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The arrival of the Francesca into port was of course a public event and needless to say, her grandfather pounced immediately upon its return. He forbid her to see Ryan or to socialize with any of the Colby family members again. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t expected. But to ease his mind and allow soother meetings between Ryan and herself to occur, she gave him her word as a gentleman’s daughter.
Scooting down the bluff road, she hooked quickly where it met the railroad tracks and followed them around the harbor until they reached the bridge that stretched across the mouth of the river. Thankful for her more appropriate foot attire, she stopped to look out at the horizon where the river beneath emptied into Lake Huron and basked in its sheer beauty. Smiling, she turned and hurried across.
Indeed, at the Colby farm, she was welcome by all family members. They treated her as they usually would. While she sat with adoring eyes fastened to Ryan’s face as he recounted his latest story, she felt love overflowing. Someday, this would be home. The Colbys had always been particularly dear to Erika long before their youngest son won her heart. They were always full of such kindness, treating Erika as if she was a part of the family. Even Jay’s plain-spoken and sometimes crude personality seemed less opposing.
She sighed and tore her eyes away from Ryan’s face to look around the table. She was startled to catch Jay watching her. As soon as he realized she had noticed, he quickly looked away and leaped to his feet. “Dinner was wonderful as usual mother.”
Lillith Colby turned and smiled up at him. “Are you leaving to do chores?”
He nodded and quickly left the room. Ryan noticed his departure and perked up instantly. “I understand we have some newborns?”
“Yes, a calf and two lambs.”
“Come on, sweetheart, we must go visit with them.” He grabbed her hand and followed his brother.
She saw Jay’s figure enter the barn just as they left the house. Garrett had also decided to join them, and his usual silent self-accompanied them as they entered the dimly lit barn. There was a sound from the back of the barn and Ryan led her in that direction. For the second time, she was grateful for her sensible boots as she found herself walking in matter she seriously questioned the identity of, if the foul smell was anything to go by.
They reached a holding pen where a cow lay on the bedded straw and the smallest animal Erika had ever seen lay suckling at her teats. “Oh, how adorable.”
“I love spring,” Ryan said, smiling. “It always brings new life.”
She smiled in response. A movement behind his head distracted her. Jay was busy doing something in the next stall. Glancing at Ryan and noticing his attention firmly fixated on the calf, she got up and went over to where Jay was working. He didn’t see her and continued about his business. Erika watched as he crouched down low with something in his hands that looked like an infant’s bottle, and then swept up a baby lamb into his arms before settling himself comfortably amongst the bed of straw. Curiosity had her stepping forward. Jay glanced up.
“What are you doing?”
He gestured to the little critter. “Feeding the lamb. Mamma accepted his twin, but rejected this one.”
Frowning, Erika kneeled down in front of him and hated the fact the form-fitting outfit she wore, caused the skirts to gather awkwardly around her thighs. Shifting them as best she could, she gave a good look at the animal in his arms. It was by far smaller than the calf and looked three times as weak.
Immediately, Erika’s heart ached for the poor thing. “Why not?”
“Mom’s probably too young. Doesn’t really know what she’s doing.”
“That’s not fair.”
Jay chuckled. “Suppose it could be worse. Some are known to kill their young.”
“But it’s just a baby. It doesn’t know better,” she said and reached out to stroke its wool. “You’re expected to trust the ones who love you and want to guide you in the right direction. Even at times when they seem a tad overbearing or, dictatorial. Nevertheless, you believe they know best because you love them and trust them. Then after a while, you learn not to trust your own instincts and rely solely on their judgment. Even at times when it isn’t always right. Because, you see, they’re not supposed to hurt you or steer you wrong. So when they do, it is that much more painful.”
Raising her head, she noticed Jay watching her closely, a trace of what looked horribly like sympathy lurking in his eyes so she quickly looked away. She did not want his pity. She wanted his understanding.
“Well, if it’s any consolation,” he said, bringing her attention back to his face. “With proper attention this kid will grow far bigger and stronger than his ma, so if he really wanted, he could do some serious ass kicking.”
“Jay,” she scolded quietly, but grinned at his hidden meaning.
With his attention back on the animal, Erika sat and observed him unnoticed. Considering his huge size and obvious strength, he was unbelievably gentle with the creature. The gentle giant. She smirked softly to herself and raised her gaze to look into Jay’s eyes, but he was too intent on feeding the animal.
Yet again, she was seeing a side to him a month ago she would never have thought possible. The memory of him chopping wood for the Layman’s, or fixing the sister’s cutter, or carrying Erika all the way home on his back came to mind. Jay Colby was not at all what she thought him to be. He wasn’t the villain, he was a hero.
“Jay?” she said.
He looked up.
Erika swallowed a painful lump in her throat, leaned slightly forward and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Something flickered briefly in his eyes, but other than that, he offered no response and simply returned his attention to the feeding of the baby lamb. However, in that brief look, Erika saw something she had seen only one other time. The look that reminded her of years past of a boy she thought long gone. He allowed his guard down for a fleeting moment and permitted her to see a part of him that still lurked unnoticed. And in doing so, let her know that he had indeed understood, and Erika knew she had finally been forgiven.
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