Back from the horse-doctor

Cotton was secretly rather glad that Phoenix had picked up a strain. It meant that he had a bone fide excuse to go back up to the baggage, which meant he could see his wife again.

Even thinking of Maggie in terms of being his wife sent a glow of happiness through him. The only thing that could have made it any better was if he'd been able to spend the last few days with her, instead of running here, there and everywhere between the baggage and Captain Vickery's company.

Still, he was heading back to her now, leading Phoenix, who had seemed a little concerned at first by the bandages on his forelegs, but had got used to them pretty quickly.

He ignored the curious looks from the redcoats that he passed, and wondered where Maggie was, in the long train of sutlers and camp followers.

Maggie's attention was immediately engaged when one of the children had spotted a greenjacket wandering about with a horse. It was not Jestel, because he was over there trying to chat with a Portuguese woman. And it had better not be Newbury walking up and down. What would he be doing with a horse anyway? But Gabe looked after Vickery's horses. She went to investigate.

Even at a distance she could tell it was him, and the captain's Phoenix with bandaged hooves. She found herself smiling as she waved. "Gabe! Gable Cotton, over here!" And then she ran toward him.

Cotton looked up and smiled as he saw Maggie waving. "Hello lass," he said, putting his arm around her as she ran up to him. "I had to bring the Captain's second horse back up - bin told he needs to rest. He's got a bit of a strain, is all, nothin' to worry 'bout, but that Captain can't ride him for a bit."

She smiled up at him and up at the horse. "Poor thing. This one's Phoenix, ain't it? So you're coming back here to look after him?"

"In a manner of speakin', yes," Cotton replied, adjusting things so that he had Phoenix's bridle in one hand and his other arm around Maggie's waist. "It don't hurt him, so I was told, but he needs as much rest as I can give him an' not to be ridden for a bit while it sorts itself out."

"How long will you be here?" she asked happily.

"Till... till tomorrow, I think. I want to keep an eye on Phoenix tonight, him bein' young an' still a bit skittish. And, well, I want to spend a bit of time with you. If you'll let me an' ain't goin' to chase me all the way back up to the Captain." He grinned, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I won't chase you off yet," she said with a smile. "I've missed you. I got used to you bein' back here with us."

"Missed you too, Maggie. Wish there was some way I could have you up with us an' then I'd be the happiest man in Portugal."

Phoenix whickered, almost as if chuckling at his words, and Cotton grinned. "Even the horse agrees with me!"

Her shawl was slipping. She unwrapped herself from his arm to adjust it, and then took his hand instead. "Come on. We're over this way. You gonna leave the horse with us for a while then? Maybe Jestel? Only he's got the captain's mule and Mister Brady's and - Do you have to fetch the captain's things tonight, set up his tent and all?"

Cotton reconsidered. It would e highly unfair of him to leave poor Jestel with Phoenix as well as Willow and Mister Brady's own mule. "Um. Would you mind leadin' Willow, an' then I could leave Phoenix with Jestel without him havin' to look after three beasts? And no, I don't think we'll have time to get up to the rifles and pitch a tent tonight and strike it and pack it all away tomorrow before we march. I don't know how we'd manage it all, else."

"That'll be fine. Maybe Martha can take Willow. We'll sort it out. Have you ate supper yet? Sal's making some stew with sausage in. And carrots. I had old carrots, so I gave 'em to the pot. I hardly have any fruit left though, because - " She stopped and changed the subject. "You been to see Joe?"

"Supper?" His stomach gurgled suddenly, embarrassingly. Stew with sausages and carrots sounded very good. "No, I haven't had supper yet. An' I ain't seen Joe yet neither. How's he doin', the poor lad?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I never can tell."

Cotton chuckled. "He does keep things to himself, does Joe Newbury. Silly of him - though I don't reckon I'm much better, me."

"Maybe you should go and see him," she suggested. "After supper. I saw him yesterday but we didn't talk much."

"Mebbe I will, at that. Only right, after all, bein' mates an' all." He grinned at her. "An' how's you, Missis Cotton?" he asked, and dared to kiss her on the cheek.

She shrank away at the unexpected touch. "I'm... keeping busy. Like always. Get out your bowl and we'll try this stew."

He felt as though someone had run a knife into his heart as she twisted away from his kiss. "Maggie... sweeting. I love you," he said, simply, and turned to get his bowl out and hide his face and the hurt and bewilderment he was sure she'd see there if she looked.

"I know. I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He had taken his pack off, and so she was able to wrap her arms around his waist from behind. "I'm sorry Gabe!" Why did she have to ruin everything? No wonder he would rather be with his mates in the rifles than with her. She took his hand and looked up at his face. "I don't mind if... you'd rather go. I mean, I'll understand."

"Go? Who says I'm goin' anywhere?" he asked, and twisted round to see her face. "I'm sorry for... Well, I didn't think, Maggie." He kissed his finger and pressed it to her lips. "Love you... I never felt like this 'bout anyone afore, an' it fair frits me, times, how much I love you."

She blinked back a few tears and smiled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and allowing him to do the same, if he wished.

He just held her close, kissing the top of her head. "I'd do anythin' for you, lass, anythin'."

She laughed with a sniff. "Well for now, just get out that bowl and let's eat."

"Yes'm," he said, and handed her his old wooden bowl, smiling fondly at her as he did so. "Did you cook it?" he asked, slightly curious as to how things were managed back here, where there weren't regularly organised messes as there were with the Rifles.