Novel Hearts Page 8

  “I’m seventeen years now, I will be eighteen in a few months,” Lucia replied, then she thought of something as one corner of her lips raised into a curious smile. “And why might ye be asking?”

  “Call it curiosity,” I called back to her over my shoulder as I hurried toward the town square, unwilling to admit more.

  “As ye wish, Mr. Lee,” Lucia replied, returning her attention to her work.

  Then, I stopped in my tracks as I took in her beauty. “And one more thing,” I said.

  “And what might that be?” she asked, as her eyes sparked.

  “Please, call me Fredrick,” I replied, pleased when a smile lit up her face. “And what might I call ye … Miss Collins or Lucia?”

  “Ye may call me Miss Collins,” she replied with a devilish grin.

  I laughed out loud, intrigued. “As ye wish,” I replied with a slight bow and ran off toward the center of town to do my trading, smiling like a lunatic when I reached the center of town.

  “And here comes Mr. Lee!” Mr. Douglas replied, holding up a hand to motion me toward the group of men he was with. “What have ye brought for us today?”

  “Some pelts,” I said, still thinking of Lucia. “Ermine, mink and fox.”

  “Might ye have a squirrel or rabbit with ye?” Mr. Douglas asked, already going through the pelts.

  “No, not today, but I’ll be sure to bring the meat tomorrow,” I said, watching the men carefully. Although I trusted them, you can never be too careful.

  “Be sure that ye do! I have a hankering for some good rabbit stew, or maybe some venison?” Mr. Douglas asked, hoping.

  I laughed at his enthusiasm. He was a plump old man who could no longer hunt for himself, and from the looks of his round belly, he didn’t need to, either. “I’ll see what I can do, Mr. Douglas.”

  “Pray ye see that ye do,” Mr. Douglas said. Within minutes, my pelts were gone and my pockets were filled, but as I was about to bid farewell along with the other men, Mr. Douglas asked, “What made ye late today, Lee?”

  I smiled to myself, remembering the exchange with the lovely young woman, wondering how much I should tell these men. “I was speaking with Miss Lucia Collins on the edge of town,” I replied with nonchalance.

  “The daughter of Mr. Collins? The owner of the apothecary?” Mr. Douglas asked, as his voice raised a few octaves.

  Surprised by his reaction, I replied, “The one and the same. Why?”

  “Oh, stay away from that one, lad,” he said, shaking his head back and forth, then added, “for your own good.”

  “And why do ye say that, Douglas?” I asked, as my eyebrows pulled together in concern.

  He looked back and forth to ensure that no curious ears were listening, then whispered in a low voice, “Because she’s a witch, lad.”

  I laughed so hard that tears sprang to my eyes. “And what makes ye say that, Mr. Douglas?” I asked, dabbing at a corner of my eye.

  “Because of the apothecary, dear boy! Everyone in town knows that they practice witchcraft in their shop.”

  “And why do ye say that? It’s an apothecary! They sell herbs that heal!”

  “Exactly!” Mr. Douglas replied, then added, “And they do incantations to heal, too. They are Druids! Witches, the whole lot of them!”

  “Ah, go on with ye now!” I replied. “Just because they heal people doesn’t mean that they be witches. They help people! They heal.”

  “Just mark my words there, Mr. Lee,” he warned. “Remember what I said and stay away from that witch.”

  “I would kindly ask you never to speak of her or her family that way again,” I asked him, as anger welled up within me.

  “Have it thy way, but heed my warning,” Mr. Douglas replied.

  “I will not speak more of it and I warn ye not to speak of it again, either,” I replied, then walked away, leaving him to his thoughts.

  Witch! How could he be so naïve as to believe idle gossip? I wondered to myself as I stormed away. As I walked away, I decided not to think of it again. When I passed the apothecary, Ms. Collins was not waiting outside. I shook my head to clear away the thoughts, but they kept creeping back.

  The next day, I rose early from my bed, took my homemade bow and arrows and headed toward the woods, remembering Mr. Douglas, the disagreement gone, but not forgotten. I walked through the woods on my route to check my traps, but I carried my bow, ready to hunt. I could use the money, after all.

