Chapter Text
Over the days that followed, Nicole would find out barely anything about the woman who had chosen to help her – not that she didn’t try. She asked direct and less direct questions whenever she could, but Waverly would offer nothing but silence by return. Eventually, rather than offend her with continued queries, Nicole stopped asking.
Nicole didn’t count the days since she had woken in the small shack with its bed of straw, open doorway and leaking roof. But it was long enough for her to find the strength to stand – if only for long enough to watch Waverly hastily construct a slightly comfier bed from blankets and straw that she had tied into several rolls. Time passed, much like the rain that had been shifted by the wind and seen Waverly nail a blanket to the open doorway to try and cut down its encroachment.
With food and regular offerings of the well-made willow mixture, Nicole felt herself healing more rapidly than she could have imagined. And even quicker than she could have had she been left to the mercy of the woods. So, although she might have learned very little about her rescuer, she would be forever grateful for her kindness and skill.
*
Nicole awoke to the soft flapping of the makeshift door. She turned to peer out, judging the time of day by how the light had moved from one side to the other. Realising that it was not far from the end of the day, Nicole lifted herself into a sitting position and swung her legs round. She sat for a moment, testing the limits of the movement that usually sent nausea sweeping through her. Finding her stomach at peace, she lifted her hand to the dressing tied around her head and slipped it off. Searching fingers stroked through her hair to find dried blood at the back of her head but little more than a tender reminder of the blow. She tossed the strip of material into the corner of the shack and pressed her feet firmly to the floor. The bed was so low that it was impossible to lift herself in increments and she had no choice but to stand straight up – a mistake that was instantly recognised. Legs, which had not borne her weight for more than a few moments in days, refused the instruction of her less than commanding mind and she stumbled for the doorway. Flailing hands snagged the blanket and finding nothing for needed support, she stumbled out of the shack and instantly dropped to her knees. She stayed where she landed, breathing heavily and staring at grass before her. Made lush and green by recent weather, the bright, plump grass was so full of life that it seemed to mock her and she sneered at it as if it were the cause of all that had come before.
A shadow fell over her and she groaned as she lifted her head, closing one eye in an embarrassed acceptance of her own foolishness. Waverly was standing with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression one of angered humour that Nicole had gotten quite used to.
‘I can’t stay in there forever,’ Nicole told her – mustering all the confidence of someone who could stand on their own two feet and not the person who was considering crawling back into the small shack.
Waverly didn’t answer – as was her somewhat infuriating way.
Taking a breath and at least finding the pain at her ribs had faded even further, Nicole asked, ‘Can you help me up, please?’
Sighing, Waverly stepped closer and bent to hook Nicole’s upper arm. Bracing herself, she waited until Nicole rocked back on her feet and then helped her to stand and lock her weak legs beneath her. Still unsteady, Nicole was grateful for the arm that Waverly slipped around her waist as well as the hidden strength the smaller woman clearly carried.
‘Come on …’ Waverly encouraged.
Nicole lifted her face to the cool evening sun, ‘Can I just take a moment?’
Waverly looked up, eyes flickering as she read the position of the sun. ‘A moment – no more,’
‘You have somewhere to be tonight?’ Nicole asked with a soft laugh.
Waverly’s features darkened, ‘That is not your concern,’
Nicole bowed her head slightly, ‘I meant no offence,’
‘None taken – I had merely hoped that your constant questions had come to an end,’ came the growled reply as Waverly shifted her weight, giving Nicole no choice but to turn with her.
‘You can’t expect me to not know anything about the woman who saved my life,’ Nicole countered as they shuffled back to the shack.
‘You know that I did,’ she replied, although she sounded uncomfortable and followed it quickly with, ‘and that’s enough,’
It was impossible for Waverly to help her through the doorway and so Nicole felt herself released and she stumbled the short distance to the makeshift bed. Once she had lowered herself, Waverly motioned for her to turn her head so she could study the area now revealed.
‘It doesn’t hurt,’ Nicole told her, ‘But I would relish the chance to wash the dried blood from my hair,’
‘There is a bucket outside that has been collecting rainwater,’ Waverly told her as she lifted the blanket, ‘but leave it until the day has properly warmed tomorrow – you do not want to spend the night with wet hair,’
She returned a few moments later with a small basket and Nicole realised that she must have set it down when she saw Nicole drop to her knees. She handed it over and then left without saying anything further. The basket had more of the willow drink as well as bread, cheese and fruit. Nicole ate slowly as she considered the mystery of the beautiful woman who had provided it.
*
The following morning, Nicole awoke and stretched carefully, smiling at the way her body argued less with her movements, calling her to test the limits further. She moved to set her feet to the floor and reached for her boots stationed in the corner of the shack. There was something fundamental about pulling her boots on – a sign that she was ready to start getting back to the life she lived and loved. That gave her pause. In the days that Waverly had looked after her, despite her somewhat taciturn nature, Nicole had come to appreciate the company. She told herself that it was the need to be looked after that had caused such enjoyment and that, once her strength fully returned and she no longer needed the attentions of the short, pretty woman, the isolation found beneath the trees would call to her once more.
