staregazer - sammantha lewis (librera reader TXT) 📗

the Scottish farmer Francis, the old padres, Hervey the tailor who was (who is a homosexual), Joshua was extremely young but was a skilled marksmen as well as a musician, and finally William (or Liam as he goes by) who is their leader and is skilled with a sword. Foolish men they were but I knew there would never be a dull day. Liam stepped onto a log
"Quiet!" he yelled. At the sound of his voice all, the men stopped to look at him.
"To day was a grand day! We defeated Fredrick's men, we found a safe haven for the night, we have enjoyed comical stories with music, but we all so meat a shining addition to our small troop!" Liam reached down and asked for my hand. He helped me up onto the log.
"May I introduce, Vera. Who like all of us is a victim to Fredrick's cruel insanity. She will help us find Fredrick. She is also a star-reader and she is skilled with house work and archery , like our own Joshua." I smiled and looked to the back see Jack celebrating that he no longer had to all the work. I also saw Homer and Henry chattering I imagined them to be saying

Homer: what does she look like?
Henry: I don't know what he said!
Liam continued his speech.
You must not touch her in an improper manner, you are to treat her with respect. Also because she is the only

female here she is to have her privacy when she request it. That is all. Now off to bed." I enjoyed Liam's speech it made me feel like I was not the dirt that Fredrick had told me I was. I have never had a man that was not my father say such kind things like that.
Where am I to sleep?
I looked around the camp, I did not want to sleep in the kitchen tent , nor did I want to sleep with men. I saw Liam holding the flap to the tent open. He motioned me over. I walk towards his tent.
"Liam, Liam afraid I'm confused about my sleeping placement." I said meekly He grinned at me and said.
"I think it would be safer if you slept here, and I'm sure that you don't want to sleep in the Kitchen." He knew exactly what I was thinking.
"I find it more dangerous to spend the night with one man alone in a room." I argued.
"There you are wrong. I don't think it is a good idea to sleep in the same room with seven men who have not seen a woman in seven months." I figured he was right and I figured I should sleep in the same room with as little men as possible.
" Fine, I'll sleep here, but I swear if you touch in any inappropriate way I will slap you." I warned him. I went to the other side of the room ,and removed my dress and remained in my satin slip gown.
"That is not very lady like." He rudely commented.
"Well neither is sharing a bed with a man I'm not married to." I hissed. Liam laughed at me.
"Don't worry about that! I'll be sleeping on the floor."
The night was cold. I was shivering like a child. The bed was a straw mate with a fur pelt on top. My blanket was one quilt. I tried my best to endure the cold, but it was hopeless. I heard Liam get up and walked over to me. He crawled into the bed next to me.
"What are you doing?"I hissed at him
"Your cold, aren’t you?"He reminded me. Liam laid down next to me. He put his muscular arm around me to help warm me up. His chest was cold as ice but we quickly warmed up. Liam ran his hand over the top of my palm.
"What was it like?" he asked as his large hands traced the numerous scars on my hands.
"What was what like?" I knew what he was asking but I did not enjoy talking about it. He held my hand and gently ran his thumb over my hand.
"Fredrick's camp," He said. I took a deep breath
"It was a nightmare. Every day I was left alone in a smoky room. I was forced to do all the kitchen work, I cooked for all eight-teen men, did their dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and if I did not do my job correctly...I was beaten. The worst thing was the fear of Fredrick being arrested by the law, because if he were captured then I would also be killed. If that were to happen then I wouldn't care, because I had nothing left."
I felt Liam stiffen I looked up at him thinking that maybe he was bothered by my story . He confirmed my thoughts when he entwined my hand in his as he pulled me closer against his bare chest eliminating the space between us.
"That will never happen again, you are free now. Remember that." His breath tickled my neck as he whispered quietly into my ear. I managed to smile at his words 'free' i am free. I can go where i want, but yet why do i want to stay here? It must be because of the kindness and laughter within the camp, or maybe it is Liam? after all Liam is so kind to me as if he is a mentor or older brother. Then again he is only sheltering me because I am useful to him. Suddenly Liam woke me from my thoughts. He nuzzled the back of my neck like a small child. He was soundly asleep, I wonder if he was ever planing to sleep on the floor? I giggled slightly to my self. I sighed and rapped my free arm around his and drifted of to sleep.

THE RIVER BANK

The next morning I was woken up by yelling and Liam jerking.
"Vera!Vera!Please wake up I need you!" I opened my eyes slowly and sat up. I saw Joshua on the brink of tiers.
"Joshua why must you wake me as well?" Liam snapped. Joshua gave a large frown.
"I had no choice! I couldn't see her! You were crushing her so I decided to wake you!" he explained, although his logic didn't make much sense. I whipped my eyes and sighed,
"Joshua, why do you need me?" I asked.
"I need your help carrying water."
"Alright then let me get ready and I'll come find you." I promised him. Joshua smiled and left the tent. I shuffled out from underneath the heavy quilt, and walked over to the wooden clothing rack at the far side of the tent. As I pulled the dress over I glanced at Liam. He stared at me with almost a worried look in his eyes. It felt almost as if his gaze had petrified me, as if he could hear every word I think in my head. His stone face now had creased in his eyebrows. I final broke away from his trance and continued getting dressed. I quickly braided my hair to the side. As I walked out of the tent, his voice stopped me.
"Vera," I quickly turned around. He sat in silence for some time, and once again, we only stared at each other.
"Be sure to take a bow and quiver," was the only thing he said before I left. I walked to the kitchen and tried to remember where the river was, but the only thing I can think of was Liam's expression. His eyes looked as if he was in pain; as if he felt that, I was in danger. Then again, who wouldn't be worried about a fifteen-year-old girl and a seven year-old wondering threw the woods that are crawling with outlaws.
I quietly walked into the kitchen where I saw Jack cutting meat, and Joshua watching him patiently. Jack looked up at me
“Oh, thank god you’re here. I need you to go get water, I’m afraid that our remaining water is no good.” He looked at me with a look of relief. He walked over to a wooden barrel outside the tent. Jack Lifted the wooden lid of the barrel allowing the three of us to peer in. When He lifted the lid a strong stench of mildew came from the water. I peered into the rotten water, and saw the mosquito lava and the algae that had turned the water a displeasing green.
Jack had told Joshua where the river was and gave us each two buckets. Before we left, I went to ask Isaac for a spare bow and quiver that he graciously gave me. We walked to the dense forest and after a few minutes, we could no longer see the camp. Joshua had run ahead despite my warnings not to. I had to teas him about the robbers lurking the woods to make him behave.
Joshua had stopped in his tracks, and seamed to see something I did not. He suddenly dropped his to buckets and bolted forward. I ran after him and picked up his two buckets he had dropped.
“Joshua! Joshua, wait! Where are you going?” Despite my effort, my voice did not reach him. I ran desperately trying to find him I finally fond him by the time