“Three days—possibly four.” Urias finished off his meal. “Thank you.” He handed her the empty plate. “I’ll get the hogs moving while you clean up. They can feed along the way. There’s a fresh water stream that should help the hogs recover from the journey. They won’t eat much, but we don’t want them to lose too many pounds before we get there.
“I’ll keep my eye out for quail for dinner tonight. Do you like quail?” Urias asked.
“Yes. That would be nice. You’ll have to teach me some about cooking on an open fire. I know a little, but precious little, I’m afraid.”
Urias nodded. He couldn’t fault her for her upbringing, and he knew there were some folks who lived in cities who didn’t understand how to live off the land. But still, a woman should know how to cook. He thought back on his warm meal of beans with chunks of ham thrown in. She knows how to cook some things, he amended.
Urias picked up his long switch and started snapping it in the air above the hogs’ heads. Instantly, they started to move. Down and around the curvy mountain trail they traveled until, five hours later, they arrived at the clearing Thomas Hagins had recommended.
As he settled the hogs in for the evening, he noticed Prudence silently making a campfire. The quail. He’d forgotten all about them. He’d been too focused on the swine and getting them to the field. He finished counting them and took off for the woods. With any luck, he’d find a couple quail before too long.
He examined the ground, looking for telltale signs of the bird. Generally, they nested on the ground. He looked for overturned leaves and scratching in the dirt. What he didn’t expect to see was the large set of tracks to his left.
He glanced back at the camp. They were vulnerable. He’d have to stay awake the night to be on guard.
“Bear?”
“’Fraid so,” Urias answered.
She couldn’t believe her ears. He’d found bear tracks on the edge of the forest. “Won’t hogs be mighty tempting for them?” she asked.
“’Fraid so,” he repeated. “I’ll stay up most of the night and guard the herd.”
She should have been offended that he wasn’t thinking about guarding her, but she had to keep reminding herself this wasn’t a real marriage. He wasn’t a man who loved her. He loved his sister and had done whatever it took to get her free. “I’ll keep watch, too.”
“One of us should sleep.”
“I’ll watch the first shift, then wake you. You can watch the second half of the night.”
“How is your aim?” he asked.
“Fair. But the shot should be loud enough to hopefully send the bear running.”
“Or wake me. I’ll load the gun for you, then set up the tent for the night. Are you all set for dinner?”
“Yes. I’ll have the quail ready in an hour—possibly a little more.”
Urias nodded and left her to her own devices. She knew how to cook, but an open flame scared her. She’d been working overtime, trying not to complain or give Urias cause to send her back home. The truth was, her body ached in places she didn’t know she had. She’d always thought of herself as having good stamina, but this walking was pulling muscles in her legs, feet, and back. What she wouldn’t give for a warm bath.
She finished plucking the quail and set them on a stick she had braced over the fire, then removed her new shoes. Her feet needed to soak in the stream. Prudence yelped, not realizing just how cold the water had become.
“You all right?” Urias hollered from the edge of the woods.
“Fine,” she replied. The stream soothed her aching feet. At first, it felt like needles pricking her, but then her feet were numb to the cold. She stepped out and dried off her feet. What she wouldn’t give for a pair of satin slippers. Instead, she put on a pair of wool socks and walked back to the fire. She turned the quail and continued to make the area ready for a meal.
Urias returned with an armful of wood. “This should help keep the bears away. Would you like to practice with my rifle?” he asked. The Kentucky long rifle stood about as tall as Urias.
“If it wouldn’t be a bother.”
“Be happy to show you. The trick is in the balance of the barrel.”
She’d observed Urias for the better part of two days now, and she still couldn’t figure out the kind of man he was. He seemed kind but also easily riled. He spoke few words, but when he did, he tried to make pleasant conversation with her. What intrigued her most was his bringing her in on the discussions referring to the purchase of the hogs. No man had ever recognized any points she made regarding finances before.
After dinner, Urias spent a few moments helping her hold and aim the rifle. He showed her how to load and reload it. He even let her do it in front of him, without saying a word. By the time he settled in for the night, she decided he was, overall, a patient man. In her small world, that was a rare treasure.
The various sounds of the night critters kept Prudence awake. At midnight, she woke up Urias, then crawled into the still warm bedroll. His scent was on the blankets, and Prudence found herself inhaling the teasing fragrance. Sleep came quickly, and Prudence slipped into a deep rest.
The next morning, she and Urias worked better as a team. They each tended to their own chores and found themselves and the five hundred hogs on the road by six. At the end of four days, the rhythm of working together and moving the hogs became smooth. They found themselves at the end of another long day, sitting back and enjoying the stars.
“Prudence, forgive me for asking, but why do you think your father forced us to marry?”
Prudence let out a deep sigh. She’d been expecting this conversation for days. They’d been talking with each other, getting to know one another, but never saying anything deeply personal. “He sees me as an old maid who will never marry.”
“Why? You’re an attractive woman. You’re pleasant company. It doesn’t make sense.” Urias tossed the remains of his coffee from his cup.
