He sat beside her in the tent. A cool breeze blew the flap open and the sharp noise startled Daniel. He looked up and ran a hand over his face. The small movement of lifting his arm reminded him that he had been beaten. He was so sore. He wished for a hot bath, and that Becky was fussing over him; shaking her head and clicking her tongue at all his injuries. He glanced back down at her.
He had sat down next to her nearly five hours ago, holding her long fingers in his. She lay in the cot, covered by a plain grey blanket that he had pulled up to her shoulders - one bandaged and the other bruised from the blows she'd received. In truth, what parts of her weren't pale from injuries, were black and blue. Just looking at her caused tears to fill his eyes. He studied her long red lashes, willing her eyes to open.
She had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. It wasn't just that they were the bright, blue of a summer sky, but more the light behind them. She seemed to have a well of joy and enthusiasm that alway filled him with wonder. While, her temper was something to behold, she was most often joyful. He couldn't understand it. Her life was not easy. It had never been easy. Her mother, the only joy in her life, had been taken from her just after her tenth birthday. She had waited with great hope for her father to return and rescue her, but he had never come. Instead, she had become a slave to his debts; indentured for the next seven and half years. And then, she had met him, and he had given her a life of struggle. She lived on the edge of the world, forever waiting for his return - never knowing if he would return. She had buried three children - one brutally murdered by a man who had eaten the bread she had baked for him, and one who died in her arms while he had been away.
He ran his fingers along her face, avoiding the bruises. He loved her soft skin. He hadn't known skin could be so soft until he'd met her. He remembered the first time he'd seen her. She had been standing just behind Cincinnatus, and he had been gathering all the wagons together to head out. Her eyes were down at first, but then she looked up at him, and he had completely forgotten everything he was saying. She smiled and blushed, and he had taken a step back and away from the two of them, knowing that he wouldn't be able to continue his speech to everyone if he had remained where he was.
"Who is that girl?" He'd asked casually later when he and Cincinnatus were alone.
"That's Rebecca." He had said looking up at Daniel. "She's bound over. I thought I could use a hand, and her cooking is good enough to make you cry."
"Bound?" He had been stunned.
"Indentured. You feeling alright? You seem a little bit . . ."
"I am fine. I just . . . I didn't know she was indentured." Daniel had said quietly. "I just . . . she seems so . . ."
"Oh." Cincinnatus said looking up at him with a smile. "She is pretty."
"What?" Daniel asked. "It isn't anything like that. I was only . . .I'd better go check on that wheel." He turned abruptly and strode away. Cincinnatus' laughter followed him all the way across the camp, but he hadn't heard him. Instead a single word repeated over and over again in his heart like a piece of music: Rebecca Rebecca Rebecca
He was drawn back to the present by the soft sound of a moan from her. Her lashes fluttered and her eyes opened.
"Daa . . ." She mumbled.
"Shhh. I am right here, Rebecca." He said lifting her hand and kissing her fingers.
"Wha what . . .?"
"You were shot, but they took the bullet out. I don't imagine you feel too good just now, but you will." He leaned closer and brushed a hand lightly over her forehead. "Alderton and his men are gone now. You don't have to worry about any of that nonsense." He told her, which was a stretching of the truth. Last he had checked, Alderton still held a vigil at the rise of the hill not more than six miles from where she now lay.
"You . . ." She gasped out weakly.
"What?" He asked.
"You . . .look . . ."
"Hush, now, Becca. Just rest. You don't need to talk."
"Hurt. You are hurt." She whispered.
"Oh!" He laughed. "Me? Ain't that just like you! I'm fine, little darlin'." He kissed her fingers again. "There was a minute there where I thought maybe it was all over, but they were able to dig that bullet out of your shoulder, and you kept on breathing. So I am just fine now."
"Dan."
"You gonna lecture me now, sweetheart? Now? How about instead, you close those pretty eyes, and rest some more?"
"You need mint tea." She told him.
