Sarah turned back to the couple. “Actually, there is one request I have, Char. Ask Lord Jack to make peace with his brother before it is too late.”
“I did not invite him up here,” Jack answered.
“He had Jack locked up in a storage room,” Char agreed. “He kept him prisoner.”
“And he is yourfamily,” Sarah said. “Your twin. I agree that he is infuriating. After the first day with him, I thought Char was wise to run. However, don’t let matters end this way, my lord. Family is important. You and your brother both know it. You are just too stubborn to cry quarter first. However, once you’ve settled the matter, I’ll serve as witness to your wedding.”
One thing Jack had learned over the past days with Charlene was how much she admired and loved her aunt. When she spoke about Sarah Pettijohn’s bravery in confronting the current Lord Dearne and how much she had taken on to protect her niece, his opinion of this woman had soared.
And now she was telling him he needed to make peace with his twin.
“He will not want it,” Jack predicted. “His actions have been inexcusable and he knows it.”
“Then all the more reason for you to be the larger man,” Mrs.Pettijohn said. “Go.”
Jack walked out of the smithy, not for Charlene but because Mrs.Pettijohn had let him see reason.
The day’s light was waning. Only a fool would set out on a trip at this hour, and Gavin definitely qualified for the description.
His team was balking. They were tired and didn’t wish to work together. Consequently, Gavin had rolled over a small stacked stone wall and caught the back left wheel. Jack was well aware of what such a silly accident could mean to such a reputed whip.
The woman who owned the wall was not pleased, either. Gavin had climbed down from the vehicle and was trying to speak calmly to her. Jack went to the horses, who stamped nervously.
“I will pay to repair the fence,” Gavin told the woman.
“I want it repaired right now,” she demanded. “I don’t need money. I need my fence mended.”
“I will help you,” Jack called out.
“I don’t needyourhelp” was the answer.
Jack took a deep breath and tamped down his temper.
Seeing his brother in this disarray made him realize that Mrs.Pettijohn was right. “Well, you have it anyway.” He began unhitching the horses. “Seriously, Your Grace, you are a pain in the arse.”
“It takes one to know one.”
Jack stopped, his hand on a leather lead, at the childish rejoinder. “Did you really just say that? Please, promise me you haven’t said that since we were boys.”
His twin ignored the barb. “Stop unhitching my team. I’mnotstaying here.” He was reaching in his pocket for his money purse. “How much for the damage to the wall?” he asked the woman.
“I’ve never known you to not think of your horses,” Jack continued. “You can leave, but you’ll have to do it without this team. They are spent.” He whistled over some lads who had gathered to see all the commotion. “Take these horses up to the inn’s stables. That man will pay you handsomely,” he said, pointing to Gavin.
Meanwhile, the woman said, “I don’t want money. I want you torepairthe damage.”
What was there for Gavin to do?
He pulled out some coins and gave them to one of the boys waiting expectantly. The lads took the horses.
Jack walked over to inspect the injury to the wall and the wheel. “You are lucky. The wheel is fine. We just need to lift it up and over. The two of us can do that easy enough.”
“And my wall,” the woman said. “Repair my wall.”
“We will,” Gavin assured her.
He’d said “we.” Jack took that as a good sign.
Gavin went to the other side of the vehicle. “Lift on the count of three.”
