Chapter 43 - Voices in the Courtyard
The peaceful quiet of the evening was interrupted, just as the first stars began to pierce the indigo sky, by the cheerful crunch of bicycle tires on the gravel driveway below. Sloan and Raphael exchanged a brief, inquiring glance before stepping out onto the second-floor stone balcony to investigate.
Below them stood young Thomas, the baker’s son from the village, balancing a large wicker basket loaded with warm brioche and a jar of local wildflower honey on the handlebars of his bicycle. He looked up, spotting them on the balcony, and waved energetically.
"Evening, Captain! Evening, Mrs. Vance!" the boy called out, his voice echoing clearly across the courtyard. "My mother baked these for the weekend market, but she said to bring some up the hill before they got cold. She wants to know if Mr. Vance is still planning on helping with the village bridge repair next Tuesday!"
Raphael leaned over the stone railing, smiling broadly as he called back down. "Tell your mother the bridge will be fixed as good as new, Thomas. And tell her I'll be down by eight with my own tools!"
"Will do! Goodnight!" The boy turned his bicycle around, the tires crunching rhythmically down the long driveway as he headed back toward the lights of the village below.
Sloan leaned against the balustrade, resting her head lightly against Raphael’s shoulder as they watched the boy disappear into the dusk. A few months ago, a visitor arriving unannounced at dusk would have triggered an immediate defensive posture, a sweep of the perimeter, and a hand on a hidden holster. Now, it was just a neighbor dropping off bread and asking for help with a community bridge.
May you like
"A bridge builder," Sloan murmured with an amused smile, looking sideways at him. "Is there no end to your talents, Mr. Vance?"
"An honest trade for an honest man," Raphael replied, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close against the cool evening air. "Besides, if I'm going to live in this valley, I intend to make sure we can cross the river whenever we want."