Taking a breath, she lifted to her feet and braced herself against the weakness she expected. It was there but not as bad as the day before and she found that she could stand on semi-steady legs. Gaining confidence in her physical recovery, she took a step towards the hanging blanket at the opening. A slight unsteadiness but nothing more saw her take growing confident steps out into the early dawn.
She stood for a moment, face lifted to the cool morning air. The sun had yet to rise but the lightening sky proclaimed its imminent arrival. The smile lifted the corners of her mouth as she breathed easily, letting the air fill her lungs and expand her chest in way that would have been impossible a few days before. There was still a slight ache and stiffness but nothing that couldn’t be ignored, especially if she started to move around and loosened everything up.
With that in mind, she took a few slow paces, deciding to circle the hut that had been her temporary home. She paused at the sight of the bucket Waverly had mentioned and was almost instantly on her knees in front of it. She didn’t need the warmth of day – being wet and cold was a fact of life for her and she would welcome it over the harsh feel of dried blood in her hair. She released her hair from the twist of leather that had barely been holding it anyway and submerged her head completely. The water was freezing and wonderful – awakening her senses to life and all that had been put on hold for a time. She sat back, soaking hair sending a spiral of water behind her as she rubbed at the area of matted hair before dunking her head a few more times.
Shivering and gasping with delight, she returned briefly to the hut and grabbed the blanket, slipping it round her shoulders and lifting her wet hair over it. She eyed the basket that Waverly had brought her the day before and her mind settled quickly to a decision – one that had been niggling in the back of her mind since she had regained her senses. Waverly hadn’t just saved her life, she had looked after her and shared food. Nicole was in her debt and that left an uneasy feeling in her gut. As a traveller, Nicole never left things undone or out of balance. When she left an area it was always with a sense of purity – she never left anywhere with the need to look back or to worry that someone would follow. If she needed something, it was always paid for – either by successful trapping or the sweat off her back. She owed no one and was all the freer for it.
Taking the basket, she travelled further out to explore the field that was bordered by woods on all but one side. As she walked, she paused to look at the small house just a little further down the slope. It was in poor condition, weatherbeaten and a little ramshackle. But there was something about it that made Nicole’s heart warm. It was a home. Waverly’s home.
She shook herself and continued her search, eyes on the ground now as her boots were quickly moistened by dew. Eyes accustomed to poor light quickly found her prize and several broad, flat mushrooms were lifted into the basket. She carried on towards the edge of the field and smiled when she saw the distinctive leaf and stem of a plant she was particularly fond of. She pulled up several strong, triangular stems, taking the flowers as well. The flowers, still closed in the early light, would have distinctive green lines on them once opened. After taking a moment to inhale the pungent smell that became a garlic taste on her tongue, she added a few more stems and then straightened to continue her search.
The sun had half risen by the time she approached the small house with a basket now laden with more mushrooms as well as berries found at the furthest corner of the field. She approached the house from the other side, pausing to study the large open window that dominated much of the side wall. Certainly, that side of the house was more sheltered but even so, the large window seemed unnecessary. Then again, Nicole hadn’t exactly spent much time living in buildings so what did she really know anyway?
She circled the building and approached the door, tapping on the faded wood with her knuckles. The wood, worn with age did not sit well within the frame and when Nicole knocked again, it swung inwards to reveal a shadowed interior. A flurry of movement filled her view as Waverly hastily grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around herself.
Nicole half spun and dropped her gaze, mumbling a hurried apology.
‘What are you doing here?’ Waverly demanded.
Nicole looked up carefully and, noticing that Waverly was covered but for the rather lovely glide of smooth shoulders and neck, she lifted the basket, ‘I’m making breakfast,’
Waverly inhaled a tired breath and Nicole noticed how dishevelled she looked.
‘Are you okay? Did you not sleep?’
A flash of defensive anger crossed her features, but she seemed too tired to maintain it. As if defeated, a small hand lifted from within the blanket to wave towards the corner, ‘I prepare food over there,’
Nicole’s gaze should have been drawn in that direction, but she was momentarily captivated by the sight of smooth thigh exposed by the opening of the blanket.
Sighing, Waverly turned and headed towards the opposite corner saying, ‘Can I trust you to keep your back turned while I dress?’
Nicole wanted to be offended by the question but perhaps the smaller woman had cause to ask it. Deciding that she didn’t really expect an answer, Nicole made a point of turning towards the area she had been directed to. She found the small stove cool to the touch and that made it her first job. After clearing the ashes from the previous day, she set a new fire going in the iron belly and quickly felt a change in the air around them. The growing warmth made her wonder how Waverly could sleep, apparently naked, when she had allowed the fire in the stove to go out. Surely it could be stacked and allowed to smoulder through the night, keeping the inside of the house warm. Nicole wanted to look around, to see if there was another source of heat, but she kept herself facing forward. That was until the sound of soft breathing called her attention.
