by Stephy Smith
“How many days are we from the camp?” Aisley’s weak voice caused Sam to have to lean closer for him to hear. He didn’t mind, it gave him a reason to be near her. He had to refrain from tasting her sweet lips, pulling her into his loving, willing arms, which longed to hold her forever.
“About two and a half days.” Sam moved to her side, stretched out alongside of her, and lifted her head to rest on his shoulder so he could hold her. “Why didn’t you tell me you had been shot?”
“I don’t think I knew. It happened so fast and the fire was so bright. I only remember seeing Mama and Papa on fire and…the way they held on to each other...” Her voice trailed off into the thin air as Sam’s heart constricted with fear of her having to face the reality of the horrible event again. He gathered her body closer to his, regretting the fact she was reliving the nightmare all over again.
Sam held Aisley. Her tears soaked his shirt. It was the first time since that day she had cried. His own mind recalled the horrid scene. Aisley leaned into Sam as he gently laid her down when she stopped sobbing. Her eyes peacefully closed as he watched sleep take her into a restful world.
Cool rains began to fall. Sam stayed in the shelter, close to Aisley in case she was cold. She was wrapped in the two blankets he had brought. The air had seemed to chill more at nights. He would be right there to warm her and shelter her with his body. The same way Aleandro did for Rosanna… He had never seen a braver or more heroic act. The outcome was bleak, but the love was so immediate, so intense, it couldn’t be missed. That was what he was feeling for his Princess Aisley.
Sam prepared more of the broth and tea. Aisley sat up slowly to drink from the cup he offered.
“We can try to travel.” Aisley tried to stand.
Sam helped Aisley stand for a minute or two; she leaned on him.
“You’re still too weak. You lost a lot of blood. You need to rest. Maybe we’ll try tomorrow, but only for a few hours. Get some rest now.” Sam smiled, hoping she wouldn’t see the sadness and torment in his eyes. The stress was taking its toll on him and if Aisley seen how tired he was, he felt sure she would start feeling guilty for causing it.
Chapter Five
Aisley squinted into the sun as they broke camp.
“You’re still too weak to move on.” Sam glanced toward her. His slow, deliberate movements caused his muscles to tighten. Aisley caught her breath at the sight.
“I’m stronger today. There isn’t any reason we need to tarry here any longer.” She insisted they should move on. He lifted her onto his horse and climbed on behind her. Leading her horse packed with the few belongings and the shelter, he shook his head.
Aisley leaned against Sam’s hard frame. Trying not to think about the pain in her side where the bullet had entered, she focused on the comfort of Sam’s hold. The warmth of him filtered through her clothing. She let herself drift into the world of the Princess and the lowly servant she had so often dreamed about. The even beat of his heart whispered in her ear as she leaned her head against his massive chest. She needed to be there with Sam, in dreamland even if it weren’t possible in the real world.
Sam’s touch to her tender wound sent a different kind of searing heat through her. She knew he didn’t want it to break open and tried to secure it tight enough so that it would stay closed without causing her too much distress. He continued to watch her face when she would shift or sigh. His intense scrutiny set her nerves on edge.
She tried to hide her pain from showing on her face. The ache in her side dulled with the last bit of tea he made her drink. Her whole body was sore from all the laying around she had done. Aisley took a deep breath.
The woodsy smell of him tickled her nose. The strength of his body warmed her. After a few hours of traveling, Sam pulled the horse to a stop and slid off the side. “I’m sorry.” Her body tensed with pain as he removed her from the horse. Sam helped her to a tree. Then he set about reconstructing the shelter. Aisley felt guilty for holding Sam back in his travel. She knew he wanted to get to camp where they would be safer.
He carried water to the pot and added some herbs. “You need to rest.”
As she watched, she could feel the tenderness he was exerting to ensure her safe and healthy delivery to the rest of the camp. Her heart swelled with pride as she watched his muscles flex and subside with every move he made. Her mind and soul would return to her dreamy state to when she’d first seen Sam on the lake and couldn’t pry her eyes off him.
