Chapter Nineteen: A True Professional
The mark of a true professional is giving more than you get.
-Robert Kirby
xxXxx
The next several hours were some of the more unpleasant ones in Bearskin's life. She learned things about child birthing that she never thought to ask before. More than she wanted to know. But with the duke's son being blind and uneducated in medical terms, she was literally the only one for miles that could help the poor girl. The process was extremely messy, making the trapper tear off her gloves and roll her sleeves up as far as they could go, even though she didn't want anything to do with what was coming out of Zela.
By a miraculous combination of instinct and luck, Bearskin had the baby in her arms before daybreak. One light slap on the back and a healthy cry was soon heard.
"How's the baby?" Juan begged while holding Zela's tired hand.
"She's beautiful," Bearskin assured him while using the contents of a water skin to clean the baby up before wrapping it in one of her softer blankets. "You did wonderful, Zela."
"There… really was a person in me?" she whispered, so tired from the unexpected ordeal.
"A daughter. She has your hair," the trapper answered, carefully wrapping the girl's arms around her child.
"Oh… she's so tiny," Zela crooned as Juan reached over and gently touched his child's face after a few seconds of prodding.
"Hello baby," he greeted her, his voice thick with controlled sobs. "We're your parents, sweetheart."
The little girl made some grunts and whimpers at the statement before crying again.
"She's hungry. Juan, don't make me tell her how to feed the baby," Bearskin begged as she covered Zela's upper body with a blanket.
"No, you've already done plenty," he agreed as the trapper grabbed her satchel from where she had tossed it aside earlier.
"If you don't mind, I really want to change my clothes right now."
"We'll be right here," Juan assured her as he began whispering to his intended.
Certain that they were fine, Bearskin began jogging into the woods with Baron hot on her trail.
"That was one of the most disgusting things I've ever helped with," she couldn't help but whisper to Baron, who had stayed clear of the wagon during the birthing.
He meowed in agreement and might have brushed against one leg if it wasn't covered in bleached blood.
A part of her wanted to feel indignant that he hadn't tried to help her, but she was willing to be fair; what could a cat have done to help Zela or her baby?
At last, Bearskin spotted a cool clear stream. She stepped into it and began scrubbing her clothes with a bar of soap, for once not caring that she was still dressed while taking a bath.
But Baron nonetheless chose to study a large bush bordering the side of the stream, respecting her privacy through and through.
Once she was satisfied that she and her clothes were clean, she stepped out of the water and changed into a dry set of clothes. "We should probably rest today and maybe get some laundry done. I'm pretty sure that Zela's not feeling up to being jostled around inside a moving wagon right now."
He meowed in agreement, but yowled when she made to walk back to camp.
She looked over her shoulder in surprise. Baron wasn't studying the bush anymore; he was tearing off leaves with his teeth.
The trapper took a closer look at the bush, surprised that she didn't recognize it. "I take it you're doing that for a reason?"
He nodded and gestured at the pile to encourage her to pick up the leaves. Since he had never led her wrong, she gathered them into a handkerchief carefully.
Once the leaves were in her possession, Baron ran to the water's edge and put one paw into it while looking at her.
"Get water as long as we're here?"
He meowed with relief and made her run back to camp once she had a bucket full of water.
"Bearskin, something's wrong!" Zela called out worriedly as the two returned to camp. "She's eaten, but now she won't stop fussing!"
"Hand her over," Bearskin sighed, pulling another blanket out of the satchel and throwing it over a shoulder.
"You know what's wrong?" Juan asked with surprise as she placed his child against the blanket-covered shoulder with care.
"I've seen a few mothers do this with new babies after a feeding. Pay attention, Zela." Very gently, she began alternately patting and rubbing the fussy baby's back.
Not only did the baby quiet down, but a small burp later, the blanket was no longer so clean.