Now dressed, Waverly was sitting in a rickety but comfortable looking chair and, judging by the boots that rested on her lap, she had been about to pull them on. Smiling softly, Nicole crossed the short distance and carefully took the boots from beneath her limp fingers. The blanket that she had used to cover herself was on the end of a narrow bed and Nicole lifted it carefully to drape it over the sleeping woman.
Later, Nicole left a pan to keep warm on the stove and quietly stepped out into the full light of day, taking a cracked wooden bowl with her. She squatted against the side of the building and ate slowly, savouring the warm food while she watched a hawk swoop from the trees and across the field. She had almost finished when she sensed movement and then Waverly settled on the ground beside her and began to eat her portion.
‘Here …’
Nicole looked over and smiled gratefully as she took the chunk of bread, using it to mop up the juices in the bowl.
‘This is good,’ Waverly told her, ‘Thank you,’
Nicole cleared her throat, ‘I … um … I owe you so much more,’
A shake of the head that sent smooth hair spilling pleasantly across her slim shoulders, ‘I didn’t help you out so you would be in my debt,’
‘I know,’ Nicole replied, ‘but, still I am,’
Waverly sighed and climbed to her feet, ‘Then I relieve you of your burden,’
Nicole stared up at her as she went back into the shadows of her small home. Moments later and she followed, saying, ‘It’s not as simple as that for me,’
Waverly was folding the blanket that Nicole had covered her with and as she went to set it on the end of the bed, a ray of light shone down on her through a hole in the roof. It was one of several to send beams of light into the area and Nicole couldn’t help but think of the steady dripping she had heard within her own shelter.
She glanced upwards, ‘I will work off my debt,’
Waverly folded her arms, her expression stern, ‘That isn’t necessary,’
‘I believe it is,’
‘I do not,’
Nicole folded her arms, mirroring the smaller woman, although her expression was amused, ‘Do you plan to climb up and fix the roof yourself?’
‘That is none of your concern,’
‘I believe it is,’ she responded, ‘I would likely be dead in those woods – thanks to Hardy and his friends – if you hadn’t …’ her words dried as the expression on Waverly’s face changed dramatically. Gone was the firm annoyance, replaced with pale anxiety and flickering eyes shadowed by fear. Nicole realised that she hadn’t told the other woman how she had been injured but now, seeing her reaction at hearing Hardy’s name, she wondered if she was not the only one here to be aggrieved by the bastard.
‘Very well,’ Waverly said, cutting off the questions that burned along Nicole’s lips, ‘If you must then feel free to fix my roof as best you can. You will find a ladder and tools in the stable,’ Her tone had a dismissive edge and, given the way her body had become tense, Nicole nodded and said nothing more. Setting her bowl and spoon on the table, she turned and left.
The stable was an optimistic description for the lean-to at the side of the house where the horse was bedded down. She approached the fine beast who huffed and tossed her neck in apparent greeting. Suddenly feeling just as grateful to the animal for saving her, Nicole patted her neck and looked around the drafty area. She found the ladder and tools Waverly had mentioned, smiling to herself when she saw an axe and saw. ‘Reckon I could make you both a little cosier,’ she told the horse with a smile, ‘If your mistress can stand to have me around for just a few more days,’ The sound of hopefulness in her voice came as a surprise and she quickly grabbed the ladder and headed out to inspect the roof.
*
Nicole had meant to start working on fixing the roof immediately – she really had. But just after she finished her inspection, taking note of the major holes requiring the most work, she had paused to admire a view she was rarely afforded. A clear day that showed the barest outline of mountains to the North. She had never ventured too close to them, favouring the familiarity of woodland, but now she wondered at that. She had heard that the woodland stretched to the very base of the mountains, so maybe it was the perfect time to expand her understanding with an adventure into new terrain. After what had happened with Hardy, Nicole certainly had little desire to stay in the area. A brief flash of Waverly’s features crossed her mind but was quickly dismissed. Perhaps to distract herself, she surveyed the area of woodland below the house, pausing and shielding her eyes when she saw something of interest that she hadn’t noticed before. Smiling, she climbed down the ladder and headed towards the trees.
The coppice of hazel trees was even better than it first appeared, and she found herself smiling with unexpected delight. Taking her knife, she cut one of the thinnest growths and tested it between her hands, nodding at the way it flexed. The coppice was one of the largest growths she had ever seen. The stems were straight and would be resilient to the manipulation she was considering requiring of them. As she explored, she saw further signs that this was a cultivated area – although one that had not been tended in sometime. Setting her hands to her hips, she nodded to herself and set to work.
