Her Devious Scoundrel

Chapter 16

It was several hours later that Johnathan decided they would stop for the night. Penelope was practically falling asleep in the saddle, her warm small body was cradled in his chest and it was everything he had to keep them both upright after a long day traveling. He eased their ride to the side of the dirt road, leading them a little way into the trees before stopping and shifting Penelope to one side.

“Are we stopping?” Penelope asked softly, before stifling a yawn.

“Yes, we both need sleep of we will fall right off that old nag.” Johnathan sighed, “Besides, that old girl needs a break before she kicks it too.”

Penelope looked sadly at the horse as Johnathan gathered grass to wipe her down. She stepped closer, pulling open the saddle bags and pulling at the blankets inside. Johnathan finished wiping down the horse before gathering some more dry grass and setting it in a pile near the blankets she had laid across the ground. Pulling a flint from the saddle, he struck it setting fire to the kindling and propped a fallen branch over it, before turned to head into the woods.

“Where are you going?” Penelope asked.

“We are gonna need to eat.” He smiled before heading a few feet deeper into the woods. Johnathan crouched low behind a bush, not wanting to stray to far from their makeshift camp site. Quietly, he waited, listening to the sounds of nature. Rusting came from his left, and he silently crept forward, pressing his body low and pulling a short knife from his boot. After a few moments a small rabbit hopped through a nearby clump of grass. Johnathan shot his arm forward grabbing the creature and made quick work of it's death. Another rabbit came a moment later, sniffing the soft clover, this one too Johnathan grabbed before standing and taking his bounty back to where Penelope waited.

While he was gone Penelope had been busy, the bed rolls were out and she had created a makeshift spit across the fire. Jonathan sat and used his knife to skin the rabbits before setting them on the spit to roast. He watched as Penelope unwrapped a hunk of cheese they had brought from the inn as well as a few pieces of bread. He turned the spit, listening to the fire crackle and spit as the fat dripped down.

After a while, He removed the rabbits placing them on a slab of hard wood and cutting into the meat. They ate in silence, neither of them feeling overly chatty in their exhaustion. Once they were finished Johnathan gathered up the bones and scraps, tossing them into the fire, preventing the smell from attracting other, unwanted animals.

“You go get some rest, I will keep watch.” Johnathan motioned to the bedroll Penelope had laid for herself, “When you wake I will sleep for awhile before we head out again.”

Penelope nodded before laying down and pulling the small blanket around her shoulders. The air grew colder as the sun set and the day turned to night. Penelope lay still for a while, before tossing to her side and huddling in on herself. Johnathan watched her for a few moments while she feigned sleep. He smiled to himself knowing she must be uncomfortable, but didn't want to complain. It wasn't until her body started shaking, that Johnathan spoke.

“Come here girl, you are obviously freezing.” Penelope opened her eyes and looked at him.

“I-I am fine, I will just scoot closer to the fire.” Penelope moved her body, edging as close as she could to the dying fire.

“You are shaking worse than a wet cat.” Johnathan stated, shaking his head at her complete lack of sense, “The fire will be out soon and we cannot keep it going. It is a signal to any highway men or thugs who might be out there looking for unsuspecting travelers. Just like us.”

Penelope stayed still for a few moments, and Johnathan wondered if she were too stubborn to do what was best for her own person. Just when he thought he would have to go over to her and pick her up, she stood on her own and gathered her blanket. She walked to the other bed roll, taking that blanket as well before grabbing the roll and dragging it to where he sat propped against a tree. Johnathan stood helping her rearrange the bedding and sitting down. Penelope hesitated before sitting between his outstretched legs and arranging both blankets over them. They sat in silence for a time, Johnathan relished in the warmth of her body.

“Are you uncomfortable sir?” Penelope ask quietly in the darkness.

“No more uncomfortable than I would be watching you lay over there suffering.” Penelope laughed softly, looking up at the stars.

“The sky is so beautiful at night.” She stated, “the stars are shining so brightly.”

“Hmm.” Johnathan glanced up, he knew nothing of stars and before now they had never held an interest for him.

“You see that there,” Penelope pointed directly above them, “That one is called the Plough.”

Jonathan studies the sky, not seeing anything but glittering spots of white. Penelope continued to point out different star formations, but Johnathan still had no idea what she was speaking of. He knew that astronomers had recorded names for different star grouping, stating they made different shapes, but Johnathan had only ever seen a chaotic smattering of lights. He stared at the sky listening to Penelope chatter on about stars and constellations. He lost himself in the stories she was telling and it was a long while before he realized that she had fallen in silence. He glanced down at her face to see her eyes were closed and her breathing had slowed to soft even breaths. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he settled back further against the tree and closed his eyes. Dawn would be approaching soon and they would both need their strength to continue traveling during the day.