Beyond the Green

24

As I gingerly lifting a pail of water, it was satisfying to know that I'd managed to scrub the floor by myself. Tyler and Kajika had replaced the glass window in my room, and one or the other was always around to help me with the chores. It had been nearly four weeks, and I still carried the deep bruises. My cheek and eye were healing nicely, the skin no longer blue, but more of a brownish yellow. The scabs on my wrists had come off, leaving behind tender new skin that still stung when touched too casually.

The worst was the massive discoloration across my stomach. I remembered the force with which Gaines had thrown me across his saddle, the way the pommel had dug into me as he rode. I had never imagined it would still hurt so badly.

The door was open for the beautiful weather to freshen up the cabin atmosphere. Though snow was still on the ground, it had not stormed since last week, and the weather was consistently warmer. Spring was right around the corner. Dumping the water over the porch rail I waved at Kajika as he moved from the bunkhouse to the barn. He had been keeping to himself lately.

Tyler had told me it was because he was preparing to join his people when they came back to the summer hunting grounds. He lifted his hand in return but did not stop. Looking around, I felt my spirits lift higher than they had been in a long while. A sudden breeze picked up and I lifted my arms, standing directly in the face of it.

Letting it wash over me, I tilted my head back, feeling my curls lift from my shoulders to dance in the wind. My skirt billowed around my legs and I felt my heart lift, leaving me weightless. It was a sensation I had not felt since I was a girl back home. The breeze blew harder for a moment then died down and I opened my eyes, refreshed.

I wanted more of that feeling and knew how to get it. My filly hadn't been ridden since that first day, and I was suddenly in the mood for a ride. The barn was quiet and empty. Kajika must have finished what he was doing. The filly nickered at me as I approached and rubbed her forehead gently. Opening the stall door for her, I let her follow me from the barn like an overgrown puppy.

"What do you say beautiful one? Would you like a ride today? Hmm?" I scratched at her chin and patted her neck. "Can't go alone though, I think at least one of us would get lost."

"I'll come along, if you promise to behave."

I spun around at Tyler's voice. He had ridden up to the barn without me hearing him and was sitting atop the dun gelding smiling at me. I smiled back.

"Where have you been all day?"

"I went into town early, had some business there. Two letters were there from Virginia for you."

He held them out to me, but I shook my head.

"I'm in too good a mood to read them now."

"Okay." He watched me gather the filly's riding tack for a moment. "Need a hand?"

"I think I've got it, thank you though." Sliding the bit gently into the filly's mouth I tightened the strap behind her ears.

Gently smoothing out her forelock I squeezed her nose before laying the blanket across her back and smoothed it out. Lifting the saddle was hard, the tender muscles in my stomach twitching with a spasm of pain. I gasped. Tyler swung down and hurried to my side. Taking the saddle from my hands he threw it over the filly's back and cinched it down.

"No shame in asking for help," was his gentle rebuke.

"I'm not trying to be stubborn, I just feel like I should be able to do it myself." I defended mildly.

"You're healing fast, but don't push it. You'll be back to spirited before you know it."

"Flattery won't work." I informed him primly.