She nodded. ‘I know.’
‘I hear there is not much left of Bremen. You may be on a fool’s errand. But I hope you are not and wish you well.’ He jerked his head, indicating she could go.
She hastily climbed down from the wagon. Instinctively, she felt he would not want to see them together, so she waited for him to turn the cart and drive away.
Only then did she turn to face Sam, who had not moved since her arrival. He slowly opened his arms. Any guilt she may have felt about knowing him dissipated on the breeze and she found herself running and running until she was in his embrace.
He hugged her tight to him, as she did him — a defiant hold, as if to show the world that this place, one beside the other, was where she was meant to be. And within the tightness of their hug was peace, breath to breath, body to body, heartbeat to heartbeat, a sanctuary, a friendship, an inner circle that no one could break and that the sound of distant artillery could not harm.
Elsa breathed in deeply, capturing for ever the musky, fresh smell of him. Earth, pine and outdoor living had combinedinto a heady scent that reminded her of strength, goodness and freedom, with a hint of impending rain. She tried not to think about their next parting. It would inevitably come, but at least next time she would not be left with a gaping, torn wound caused by not having the chance to say goodbye.
‘Sam,’ she whispered to the air. The name felt indulgent on her lips as if tasting a sweet delicacy for the first time. ‘I thought you had left me.’
She felt him smile against her hair. ‘Not without saying goodbye.’
‘And Klara?’
He turned his gaze towards the trees. She saw Klara watching with a broad, tearful smile on her face. Elsa ran towards her and lifted her up, hugging her tight as if she was her own child.
‘I’ve missed you!’ Klara said.
‘And I have missed you too.’
Sam joined them, wrapping his arms around them both, and they held each other tight.
It was Sam who finally broke from their bonds. He touched her face and looked intently into her eyes. ‘Are you well?’
She nodded.
He frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
She smiled, pleased to be able to reassure him. ‘Yes, I am sure.’
He took Klara from her and scanned the horizon. ‘Come,’ he said as he led her into the shadows of the pines. The thick carpet of dead pine needles softened their footsteps. He lowered Klara to the ground and pulled Elsa close again and she nestled in his embrace.
‘I thought you had gone,’ she said.
‘I would not have left you.’
‘But believing that was better than the alternative. Not seeing you meant you could be dead.’
‘I did think I was a goner when Walter caught me watching the house.’
‘He could have killed you.’
‘But he did not.’
‘I was so afraid you would be caught. Walter did not tell me you were still near.’
Sam pressed his lips against her hair and kissed her. ‘Good. I wanted you to take your time to recover. If you knew I was nearby you might have left your sick bed too early.’
‘How long has Walter known you were with me?’
‘I think he knew all along we were not strangers. He caught me outside the house on the second night and brought me here.’
‘Why would he choose to help us like this?’
‘I don’t know. Why would a man choose to start a war? Man is complex. I did not tell him about Klara. I didn’t know how far I could trust him. I waited until he left and went back for her. I told her to stay in the woods whenever he returned. We made a deal, you see, Walter and me. I would chop wood for him and, in return, he would leave me food. He has been feeding us ever since.’
