Eleven #2
“Could you hit any more bumps, Rowan? I think you missed at least one back there,” Branch grumbled from his seat next to his friend.
“If your highness prefers, I can turn around and try to drive right over any I missed.” Rowan raised an eyebrow, daring him to say more. “Are you surly because of your injury, or is it due to a certain young miss who has stirred things in your heart you didn’t want touched?”
Branch scowled at him, and Rowan laughed, continuing on the way to Branch’s farm.
The horse was strong and fast, and they were soon circling around outside the farmhouse where Sarah and Nate lived.
Branch fully intended to build his own house on a ridge overlooking his acres, but he saw no point in it until after the war, and he came home to stay.
Now, though, with his thoughts tripping all around Lucy and his love for her, he wished he had listened to Nate and agreed to build a house sooner rather than postponing it for later.
Last night, when he had awakened from the sleep he needed following Ward and Cleta treating his wound, he had been nearly beside himself with worry over Lucy and Theo.
He had expected them to have already returned, and a hundred thoughts of everything that could have gone wrong had speared his mind until he thought for sure he would go mad.
Then Theo had raced down the steps and assured them all he and Lucy were well, if not a little muddier for their adventure.
The lad had seemed quite disappointed that no reason had arisen for him to blow his little warble whistle as a call for help.
According to Theo, Lucy could have saved them from any disaster that had assailed them.
Although Branch wanted to lock Lucy away to keep her safe, he knew he couldn’t. Lucy was brave and strong, smart and tenacious, and exactly the kind of person needed if the Patriots were going to win their fight for freedom and liberty.
He also knew she was exactly the wife he needed, and not just wanted. Because he did want her. All of her, for all of his days.
Perhaps while he convalesced, he could think of a way to express all that was in his heart to Lucy and ask her if she would consider becoming his wife. Ward and Cleta had granted their permission, and he knew John and Katherine Danvers were eager for him and Lucy to make a match.
Before he could give a proposal more thought, the door to the house opened, and Sarah rushed outside.
“Faith and glory! What has he done to himself now?” Sarah asked when Rowan brought the carriage to a stop.
“Just a shot to the side. From what Mr. Carlson said, it didn’t hit anything important, but Branch bled like a butchered hog.”
“I would take offense at that if it weren’t true,” Branch said, grinning at Sarah as she and Rowan helped him out of the carriage.
Nate appeared and took over Sarah’s position while she rushed ahead to ready a bed for him.
Three days later, Branch rested on a bench in the shade of an oak tree with his legs stretched out in front of him, reading a book.
It was a rare luxury for him to have the time to relax or read.
He heard running steps and glanced up to see Theo leap over a hedge with a whoop of joy.
The lad’s hat was missing, and his waistcoat was askew, his knees covered in dirt, and his shirttail flying as he ran toward Branch.
The sight of the boy made Branch smile. He had greatly missed the lad.
Quickly replacing the ribbon marking his place in the book, Branch set it aside and reached out a hand to his young friend.
Theo dropped onto the bench beside him with a wide grin that seemed to make his freckles stand out on his face. “Hello, Branch!”
“Hello, Theo! I’m powerfully pleased to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“Lucy and I came to stay at the farm for a while. We just got here this morning.” Theo glanced around, then bent down to pet Sarah’s cat as it rested near the bench. “Lucy asked me to come see how you are faring. Are you getting better?”
“I am getting better.” Branch observed as the aloof feline rolled onto her back and began to purr when Theo rubbed gentle fingers along her belly.
Despite his attempts to convince himself he could wait to see Lucy until he had fully recovered his strength, Branch suddenly found he could not wait a moment longer. “Do you think Lucy would be dismayed if I paid her a visit?”
Theo looked at him as though he had lost his mental faculties.
“Why do you think we came to the farm, Branch? She’s been tied in knots since we woke up to find you gone the day after you and Thomas were shot.
She would have borrowed or stolen a horse if it came to that to ride out here to see you, but Papa told her to give you a few days to rest. We’ve been taking care of Thomas.
He sent you a letter and said to tell you he’s doing well and in good care, and if you don’t make your intentions known, the loss is entirely your own fault.
” Theo pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Branch. “What does that mean?”
“It means I need to speak to your sister soon.” Branch tucked the letter inside the book for safekeeping, then turned to Theo again. “Shall we enjoy some refreshment before we venture to your grandparents’ farm?”
“Sure!” Theo stood and pulled on Branch’s hand. “Miss Sarah said to come inside, and she would have cider and biscuits ready.”
Branch could hardly stand the wait as he and Theo enjoyed Sarah’s sweet biscuits and a cup of cider.
Inspired by idea, Branch stood and looked at Theo. “Would you mind telling Lucy I’ll be along shortly and to meet me in the garden by the summersweet bush?”
“I’ll tell her,” Theo said. He crammed the last bite of biscuit in his mouth, drained his cider, then stood and tipped his head to Sarah.
“Thank you, Miss Sarah, for the cider and biscuits. They are as good as the ones Mama makes. Bye!”
With that, the boy rushed out the door. Branch grinned when he heard Theo whoop as he leaped over the hedge again on his way back to the Danvers’ farm.
“What are you plotting?” Sarah asked, standing and placing a hand on Branch’s arm.
“A reunion with Lucy that I hope she will long remember.”
Sarah smiled. “I’ll gather some flowers for you to take.”
Branch went to the room where he stayed whenever he was at the farm and changed out of the clothes he was wearing into his Continental Army uniform.
The occasions for him to wear it had been few, since he had almost immediately been put into service as a spy.
