Short Note: Just wanted to take a few quick minutes to update before I take off for a long weekend of camping with my hubby and another couple. This will be the first time we've gone in a few years and I'm really looking forward to it. Before I go, I'm giving you two chapters (ha!). Hope you like them, just let me know. I'll check when we get back on Sunday (got to get back in time for some of the football games! GO RAMS!). Until later, happy reading!
Bull shook the man hiding in his wagon and found a blade held to his throat. He focused on the cold steel, then let his gaze go back to the man's face. He raised an eyebrow and saw Derek sheath the dagger as he hissed, "Never do that again, Fool, I could slit your throat by accident." Bull wanted to tell him he could try, but decided it was just nerves, being so close to the knights, that caused the man to be so gruff. "The sun is almost up and the knights will be calling for us to move out." He told him, then turned and walked back to the front of the wagon to prepare for the trip. He heard Derek moving about, swearing occasionally when he bumped into something. He shook his head and wondered why the man felt it necessary to travel to the wall. It wasn't like he could move about freely when he arrived. Too many people would recognize him and it would be too dangerous to be seen. 'But then, I'm not supposed to understand I guess.' Thought the big man.
Finally, Derek came stumbling around the wagon, "This arrangement isn't going to work. If I have to spend one more day buried under all that rubbage I think I'll go insane!" He exclaimed as he saw Bull holding the harness for the horses. He watched him work for a moment, then he asked, "Can one of those horses pull this wagon?" Bull looked at him through the harness, making him feel uncomfortable. "Well? Answer my question. Can one of those horses handle this wagon?" The measuring look he received made him feel inadequate, something he despised more than anything else. Finally, Bull answered, "I suppose." The stupidity of the man angered Derek and he snapped, "Then find me a saddle. I'm not going to the wall, I've got other plans and I've decided I really don't care if Sarah stays with that knight."
Bull watched him as he puffed out his chest and thought of the rooster that his mother used to keep. How he would puff out his chest whenever he was trying to be the top rooster. If it had been any other man, Bull would have laughed at the thought, but with Derek, you never knew what would set him off on a tirade. Instead, he just did as the man 'requested' and pulled the old saddle out of the wagon. He didn't bother to ask how he was going to get away from the caravan without being seen. It was none of his business and over the last couple of days he had come to regret getting involved with him. He would actually be glad to see him go.
Derek watched as Bull silently did as he ordered, satisfaction at being in charge clearly on his features. When the horse was saddled and Bull offered him the reins, Derek noticed with disdain that the man had not tried to counsel him into staying with the group. "Keep an eye on those knights. I don't trust them with our people and when I can find enough men to make them release you all I will come for you." Bull nodded, never bothering to mention that no one had been forced to leave their homes. Maybe some of the stories being told had some truth to them. Before they had left their village, Bull had never spent a lot of time with Derek. He was happy just tending to his own business and letting others take care of everything else. But this trip had let him see first hand how the man had changed since the Saxon attack.
When the knight came by to check on him, he was ready to leave. Derek had silently left the camp to wait in the woods until everyone was out of sight. Where he meant to go, Bull had no idea, nor did he care overmuch. He was startled when the knight asked, "What happened to your other horse?" Bull shrugged his huge shoulders, "'Twas gone when I got up. Must've wandered away during the night." He saw the questioning look he received from the knight, but then he nodded, "Sorry, we don't have time to search for it now. Will you be alright with only the one?" Bull assured him that he would and the knight went on down the line to check on the others. Bull had not realized just how much these knights noticed and remembered. But he would remember from now on.
Dagonet rode back to the now dismantled camp and told Arthur all were ready to leave. He mentioned the missing horse and heard Sarah ask, "Will the man be alright with only one horse? I could always let him borrow mine if he needs it. I'm sure Gawain would be glad if I rode with him." Dag told her the man had assured him he would be fine and she nodded. "Do you know his name?" Dag shook his head, "No, he seems a little slow and he doesn't talk much. Other than that I know nothing of him."
Sarah thought for a moment, then she asked Dag to describe the man. "He's big, taller than any of the other men I've met from your village. His hair is longer too, like he doesn't care if it is cut or not." Sarah nodded again, "I think I know who you're talking about. His name is Bernard, but everyone has always called him Bull because he's so strong. I remember how everyone used to tease him and how he would just stand there and take it without fighting back. I always thought he did so because he was afraid he might hurt someone if he took up for himself. He's a good man and I think I'll check on him." She mounted her horse and started back toward the wagons. Gawain watched her, then called out, "Sarah, wait!" She stopped and looked over her shoulder, waiting for him to ride up to her. "I'll come with you." He stated and waited for her to argue. When she just nodded, he gave a sigh of relief and they rode together back to check on the villager.
Bull saw the two riders approach and was surprised when he recognized one of them to be Sarah. When she stopped by his wagon, he nodded his greeting and waited for one of them to speak. "Bull, Dag said you lost one of your horses last night." He nodded and she continued, "Do you need to borrow my horse?" He shook his head, "No Ma'am, this horse'll be able to handle what little I brought with me. But I thank you kindly for your offer." He saw her smile, "If you change your mind just let me know. I would feel terrible if you fell behind just because one of your animals decided to go out on its own." He nodded and watched them head back in the direction they came from. He just couldn't see all the bad things that Derek had said about her. She was still just as nice to him as she had always been, something he was not used to from the others. Only her father had ever been as nice to him. He shook his head at the confusion he felt where she was concerned. Surely, Derek was just mistaken about what had happened.
When the wagons in front of his started to move, he followed, only glancing in the direction Derek had left once. Whatever the man had up his sleeve, Bull was just glad he would not have to be involved anymore. He had figured that he would be caught in the middle if something happened. But he would not have let Derek harm Miss Sarah. Whatever had happened between the two, she did not deserve to be hurt.
