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at well over a hundred. One hundred twenty-six, but there was more than
enough mental arithmetic going on around the table right now. The brothers,
particularly, seemed to be floundering, staring at him in renewed wariness.
It all works out, Dag went on into the too-long pause. If, for example,
Fawn and I were to marry, we would actually arrive at old age tolerably close
together. Barring accidents.
All right, he d said the magic word,marry . It wasn t as if he hadn t done
something like this before, long ago. Well, all right, it had been nothing at
all like this. Kauneo s kin had been overpowering in an entirely different
manner. The terror rippling through him felt the same, though.
PapaBluefield growled, Lakewalkers don t marry farmer girls.
He couldn t grip Fawn s hand below the table for reassurance; all he could do
was dig his fork into her thigh, with unpredictable but probably unhelpful
results at the moment. He did glance down at her. Was he about to jump off
this cliff alone or with her? Her eyes were wide. And lovely. And terrified.
And& thrilled. He drew a long breath.
I would. I will. I wish to. Marry Fawn. Please?
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Seven stunned Bluefields created the loudest silence Dag had ever heard.
Chapter 15
In the airless moment while everyone else around the table was still
inhaling, Fawn said quickly, I d like that fine, Dag. I would and will and
wish, too. Yes. Thank you kindly. Then she drew breath.
And then the storm broke, of course.
As the babble rose, Fawn thought Dag should have tackled her family one at a
time instead of all together like this. But then she noticed that neither Mama
nor Aunt Nattie was adding to the rain of objections, and truly, whenever Papa
turned to Mama for support he received instead a solemn silent stare that
seemed to unnerve him. Aunt Nattie said nothing at all, but she was smiling
dryly. So maybe Dag had been doing more than just thinking, all this day.
Fletch, possibly in imitation of Papa s earlier and successful attempt to
embarrass Dag about his age, came up with, We don t take kindly to cradle
robbing around these parts, Lakewalker.
Whit, his tone mock-thoughtful but his eyes bright with the excitement of
battle, put in, Actually, I m not sure ifhe s robbing cradles, orshe s
robbing graves!
Which made Dag wince, but also offer a wry headshake and a low murmur of,
Good one, Whit.
It also made Fawn so furious that she threatened to serve Whit s pie on his
head instead of his plate, or better still his head on his plate instead of
his pie, which drew Mama into the side fray to chide Fawn, so Whit won twice,
and smirked fit to make Fawn explode. She hated how easily they all could make
her feel and act twelve, then treat her so and feel justified about it; if
they kept this up much longer, she was afraid they d succeed in dropping her
back to age two and screaming tantrums right on the floor. Which would do just
about nothing for her cause. She caught her breath and sat again, simmering.
I hear Lakewalker men are landless, and do no work cept maybe hunting,
said Fletch, determinedly returning to the attack. If it s Fawn s portion
you re after, let me tell you, she gets no land.
Do you think I could carry farm fields away in my saddlebags, Fletch? said
Dag mildly.
You could stuff in a couple o chickens, maybe, Whit put in so helpfully.
Dag s eyes crinkled. Be a bit noisy, don t you think? Copperhead would take
such offense. And picture the mess of eggs breaking in my gear.
Which made Whit snicker unwillingly in turn. Whit, Fawn decided, didn t care
which side he argued for, as long as he could stir the pot and keep it
boiling. And he preened when folks laughed at his jokes. Dag had him
half-wrapped around his thumb already.
So whatdo you want, eh? asked Reed aggressively, frowning.
Dag leaned back, face growing serious; and somehow, she was not sure how,
commanding attention all around the table. It was as if he suddenly grew
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taller just sitting there. Fletch brings up some very real concerns, Dag
said, with a nod of approval at Fawn s eldest brother that puffed him up a bit
despite himself. As I understand it, if Fawn married a local lad, she would
be due clothing, some furniture, animals, seed, tools, and a deal of labor to
help set up her new house. Except for her personal gear, it s not Lakewalker
custom or expectation that I should have any of that. Nor could I use it. But
neither should I like to see her deprived of her rights and due-share. I have
an alternate plan for the puzzle.
Papa and Mama were both listening seriously too, as if they were all three
speaking the same language of a sudden. And what would that be, patroller?
said Papa, brows now pinched more in thought than in antagonism and not nearly
as red in the face as he d been at first.
Dag tilted his head as if in thanks, incidentally emphasizing his permission
to speak without interruptions from juniors. Iof course undertake to care for
and protect Fawn for as long as I live. But it s a plain fact that I don t
lead a safe life. A slight, emphatic tick of his wrist cuff on the table edge
was no accident, Fawn thought. For now, I would have her leave her marriage
portion here, intact, but defined written out square in the family book and in
the clerk s record, witnessed just as is right. No man knows the hour of his
shari of his end. But if ever Fawn has to come back here, I would have it be
as a real widow, not a grass one. He tilted his head just enough toward Fawn
that only she saw his slight wink, and she was as cheered by the wink as
chilled by the words, so that her heart seemed to spin unanchored. She and
her children, if any would then have something to fall back on wholly separate
from my fate.
Mama, face scrunched up in concentration, nodded thoughtfully at this.
In the hope that such a day would be long from now or never, it would have
to be attested by Fletch and Clover as well. Can t help thinking that Clover
would be just as glad to put off paying out that due-share, with all the work
she ll have here starting up.
Fletch, opening his mouth, shut it abruptly, as it finally dawned that not
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