Martha was up and moving around the next day, but Rud would be in bed for quite some time. The sandy-haired farmhand was Charlotte's grandson Ollie, and he was attending to Martha's every need. Rud was awake and heard Martha tell Ollie she must look awful with all her cuts and bruises. Ollie replied, "I think you are beautiful."

Rud remembered the resolve in Ollie's eyes when he faced off against him. Ollie could face death and keep that resolve, but Rud wondered how long it would last looking into Martha's blue eyes. Rud moved his head enough to kiss Patience, who was curled up on top of his blanket, napping by his side. She moaned slightly and moved closer to him. Rud thought, "Not long at all."

Three days later, Rud was on the mend and past the worst of it. He was awake during the day and mostly slept comfortably at night. Patience was by his side. Bessie and Martha were back at home, and things were slowly returning to normal.

Martha had seen her father killed, but instead of being traumatic, she felt like she was finally free of him. Ollie was becoming a regular at Bessie's house. After work at Charlotte's, he would ride down to Bessie's and do chores Bessie and Martha were unable to perform.

Ollie would stay for supper, and he and Martha would take a walk or sit together on the porch. All saw the budding romance between Ollie and Martha as positive, but Charlotte had made it known she had reservations. Billy and Alice were staying at the cabin taking care of the homestead while Rud and Patience stayed at Charlotte's.

Rud wanted to go home, but he was not ready to travel yet, and Charlotte would hear none of it. The injury to his side from the brother's short sword had been much more severe than Rud had thought. Aside from cleaving skin and muscle from the bone, the impact had left several of the ribs broken, and the underlying tissue was badly bruised.

All of his other injuries were serious but alone were not life-threatening. In total, though, and combined with the side injury, Rud had been in serious trouble. As much pain as he was in now, he had no idea how he managed to run the horse after Martha much less fight once he caught up with the fleeing men.

Had Billy, Alice, and Patience not been there to intercede, Rud was convinced he would not have survived. Ollie was certainly brave, and that counts for a lot, but Rud doubted Ollie could have fended off all three men on his own.

Lying in bed with Patience by his side Rud had started to rethink waiting until spring to marry. It seemed like so long ago since Patience came to their valley, but it had only been seven months.

Was it fair to ask her to be his wife after so little time? Would a few more months make any difference? His concern about her age had disappeared. She knew her mind and was more than capable of making a decision concerning what Rud hoped would be for the rest of her life. Having her there with him while he was hurt only made him appreciate and love her more.

When the women were working on him in the barn, and one asked Patience if he was her husband, he had so much wanted her to say yes. A simple squeeze of her hand was all he could manage at that moment, but there was more he could do now.

* * * * *

Billy was doing his best to get the homestead ready for winter. Alice was enjoying herself cooking for Billy, keeping the cabin clean, and tending what few plants were still producing in the food plot. They both felt like adults looking after the homestead.

In a way, they were spending less time together now as their chores required them to be separated much of the day. Of course, Alice was sleeping next to Billy every night, and they were enjoying their independence. Alice finally had what she wanted. She had moved in with Billy.

Billy and Alice had certainly matured beyond their years, and the situation would lead others to think more was going on between them. But they were both still very young and not intimate beyond holding each other and kissing. In that regard, it was no different than any other childhood crush.

The special bond they had would someday certainly be romantic love. But for now, they liked and had a fundamental need to be with each other. Rud and Patience believed they each recognized the one person who will make them happy in this life, and it was a bond that would never end.

At the end of the second week, Charlotte felt Rud could travel but suggested as a first step he only goes as far as Bessie's. Bessie was more than happy to have him, so it was decided he would lay in one of Charlotte's wagons for the trip.

Billy and Alice made a trip out of the valley the evening before Rud was to move. They stopped first at Bessie's then went down to Charlotte's house. It was more than to check on everyone. Billy wanted to talk with Rud.

Billy walked into Rud's room hand in hand with Alice. They spoke briefly with Patience. Then Billy asked his sister if he could talk with Rud alone. Patience gave Billy a strange look, said "oh, okay" then she and Alice locked arms and walked out of the room. Patience gave Alice the rundown on Rud's recovery and asked if Alice had seen Martha and Bessie.

Rud was still amazed at the young man before him, who bore no resemblance to a boy he remembered scooping up on a dock not long ago. Billy pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Rud. Rud opened it to find the special project he and Billy had made.

Billy looked at Rud and said, "My father is not here, and he can't give you his blessing. I know in my heart he would, so I am here, in his place, to give you his blessing." Billy smiled and said, "So, what's keeping you from asking her."

Rud told Billy he had been thinking a lot about getting married while he was lying in this bed, and it was time. Billy said, "That is what Alice said too. By the way, Alice loves the ring. She said it was perfect!" Rud complained it was their secret. Billy responded, "If I know, Alice knows. I can't explain how. It is just the way it is."

* * * * *

Charlotte entered Rud's room to check on him. She said she saw Patience walking outside with Alice and thought Rud must be dead since she hasn't seen Patience leave this room for longer than a few minutes in the past two weeks. Charlotte looked at Rud, then at Billy, and asked, "What are you two up to?"

Rud replied, "How does one go about getting married around here?" Charlotte yelled, "YES!" She added, "You just saved yourself a good talking to because if you didn't come to your senses and marry that girl, I was going to give you one! And mister, what you just went through was nothing compared to when I am in your business."

Rud said he wanted to be able to stand before he asked her. He already had a ring for when they are married. Charlotte looked at the ring as Rud explained he and Billy had made it from the gold they were able to collect in the valley.

Tough, iron-willed Charlotte's eyes welled up. It reminded her of the original wedding band her husband had given her. He had bought her a more expensive ring after he was promoted and they could afford a fancy ring, but she always cherished the ring he gave her when they started their lives together.

Charlotte, who was not one to put things off, said, "How about tomorrow? When you get to Bessie's, everyone will be there, and my men will help you stand up if that is what you want." Rud was a little surprised at Charlotte's suggestion that he propose so soon. Rud thought for a moment, then said, "Why not."

Rud told Charlotte he did not know how he could repay her for all her help, for mending his injuries and letting him, a stranger, stay in her home while he recovered. But when he was back on his feet, he would find some way to pay her back.

Charlotte felt a sudden rush of guilt and said, "You don't owe me a thing. It is the least I could do for you now. Invite me to your wedding, and we will call it even." Charlotte quickly turned and left the room.

Billy was telling Rud all the things he and Alice had been doing to get the homestead ready for winter when Alice and Patience walked back in. Patience sat down on the bed next to Rud, kissed him on the lips, and said Alice had brought clothes for him to wear tomorrow when he moved to Bessie's house.

Alice looked directly at Billy for a moment, her eyes widened, and a look of excitement was on her face. Alice then looked at Rud and winked. Rud thought to himself, "How does she do that?" Billy saw Alice wink and said to Rud, "It is just the way it is." It was Patience's turn to be the one who had no clue what was going on.