As the caravan moved slowly to the south, Bull found himself thinking more and more about the things Derek had told him. Then he remembered the look of pure hatred on the man's face and wondered if he should keep an eye on the lady in case he came back. He had just had such a thought when he saw her sitting beside the trail watching him get nearer. "Hello, Bull. Everything still alright with you?" she asked him when he came up to her. He nodded and saw her and the knight start riding beside him. Other than the question about his horse, she didn't talk to him as she rode. Her comments were directed to the man riding beside her and Bull quietly watched and listened as he went along.
The two of them were discussing getting married, and he saw how the knight kept looking at the woman who had always been his friend. Whatever Derek thought, this man loved her. It was in every glance and in every movement he directed toward her. And it was plain that she returned the feeling. The more he watched, the worse he felt for allowing Derek to travel with him. Finally, he could stand it no more and decided to ask her himself what happened.
"Miss Sarah." He called out to her. "Yes, Bull?" She replied. "Would you mind if I asked you a question?" When she smiled and shook her head, he asked her about the things that Derek had said, being careful not to let her know that he had been the one to tell him. He watched her face and saw the pain flash across her eyes. "No, Bull, that is not what happened." She sighed and told him how she had left the village and barely made it to the fortress. By the time she was through with her tale, considering the knight had interrupted her several times to give his side of the story, another knight had joined them to tell them that Arthur wanted them to check on the other villagers and let them know they would be reaching the village soon. He saw 'her knight' wait for her to give him the go ahead and then they rode off. After they had moved on down the line, Sarah asked, "You didn't believe that story did you. Bull?"
He wanted to tell her no, but in truth, he had at first. "I wondered, that's all." He finally said softly. "But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it didn't sound like you." When she flashed him a big smile, he felt that he had betrayed the only person who never made him feel more than he thought he was. He lowered his head. "Miss Sarah. I done something wrong and I want to say I'm sorry." She gave him a questioning look and he decided he had to tell her how close she had been to the man that was spreading those lies. "Derek took my other horse." He looked into her eyes, to show her that he was telling the truth. "He came to my hut the night before we left the village. He told me that this Roman was taking control of the village and wanted him dead so you could be with one of his knights. He sounded so distressed, that I maybe believed him a little. But whatever the reason, I let him stay with me and he hid in my wagon when we left."
Sarah listened to what Bull said, only half believing that it could be possible. "Bull, when did he leave?" She asked quietly. She watched him wrestle with his thoughts, then with his voice strong and steady, he said, "Before daybreak this morning. He said he couldn't stand being hid under all my junk and that he would just have to go somewhere else." He hesitated when he saw the look of fear in her face. "Miss Sarah?" He asked gently to get her attention. "I think he was planning something bad for you, but since you are never alone, he gave up. But I swear, I would not have let him cause you any harm!" He said the last with force and despite how frightened she had been to know how close the man was, she had to let Bull know that she did not blame him.
"I know you wouldn't, Bull. You've always been honest and done what you thought was right." She looked around to see if Gawain was coming back and decided there would be no point in telling him any of this just yet. He had finally begun to relax and she did not want him to be her guard any longer. "Promise me that you will tell no one else what you have just told me." She implored the man. He gave her a long considering look before answering. "I don't understand why you don't want them to know, but if you ask it of me, I will keep it to myself. But, know this, I will be keeping my eye on you and will not let him get close. He thinks I am his friend, so he will let me know if he is nearby." She nodded, then decided he had a right to know why she asked it of him.
"Bull, ever since the night Derek escaped, Gawain has been afraid to let me out of his sight. He is just now relaxed enough that he will leave my side in the bright light of day. I do not wish him to know that there may be danger, but I promise, I will not do anything foolish. Derek frightens me, he is not the same as he used to be, or maybe he is, and I just didn't see it before. I think he's lost his mind and there is no telling what he might do." He had not asked her about the involvement Derek had with the Saxons and she wondered about it. "Did you hear that Derek brought the Saxons to our homes?" She saw by the look in his eyes that he had heard it, and even now she wasn't sure if he believed it or not. "It's true. I promise you, he told me himself and William heard every word. I think that is why he killed him. I don't understand why he would do such a thing, but he said it was to prove to me that he could be as important as the knights we all kept hearing about." She saw Bull nod his head, then his words came as a surprise. She hadn't realized that the man was as astute about the minds of men.
"Miss Sarah, men will do some mighty strange things when they feel they are not as good as everyone else. Maybe I would have been that confused if it wasn't for my mother… and you. The both of you always made me feel that I could do things that others said I couldn't. I know I'm not smart like some men, and I don't like to be around all the arguing about how to do things, but I see and hear more than people realize I do." She watched him puff out his chest at the end and smiled, remembering how he had always stood back and let the others decide what they would do, then he just did it without complaint. "Bull, you are a very smart man. You just don't flaunt it like most men. I'm proud to be your friend, as I'm sure your mother was proud to have you for a son." She saw the grin he flashed toward her, and knew that whatever he did, it would be because he thought it was the right thing to do. She felt no guilt at keeping his tale a secret. The knights, especially Gawain, would not understand a man like Bull. They would blame him for harboring Derek and she would not let him take any heat for his decision. But, she was glad he had told her. Now she knew that she had to be more careful and she vowed to do just that.
She and Bull rode in companionable silence until Gawain rode back beside them. She waved to Bull and they rode toward the front when he told her the fortress was just a few miles ahead. She glanced around, watching for any signs of Derek. Seeing nothing, she enjoyed the sights as they crested the hill and saw the fortress come into view.