Thomas

Thomas was dumbfounded. She was looking at him like she was entirely serious but there was no way she could be. Right? Why would this glorious specimen want him to marry him? And in what world did a woman ask a man to marry her? She was the most peculiar person he had ever met.

"I'm waiting for an answer Thomas," she leaned closer to him. She looked like she was enjoying this. It absolutely had to be a joke, he thought.

He pulled the oars out of her and hands and turned the boat back around and started rowing back.

"Thomas, you're not even going to answer me then is it? You're only confirming what I initially thought. The thought of being with me is completely ridiculous to you. I am a nothing but a laughing stock to you."

"No, that is not it," he was actually getting angry now.

"Then explain it to me. I am asking you to marry me. Give me the reason you don't want to."

"It's not that I don't want to," he said with a sigh. "It's just that a woman like you doesn't marry men like me."

"Why?"

"Because they don't. I don't belong with a person like you."

She crossed her arms and leaned back against the edge of the canoe. She looked away. He sighed. He was doing it again, hurting her.

"It's not that I wouldn't be happy to be with you, but you deserve to be with a man like Jeremiah. Not the blacksmith."

"If not you then who?"

He considered that for a moment.

"Well," he grunted. "No one."

She sighed and narrowed her eyes at him.

"Right, so I'm just supposed to live with Frida and the governor for the rest of my life? Just mooching off of them. How long do you think that will be before she forces me to marry Willard?"

Thomas had not given this near the thought that she had. Without Jeremiah there was not anyone equally matched to her. And she could not stay single. He knew that for sure.

"No, you can't do that," he grumbled.

"Thomas, I need to marry someone. I promise I would try to be the best wife I could. I know that I am basically useless but I will try. I will learn how to cook and clean and I won't be annoying. I would be helpful. I could be a companion when you need one and I promise to try not to be a bother to you…"

He held a hand up, signally her to stop.

"No, please just stop." She should not be begging him and making promises to him like that. Not when it was so obvious that she was so much better than him.

"Please," he said. "I do not deserve a woman even half as wonderful as you. This isn't even something that can be considered."

"Right," she pouted. "So I should just consign myself to Willard then?" she gritted her teeth together.

"No!" he scoffed. "No, not at all."

"Well, that is what you are dooming me too."

"All does not have to be decided now."

She tried to protest be he kept going.

"You are still wearing your widow's weeds. Keep wearing them, honor Jeremiah, and everything will work out."

"Can you guarantee that?"

"Yes," he said confidently.

She sighed disappointedly. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on her knees. "It's so embarrassing." She mumbled into her legs.

Thomas stopped paddling and knelt down in front of her.

"Sophie, look at me." He hated seeing her upset. He should not have this effect on her. She lifted her head slightly to see him. "Sophie, my opinion should not affect you. You should not be upset by anything I have to say. I am a daft fool."

"Well, I am not going to argue with you on that last part," she giggled slightly.

He was so close to her that he could feel her breath on his face.

"It will all work out, be patient and I will always be the most loyal friend to you. Not just because I owe it to Jeremiah, but because I want to be."

She gave him a half smile. She was obviously not convinced of his sincerity, but what more could he do? He sat back and began paddling again. He dipped the ores into the water and then pulled them through it, over and over again. She remained silent, hugging her knees.

He thought about his friend. What would Jerimiah want him to do? The thought that his friend would want him to marry her entered his mind and he quickly shook it out. He had to think about something else. Marrying her was completely out of the question. He did not deserve that amount of happiness.

"So, you've never been on a boat?" he asked conversationally.

She shook her head no but didn't look at him.

"What did you do back in England? What did you enjoy?"

"Oh that's easy," she said. She was actually smiling now. "My horse, Hammich, I would ride everyday for much longer than my mother would have liked. It was the greatest joy I had. I would ride all over the grounds and through the forests. There is nothing more freeing than being on a horse."

"A horse?" he grunted. "Sophie, there is something else Jeremiah left for you," he said unwillingly.

"More?" she asked "What more could he possibly have?"

When they finally reached the shore Jeremiah walked Sophie up to the stables and led her to Maddox stall. He pushed open in the pen door.

"Maddox was Jeremiah's horse. Everyone told me to keep him since I just made new shoes for him and Jeremiah didn't have the chance to pay me. But he should be yours."

She tried to protest but he stopped her.

"No, I know without a doubt, my friend intends this to be yours. Maddox is your horse."