"There you go, little lady. I have a feeling that we'll be running out of clean blankets in the near future," she informed Zela while cleaning the remaining spit off the baby's cheeks. "We should probably rest today. That is, you rest while I and Juan do laundry while we have the chance. The snow could fall any day now and you need time to recover."
Zela nodded as Juan took a turn with their child. He cradled her so carefully in his arms, using his fingers to see his beloved daughter. Thankfully, the baby was taking all the prodding in stride.
By now the sun had fully risen.
"She has your eyes," Zela informed him softly, tears falling down her face again. But unlike the ones before it, these seemed to be born of joy.
"She's so perfect. Zela, let's name her after Bearskin," Juan said impulsively, making the trapper jump in surprise.
"Please don't do that," she pleaded in her man voice, but he was firm.
"What is your real name? I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that Bearskin is only a title. We can find a female counterpart for your real name."
'A little easier than you think.' "I am forbidden from speaking or writing my true name until after I find my cure, hence why I need the title."
"I still want to name her after you. If not for you, we would both be wandering lost still, and Zela could have died with the baby. We owe you so much, Bearskin, more than we could ever repay. Isn't there a way we can compromise?"
Since he seemed set on it, she thought hard. "Bearskin. Berry. Beryl. Skina? What about Kina?"
"Kina," Juan whispered, his hand still cupping the face of his child. "What do you think, Zela?"
"It's perfect. Hello, Kina," she cooed as Bearskin looked around for Baron.
He was gathering sticks for a fire. Catching on that the water was for boiling, she emptied half of the bucket into her little pot and set the remaining portion in the wagon. "Your spare dresses are in the bag you were using for a pillow and here are some rags and water. I hope you'll forgive me for not helping you clean up."
"I'm glad you're not offering. Thank you, Bearskin," Zela told her with true gratitude, although her eyes were still on her child.
"So, what are we doing here, Baron?" the trapper asked as she started the fire.
"Meow meow." He gestured at her satchel.
She sighed and pulled out the leaves he had gathered. "You know, it would be really nice if I could understand you."
He nodded, gestured for her to dump the leaves into the pot and patted her satchel again.
"How about you pull out what you want instead of playing yes or no with me?" she offered, holding the satchel open for him.
He shuddered, probably remembering the short time he had spent in the bag. But he still had the courage to reach in and start pulling out her herb jars with his little white paws.
When he had eight, he patted the first one once before gesturing at the pot. "Meow."
"A little bit of that one?"
He nodded, making the girl follow his instructions. "Meow meow."
"More of the next one?"
"Meow."
Slowly but surely, the trapper added a bit of each herb into the slowly boiling water, although there was a bit of trouble between their definitions of 'more' and 'less'.
"What on earth are you doing with that cat?" Juan asked after a few minutes of eavesdropping.
"I think we're making tea, but I'm not entirely sure. All the herbs he chose promote healing," Bearskin explained as Baron nodded his head happily. "Is it for Zela?"
"Meow!"
She grinned and scratched his ears affectionately. "You're such a good friend, Baron."
"Wait, you expect me to drink whatever's in there?" Zela asked in horror.
"You got it. Don't worry; Baron wouldn't take chances with your health. A few more minutes of boiling?"
He nodded, taking the opportunity to lick her cheek affectionately.
ooOoo
The snow began falling later that day. It was thankfully light at first, but it just kept coming.
"Bearskin, please say you have another blanket. The baby needs to be changed again," Juan begged a week after his daughter was born.
"Don't tell me we're already out of diapers!" she groaned. "I must have bought at least a hundred at the last village."
"They would have lasted longer if she'd stop leaking from one or both ends," Zela groaned, looking horribly tired.
In fact, all of them were tired. Kina slept quite peacefully while they were traveling in the wagon, but demanded constant attention all night long at the threat of crying loudly. For such a little person, she had very powerful lungs.
Bearskin pushed on the wood brace in front of the wagon with one hand while searching through her satchel for another blanket.
No such luck.
