Beast and Beatrice

Chapter six - Gilbert

  Thwack-thunk.

  The axe cleaved through another block cleanly and lodged itself in the stump beneath. Gilbert watched with satisfaction as the two halves of the split wood fall off the edge and bounce onto the sod. A trickle of sweat rolled down his brow, and he absently huffed at it.

  Blinking against the rush of air, he bent to grab the two pieces and chuck them at the growing pile near the necessary. He would stack them properly later. For now, he was tired. His arms ached, and his back was protesting, but the mindless chore kept him busy and away from his unintended guest.

  He left the axe buried in the stump and stepped back, grabbing his shirt tail to pull it up over his head. Balling it up, he used the material to wipe the sweat and grime off his face. Hard physical labor was the only thing to keep his thoughts from wandering to the pretty woman inside his castle. He had already fed and watered the animals, harvested the eggs, and milked the cow. The milk and eggs he stored away in the root cellar to stay cool, safe from critters and vermin alike.

  His gaze swept over the area. There were so many other chores he had yet to accomplish here. The henhouse was complete, but the stable needed one more wall sheeted. He had the boards already split and piled, ready to be put in place. Once the building was closed in, it would house the old milk cow who grazed in the small paddock nearby. He could even invest in a couple of horses to share the space. After that, he would need a sturdy wagon.

  Of course, he would have to widen the narrow, twisting path that led to the river before a wagon could access that narrow route. Right now, the forest was encroaching on the path, and even a man on horseback would have trouble. But having a means of transportation to cart goods back and forth would make his life so much simpler. Not to mention being able to accomplish the heavier tasks and repairs needed around here.

  The castle was barely habitable even after all the work he'd already accomplished. He'd done his best to shore up the stone walls using lime plaster and every rock he could find. At least the keep was mostly finished. Just a few more fine details to work out. With a good team of work horses, he could haul the heavier boulders he would need in order to  move on to rebuilding the rest of the castle.

  His gaze moved over the newly plastered stone, inevitably finding the back door to the old keep. In his mind's eye, he could again see the woman as she sat there, watching him carry in that last armload of split blocks. He had expected her to be frightened, maybe intimidated by his appearance, but he hadn't seen fear. What he had seen was pure annoyance. The idea tickled him, and he gave a soft, soundless chuckle.

  No doubt she thought he was ignoring her because he had not spoken to her. He found most people were unnerved by his silence. Sometimes, he even enjoyed their discomfiture. Many others assumed that because he couldn't talk, he was simple-minded. Another reason to avoid society as a whole. But this little bit of a thing was different. She really was a most unusual woman.

  He couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what made her stand out from the rest. Yes, she had been frightened at first when he entered the room. He had expected that, considering the abuse she must have endured. But then her expression turned to first shock and then outrage. She demanded her clothes, like a queen. He had been hard-pressed to keep the delighted grin off his face. She reminded him of a tiny kitten spitting at a bear. Despite the mistreatment she had endured, she still had the courage to make her demands known. When he simply tossed her clothes to her and turned to leave, her jaw had nearly dropped to the floor.

  A grin quirked to his lips. She hadn't expected that, and he thoroughly enjoyed thwarting her expectations. He never realized before that he had a hidden contrary streak. His second treck in had been even better. Even though he hadn't counted on seeing her dressed and on her feet, he managed to focus on dropping his armload into the wood box and getting out of there.