Richard Castle 29

Rick and Elias were watching their employees go home for the day just outside of their shop. Smith & Wesson Firearms was what the sign now said.

Not only that but two of the king's men had arrived to take delivery of the final weapon they were contracted to provide. "Looks like we find out tomorrow what happens next," Elias told Rick. Both of them were holding letters from His Majesty that had just been delivered. Each letter was the same and it was short. They were to present themselves before Him tomorrow at 10 of the clock in the morning.

They had reluctantly told their workers that they had tomorrow off since they presently had no contracts to fulfill. "What do you think?" Elias asked.

"About what's next? Depends on how many soldiers the king has added to his army. Does he want to put the same amount in storage in the Royal Armory in the event of a war beginning? Does he think forty-eight weapons are enough? He could be thinking any number of things. I have no idea how the royal mind works," Rick replied.

"My money is on he wants the same amount this year if not more. Only question is will he add your hand weapon to the order. Have you solved the problems with it yet?" Elias meant his new design not the three-barreled hand weapon.

"I'm missing something and I'll be deuced if I know what it is. I can't even test fire it yet. Single shot yes, but how to switch it… I don't know. I'll keep trying." Rick definitely wasn't giving up.

"You get that weapon worked out and we'll be busy for years to come. Perhaps we'll have to hire dozens of people and build a factory somewhere. That weapon is amazing in its capabilities. I still don't know how you come up with these designs." He knew Rick was far ahead of him in weapons making knowledge and always would be.

Elias was simply happy to be a part of this company. Being a partner was giving him a life he knew he'd never have had without Rick and his designs. "I'll see you in the morning. We can talk about what's next after our meeting with His Majesty." He shook his hand then added, "Give your children my love."

"I'll do that." Rick finished locking up then mounted Donas for the trip home.

He rode through the ally then stopped to check Kate's shop to make sure the door was securely locked before getting back on the road. He wondered what she would say after reading the newest letter.

After taking off all of Donas's tack, he put him in his stall. He fed him some hay, checked everyone's water and hay before going inside through the back door.

Rick walked in and saw their housekeeper who sometimes doubled as the family cook. "Anastasia, how are you today?" They had gotten her name from one of Kate's customers who knew she was mild-tempered, clean, reliable, and looking for work. She would clean up after the kids but didn't really take care of them and Kate was satisfied with that.

It had meant Kate would use her carriage to get to her shop while taking Vincent and Alexis with her. The only real problem was Vincent was a typical two-year-old and who got into everything. Since she had pots boiling almost constantly he had learned the hard way to keep his hands away.

Vincent screamed then began wailing. He'd put his hand where he shouldn't have even after being told not to. Both of them came running. Kate had soothed his hurt hand with one of her salves since Elias and one or more of his workers were watching. It was only later that she cast one of her spells to heal his burnt fingers followed by rewrapping his hand in the bandage.. Vincent spent the rest of the day watching his daddy work.

Since then Rick had taken Vincent and let him watch them. The toddler asked thousands of questions. Sometimes the same question over and over again. This allowed Kate to construct a makeshift barrier to keep a now crawling Alexis safe while Kate was busy in her shop.

"Good evening, sir. How was your day?" Anastasia took the onion she'd just finished chopping and dumped it into Kate's big soup pot.

"We have another meeting with the king tomorrow, so we will find out what our future will bring us," he told with her since Kate was nowhere to be seen.

"That sounds nice." It also sounded like she would get to keep her job and for that she was thankful. "The mistress is upstairs with the children."

"Thank you. I brought this home with me. If you can, use it." He dropped a plump rabbit on the center table and made his way to the stairs.

"I will put it to use; thank you, sir." She was afraid today's supper was going to be nothing but vegetable soup, bread, and butter. However one of them was usually thoughtful enough to bring home fresh meat of some kind.

"I will search the garden for something extra that I can add," she called after him. One of the perks with this job was that they shared the food that they intended to eat themselves. Anastasia had talked with women who worked at estates that were easily twice this size and employed a number of people.

Those employees were relegated to eating the cheaper foods that they had to cook for themselves using a small kitchen reserved for staff. She was actually eating better than they were. It was one of the reasons why she liked the Smiths. It didn't hurt that they shared their farm land so that she actually had a little plot where she could plant what she wanted.

It had been her idea to hire someone to come out and plant some additional fruit trees. They now had three early season apple varieties: Devonshire Quarrenden, Gladstone, and Sunrise. In addition they had three mid-season apple trees: Charles Ross, Ellison's Orange, and Greensleeves. They also had three late season apple trees: Adams' Pearmain, Blenheim Orange, and Egremont Russet. They were a nice mix of eat-them-off-the-tree or mostly good-for-cooking apples. In addition they had pears, plums, cherries, and apricots along with a number of herbs, vegetables, and other fruits. Right now only the late season apples had any fruit on them since winter was coming.

She kept her thoughts about what the master of the house did for a living to herself. She did not like weapons even if she did see the need for them. The ones that were used for hunting, not so much for the weapons used to kill men.

xOx

Rick walked into their bedroom. It was the one room where Anastasia was not permitted to go. Vincent had his own room as did Alexis now that she was sleeping through the night, so she would clean those rooms. Since she wasn't hired to help Kate with the children she had no reason to enter their room.