He tugged on the sleeves, adjusted the white silk stock tied around his neck, then combed his hair back and tied a crisp knot to hold his queue.
He settled his cocked hat on his head and returned to the kitchen.
“Are you sure you feel up for whatever amorous thoughts are twirling around in your head?” Sarah asked, handing him a small but fragrant bouquet of flowers she had snipped from her garden.
“No, but I need to see her, Sarah. I’ve missed her so much these past few days, I can hardly bear it. I must see her.”
“Very well, but if you’re going to linger over there for a while, send Theo back to let us know you aren’t sprawled face down in the pasture.”
Branch scowled at her, and Sarah laughed, then offered him a careful hug. “Go. Find your happiness.”
“Thank you, Sarah. You are much loved and appreciated.”
“I know, and the same to you, Nephew. No matter what may happen, you will always have a home here in this house and my heart.”
Branch kissed her cheek and then strode outside.
He wanted to run and leap over the hedge as Theo had done, but he kept his pace sedate and followed the path through the pasture to the fence that separated his farm from John and Katherine’s place.
He opened the gate and made his way through, closing it behind him, then walked directly to Katherine’s beautiful garden of flowers.
He saw Lucy waiting for him by the summersweet bush.
She wore a simple gown of dark blue with white trim, and a white apron with flowers scattered across it, as though she had rushed out there without a moment of hesitation.
No cap covered her head, and he feasted on the vision of her rich brown hair, curls piled in a jumble, glistening in the sunlight.
As though she sensed his presence, she turned and watched him approach with warmth glowing in her dark-blue eyes that made them twinkle like a night sky illuminated with stars.
She waited until he stood just a foot away from her before she reached for him, as though she needed to touch him and confirm he was real and not a dream.
“Sarah picked these for you,” Branch said, offering her the bouquet.
She took it and buried her nose in the flowers. “They’re lovely. It was so kind of her to send them.”
“I think her hope was that they would help.”
“Help?” Lucy asked, gazing at him over the blooms she still held close to her face, creating a vision so appealing Branch had to summon all his willpower not to haul her into his arms right then.
“I have no doubt I blundered greatly a few days past when I left your house without a word of goodbye. I do apologize, Lucy.”
“Mmm,” she said, turning from him and walking a few steps before she spun around to face him. Anger altered her previously sweet expression as she wagged the bouquet at him. “You are the densest man, Burwell William Barton! Is your head made of clay hardened in the summer sun?”
“Not that I am aware,” he said, suddenly pondering if coming to see her was such a grand idea.
She looked infuriated as she set the bouquet on a small iron table just off the path, then fisted her hands on her hips.
He had never seen a female look any finer or more appealing than she did in that moment.
“You listen to me, Branch Barton. When you leave me, you will say a word of parting. And a kiss would be nice too.”
“Would it?” he asked, trying to look subdued while inside he felt like whooping as Theo had done earlier. If Lucy was talking about kisses, she was still of a mind to love him.
“Lucy, I think it would be—”
She held up a hand, stopping him. “I’ve thought about this for days. In truth, I’ve thought of little else for weeks. I need you to explain something to me. Why must we choose between freedom and each other, Branch? Why can’t we wed for liberty and love?”
“That is an interesting question.” He braced his thumb and forefinger on his chin, as though he considered the notion.
Lucy stamped both feet. “I request an answer, sir, not a month-long contemplation.”
“Then I suppose the answer, Lucy Katherine Carlson, is that we can wed for liberty and love.” Branch moved closer to her, slipping one hand around her back, the other toying with apron strings tied at her waist. “We can choose freedom and each other. If you think you could tolerate my presence in your life, I would like nothing better than to be your husband, for as long as the good Lord gives me breath. Would you be my wife, Lucy? Would you marry me and walk beside me all of our days?”
“Yes. Oh yes, Branch!”
Branch didn’t care a whit for what was proper or not. He tipped Lucy’s chin up and kissed her, softly, reverently at first, then with all the love he had been storing in his heart for her from the first moment he had set eyes on her.
When he lifted his head, she smiled at him with her just-kissed lips and eyes full of dreams. “You look quite dashing in that uniform, sir. It might make a girl entirely forget herself.”
“Might it? If that is the case, I shall never take it off.”
Lucy giggled, as he had known she would, and he kissed both of her cheeks.
“Lucy, you are a light to my heart and a joy to my soul. I can’t explain it, but the first time we met, I felt as though I had known you since the beginning of time and would love you until the end of days.
It was as though I knew without any doubt that we belong together. ”
“I felt the same, Branch. Exactly the same. I would like to marry soon, if you have no objection. Happiness is too precious to postpone.”
“I heartily agree. You tell me the place and day, and I will be there.”
“At the church down the road, next Wednesday. Mama told me she needs time to finish my new gown, and Papa is working on our rings.”
Branch grinned. “Is that so? It seems you’ve had everything planned all along. What do you need me for?”
Lucy’s hands bracketed his face and pulled his head to hers, then she kissed him with a passion that made him feel as though the hat on his head might shoot off into the summer sky. “I need you for that, Branch Barton. I need you because you make me feel beautiful, smart, and brave.”
“I don’t need to make you feel those things, Lucy. You are those things.”
“And you are an incredible, good man. It will be a blessing beyond measure to be your wife.”
“Then let’s kiss one more time before Theo breaks his neck trying to peek at us from the roof of the smokehouse.”
Lucy turned and scowled at her little brother before she gave Branch a hasty kiss, then she picked up the bouquet. Together, they walked to the house to give her family the good news.