Steal Thy Heart
Working with the sheriff over the last few months had made my muscles hard and larger, something that I was quite pleased with since I could now shot my arrows farther and I could easily carry a medium sized hog over my shoulder until I could get to the butcher's shop. I had also grown taller and I could look my father straight in the eye now we were so similar in height.
"Jamie, the men are heading into the village tomorrow to do some repairs on the church since that storm last week took off most of the roofing. I want you to watch them rogues and make sure they get the work done. Aye?" de Brissac said to me, clapping me on my broad shoulder. His face was tinted red from the drink he had consumed with my father as they talked business.
"Aye, I'll watch them," I laughed, trying to nudge him across the threshold so I could finally find my bed tonight. My eyes were aching for some sleep and my body was tired from working in the village all day.
After the sheriff left, I stumbled up the stairs and into my solar, sleepily taking off my chausses and lawn shirt before falling onto my linen sheets and burrowed myself into the covers and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.
Gunner trotted along the road while I listened to the birds chirp back and forth with each other. The trees were a healthy green but every few branches there was an orange leaf or two. Day by day you could tell that the nights were getting colder and the days shorter. It meant my sixteenth year was coming up quickly.
The Dorchester Fair was in a week's time and Mellana was a flutter right now, worrying her pretty head that she wouldn't make enough beer by the time it came to cart it all over to the other village. That was why John wasn't going to be working with us today since his wife was making him stay and help her with brewing.
The work on the church roof was already under way by the time I arrived. Three men were up on the roof with hammers, two on ladders trying to patch up holes, and four other men on the ground with the supplies and Father Edward was watching all this with a pleased expression on his wrinkled face.
We spend hours working and the sun was showing us no mercy. Sweat was trailing down my neck and my shirt was sticking to me uncomfortably. I was close to just leaving the men and going to the creek for a cooling bath to clear my head from the heat.
"'Ere comes 'ittle Evolet. She sure is 'urrying over 'ere," one of the men from the roof shouted down to me. I looked around the side of the church curiously and indeed, she was scurrying down the dirt road towards us.
Every man stopped working at once and watched as she past us. Evolet's face was flushed and she had picked up her skirts as she jogged. My eyes were drawn to her bouncing breasts since Mellana's hand-me-down dress wasn't big enough for her in that area. Every few steps I'd see a flash of ankle or calf. Evolet was gone as quickly as she'd come though, leaving all of us in a heated daze.
"Growing up to be a fine woman, that one is," one of the men said. After we got our heads cleared we started back to work. I was up on the roof when she came by again and I was one of the first ones to spot her coming.
"Oy, Evolet! Oughtn't you be with Mellana this morn!" I called down to her. She looked up, startled, afore she saw who was bellowing down at her.
"Nay, Sir Jamie! I am running errands for my lady!" Evolet called back up to me. Indeed she did have a basket full of wears that was resting against her hip. "Are ye not busy with work from the sheriff, Jamie, or will you stand there chatting with me all morn?" she laughed. I grinned and waved her goodbye before getting back to my hammer and nails.
"Are you sweet on that little wench?" Samson asked once we were hammering a shingle down together.
"Nay. She is Madam Mellana's helper is all," I replied, continuing my work. After our work was done at the church we went our separate ways, some to their homes where their wives were waiting for them and others went down the pond to rid themselves of the evenings sweat. I saddled Gunner and nudged him along the path back towards the manor.
The air was starting to cool by the time I had settled into my bath water in my solar. I groaned as my muscles relaxed in the heated water and I washed myself hurriedly so I could go down to the kitchen to see to my dinner. I wasn't really fond of baths, but father didn't like me caked in dirt while I was eating across from him.
I found Marcus in the dining hall already seated and awaiting his meal. His lips were set in a pout and his eyes looked teary like he was about to throw a tantrum. A wet nurse was in the kitchen with Mistress Laver while they both cooed over little Helen. I scrunched up my nose in confusion as I watched them fond over the babe. Little Helen was cute but she couldn't hold my attention for long.
