Fire and Liberty

Chapter Eleven

You ate breakfast in the tavern, delighting in the warmth of the fireplace and the quiet that settled between Ratonhnhaké:ton:ton and you. It wasn't a tense sort of silence or even one that needed to be filled with pointless conversation. You had to admit that the calm silence between you felt familiar. Perhaps even comforting.

Sometimes you exchanged glances, a slight curl of a smile before returning your gazes to the fireplace.

Ratonhnhaké:ton:ton spoke after taking the last bite of his meal. "It is a long journey to the homestead. Do you need to gather any supplies before we go?"

"Are we going at it on foot?" You shoved the last bite of bread into your mouth.

His smirk was slight, barely noticeable. "It is more beautiful that way."

You huffed. You tried to push away your grin but it was nearly impossible. There was something sweet about him, charming even. "I suppose it is. It's not every day I get to take my time while traveling."

His eyes brightened. It was a quick flash of delight as something crossed his mind. "There is much time. I know of a few hidden gems along the way. I have spent many nights traveling through these woods."

The delight in his tone somehow put you at ease. You could have melted into the chair and spent hours listening to him talk. You wanted to ask him questions about living on the frontier. It seems wholly romantic to go days without contact with other people, to avoid the heavy weight of duty and responsibility.

But you stood up with a grin and tossed a hand over your shoulder. "Shall we? I'd like to see these hidden gems of yours."

He stood up as well, closer than you realized. He towered over you, the broadness of his shoulder dimming the light of the fireplace. His lips parted and his hand glided up along your arm and shoulder. You thought he might kiss you. Or even coax you back upstairs to the room. Instead, he ducked his head away and moved around you towards the tavern door.

You grabbed his arm before he could get too far. He turned around just as you leaned against him and settled your lips onto his. His hands enveloped your backside, gentle with nervousness but incredibly warm against your skin. You pulled from the kiss and watched as his eyes opened with half-lidded desire.

While he still buzzed with the aftermath of the kiss, you stepped around him. "What direction is this homestead exactly?"

He cleared his throat, his steps following somewhat at a distance. He was so dazed you weren't even sure he heard your questions.

You stepped into the early morning chill. It was a small town, a gathering of very few homes. The streets were nearly empty. That's when you saw them, their familiar faces turning to meet your widening eyes. Charles looked awash with relief as if he dreaded the worst but then Ratonhnhaké:ton:ton stepped out of the tavern to your side. His gaze hardened in confusion.

"Well, it seems I was right." Haytham mused, gripping his hands behind his back.

"Haytham," you blurted still completely taken off guard by his unexpected presence.

Ratonhnhaké:ton:ton greeted coldly, "Father."

Your gaze dropped. Your brows pinched thinking that surely you had heard him wrong.

"Pardon? I don't have--" Haytham's voice trailed away from him, tongue fumbling out the words, "...a son." He was looking at him now, truly taking in his appearance as the realization dawned on him.

You spun around to meet Ratonhnhaké:ton:ton's cold glare. "What? When were you planning on telling me that?" Your eyes widened in overwhelming disbelief. "Wait, was all of this some form of petty revenge against him?"