  I was looking along the forest floor through trees of oak, maple and various evergreens, when I heard a rustle in the leaves ahead. I darted behind a tree, ready, when from behind an oak stepped the most beautiful deer I’d ever seen. It was a stag, a four pointer, and had obviously been eating well. I brought him down with one shot to the head. I picked him up from the ground, swaying a bit under the weight, as I was still human. I arranged him so that his body was wrapped around my neck, holding onto its hooves, then headed toward town.

  When I neared the apothecary, I vowed to take Mr. Douglas’ advice and leave her be … until I saw her sitting on the rustic wooden bench in front of her family’s store. Her beauty captivated me, but what held my attention the most was her smile. “Good day, Fredrick,” she said as I drew near.

  “And to thee, Miss Collins,” I replied, unable to stop the smile from spreading across my face. As I saw her, I knew that I secretly had been looking forward to seeing her again.

  Eying the prize around my shoulders, she placed her sampler down on the bench and asked, “What have ye there, Mr. Lee?”

  “I caught this stag a bit ago,” I replied, wondering if she had cast a spell on me, but then I realized how silly that sounded and quickly brushed it aside. “I’m on my way to the town square.”

  “To sell it?” she asked as her eyebrows pulled together.

  “Aye,” I said with a nod. “In fact, I must be going while the meat is still fresh.”

  “Wait here a minute, pray ye Mr. Lee?” she asked, rising from the bench.

  “Aye,” I replied, and at that moment, I knew I would wait for her forever, if I had to.

  She hurried inside the apothecary, and a moment later, her father came out the front door with her trailing right behind. “What do ye have there, Lee?” Mr. Collins asked, hurrying off the porch toward me. He looked over the stag still around my shoulders, picking up its antlers, and poking the meat.

  “A stag I shot a bit ago,” I said.

  “Do ye aim to sell him?”

  “Aye, I do,” I said, then asked, “Are ye interested in buying it?”

  “Aye,” Mr. Collins replied, then asked, “How much do ye want for it?”

  For the next few minutes, we haggled over the price of the stag, but soon came to an agreement. Secretly, I was glad not to have to face Mr. Douglas again so soon after our disagreement, fearing I might say more than I should if he said anything about the lovely Lucia.

  “Sir, pray ye bring the stag in for me?” Mr. Collins asked. Off to the side, Lucia looked hopeful.

  I glanced in her direction and then back to her father, which didn’t go unnoticed. “Aye, I’d be glad to.”

  Mr. Collins looked over to his daughter, trying to hide her obvious approval. Then, he turned back to me. “Mr. Lee, might ye consider staying for dinner to enjoy stew made from this fine animal?”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “I’d love to, Mr. Collins. Thank ye for thy kind offer. I’ve been hunting all morning and haven’t had time to eat.”

  “Well, then it’s settled! Come in! I’ll have the Misses set ye a plate,” Mr. Collins said with a smile, then yelled into the house as I followed, “Esther! We have company! Set an extra plate!”

  “Why, good afternoon to ye, Mr. Lee. What a handsome buck!” Mrs. Collins said, both happy and surprised to see me as she picked up the antlers of the deer I was still carrying across my shoulders. Then, she turned her attention back to me. “Might ye be staying for dinner?”

  “Aye, he is, woman,” Mr. Collins inte
rrupted. “I already told ye so.”

  “Oh, quiet, ye! I’m talking to Mr. Lee here,” she replied, then turned to Lucia, standing in the doorway. “Well … don’t just stand there, girl! Fetch another plate!”

  “Here, bring the deer into the back,” Mr. Collins replied, leading the way. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “I’ll help,” I said, following Mr. Collins.

  “Nonsense!” Mrs. Collins interjected. “Pray ye come talk to us. We have very little company of late.” She looked at her daughter as she came into the dining room with anther plate, nodding her obvious approval. “Come, child, keep Mr. Lee company while I prepare the meal.”

  I couldn’t help but grin. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Lucia as she blushed. Then, I followed Mr. Collins to the back. The apothecary was in the front room, and their living quarters was in the back. We walked through the dining room into the kitchen and in the very back of the house was a place to skin and prepare game. I walked over to the wooden table and deposited the carcass on it, relieved to be out from under the weight of the heavy animal. “Here, I can help ye …”

  “Nonsense! Ye heard the Misses. She would have my hide if I kept you all to myself!” he replied, obviously happy with the visit.

