Chapter Eight

"Maybe he wants to redeem himself for making father sick so he is trying to make him better, Bren." Zephyria's gaze shifts to Christophe whom she could now see was awake. Everyone began to awaken and Zephyria wondered if she had been yelling just then.

"What's going on?" Jesse asked, sitting up and coming over to them. "What's wrong?" Before either of the girls could respond, Lukas hurried back in, a man right behind him.

"Everybody out!" the man, who must have been the doctor, instructed. "Now!"

Brenna lost track of how long they sat outside, but it felt like days before Lukas exited. She immediately stood up. "How is he?"

Lukas smiled and said "Better than before. Not as good as before the illness but better. I am going now to request a horse from Rueben for father, and if he is not given one I will place father on my horse." Lukas then informed them they may go in to see their father when the healer came out.

Brenna watched her brother walk away, confusion written on her face. She didn't have time to think, however, before the healer exited, nodded at them, and walked away. She grabbed her sister's arm and hurried in.

Lord Henrie now was sitting on the ground smiling up his daughters. "Brenna, I want you to know wither you love a servant or not I love you. Zephyria, I want you to know you can do anything you set your mind to. I realized I never tell you what I think of you girls. I love you both very much." He then held out both arms awaiting his girls' embrace.

Brenna burst into tears for what must have been the hundredth time in the past couple of days and hugged her father as hard as she could.

Zephyria hugged her father and held him as close to herself as possible. Then, Christophe and Jesse came in from outside. After holding on to her father for what seemed like a lifetime Zephyria let go. She stood up and wrapped Christophe in a hug. She remembered the reoccurring dream of his death, she pushed that image out of mind as Lukas came back in.

"He agreed to two horses," Lukas told them. "One for father, and one for Brenna."

"Why one for Brenna?" Jesse questioned, and it was then she realized she hadn't told him yet about her pregnancy.

Lukas gave Jesse a curious look. "She's expecting, that's why. Although I don't see why that concerns a mere servant."

Jesse looked from Brenna to Christophe, then raced out. "Jesse!" Brenna called, starting after him, but stopping when Lukas grabbed her arm.

Zephyria looked at her sister hoping Brenna would understand what she meant. Zephyria could talk to Jesse and explain that the baby was not Christophe's and possibly save a family... no not just a family she thought, Her family.

"What was that?" Lukas snapped.

"Nothing," Brenna said, lowering her eyes. "We were friends, that is all. He... I hadn't gotten around to telling him, that is all."

Lukas walked toward their father to talk and as he did Zephyria quietly whispered to Brenna, "Do you want me to go after him and try to explain, Bren?"

"Later," she whispered, as Rueben stomped in.

"We're leaving now," he said. "Come on. We've wasted enough time."

They all were gathered in the center of camp arranging in the order assigned. Zephyria somehow managed to be assigned by Christophe and Jesse, but what did Bren mean by later... How much later?

Brenna was at the end with her father, both on their horses. Rueben had brought the girls some clothes to change in to so they would be comfortable, and not stop to complain along the way. And so they started out.

Days passed before Brenna had a chance to talk to Jesse, when the two of them were sent to the lake they had just passed to get water.

"Jesse, please talk to me," she begged. "It's not what you think."

"Oh really?" he snapped. "It's not? You just miraculously became pregnant, huh?"

Neither of them heard Zephyria walking behind them.

"In case you've forgotten, Jesse, our relationship did get... physical." Brenna hesitated. "The baby is yours, whether you want it or not." She turned to go, only to run into her sister. "Oh, sorry Zeph."

"That's alright," she said softly to Brenna. Then, turned to Jesse as her sister turned away. "Do you honestly believe that she is pregnant by Christophe?" Zephyria's voice a bit harsher now.

"She sure as hell didn't tell me either way," Jesse snapped.

"I was going to!"

"What is going on here?" All three of them jumped at the sound of Rueben's voice coming towards them.

Since the night Lukas helped save their father's life, he hadn't been as cruel. Unfortunately, Rueben had taken his place.

"N-nothing," Brenna stuttered.

"Brenna was just saying that she was going to tell Jesse to grab a cloth and wet it, but I said it to him first." Zephyria couldn't believe how she could just lie without showing any effort. She then filled her bucket awaiting a response.

Rueben looked from sister to sister for a moment, before walking away. Brenna turned back to Jesse, who avoided her gaze. "Are you going to talk to me?" she asked finally.

"Talk about what? You're expecting and you don't even tell the one person who should know first," Jesse's tone was hash but then it softened and he said, "Do you have names picked out for it or may I help?"

"The only reason you didn't find out first was all this crap that started. I was going to tell you after the dinner, but we were... distracted. And no, I do not have any names. But I was thinking Henrie James, after my father and your brother."

"And if it's a girl?" He looked at her, he could see she was pleased with this name, and he had to admit he loved it too.

"Daniella Marie," she said quietly. Both of them had forgotten Zephyria was still close by.

Zephyria quietly walked back towards the group hoping she could find Christophe before the group left. She wanted to know he was safe and that Lukas had been wrong that Christophe loved her.

Christophe had been sitting with Lord Henrie, and the two of them were talking when Zephyria walked up. "Hey," he said.

"Hey, I need to talk to you. Well more like ask you something," Zephyria stumbled over her words as she spoke.

Christophe rose and went with Zephyria to a secluded area. "What is it?"

Zephyria looked at the ground realizing it was kind of stupid to ask. "Lukas said that you could never love me and I need to know if that is true. You may think this is stupid but I am serious." She began to sob as she spoke.

For a minute, Christophe didn't respond, just watched her. Then without warning, he knelt down and took her hand. "After we get out of this mess, I want to marry you. You, and only you."

Okay, for those of you actually reading this, Sarah and I would like 2 reviews. We will not update until we have them. I know that people are reading it (Theres a thing called traffic stats) and we would like some people to take some time out of their day to leave us a comment. It doesn't have to be long, just a word or two. BUT WE WILL NOT UPDATE UNTIL WE HAVE TWO REVIEWS!

I'm sorry that sounds mean, but can you really blame us? Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter :)