For the Love of Amity

Five

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Five
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Sunlight burned Mary's eyes and she groaned, hiding her face in the crook of David's neck. She heard his deep chuckle and pulled away to look at him. He didn't glance down at her, but his smile told her he knew she was awake.

"Good morning darling." He said, Mary blushed. They had never been ones for pet names, but she kind of liked it.

"Good morning." She yawned and looked around. They were riding through a small town with people carrying baskets of clothes or food, most were smiling and speaking with one another. Mary surveyed the scene with curiosity. "Where are we?"

"Pyven, like I said." He smiled, riding to the seamstress shop. "Come, I want you to meet someone." He stepped off the carriage, and helped Mary down. Eagerly, they both entered the shop and was greeted by an older woman who's eyes widened in recognition. "Aunt Evelyn."

"David!" She exclaimed, kissing the boy's head and cheeks. "Oh how I missed you! I thought you were not coming back until summer season?"

They pulled away from each other and he smiled sheepishly. "I couldn't wait any longer." He looked over at Mary and reached for her hand. She took his outstretched one and approached the woman. "Aunt Evelyn, this is my fiancee Mary. Mary this is my Aunt Evelyn Walker I told you about."

Mary's eyes widened and she nodded quickly. "Yes, David always speaks of you."

Evelyn smiled. "Yes, and he always speaks fondly of you in his letters. Seth had some nice things to say as well."

Mary looked at her curiously. "Seth? Master Hastings? He's here?" She turned to glare at David. "You did not tell me?!"

David looked at her sheepishly. "He asked me not to tell anyone." Mary continued to glare and David sighed. "I'm sorry darling, I promise I won't keep anything from you anymore." Mary nodded and turned back to his aunt who surveyed them with amusement.

"Yes, it is my understanding Seth has runaway? He wished for me not to say anything about it either, so if you see him Mary, please do not call him Master Hastings in public." Evelyn told her sternly, making the firm blush and nod.

"Yes, ma'am."

Evelyn then smiled and gestured outside. "Do you wish to see him?"

David's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, where is he?"

"Working for Obadiah Turner." She smirked and leaned in to whisper in her nephew's ear. "And he seems taken with young Amity Turner as well."

Amity Turner, last David saw her she was five and ten. Jethro had been one of his best friends and refused David of ever speaking with his sister. She had been a beautiful girl, but he was sure she didn't hold a candle to his Mary.

"Amity just came of marrying age, didn't she?" David said conversationally, plus he was trying to discern his friend's actions involving the blacksmith's daughter.

"Yes, she turned eight and ten a few months ago. Not any suitors since then either, none besides maybe the eager Hastings, of course. But I saw Obadiah threatening the poor boy to stay away from his precious daughter." Evelyn laughed to herself.

Davis snorted. "Please, Seth has always been a determined and impulsive one! If you believe for one second that he is going to listen to her father, you're sadly mistaken!"

Evelyn shook her head. "I'm not, I know how that boy is." A sad gleam took over her features. "So much like his father."

The three of them continued their walk toward the blacksmith's place, when the man himself walked out. David broke out into a large grin. "Seth!"