“It’s me. I’m the real problem. I like talking finances, and most men feel a woman has no place in business nor the mind to discuss such things. Unfortunately, I’ve spoken a time or two when I shouldn’t have, embarrassing a few men by showing them their errors in calculations.”
Urias chuckled. It was the first time she’d heard him laugh. She decided she liked the sound of his laughter and would like to hear more of it.
“My mother—my adopted mother,” he corrected, “is very good with figures. In a way, you remind me of her.”
Prudence smiled. He’d spoken often about his parents, and the respect he held for them was obvious to anyone who had an ear to hear.
“My folks will help us figure a way out of this marriage.”
Shocked, Prudence blinked. She’d foolishly allowed herself to start falling in love with Urias. “We can have it annulled,” she said.
“How’s that work?”
“I’m not really sure, but I think we simply explain to a judge how we were forced to marry, that we never”—she felt the heat rise on her cheeks—“never had a true marriage, and the judge writes a letter of annulment.”
“Would that mean we were never really married?”
“I think so. But I’m not a lawyer, and I’ve never known anyone who has done it. A few years back, I heard about a marriage the parents had annulled after the kids ran off and married. They were both thirteen at the time. They lied about their ages, so the parents were able to dissolve the marriage.”
Something she’d been wrestling with was whether God considered them married. And if He did, were they free to have the marriage annulled? That would be something to discuss with the preacher one day.
“Truthfully, I don’t know what is right or wrong here. My folks will help us, I’m sure. But if we got this annulment, what would you do?”
“I’ll find a job or something. I couldn’t return home. Father would be mortified.”
Urias reached over and placed his hand upon hers. “I’ll make certain you’re cared for.�
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Prudence changed the subject. “You best get some sleep. Morning is going to come quickly.” In her heart, she longed to be cherished and cared for. But the man she would like to love her would never get past how they had been forced to be married. “Good night.” Prudence walked over to the herd of swine and made herself as comfortable as possible for the first watch. Lord, I’m so confused.
Urias’s mind was filled with the possibility of an annulment. The four days on the road together had been pleasant enough, but they were not husband and wife. They didn’t love one another like his parents—or even his grandparents—loved each other. They weren’t even like his biological parents, who’d bickered all the time. We just … are. The only thing holding us together is the mission of procuring Katherine’s freedom.
He had to admit, though, Prudence had not complained once. She worked hard, followed his instructions, and provided security for the much needed rest. He looked out of the tent. Prudence sat, bent over, rubbing her feet, a silhouette painted by a slivered moon. It made no sense to him why any man wouldn’t want a wife like Prudence. Any man except him, that is. It was strange … in so many ways, she represented the kind of woman he would like to find in a wife. But the reality of how they married could never be blotted out of his mind or hers, he presumed. Why would she want to be bound to a man she’d been forced to marry? It was clear she’d been thinking about an annulment. He hadn’t given that idea any thought.
Prudence stood there shaking. Something was wrong. Urias bolted out of the tent. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she sniffled.
He lit the lantern and could see she’d been crying. “Prudence, what’s the matter?” He trailed the light down her body. Her feet were cracked and bleeding. “You should have said something.”
Urias scrambled back to his pack and pulled out some horsetail, then ground the grassy herb into a poultice. He fetched some water from the stream and set the pot on the fire to warm it. “You’re riding all day—possibly the next couple of days—on the mule. It’s those new boots. I should have known better than insisting on new boots for a journey such as this.”
He cradled her feet into his lap and gently washed them. He applied a warm cloth and gently dried them.
“What are you doing?”
“Obviously, I’m washing your feet. Next I’ll apply the horsetail poultice and wrap them with clean linen.”
As he worked, he felt Prudence relax her muscles and let him apply the healing balm and wrap her feet in a clean, dry cloth. Once done, he took her in his arms and carried her to the tent. “You’re going to rest tonight. All night,” he insisted. “I’ll take care of breakfast. It won’t be as tasty as yours, but it’ll fill our bellies.”
“I’ll be all right,” she protested.
“Prudence, let me take care of you. It’s the least I can do after all you’ve done. We’ll be in Flatlick tomorrow. I have some friends there. I’ll treat you to a warm bath. And Mrs. Campbell is a fine cook.”
“Campbell? Aren’t they the folks who let you hide out in their barn? Isn’t that the same place you met your parents?”
Urias smiled. “Good memory. Yes, they are. I was just a naive kid and didn’t realize they knew I was sleeping in their barn. Dad pointed out the obvious to me and let me know how it was that I just so happened to find some food around the place.” He chuckled at the memory.
“We’re through the hollows,” he continued. “And tomorrow we’ll be traveling on a much larger road.” Urias had admired the beauty of the hills, but his appreciation dissipated a little each day with the strenuous march and concentration on the animals. He’d had to help more than one hog out of the briars.
“I should be fine by morning,” she argued again.
“Let me take care of you, Prudence. If I have to, I’ll simply order you, and you, being my wife …”
“Men,” she huffed.
