“Good evening Ted, I see that you are busy. I do apologise for taking Bubba’s time. I am going to my room now,” he says.
“Sir, I didn’t see you there! It is just that we have more guests tonight and we have a lot to do.”
“I understand,” Garty says.
Ted rushes off, carrying a silver tray with drinks thereon into one of the cabins at the back of the building. Garty follows his trail until he moves into the shadows. Being dusk, with darkness descending, it is difficult to see clearly. Two lamps emit a glow in the dark.
“Musdo!” Garty hears a familiar voice as he heads to his quarters, through a small walkway.
“Good evening Mrs Bouchée,” says Garty, tipping his hat. This is a surprise, he thinks. Usually she is inside rather than out at this time of day. What is going on?
“Be quiet,” is her only answer. She keeps herself hidden near the apple trees. Something is clearly amiss, Garty figures. He moves closer.
She looks around before she speaks and fear is emanating from her eyes. He pays attention to her words.
“You must get out of here as quickly as possible. These men are asking about you, what you are doing here and how much money you are paying people for information? They pretended they had information, but they do not! They have arms!” Her hands grip his shoulders and he feels them shaking in fear. “They want to search your room! I persuaded them to eat and drink first after their long journey. You have very little time to get away. However, I have done my best and given them free run of my very best Mature Apple Wine,” she says with a twinkle in her eye as she steps near the lamp.
Garty is shocked to hear these words.
Garty was keen to look through information he had found and enjoy a relaxing bath. He was also very hungry. But, he is more keen to stay alive!
“Listen, Mrs. Bouchée, thank you for telling me these things. Somebody must have told them I am staying here.” He scoops a handful of gold coins from his velvet pouch and presses them into her sweaty palm.
“There is no need. You are a King’s ambassador.” She holds the gold coins and takes a deep breath, saying, “Nevertheless, kindness is a marvellous trait, so, thank you!”
She places her hand in her pocket and the golden coins are out of sight.
“Go on quickly,” she says. “Here is something to take with you” she adds, handing him a home made linen bag that held some freshly baked bread.
Garty was wondering where the homey smell is coming from. Fresh bread! This is a big risk she is taking, he knows, and frowns for an instant as worry sweeps over his heart.
“This will see you through. Now, there is a fine inn that is not too far away from here. Turn left at the junction and travel for about five miles. Turn left again and you will see a fine old inn. It is owned by my sister Etty, who will care for you. Not many folk stay there for it is rather small and cosy, but you will be comfortable in a feather bed. Etty’s Inn, it is called.”
Garty’s head is spinning with so many urgencies happening at once. He runs his hand across his forehead.
“Thank you,” he says.
“I must go,” Mrs Bouchée says, looking around and moving silently through the trees towards the kitchen.
“May God go with thee…!” Garty says softly. Mrs Bouchée’s life could be in danger! Then Garty notices Ted watching from the lower sheds where the chickens are kept. He looks away as Garty catches his eyes. He beckons Ted who reluctantly comes towards him. After all, Garty thinks, I am still their guest here!
“Can you please help Bubba with my horse? I shall be departing shortly,” he asks Ted.
“Yes, Sir! I thought you were staying the whole week? And where might you be heading off to?” He asks.
Garty immediately wonders, would he ask me such a private question? This is not a Servan’t right! His answer was measured.
“On the King’s business, as usual,” he replies a little curtly.
Ted reacts by shuffling away a few steps, stops and mumbles an apology.
“Sorry Sir! Didn’t mean to be inquisitive, just caring about you, Sir, and your horse!” Ted mumbles his explanation. He looks exceedingly embarrassed.
“Thank you,” Garty replies through his teeth. “Your concern is appreciated and not warranted!” He does not disclose any more information.
Garty walks to his quarters to pack and leave as speedily as possible. Concentrating on his job in hand, Garty places the cloth with warm bread aside and pulls out every drawer to ensure that nothing personal remains behind. Gathering his toiletries, including his boot polish and brush, he remembers that he is still wearing the hand made boots from the cobbler.
“Shucks,” he moans. He shakes his head in his own disappointment. It was not like him to forget anything, but this time, he had forgotten all about the boots.
