Chapter 10 - Section 2

Much to the CherRené’s chagrin, Austin had left with Cayden to go into the nearest town for supplies and to catch up on the news. She had hoped he would have offered to help her dig as her hands were hurting terribly, but she would not complain.

Rayna glanced over at the camp where Bryant sat watching her and whittling on a stick. Austin had explained before leaving that Bryant would be left as guard and watch since he would only awaken questions with his present state and she refused to stop digging for the day.

Stopping for a moment to examine her hands, she was in mid thought of how rude it was for a man to sit for hours watching a woman work so hard while he did nothing, when suddenly she noticed the feet standing at her side. Glancing up she saw that the ever changing green eyes were filled with compassion. In his left hand she saw a rag and a tube - apparently salve - and his right was outstretched to her.

Taking a step back from him, she shook her head, ”I’m fine really, I just need to keep working.”  And she reached for the shovel. He preempted her effort and again thrust his hand out to her, his eyes losing the compassion and flaring with frustration.

”You aren't going to let me have the shovel back until you see my hands, are you?” she asked incredulously. He nodded emphatically so she hesitantly turned her hands over and opened the palms carefully. Again, compassion filled his green eyes as he shook his head in consternation.

Grabbing her wrist he began to drag her out of the ruins. She dug in her heels and protested, ”I’m not done, I have to keep going.” When he didn't seem to respond she declared, ”I CANNOT quit...I have to...”

Bryant suddenly stopped and whirled her around to face him. Standing nose to nose, he stared into her eyes challenging her to argue. Without so much as a noise from him, she understood that he was trying to help her and she needed to yield.  So, she nodded and willing followed him back to the camp.

Once there, he cleaned her hands gently in a bucket of clear water then just as gently applied the salve and wrapped her hands. Rayna watched intently as Bryant minister to her and she began to see him in a new light. She had not thought badly of him before, but as she watched him she could feel the strength of the Divine’s spirit within him. She was strengthened and encouraged by the aura that radiated from him and she knew at that moment that though she did not understand why, the Divine had brought them together. Whatever His reasoning the Divine meant for Bryant to be a part of her purpose - or her his?

After her hands were treated, she sat staring at him. He dropped her hands and sat silently gazing back at her. For many minutes they sat there, communicating without words. Finally, she stood and started to make her way back to the ruins. Bryant followed close behind. When she reached for the shovel, he grabbed it from her - not maliciously but sternly.

She nodded and said, ”I need to dig from here to the wall until we find a secret door.” The question in his eyes could not be missed. ”I can't explain more than that, there is a secret chest somewhere along this wall and I must find it.”

After several moments of looking at her, he began digging. Rayna knelt on the ground a little ways off and began digging with her hands, a strong hand came down on her shoulders and she looked up to see the green eyes a fire with concern and displeasure. He gestured to her hands and shook his head.

”Well, I can't just sit here, it is my mission to find that chest.” For a moment she thought he'd argue, but then he held his hand out in a gesture to wait and he ran back to the tents. When he emerged, he held a small shovel just right for her hand. Rayna beamed. His heart momentarily stopped.

They spent the next several hours working together. Bryant loosened up the soil and Rayna cleared it and dug it deeper. They were so deeply involved in their work they had not noticed the return of Austin and Cayden to the camp or the dying sun. But just as Austin was approaching them to quit for dinner, Bryant’s shovel hit something. Quickly he glanced up at Rayna with surprise in his eyes. Rayna had finally seen Austin approaching and had stood, but upon hearing Bryant’s shovel hit something hard, they both dropped to their knees and began digging with their hands.

Within moments, as Austin and Cayden watched, they had a small wooden box uncovered down a few inches from each side. Rayna reached for the small hole filled with wax. As she started to dig out the wax with her fingernails, Bryant stilled her hand and offered her his pocket knife. Smiling, she took it and whittled away the wax closing - the whole was two inches deep. Then without hesitating or even trying to open the lid, Rayna began working around the box, she felt down an inch on each side and wedged and pried open the top which had also been sealed with wax.

Behind her, she heard Cayden ask, ”How did she know the top was only an inch down and was also sealed with wax?”

Austin shook his head as he replied, ”How did she know there was a wooden storage box to begin with...it should have been gone by now.”

Rayna met Bryant’s eyes and a knowing passed between them. He didn't fully understand it, but he knew however it came about, it was destined for the two of them to be there together to uncover it.

Slowly, Rayna lifted the lid and stared inside.



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