“Women,” he huffed right back at her. “Look, I appreciate your willingness to help and all the hard work you’ve done, but your feet are injured. They need to heal, and we have many more days on the road. If we don’t take care of them now, they’ll get infected and you’ll get sick. We can’t afford the time for that. I’m merely being practical.”
“I see,” she acknowledged, her voice strained.
He held the lantern up to get a clear view of her face. “Prudence, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Urias felt certain this had to be one of those times when men say one thing and women think another. He’d experienced it a time or two watching his parents. They would be trying to explain themselves to one another while neither understood what the other was saying. Eventually they’d work it out, but Mom would tend to get weepy during the process and Dad a bit touchy.
“I’m fine, Urias. I’m just tired and my feet hurt.”
“All right.” He lowered the flame in the lantern. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll make some bandages for your feet in the morning, if they need it.”
“You’ve done enough.”
“For being a rich girl, you sure don’t like being pampered, do you?”
“Nope. But you’re not a poor boy, are you?”
Urias let out a nervous chuckle. “No, I guess not. The MacKenneths own quite a spread, and Dad taught me how to hunt. Before Grandpa hurt himself, Dad used to spend the winter trapping. But the real money came from Mom. I don’t know exactly how much it was, but her inheritance seemed substantial. Mom has a real mind for business, quite like yourself, as I mentioned a few days ago. Anyway, she and Dad work out their business affairs together. She’s been encouraging me to get into horse breeding, mainly because I like working with horses. But she also sees it as the means for me to make my own way in the world.”
“I can’t imagine it. My mother doesn’t even know what she spends on household expenses. I think Father prefers it that way.”
“The MacKenneths are good people.”
“They sound it. Kate will like living with them.”
“I hope so. Of course, I’ll want to build our own house so Katherine has a place of her own as soon as possible.”
“She deserves it.”
“You best get some rest and let your feet heal. Good night, Prudence.”
“Good night, Urias.”
She lay down and pulled the blanket over herself. Urias thought back to the image of her cracked and bleeding feet. He should have noticed sooner. What kind of a husband am I?
I’m not, he reminded himself.
It would be too easy to forget what happened to force them to marry. How could they possibly make a marriage out of something so wrong?
Urias took up his sentry post. The hogs slept quietly beneath the black sky filled with more stars than a man could count. The moon gave a sliver of a smile. They were getting close. Soon he’d be able to sell the livestock and return to Hazel Green, rescue Katherine, and put an end to this bizarre marriage.
He inhaled the crisp night air and walked closer to the fire. A twig snapped from behind the tent.
Chapter 6
Prudence savored the memory of Urias’s touch. He’d been so gentle, so loving, and yet she meant nothing to him. What would it be like to feel his touch if he truly loved her? She shivered just thinking about it.
“Prudence,” Urias whispered. “Stay down; we have some company.”
“Who goes there?” Urias bellowed into the darkness.
Prudence stayed in the tent.
“Just passing through.” A strange male voice came from the edge of the woods behind the tent. “Saw the fire, wondered if you wanted company tonight!”
“You’re welcome to warm yourself by the fire,” Urias offered. “Where you from?”
“Hazard. How about yourself?”
“Jamestown,” Urias answered.
“Hauling hogs, eh?”
“Yup. What about you?”
“Just making my way over to the ford.”
“I have some friends who live
around Hazard. Do you happen to know the Fugates?”
“The blue people?”
Blue people? Prudence didn’t understand the conversation these men were having.
“Yes,” Urias answered.
“Can’t say that I know them. Know about ’em, but I don’t know them myself. Ain’t never had no reason to bother them. How’d you know ’em?”
“My father and I were doing some hunting one year and stumbled into their hollow.”
“Folks don’t pay them much mind. They stay to themselves.”
Prudence’s curiosity was up now. But she was under orders to stay put. Yet she wanted to know about these blue people. The test of will began. It had always been hard for her to sit and not speak when she wanted to know something.
“They’re good folk. Takes a bit to get used to their color, but after a while you don’t seem to notice it.”
“Ain’t never had an interest. Folks say they’re cursed. Personally, I stay away. I’m not saying they’re cursed or nothing, but it ain’t natural for a man to be blue skinned.”
Blue skin? This was too much. She had to know. She opened her mouth, then abruptly closed it. She placed one hand over her mouth to keep from speaking. She thought of all the possible reasons Urias would want her to stay hidden. The stranger might kill her. That’s a good reason. She removed her hand from her mouth.
Prudence heard the click of a gun.
“Tell your man to step back from the tent,” Urias ordered.
Prudence watched the man by the fire raise his hands into the air.
“Tell him,” Urias ordered a bit firmer.
“Come on over, Oren.”
“With your hands in the air, Oren,” Urias added.
Prudence watched with fascination as her husband handled the strangers. Perhaps they’re robbers, Prudence wondered. She’d never seen a real criminal before.
“Hope you men don’t mind sleeping side by side.” He ordered the men to lay down beside the fire and tied their hands and feet to one another.
“Sorry to put you through this, boys, but I need to protect my wife.”
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