“Bonnie, lovey, we have to go now.”
Kate was amazed at how calm she sounded.
“Where
are we going, Kate?”
“Home,
but we must hasten. We have to run. Can you do that, Bonnie?”
“To
Ralph?”
“That’s
right … to Ralph.” The village was a mile or so from the manor house. Nightfall
gave cover from anyone trailing them, so they stopped a few times to catch
their breath. Kate held Bonnie’s hand, pulling her along.
“Kate,
I can’t run anymore.”
“I
will slow down, but we must keep moving.” They continued, and after making more
progress, the young girl slowed again. Kate finally picked her up, shifting her
so she could hold on to her shoulders, from behind her. They ran the rest of
the way. Bonnie didn’t weigh much, so it wasn’t too difficult, but holding her
belongings and making sure she didn’t jostle Trixie, was a difficult task. When
they reached the smithy’s hut, there, as promised, waited Ralph.
Chapter
Three
Kate
lifted Bonnie onto the horse’s back then secured the satchel to the harness by
the horse’s forelegs. Trixie jumped into the satchel so Kate wouldn’t worry
about her. She touched the medallion covered by cloth on a string, tied around
her pet’s neck. The only clue to her father’s death was secure. She had all
that she needed. Thank goodness she’d made the arrangements this day, for if
she had waited, Richard would have hurt her, perhaps have even killed her. She
would never have been able to get Bonnie to safety. Kate kicked her heels into
Ralph’s flanks.
All
Kate wanted, was to get as far away from the evil place as she could. They were
in southern England just west of Londontown, so Kate headed north, not really
knowing where she was going. She held the sleeping child and rode through the
night.
They
had made a good distance as the sun began to rise. The hues of yellow and pink
indicated it would be a hot day. She had a hard time keeping her eyes open, and
finally had to stop. Kate felt it safe to rest for a spell. After lifting
Bonnie down, she tethered Ralph.
“Bonnie,
sit beside me and don’t move for any reason.”
“Aye,
Kate.”
“If
there’s trouble or you hear someone, wake me.”
“Aye,
Kate.”
“And
Bonnie, don’t let me sleep long.”
“Aye,
Kate.” Bonnie nodded at her instructions.
As
Kate lay sleeping, Bonnie made a fire. Her papa had taught her how, and she
couldn’t wait to tell him that she had done it all by herself. She found flint
in Kate’s satchel and struck it against the rock just as her uncle showed her.
When the kindling caught, she shouted then quieted, realizing her loudness. She
took the bow and arrows from the satchel. Her Uncle Brendan had taught her how
to use them, but this bow was slightly larger than the one her uncle had made
for her. She had trouble notching the arrow, and keeping her aim fastened on
the clearing.
Kate
would be surprised when she awoke. Bonnie sat in a secluded clearing and
waited. Her uncle told her she had to have... What did he say? Oh, aye,
patience. He’d told her ye could wait a long time before a target came.
Then
she spotted it, a very large hare hopped into the small clearing not too far
from where she sat. She pulled the arrow back, scrunching her eyes closed, then
let go. Amazingly it hit the target. In awe, she smiled. “Wait until Papa hears
this.”
Kate
lay on a grassy spot covered by a small counterpane, and Bonnie smiled at the
pretty lady who had saved her. She knew Kate was tired, but it was getting
late, so she shook her.
“Not
now, Lolly,” Kate grumbled.
“Kate,
wake up,” Bonnie whispered. “Please.”
Kate
shot up, remembering that she slept in the forest. She listened to the approach
of dusk. Only the sound of birds making their return flight to their nests
could be heard. Sighing relief, she released her bated breath.
“Lovey,
are ye all right?”
“Aye,
but the day is fading.”
“You’re
right about that. Why did you not
Kate was amazed at how calm she sounded.
“Where
are we going, Kate?”
“Home,
but we must hasten. We have to run. Can you do that, Bonnie?”
“To
Ralph?”
“That’s
right … to Ralph.” The village was a mile or so from the manor house. Nightfall
gave cover from anyone trailing them, so they stopped a few times to catch
their breath. Kate held Bonnie’s hand, pulling her along.
“Kate,
I can’t run anymore.”
“I
will slow down, but we must keep moving.” They continued, and after making more
progress, the young girl slowed again. Kate finally picked her up, shifting her
so she could hold on to her shoulders, from behind her. They ran the rest of
the way. Bonnie didn’t weigh much, so it wasn’t too difficult, but holding her
belongings and making sure she didn’t jostle Trixie, was a difficult task. When
they reached the smithy’s hut, there, as promised, waited Ralph.
Chapter
Three
Kate
lifted Bonnie onto the horse’s back then secured the satchel to the harness by
the horse’s forelegs. Trixie jumped into the satchel so Kate wouldn’t worry
about her. She touched the medallion covered by cloth on a string, tied around
her pet’s neck. The only clue to her father’s death was secure. She had all
that she needed. Thank goodness she’d made the arrangements this day, for if
she had waited, Richard would have hurt her, perhaps have even killed her. She
would never have been able to get Bonnie to safety. Kate kicked her heels into
Ralph’s flanks.
All
Kate wanted, was to get as far away from the evil place as she could. They were
in southern England just west of Londontown, so Kate headed north, not really
knowing where she was going. She held the sleeping child and rode through the
night.
They
had made a good distance as the sun began to rise. The hues of yellow and pink
indicated it would be a hot day. She had a hard time keeping her eyes open, and
finally had to stop. Kate felt it safe to rest for a spell. After lifting
Bonnie down, she tethered Ralph.
“Bonnie,
sit beside me and don’t move for any reason.”
“Aye,
Kate.”
“If
there’s trouble or you hear someone, wake me.”
“Aye,
Kate.”
“And
Bonnie, don’t let me sleep long.”
“Aye,
Kate.” Bonnie nodded at her instructions.
As
Kate lay sleeping, Bonnie made a fire. Her papa had taught her how, and she
couldn’t wait to tell him that she had done it all by herself. She found flint
in Kate’s satchel and struck it against the rock just as her uncle showed her.
When the kindling caught, she shouted then quieted, realizing her loudness. She
took the bow and arrows from the satchel. Her Uncle Brendan had taught her how
to use them, but this bow was slightly larger than the one her uncle had made
for her. She had trouble notching the arrow, and keeping her aim fastened on
the clearing.
Kate
would be surprised when she awoke. Bonnie sat in a secluded clearing and
waited. Her uncle told her she had to have... What did he say? Oh, aye,
patience. He’d told her ye could wait a long time before a target came.
Then
she spotted it, a very large hare hopped into the small clearing not too far
from where she sat. She pulled the arrow back, scrunching her eyes closed, then
let go. Amazingly it hit the target. In awe, she smiled. “Wait until Papa hears
this.”
Kate
lay on a grassy spot covered by a small counterpane, and Bonnie smiled at the
pretty lady who had saved her. She knew Kate was tired, but it was getting
late, so she shook her.
“Not
now, Lolly,” Kate grumbled.
“Kate,
wake up,” Bonnie whispered. “Please.”
Kate
shot up, remembering that she slept in the forest. She listened to the approach
of dusk. Only the sound of birds making their return flight to their nests
could be heard. Sighing relief, she released her bated breath.
“Lovey,
are ye all right?”
“Aye,
but the day is fading.”
“You’re
right about that. Why did you not
Similar Books