"Hello, love. I think dinner will be ready soon," he told his wife then bent down and kissed her cheek. Kate was sitting by the fire sewing. "What are you doing again?" He had a little trouble understanding.

"It's a variation on the tent magic. In this case I'm making curtains that will drape around the bed. We, Vincent, and Alexis all have mattresses covered with magic sheets for comfort. Our bed has the same mattress but it has your sleeping bag on top of it with those same sheets over it.

I'm trying to get these drapes to completely enclose the bed and work the same way as the tent. When we close them around the bed it should keep the space within the curtains completely comfortable. If it works I'll do the same for Vincent and Alexis," Kate explained but kept working.

"OW!" She instinctively put her injured finger in her mouth only to pull it out, murmur her spell, and go back to sewing. "Another hour and I'll be done. Then we can hang them up and try them out tonight."

Rick had loved his old life the way it was, but he had to admit that having white magic all over the house was a vast improvement.

"I'll leave you to your work then and go tend to the horses." They needed to be brushed, have their hooves inspected, fed, and released into the paddock to let them run a bit even though it was late in the day.

Kate reached out, grabbed his arm, and pulled him close. Then she tugged his head down. "Make love to me tonight." It was a request as well as an order.

"I'll get the cords out." Rick smiled then smiled even wider when he heard the hitch in her breathing. She drew his head closer so she could lift up and kiss him.

"Yes, please." She had no idea if other women enjoyed things like that or if their husbands even made love to them like Rick did. Did they simply fuck them with the intent of getting them pregnant? But she didn't care. Her beloved husband did make love to her and didn't complain when she asked for him to satisfy her needs.

"I'll make it up to you," she promised which was silently telling him that she would go down on him and service his erection till he climaxed down her throat. It wasn't so much just for him, but she loved the power she had over him when she had his cock in her mouth. That and she loved playing with his erection.

xOx

Anastasia was eating at one end of their dining room table and Rick, Kate, Vincent, and baby Alexis were eating at the other end. "This was dropped off at the shop today." He handed over the letter he had received.

Since Rick presently had Alexis in his arms and was trying to get her to eat something other than her mother's milk, Kate was the one with free hands.

She snatched it from his hand and grinned. She loved it when she led the family. Women didn't usually have much if any say. The fact that Rick trusted her so much made her love him even more.

"It's from the king's advisor. We are to present ourselves tomorrow to find out what type and how many weapons he expects from you next year. ...Please tell me you finished his previous order."

"The last one left the shop this morning. The firearms part of the shop will be closed tomorrow. Only the smithy will be open after our visit with His Majesty." Rick had every intention of opening the smithy portion of the shop to help people who needed his help.

"Can you handle Vincent and Alexis tomorrow afterward? I would like to take Anastasia with me tomorrow and go foraging for items I need for the shop. We won't go far or be gone too long," she assured him. Then she leaned down and whispered, "I will take my weapon." She didn't want him to worry about her. And if Anastasia did see her use her wand they would deal with that then.

Rick only had two requests. "Just be careful and don't get separated." Kate nodded.

"Ready to go foraging tomorrow Anastasia?"

"Yes, Mistress. I will gather the necessary containers and have them on the kitchen table waiting for us." Anastasia had done this before. It had been interesting to see what Kate used in her shop. She didn't understand how weeds or all those other things could actually help people, but people talked. She knew that what her mistress did was helping folks.

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Kate was in her best gown and was watching Rick fumble with his lace-tipped cravat then yank his lace-edged sleeves down from his jacket sleeves. However it was Vincent that really had her attention. He had grown so fast that she missed the little fellow that he used to be. Now he was walking and running but just a little clumsily sometimes. Unfortunately he had also started throwing things and thought it was so funny. Still he was her little man, and right now he looked so handsome.

While he was fussing with his clothing, she thought about what had changed in their lives. The last year had allowed them to complete and do a lot of things. Every room now had furniture that met both of their tastes. The kitchen finally had everything they could possibly want.

One of their four bedrooms had become Anastasia's room. Rick had even gotten his wish for the bathing room. It had a large copper tub that could heat the water using a gas. Kate couldn't believe what that had cost but she had quickly learned what it was like to just soak in a tub full of hot water. It had fast become one of her favorite things to do.

She had also found that it was just big enough for two. Meaning Rick was behind her and she loved his hands. She had come unglued more times then she could count when he used his hand to stroke her lips and clit. The only drawback was the amount of water that she had splashed over the side.

She was brought out of her reverie by hearing her husband swear at the wig he'd rented to wear at his audience with the king. She hurried over to him to make certain his own hair was pinned up and to help him settle the wig properly on his head.

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It took time using their little carriage to reach the royal palace then show the guards Rick's letter to gain entrance. Even then, just as before, they didn't get escorted very far.

Kate was walking Vincent around the room letting him see and touch everything. She did her best to intercept him, keeping him from latching onto anything with the intent to throw it. Destroying His Majesty's things wouldn't make a good impression.

