Page 43 of Awakened By Time

“You’re welcome. Do you need me to help you with anything else?”

“Sit for a minute.” She pointed to one of the two chairs set by the table.

Zeke obliged her, wondering what she was up to.

“Yer sister and her husband have been verra kind to me. I can see yer much like them.” Bethia lowered herself onto the chair opposite him.

“I’m happy to help,” he said.

“Are ye married… Zeke, is it?”

“That’s right. I’m not… I guess I am married.”

“Where is yer wife?” she asked.

“She’s staying with her brother and his wife. They live here at Breaghacraig as well,” he explained.

“Why are ye nae staying with them then? Yer wife must miss ye.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Bethia was really putting him on the spot and she seemed to be enjoying it if the huge grin on her face was any indication.

“Och! Ye’ve had a fight.”

“No. No fight. We’re only handfasted. We don’t really want to be married.” He was probably telling her way too much. He should just shut up.

“Do ye nae like her?”

“I was just helping her out of a difficult situation,” he said.

“So, she’s with child. ’Tis yers?”

Zeke nearly choked on his surprise, “No to both of those. I should go, Bethia. Sara and Logan will be worried about me. I was only supposed to be gone a short while.” He stood to go, suddenly very uncomfortable. He wasn’t even ready for a wife and Bethia was ready to make him a dad, too.

“I hope ye’ll come back and visit me. ’Tis lonely here,” She looked around the small croft with a wistful eye.

“Do you have any children?”

“Me husband and me children are all dead.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Zeke reached over and covered her small weathered hand. She patted him with her other hand and smiled at him.

“Dinnae be. ’Tis been a long while now.” She struggled to stand up and Zeke was at her side in an instant.

“Here, let me help you.”

“Thank ye. Now that ’tis warm, I believe I’ll go to bed.”

He glanced around and now that he could see, he realized this little cottage only had the one room. Her bed was up against the wall. He helped her over to it and held her hands while she sat down.

“Ye can go now. Thank ye for yer help.” She looked up at him, with the smile back in her eyes. “Ye should stay with yer wife. ’Tis best.”

“Thanks for the advice, Bethia. Good night.” Zeke closed the door behind him and smiled. She just needed some company tonight and even though he hadn’t been there long, he hoped it had helped.

* * *

“There you are,” Sara said as he walked through the door. “I was just about to have Logan go searching for you.”

“Sorry. I got waylaid by a certain little old woman who needed my help,” Zeke said.