I stole some bread while Mistress Laver wasn't looking and tucked it into my tunic before going back into the dining hall to Marcus. He shrieked in delight when I gave him the bread, happy to have some kind of food in his stomach since our cook was distracted.
"Jamy, do yoo wat to pway?" my little brother asked, tugging on my sleeve. I grinned and we spent our wait shooting his little toy bow at the servants as they passed by.
We left for the Dorchester Fair just afore the sun came over the land. Lord Hugo, de Brissac, and I loaded the barrels of brew into the wagon. Marcus was going to travel with Lady Finn later on the back of Violet while Helen stayed behind to be watched by her nurse. Mellana, Daniel, and Evolet would be traveling with Robert since our wagon could not hold anymore passengers.
Dorchester 'twas crowded with people already by the time we made it and within the hour a steady line was going to our wagon as everyone wanted a taste of Mel's beer. John chatted happily with the customers as they complimented his wife's talent. The three of us even drank of few cups of the beer before Finnula and Marcus arrived. She rolled her eyes at her husband's flushed face and the sloppy kiss that he gave her.
By the time Robert approached with his cart we had all drank heartily from a barrel and was having trouble standing straight. Robert quickly drank his ale like he was trying to catch up to us.
"Now boy, get gone and enjoy the fair! There is more to do than drinking!"John exclaimed, pushing me in the direction of the laughter of the crowds. I stumbled and clumsily regained my footing afore I fell in the mud. "Evolet, go with him and keep him standing!" he added, laughing merrily.
Evolet trailed after me while I made my way to the other stands that people had set up earlier today. Some were selling food and cloth while others were entertaining the crowds with music and tricks. Further down I could see an archery contest that Finn would win later in the evening.
"Jamie, do you want to share a loaf of bread?" Evolet asked, pausing as we passed a wagon selling food. I nodded and handed her money to pay for our meal. She broke off pieces and handed them to me, not trusting me to hold our food since I might have been drunk. I started to feel better after I got some food into my stomach and could actually see details.
Evolet was wearing a dress that fit her for once and was wearing ribbons in her braided hair. She looked healthy, no bruises on her face, and no swollen eyes. Her blue eyes were shining though as she watched the jugglers toss colored balls into the air and a rare smile graced her plump lips. Mellana must be taking good care of her since aught seemed wrong with the girl beside me like she was just a year ago.
"Cease your staring, Sir Jamie," Evolet murmured, a blush shading her cheeks as she glanced over at me.
"I was not staring apurpose. Ye just look lovely today, Evolet," I grinned afore throwing an arm around her slim shoulders, leading her clumsily past a crowd of drunken sods. She smiled timidly and handed me more bread. I left my arm around her.
My father started a small fire for us so Mellana could cook the rabbits Finnula hunted for us. We all sat around, each of us with a cup of ale in hand now (excluding Marcus and Daniel, who were napping) while we passed the meat around, eating it right off the roasting stick. I shared mine with Evolet. She stayed tucked into my side the whole afternoon, refilling my cup if it ran low and making sure I ate some food along with my drink.
I caught many looks our way as Evolet tried to take care of me in my drunken mess. Lord Hugo, the sheriff, and Robert would look at me, roll their eyes and chuckle like a good joke was just told. I wasn't sure why something was funny about me but I wanted the chuckles to cease.
It was starting to get dark when we loaded the barrels back into the wagon and started to say our goodbyes. I didn't let go of Evolet as I watched Lady Finn show her prize for the archery contest and Marcus and Daniel fighting. She leaned against my chest, her hands rested on my forearms.
"Evolet, we should be heading back home," Mellana called, struggling to hold onto Daniel as he cried. Evolet detangled herself from me and started to follow after her mistress.
"Wait!" I laughed, pulling her back by the arm. I didn't wait for her to argue so I hurriedly cupped her cheek and placed a wet kiss on her parted lips. Evolet pulled back, her face and neck flushed red. She giggled nervously, placed a quick kiss on my cheek afore scampering after Mellana.