“I’m going to try to find something to eat. Will you be all right here alone?” Looking around, he then added, “And don’t try to stand up without me here with you. You could become lightheaded, fall, and re-open the wound. I don’t like having to use the hot knife on you. But, I will if it becomes necessary again,” his voice lowered but held meaning.
“I think I can manage. Don’t stay away too long, please. I worry about you being out by yourself.” She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
His handsome face was lined with exhaustion and it haunted Aisley’s dreams. She knew she was the cause of it and decided she would somehow make it all up to him when she was strong enough. However, for now, she kept her secret to herself, not wanting him to know how he was affecting her.
She watched as Sam disappeared before she allowed herself to rest. For a few moments, she tried to process the confusion in her mind. Sam’s footsteps faded and her eyes closed for a peaceful sleep.
Feeling stronger after her nap, Aisley was ready to move on some more. “If we travel at night I won’t get so tired, Sam.” She tried to sound free of pain. Her side still ached from the burn of the knife, but the hole from the bullet was no longer sore.
Sam was gentle when he applied more poultices and a clean bandage. She watched at the professionalism he exuded as he performed the delicate task.
“How do you figure?” He raised a brow. His eyes twinkled with amusement. Aisley could tell he was interested in hearing her theory and in keeping the mood light.
“The sun drains me of my energy,” she said, waiting for Sam to dispute her words.
“I’m impressed. You’re absolutely right.”
“I’m strong enough to sit on my own horse.” She lowered her head so he wouldn’t see the regret in her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to stay close to him. The idea of him holding her and protecting her sent goose bumps racing across her skin. But she knew they would be in danger if someone found them traveling alone, and if they rode separate horses, they could move faster.
“Aisley, you still need lots of rest. You may think you are ready, but your body is not strong enough to continue any farther today.” Sam’s eyes narrowed. The steady breeze whipped his dark brown hair across his face. His mouth thinned as he pursed his lips together.
“Just what do you know about my body? It’s telling me that I am capable of continuing to the camp. Maybe it’s your body that needs a rest.” She bit her tongue. Aisley could tell by the way new creases had formed on his face that he needed rest. It was all her fault they were there too.
“I know I need rest and less stress. The last thing I need is a nagging woman telling me— if you’re so tough, climb on your horse and let’s get moving then.” Sam’s words were harsh and bit like a red ant. Aisley held back the tears that threatened to stream down her face.
He walked to the horses and prepared them for their journey into darkness.
Not being able to see his face caused concern for her. She knew he wanted to move on and reach the camp soon. With little hope, she couldn’t help feeling as if she were pushing him too hard. If only she could ride beside him, to peek at his handsome face in the moonlight… but the trail wasn’t wide enough. He needed to be in front of her to make sure there were no low lying tree branches that would slap her in the face or knock her off her horse.
They made good time as they traveled toward the caravan. Sam would look back often to check on her or ask if she was in any pain. His voice was sharp and to the point when he did
talk to her. What she could see, she was in awe of. His silhouette glowed with the silvery aura of the moon framing him. Her heart skipped a beat.
The silence was thick and tense. It had been several hours and he hadn’t checked on her. She wanted to say something but was afraid she would only make him madder. The truth had come out in his words of anger. Her parents’ words replayed in her mind. She was a burden to everyone she had ever cared about. And now, she was a burden to Sam.
“Aisley, are you doing okay back there?” Sam asked, breaking the silence of the night. The crickets chirping, and the occasional call of an owl, or the scurrying of some animal were the only sounds hovering in the vicinity.
“Yes, thank you. The moon is beautiful isn’t it?” Aisley said, tilting her neck to see through the tree tops for a glimpse of the stars that twinkled in the clear sky.
Aisley knew she was being watched by Sam. She could feel his eyes upon her. When he wasn’t watching her, she was watching him.