*
Nicole only stopped on a few occasions to approach a nearby stream to gulp water, meaning that by midafternoon she had created several impressive stacks of hazel beside the lean-to. The horse had watched her, perhaps wondering if she would be called upon at some point to help carry the piles. But, in truth, Nicole had been happy to work alone after discovering that, if she was careful, the activity was doing much to loosen the tightness in her chest and back. So well, in fact, that she could feel none of the residual ache that had been there that morning. Happy and content, she paused to study the piles of hazel, glancing from them to the area she was to improve. Judging that she would have enough to get her started at least, it was time to collect the older, thicker and less pliable growth. These she would sharpen into points to hammer into the ground. Once firmly seated, they would be ready to take the tight weave of the collected stems. Knowing that her knife would be useless for cutting down the thicker wood, she went into the lean-to to retrieve the saw. As she did, she remembered how she had left the ladder and went to retrieve it.
The moment she lifted the ladder from its slant, she heard a sharp cry and the slide of a body. Reacting out of instinct, she let go of the ladder and held her arms out as something descended from above. A slim body landed rather neatly in her outstretched arms, and she pulled her quickly to her chest rather than have her spill to the floor. They stared at each other – mouths open, eyes wide. Waverly’s lips slowly closed, her eyes losing some of their surprise as she seemed to instinctively press a little closer, perhaps even enjoying the sensation of strong arms holding her. Nicole frowned at her reaction but then she felt her lips curl into a smile as her surprise gave way to her own enjoyment of Waverly lying rather pleasantly in her arms.
Waverly suddenly came back to herself and a small fist bounced off Nicole’s chest as she struggled and demanded to be put down.
‘Okay, okay,’ Nicole laughed as she set the smaller woman back on her feet, ‘I was just making sure you were okay,’
Waverly swept hair out of her face and spun angrily to face her properly, ‘I was doing just fine until you pulled the damn ladder from under me!’
Nicole glanced sideways up to the roof and grimaced. She had been so surprised – and then rather joyful – to have caught Waverly so perfectly, that she hadn’t considered her participation in the event. ‘I’m sorry,’ she mumbled and then a little louder when guilt turned to defensiveness, ‘What were you doing up there anyway?’
‘I thought I’d continue the job that you had abandoned!’ Waverly replied, her own defensiveness mixing with the sudden fear at sliding off the roof.
‘If I say I’m going to do a job – I do it,’ Nicole replied firmly, resetting the ladder against the house.
Waverly arched an eyebrow, ‘Yet leave a job half done?’
Nicole turned and set her hands to her hips, ‘Are you asking me to do two things at once?’
‘As I recall,’ came the terse reply, ‘I didn’t ask you to do anything,’
‘Woman,’ Nicole sighed, ‘You are impossible!’
For some reason Nicole was unable to fathom, that statement made Waverly shake her head and laugh, eyes suddenly shining with humour. ‘Yes,’ she admitted with a chuckle, ‘I suppose I am,’ Still laughing to herself, Waverly walked towards the doorway calling back, ‘Please continue to make my horse more comfortable, I will start something for our evening meal,’
Nicole stared after her, mouth hanging open – possibly more surprised and confused then when Waverly had fallen into her arms. Recovering, she felt the need to shout in reply, ‘It’s not evening meal if we eat while the sun still lights up the sky!’ She wasn’t expecting an answer, and one wasn’t offered. Although, of all the questions that Nicole wanted to voice, understanding why Waverly ate so early and never left her home after the sun had set was not as important as some others.
Frustration and confusion saw Nicole set to her task with fervour. And by the time Waverly brought her a steaming bowl of soup, she had an almost complete wall of interwoven hazel stems assembled at the front of the lean-to. She took the soup with a smile and words of gratitude, sitting herself at the base of the panel she had constructed and dipping the chunk of offered bread deep into the hearty mix. She was surprised when Waverly sat beside her and started to eat, although less surprised that the small woman didn’t share any words between her mouthfuls.
‘I should have this first panel finished by dark,’ Nicole told her as she used the last of her bread to clean the bowl.
‘My horse is used to being bedded down before dusk, I’d rather you not disturb her,’
Nicole turned her head, chewing the last mouthful of bread thoughtfully but swallowed her questions along with the bread and nodded, ‘Fine – I will do what I can before dusk and then finish this section in the morning,’ she set her bowl down, ‘If I get up early, I should have the whole thing finished by the end of tomorrow,’
Waverly was about to argue but seemed to change her mind and said instead, ‘I will prepare breakfast when I rise and bring it out to you,’
Her statement was clear – she didn’t want Nicole wandering into the house again.
‘I shall add repairing your door to my list of jobs.’ Nicole told her by way of further apology for that morning’s incident.
Waverly set her own bowl down and replied softly, ‘I would appreciate that, thank you,’
Sensing a slight relaxation of Waverly’s usual rigid demeanour, Nicole looked over at the remaining stacks of wood, ‘That coppice of hazel was well tended once and the growth is still excellent …’
Waverly turned to study the construction behind her before her eyes, softer than she had ever shown Nicole, dropped to meet the redhead’s gaze, ‘You have used it well and honoured the growth,’
Nicole kept her gaze, ‘The coppice is yours then?’
