“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Supervising,” I replied.
Warren gave another grunt as he shuffled around in the hay. “I feel likewemight be the ones who need supervising.”
“I wouldn’t mind being supervised right now,” I said with a sigh as I tipped my head against the rough wood wall.
Kit had taken over leading the horse and carried on down the plow line, leaving Merrick to catch up. My half-brother stumbled along, sporting what looked like an awkward limp with one boot completely logged with mud and unbalancing his stride.
I knew Kit didn’t dare look back because he was bound to be smiling as wide as I was. He managed stoicism better than I did, but there was no chance he could resist cracking a grin at this.
Quiet crept up on us. On me, mostly, lost in my thoughts as I was until Warren spoke again.
“So, blacksmithing?”
“It’s the shoulders,” I murmured dreamily, then realized what I said and shook off my stupor. “Oh, you meant my apprenticeship. Yes. Blacksmithing.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
Was this how Kit felt when we first met? Perhaps how he still felt on nights when the day had worn on him and he would have preferred a tranquil evening at home. But there I was, like Warren was now, all wide eyes and eager smiles. And questions.
“It’s fine work,” I replied. “Kit’s good at it.”
With another heavy breath, I peeled my eyes from the field and faced him. “Mostly, I do leatherworking. Belts, straps, bags, and the like.”
“Ah.” Warren folded his arms, looking very sage, or at least deep in thought, before he piped up again. “It’s an interesting approach.”
“What is?” I asked.
He bounced his shoulders. “Taking on an apprenticeship for the sake of charming a suitor. You must have been eager to impress him.”
The insinuation made me bristle. “I’ll have you knowIwas the suitor. Not Kit.”
And if blacksmithing was the way to Kit’s heart, I would never have hit the mark. Fortunately, my beau appreciated my other skills. Keeping his home cozy, his belly full, and his bed warm.
A smug smile chased away my indignance in time for Warren to pose yet another inquiry.
“Andyouproposed?” He cocked his head, spilling brown hair across his brow.
“He surprised me,” I replied. “I thought I would have to chase him to his grave… And I was willing.” My smile grew, and Warren nodded understanding.
“You won him over.”
I snorted. “Somehow.”
“That’s why I’m here,” he continued. “Well, that and because Sayla asked. But Iwouldlike to impress her.”
I glanced toward the field once more. It was strange to think about a man working for my sister’s approval. Sayla was a cheerful sort, ever ready with a smile or laugh. I didn’t imagine she would be difficult to please. But a check of Warren’s expression found it earnest, almost adoring as he considered.
“Do you think she’ll be impressed?” he asked.
I hummed a soft sound. “Not if we spend the day sitting in here.”
Recounting our accomplishments for the day didn’t yield much bounty, so I understood his concern. Kit would be pleased enough that I’d stayed out of the damp cold. Any other accomplishments were a bonus. But Warren was a man with a mission, and if I could aid him, I would. He might have doubted his ability to charm my sister, but I knew she’d been smitten with him since I left Eastcliff the past autumn. Having a day’s work to boast about wasn’t likely to improve her estimation of him, but it couldn’t hurt.
Pushing to my feet, I offered Warren a hand up. “I’m sure we can make ourselves useful.”
He stood and followed me down the ladder to the ground floor. I dusted my hands down my trousers and surveyed the space. It was disorganized and dusty, untouched since I left it after harvest. It wasn’t thrilling work, but Warren would have something to show for his efforts. And I would get dirty enough to earn the bath I hadn’t stopped thinking about. Massaging Kit’s sore muscles, kissing his strong shoulders, and popping the soap bubbles on his neck.