“I would watch the moon when you were sleeping. It was so magical and mystical. It played around you and I would watch it dance across your face. I was mesmerized by it.” Sam had turned his head to gaze at her. His voice was still laced with a little bit of sarcasm.
His silhouette glowed as he sat tall and proud on the horse. He blended into it as if the two of them were one and she longed to be in his strong arms that had held her over the last few days.
His words were the most wonderful words she had ever heard. She would carry them with her to the grave. She had never heard the moon magic described so accurately before. “Now you know why I watch the moon. It’s spectacular. Every night it seems to be different.”
Staying close to the edge of the tree line where they could duck into the shadows if they came across trouble, they plunged into the darkness. Both were anxious to get to the camp. Both were aware of the dangers that could be lurking within the unknown area. Both had been trained to look out for such things since they were small children. Now, more than ever, they knew what the gaje were capable of doing. Now more than ever, they both knew what they would lose.
Nearing sunrise, Sam stopped his horse. Aisley pulled hers up in time to keep from running into the back of his. A wince escaped her lips as she pulled her leg across the horse and then slid down its side. Her legs were wobbly when her feet reached the ground. She wrapped her fingers around the saddle horn to keep her body from collapsing.
As she attempted to let go of the saddle, Sam was at her side. He slipped his arm around her and guided her to a flat rock to sit on. Sam turned, stalked back to his horse, and brought the blankets to her.
They would rest and continue their journey after dark. They expected to make it to the new camp in the morning. Sam began to set up the shelter while Aisley watched in silence. The horses grazed lazily nearby and seemed not to notice they had been walking all night.
Aisley stood and gazed at the sunrise as she stretched her aching body. Waiting for the sun was always one of her favorite things to do. Somehow, it just wasn’t the same this time. Her life had turned into a nightmare as she realized her parents wouldn’t ever again see the beautiful sun waking up the world. Tears flowed silently down her cheeks.
Sam knelt down beside her. He ran his hand down his face. His eyes met hers, but he didn’t say anything. She needed the time to heal from the devastation warring in her heart. He had been so attentive of her needs she didn’t know how she could ever repay him.
Steering Aisley to the make-shift shelter for some rest, he lowered her onto the makeshift bed of grass, then lay down beside her. He gently placed his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. With Aisley’s head on his shoulder, they both fell asleep.
****
Screaming, Aisley sat up straight in the shelter, her eyes wide and heart beating wildly. She shook her head to clear it of the nightmare that had invaded her sleep. The scene played repeatedly in her mind: her mother and father entwined in a burning inferno. The gunshot rang so loud in her mind as if she were hearing it for the first time. She realized the screams were coming from her.
Sam jolted awake and wrapped his arms around her. He stroked her hair as he whispered, “I’m here, Aisley, it was only a dream. Cry pretty woman, cry all you want.” She leaned into his chest and sobbed until the tears stopped falling. Trying to still her shaking body, she took several deep breaths. There would be no more sleep until they stopped the next morning.
“It’s all so real. I can’t get it out of my mind,” she said between sobs. Aisley leaned against him, letting her emotions flow while he held her tightly as the grief and destruction made its way to the surface. As he taught her the night she was taken, she mentally pushed it into the ground with her mind. He pulled her even tighter to his chest. She allowed the clean air into her lungs, as she concentrated to free herself from the nightmares and to help ease her pain.
Chapter Six
Aisley was happy when they found the camp. The cheering crowd made her feel welcomed as they greeted the pair with long hugs and lots of chatter. Aisley knew Sam would be safer than he was when they were traveling alone. She began to relax. Her guilt of putting Sam’s life in danger had gnawed on her weakened mind. Now she had time to think long and hard about everything that had happened and how she needed to deal with her own setbacks before including anyone else in her life.