  “Well, if ye insist …”

  “I do. Now, git!” Mr. Collins said, then added in a low voice with a wink, “Lucia’s waiting for ye.”

  I didn’t quite know how to take his comment, but smiled at his approval as I walked to the front room, leaving him to the animal.

  “There ye be, Mr. Lee!” Mrs. Collins called out, hurrying across the room toward me as I entered the room. “Now, sit ye right here with Lucia while I prepare the meal,” she added, slipping her arm into mine, then guided me across the room.

  “But, Mother, I can help ye …”

  “Nonsense! Sit ye right here and keep Mr. Lee company,” Mrs. Collins replied, then said to Lucia in a low voice as I suppressed a grin, “Do as I tell ye, girl!” And a moment later, Mrs. Collins disappeared into the back of the house, leaving Lucia and I alone in the sitting room.

  “Pray, sit ye down, Mr. Lee?” Lucia asked, patting the seat beside her. “Or we can go outside and enjoy the afternoon breeze, if ye like.”

  “Aye, that would be nice,” I replied, stretching out my arm to take her hand, and as soon as my fingers closed around hers, I knew I was home. In that instance, she won my heart. I tucked her arm into mine and escorted her outside. “The air is a bit cool. Shall I fetch thy shawl?”

  “That won’t be necessary,” she said, sitting on the bench. “Come. Sit by me.”

  My heart fluttered as I did as she asked. I looked out over the forest stretched out before us on the other side of the road filled with oak and cherry trees as the breeze blew gently through the leaves.

  “It’s a lovely evening,” Lucia said, for lack of anything better to say.

  But I looked at her and replied, “Aye, lovely.”

  A slight blush colored her cheeks as she turned away. We carried on with small talk and I didn’t even dare venture to touch her hand. She was strong, but gentle and loving. The sun began to set behind the trees when her mother finally came out the door. “Dinner time!” Mrs. Collins shouted, bursting onto the scene, breaking the spell of the moment. Inside, Mrs. Collins was careful to set my plate next to Lucia’s. It amazed me that they so obviously approved of me. After all, I’d never had direct dealings with them, but they obviously knew me from my trading with the men in town. Mrs. Collins set a huge pot of venison stew on the center of the table. “So, do ye do well with thy trading business?” Mrs. Collins asked, reaching for the bowl setting on the wooden table before me.

  “Now, be not rude, Esther!” Mr. Collins interrupted.

  “Oh, calm ye self!” she replied to her husband as she ladled a large helping of stew into the bowl. “I didn’t ask him how much money he earns!”

  “I do pretty well,” I replied as I glanced over at Lucia. She returned the smile, lowering her eyes, as her mother beamed, grinning from ear to ear.

  We ate and talked animatedly about the weather, events in town, trade, foods … just about everything. I truly enjoyed visiting with the Collins family. Lucia’s parents were loud and opinionated—completely the opposite of Lucia—but it was family … something I hadn’t had in a long while. My parents died of the fever a few years before. I had tried to save them, but soon they succumbed.

  As the sun began to set, I finally said, “Thank ye, Mrs. Collins, the stew was delicious.”

  “Ye aren’t leaving already, are ye?” Mrs. Collins asked with a sincere look in her eyes.

  “I’m afraid I must,” I replied, then turned to Mr. Collins. “Thank ye for inviting me in, sir.”

  “Thank ye, sir, for the stag!” Mr. Collins countered. “Actually, it was quite delicious.”

  “Tomorrow, then?” I asked Lucia, hopeful.

  “Tomorrow,” she replied as a soft shade of pink colored her cheeks once again.

  As I walked home that night, I found myself walking light on my feet in the moonlight thinking of Lucia, knowing that one day be my wife. It was just a matter of time.

  The next day, I checked my traps and even shot a rabbit, then headed into town. On the way, I found myself rushing to get there, knowing I would see Lucia. As I neared the apothecary, my heart skipped a beat when I saw her sitting with her embroidery sampler on the rustic bench. She smiled as I drew near. “Good afternoon, Mr. Lee,” she replied.

  “Fredrick, please,” I gently corrected.

  The same delicate blush colored her cheeks as she replied, “Fredrick.”

