Off The Beaten Path

Next Year

They returned a few days later. Levi remained outside working with the horses, answering Phillip's questions. Bernell watched from a safe distant in the house as they rounded up ten of the horses for the trip back. Anxiously Bernell made notes of each one they harnessed and loaded with packs; a cautious relief filling her when they closed the corral, Cerberus nickering anxiously from within. He hadn't taken the loss of Butter well. He was refusing food and generally showed disinterest in the herd. The other day Bernell watched as one of his younger colts challenged him for the mares.

Cerberus won, but barely. His heart wasn't in the fight. They were leading the colt away now, his neck arched proudly, his feet dancing over the dirt in an angry prance. Ezra was roaming down the line, soothing the creatures in his particular way. The colt strained against his reins, calming markedly as Ezra's hand soothed over his neck and chest. Bernell couldn't help the proud smile that faded promptly when she looked up from behind the windows and noticed Levi watching her. Annoyed she shuffled back to her rocking chair, sitting angrily.

Lisa chuckled from the kitchen table, "Why are you so upset that he notices you?"

Bernell growled, "It just bothers me." She crossed her arms over her chest, her foot placed carefully on the foot stool to help the swelling. "Why is he always looking at me?"

Lisa sat in the chair beside her, smiling over her cup. "Why are you always noticing?"

"I am not!" She shouted, "I feel his beady, judgmental eyes on me and I look!"

"For the record, he's not always looking at you." She sighed, standing again to open the door. "You're just hyper aware."

Bernell snorted, opening her mouth to argue when Erwin and Levi walked in. Immediately she shut it again, hunching in her chair to appear smaller. His presence was suffocating in the room. She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, listening and he and Erwin made small talk with Lisa, as they moved to the stoves and took a seat. Her brows twitched in annoyance as their smells filled the room. Mostly the smell of hot leather from their jackets but also the masculine scent of cologne and something different. She opened her eyes just barely, annoyed to find Erwin watching her as Levi grabbed a cup from Lisa.

"Are you healing well?" Erwin asked, reclining in his chair.

Bernell nodded, frowning and slipping further down into her chair. "I mean, it's only been a few days but the bruising is fading and I'm not as sore." She offered, readjusting herself in the seat. Uncomfortable down to her toes as she felt Levi's gaze on her again. Her neck started heating up. "I think we'll be just fine." She finished, feeling clumsy and obtuse.

She was never a wordsmith, but she wasn't usually so inelegant either. Her stomach was flipping, she felt nervous. She blinked slowly.

"Well that's good." Erwin smiled, taking a sip. He faced her again, "I know you have a special bond with the black horse. Your sons wouldn't stop telling us about him."

Bernell felt the smile touch the corners of her mouth, "They haven't had anyone but themselves to speak with in a long time." She looked up, ignoring Levi. "It's good for them to interact like they are." She watched them playing with the soldiers through the window. "Maybe..." she struggled with the words, "Maybe it would be best to take Cerberus though." Her throat tightened at the suggestion. "He's not happy here. Not anymore. Not since..."

Erwin lowered his cup, "Ah yes, the little mare. They were close?"

Bernell nodded, not trusting her voice to stem the emotion she could feel rising. She looked up as Lisa placed a hand on her shoulder in a sow of comfort.

"He and Butter - the kids named her -" she explained at the odd look, returning the men's slow smiles. "They were very close. A few of those horses you're taking were their offspring. He favored her over the others. And now that she's gone he's pining. Maybe at your stables you could find him a similar mare? At least offer him more company to choose from?"