Ben handles the question. “We’re headed home. We’re not in a hurry, and we enjoy a walk. But I sure appreciate the offer.”
The guard gives Ben the kind of once-over I often see between men—as if he’s assessing the strength and skill of a rival. He clearly doesn’t care for his conclusions. “You’ll be safer with me as an escort.”
“Oh, we couldn’t take you that far out of your way. Thank you so much.” I turn to the villager. “Is it all right if we start off now?”
“Sure.” The villager is annoyed with the officious guard and doesn’t wait for his permission to open the gate.
I wave and smile and wave and smile as Ben and I walk through the gate and onto the road.
When the gate has closed behind us and we’re far enough away, I let out my breath with a groan. “Shit, that was annoyingly nerve-wracking.”
“That’s your fault for being so gorgeous.” Ben’s relaxed and almost smiling now, giving me a teasing look. “Gets exhausting having to swat away all these besotted fools.”
I giggle and squeeze his arm before I release it to walk at our normal distance from each other. “I really thought he was going to insist he escort us all the way in the hopes of wooing me with his power and authority.”
Ben makes a face, although his eyes are laughing. “Doofus.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “What did you call him?”
“Doofus.” He gives me a curious look. “Have you not heard that word before?”
“No. Is it something they say in the wilderness?”
“Yeah. I thought it was a normal word, but I guess it’s regional now. It means?—”
“I can tell what it means by the sound of it and the context. A not-so-bright person.”
“Exactly that.” He glances over his shoulder, although the village is now out of sight. “Perfect word for that guy. As if he had a chance of ever getting a second glance from you.”
I’m smiling as I look ahead at the road before us.
14
All morning,the walk is uneventful. We follow the same route we did in coming, and we’re only passed occasionally by a transport truck or a hired motor.
When we reach the same spot midway through the journey at around noon where we rested yesterday, we decide to take our break there again.
Teresa packed us sandwiches and carrots for lunch, so after going to the bathroom and washing up in the creek, we sit on the ground and eat our small meal.
Despite the emotional upheaval of yesterday and my lack of sleep, I feel a lot better today.
Like a weight I wasn’t aware of has been lifted.
Whether that weight was my mother herself or some lingering, unacknowledged attachment to her, the burden now is gone.
And Ben is the main reason I got through it.
I’m acutely conscious of this fact. Acutely aware of Ben’s big body and the warm smile that’s almost lingering in his eyes. I’m not used to feeling soft this way, but it’s not as scary as I would have imagined.
After all, we’re not in our normal lives right now. We’re not with our people. We’re not in the middle of the fight. We’re lounging on the grass in this secluded copse of trees, and there’s no one else around.
For this one moment, it feels safe to indulge it.
Like it’s not going to shatter the foundations of my life.
“What?” Ben asks. He’s been watching me and clearly sees something going on in my expression.
“Nothing. Just thank you.”