Rick was holding Alexis who he was kissing over and over. The baby was laughing and very happy. Kate's heart swelled with love. Was this the Rick before Meredith had taken his life from him? It made her hate that women even more.

King Charles had actually remembered them from their last visit about one year ago. He had actually greeted Vincent and Alexis though it was quick and he never paid them any mind ever again. It only verified Kate's thoughts about him.

xOx

She eyed the letter. "I wonder what it says this time."

His Majesty had mentioned that he and his advisors were more than happy with the weapons Rick and Elias had provided. He had also mentioned offhandedly that another manufacturer was also providing him with weapons.

"I need to speak with Elias, see if we can find out what weapons the king is buying from someone else. Maybe we can offer something better." Rick didn't want someone else getting his contract.

Kate was nursing Alexis while Rick was feeding Vincent small apple chunks. "Read it to me." He rolled it out and used mugs to hold it down so he could read it.

He condensed it down for her instead of actually reading it word for word. If she wanted she could do that later. "It reads much like last time."

"He is asking for another twenty-four six barreled guns mounted to a cart on wheels with ammunition storage much like like last time." Rick already knew how long it would take to make those.

"He is asking for..." he paused. The way it was written made it hard to read the number. "Seventy-two rifles along with all the ammunition for both." He was amazed since he was expecting the same number this year as last.

Kate did the quick math. "Twenty-four more. Did he give you more time?" Was she going to not see her husband?

Rick shook his head. "It's another one year contract." Then he did his own quick math. "We're going to need to hire at least two more people if not three." He sighed. He was running out of available space to make these weapons.

"He is offering..." He was shocked into silence. Granted half of it went to his partner Elias, but the amount was unbelievable.

Rick was finally able to speak the number and Kate's mouth fell open in utter surprise. "That's... That's..." She didn't have a word for it. Just that they were rich. Was there really that much money in making weapons to kill people? It did tell her that the king was beyond rich.

"What do we do with that kind of money? I suppose it is in the bank already under your name." She was guessing it was the same as before.

"The Bank of London, yes," he confirmed. As to what to do with that much money – a lot of it would go to buying the materials needed to make the weapons and half of it went to Elias, of course.

What suddenly worried him was what would the king expect of him next year?

"I may need to move the shop. At least the weapons manufacturing part of it." Their weapons business was running out of space.

Kate wasn't sure she liked that. She had grown to love having Rick in his shop right behind her. Alexis and Vincent could be watched by either of them. "Do you have to move right away?" She tried to keep the worry about him moving from her voice but was afraid she had failed. It sounded a little like she was whining.

"Most likely not until next year. But we may have to build a place to move to and not take over an existing building. So yes, we need to start looking soon." He tried to think it through. "It needs to be outside of the city to find land that isn't very expensive. It needs water close by, preferably fresh water. There needs to be roads to get into the city. Maybe a dock for ships or a barge to help transport the weapons if the water is a river that's wide enough."

"My shop is closed tomorrow and Anastasia has the day off. We can go look a little if you want. Take Alexis and Vincent and make a picnic out of it. Maybe do some foraging for the shop." Kate was willing to help. Besides, they were rich because of Rick and what he could do.

He agreed to the outing. "A day off would be nice."

"Then you can make love to me when we get home." Kate smiled wide and hoped Rick was interested. She looked at him again and based on his smile, he was very interested in her.

"Wanting to get pregnant again already?" He wondered if she had an ulterior motive or just wanted him.

"NO!... Yes. ...Maybe." She hadn't really thought about having another child after Alexis. But if she was, she wanted to be pregnant sooner rather than later.

Rick laughed even after Kate threw something at him.

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"When do we start," a voice asked.

"Alexis needs to be able to read first so we still have time," the other answered. She knew Alexis would need to be old enough to read the spells in the book.

"We can help her create her first wand and how to use it," her friend offered.

"We wait until she is two then." Alexis would be walking and talking by then. Starting to truly be Alexis again.

"Ahhh, the terrible twos. Should be fun," her friend teased, while the other stuck her tongue out at her which only caused her to start laughing.

Then she mentioned the potential problem in anything they did. "Meredith has already begun to look for them."

"She is nowhere near here yet. Hopefully we will have time. Let's hope none of these towns figure out Richard Rodgers-Castle is Richard Smith or where he is now." She understood just what Meredith was doing. The more death and destruction she caused in smaller towns and blamed Rick for it all, the faster word would make it to London and to a place where he would hear about it.

She voiced her worry. "We need Alexis. Rick will be killed if he faces her alone. His death would break Kate and Alexis and even Vincent."

"We will be ready. Katie will likely start Alexis's training soon anyway. We will simply help push her along. In time she will surpass even us."

Her friend was concerned that they were molding Alexis into something that she wasn't destined to be in her previous life. Did they have the right to mold her into something more? She kept her thoughts to herself, though. Alexis still had the option to say no. Later, after Meredith was gone.

"The transport spell?" she suggested instead of voicing her consternation.

Her friend nodded. "The transport spell."