A Knight in Central Park(98)

Instead, he discovered that not only had Rebecca joined him during the night, so had Susan and Alexandra. In fact, Susan and Rebecca were snuggled tightly to his right side, while Alexandra was clamped tightly to his left, her leg draped over his, her hair tickling his nose.

Even Garrett had moved closer, but not so close to make it obvious. The fire had long since died out. Through the canopy of trees, the sun’s rays already filtered through the leaves and branches. They had overslept. He shook Alexandra’s shoulder. “Time to wake up. We overslept.”

She opened her eyes and rubbed them, blushing when she saw where they had all ended up. Joe stared at her long and hard, something he found himself doing more and more.

She stared back, her expression filled with compassion. Their journey was coming to an end...just like the storm Susan had spoken of last night. He reached out a hand and pushed hair from her eyes. A few more freckles had gathered across her perfect nose. He wanted to kiss that nose. “Have I told you recently how very beautiful you are?”

She placed her palm against his jaw, her fingers touching him as if for the last time. His heart ached to think he was hurting her this way. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to forget all about today, tomorrow, and the next day, and just kiss her.

Her lashes fluttered, her gaze set on his. Her eyes were the same bright green as precious stones. He could write a poem about her eyes, her nose, her lips. Those lips enticed him, made him ache for her. Nothing short of an army could stop him from kissing her.

“Time to set off,” Garrett said in a loud grating tone.

Joe returned the boy’s steely gaze. Neither one of them blinking.

“What?” Garrett asked, mimicking Joe’s line as he came toward them and shook both his younger sisters awake. Garrett hovered over them for a moment longer than necessary, daring Joe to try and kiss his sister.

“I guess we better get going,” he said to Alexandra.

“I imagine we should,” she replied.

“Garrett,” Joe called out as the boy headed for the denser area of the woods. “Don’t forget to wash behind your ears.”

“Why should I listen to you? You are not going to be here to tell me to wash my ears tomorrow or the next day, are you?”

Joe looked at Alexandra. She shrugged, letting him know she had no answer for him and was too tired to get involved in their early morning bickering.

“No, you’re right, Garrett. I’m not going to be here tomorrow or the next day. But I’m here right now and I’m telling you it’s a good idea once in a while to wash behind your ears. But hey, I’m not your father, am I? You don’t need to listen to me.”

Garrett had already turned away, already disappeared before he finished his last sentence. “That is one stubborn kid,” he said to Alexandra, but she was already up and moving, gathering the blankets and telling Susan to take Rebecca to the lake for a quick washing.

Thirty minutes later, the horses had been readied. He and Alexandra were just beginning to worry when Susan came hobbling through the brush, her arm heavy about Rebecca’s small shoulders for support.

“What happened?” Alexandra asked as she ran toward them.

“I think I broke my leg,” Susan cried. “I tripped on an old rotted stump.”

“Can you ride?” Joe asked.

“I dare not even try it hurts so badly.” She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders trembling as if she were crying.

Acting was not Susan’s forte, Joe realized as he went to her. “Where does it hurt exactly?” He touched her leg.

She groaned and moaned as if he had kicked her in the shins. “Oh, the pain.”

Joe lifted a brow, flattered to see that the two girls were scheming, stalling, trying to delay them from setting off so that he would be forced to stay.

“Don’t move,” Joe said in a panicked voice, his eyes wide as he looked over Susan’s shoulder, winking at Garrett who was just returning from the lake.

“What is it?” Susan asked, worry lining her brow.

“A snake. Twice as big as the one before.” He took a few careful steps backwards.

Susan shuddered and then jumped out of the way, both legs vigorous and strong as she ran for cover.

Joe broke down laughing, holding his gut with both hands.

“’Tis not amusing,” Susan said when it became clear there was no snake. “Verily I did trip over a stump.”