As he got dressed, he
mumbled under his breath, “Did she say: even though he deserves it
for throwing mud in my face? No man deserves this kind of
humiliation.”

When Daniel was ready, he walked toward the
group and introduced himself. “I’m Daniel and I presume you’re
Rebecca,” he said with a creased brow as he looked down at her.

She nodded with a shy smile. “Sorry. I didn’t
know it was impolite to see you naked.”

Daniel took a deep breath and let it out. “It’s
all right. I’ll eventually get over it in about a year or so.”

Rebecca nodded but Robin just giggled.

When he narrowed his eyes at her, Robin
shrugged. “You did say that you like it when I laugh.
Remember?”

Trying to ignore her statement, he said, “So why
are you children here?”

“We moved here to get away from the soldiers,”
said Joanna.

“Why?”

“Because Papa couldn’t pay his taxes. We didn’t
want the soldiers to arrest him.” She turned and started walking.
“Follow me. I’ll introduce you to my parents.”

As they followed, Daniel walked up to Robin. He
took her arm and whispered, “Even though I deserve it? That’s what
you said. No one deserves this type of embarrassment.”

She giggled. “You’re right. I understand
completely.”

He shook his head. “This should never happen to
a man. And it’s going to ruin her for life.”

Robin snickered. “No, I don’t think so. She’ll
be just fine.”

“How about me? I don’t think I’ll ever get over
it.”

She broke into laughter as he feigned his
disapproval.

Robin smiled and whispered, “Besides, everyone
has a behind.”

Daniel looked at her with a creased brow. “I
can’t believe you said that.”

As she giggled, he frowned at her but that only
brought on more laughter.

When they arrived at the children’s camp, Robin
noticed a tent, a fire pit, a horse tied to a tree, and a cart full
of food.

When the parents saw them approaching, Daniel
said, “Don’t worry. We’re friends.”

He shook the father’s hand and introduced
himself and Robin Marie. When he found out what had happened to the
family, Daniel told them that they would not have to hide out much
longer. Everything would change after Saturday.

“Change?” asked the father. “How?”

“We’re going to prove that the king is guilty of
several atrocities. With all the followers that we’ve been able to
gain, it won’t take much to dethrone Rupert. It’ll be held on the
outskirts of Charlottesville.”

A relieved look came over the man’s face. “I’ll
make sure we’re there as well. You’ve got our support.”

They talked for a while and then Daniel glanced
at Rebecca. He tapped her nose and smiled. That little imp had
stood around staring at him the whole time they visited. He finally
turned to the parents and bid farewell.

As they walked away, the man asked, “How did you
find us?”

Daniel turned and looked at the children with a
slight smile. “I didn’t. Your children found me.”

Rebecca giggled. “He was swimming, Papa.”

“That’s nice, dear,” said the father.

“In the altogether,” she added.

“What?” asked the father with a lifted brow.

Without another word, Daniel grabbed Robin’s arm
and pulled her along, through the woods, and toward the lake.

She barely kept up to him when she finally said,
“Don’t go so fast.”

“I didn’t want to see their father’s face when
Rebecca explained what she saw.”

Robin giggled. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Joanna
will explain and he’ll understand.”

When Daniel finally slowed down, he said, “I
hope you got a good laugh out of that.”

Robin giggled. “I sure did.”

Daniel shook his head and sighed.

She cleared her throat dramatically and said,
“Hey! Remember my embarrassment at being caught in my… my… you
know…”

He grinned as he said, “Your
unmentionables?”

“That’s right. I was quite embarrassed but I hid
it since there was nothing we could do about it. My clothes were
soaked through.”

Daniel chuckled. “I guess I had it coming for
glancing at you like I did, huh? But it’s still not the same. At
least you had clothes on.”

“At least,” said Robin with a snicker.

The following day, everyone was sitting around
the table, eating breakfast as they chatted. Daniel was discussing
the horses his father was preparing for a race.

“Have you seen that black stallion my father has
been training?” asked Daniel.

Hanna nodded. “He’s a real beauty.”

“He runs much faster than the two I have
outside.”

“But I’ve seen you race those and they’re real
fast, Daniel.”

“True. But the black stallion is faster.”

Hanna shook her head in amazement.

Hanna turned to Robin and said, “Did you know
that Daniel races horses?”

She shook her head. “No. Is he good?”

Hanna laughed as she glanced at Daniel.

He had a smirk on his face as he nodded. “I
think I am.” He shrugged. “It’s a man’s sport.”

Robin lifted her brow curiously as she said, “A
man’s sport?”

“Yup,” he said as he ate the last bite of his
food. “It’s exhilarating. I love it.”

“Oh!” Robin narrowed her eyes as she asked, “Do
you mean it’s a man’s sport such as sword fighting and
archery?”

When Daniel saw the challenge in her eyes, he
wasn’t sure what to say. “Well… uh… you see…”

“Is this such a difficult question to
answer?”

“Uh… yes!” Daniel gave a crooked smile as he
said, “I’m trying to figure out what to say. Is this a trick
question?”

She smiled. “No! I’m just wondering. Do you
think a woman couldn’t possibly race a horse?”

“That’s not what I meant,” said Daniel as he
shook his head. “Why would she want to? It’s not feminine.”

Robin’s mouth fell open. “What did you say?”

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he
was sorry he had said them. Daniel was just defending himself. Now
he needed to appease her. But how?

“Well… uh…” he stammered. “What I meant
was…”

“I see,” Robin said with a frown. “You mean like
archery or sword fighting? They’re not feminine, either. Right? So
why would a woman want to do that?”

Daniel wasn’t sure how to answer. He finally
threw his hands in the air and said, “No! Racing is completely
different.”

“How?” asked Robin with a creased brow.

“Well…”

Daniel worked feverishly for an answer… an
answer that would satisfy the stubborn woman in front of him. That
was what her father had said. She was stubborn and now he was
witnessing it first hand.

“Since you have no appropriate answer for me,”
said Robin with a smile. “I challenge you to a race. You said the
two horses outside are fast and you have raced them before.”

“But…” Daniel said as he searched for an excuse
not to race against her. “You’ve never raced before.”

“So this will be my first race. Right?”

“Uh… Well, how about your clothes? You can’t
race in a dress.”

“Why not?”

Daniel sighed. She was determined and he
couldn’t talk her out of it. “All right. When and where?”

Robin smiled triumphantly. “In thirty minutes
and down by the lake.”

“The lake?”

She nodded. “The trees are sparse over there and
we can go around the whole lake. In fact, we can go around it
twice. What do you say?”

Daniel smiled. “All right. We’ll put a mark
where to begin. And then after the second time around, we’ll end at
the same mark. Is that all right with you?”

Hanna jumped up with excitement as she said,
“I’ll signal you when to begin.”

Daniel grinned. “Then the race is on.”

“How about removing debris from around the
lake?” asked Robin.

He chuckled. “Why? It will only show more
sportsmanship. Many races I’ve attended have obstacles such as
shrubs or fences for our horses to jump over. Even rivers to
cross.”

Robin smiled with delight as she said, “You get
the horses saddled while we get the dishes out of the way.”