Damn it. I shouldn’t have mentioned horseshoes. Now Powell would be thinking about what happened with Cole once more. Itshifted his attention from Mina, but if he became too suspicious, he might think more about her visit to the forge this morning.
I debated whether it would be better to stay silent or attempt to explain away my behavior the other afternoon. I settled on a defense, but made sure my voice didn’t sound defiant, just sullen. “Cole’s horse is the only one that large. It doesn’t make sense to make too many horseshoes that size.”
“Well, from now on you’re going to keep them on hand anyway. I want enough for the whole summer—all sizes.”
“I’ll have them done by the end of the week.”
“Good.”
Powell moved past me and into the shop.
I pulled the iron out of the coals and checked its temperature. Not quite ready. Putting it back, I considered if there was any way for me to hunt for the charm without Powell noticing. There was no way I’d give up my evenings with Mina, but the need to be free of my stepfather’s control was pushing at me in a way it never had before. I was no longer resigned to my situation.
If Mina was right, and Powell also had a charm to keep me unresisting, then it was no match for the hope she inspired.
Fifteen
Mina
???
Sam watched meleave after supper with a question in his eyes, but he said nothing. He would gather evidence before he confronted me about where I went every evening. While I knew he would search for clues about where I was going and why, I trusted he wouldn’t follow me.
Alan wasn’t at the stream, and I sent a prayer up to Affenala that it was only because I was once again early, and not because he couldn’t make it. I couldn’t even pretend that the main reason I hoped that was true was because I didn’t want Powell to suspect him. I didn’t. But mostly, I simply wanted to have the chance to talk with Alan freely again.
And maybe kiss him again.
All right, imagining kissing him again was a large part of my thoughts.
I sat on the boulder, though I wanted to pace. Better to reduce the chances of someone spotting me like Hannah had the other night. It would be terrible if Alan got away only to have someone interrupt us.
I didn’t have to wait long before I spotted him making his way along the banks of the stream. He moved quickly, his pace picking up even more when I stood and he spotted me.
I met him halfway. The moment I reached him, I gave in and wrapped my arms around his waist. It felt natural. Inevitable. “No problems getting away?”
His arms wrapped around me without hesitation, and he pressed his cheek against the crown of my head. “None. Powell’s at the tavern.”
I wanted to continue standing there, breathing in the tang of iron and supple leather. Memories of Hannah and Alan’s fear of Powell made me step back. “We should probably sit on the boulder so no one spots us.”
Alan slid his hands down my arms, lacing the fingers of his right hand with my left. “If we cross the stream and walk north a bit, there’s a willow tree right near the stream. Between the higher banks and the branches, no one would notice us.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Alan kept a hold of my hand until we reached the stepping stones near the boulder. The stairs had been placed there because of the easier crossing. Three large stones provided a relatively easy to navigate path to the other side of the stream.
Alan released me and walked across without hesitation. He treated the slick rocks the same as the pebble strewn bank.
I studied the stones and decided he’d made it look easier than it probably was. I tucked the hem of my skirt and petticoats into my belt, thankful I was wearing boots and not slick-soled, heeled court slippers. The first stone was near enough the bank that I could step onto it, but the surface was barely wide enough for one foot and left me teetering. I moved quickly, launching myself from stone to stone, trying not to slip on the sloped surfaces.
Momentum sent me three steps inland, with no recovery of balance. I slammed to a stop against Alan’s chest.
His cough sounded suspiciously like a chuckle. “I guess we should have stayed on the other side.”
I looked back at the stones. They were not that treacherous. “I think I need to commit to jumping from stone to stone right from the beginning next time.”
“Maybe I should bring a towel, just in case.”
If I fell in, a towel wouldn’t help much with my sodden skirts. But Alan’s comment made it clear he expected us to travel to this secluded willow tree again in the future, which made me smile. Then I noticed I was still leaning against Alan, my hands flat against his chest, his resting at my waist. The same awareness of how we stood flashed through his eyes as I looked. His gaze dipped to my lips, but he didn’t move.
