Chapter 17

Stepping around the corner of the barn, Will stopped and stared at what was in front of him. Elizabeth and Jane were chasing around Anna and Scout. Focusing on the little girl, he saw that she had something clutched to her chest, while Scout had a large white material in his mouth.

Striding forward, he walked over to where Anna was running around, and stopped in front of her. The little girl skidded to a halt, when she saw a large shadow fall over her. He frowned down at her, as she looked up at him with wide eyes. "Anna, what are you doing?"

She held up the skirt she was carrying around and smiled. Taking the skirt from her, he shook it out, and found it covered in dirt. Motioning for Elizabeth and Jane to come closer, he handed it to them. "Go ahead and finish the laundry. I will take care of Anna."

Jane grabbed the dirtied sheet from Scout and followed Elizabeth back to the front of the house. Will watched them go, before kneeling down in front of Anna. "Anna, what were you doing with the clean laundry?"

"I was helping."

"I am sure you were trying to help, but you are too little to be around boiling water. You should also not take the clean laundry off the clothes line and drag it in the dirt." He said in a soft tone. His little niece usually didn't get in trouble and Will was surprised when he saw her running around the yard.

"I sorry." She replied and bowed her head. He heard her start sniffling and raised her chin. Seeing tears streaking down her cheeks, he stood, and picked her up. Will wanted to stay mad at her for dirtying the clean laundry, but when he saw her tears, his heart broke.

"There is no need to cry Anna." He told her and looked up at the sound of horse hooves approaching. When he realized who it was, he frowned slightly. The horse came to a stop in front of the house and he walked over to greet the guest.

"Bingley what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in town treating people?" Will shook hands with his friend and saw he didn't have his usual smile gracing his lips.

"I just came from the Reynolds homestead and thought I would ride out here when I was finished."

"I hope nothing is wrong over there."

"No, the Reynolds are just fine. It is actually about my sister Caroline. She had decided to come out here and visit me for a few days. I tried to talk her out of it and said I was too busy, but she wrote back and said she was coming." Bingley racked a hand through his hair and glanced to where the women were hanging laundry. His gaze lingered for a moment on Jane before he turned back to Darcy and found him smirking at him. He raised a brow and waited for his friend to speak.

"I thought you said you were not the man for Jane, but every time you come here, I have seen your gaze linger on her longer. Are you having second thoughts?" Will asked and set Anna on her feet. He watched for a moment as she ran toward a pile of sand and sat down to play. Scout trotted over to her and lay down beside her.

Bingley ran a hand through his hair. "I am not sure. It has been two weeks since she came out here to visit you and every time I come out here, I find myself drawn to her." he saw the skeptical look on Darcy's face and sighed. "I know I said she wouldn't last out here, but maybe I was wrong."

"What has proved you wrong?"

"I have seen her help Elizabeth outside in the garden and in the barn with Duke." He glanced back to where Jane and Elizabeth where finishing the chore, before turning back to Darcy. "She might be able to tough it out here."

"Would you like to join us for supper tonight?"

"I have to go back to the office for a few more hours, but I will ride back out here around five. Have a good afternoon, Darcy." Bingley tipped his hat to the ladies, shook hands with his friend, and mounted his horse. Swinging the gelding toward the trail, he kicked him forward, and rode out of the yard.

Will waited until his horse disappeared over the rise, before walking over to where Elizabeth was emptying the wash tub. Picking up the scattered clothes pins, he threw them in to the wicker basket. He grabbed the basket and carried it over to them. "Bingley is joining us for supper tonight."

"Did he have anything interesting to say? You two were talking for quite a while." Elizabeth asked as she grabbed the basket from him. Setting against her hip, she waited for him to answer her question.

"He only mentioned that his sister is coming to visit soon. He didn't mention when she would be arriving. I will be in the barn if you need me." Will walked away from them and headed for the barn.

Elizabeth watched him go and wondered what else the two friends had talked about. She turned her attention to her sister. "I think we should bake a cake for tonight. It will be for having Bingley as a guest and for you surviving two weeks out here."

Jane chuckled at her sister's remark. "That is a good idea. I am learning a lot about living on a farm. I will take Anna inside for you and wash her up." Both sisters looked over at where Anna and Scout were playing in the sand. Anna had sand on her dress and some in her hair.

