Page 20 of Beneath the Harvest Moon

John passed a bottle of cider to a woman for distribution. “She is not due for a few weeks. Could there be a problem?”

“Not necessarily,” Blythe unwrapped a wheel of cheese and broke it into smaller portions. “Because this is her fifth child, the onset of labour pains and the birth could be rapid. It is not uncommon after multiple pregnancies.”

“What are her symptoms?” Gabriel asked.

“Her lower back aches, and she mentioned twinges in her belly.”

John almost choked on a mouthful of cider. “Is the baby on its way?”

“Be calm.” Blythe patted her brother’s back. “Jane did not think so.”

Gabriel grabbed a bottle of the cloudy beverage and filled his tin cup. “She is probably correct; false labour pains are common in the last months of pregnancy. But I shall attend her after we have finished for the day.”

John nodded his thanks, then said, “Now, let’s eat.”

Blythe handed Gabriel a crusty bread roll.

“Thank you.” He grinned and heat flooded her cheeks.

Good heavens, she was the mother of two children. She should not blush simply because a handsome man deigned to smile at her.

She concentrated on handing out cheese. A myriad of accents offered their thanks.

Elijah approached.

“Are you enjoying your time with Uncle John?”

“Yes.” He took the bread she offered and bit into the crust with relish. “Farming is so interesting. Why did you not bring us here before?”

“Your Papa preferred us to remain in York.” Guilt swirled in her stomach at the half-truth.

“I love it here: the fresh air, the sense of industry and accomplishment. I have been scything the wheat, collecting and tying the sheaves, and learning about how to tell when the wheat is ready to harvest. My uncle has been kind enough to explain many things, but I want to know more. It is much more interesting than discussing how to make money.” Elijah took another hearty bite of his bread.

Blythe passed him a bottle of cider. “Here, you must be thirsty.”

He gulped several mouthfuls, then nodded over her shoulder. “I have been speaking to Doctor Sharpe too. Did you know he studied medicine at Edinburgh?”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

“His knowledge of how the human body works is extensive.” He jogged over to Gabriel.

While they spoke, Gabriel smiled at her over Elijah’s shoulder.

She should focus on her duties rather than fawning over the man she jilted fifteen years ago because she was a coward.

The women whispered with their heads together, between sly glances towards Gabriel. Elijah looked up at the doctor with a bright smile, nodding every few moments.

Mrs Simmonds would be unhappy if Elijah did not follow in his father’s footsteps, but his happiness was more important to her than his grandmother’s approval. Unlike her mother, she would defend and support him, regardless.

Sweat bloomed on the back of her neck by the time she stacked the empty baskets on the cart.

“Now then, what’s a fine woman like you doing here?”

Who would dare to address her without being introduced?

A tall, wide-chested man with deep-brown skin swept off his straw hat and bowed. “Thomas Kemp, Lord of the Harvest, at your service.” The rising inflection of his south-west vernacular was soft and melodic.

Blythe could not stop the wide smile that spread across her face. Even in York, as the wife of an esteemed businessman, she was not greeted with such aplomb.