Waverly turned to stare out over the field, ‘My family tended it once, yes … my sister looked after it and would harvest the growth. Then we would weave baskets to sell in the village,’
Nicole thought of the basket she had used that morning to forage their breakfast – it had been made by skilled hands. ‘But not for a while?’
The smaller woman exhaled a breath as a sigh – part sadness and part resignation to answering Nicole’s question, ‘When my sister died there was no one to harvest the hazel,’
Nicole bowed her head. She had no doubt that Waverly could have easily collected the wood but perhaps she had been unable to bring herself to tread in the footsteps of her lost sister. ‘And you’ve been alone here ever since?’
Waverly’s only answer was to lean forward and collect their bowls and spoons. She stood, pausing to say, ‘I do appreciate what you have done and what you still have planned,’
Nicole stood too, a sad smile playing at her lips, ‘But you would prefer my labour more than my pity …’ she bowed her head in apology but then lifted it again to tell her, ‘I did not mean to sound like I pitied you, I’m sorry,’
The smaller woman straightened, ‘I don’t need pity,’
‘I know,’ Nicole replied with confidence and turned back to the hazel construction.
~*~
The next morning, the sun cleared the horizon as Nicole set about finishing the first panel and had just completed when Waverly appeared carrying two bowls of porridge.
‘I’ll continue to build around the lean-to for now,’ Nicole told her by way of greeting, but will need to take it down before I finish the third panel. Some of the old material will insulate the new walls and the rest can probably go to your roof,’
Waverly nodded her approval, ‘Very resourceful,’
Nicole lifted a shoulder as she swallowed a mouthful, ‘I don’t know any different,’
‘Wynonna would be impressed,’
Nicole was slow to respond, almost as if she were approaching a skittish horse, ‘Wynonna – your sister?’
‘She was good with her hands like you are but …’ she paused, a smile lit her face along with whatever pleasant memories were playing out in her mind, ‘… she knew how to ferment pretty much anything she thought would taste good … or at least, not poison her,’
Nicole spluttered a laugh and lowered the spoon she had been about to slip in her mouth, ‘Really?’
‘She did like a drink,’ Waverly laughed softly but then her eyes shadowed once more, like clouds passing across the sun. She started to eat, Nicole following suit. Questions still filled her mind, but she was grateful for the small amount Waverly had shared.
Hard, efficient work and few breaks saw the longest wall of hazel completed by mid-afternoon. Keeping to her plan to remove the lean-to while she had the wide opening at the end, she set about the task with the same joyful intensity with which she had bult the two new sides. The lean-to, old and poorly secured, proved easy to remove and although she had decided that most of the reclaimed material could be used as insulation for the new shelter, gathering grey clouds made her decide to leave that task for now in favour of using what was needed on the roof. She set the ladder at the back of the house and climbed up to inspect the roof there. Finding several areas for repair, she set about the task with the stamina of someone who had already achieved several hours successful work and was eager to carry on.
The sound of a horse approaching drew Nicole’s attention and she slid further up the roof to peer over the top. Her jaw clenched at the sight of Hardy as he pulled his horse to a stop, remaining in the saddle as he looked down at Waverly who had gone to meet him. They exchanged words that Nicole couldn’t hear, less than friendly words judging by Waverly’s demeanour. The small woman turned for the house and Hardy jumped down from the saddle to pace after her, his features set and less then patient. Nicole slipped silently over the apex of the roof and then, unseen, made her way down the other side just as Hardy grabbed Waverly’s arm and spun her round.
‘Don’t walk away from me, woman!’ Hardy growled, harsh fingers bruising Waverly’s upper arm as he spun her to face him.
Waverly’s eyes flashed with the anger that would have been clearly heard in her voice had the thump of feet and the appearance of a slim body beside her not cut her words short.
‘Let her go,’ Nicole’s voice thrummed with threat, her eyes the needle-like focus of a hawk’s as she met his gaze.
Hardy’s mouth flapped open and shut as he stepped back, hand falling quickly from Waverly’s arm. He eventually managed to emit intelligible sounds, ‘… doing here?’
‘Surprised to see me?’ Nicole smiled, dangerous and unpleasant enough to make Hardy take another step back.
‘I have made it clear to you,’ Waverly told Hardy as she followed him, ‘We have nothing to discuss and you are not welcome on my land,’
‘Your land?’ Hardy laughed harshly, regathering the few wits he had, ‘You only stay here because no one else has taken their claim to it. This is no more your land than the woods around it!’
‘This has been our home for generations,’ Waverly countered.
‘This piece of shit land owes more coin than it is worth,’
‘A debt that was never mine,’ Waverly replied, her tone suggesting that it wasn’t the first time she had said it, ‘And any who had claim against this land declared such debts nulled when …’ she stopped, perhaps remembering that Nicole was standing just behind her. Taking a breath, she told him, ‘I owe no one,’
Hardy rolled his neck, ‘On that we disagree,’
There was something in his tone, something predatory that had Nicole stepping forward.
