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His eyes dropped to my mouth, and my lips twitched. But the wagon lurched just then, and the reins jerked in my hands.
I sat upright, looking ahead. Oops.
Tuck murmured, pointing, “That way. Lunchtime stop. Bess’s place.”
Bess, as it turned out, was a widowed mother of three — and she was younger than me. Her croft was tiny, with a rickety barn and a handkerchief of a garden. But somehow, she got by on that and a modest income from a small herd of sheep.
Her expression was tired and wary until she recognized Tuck. Then she broke into a huge smile that let her beauty shine through.
“Friar Tuck!”
He doffed an imaginary cap. “Lady Bess.”
She blushed.
The children ran up, calling, “Tuck! Tuck!”
Our visit echoed the previous stops. Tuck played with the children while I helped Bess with lunch. It was all so relaxed, so familiar. Then we all sat and enjoyed the feast Tuck had brought. I leaned back, shocked at how desperately the children attacked the meal. My heart went out to them as I took in their patched clothes and thin shoulders.
Prince John might not be to blame for this young woman’s difficult life, but I cursed him anyway, along with the rest of the world. Why did a lucky few have so much, while others had so little?
“Delicious,” Bess murmured between bites.
Now I knew why Tuck had brought enough for several feasts — enough to keep the family going for a while. But even if he’d come empty-handed, I was sure he would get an equally warm welcome, thanks to his energy and good cheer.
“Can I go live with Tuck?” Tom, the eldest, asked.
Bess smiled. “When you grow up, you can join the clergy, like him.”
Tuck choked, and I thumped his back.
“Maybe you should keep your options open,” Tuck advised.
“My father was a stone mason,” Tom said proudly.
“Well, maybe we can find you an apprenticeship when the time comes,” Tuck said.
“Do stone masons have a lot to eat?” Tom asked.
Bess sighed. “When they have work.”
My heart wept, and I slid a ring from my finger. As a present from my father, it was dear to me, but its sale price could feed the family for a month.
Tuck covered my hand with his and tilted his head toward the goods he’d placed in the kitchen. Then he stood, pulling me with him.
“Well, this has been lovely, but we must go. Make sure you unpack those things I brought and keep them safe.”
A smile dawned on my lips as I remembered the pouch of coins. He’d left some for Bess along with other supplies, hadn’t he?
“I will,” Bess promised. “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure. And you, big man. Take care of this family.”
Tom nodded earnestly. “Yes, sir.”
We left with hugs and promises to return soon. It was only half a mile down the road when I realized that only applied to Tuck. I was just passing through here.
Somehow, the thought made me ache.
