Page 82 of The Piper's Pursuit

“No, no pain. The healing salve has done what it is famous for.”

This was what she would have said to him if she had not overheard his conversation with his father last night, and she was determined not to treat him differently. It stung that Steffan, an outsider, would be made mayor of Hamlin. But it shouldn’t. And she shouldn’t be angry or resentful of him. It wasn’t Steffan’s fault. She should be angry that men never thought women capable enough to be mayors or leaders.

But the truth remained that she resented the very thought of Steffan being mayor, sitting in the same seat that Hennek had occupied for more than ten years. Men born to privilege, they thought everything should be easy for them. And it was! They were given land, towns, wealth, even people. It was their birthright, and they felt entitled to it.

But it was hard to be angry when she noticed the way his mouth looked slack and soft when he looked at her, while his brows were low and intense. He’d washed the flour out of his hair and had shaved—thank goodness. She liked the rugged way he looked with a couple of days’ stubble, but the beard made him look bedraggled. Clean-shaven was his best look—sweet and a bit boyish, a good combination with his height, muscles, and broad shoulders. But she truly did not care about muscles or broad shoulders. She cared about Steffan’s heart, his kind ways, his gentleness to the vulnerable, and his fierceness against oppressors.

“Are you glad to be going back to Hamlin?” he asked.

“Yes. Are you?”

He seemed to consider for a moment, then said with a smile, “Yes.”

Yes, of course you are. You are about to become mayor.

“I know your mother and father were glad to see you again after such a long time away.”

“Yes, they were.” His expression grew much more sober and he stared down at his horse’s neck. “They have always been better parents to me than I deserve.”

“Are you not pleased they were glad to see you?”

“Yes, of course. I told them I was sorry for defying my father and fighting on the side of the Teutonic Knights.”

“All is forgiven now, I suppose.”

“They forgive me for the things I did to them. I only hope God can forgive me for the terrible things I did, for killing innocent people just because I wanted to be a knight.”

He looked so sorry. It was a terrible thing. And Steffan would have to deal with it for the rest of his life. But at least he wasn’t like Hennek. Steffan was admitting what he had done. Hennek never admitted any wrongdoing, even now that he’d been caught.

“Steffan was a knight?” one of the children exclaimed in a childish squeal.

Kat turned to the children riding on the cart next to her. “Listening to other people’s conversations when they are unaware is very impolite.” But her words convicted her, after what she’d overheard, and stayed to listen to, last night.

The children only giggled.

“When we stop again, I’m going to tickle all of you,” Steffan warned.

That ignited a few more laughs before the children started tickling each other, resulting in a grouchy reprimand from one of the guards, which scared the children into silence. Steffan caught their eye, grinned, and winked.

“You are not a bad person, Steffan.”

He looked a bit startled at her declaration.

“I mean, you are kind to children, you admit when you’re wrong, and you respect other people’s feelings and wishes.”

“Does that mean you trust me?” He gave her a slight smile. “I know you trust me a little bit.”

“Perhaps. A little bit.”

“Were you worried about me when the healer said my wounds were putrid?”

“I was.”

“Would you have mourned me if I’d died?”

She let out a long sigh. “You are teasing me.”

His horse had come quite close. He reached out and touched her cheek, ever so softly and briefly, with the back of his hand. Her stomach fluttered. Did anyone see what he did? Did he not care that all these men would be teasing him? But perhaps this public display meant... something.