Waverly half turned, eyes flashing in warning before she turned back to Hardy, ‘Disagree all you want – it is all you will ever have with me,’
Curling his lip, Hardy returned to his horse and climbed into the saddle, glaring down at them he sneered, ‘We’ll see,’
Hardy was almost out of sight before Waverly turned to say, ‘I think he was somewhat surprised to see you,’
Nicole had expected curt words about her defence of Waverly and was caught out by the question. ‘Sorry?’
Waverly nodded in the direction Hardy had ridden, ‘He left you for dead, didn’t he?’
Nicole took a breath to answer but Waverly spoke before she could.
‘Well – not just him,’ there was a hint of humour in her voice, but it quickly became overshadowed by anger, ‘his friends were a help, no doubt?’
Nicole nodded carefully, feeling unsure and a little uncomfortable with the conversation, although she didn’t know why. Waverly had seen her at her worst – beaten and bloodied – why be embarrassed by the fact she had been unable to defend herself against five men. And why did Waverly’s opinion of her matter anyway?
‘Looks like you got a couple of good shots in,’ Waverly observed lightly.
Nicole frowned as she recaptured what she had seen of Hardy’s features. She had been so caught up with the situation that she hadn’t paid him any real attention but now she realised that he had been wearing the fading evidence of their fracas.
‘Come and sit inside while I prepare evening meal,’ Waverly announced and when Nicole went to argue she responded with, ‘You’ve done enough for one day. Tidy your tools, wash up in the water trough and come inside,’
‘Yes, m’lady,’ Nicole responded, dipping her head.
Waverly chuckled and turned, pausing briefly to glance over her shoulder and declare, ‘I rather enjoyed the way you dropped down from the roof,’
Nicole flushed slightly, ‘It wasn’t a planned appearance … but still worth it to see the look on his face,’
‘Yes,’ Waverly smiled, ‘it was,’
Tools tidied, hands and face glistening and pink from their wash in the cool water of the trough, Nicole knocked on the door. Her knock hadn’t been hard, but the door still swung inwards. She stayed on the threshold though, waiting for a response to her arrival.
‘It’s a little late to be standing on propriety, isn’t it?’ Waverly called lightly.
Nicole was pretty sure that other than the expected knock and wait, she had no idea what other social niceties she would be expected to follow in any village or town. The only proprieties she followed came from the deep respect she held for her surroundings and its support of her way of life.
Waverly appeared from the shadows at the back of the house and waved Nicole in.
The redhead nodded to the shadowed area where the smaller woman had just finished tacking down a worn blanket over the large opening. ‘I shall add fixing that window to my list,’
Waverly laughed softly but her words were a clear change of focus, ‘Your search for chores makes me wonder if you are intending to set down roots here,’
Nicole felt a strange flutter in her stomach at the suggestion but was quick to respond, ‘I don’t think my people have grown roots for a long time,’
Waverly paused in her passing to look up at Nicole, ‘Are you sure you do not come from gypsies?’
‘Not to my knowledge – we just moved around, that was all. Just a group of travellers who picked up strays. When I was much younger there were more of us but …’ she lifted a shoulder, ‘… time and the life we lead thinned us out,’
‘Until only you remained?’
Nicole shook her head slightly, ‘There were others my age but … I didn’t care for them,’
‘Oh?’
Waverly’s interest had Nicole suddenly humbled by the reminder of all the questions she had cast into the air between them over the past days. ‘It doesn’t matter,’
Waverly’s lips curled into a devilish smile, ‘You want evening meal?’
Nicole huffed a laugh, eyes shining with humour, ‘I could go hunt,’
‘Hunt … set a fire … prepare the meat? All before nightfall?’
Nicole could easily do all that without difficulty, but she still bit her lip as if unsure. ‘What price then – to save me from a hungry night beneath the stars?’
‘Completion of your words,’ Waverly replied simply, ‘Why did you care so little for the others that you would rather be alone?’
Nicole took a breath. The answer was simple while it remained in her head but hard to let free having never been spoken aloud. ‘I …’ another breath and then a strange expectation that Waverly would not judge her for her truth, ‘… I prefer my own company to the company of men,’
Waverly’s heart was warmed by the tremble of anxiety she heard in Nicole’s voice. A tremble that begged simply to be understood. She took a few moments of consideration before asking, ‘And had there been women amongst them? Women of your own age?’
Nicole bowed her head, unable to keep Waverly’s gaze, ‘I might have had cause to stay,’
Silence stretched for several moments before Nicole’s head was lifted by a soft fingertip beneath her chin and softer words on her ears, ‘I know what it is to be judged – I favour no one with a disparaging eye,’
‘Except Hardy?’ Nicole asked, once again trying for humour but falling far short of the mark – or perhaps, given Waverly’s change in expression, hitting the target full centre. Words were too quick to her lips, ‘He’s the reason the town shuns you?’
