A bunch of unfamiliar emotions Akin couldn't identify had been tugging at his heart since the girl walked in. It all felt like a miracle, it wasn't long he thought about having a maiden by his side and God granted him his wish though the maiden didn't seem willing.
"Then it is all settled." Akin said in a husky voice, making the girl jump a little. "Akake will be bringing some supplies for the children in a few days." He added, giving the idiot a warning stare. The children, previously all wailing and holding tightly to Sidi, burst out into happy cheers.
"Ah! Thank you Mr. Akin"
"Akin will do from now on." Akin said, surprising both Sidi and her father.
For the first time that morning, Sidi raised her head to look at the man holding her hand in his rough one. Their eyes met and his intensed brown ones made her shiver in fear.
It was getting late. Akin wanted to get on the road with his new 'wife?'. It sounded so foreign in his mind. "We need to get going." He said, pulling Sidi closer to him.
"Mr... hmmm Akin, she needs to pack a few of her belongings."
"No need, we will stop to get what she needs on the road." His wife can not be seen in rags, Never!
Akin stepped out of the house with his new bride beside him.
Seeing their sister leaving, the children began to wail again. Akin turned and shouted at the screaming children. They immediately silenced their cries, fearing he did beat them as he did their father that morning.
Looking at Obajana, standing there looking sad and drunk. He shook his head. He knew he was missing his 'wife' but it was past time to get over it for the sake of the poor kids.
"I'll bring her around to visit as often as time permits. Just make sure you take care of the kids. They really stink and I'm sure your wife in heaven wouldn't be happy seeing them in their current state of dirt."
As he jerked Sidi away from her father and siblings, she stumbled almost falling but Akin was fast to catch her and lifted her bridal style and walked to his horse.
What a day he mused, as he looked down at the girl he carried. She was staring into his face, terrified. Yes, he knew he looked frightening. At 6''4, with a body packed with muscles and an ugly scar across his chin that scares everyone away. He chuckled to himself. She'll get used to me.
***
Akin stopped at the town mercantile and arranged for some silver coins for Sidi's family. The old shop owner had told Akin, Obajana still owed the store five silver coins. Akin begrudgingly paid it, keeping his bride in his peripheral vision. She was sitting outside the mercantile doors, hunched over.
He moved around, getting a few things, but was sure she was in his sight.
"Is that not Sidi?" the mercantile man asked. Akin just looked at the man, but chose not to respond.
"I see why the sly man kept her out of sight! She's a beauty to behold!" the man continued.
Akin stared at him for a second, resisting the urge to punch the old man in the face.
Outside, Akin saw a young handsome man attempting to talk to Sidi but she didn't appear to acknowledge him. He turned and exited the store immediately after paying for the goods.
As he approached, the man looked at him and took a couple of steps toward him, as if to challenge Akin's possession of the girl.
Suddenly, he seemed to recognize him and change direction at the very last minute. Akin relaxed a fist he didn't realize he'd made.
Akin had considered staying an hour or two to feed his bride food from a restaurant across the mercantile, but he felt it was best his bride eats on the way since he bought snacks from the soap. No telling how many men Obajana had promised his Sidi to. She was his now; nothing would separate him from her except death.
He rode hard until they reached the next, much larger town and arranged a room for them to sleep. He sat her on the bed, and went to see about his horse and purchased a new dress for his bride then ordered for food and hot water to be brought to their room before he hurried back.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed exactly where he had left her. She didn't look up when he entered and didn't say a word to him.
She was perfect. Though too skinny; he felt her ribs while they rode the horse but he'd fix that soon enough he promised himself.
He retrieved a soap and sponge he purchased from the mercantile earlier and threw them together with the dress on the bed and sat down beside her. They hadn't exchanged a single word since leaving her father's home, but he could feel the sadness and anger all over her.
A knock on the door made her sharply look up at him as if telling him to check the person at the door. Akin offered her a smile and moved to the door. It was a servant delivering the meals he ordered. His heart broke at the wide eyed way she looked at the food.
"Don't eat too fast, you'll choke." he reprimanded but she didn't spare him a glance and continued stuffing her mouth with the mouth watering food, until she was full. When she let out a big burp, Akin burst out in laughter and she covered her face with her hands seeming embarrassed.
After finishing their meals, the hot water was delivered and Akin took the bucket of water from the servant and kept it close to a tub at the far end of the room before coming to carry her to the tub. She pushed his hands away. He felt excited at least she was doing something other than crying.
"I can take my bath myself." She said in a firm voice, surprising him.
"Okay, go ahead and have a bath. Just remember to leave some for me to use too." Akin looked at his bride with something akin to a smile. He knows what she's thinking but he had no plans to bed his bride in an inn and not when she's unwilling. He wanted his wife in the comfort of his own bed, safely ensconced in his home for their first time. He passed her the items he bought and pointed to the tub. She looked up at him with her large luminescent eyes.
She was incredibly gorgeous. He felt so pleased to be bringing home his beautiful, young wife.
Suddenly feeling shy, "Turn the other way." She demanded softly, collecting the items from him.
'God, she has the nerve to order him around.'
Akin laughed and turned around as demanded by his wife. He hadn't laughed in years, and here he'd laughed twice in one day. He looked forward to dealing with his Wife's fiery temper.
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