“Co’nel!”
Samuel, covered in smelly mud, ran to him. He noticed the boy was missing a shoe. But it was Natalie, sprawled in the middle of the pen, who rendered him speechless. When she jerked her head around to look at him, surprise in her eyes, her face reddened. She looked away, struggling to get to her feet.
“My shoe got stuck in the mud. Mama tried to get it out, but she fell down.” Samuel giggled.
Natalie’s slippers were covered in the slimy mess. She held what appeared to be Samuel’s mud-covered shoe in one hand, but getting up from the awkward position seemed to be proving difficult.
An angry grunt sounded. Levi had been so shocked to find Natalie in the pen that he hadn’t taken notice of the animals whose home she’d invaded. While most of the pigs didn’t seem bothered by her presence, a large sow with a litter of babies nearby had her eyes fixed on Natalie.
“Would you like some help?” He approached the gate. His instinct was to rush in and carry her to safety, but the last time he’d done that, she hadn’t been pleased.
“No.”
The clipped word said it all.
Samuel climbed up the fence and sat on the top rung. “Me and Mama fed the pigs. And the chickens.”
Levi’s brow rose. He’d been curious what these two were doing at the pigpen. Shaking his head in wonder, he continued to watch Natalie struggle. The sow did too.
“I’d be happy to help.” He leaned against the fence next to Samuel. The boy looked at him, and they exchanged a grin.
“I don’t need help.”
Her thrashing in the mud said otherwise, but he kept that to himself. After a long moment, she managed a wobbly stance. But when she tried to lift one foot, it refused to give way, and back she fell on her behind.
Her squeal, along with the sudden movement, was apparently too much for the sow. The big animal let out a fierce snort and charged. Levi reacted as though he’d heard the call to battle. He rushed into the pen and yelled at the sow. Waving his arms, he herded her back to where her piglets cowered in the corner.
When he felt the animal was no longer a threat, he turned to Natalie. “We need to get you out of here before she decides to take a bite out of us both.” With that, he bent down and scooped her into his arms, the squishing sound of wet suction releasing its prey and eliciting a giggle from Samuel. Levi carried her beyond the gate and set her down before he realized she was missing both of her shoes. Looking back to the pen, he could make out the shapes of two small slippers.
Samuel hopped down from the fence and came over. He looked his mother up and down, looked at Levi, and let out a belly laugh.
“Samuel, this is not funny.” She scowled at her son.
When her angry gaze turned to Levi, he attempted to remain straight-faced. But a streak of mud across her nose did him in. A snicker shook his shoulders.
“Surely you are not laughing at me too!”
“No, ma’am.” His shoulders bounced slightly as he fought to control himself. Her scowl darkened.
“I could have been mauled by that beast.”
Samuel’s little-boy giggles filled the air with merriment. Levi couldn’t contain it any longer. He laughed. Harder than he’d laughed in years.
At first, Natalie seemed outraged. But when Levi and Samuel’s hilarity persisted, her lips twitched. Soon, she burst into girlish giggles Levi found irresistible.
After a time, she looked down at herself. “Oh,” she said, sobering. “This is awful. I thought getting splashed with slop was bad.” She glanced at his coat and boots, also covered in muck. “I hope you haven’t ruined your uniform.”
“I’m sure it can be cleaned.”
She smiled into his eyes. He got lost in the pools of blue until Samuel piped up.
“Mama, what about your shoes?” One pig nudged the slippers around with its snout.
She laughed. “The pigs can have them.”
“I’d be happy to carry you to the house,” Levi said, itching to have her in his arms again, smelly muck and all.
Natalie’s brow rose at his suggestion. She glanced at her son, who seemed interested in the conversation. “That isn’t necessary, Colonel. I’m sure I can walk just fine.”
They began a slow trek toward the manor, her watching the path, stepping carefully over small stones and sticks.
“I admit my surprise at finding you in the pigpen.” When she flashed him a scowl, he clarified. “I mean, Samuel informed me the two of you were feeding the pigs. That surprises me. I would think the servants would tend the animals.”
Samuel ran ahead of them, chasing a dragonfly, his gait comical with one shoe on and one shoe off.
“They normally do, but I volunteered to help.” She shrugged. “I suppose I’m not very good at any plantation chores.”
“We fed the chickens, too,” Samuel said, skipping back to her side. “But Mama made the rooster mad. She got blood on her leg.”
“It attacked you?” Levi asked, concerned.
A faint blush filled her cheeks. “I’m fine. Just a scratch, is all.”
Recalling the blisters she’d received from toting water, he felt a wave of sympathy for the muck-covered widow as they reached the bottom of the porch steps. “That may be, but it is best if we clean it properly. Especially considering where you’ve just been. If you’ll sit, I can see about the wound.”
Her blush deepened. “As I said, Colonel, that isn’t necessary, but I appreciate the offer. Thank you for your assistance at the pigpen.” With that, she hurried up the steps, leaving muddy footprints on the whitewashed wood, and disappeared into the house.
Levi watched her go, amused by the whole affair. When he looked down at Samuel, the boy was grinning up at him.
Together, they shared a good laugh.
CHAPTER TWELVE