Waverly’s features became like stone, and she moved past, heading to the table where she started to prepare their meal.
‘I’m sorry,’ Nicole said softly, moving to stand a little closer but her words clearly had little effect.
‘You should complete the tasks you have set yourself and not stay for longer than needed. Hardy is a mean little boy and does not let things go,’
‘I can look after myself,’ Nicole replied, far firmer than she intended.
Waverly set her knife down and turned to face Nicole, ‘The cloud of Hardy’s displeasure can spread shadow over more than just those who have angered him,’
‘I would protect you from that shadow,’
‘If you were to leave, the shadow would go with you,’ Waverly replied simply and returned to cutting the vegetables.
‘If?’ Nicole asked softly.
Waverly paused and stared straight ahead. Eventually she turned her attention back to her task, ‘When you leave …’
*
They had taken their meal in near silence, continuing in the way their interaction had fallen. Nicole had returned to the small shack soon after, hopes of spending more time in Waverly’s company dashed by the few words they had shared. She returned to the bed of rolled straw with emotions coursing through her body that made her chest feel empty and hollow. An unusual feeling that she was not enjoying and cared not to investigate further. After all, Waverly was right. She would finish the tasks in repayment of the care and attention the smaller woman had given her and then be on her way. She had no doubt that, should she stay, she could easily dissuade Hardy of allowing his dislike of her to fall on Waverly but, as she had learned more than once, the trick to survival was avoiding situations that required it. Although truly, her desire was to not make the other woman’s situation any worse – especially since there was clearly nothing Nicole could do to improve it for her. Not that the desire to do that was as strong as anything else she was feeling. The twisting, turmoil of emotions was as unpleasant as it was unusual, and Nicole settled onto her bed and forced an equal settling of thoughts and intent. She would finish her tasks and be gone from this place within two more sunsets.
*
It was either her unsettled mind or the knowledge that she would be returning to the woods soon that made her sleep fitful and increasingly frustrating as any meaningful rest alluded her. Grunting in annoyance, she spun her legs round and sat for a moment. Finally giving in to the call of the trees, she pulled her boots on and grabbed her belt and sheathed knife. Shoving the blanket aside, she stepped out into a clear night. The moon was large in the sky and surrounded by more stars than the eye could embrace. She inhaled through her nose, picking up the scent of night-flowering fauna and the change that had long since seen day pass into night. She approached the trees to the upper edge of the field, having a sense that this was the direction that Waverly had brought her. She had no intention of trying to find her camp – if there was anything left there worth keeping, she would be better finding it in daylight. No, right now, she merely wished to feel the trees above her and the welcomed, familiar ground beneath her feet – perhaps hoping to find her equilibrium once more when reminded of her home.
And she did feel a sense of that as she stepped beneath the foliage and into the warmer air beneath that appeared to welcome her as if in embrace. No matter where she travelled or how different the woodlands in which she found herself, her heart felt at home beneath the trees, and she exhaled a breath she had imagined she had been holding for days. She turned to look out over the silvery field and all that her eyes had lain upon for the same amount of time, finding herself surprised to not feel as disconnected as she had expected. She had imagined that stepping beneath the trees would remind her of the freedom felt when there were no walls or structures to confine her. Yet as she looked back, eyes resting on the ramshackle shelter that Waverly called home, Nicole felt her heart swell at the welcome sight. She shook her head at her own foolishness – such reactions would fade once she was far enough away to see it only in her mind’s eye. Such images, too, would surely fade as seasons passed. Yet Nicole had a sense that a hundred seasons could pass from one to the next and she would still remember the woman who had saved her. Would still smell the soft freshness of her. The softness of her voice. The beauty of her eyes. And she smiled at that as she turned to venture further beneath the trees. She would walk through these woods, perhaps to the mountains but inevitably onto further lands and be happy to leave much of what had happened here behind. But Waverly would stay in pleasant remembrance.
Nicole strolled somewhat aimlessly, her innate sense of direction giving her the confidence that she would follow a circular route without any conscious thought. Soon, she came upon the stream that had been the source of water while she had camped beneath the trees. She followed its higher bank, enjoying the view from this side, since she had always been on the other. She absorbed her surroundings as she walked, felt the air on her skin and the breath of mixed scents in her nostrils. Listened to the scuffle and scurry of nighttime creatures as they ran from her sound and scent. It was a pleasant walk beneath filtered moonlight, unhurried and therefore undisturbed by jutting roots or tripping bramble. And she did, as she had hoped, find her equilibrium once more. The woods were her home, and it really did welcome her with its vast embrace.