"You'll have to use bandages, it's all I have left," she said apologetically while awkwardly handing three rolls of cloth back.
"Meow meow?" Baron begged as he jogged at her side.
"I don't think so. According to the map, it's going to take another three days to reach Juan's home."
The next meow sounded like a moan.
Snow was still falling by the time they made camp for the night. With speed, she managed to erect a large tarp over the back of the wagon for the family to sleep in. A smaller tarp was waiting for her and Baron.
"It's getting colder," Zela whimpered as she and Juan wrapped themselves in blankets with baby-spit stains.
"I know, but we'll get there, don't you worry. Would you like me to take Kina for a few hours tonight?" the trapper offered.
The look of gratitude was the only answer she needed.
Baron pouted, since he couldn't sleep when she wasn't, but still wrapped his body over her shoulders as she walked the baby around the trees surrounding the wagon.
Being entertained wasn't enough. The little girl distinctly preferred for the one holding her to be walking.
After a while, though, she had to lean against a tree, still rocking the babe in her arms. "She really is adorable, isn't she, Baron?"
The cat answered by licking the baby's face once. She scrunched up her face, but at least she didn't start crying again.
'It feels good to hold a baby. If only I could get to hold one of my own someday.' She sighed sadly at the thought, making Baron look at her worriedly.
"Bearskin?" Zela suddenly asked, startling the two.
The trapper looked around the tree to see her female charge hesitantly walk up, still holding a dirty blanket over her shoulders. "Shouldn't you be resting? This little lady is hard to keep up with."
"I couldn't sleep. I…" She shook her head angrily. "I can't stop thinking about my mother and what she's done."
Shifting Kina into one arm, Bearskin squeezed one shoulder after she drew close enough. "You can talk to me about it. I don't mind."
Zela gave her a weak smile while taking back her child. "It's… just… Why didn't she tell me what was coming?" she wept, holding Kina close. "Why didn't she warn me of this? She had to have known I was pregnant, or she wouldn't have been so angry over my random sicknesses and my dresses not fitting right! I never told her about Juan, so how could she have known I was seeing a man unless she knew Kina was coming?"
"It was cruel of her to just abandon you without a word. Maybe she was hoping that the birth would kill both of you."
Baron gave a shudder of horror.
Zela wrapped her arms protectively around her daughter, her expression fierce like a lion. "I thought she loved me. She told me she did. What kind of mother turns her back on her child?"
"One that doesn't deserve to be a mother," Bearskin replied in an angry tone. But then she sighed. "Zela, I think she wanted you to belong to her and no one else. She probably did love you, but it was the wrong kind. She didn't tell you about becoming a woman because she wanted you to stay a little girl. Her little girl."
"I'm not little anymore," she snarled, rocking the baby like Bearskin had shown her.
"No, and if her love had been the right kind, she would never have locked you in that tower. You would have been prepared for when Juan came."
Baron meowed something in one of her ears, the tone strangely sarcastic.
"That would have been nice. Not that I regret Kina, even if she's a handful, but… I would have done things differently." She looked down at her feet in shame. "What will happen if Juan's father abandons us as well?"
"Let's worry about getting you to him first. If he doesn't want the three of you, we'll work something else out. I won't leave you until after I know you are either provided for or can provide for yourselves."
Zela's eyes overflowed with tears, making the girl impulsively hug her. Baron yelped, since the action made him fall off the trapper's shoulders, but at least he was unharmed when he fell to the ground on his feet.
Even better, because she was stronger than most people, Bearskin was able to hug her back a little harder without having to worry about breaking any bones. "I want you to remember this, Zela. Real love is more than just feeding and clothing someone, although that's all Kina wants right now. It's also teaching that person to be independent and to make their own choices. I don't want Kina to go through what you have."
"Dang right she won't," Zela snarled, her eyes becoming more mature than they were only an hour ago. "I'm going to let her play in the grass and be free. I won't let anyone lock her in a tower."