"That might be a good idea. Her and Scout are both covered in sand." Elizabeth smiled at her sister and watched as she went to grab Anna and carried her in to the house. She set the basket on the ground and made her way to the barn.

Stepping in to the barn, she spotted the silhouette of her husband. He was standing in front of one of the stalls and quietly talking to the horse. Walking closer, she cleared her throat and waited for him to notice her.

"What are you doing in here Beth?" Will asked in surprise; she usually didn't go in to the barn unless she wanted to spend some time with Duke.

She noticed the horse he was talking to and commented, "Are you going for a ride?"

He shook his head and laid a hand on the horse's nose. "No, I am not. Do you know how to ride? We could go for a ride one night together."

Elizabeth took a step back at the mention of riding a horse. "No I don't know how to ride."

Will took a step forward when he noticed that she had started shaking and he saw the fear in her eyes. He grabbed her hand to stop her from backing any further away. "Beth, are you afraid of horses?"

"Yes," she squeaked and tried to take her hand out of his. He pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"There is nothing to be afraid of Beth. I have seen you play and handle Duke." Gently he lifted her chin and looked down in to her eyes. The fear faded slightly, but didn't disappear. Letting his arm fall from her waist, he led her over to the stall, and grabbed her hand. Placing it on the horse's nose, Will removed his hand, and let her stand there.

Elizabeth ran her hand up and down the horse's head. Smiling slightly, she glanced up at Will, and found him watching her. Removing her hand, she rested it on his cheek. He tilted his head in to her hand and placed a small kiss on her palm.

"Would you like to learn how to ride? We can take it slow, until you are ready to get in to the saddle. You can build up your confidence by forging a bond with the horse first." He asked after a few moments.

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she could get over her fear of horses, and decided she would like to learn. "I would like to learn, Will. But promise me you won't push me to start riding right away. I have only ridden a horse once and it was not a pleasant experience."

He placed a kiss to her lips and smiled. "I promise. Now why don't we go inside the house and help Jane. I am sure Anna and Scout are causing mischief." He grabbed her hand and tucked it in to the crock of his arm. Walking beside her, Will led her over to where she had left the laundry basket and picked it up.

Carrying it back in to the house, he led her to the kitchen, and stopped short. Jane was on the floor, cleaning something off the floor. He looked over to the corner and found Anna and Scout sitting in the corner, cake mixture all over them.

"What happened Jane?" Elizabeth asked as she went to grab another rag and went to help Jane clean up.

Jane looked up at Will and sighed. "I was busy getting the cake mixture ready for the oven. I had turned away for a moment, to check the oven, when I heard a large crash. Turning back around, I found Anna and Scout covered in cake batter." She glanced over to where the two troublemakers were sitting. "I put them in a time out."

"That is fine Jane. I don't know what has gotten in to Anna. She is usually so well behaved." He sighed and went to put the laundry basket away. Returning to the kitchen, he walked over to Anna, and knelt down in front of her. Whipping some of the cake batter off her face, he asked, "Anna, are you ready to say you're sorry to Aunt Jane?"

She nodded her head and walked over to where Jane and Elizabeth were talking. Looking up at her Aunt, she whispered, "I sorry, Auntie Jane."

Jane knelt down in front of the little girl. Brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes, she tweaked her nose. "Were you trying to help again, Anna?"

"I like helping." She said and smiled at her Aunts.

"I know you do Anna, but you have to ask. Now I have to make another batch of cake batter and you also need a bath." Her eyes swept over her dress and noticed that most of it landed on her dress.

"While you two bake the cake and make supper, I will heat some water, and give Anna a bath." Will said and grabbed the water pails by the door. Stepping outside, he walked to the well, and pumped the pails full of water. Grasping the handles, he walked back to the house.

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Placing a hand over his horse's nose, so he didn't alert the occupants of his presence, he watched them below. He recognized his older brother and saw him carrying a little girl, who he assumed was his niece. A surprised look crossed his face, when he saw Darcy wrap his arm around a young woman and led her in to the house. So Darcy has himself a wife.

The surprised look soon faded and an evil smile lit his face. Grabbing the reins, he swung in to the saddle, and turned his horse towards camp. In a few days, he would be able to get his plan in to motion.