He stopped and she nearly tripped over her own feet.
“What did you say?”
“You weren't on the stage. I'm certain of it. You're clearly a gentleman of means.” She listed all the things she had concluded in her mind. “I think you saw the bandits take me,” she clarified, “and came to my rescue. That makes much more sense than you being a bandit.”
He lifted his arm from her and hobbled to the fence along the lane, gripping it with both hands. Willa went to his side, confused and concerned about his reaction.
“Did you remember something?”
“I'm not sure. I just had a brief glimpse of my hands on the reins. But that was it. There's nothing else. I don't know if the horse is mine or rented.”
“It is common for gentlemen to rent horses from the inns for travel.”
“Yes, a single horse can't make the journey. We swap at the inns for a fresh mount like the coaches do.”
“That must be it,” Willa said triumphantly. “You're traveling along the same road as I was toward London. Do you know if you've been to London?”
He went to shake his head and then gripped the helmet as if it pained him. “I don't know and it’s maddening,” he growled.
“I'm sorry. We won't talk anymore about it. I'm sure it will come back in its own time.”
“You don't know that,” he said.
“No, I don't, but I've also never heard of anyone losing their memory. Have you?”
He scoffed. “I don't even know. Maybe in my circle of friends it happens all the time,” he said sardonically.
Willa chewed her lip. “Let's keep moving, unless you need a break?”
* * *
The sun baked down on him. He could feel rivulets of sweat dripping down his scalp.
“I can keep going.” He pushed away from the fence and they trudged on. He frequently closed his eyes as they walked, his legs growing weaker, his head hotter, until he suspected steam seeped out every whole of the helmet. The tenants were a good sign. And just when he thought he couldn't go any further, a house appeared and then another, and then they dropped into a valley where a small village was tucked against the hillside. Within that village was an inn that boasted of no more than four rooms.
He saw a tear roll down her cheek as she left him at the entrance to The Quail Feather Inn and went inside. He tipped his head back against the brick wall and rested his eyes. He wondered if he always had this ability to just fall asleep. A hand touched his shoulder, and he reluctantly lifted his head.
“I've secured the room. I'm sorry but I had to use your coin. I don't have enough of my own.”
“That's fine,” he said. He licked his lips, his throat and mouth as dry as dust. He could feel his lip was split on the side he'd been hit. It was still swollen with about an inch-long cut. What had hit him, he wondered.
“I had to tell them… That we’re married.”
Her words did not register at first. “I beg your pardon?”
She licked her lips. She did that a lot, often right before she said something.
“There was only one room. It's not like you can sleep in the stables. You need the bed more than I, so I told them we were married. It’s a single bed, but I'm certain there's a chair. There's almost always a chair, and if not, then I'm quite capable of sleeping on the floor. I was not raised on silk sheets and feather mattresses, but there is no stage here. I asked. The best we could do is ride on someone's cart to a larger village. I did not think you capable of riding a horse in your state.”
No, he'd fall right off the horse, and the idea of the jolting and bouncing made his head throb. A miraculous feat, given it was already clanging and drumming. So they were married and sharing a room. Very well. He just wanted to lay down, and his stomach rumbled. Perhaps a good sign that he might be able to eat something and not see it again.
“Very well,” he said. She slipped under his arm and helped him into the inn. He could only imagine what they thought about his sorry state. They went up the narrow stair and out of sight of the three occupants down below.
“Did you catch the name of the town?” he asked.
“We're in Quailfield. Have you heard of it?”
He snorted. “I have no idea. Perhaps I grew up here.” He chuckled.
