Unperceived Love

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Song of Solomon 8:6-7

A slow smile crept to Samantha's lips as she leaned her back against the warm bricks of her family home. " Love is strong as death. " , she thought happily. Anything poetic seemed to strike her fancy and send her on a deep thought-filled daydream. "SAMANTHA!!" She heard her mother call from the door. Their yard was quite large and her mother didn't know where she might be so she raised her voice just for that moment, not harshly but just to be heard.

" There you are." she said with a smile. Her smile soon faded as she examined the condition of her clothing. " We just had that dress made for you no more than a month ago! How old are you?" " I am sixteen , three months, and seven days old. " She replied while looking down. " You are therefore old enough to know when and where to wear silk! Now about what I had called you for. " She said going back to her ever-present smile. " Today you will be accompanied by Ben into town to collect the items listed here. " A worried expression took place of the smile as she handed Samantha the price of paper. " No mischief" she warned. "No ma'am" she replied. She pecked her cheek and promised to be back before sunset.

She went upstairs and dressed hurriedly then raced to the barn. There she stood quietly watching. Ben was her constant companion since she was old enough to remember. He was her father's apprentice and his late friend's son. She watched his skilled fingers quickly fasten the harness to Blackberry ( her favorite horse) and began to think about all the trouble that they'd gotten into. There wasn't a scrape that she'd been in that he didn't get her out of. Once when she was ten her mother sent he on a similar errand to the market to buy apples she ended up upsetting the cart. The merchant thinking she was some galley maid scolded her severely. Ben , not wanting to cause a scene, took the man aside and whispered lengthily into his ear.

Later when she asked what he said, he simply replied that he told him that she was the most respected noble's daughter and would not be treated that way she just smiled and shook her head knowing there was more. This reminiscence made her laugh, giving away her presence. Ben looked up and asked her " How long have you been standing there?" " Long enough to hear you talk to that horse as if it were a human!" he smiled and came around to help her up. " Thank you but I am perfectly capable of getting up on my own. " She said smirkingly. " I know, you remind me every time." he grinned. " In all my nineteen years I've never met such a headstrong girl!" he thought which made him smile even bigger.

" What?" she asked skeptically. "Oh nothing." he replied teasingly. "Well then you might want to get in and start on our way. " She said frowningly. " What's wrong?" he asked. She sighed. "Your always reminding me that I can talk to you about anything but when I ask you anything you tease me! I don't think that's fair." she then pretended to pout. "Alright then tell me , dear princess, what is it you'd like to know." mock seriousness was in his expression. "You see! now you're teasing me! I refuse to tell you now what it is I 'want'!" she said mimicking his tone and expression perfectly. He right out laughed which had been her goal all along.

They were approaching what was referred to as "lovers lane" by all the young folk. She smiled as she quoted the verse she'd learnt that morning. "All those books aren't good for a girl's head." he was teasing yet again for he had been the one that introduced her to reading for leisure. "It may not be, but it would be a shame to have a head so empty birds could build nests in it!" she said indignantly.

"WHOAH!!" He shouted pulling the horses to a stop. Something large was looming in the distance.

Marching onward was one of the king's regiment. They pulled their buggy to the side and waited for them to pass. As they did some kept their eyes at attention, staring straight. Others gawked and made eyes at Sami. She looked down, her face aflame with the crimson of anger mixed with embarrassment. They looked on even through Ben's stare that would've scared any man in his right mind. They clearly were not. For they had spent the evening before in the public houses of the small port town. Ben slapped the reins on the horse's rump and guided him onto the road.

Neither one of them spoke for awhile. She was staring into the green of the forest while he was staring at the reins in his hands. Finally he could push down the anger long enough to ask if she was alright. She replied with a simple nod. She was fighting the tears and anger of mortification. " I'm sorry I didn't do more." he said defeatedly.She took in a shaky breath "You couldn't've fought off a whole regiment!" she said smilingly, trying to show him she would be okay. Her shook his head and dropped it again. " I wish I could've protected you from such humility!" he thought " My little Sami had to go through that and didn't shed a single tear!" they sat in that way, lost in their thoughts, until reaching the first store.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" he asked worriedly. "I'm positive! We saw them leave they won't be here. Besides if I need anything shopkeeper Joseph will help me." she said as she very unladylikely jumped to the graveled street. " Alright" he said shaking his head and smiling. She'd done it again, she got her way.

"He'll always get me out of trouble whether I deserve it or not!" she smiled to herself. "Goodmorning miss Samantha!" " Goodmorning Mrs. Pryce." Samantha replied. "How do you do?" "I'm fine thank you ma'am. And how are you?" she asked. " I'm doing well miss. Is that a suitor I saw drop you off?" she should've known! This kindly old lady had the tendency to gossip. "No ma'am. He is my father's apprentice and a close friend of mine. " She said kindly. "Oh but aren't you old enough for one?" she was prodding beyond kindness now. " I am but I have not found one that suited me yet." with that the two women said their good day's and went their ways.

"Goodmorning Joseph!" she called out to the kindly storekeeper. "What can I do for you today miss Samantha?" "Mother sent a list. " She said and smiled. "My, my! I sure don't know how your mother manages to keep up with all she needs for such a large family! She sure is something else!" Samantha smiled, she loved it when anyone praised her mother. "Thank you Joseph, she will be glad to hear your praise. Is there any new shipments of silk?" "There is on the on the counter behind you , beside the linens ." he answered. Soon she was handed the packages of sugar,flour and cheesecloth and headed for the blacksmith.

"There comes your pretty Sami, boy." the snide smithy remarked with a smirk. "She's not my Sami.Don't you ever call her that and leave her be!" he gave him a hard stare and the smithy backed down. He didn't know why he was acting this way the incident this morning must have his nerves on edge. "Hello." Sami called out. "I'm on my way." Ben replied. "Remember what I said and never forget it!" he said with contempt that was unusual for this gentle-mannered apprentice.

"Oh no!" she thought. "He is no more calm now than he was this morning. " " Are you ready to go home?" he asked. "Couldn't we stop by the creek?" she asked this question every time hoping to go to her favorite wading spot. "No!" he answered with too much haste. "Just get in and let's go!" There was no arguing with him when he spoke that way. She wondered what had made him have such an outburst. They went out of town the way they went in, sitting in silence, lost in their thoughts.