"Good girl," Bearskin approved with a smile that betrayed a little more of her true gender than she would have liked. "Life at Juan's place probably won't be easy, but if you're brave and do your best, things will work out. You already have this little lady rooting for you," she added while rubbing Kina's soft hair. "I'll be rooting for you too."
Baron meowed, rubbing against one of Zela's legs as if to say 'I will too'.
Zela gave her a wide smile and a big hug with one arm. "Thanks, Bearskin. If my baby needed to be named after someone, I'm glad it's … you…" She suddenly froze, long enough to make Kina cry out in protest.
"What's wrong?" Bearskin asked while turning around. Her jaw dropped in shock.
Standing right there, not even ten feet away, was a unicorn! It was tall, maybe a good five inches taller than Zela, and the horn glistened in the moonlight as if it were made of glass.
Even stranger, the unicorn was staring solely at Bearskin.
"It's so beautiful… what does he want?" Zela asked worriedly.
"I don't know. Other than Baron, animals can't stand me," the cursed girl answered uneasily, keeping her eyes on the fantastic creature.
The unicorn finally lost its patience and marched up to her. Then it carefully took a hold of her sleeve with its teeth and began tugging insistently.
"I'm pretty sure that means I need to follow. I guess I'll be back when I can; let's go, Baron."
He mewed the affirmative as she nodded at the unicorn.
Since the hint was acknowledged, it released her sleeve and began running deeper into the woods. It was so fast, that the trapper had difficulty keep up with it and Baron with her.
Thankfully, the unicorn slowed down as the path became rocky and slick with ice and led out to a stone cliff.
Bearskin gaped as she walked to the unicorn's side. The forest was rolled out before them like a great carpet and she could see a beautiful city in the distance, crowned by a castle that had to be a royal abode. Everything seemed to be bleached white by the moonlight and snow.
"Wow," she whispered, just as the unicorn nudged her with its head.
It gave her an annoyed look and used its horn to point almost directly down. She followed the suggestion and gasped again, but in horror.
A good twenty feet below them was a small ledge, on which was a unicorn colt crying softly in pain. One of the legs was at a funny angle.
"I'll do my best," she promised the unicorn, not seeing a point in using her man voice. "Baron, keep the mother-"
It neighed indignantly.
"Father?" she guessed again with a sheepish smile.
He nodded, still looking worriedly down the cliff's side.
"Keep the father company while I go after the little one," she instructed as she pulled a long rope from the satchel.
Baron meowed indignantly, following her to a large tree.
"No buts, mister. I'll have my hands full with the little one and the rope," she informed him as she tied one end to the tree and walked the remaining part to the edge of the cliff.
The ground gave away under her feet, but even as she yelped in surprise, her grip on the rope tightened so that her fall was short and uneventful. Her heart was racing, but no harm had befallen her.
"Baron, get away from the edge right now," she told him in a firm tone when he looked over it anxiously. "I need to focus on the little one."
He gave her a look that was filled with worry, but at least he did as he was told. Now that the distraction was done, she carefully used the rope to climb down the face of the cliff and to the ledge.
The unicorn colt was neighing in terror and tried to move away, but there was nowhere to go.
"Shh, don't worry, I'm a friend," she crooned, but when she reached out to pat his head, he avoided the touch. "I won't hurt you, I swear! Your father could cut the rope and kill me if I tried something that dumb!"
An agreeing neigh was heard from above, as well as a series of sounds she didn't recognize.
Whatever it was, it made the colt calm down as Bearskin maneuvered herself right next to the small ledge. She bit her lip worriedly; how was she going to do this? If she grabbed him from around the middle like she occasionally did with Baron, it would be really uncomfortable, plus a lot harder to climb the rope. The cloven hooves wouldn't be able to hold onto her very well and the rope wasn't long enough to tie around the colt.
"I probably should have figured this part out before coming down here," she admitted, banging one hand against her forehead in hopes of a brilliant idea.
Surprisingly, one came.
