“Don’t give it another thought,” Ward said. He and Rowan flanked Branch as he made his way with slow, careful steps to the end of the building. Thankfully, Rowan had left the carriage on the side street.
Rowan climbed onto the leather-covered seat and reached out a hand to Branch. With Ward steadying him from behind, Branch was able to make it into the one-seat carriage. It didn’t have a top on it, but the morning breeze would be refreshing.
“Don’t be surprised if Lucy pays you a visit. She will be upset to know you’ve left without telling her goodbye,” Ward cautioned.
Branch nodded and slumped against the seat. “I know, sir, but it’s best if she waits until I come to her. Keep safe and well. When Thomas has healed enough to bear the journey, I’ll bring him out to the farm to recover.”
“I’ll tell him, and we’ll take good care of him until then.” Ward moved back with a nod.
Rowan snapped the lines, and the horse stepped forward.
The streets of the city had not yet burst to life, so it didn’t take long until they were on the road out to the farm. Rowan had been there many times and knew the way. Branch closed his eyesand tried not to be ill at every jostle and jolt that caused waves of pain to roll over him.
“Could you hit any more bumps, Rowan? I think you missed at least one back there,” Branch grumbled from his seat next to his friend.
“If your highness prefers, I can turn around and try to drive right over any I missed.” Rowan raised an eyebrow, daring him to say more. “Are you surly because of your injury, or is it due to a certain young miss who has stirred things in your heart you didn’t want touched?”
Branch scowled at him, and Rowan laughed, continuing on the way to Branch’s farm.
The horse was strong and fast, and they were soon circling around outside the farmhouse where Sarah and Nate lived.
Branch fully intended to build his own house on a ridge overlooking his acres, but he saw no point in it until after the war, and he came home to stay.
Now, though, with his thoughts tripping all around Lucy and his love for her, he wished he had listened to Nate and agreed to build a house sooner rather than postponing it for later.
Last night, when he had awakened from the sleep he needed following Ward and Cleta treating his wound, he had been nearly beside himself with worry over Lucy and Theo. He had expected them to have already returned, and a hundred thoughts of everything that could have gone wrong had speared his mind until he thought for sure he would go mad.
Then Theo had raced down the steps and assured them all he and Lucy were well, if not a little muddier for their adventure. The lad had seemed quite disappointed that no reason had arisen for him to blow his little warble whistle as a call for help. According to Theo, Lucy could have saved them from any disaster that had assailed them.
Although Branch wanted to lock Lucy away to keep her safe, he knew he couldn’t. Lucy was brave and strong, smart and tenacious, and exactly the kind of person needed if the Patriots were going to win their fight for freedom and liberty.
He also knew she was exactly the wife he needed, and not just wanted. Because he did want her. All of her, for all of his days.
Perhaps while he convalesced, he could think of a way to express all that was in his heart to Lucy and ask her if she would consider becoming his wife. Ward and Cleta had granted their permission, and he knew John and Katherine Danvers were eager for him and Lucy to make a match.
Before he could give a proposal more thought, the door to the house opened, and Sarah rushed outside.
“Faith and glory! What has he done to himself now?” Sarah asked when Rowan brought the carriage to a stop.
“Just a shot to the side. From what Mr. Carlson said, it didn’t hit anything important, but Branch bled like a butchered hog.”
“I would take offense at that if it weren’t true,” Branch said, grinning at Sarah as she and Rowan helped him out of the carriage.
Nate appeared and took over Sarah’s position while she rushed ahead to ready a bed for him.
Three days later, Branch rested on a bench in the shade of an oak tree with his legs stretched out in front of him, reading a book. It was a rare luxury for him to have the time to relax or read. He heard running steps and glanced up to see Theo leap over a hedge with a whoop of joy. The lad’s hat was missing, and his waistcoat was askew, his knees covered in dirt, and his shirttail flying as he ran toward Branch. The sight of the boy made Branch smile. He had greatly missed the lad.
Quickly replacing the ribbon marking his place in the book, Branch set it aside and reached out a hand to his young friend.
Theo dropped onto the bench beside him with a wide grin that seemed to make his freckles stand out on his face. “Hello, Branch!”
“Hello, Theo! I’m powerfully pleased to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“Lucy and I came to stay at the farm for a while. We just got here this morning.” Theo glanced around, then bent down to pet Sarah’s cat as it rested near the bench. “Lucy asked me to come see how you are faring. Are you getting better?”
“I am getting better.” Branch observed as the aloof feline rolled onto her back and began to purr when Theo rubbed gentle fingers along her belly.
Despite his attempts to convince himself he could wait to see Lucy until he had fully recovered his strength, Branch suddenly found he could not wait a moment longer. “Do you think Lucy would be dismayed if I paid her a visit?”
