Six #2
“Hmm.” He continued leaning on his elbow, studying her.
“What was that song you were whistling?” she blurted, unable to bear his quiet scrutiny.
Branch’s grin broadened. “‘The Raggle Taggle Gypsy.’ Do you know it?”
Lucy shook her head. “It is not familiar to me.”
Branch straightened and sang the words in his resonant baritone voice. Lucy was so taken with its tone and depth, she nearly forgot to listen to the story the song told of a woman who abandoned her wealth and home for the love of a gypsy.
“What do you think, Miss Carlson? Was the woman an idiot or brilliant for following love?”
Lucy smiled. “Perhaps a little of both.”
Branch laughed, and the sound of it made her smile.
Theo skipped into the shop, his face full of delight as he hurried over to Branch. “Hello, Mr. Barton.”
“Hello there, Theo!” Branch bent down when he spoke to him, so he didn’t tower over the child.
Lucy found that small kindness endearing, then grew annoyed at herself for finding anything about Branch endearing, and angry at Branch for behaving so … wonderfully. It was far easier to dislike him when he was teasing or tormenting her.
“Please, Lucy? Can’t we?” Theo was asking in a pleading tone. Lucy realized she had let her thoughts wander instead of listening to their conversation.
“I don’t think—”
“That’s a splendid idea,” Ward Carlson said as he walked into the shop, the angry expression he had worn earlier replaced with a friendly smile.
“But I …” Lucy had no idea what it was she ought to be protesting. The thought of spending time with Branch had left her mind troubled, but her heart eager.
“You and Theo should take a walk with Mr. Barton. The fresh air would do you good. While you’re out, you can stop by the market and purchase a fish for our dinner. If anyone has peaches for sale, purchase a dozen of those.”
“But, Papa, we should …” Lucy couldn’t think of a single thing to say, especially when both Branch and Theo were giving her imploring looks.
“Go get your bonnet and basket. That’s what you should do,” her father said, nudging her toward the doorway to the storage room. “I’ll speak with Mr. Barton while you get your things. Theo, be sure to wear your hat, and tell your mother where you’re going.”
“Yes, Papa,” Theo said, racing ahead of Lucy to the kitchen.
“Mama, Papa said we can walk with Mr. Barton, and we’re going to get a fish and peaches,” Theo said so quickly, his words all ran together.
Cleta wiped her hands on a towel, then cupped Theo’s chin. “It sounds like a wonderful adventure for both of you. Have fun.”
Lucy yanked on her market bonnet and secured it at the back of her head, then picked up the basket her mother gave her, along with money for the purchases.
“If you happen upon a treat, be sure to enjoy it,” Cleta said, dropping an extra coin in Lucy’s hand. She leaned close and lowered her voice so Theo wouldn’t hear. “I do believe Mr. Barton is quite taken with you.”
Lucy scoffed. “I hope not, Mama. The man is …” Lucy couldn’t give voice to any of the thoughts that flooded her mind. Branch Barton was handsome, entertaining, irritating, confident, boyish, boorish, and fascinating. No. She certainly couldn’t say any of those things to her mother.
“He is what, Luce?” her mother asked, sounding innocent and sweet, although the mischief dancing in her eyes and the smile on her face gave away her intent to tease.
Lucy sighed and shook her head, allowed Theo to grab her hand, and hurried back into the shop, where her father and Branch were involved in a discussion about the various types of precious metals used in their jewelry pieces.
Ward gave Lucy a few coins and winked at her before returning his attention to their visitor.
Branch politely tipped his head to her father. “I enjoyed our conversation, sir. Thank you for an education in precious metals.” Branch lifted his hat and motioned to the door. “Shall we?” he asked Lucy.
“Let’s go!” Theo said, yanking on Lucy’s hand as she followed him outside.
The sun was a bright yellow orb glittering in the deep summer-blue sky. A slight breeze blew, carrying the scents of fish, tar, and molasses up from the river.
“Is there somewhere you’d like to walk before we visit the market?” Branch asked, sounding like a solicitous suitor instead of a stranger Lucy barely knew.
“May we go to The Coffee House?” Theo piped in, giving Branch a hopeful look.
Lucy gaped at her brother, unaware he even knew The Coffee House existed, let alone possessed a desire to visit the place.
The building had been established as a merchant exchange—a place where Philadelphia residents came to get the latest news and buy tickets for concerts, lectures, and other events.
The governor and other officers were known to frequent the business, holding court in private booths.
Merchants and shipmasters talked of business plans and secured deals.
The darker side of the popular venue was manifested in the sales of enslaved people and auctions that took place in front of the building, not to mention the public floggings that occurred just outside its door.
Lucy had never set foot inside the place and highly doubted her parents had either.
Branch shook his head and gently squeezed Theo’s shoulder with his big hand. “That is no place for a fine lad like you, Theo. How about a sweet potato biscuit and a cup of cider instead?”