"Just a few more seconds, please," she begged the colt, tying the remaining rope around her waist to keep her in place. Once her weight was on the rope and her legs bracing against the cliff's side, she searched her bag for the braided bandages the mermaids had used to guide her boat.
A little shorter than what she was hoping for, but at least she had enough bandages to braid a second length.
The father unicorn neighed his fury as she made quick work of the braid.
"Keep calm, sir. There's a method to my madness!" she called up at him before tying off the end of the braid. Once both were in her hands, she swung herself to right over the ledge, and over a very confused colt.
"I know this is going to seem strange, but I need you to trust me. This is the safest way I can think of to take you up and I won't let you fall. Can you stay calm?"
The colt was still scared of her, but managed to nod. As gently as she could manage, she slipped one rope under the pained unicorn's body and slipped the other one under for a cross pattern, although the intersection was between the front and back legs.
Bearskin managed to turn around in her rope sling and pulled the ends of the cross over her shoulders and chest. As she tied the ends tight, the colt became pressed against her back, much like a traveling pack.
Once the unicorn was strapped to her, the trapper climbed the rope as smoothly as she was able to spare as much pain as possible.
The father unicorn grabbed the rope with his teeth and began pulling, showing incredible strength as the trapper nearly shot up the side and climbed over the edge.
"O-Okay, that was interesting," she laughed shakily, walking a small distance from the edge in favor of solid ground.
The father didn't even wait for her to release his child before happily nuzzling the colt. It neighed happily through the pain as Bearskin gently laid it across the grass, Baron at her side once more.
"This is no good. Your leg's broken." She unbraided some of the bandages she had, and carefully cleaned out an impressive cut before binding it up. "I'll need to set the bone so it can heal properly, but it will hurt."
The father lay down next to his child and ran his face over the little one's. But the look he gave to the trapper said he understood what she was trying to say.
A muffled meow caught her attention, making the pale woman look over. Baron was dragging a branch close with his teeth, one that was thick and straight enough to be a decent brace.
She grinned at him while accepting it. "Thank you, Baron. This is exactly what the doctor ordered." She quickly adjusted the leg bone, making the colt neigh in pain.
Even as the father soothed his child, she carefully bound the splint to the leg, making sure the knots, while tight and firm, could be pulled apart with teeth when it was healed. "I'll assume that as a unicorn, you're familiar with herbs?"
He nodded once and listened carefully as she listed what things his child should eat for the next two weeks.
"… but he'll also need plenty of water. Would you like me to carry him to another place for you?"
The father nodded, standing up to lead the way.
"Shh, I'm a friend," Bearskin soothed the colt as she gently picked him up, being careful to avoid hitting the broken leg. She did her best to keep her pace smooth as Baron walked by her side.
The colt still neighed in agony, which made the father look at him with deep pain.
The cursed woman shared that pain. Although there was nothing she could do to take the pain away, she thought of something that might help distract him from it. "Come stop your crying, it'll be all right. Come take my hand, hold it tight."
Baron's head snapped upwards, making him stare at her as the father looked over his shoulder curiously.
"I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry." She gently kissed the stunned colt's forehead around the horn before continuing her mother's lullaby. "For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry."
The colt had stopped crying all right, his eyes half-lulled to sleep. Even the father seemed effected by her song, despite the fact that she wasn't a fraction as good a singer as mermaids were.
Actually, her voice sounded a bit scratchy from using the man voice too much, but if the unicorns liked it, who was she to be a critic?
When she had repeated her lullaby three times, the unicorn led them to a cave hidden behind a frozen waterfall. Baron shuddered from being close to all that slick ice, but was still able to follow her inside the cave.
Another unicorn was there, her slightly swollen belly saying that she was a pregnant female.
'Thank heaven she isn't due soon!' But she kept her face calm as the mother unicorn neighed inquiringly at her mate.
Sounds passed between them until the female was staring at Bearskin with deep gratitude.
"Where would you like me to set him?" she asked politely.
The mother walked a little deeper into the cave and carefully laid down in a drier part of the cave. Then she gestured to her side.
Bearskin gently placed the sleeping unicorn next to his mother, waking only briefly when she began nuzzling him.
Once he was arranged comfortably, the trapper pulled her best bucket out of the satchel. "This should help you out with getting him food and water. Is there anything else you want us to do?"
The father shook his head, using his teeth to grab the bucket's handle and set it aside.
"Then we'd better head back. My charges have bad knacks for getting into trouble."
Baron gave a loud meow that sounded like an agreement.
But then the father stepped in front of them when the trapper and cat tried to leave. His neighs were very soft and warm, even as he lowered his head before them.
For a wild second, Bearskin thought he was bowing to them!
Then she realized the way his horn was starting to glow. Very carefully, he pressed the tip of it against one small stone on the ground, smooth from all the water. Once the stone was glowing as bright as the horn, he did the same to another stone.
Then he stepped back, looking from the stones and to the trapper.
"Those are for us?" she guessed, making him nod. As she bent down to grab them, Baron hopped onto her shoulders while shivering slightly.
She pulled her hood over to keep him warm as she stared at the stones as they stopped glowing. "They're beautiful, sir. Thank you."
He seemed to smile and then bowed for real before letting them leave his cave.
"May good fortune fall to you," she wished as she eased herself out and began jogging back to camp. She slipped the stones into her satchel for now, since she didn't want to lose them.
It was only then when she realized just how bone-tired she was. Pulling a cart all day, walking a baby for over an hour, and then climbing a cliff?
"I have a great idea, Baron. Let's sleep in just a little," she confided, earning only a yawn for an answer.
It had been a long day for him, too.
ooOoo
The snow was falling a bit heavier by the time the wagon creaked its way to the front gate of the Ricardos mansion.
The soldiers guarding it stared at Bearskin with open mouths as she pulled the wagon into a stop.
"Um, hello," Juan said nervously, making the two look at him nervously. "I can't tell who's guarding today, but could one of you tell Father that I'm home?"
"Juan? No, it couldn't be. He's never been that polite," one guard sniffed, dismissing the blind man.
"Vagabondage improved his manners. Please let us through," Bearskin said in a calm, yet firm tone.
"Listen, Bearskin, do you have any idea how many have tried to claim that they're Juan? This one's just duped you into helping."
"Would the ring help?" Zela asked, passing Kina to Juan before pulling on a thin cord around her neck.
Sure enough, a ring was strung on it.
"Allow me," the trapper said, carefully helping the girl out of the wagon and close to the guards so that they could inspect the symbol of rank.
The quieter man paled. "This is definitely the same ring Juan wore." He tried to take a closer look at the man on the wagon, but still had trouble recognizing him through the bandages over his eyes.
"I know that voice; Miguel? Miguel, you used to have to carry me home on your saddle when I drank too much at all those stupid parties!" Juan exclaimed while rocking his daughter.
"That's good enough for me. Your father's been waiting, you know," the guard said with an easier smile as he and the other one opened the gates wide.
"I'll walk," Zela assured Bearskin when she made to help her back onto the wagon.
"I'll walk too," Juan decided, gingerly getting off the wagon with the trapper's help. "He's been waiting? Truly?"
"Yes, now hurry out of the cold," Miguel assured him while escorting the travelers across the extensive grounds and up the front steps.
Juan had trouble with the stairs, but Bearskin and Zela were right there to help him keep his balance. Zela even took back Kina to make things easier.
But before they could open the large door, it flew open on its own, revealing an older man in rich clothes.
"Juan!" he sobbed, grabbing the man and pulling him close for a rib-breaking hug. "My boy, I knew it was you!"
"Papa," Juan sobbed, holding onto the man desperately. "I'm so sorry, Papa. I've been such a fool, and I've missed you so."