The red painted vardos that were elaborately decorated with gold scrolling and exquisite carvings of animals had been placed appropriately to provide protection for the families gathered there. The vardos sparkled in the fire light as the recent rains had washed the dust off. Aisley’s heart wrenched. She no longer had a vardo to sleep in.
The orange and blue flames of the fire licked the sides of the big black pot hanging above it. The smell of the rabbit and vegetable stew hovered in the air. She tried to force the emptiness and pain from her mind as she glanced around at the families in their brightly-colored clothes helping themselves to the food.
Their return was cause of a celebration. Aisley was happy to be in the safe confines of familiar friends and family. Exhaustion left her weak and content to sit lazily, just watching the dancers. The music that welcomed them home held no meaning without her parents to enjoy it with her. And she had lost her desire to dance.
Sam had told the other families about her parents’ tragic deaths and her being shot by the gaje. She stared into the raging fire that held her gaze. Danger and death lived within the flames. Although she was safe within the confines of the camp, she felt alone. Scooting closer to Sam to draw off his strength gave her little comfort.
When the music stopped, the families made their way to their vardos. Some carried sleeping children, while others held hands and gazed longingly into their spouse’s eyes.
“Aisley, I’m sorry about your mother and father. Sam told us what happened. I want you to know we love you and have missed you and Sam. You always made the camp feel alive. You, your mother, and father all did,” Abagail Grey said with tears flowing down her face. “I’m here if you want to talk.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Grey. It’s good to be here. Please forgive me for putting Sam in such danger. I slowed him down on the trail because of my wound.” Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. “I don’t think I would have made it without him.”
“You didn’t put him in danger. Don’t you see my child? He wanted to be with you, he put himself in danger to protect you. That’s what men do when they care for a woman.” Abagail patted her on the arm.
“I must thank him. He didn’t have to do that for me.” Aisley’s voice trailed off into a whisper.
A slight smile reached Abagail’s face as she walked away from Aisley. “Oh yes, he did, for himself,” Abagail called over her shoulder. Aisley didn’t dare to hope the words of Mrs. Grey to be true. Not only would she be setting up herself for a fall, that would mean she would have to open her heart to a relationship she wasn’t prepared to be in.
Aisley noticed how relaxed
Sam was now they were back with the clan. He had sat beside her during the celebration, but he had little to say to her. If he was still mad, why did he go to the trouble of staying near her?
She strolled to Sierra’s parents’ vardo and crawled underneath. They had asked her to come inside to sleep, but she hadn’t been in one since that awful day. Aisley wasn’t sure she had to courage to step foot in another one. Her hours camped on the trail with Sam conditioned her for the lonely nights she would spend curled up beneath the Gypsy wagon.
Aisley cringed at the creak of the vardo door when it opened. Someone had stepped onto the small porch and then closed the door. She glanced toward the steps. There was a slight rustling and then Sierra shoved two pillows and a pile of blankets to her. Sierra got down on her hands and knees and crawled under the vardo. She spread the blankets over her and Aisley and then laid her head on one of the pillows.
Sierra had stayed close to Aisley since she entered camp. She constantly told Aisley she wanted to be near in case she was needed. Sierra took Aisley down to Caddo Lake where she had found a beautiful spot to watch the sunrise and sunset.
“I’ve missed you something fierce, Aisley. I came down here and waited for your return. I’m so glad you’re here now. This place reminds me of you,” Sierra said.
The water lilies were in bloom and sprinkled the lake with white, lilac, and yellow-colored flowers. The wildlife was plentiful in the area and seemed to be unafraid of them. They acted as if Aisley and Sierra weren’t there watching them.
Staying away from the edge of the water, Sierra giggled as an alligator slowly raised its head above the water, only showing its huge eyes. Aisley’s body shivered as the gator’s cold, unblinking stare reminded her of the soulless eyes of the men who had abducted her and killed her parents.
“It’s time to leave,” Aisley said. A shiver ran through her body. The wide, unreadable eyes of the creature chilled her blood.