of fear. Real trepidation that stems from a concern for one’s well-bein’ is not always healthy. But fear that manifests itself in respect for authority can be a safeguard, and in many circumstances, should be valued. Sought even.”
I pondered his words.
Part of me did fear him. But beneath his stern exterior, I knew there was a tender man who loved deeply. He’d only been so strict with me because he feared for my safety. There was much to think on, and I mulled this all over as we finished the rest of the day’s journey in silence.
* * *
“We need water for dinner,” shouted out a young girl not much older than myself. She turned to me and smiled. “Care to join me?”
Aaron spoke out before I could answer. “Thank you, but Pearl stays here.”
Was I to be tied to him, then, as punishment for my earlier misdeed? I frowned at him, but when he turned to me, he fixed me with one of his gazes that made me close my mouth. It appeared I would be bound to stay by his side, then, until further notice.
“Am I not to leave your side?” I asked, doing my level best to keep my head about me, and not speak out of turn.
“Not this evenin’,” he said stoutly, but as he brushed the horse, his voice softened as he spoke to me. “Jonas and I had a talk. Seems there are three young men who’ve had their eye on you since we joined the caravan. The only way anyone knows you are spoken for is if you stay by my side. So stay by my side, you will.”
Spoken for?
I was spoken for?
“Yes, sir,” I murmured.
We both turned as a happy squeal a few yards off caught our attention. Jonas had water dripping off his hair and beard, and a young, pretty woman with her hair under a bonnet was running from him, holding an empty bucket in her hand. She waddled, as she was clearly heavy with child. I smiled. She skirted the edge of the wagon, being smaller than he, and he pretended to chase after her, but in a quick maneuver that caught her off guard, he went the other way, and he easily caught her in his arms. She protested and he landed a teasing swat to her skirt-clad bottom, which made her squeal even louder. The young boys further up cat-called, but Jonas ignored them, planting a kiss on the forehead of his pretty young bride.
Aaron smiled as he turned toward me. I didn’t know if it was his excitement in almost nearing our destination, or the contagious joyful energy of the young couple ahead of us.
“Come sit with me by the fire?” he asked.
Me? I actually turned to look over my shoulder. Was there another, prettier young lady standing behind me? Samuel had lit the fire and gone off by himself for a bit as he was wont to do, and Matthew was still off with the young boys, so it was just the two of us alone at camp.
“I’m talkin’ to you, girl,” he said. His eyes grew stern, yet twinkled in the way that I knew he wasn’t angry with me. “You said I wasn’t really terrifyin’. So, what is it then, Pearl? Are you frightened of me?”
“ No, sir,” I said, but I knew it wasn’t entirely true. I likely was, at least in some small measure. I was afraid of disappointing him. I was afraid of causing him displeasure, and I was most certainly afraid of earning another punishment. But truly fear him? No.
How could I fear the only person I’d ever known who made me feel safe?
“Then come,” he said softly.
There were people milling about, and we had no privacy, but most would assume we were a married couple.
I wanted him to kiss me.
He sat on an overturned log, his large legs stretched out in front of him. I had the strange and overwhelming desire to sit by his feet. I wanted to sit cross-legged, like a little girl, in front of him while his large hand smoothed my hair. I wanted to rest my head against his knee and feel his strength. I was taken aback by the power of my strange desire, and clumsily sat beside him. We sat in comfortable silence by the fire for a time, and I enjoyed the sound of the
I pondered his words.
Part of me did fear him. But beneath his stern exterior, I knew there was a tender man who loved deeply. He’d only been so strict with me because he feared for my safety. There was much to think on, and I mulled this all over as we finished the rest of the day’s journey in silence.
* * *
“We need water for dinner,” shouted out a young girl not much older than myself. She turned to me and smiled. “Care to join me?”
Aaron spoke out before I could answer. “Thank you, but Pearl stays here.”
Was I to be tied to him, then, as punishment for my earlier misdeed? I frowned at him, but when he turned to me, he fixed me with one of his gazes that made me close my mouth. It appeared I would be bound to stay by his side, then, until further notice.
“Am I not to leave your side?” I asked, doing my level best to keep my head about me, and not speak out of turn.
“Not this evenin’,” he said stoutly, but as he brushed the horse, his voice softened as he spoke to me. “Jonas and I had a talk. Seems there are three young men who’ve had their eye on you since we joined the caravan. The only way anyone knows you are spoken for is if you stay by my side. So stay by my side, you will.”
Spoken for?
I was spoken for?
“Yes, sir,” I murmured.
We both turned as a happy squeal a few yards off caught our attention. Jonas had water dripping off his hair and beard, and a young, pretty woman with her hair under a bonnet was running from him, holding an empty bucket in her hand. She waddled, as she was clearly heavy with child. I smiled. She skirted the edge of the wagon, being smaller than he, and he pretended to chase after her, but in a quick maneuver that caught her off guard, he went the other way, and he easily caught her in his arms. She protested and he landed a teasing swat to her skirt-clad bottom, which made her squeal even louder. The young boys further up cat-called, but Jonas ignored them, planting a kiss on the forehead of his pretty young bride.
Aaron smiled as he turned toward me. I didn’t know if it was his excitement in almost nearing our destination, or the contagious joyful energy of the young couple ahead of us.
“Come sit with me by the fire?” he asked.
Me? I actually turned to look over my shoulder. Was there another, prettier young lady standing behind me? Samuel had lit the fire and gone off by himself for a bit as he was wont to do, and Matthew was still off with the young boys, so it was just the two of us alone at camp.
“I’m talkin’ to you, girl,” he said. His eyes grew stern, yet twinkled in the way that I knew he wasn’t angry with me. “You said I wasn’t really terrifyin’. So, what is it then, Pearl? Are you frightened of me?”
“ No, sir,” I said, but I knew it wasn’t entirely true. I likely was, at least in some small measure. I was afraid of disappointing him. I was afraid of causing him displeasure, and I was most certainly afraid of earning another punishment. But truly fear him? No.
How could I fear the only person I’d ever known who made me feel safe?
“Then come,” he said softly.
There were people milling about, and we had no privacy, but most would assume we were a married couple.
I wanted him to kiss me.
He sat on an overturned log, his large legs stretched out in front of him. I had the strange and overwhelming desire to sit by his feet. I wanted to sit cross-legged, like a little girl, in front of him while his large hand smoothed my hair. I wanted to rest my head against his knee and feel his strength. I was taken aback by the power of my strange desire, and clumsily sat beside him. We sat in comfortable silence by the fire for a time, and I enjoyed the sound of the
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