She paused, then looked up at me with a half smile. “Have you ever had a bad stomach flu? When it’s over, you feel better, but you’re still weak as a kitten and fuzzy minded. It’s like that.”
Cookie chuckled. “That sounds about right for having such a terrible scare.”
He turned her head toward him, looking back and forth into her eyes. “I don’t think she’s been knocked on the head, Captain. Just scared to pieces.”
I could hear a bit of a commotion behind me and turned to see Willy joining the other lads.
“What do you want done with him, Captain?” Willy asked.
“Send him wherever garbage belongs,” I said calmly, even though rage was still roiling in my guts.
The fewer people who actually knew what happened the better, in all cases. I knew the men would take care of it properly. My only thoughts were for Maggie.
Gently scooping her into my arms, I kept her head against my shoulder so that she couldn’t look back at the others.
Cookie walked ahead, clearing the path as best he could as we made our way through the forest.
“Do you know who that man was?” I asked.
“Yes. Mr. Helsby. My betrothed.”
Cookie looked back over his shoulder in alarm, then back at Maggie in surprise.
“My father agreed to it because he would accept the smallest dowry,” she explained to him. “No matter that he was a drunk and a mean, unpleasant man.”
“It’s all over now,” I said soothingly. “I’m so sorry, my darling girl. I should never have left you alone.”
Her little hand reached up to pat my chest. “I was in your aunt’s garden. A place that should be perfectly safe. It’s not your fault. My father should never have made promises to such a horrid man. But it’s over now. He’s the only one crazy enough to ever come after me.”
“He’ll certainly not be coming after anyone ever again,” Cookie muttered.
As we stepped out of the forest, Maggie flinched at the bright sunlight. “Keep your eyes closed a few more moments, my darling,” I murmured against her forehead.
Cookie hurried to the herb garden, tearing off a few sections of leaves, then rubbing them together roughly. He came over to wave it under Maggie’s nose.
“Oh!” she cried in surprise. “That smells so pretty.”
“Lemongrass,” he explained. “Invigorating for the mind. Should clear out some of the dizzy cobwebs.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“Can you go tell Clementine she’s safe?” I said to Cookie.
“Aye, sir.”
Cookie handed me the leaves so I could keep waving them under her nose. I set her on her feet, but kept my arm around her, holding her weight against me.
“I’m sorry to be such a bother,” Maggie murmured.
I tickled her with the leaves until her nose crinkled and she giggled. “My darling girl, you will never be a bother. You’re mine now. And apparently the only way to keep you safe is to keep you right beside me at all times.”
I was rewarded with a genuine smile.
My fingertips glided along her cheekbone, then I dragged my thumb along her bottom lip. “So beautiful. And not just because your color is coming back.”
“I think I can walk, Captain,” she said softly.
We began moving slowly toward the house, as Clementine came barreling out. “My poor little lamb,” she cried, holding Maggie’s face in her hands. “What can I do? What do you need?”