Beautiful

   “Can I kiss you?”  The words caught Beautiful off guard.  She’d denied him her hand at the top of the stairs.  But his hands—strong, careful—still lingered in her memory.  She wanted him to kiss her.  She’d never met anyone like him.

    But… she’d made herself a promise.  She would only kiss one man—the man she loved.  She’d only say I love you to that man.  Once she said it, she could never say it to anyone else.  She’d never betray her husband like that.

    It really was a marvelous day—maybe even the best of her life.  But it was only the first.  Much too early to say.

    She’d promised to only kiss one man.  But…. She offered Seeker her cheek.  If he’d kissed other girls, that was his business.  A tingle bloomed where his lips touched her skin.

    “I’ll miss you,” he teased.

    “No, you won’t.  I’m going to visit you in your dreams.”

    And the dumb boy actually believed her.

    Beautiful sat beside the stream with Seeker, dipping her toes into the crystal-clear water.  That was his name, right?  He hadn’t said, but she was pretty sure she’d heard Companion call him that.

    A palace rose on the far side of the stream, stately and magnificent.  Exploring that would be a grand adventure.  He didn’t even think to offer.  Maybe he thought she couldn’t cross the stream—or that she’d fall in.  And honestly, could you blame him, after the way she nearly went flying off the stairs?

    Then it came to her.  He was always off exploring the ruins near the cottage.   What was in there that held his fascination?  She would find out.  Tomorrow.  Who said her adventure had to end today?

    She set her handbag down and opened it, hoping he didn’t notice how old and worn it looked.  Inside were two sandwiches wrapped in linen.  Her heart skipped.  Make one for your husband.  Had she really just said that out loud?  She was mortified.  Heat rushed to her face.  Please let him not have heard.  He’d think she was silly.   And there went her adventure.   

    The word still echoed in her mind—husband.  Still.  He wasn’t even really her type.

     He passed her his canteen.  She recognized it—it had been Companion’s.  She wished she had a good friend like that.  The crumb at the corner of Seeker’s mouth had been bothering her.  She reached over and wiped it away with her handkerchief.  Much better.

***

    He looked distracted.  What was going on in that head of his?  She started telling him about the time she fell into the Slough.  Why had she said that?  Now he’d think she was clumsy.  And there went the palace.

    He was listening—really listening.  No judgment in his eyes.  So, she continued on.  Prattled on, more like.  She told him all about her childhood in Dark Land.  How hard it had been.  There was something about him—steady, quiet—that made her trust him.

   She looked up—and there it was.  A single tear rolling down his cheek.  Revulsion surged in her chest.  “Don’t cry,” she snapped.  She’d never seen a man cry before.  Yell, sure.  Cry?  Never.  “Only babies cry.”

   No sooner had the words left her lips than she regretted them.  He was crying—for her.  That wasn’t weakness.  She had no reason to mock him.  How could she take it back?  Unsay it?  Baby could mean something sweet.  Something tender.  Maybe he knew that.

   “I’m going to call you baby from now on!”  She nearly convinced herself.

   “Hurry up, baby!  The sun’s setting” She dashed toward the stairway—another chance to show him she could keep up.

    Beautiful slowed at the top of the stairs, chest heaving.  She grinned as he lagged behind.  Maybe next time he’d think twice before underestimating her.

    The top step was slick.  Her foot slipped suddenly, and she pitched forward.  She flung out a hand, grasping for anything.  He caught her.  She shot him a sheepish grin.  It really was a long way down.

    He was stronger than he looked.  But the way he held her hand—so gentle.  She started to pull away, but he didn’t let go.  Good.  Not that she was going to admit she needed her hand held for the way down.  Like a baby.

    As they made their way down, with his steady grip keeping her steps sure, she could actually take in the view.  This was a side of the valley she’d never seen—wild and green, with waterfalls crashing and water slipping down delicate cascades.  It danced over the rocks, clear and careless.

   She sighed.  What an adventure today was turning out to be.

    Beautiful woke that morning, bored out of her skull.  Why were people so dull here?  She clomped down to the common room—no one to talk to, as usual.  She hated that.  Fine.  She would go on an adventure today.  Alone, if she had to.

    Same old bread.  But today, Miss Cheerful had left meat and cheese—almost like she knew Beautiful had plans.  Beautiful slapped a slice of each between two pieces of bread.  Make one for your husband.  She spun.  Who said that?  No one.  Just her brain, spitting nonsense.  What an absurd idea.  She was definitely too bored.

     She found herself making a second sandwich anyway, fingers working on their own.  She wrapped it in linen—neatly, too.  The birds would eat it.  They were her only friends here.  Well… them, and Gracious.  And Steadfast.  Kind.  Fair-Glance.  And—

    She wandered through the wheat fields, wondering where to go.  To the stream?  She had never been.  The stairs looked dreadfully long.  The birds were singing, and she matched them, tapping the stalks in time with careful fingers.   When they paused, so did she, plucking grains and flicking them away between beats.  Still bored.

    She looked up and saw him.  What was he smiling at?  She turned, hair whipping into her face.  There was nothing there.  Then it hit her—he was smiling at her.  He kept smiling.  Well, now this was getting awkward. 

    She strode straight over and poked him in the stomach.  Husband.  The word blazed through her mind before she could stop it.  What an utterly ridiculous idea.

    “I’m Beautiful.”  Why had her parents given her that name? 

    “Yes, you are!” he said.

    Was he teasing her?  She giggled anyway.  She already loved his sense of humor.

    “Do you want to see the stream?” he asked.  “Maybe tomorrow?”   

    What was wrong with him?  Didn’t he realize she was bored today?  He was perfect for this adventure—she had seen him poking around the ruins.  Well… after Companion left.  Before that, he trailed after him like some lost puppy.  

    Tomorrow? He probably thought she couldn’t handle the stairs and didn’t want to say it.  Fine.  She would show him.

“What’s wrong with today?”  She had no idea what he thought he was doing—but he was coming with her.  Whether he liked it or not.   “Try to keep up!”