He Stops Her

Although he was not sure how much further he could allow himself to go with Anna, he knew he didn't want her to leave him now and he had to stop her before she got any further away. He quickly reached out grabbed her wrist in his hand, holding it tightly. Anna stopped walking when she felt the resistance and slowly turned her head to face him. Her face was still flushed and she had trouble meeting his eyes.

"You told me you would keep going as long as I needed." Edwin said to her softly. "I still need you, Anna."

"T-truly?" She asked, her voice cracking a bit.

"Yes. You have done so much for me already and I have no right to ask any more of you, but I would take it as a great kindness if you would stay with me. At least for a little while longer." Edwin could feel the girl's arm shaking in his grasp and she was breathing rather heavily. "Please, Anna."

"O-of course, Edwin." Anna said when her voice finally returned. "If it is what you wish, then I will stay as long as I can."

"Thank you." Edwin nodded slightly and gave her wrist a light tug. Anna got the hint and walked over to this side. The expression on her face looked almost scared, as if she was going to bolt at any moment. Edwin trusted her words, however, and let go of her wrist. Anna brought her hands together and clasped them in front of her chest.

"What more do you need of me, Edwin?" She asked.

"I need your warm smile." Edwin answered. It wasn't exactly what was on his mind, but it was not a lie, either. "I need your melodic voice. I need your gentle touch." Anna's face went the same shade of scarlet as Scout's saddle.

"Edwin!" Anna exclaimed, averting her eyes and staring hard at the stable wall. "I already said I would stay, you need not flatter me so."

"I'm not." Edwin said plainly. "When I see you, hear you, touch you...all the pain I endure goes away."

"That's the salve working, Edwin." The young maid rationalized, still looking away.

"No." He said, a little more forcefully. "It's not." She finally gathered the courage to turn her head back to face him and meet his gaze. "I need you, Anna."

"No one has ever...I've never had..." Anna started a couple times before stopping herself. "That is very sweet of you, Edwin. You don't know how happy it makes me to hear that." She placed one hand on his bare shoulder and gave him a genuine smile. Edwin could feel a wonderful tingle run through his body as she did. They stayed there, just looking at one another for a moment as Anna rubbed his shoulder gently. After a moment, Anna started looking a bit nervously and audibly swallowed.

"What's wrong?" Edwin asked, concerned.

"Nothing is wrong." Anna said quickly. "I just...well...you didn't really answer me on what you wanted." She fidgeted a bit in place and her free hand gripped the hem of her outfit tightly. "I mean, you did and it was very nice. But that does not really tell me what you would like me to do for you." Her face was turning red again and her hand was now so tightly gripped to her dress, Edwin thought she might accidentally rip it right off. "I-I can kneel here next to you and hold your hand while you rest if that is what you want, Edwin. Or...maybe...there is something else you want...?"