The Honest Affair

67

With enough time for everyone to have their share, each had their chance for a round of horseback riding. Björn had climbed again to give Emma a turn. He made a lap around and had come back with his eye to Anna.

"She wants a ride, too. Look at her."

"No, I don't think so," Agnetha answered him.

"Little ride."

"Are you kidding? I won't let you," she turned Anna away.

"Then it's your turn," Björn answered.

"No, let the kids have their fun." Linda pulled Anna into her arms, and Agnetha simply trusted the baby to be held by her eldest.

"It would be your only chance, because next is my turn again," she told her mother to convince her. Björn raised his eyebrows with a smirk, telling Agnetha that their daughter knew well and encouraged her to give in. He helped her up by lifting her from her arm and she took a seat just behind him on the back of the horse. Agnetha's arms held tight against him and Björn had galloped away, only to return again.

The day was lovely for time in the outdoors, and the children were thrilled with having company other than themselves there at last. Björn and Agnetha left the children to play, watching from inside the house now, and outside towards the back.

"When you left this morning, without saying anything I thought you'd do something... more serious than bringing back a horse with you," she smiled. "Did it take that long? How did you manage to work it out?"

"I had help on the farm. It wasn't so hard," he responded. He waited a few moments, and he glanced down at her from the side seeing her tenderly stroke Anna's cheek and tell her things that had no particular meaning at all. "The farm wasn't my only stop," he admitted. Her attention had come to him immediately.

"Where then?" She knew it by his eyes and before she had the chance to add anything more their attention was to the outdoors, meeting the vibrant sound of wailing.

"What happened?" Björn rushed out.

"She tripped getting up," Christian explained. "Loser, it's because it's my turn."

"Shut up, Christian," she groaned. "So annoying," Linda breathed quietly.

"Can you walk? Does it hurt?" Björn asked.

"Yes." She tried and failed.

"Why don't you wait before you go on?"

She hopped on one leg, beginning to cry because of the pain and the inconvenience. Her father attempted to walk her inside, but she was far too slow, so he swooped lower and carried her, bringing her to laugh as she held around his neck. He saw Agnetha's face of concern change when she saw it.

Linda had hugged her father, laughing even in her pain. It was a rare thing, but she felt as a child again and entirely spoiled by him like when she was younger. Agnetha had gone inside to find something that could work for Linda, and had returned to the chair where she sat patiently inspecting her left ankle.

"Let's see. How bad is it?"

"It hurts, mama," Linda complained.

"Let's put ice on it."

Agnetha had wrapped Linda's ankle and told her to sit a while and to not move on it, but she also knew her daughter well. Linda remained determined and wouldn't settle without her way. She wanted to ride still and so she did.

The afternoon had brought the time for Lena to visit her home again. She had a few things she wished to accomplish and it was a visit she made almost once a day. She often checked in to see if Björn had returned, or if anything had come for them at all. She had reached the door to leave Claes' home, only to be greeted with a letter, taped just above the lens of the peephole.