“Exactly. The boy talks well for his age. It is as if the first time he said a word he liked it so much he has tried to learn as much as he can. He listens to everything that is said. He is one of those children you have to be very careful around and watch what you say because he will absorb it and use it later, probably when you would really rather he didn’t. There is a part of me that is very sorry that I didn’t stay long enough to hear him try to convince me I was wrong.”
Matthew bit his tongue but quietly said, “Maybe ye were a little wrong.”
“Of course I wasn’t. Leaving him was wrong, certainly felt wrong, but the why I told him wasnotwrong.”
“Except that ye thought ye could choose a house without his help.”
Abbie laughed and flopped down onto her back, still laughing. “Little wretch.” She sighed and rubbed her hands over her face. “I can’t send him back though. I just can’t. It was hard enough to leave him behind to wait.”
He rolled until he was settled comfortably on top of her and brushed a kiss over her mouth. “I ken it. Ye didnae have to. I told ye that ye were coming to my house.”
“It isn’t just yours though, is it? I could not impose upon all the others. And I was already toting one baby.”
“Weel, Jeremiah was easily accepted. Ye saw that.”
“Exactly. I saw it, but accepting a baby is a lot different than accepting a boy, one who loves to talk, explore, and ask questions. Lots and lots of questions, some rather impolite at times. I shouldn’t have left them with Emily.”
“Why not? She has two close to their ages and Noah appeared to like Ned weel enough.”
“He did, didn’t he? He wasn’t close to the other boys at Mrs. Beaton’s house.”
“Nay, but I think that was because they came together, and he came later. They were already a pair.” She looked around. “Where are we?”
“At the riverside. This is a nice grassy spot overlooking the river. I thought ye would like sitting here watching the river pass by as ye struggled with your thoughts. Ye liked the other one we sat by until the Rebs came and spoiled it.”
“That would be lovely, but I don’t see the river. I can hear it but not see it.”
“Ye have to get closer.” He stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her up beside him, and walked toward the edge.
Abigail was not quite so sure about it when he led her to the edge and she realized exactly where she was. The grassy spot was a ledge on a steep hill that went down to the river. She clung to Matthew’s arm as she looked over the edge. It was a long way down to the water and it was steep.
“I think this is a lot more dangerous than the other one.”
He started to tug her back to the ridge of land they had climbed down. “It isnae dangerous over here. Ye dinnae need to fear falling. Solid rock under our feet. We willnae go romp at the edge of the drop.”
Matthew sat down and tugged her back down by his side. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close. This was a good time and place to speak of the future, but he suddenly could not think of a single word to say.
“I was wondering if it would be possible to take over one of the empty houses in town,” Abbie said. “I just wondered how that could work if the people came back.”
“It wouldnae be as safe as where ye are now. Ye would be a woman alone with two bairns.”
“But the war is over. Is that not what your brother said?”
“Hethinksit is over. And even if it was over, these hills still hold more of the men who didnae seem to belong to either side or didnae claim loyalty to one or the other, just like to kill, rape, steal, and destroy.”
“Oh.”
She sighed and thought over the problem. Taking over one of the deserted homes would solve where she lived but it would not solve the problem of having two children and no husband. People’s thoughts always wandered down the wrong path, not the one that reminded them there had just been a horrible war that had left a lot of orphans who needed care. She knew she should not fret so over how such people judged her but also knew it would not be just her who suffered under their suspicions. Now Matthew was forcing her to see that not all the dangers would go away when the war ended.
“I have to find a place to live. Maybe I could go with Reid and Robbie. The barn is still whole and they are sure to be building a shelter of some kind.”
“Nay, ye will stay here with Jeremiah and Noah.”
“I cannot impose . . .”
“It is not imposing.” He pulled her into his arms. “Ye will be staying with me.”
“It is not just your home, is it?”