Theo grinned. “Yes, please!”
Together, they made their way to a tavern known for its good food and connections to those supporting the pursuit of liberty and freedom.
From what Lucy had heard in snatches of conversation, the tavern kept a table in the back reserved for members of the Continental Congress to use whenever they liked.
Half hopeful to snatch a glimpse of Ben Franklin or John Adams, she did her best to behave with decorum as Branch pulled out a chair at a table. She settled onto it, unaccustomed to the opportunity to find herself with a handsome escort.
Theo’s eyes were wide and full of interest as he looked around.
Branch placed orders for a plate of sweet potato biscuits with butter and cups of cider, then leaned back in his chair and smiled at Theo and then Lucy.
“Well, what mischief have the two of you been into this week?” he asked, his tone light and conversational.
Lucy had a feeling Branch never said or did anything without a purpose or a reason, and wondered why he had brought them there and why he was feigning an interest in the mundane details of their everyday lives.
If she didn’t know better, she would have thought he was there to gather information to use in a spy network.
The thought of Branch being a spy for the Redcoats made the knot in her stomach painfully tighten. Why should she care what the man did?
She shouldn’t, but her concern remained.
Was he spying on those who’d gathered there?
Many times, she had asked herself the question of whether he was a Loyalist, a Patriot, or a Redcoat in disguise. If he were part of the British Army, it would certainly explain several things, like his ability to wander about when most men were working.
“And then Miles squashed it like this,” Theo said, and slapped his hands together, abruptly yanking Lucy from her musings.
Branch chuckled, and Lucy wondered what story she had missed, lost as she had been in her thoughts of their fine-looking escort.
A plate with half a dozen biscuits, a crock of creamy butter, and three cups of cold, tart cider were placed on the table.
Lucy bowed her head and offered silent gratitude for the food, and added a hasty word of thanks for Branch, who had provided it.
Theo alternated between stuffing himself with biscuits, sipping his cider, and hanging on Branch’s every word as the man relayed an adventurous story from his youth.
Lucy had no idea if he spoke the truth or merely spun a good tale. Either way, Theo was clearly delighted, and that was what mattered most.
When the last biscuit had disappeared, Branch wiped his mouth on his linen napkin and leaned back, bracing his arm on the back of Lucy’s chair. She bristled at the gesture that felt too familiar and intimate to her.
As though he were fully aware of her feelings, Branch grinned at her, then turned his attention back to Theo as the boy finished the last of his cider.
“Shall we head to the market?” Branch asked, taking a coin from the pocket of his waistcoat and leaving it on the table to pay for their food.
Lucy hadn’t yet decided if the man was a criminal pretending to be wealthy, or a wealthy man feigning a jovial … well, she wasn’t sure what Branch Barton was, exactly. He could be a merchant, although he hadn’t mentioned any particular business.
The fact that he was free to wander about, tormenting her, made her think he had more free time than most, yet his clothes weren’t those of the wealthy. Although his attire was of good quality, even nicer than many, there was a roughness about him that no silk coats or satin breeches could hide.
A vision of Branch prancing about in a pair of soft rose satin breeches with flower-embroidered silk stockings nearly made her laugh aloud. She would be more likely to don the breeches than he would.
Amused by her thoughts, Lucy took the last sip of her cider and stood.
Branch was quick to stand and pull back her chair for her.
Theo did a thorough job of wiping the crumbs from his face on his large linen napkin before they headed to the market and retrieved the peaches her father wanted, along with the fish they would enjoy for their dinner.
Lucy debated inviting Branch to join them for the meal, but couldn’t quite bring herself to ask, even though he had been nothing but polite and kind on their outing.
When he escorted them to the back door of their dwelling, Theo latched onto Branch’s hand.
The big man bent down and smiled at her little brother. “What is it, lad?”
“Would you like to eat with us, Mr. Barton?”
“I would greatly enjoy that, Theo. Thank you for the invitation. However, I have elsewhere I need to be, so I shall offer my regrets and hope you’ll ask me another time.”
Theo looked momentarily disappointed, but nodded his head. “Yes, sir.”
Branch removed Theo’s hat and ruffled his hair, then set it back on his head.
Theo took the fish Branch had carried and rushed inside the open back door.
“Well, thank you, kind sir, for the refreshments, and for accompanying us to the market.” Lucy shifted the basket of peaches she held, then removed what she thought would be the juiciest one and handed it to Branch.
He took it with a pleased smile. “Thank you for adding sweetness to my day, Miss Carlson. Until we meet again,” he said, bowed to her, then left, his long legs carrying him around the end of the building in quick strides.
Lucy refused to have him turn around and find her gaping at him, so she hurried into the kitchen and helped her mother with meal preparations.
As she worked, her thoughts kept returning to Branch Barton.
Who was he, really?
And what did he want with her?