  “I have something to ask ye, Miss Collins,” I nervously stated, adjusting the pelts on my shoulder.

  “And what might that be?” Lucia asked, as her ocean blue eyes danced.

  “Will ye meet me to take a stroll in the moonlight tonight?” I asked, hopeful.

  “Unchaperoned?” she asked, thinking.

  “Aye … I’m sorry … but, aye…” I stammered, then thought I would just jump in with both feet. “Ye can meet me at the edge of the forest. I’ll come by and get ye just after sunset.”

  “Well, I’m not sure …”

  Then, I knelt down on the ground in front of her and took her hands into my own. “Please, say aye. I promise you’ll be safe. I respect thee …”

  “Shush …” she said, placing a gentle finger over my lips. “Aye, I’d be glad to. I’ll meet ye at the forest’s edge … just after sunset … and don’t ye be late!”

  A broad smile spread across my face. “Ye don’t know how happy ye just made me,” I said, kissing her hand. “I’ll be here. I promise.”

  “Ye better be,” Lucia said with a teasing smile.

  I hurried down the road toward town before her parents could see. In the center of town, Mr. Douglas motioned toward me. “There ye are, my boy! What have ye brought us today?”

  “More pelts,” I replied, hiding the rabbit behind my back.

  “What? No meat?” Mr. Douglas asked, then a thought occurred to him. “And where were ye yesterday?”

  “I was distracted. I had nothing to sell, anyway,” I replied, determined not to tell him about the deer. I didn’t want to open that can of worms again. “But, I brought ye this today,” I said, holding up the rabbit by the hind legs.

  “My dear Mr. Lee! Ye did not disappoint me, after all!” he said.

  The day’s trading commenced and I was glad that Mr. Douglas said nothing more about Lucia or her family. Once my pelts were gone and my pockets were full once again, I turned to go home.

  “Mr. Lee, pray ye join me at the tavern … as a gesture of friendship … man to man,” Mr. Douglas said, obviously feeling a bit uncomfortable with the words that were exchanged regarding Lucia. “Sorry about …”

  “Think nothing of it,” I cut him off. After all, apologies were not necessary. I thought about his offer for a moment, as I was not one to frequent the pub, then replied, “Aye
, I’d be glad to join ye.”

  “And your money is no good, Mr. Lee.”

  “I hope that it’s good!” I replied, “After all, ye were the one who just gave it to me!”

  He laughed and slapped me hard on the shoulder as he walked with me in the direction of the tavern.

  “I tell ye she healed him,” a woman said to another woman as they passed by.

  “Maybe she just helped the healing process and it happened naturally,” the other woman replied. I couldn’t help but wonder who they were talking about, but I had an idea.

  “Nay! I tell ye she rubbed some herbs on his leg, chanted some words and the next day, he was completely healed!” the woman said.

  “One would think a body would be happy that her husband was healed,” I said loudly as I passed, knowing the women would hear. Some people just can’t leave well enough alone.

  “Humph!” one of the women snorted, sticking her nose up into the air, then said to the other woman, “Come, Gretta. Let us go to the Luvitt’s store.”

  I grinned, shaking my head as the women passed. Idle gossips.

  When we walked into the tavern, we sat at the bar. “An ale for my good friend Mr. Lee here,” Mr. Douglas said, slapping me on the back, saying nothing of the women and what had transpired.

  “I tell ye they’re witches, they are,” the bartender said to Mr. Fletcher sitting at the end of the bar, obviously in the middle of a conversation.

  “Nay, they couldn’t be! Mrs. Collins helped my Misses when she gave birth to our Jack,” the man at the end of the bar replied. “Jack was being stubborn during his birth, but Mrs. Collins mixed a tea and soon he popped right on out, kickin’ and screamin’. And to tell ye the truth, things haven’t changed.” Everyone in the bar laughed.

  “I tell ye it’s true! They’re all witches!” Ralph Baker, the bartender, persisted.

  “Why do ye speak of things of which ye knowest not?” I couldn’t help but ask, slamming my ale down hard onto the counter. Suddenly, the whole bar went silent. Then, I turned to Mr. Douglas and said, “Sorry, Douglas, but I have somewhere to go.”

  “Now, don’t ye be listening to the likes of them. They know not of what they speak,” he said, patting me on the shoulder.