Drat, I forgot and now these fit more snugly, he muses. It looks like I must return to this town and retrieve my old boots. He is also listening to the sounds around him as he gathers his stuff. He hears merry laughter in the dining room of the Maud Inn and sighs.
Mrs Bouchée’s fine wine is doing its job, he reflects, remembering her quiet conversation with him. Now I must take a chance to get away from these highway robbers before being taken captive or even worse, murdered!
His blood runs cold as he reminds himself for whom these highwaymen might be working on behalf of, and what could happen to him if he was captured?
He has so many notes and information about folk in these parts that their lives might be put into danger too! He almost wished that he had destroyed all the bits of paper, trinkets and notes. He decides to do so as soon as practicable.
I must find a way to dispose of these personal notes for safety sake. I have left everything too late!
His ledger is full of people’s names and private details. He hopes that this leg of his mission will not end in a radical disaster after so many years doing hard work and due diligence! There is no time now!
He moves steadily and quietly towards the stables where Brill is still nibbling on a nice bag of apples. Bubba is stroking his neck, watched by Ted, who is now sweeping the stalls. He looks up with fear into Garty’s face as he steps into the stable yard.
“Thank you for caring for Brill, Ted,” Garty says, throwing a silver coin towards Ted. Ted catches it flying as if it was a cricket ball and presses it hurriedly into his top pocket. He smiles happily. He is showing his big teeth in all their glory. Garty then slips Bubba two silver coins! She plummets them smoothly into the back pocket of her livery pants. She nods her thanks with her eyes. Quietly, her hand moves Brill from the feeding trough and he obeys eagerly. She has a touch of an angel with a great beast, he muses.
Garty places his saddle bag over the hollow of his horses’ back and instantly glides into the rider’s seat. He feels for his pistol butt and breathes deeply, flinging his scarlet cape behind his shoulders. The horse prances a little for a moment, sensing the urgency.
Riding his horse as silently as possible, Garty heads through the back gate, surprising the chickens who squawk as he passes by. Garty glances behind but the hunters are nowhere to be seen. Feeling rather nervous he knows these fellows are rotten eggs.
Devotees of Axemanix no doubt, and not good in any way, small or great. I must avoid them at all costs, or everything will be lost, even my life.
He rides along narrow tracks off the main highways, spending time being smacked by overhanging branches of large sycamore trees and dozens of wild animals screeching from their homes, especially bats that fly a little too close for comfort with their colony of family members flocking and screeching nearby as night falls deeper and darker before his horses’ hoofs.
He rides for some time and fatigue begins to cloud his mind. Where is Etty’s Inn? Even as his hope wanes, to his surprise and ultimate delight, he spies a building with a large chimney smoking valiantly into the night sky. Instinctively, Garty knows this is the place, away from every other living creature in the world, it seems.
How clever was Mrs Bouchée, he thinks, hoping beyond hope that this is indeed the inn of her sister, Etty!
He can barely believe it was a mere five miles from the Maud Inn! But, perhaps he has travelled a little more distance by avoiding the main highway. And he certainly had avoided highway men robbing him. Just having my purse replenished is a blessing. Now Garty fears that fact may be a curse because he carries quite a lot of gold and silver, the desire of highway robbers. I shall refuse to meditate on that fact!
He stops and takes in the view before him as usual before proceeding into possible danger.
The building appears smaller than the Maud, obviously a farm house remodelled into an inn. A small sign at the front gate, along with a dim lamp, indicates its nature. Its front is open and gracious, inviting in the daylight, he decides. Now, it is dark and even dangerous as the horse treads lightly on soft grass. The door looms dark with its jambs displaying dim side lights of lead glass allowing a shimmer of light to emit. Sliding silently from his mount, he sums up the matter. A large brass bell catches a glow. He tugs the bell and waits, speaking softly to Brill, who seems keen to trim the grass down a smidgen with his mighty teeth.
“Stop, Brill,” he whispers. The horse neighs lightly, but stops and waits with his master.
A flustered man, with a rosy complexion and a night cap opens the door slightly.
“Who be ye? He asks in a loud voice.
“Maud Bouchée sent me hither,” Garty replies.
“Friend or foe?” The man asks as if there was some war going on and a person must take sides.