“Abigail I am beginning to think this is not a very wise decision,” Colton said as he watched his wife go over the list of supplies and luggage one last time.
“What isn’t a good idea,” she asked not removing her eyes from her page. “Oh I must tell Mildred to pack only my cotton dresses, I am told that Virginia can be quite stifling in the heat of summer.”
“That is the decision I am speaking of."
"Cotton dresses?" Abigail retorted knowing full well that wasn't what Colton meant.
Colton gave a heavy sigh. It was probably his own fault that such a teasing nature was rubbing off on his wife.
"I don’t know if it is wise for you to make the journey. It will not be an easy one.”
“Plenty of others have sailed the Atlantic, why not I? Plus don’t you think it is a little late to be having these second thoughts? We depart for Liverpool in the morning, my love,” Abigail expounded quickly and waved him off.
“You are not just anyone,” Colton replied reaching to wrap his arms around his wife. “You are the most important person in the world to me, and I couldn’t bare it if something were to happen to you.”
“If you haven’t noticed, Colton, I am not very dainty and delicate of a lady. You will not stop me from going, not now,” Abigail said wrapping her arms lovingly around her husband's shoulders.
Colton smiled down at his wife. Try as he might, she was as stubborn as a wild horse. He doubted he could force her to stay even if that was what he wanted. In honesty, however, he was sure he couldn't bear the time away from her.
“What if those natives pick you up and take you away?” Colton retorted with narrowed teasing eyes. “What if they chop you up and turn you into stew?”
“Well I fully intend on you rescuing me before that happens, or you will feel the wrath of my words.”
“I shan't want that to happen; you can be so fierce when you want to. Like poor Sir Blanchard. If you do to the natives as you did to that man, I fear they would run at the mere sight of the color red,” he added with a flick of a copper lock that dangled down her neck.
“I wasn’t that horrible to the man. I simply told him the truth that no one else had the courage to say.”
“You called him a disgrace to society and that you would be sure to inform every person you met of that fact until he was willing to treat his employees better.”
“Well, it was true,” Abigail retorted like an errant child.
“Something had to be done. The vicar’s words did nothing to move the man.”
“Yes, and you found his weakness. He had a desperate need to get along with his social connections,” Colton said with pride in his wife's abilities.
“And so I threatened to rob him of it, is that so wrong?” Abigail asked looking at her husband innocently.
“For you, my love,” Colton said with a great big grin, “absolutely not.”
“And now I am happy to report,” Colton continued, “that Sir Blanchard has increased the pay of all his workers and made conditions much more safe for them. They all have you to thank for it too.”
He leaned down and gave his wife a soft kiss. He removed his lips from his wife’s to look her over again.
“Now that I think about it,” he said with his wicked teasing grin, “It might be best if you come with me. That sharp tongue of yours can protect me from any native or scoundrel I might encounter.”
“You rescued me once,” Abigail retorted, “So it only seems fair that I return the favor.”
“I promise you,” Colton said placing a soft kiss now on the tip of her nose. All humor was removed from his face, and he spoke with deep sincerity. “You have already saved me from the misery I was trapped in. You are the light that helped me through my darkness.”