He sighed, his fingers brushing lightly back and forth over her cheek. "You know some wives obey their husband's every command."
"Thou shall direct my footsteps?"
"Now, you are starting to speak like a good Quaker woman!" He laughed, but his eyes were filled with tears. "Which is too bad because I have never really liked Quaker women; they got no fire."
She smiled up at him sleepily.
"The perfect Quaker wife is quiet, meek and quick to do as she's told; makes me ill just to think on it. I like a girl who is headstrong, able to speak her own mind, and willful as the day is long."
"Good thing." She said softly. "I am not mild mannered."
"No. You aren't." He rose and sat beside her on the side of the cot. "Close your eyes, ah grah, I am not going anywhere. You are safe now. You can rest up, and then I'll take you home to your babies."
"Good." Her eyes closed.
"Rebecca Boone," He whispered softly. "I love thee with all my heart."
***DB***
"I am not sitting here for another two days! That's ridiculous!" She said sitting on the edge of the cot, and buttoning the white shirt he had found for her.
"I'm not ready to go traipsing back. I was badly hurt, you know." He said pacing in front of her.
"Daniel . . ."
"If you don't care about me, and my injuries, I guess that's fine, and we can head on back." He crossed his arms.
"You know, I was almost killed." She said raising an eyebrow.
"Oh! Now, that ain't fair." He said laughing.
"Fighting is never fair. Isn't that what you told Israel?"
"I don't want you pushing things. It has only been two days." He sighed.
"I can walk. I am not some spoiled girl from Salem." She winked at him. "Dan, I want to go home! I want to see Israel and Jemima."
"Well, once you've made up your mind, it is near impossible to get you to change. But we'll go slow and take it easy." He told her. "And if I think you are too worn out, we are stopping. No arguments from you, neither."
"No arguments?" She laughed, but then winced from the pain. "Now. Let's leave now."
"Alright," He sighed, and reached out helping her stand. He wrapped the large black coat around her shoulders, and she slid her left arm into the sleeve. Her other arm was wrapped in a sling. They stepped out of the tent together, and she ducked her head, embarrassed to be dressed again in men's clothes.
"Well, ain't you a pretty fella." Yadkin remarked with a laugh.
"She is that." Daniel agreed.
"Don't you think you ought to rest another day, Rebecca?" Mingo asked her. "You look so pale and . . ."
"Don't you start. Gentlemen, I want to go home." She glanced around at the three of them. "Beside, if I get too tired, the three of you can carry me."
Yadkin rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "Well, Dan'l made me promise to never put a finger on you so . . ."
"What?" She looked at her husband.
"That was a long time ago, and you were also sworn to secrecy." He shook his head at Yadkin. "Rebecca, he kept eyeballing you."
"Daniel Boone." She said reprovingly.
"I think it best we go." He said quickly, lifting his gun.
"I am sure you do." She said with a grin.
As they moved out, Daniel dropped back and whispered to Yadkin. "There's no sign of him?"
"Nope. He disappeared last night. Maybe he gave up."
"I doubt it." Daniel said. "Keep a sharp eye."
"I always do." Yadkin said irritated. "Seems every time I go walking with you, someone tries to shoot at us."
"Maybe it is you?" Daniel countered.
"Oh, no. Folks just love me." Yadkin said.
They moved slowly and it was mostly for Rebecca's sake, but truth be told, Daniel couldn't move that quickly either. He glanced around anxiously trying to ignore his bruises and sore muscles as they moved through the wilderness. He figured that at the pace they were moving they could be home in eight or nine days. He figured that once they got close enough, he could send Mingo and Yadkin on ahead, and they could bring back a wagon, and be home even sooner.
They kept looking ahead, and to the left and right. Great tactician that he was, for some reason, it didn't occur to Daniel to look behind them. Not one of them thought to make sure that no one was following them. No one saw the shadowy figure that trailed behind them, waiting for the perfect moment.