[i]Court[/I].  At the sound of the word, William's lips had spread just a bit.  He knew from his historical research that couples sometimes courted for years before marrying.  Hell, some courted for years before [i]kissing[/i] for the first time.  As she went silent, blushing -- for a reason other than what he thought -- William thought back to his last relationship: he met the woman in a bar, fucked her that night, began [i]courting[/i] her three or four times a week, then quietly slipped out of her life when it became obvious that they weren't meant to be with one another long term.  [i]That[/i] was [i]courting[/i] in the 21st century.

"I would be honored to [i]court[/i] you, Keziah," William said, squeezing her hand again before releasing it and standing over her.  Right now, though ... I have [i]got[/i] to bathe."  

He looked to the baby in Keziah's arms, marveling at how that vulnerable little thing could still be alive and well when all about her people were dropping of a multitude of causes.  "I'll protect the two of you, Keziah.  I promise.  I'll never leave your side."  He chuckled, clarifying, "Well, except for right now.  I stink ... and I [i]really[/i] need to do something about it."

..........

An hour later, William felt like a new man.  Edward must have anticipated -- or simply smelled -- the stranger's need and had filled a large kettle with water and put it over a fire near one of the outbuildings.  Though it wasn't hot, it was warm enough; and beyond a sheet strung on a line, William took his own sweet time washing away weeks worth or grime, dust, smoke, ash, and even blood.  Keziah's father arrived as he was drying, carrying a fresh pair of worn, work clothes.

"You make these yourself?" he asked, holding up an oversized pair of wanna-be boxer shorts that tightened around the waist with a string that wound back and forth through slits in the haphazardly hemmed waist band.  When the Lexington homesteader only nodded, William pointed out the very loose fitting crotch, joking, "So ... kinda roomy."

"Maybe for you," Edward commented.  When William laughed in shock at the man's comment, Edward looked to him and smiled a bit at his inappropriate humor.  But the smile was short lived.  "Are you an honorable man, William?"

Not understanding the question at first -- particularly after the unexpected comment -- a moment passed before William's face lit up with shock.  "I didn't [i]touch[/i] your daughter, sir.  I promise you."

Edward stared the other man down for a long moment, then let his gaze drop for a moment before smiling, and chuckling for William -- caught off guard by the unexpected conversation -- was still standing there in the soft grass naked as could be.  Without another word, Edward turned and headed for the barn before finally chuckling for what ever reason or thoughts were going through his mind.  William quickly donned the clothes, finding them so much easier than the uniforms he'd been wearing previous to this; and once dressed, with his still wet hair slicked back and a hat enclosing it, made his way back to the house.  He stopped at the door, turning to watch the sun dropping behind the distant Appalachians.  There were very few places in William's 21st century Massachusetts where this view wasn't obstructed or devalued by buildings, power lines, artificial lights, or cell towers.  This place had the true feel of a wilderness area...

...and stepping inside to see Keziah ... and the baby ... and the future that he could have in this amazing place, William suddenly wondered why the hell he was so anxious to find that fucking long gun that had brought him here in the first place.