I grinned crookedly and jumped into the wagon where father and John were waiting for me.
Lord Hugo laughed and told me to sleep my drink off. I lay in the back of the wagon and quickly fell asleep on the ride back home.
I awoke the next morn with a pounding in my temple and cotton taste in my mouth. I grumpily pulled on my chausses and jerkin then went downstairs for breakfast. Mistress Laver brought out eggs, milk and a biscuit for me. I ate halfheartedly afore going out to the stables to ready Gunner.
My memory of the day before was slightly hazy, but I surely remembered flirting daringly with Evolet. Just thinking about it made my head throb even more. The drink must have been flowing strongly through me if what I remember is true. I still wished to stick with my childhood rule even now: women are trouble so don't bother them. I plan to stay with my philosophy until the day I go insane.
I didn't bother going down the trail to the sheriff's house. I couldn't deal with his loud, booming voice this early in the morning especially with the mocking I would receive for my actions yesterday.
Gunner easily followed my directions and headed towards the bathing pond. Nice, cold water would clear me up quicker than anything while I was in my state. I dismounted my steed, glanced around to see if I had any unwanted company, afore stripping out of my chausses and jerkin. I launched myself into the water, giving out a loud, boyish hoot in delight.
I washed hurriedly and repeatedly dunked my head to clear it afore climbing back out. I was reaching for my clothes when Gunner suddenly startled, trampling the earth beneath him mercilessly. I grabbed his reined and whispered in his ear, trying to calm him. While I was comforting my horse, my eyes wandered past Gunner's head and caught sight of a blushing Evolet shielding her eyes, yards away from where I was standing.
I shouted in surprise and stumbled back from the intruding female. My foot slipped on a wet rock and splash! I was back in the pond, sputtering in outrage, and wiping water from my eyes.
"What are you doing here?" I yelled, my voice sounding higher than it normally did. I silently cleared my throat, wanting it to go back to its deep baritone tone.
Evolet slowly removed her hands and looked at me, her face still a tomato red. I was waist high in the water, but I still felt the need to cover myself from her curious eyes. Damn that girl! Why was she even here?
"The sheriff sent me out of the house so he could spend the morn with his wife without extra ears about. I came here to wash," she explained quietly, her eyes still roving over what was exposed of my body. My cheeked flushed with embarrassment and somewhat pleasure from her gaze. "I will come back later," she murmured afore turning back towards the woods and silently drifting off, but not afore giving me one last glance.
Once I was sure she was gone, I clambered out of the pond and dressed swiftly afore mounting Gunner. I spurred him along, taking the long way from the pond so I oughtn't to have to run into Evolet again. Ugh, my face burned at the thought of being caught naked at the pond by her!
I returned to the manor, unsaddled Gunner, and washed him down carefully while checking his legs for damage. Satisfied that my mount was content in his stable I lumbered inside the cool manor, on the hunt for a meal.
Heavy breathing came from down the hallway causing me to curiously follow the sounds. I turned the corner and found my father with Lady Finn wrapped intimately around him, their lips locked with gusto. My face twisted into a look of disgust and hurried away from the couple. I shuddered in revulsion and went back in the direction of the kitchen.
Marcus and Helen were being feed by a wet nurse and I happily ate their scrapes for them afore hunting up some cheese and milk for myself. I suggested to the nurse that I would take my brother back to his playroom for her so she could clean Helen up. She gladly thanked me afore turning her complete attention to the babe.
I grinned and lifted Marcus high up onto my shoulders and let him sit there. He chattered on about the things he saw, pointing excitedly at them, and tugging on my hair pitilessly when I didn't look fast enough. I gladly put Marcus in his playroom, rubbing my tender head as I trouped off in search my bow and arrows. I needed something manly and time consuming to distract myself from today's…..mishaps.
Author's Note: Took me forever to update but I'm not really in any hurry for it. Sorry for the wait though, for those who has been waiting on an update. This wasn't my longest chapter, but I didn't want to go any farther than this for certain reasons ~_*
Let me know what you thought and IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS!