by Carol Ashby
“I found it intriguing. I’d like to know more.”
Her face lit up, which drew his smile. He’d found exactly the right answer to please her.
“We’re fortunate that Gaius was a wealthy man. He was able to buy copies of both the writings of Luke and the gospels written by Jesus’s apostles, Matthew and John. They’re all in the cupboard. You can read them any time you want to. The one by John is my favorite. He tells us so many of the actual words and thoughts of Jesus. That’s the one you should read to learn more.”
She bubbled with excitement at the possibility that he would read it. He didn’t want to disappoint her and see those bright eyes dim.
“That’s what I’ll have to do.”
Her eyes glowed even brighter when he spoke those words. Now he’d have to read it, or she’d be disappointed. Well, it was a small price to pay to make her so happy. She put such store in the words that her Jesus was supposed to have spoken that reading them himself should help him understand her better. Besides, if the Greek was as well-crafted as that in the writing by Luke, it would be an enjoyable read.
She turned around to look at the stars again. When she shivered, he put his arms around her and drew her against him like he had yesterday.
“Warmer?”
She smiled up at him and laid her arms on top of his. “Yes, thank you.”
They stood like that for many minutes, watching the faint stars grow brighter. Holding her close against him stirred his blood and made him feel warmer, too. He would be happy to do this all night if she’d let him.
“Time to go in.”
She’d spoken the words much too soon for him. She led him by the hand to the base of the ladder. Before she climbed up, she pushed a stray lock of hair back from his forehead.
“Good night, Decimus. Rest in peace.”
“Good night, Valeria.” Even in the faint glow from the banked fire, her form as she climbed out of sight was beautiful in his eyes.
Valeria lay in her bed, thanking God that he’d enjoyed reading Luke and was eager to learn more about Jesus. She would be looking for a chance to have him read all of John. Surely then he would understand and be drawn to follow Jesus like she did.
Decimus lay on his bed, thinking about how good it felt to hold her in his arms and how she meant more to him every day. He would like to have her with him for the rest of his life, but he hadn’t yet figured out how that would be possible as long as she was a Christian.
Chapter 33: Mutual Understanding
Decimus was surprised by how good his leg felt when he got up the next morning. For the first time since the ambush, it didn’t hurt while he put no weight on it. Valeria’s idea about wrapping his leg had been a stroke of genius. He walked over to the table and leaned against it, stretching his legs out as he stood right behind her, waiting for her to turn so he could tell her.
She’d been stirring the porridge. As she stepped back from the fireplace without looking, she tripped over him. He caught her as she lost her balance and swung her away from the fire. Then he continued to hold her as he smiled down at her.
“Careful there. I don’t want my beautiful cook getting burned making my breakfast.”
Valeria felt the heat sweep across her cheeks and ears as he held her.
“You need to make more noise so I’ll know you’re there. You’re much better off with a good cook like me than a beautiful one.”
“It’s a good thing I have both.” He made no move to release her.
“Let me stir the porridge if you don’t want your breakfast burned.”
His broad grin and twinkling eyes were too close for comfort. “I like holding you. Some things are worth letting the porridge burn.”
She blushed even deeper. He was only teasing, but he still gave her butterflies when he looked at her like that.
“Well, I don’t want my own porridge burned, so it’s time for you to let me go.” She pushed gently against his chest, and he released her.
Rhoda descended from the loft and came over to give them both hugs. Valeria kissed her on the forehead, and Decimus once more wished it was his forehead she was kissing. It would be even better if she was kissing his lips.
Galen came through the door. “I’m starving. Smells really good, Val.”
“You’re lucky Decimus didn’t make me burn it this morning.”
Galen sat down. “Even burned sounds good to me right now.”
Decimus walked over to his chair as Rhoda carried the steaming bowls from Valeria to the table.
Valeria gave thanks and turned to Decimus. “What are you boys going to be doing this morning?”
Decimus rubbed his cheek. Using the term “boy” to refer to him―that truly bothered him. It meant she was thinking of him like a brother, not a man. It frustrated him that she still felt that way, but he answered her question anyway.
“We’re going to bring the logs from the woods.”
“How’s your leg feeling this morning?”
“You did an excellent job wrapping it yesterday. It feels good. The mare is going to do all the real work, so you don’t have to worry.”
“I guess that doesn’t sound too hard.”
His lips twitched as he suppressed the grin. She was fighting the urge to tell him what to do, and this time she stopped herself. He was a man who knew his own abilities. It was good to see she’d finally figured that out.
When they finished eating breakfast, Galen harnessed the mare, and they headed into the woods. One by one, they dragged the logs to the construction site and arranged them ready for assembly. The job was completed well before lunchtime, and Decimus had a chance to rest for a while on the porch.
He lounged on the bench with his legs propped up on the stool and his hands resting on top of his head, watching Valeria work in the garden. He never tired of watching her. It didn’t get much better than this, except when he was making her blush while he joked with her or, best of all, when she was standing in his arms while they watched the stars.
Valeria glanced over at the porch to make sure he was resting. He was leaning back with his hands atop his head, but he seemed so different from the tribune she’d watched in the village. The tribune had been dangerous. The man on the porch was her friend.
Such a handsome man, especially when he was so relaxed and smiling at her. In fact, he seemed to be doing that every time she glanced his way. Her cheeks warmed each time. At least he was far enough away that he wouldn’t see her blushes. They always brought out the tease in him.
Valeria decided to make lunch a little early so they could be finished before Baldric and Otto arrived.
Galen ate as much as two people again. “Excellent lunch, Val. It really filled me up.”
She pushed some stray hair off his forehead.
“I’ll take that as a compliment, even though I think you’d be happy with anything as long as there was enough of it.”
Decimus smiled that smile that made her feel funny. “It isn’t the quantity or even the quality that makes it an excellent lunch. It’s the beauty of the cook.”
“Then I guess that means I have no chance to serve you an excellent lunch.”
“No, it means that lunch will be excellent no matter what you serve.”
His voice sounded like he was joking, but his eyes had an intensity that made her feel off balance. A sudden heat spread from her cheeks to her ears, and that turned his teasing smile into a full-blown grin. It was good that Rhoda and Galen started talking so she could focus on their conversation rather than the warmth of his eyes.
Galen finished first. “Otto and Baldric should be here soon. I’m going to watch for them.”
Valeria started clearing away the remains of lunch. “After you let Baldric’s mare into the corral, come get me.”
Galen was halfway out the door, but his backhand wave acknowledged her request.
“Are you ready to prepare me for battle?” Decimu
s turned in his chair and pulled up his pant leg.
“Not for battle, I hope. Only for teaching.” She began to wrap his leg, beginning at his ankle again.
“I’m glad your father taught you what to do with a stallion with a bad leg. It’s come in handy for me.”
“Yes, but be sure you don’t try to do something foolish just because it doesn’t hurt as much.” As she finished, she looked up at his face to find a smile playing on his lips and an especially warm look in his eyes.
“There. That should do it.” She placed her hand on his knee for balance as she stood up. His smile became broader.
Through the window came the sounds of the approaching horses and Galen greeting Otto. Decimus stood and hung his scabbard strap across his chest.
“Time to see if I can get Baldric to like me even more than he already does or at least make him less eager to try to kill me.”
She slapped his arm.
“You’re making fun of me, but just wait. You’ll see that I was right about him starting to like you.”
He chuckled as he stepped out the door.
Galen and Otto were already sparring. Baldric was still mounted, watching them with a relaxed smile. Her Roman walked up to him and rested his hand on the horse’s neck.
“It’s another good day for a lesson. Before you leave, we should give them a show.”
Baldric looked down at him. He was not sure why the Roman wanted to spar with him, but he was willing to test their relative skill in a friendly contest.
“A good idea, Roman. I am sure they will learn something of value from it.”
The Roman stepped back from the horse, drew his sword, and saluted Baldric with it. “All right, boys. Time to begin.”
Baldric tied his horse to the corral rail and joined Valeria on the porch bench to watch and maybe learn. The Roman was a natural-born teacher. The boys were totally focused on the mixture of explanation, demonstration, and practice that was his teaching style. Otto was already a much better swordsman than he had been only two days ago. The Roman had been right when he said he had at least three days of things worth teaching.
When he had taught the boys the last move for the day, he turned toward the porch and saluted with his sword. Baldric stepped off the porch and strode over to him.
He drew his sword from its scabbard. “Time to show them how grown men do it.”
Again, her Roman saluted him with his sword and assumed a fighting stance. “You attack, I’ll defend. Then we’ll switch.”
Baldric’s first strike was lightning swift, but the Roman was ready and parried it easily. With a speed and ferocity that drew gasps from the boys, Baldric struck again and again, each time being skillfully blocked or deflected by the Roman’s sword. The sound of metal on metal echoed from the buildings as the Roman was repeatedly forced backward under the force of his blows.
“Switch.”
Her Roman began his attack. Baldric was equally skillful in blocking the rain of blows from his sword, but he knew the Roman was holding back. He wasn’t using some of the deadlier moves that he had seen him show the boys. Instead of forcing Baldric backward, he was forcing him to turn in a circle, letting the boys see the thrust and parry from different angles. His admiration for the Roman’s skill grew still more. It was a very good thing they would not be fighting for real.
Valeria’s heart beat faster and faster as she watched. It didn’t look like a game to her. One of them was going to get badly hurt or killed if they continued. Finally, she couldn’t bear to watch any longer. She stepped from the porch and approached the fighting men.
“Please! Stop now. Before someone gets hurt.”
Decimus backed off and wiped some sweat off his forehead.
“We’re only sparring. We’re both good enough that this is perfectly safe.” He prepared to attack again.
She stepped close and placed her hand on his sword arm. He looked down at her pleading eyes.
“Please stop.”
His eyes softened as he smiled down at her, and he stood up straight. He placed his free hand on hers as he slid his sword into its scabbard.
“That’s it.” He turned to the boys. “The show is over for now.”
Decimus offered his arm to Baldric. “The best match I’ve had in a long time. It’s a good thing we won’t have to do this for real.”
Baldric met his gaze and clasped his arm. “My thoughts as well, Roman.”
Rhoda carried the bucket of water with two dippers to them. Each took a deep drink, then poured the remainder on their heads. Decimus placed his hand on Rhoda’s hair and smiled at her as he put the dipper back into the bucket.
Baldric saw the glowing smile he got in return. The Roman was like a brother to Galen, and Valeria...well, she treated him like a second brother, too. Too bad this Roman had ever come. There would be three sorrowful hearts left behind when he returned to his legion.
Baldric hadn’t missed how Decimus looked at Valeria when she pleaded with him to stop and how readily he responded to her request. The wolf was, indeed, on a very short leash, and she held the end of it, whether she knew it or not.
He had no doubt the Roman was in love with her. She didn’t seem to realize it, and she didn’t seem to be in love with him...yet. She still treated him like an older Galen, but how much longer could that last? There would be at least one deeply wounded heart when the Roman had to leave. That departure needed to come soon enough that Valeria wasn’t deeply hurt as well.
“Otto, get the horses.” He fixed his gaze on her Roman, but there was no hostility in it. “It has been an interesting three days, Roman. You have trained my son well.”
“I think both boys are better from having trained together.” The Roman’s mouth curved into a satisfied smile.
The last three days had given Baldric some respect for him, and the Roman appeared to appreciate hearing it. He should. Baldric’s respect wasn’t bestowed without good reason.
He mounted, then looked down at the pair of them.
“Farewell, Valeria. I will be returning with the fourth mare.”
“Farewell, Baldric. I hope it’s soon. I always enjoy your company.”
He looked down at Decimus without even a scowl. “Roman.”
Her Roman dipped his head. “Baldric.”
As the pair rode away, Decimus turned toward Valeria. “I hope you still have some of that liniment. I asked you to prepare me for battle, but you only wrapped my leg for teaching. It wasn’t quite enough.”
Her lips tightened as Valeria shook her head. “I knew it wasn’t a good idea to be fighting like that.”
“It was necessary. I told you I wanted to make him less eager to try to kill me. I needed to fight him in practice so he wouldn’t want to fight me for real. He is good. Very good. Good enough that if we fought, he might be able to kill me if I held anything back. I would have to kill him first, and I don’t want to hurt anyone who’s important to you. Now he knows I could kill him, and we’ll never have to fight.”
She stared at him with huge eyes and one hand over her mouth. He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Don’t look at me like that. He fought me for the same reason. He wanted me to know he was good enough to kill me if I hurt you. He and I really do understand each other.”
She gazed into his intense eyes that were totally focused on her own. He was right. These two men who were so important to her really were a lot alike.
“Well, now that’s settled, I guess you can work on trying to get him to like you more.” She patted his arm. “Let’s go find that liniment.”
Decimus’s leg felt much better after the liniment and a good massage. Valeria certainly knew how to make a man feel better when his muscles were hurting. Being with her was enough to make a man feel better in every way that mattered.
He stretched out on his bed and watched her prepare their supper. She was humming as she stirred the stew. She glanced ov
er at him and smiled, but he couldn’t tell if it was a smile for a brother or a man.
When she stepped to the cottage door to call Galen and Rhoda, he rose and took his seat at the table. Rhoda skipped into the house, looking over her shoulder at Galen and giggling. Galen entered and sat down by Decimus.
“That match between you and Baldric was amazing. Can we practice some every day until I get that good?”
“We can practice, but it takes years to get that good. You and Otto have both made a good start. You should keep working on your skills with each other.”
Galen grinned at the prospect. Decimus glanced at Valeria. Her teeth bit her lip as she looked at Galen.
“Just make sure you both remember that swords are meant for defense and not for starting trouble.” He looked at her again, and she smiled her approval of his reminder.
After the clean-up following supper, the family gathered for prayers. Rhoda snuggled against his chest as he began to read what Galen selected. It was something from Rhoda’s favorite, so he recognized it. “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”
He glanced at Valeria. She wasn’t going to have to worry about Galen misusing his sword training.
Valeria smiled her warmest smile at him and began their prayers. “Thank You, Father...” Rhoda curled up in his lap again as they prayed. Once more he felt the peacefulness he couldn’t explain, and he was content.
As Valeria stood at the cottage door, she held out her hand. He walked to her side, and she led him out to the edge for the best view. He stepped close behind her and drew her against him. He hadn’t waited until she seemed to be getting cold, and she seemed perfectly happy to snuggle against him right away. She rested her arms on his while she absent-mindedly played with the hair on his forearm. They stood in companionable silence for several minutes.