"Where have you been? Heavens above, what happened to your eyes?"
"My mother cut them out after she found out I was seeing Juan behind her back," Zela reported, her voice still bearing the guilt of the action.
The Grand Duke Alejandro looked at her with surprise, as well as the child in her arms. Then he looked at Bearskin, who once again had Baron lying over her shoulders. "… Let's… all head inside. It looks like all of you have quite a story to tell."
ooOoo
Alejandro was stunned, when their separate stories were finished. They were by a roaring fire now, enjoying warm cups of tea. Except for the duke, who had Kina in his arms. She had burped on his nice clothes, but he didn't seem to mind.
"Son… I don't know what to think of all this. You do truly love Zela?"
Juan nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "She brings out the best in me, Papa. Even without my eyes, I think she's beautiful."
She blushed happily at the proclamation.
The man grinned widely and stepped forward to hug the girl warmly. "Then welcome home, daughter. You too, my little flower," he cooed at Kina, who gurgled adorably at him. "This may be a bit scandalous, but I think we'll manage. I think I even know how to contact a witch that can make you a new pair of eyes!"
"Really, Papa? You'll accept us, just like that?" Juan asked hopefully.
"You already have a better relationship than I ever had with your mother. We'll need to contact a priest for a quick wedding, but we should manage whatever comes our way. Speaking of which, Bearskin," he suddenly directed his attention to the trapper as she allowed Baron to drink the last of her tea. "May I speak to you privately?"
"As you wish," she complied, although Baron crawled onto her shoulders as she stood up to follow the man out of the room.
Once they were down the hallway from the parlor, the grand duke looked at her nervously, still rocking Kina in his arms. "Bearskin… I am beyond grateful that you have returned my son and his family to me. But I'm afraid that I must ask you to leave as soon as possible."
She cocked her head as Baron mewed indignantly.
"It's not you," he assured her hurriedly. "But the queen of Thegui has an alliance with the Lutian king and he has declared that if you are found in our borders, we are to deliver you to him to be sent back to her."
Bearskin smiled thankfully while bowing. "I'll leave right now so you can claim I got away too fast. May I ask where the closest border is?"
"Due south of here, three days if you avoid the roads. But first, I want you to follow me." With a kind smile, he led the way down the hall and a staircase to the cellar. "Nothing I have will be enough to express my gratitude, but I hope you'll accept payment for returning my family and helping Zela give birth to my beautiful granddaughter." He hugged her impulsively, making her coo at him again.
"I did spend a lot of money on diapers and cloths for Kina," the trapper was willing to admit. "But since I have no use for the wagon, you're free to keep that."
"Nonsense. I'll buy it from you," he replied stubbornly, passing the baby to her in order to unlock what had to be his treasure room.
Baron leaned down enough to lick the little girl's head affectionately, making her coo at him.
She bit her lip while rocking Kina in one arm. "But if it's general knowledge that Queen Blanche wants me back, how come no one harassed me in any of the villages I visited on the way here?"
The door was open and Alejandro was able to find a large velvet bag to start pouring gold and jewels into. "Despite the proclamation, you're generally thought of as a compelling myth that everyone only wishes was true and the villages you mentioned are all full of good people. But rest assured; once various bounty hunters and such get wind that you're real, they will try to take you."
"Over my dead body," she replied in as pleasant a tone as her man voice could manage.
Baron shuddered, but gave an angry meow that sounded like an agreement.
"But since you insist on buying the wagon, I think I know what I want for it."
He stopped trying to stuff another bag of gold into the velvet bag to look at her. "What would you like?"
She held Kina a little closer and kissed her head. "A book on child birth, if you have one. If Zela wasn't such a strong healthy young woman, we might have lost both her and the baby. It was one of the least pleasant things I've ever done, but if I'm called on to deliver again, I want to be prepared if the mother isn't as fortunate as Zela."
The look of respect in his eyes multiplied greatly. "I think we have enough time to find one for you."