As expected, she sensed the circular turn of her stroll but, unwilling to return just yet, she sought out a large oak and climbed easily into its branches. Fairly close to the edge of the wood, she climbed high enough to see out over the lower trees to where the field sloped down. A subtle change of shadow outlined the small shed and then Waverly’s home. In the distance, too dark to be seen, she knew was the edge of wood where the tended hazel coppice grew. It felt so strange for Nicole to feel familiarity for human structures that she found herself turning from them and staring back into the shadows and moonbeams of the woods.
Settled, silent amongst the branches and her scent lifted from the woodland floor, the nighttime creatures resumed their activities. A badger, rotund, grey body shining in the moonlight, shuffled heavily past and she smiled as she watched it move with near arrogant intent – caring nothing for anything in its path. A path it had probably trodden nightly for its entire adult life. Smaller creatures too darted in and out of the undergrowth, the dance of chasing food while avoiding being hunted themselves. Nicole settled to the show, a relaxed smile pulling at her lips. The passage of time not counted, she just watched and breathed easy.
At some point, a subtle shift in the wind roused her from a half-doze and she glanced towards the unseen West, reminded that this land was closer to the sea than it was inland. The change in the breeze coming from the shift in tides which, although many miles away, was still felt by those who knew to sense it. Dawn would be soon on its heels. In response to the shifting tide of a sea that they had no knowledge of, the nighttime creatures’ foraging brought them circling back to their dens and sets. Eyes and ears designed for life in near darkness were poor assistants come the light of day. Nicole stayed where she was, her eyes feeling heavy once more as she relaxed and let herself rest for a little longer.
The sound of a heavier creature approaching made her eyes snap open, body tensing but more from instinct than concern. The light had changed slightly, moonlight giving way to the first hint of dawn. She looked down to see the twelve-point stag emerge from behind thick growth and walk cautiously forward. She studied its gait, exploratory rather than confident. He was new to the area, no doubt a buck without a herd. Although the fading marks of a past challenge across its snout and head spoke of attempts to secure a place amongst one. She stayed still and let the buck pass. If she spooked it, it would run and since they were both unfamiliar with the area, who knew where it would end up? But if she let it explore at its own pace, then tracking it come the light of proper dawn would be much easier.
Waiting until she was sure the buck had moved far enough away, she climbed down from the tree and headed back towards the field and the small shack where Waverly had set the borrowed bow and quiver. Nicole had not forgotten her agreement to have her work completed in as timely a manner as possible, but nor had she forgotten her need for a good knife. If an extra day spent fixing the roof and door was the additional price for the antler, then she would pay it without question. Better a day delayed than a risky time beneath her beloved trees if she remained unable to protect herself.
Climbing down from the tree, she took some time to study the buck’s tracks and to secure her current location in her memory. Satisfied that she would be able to return here and track the beast, she continued on the circular path that would lead her back to the field.
Approaching the edge of the treeline, she froze when a movement caught her attention. A shadow, darker than the growing light of early dawn, emerged from the trees and paced across the open area of field. Even in the early light, she recognised the creature and felt both a strange joy and instinctual fear at seeing it. The wolf moved with confidence, sniffing across the grass, tracing trails of creatures that had long passed. The wolf’s unhurried searching led it on a path that saw it snuffle around the back of the shelter where Nicole had spent the past few nights, and she felt her heart quicken in her chest. The wolf’s behaviour was of an animal both familiar and confident within its surroundings, making Nicole wonder how many times she had slept as the wolf had searched within a few feet of her. It made her both excited and fearful, the emotions merging into a simple respectful gratitude that the animal had apparently chosen to ignore her while she had been in her weakened state. She watched as the wolf continued across the field in an unhurried search for scents of interest. Her heart, which had returned to a more normal tempo, quickened once more as she watched the shadow circle closer to Waverly’s home and then disappear from sight around the side furthest from the horse. Nicole waited a few breaths before edging from the treeline, eyes strained on the field below the house, hoping to see that the wolf had continued on its way. When she saw no sign of it she hurried across the field to retrieve her bow. Armed with loaded bow and quiver at her back, she carefully approached Waverly’s home. She moved to the side to afford herself a view of the lower field, praying over and over that she would see the wolf as it strolled into the woods. When she saw no sign of it and with the barest hint of sun playing along the horizon, she edged slowly closer.
Her quickened heart slammed against her chest as the distinctive shape rounded the back corner of the house. It paused briefly, snout lifted towards the rising sun, before strong hind legs propelled it easily through the large opening.
Gasping a cry, Nicole sprinted forward. The house seemed to move away from her as she ran, her anxiety and fear distorting her perception of the time it took to reach the doorway. She skidded to a halt, checked the slot of the arrow and then kicked the door open. Rushing inside she spun the bow towards the side wall. Surprise at the sight that greeted her was almost enough to make her loose the arrow. Somehow she managed to hold on to it as her eyes searched the gloomy interior. When her eyes found nothing but the naked woman standing before her, she slowly relaxed the string and lowered the bow.
Waverly inhaled a breath and waved towards the chair next to Nicole, ‘Can you at least pass me that blanket?’