Edward were pulling on their jackets.
“ Last time he ran away, we found him at the Old Mill. I suggest we start there and work our way back through town,” Sophy added to her previous plan.
This they did. But Freddy was nowhere to be found. By the time they had made it back to the house, quite a crowd of people had assembled who were ready to help in the search. Groups were formed and they spread out across the town, heading in different directions. Sophy only prayed that someone would find Freddy. And find him safe.
Chapter VIII
A few miles before the turn in the road leading straight into Milverton, Connie had descended from his hired horse, not from any defect of mount or rider, but simply because it was a beautiful summer morning and he wished to have a slow ramble through the fields where he had played as a youth. No one in particular was expecting him and so the element of surprise would still hold whether he arrived now or later. He had already been delayed a number of days since the Pleasant had anchored in Watchet. The Admiralty did like its paperwork, and so he and Lieutenant O'Brian had been obliged to remain on board until everything was in order. But now he was free – for a few days at least – and looking forward to surprising his parents. He smiled at the thought. Oh, his mother would not know what to do with herself.
But before he began the round of visits, Connie wanted to enjoy the solitude of a long walk through the fields so familiar to him.
Solitude and space were both things difficult to come by in his profession. And so he had learned to take full advantage of them when he had the opportunity. This was not from a miserly or misanthropic instinct, but merely the enjoyment Connie had learned to take in everything that fell into his path. He knew himself to be a lucky man, and so he appreciated everything he was given. Things like lovely countryside mornings such as this. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
The air smelled of grass and earth warmed by the sun. The sun felt somehow different here than when he was aboard ship. It was a sun of dry land and earth beneath his feet. Connie was glad he'd chosen to walk.
He'd already covered most of the fifteen mile journey from the port at Watchet on the coast. Only a few miles now separated him from Milverton, and he was determined to pass these on foot. In a few days, Connie and his crew would take the Pleasant to Portsmouth where she would have some minor refittings and repairs. But he would only be in Somerset, very far away from Portsmouth, for a few short days.
Connie was picturing the joy that would be on his mother's face when she saw him and so he did not immediately comprehend the unexpected sight that met his eyes when he turned the corner onto the Milverton road.
Walking toward him was what appeared to be a young man. Connie had time to observe that this young man was tall, perhaps in early adolescence. He was well-dressed, if somewhat lazily put together. He was walking slowly and with a decided limp. He appeared to be in some pain and, even at a distance, Connie would swear that he was muttering angrily to himself. The young man was headed in the opposite direction to Connie, but he was concentrating hard enough on the road in front of him that he did not see the captain approaching.
Connie's interest was caught. He could sense some mystery here. Where was this well-dressed young gentleman limping to at this relatively early hour of a Saturday morning? And where was he off to completely unattended by another soul or even mounted on a horse? Connie had long been in the company of young gentlemen on board his ship, had even been one himself once, and he had become a deft reader of adolescent moods. If he knew anything, he knew this young man was in a sulk, perhaps had even run away from home. That would explain the hasty look of his dress and why he did not seem to have any provisions with him.
Connie bit his lips
“ Last time he ran away, we found him at the Old Mill. I suggest we start there and work our way back through town,” Sophy added to her previous plan.
This they did. But Freddy was nowhere to be found. By the time they had made it back to the house, quite a crowd of people had assembled who were ready to help in the search. Groups were formed and they spread out across the town, heading in different directions. Sophy only prayed that someone would find Freddy. And find him safe.
Chapter VIII
A few miles before the turn in the road leading straight into Milverton, Connie had descended from his hired horse, not from any defect of mount or rider, but simply because it was a beautiful summer morning and he wished to have a slow ramble through the fields where he had played as a youth. No one in particular was expecting him and so the element of surprise would still hold whether he arrived now or later. He had already been delayed a number of days since the Pleasant had anchored in Watchet. The Admiralty did like its paperwork, and so he and Lieutenant O'Brian had been obliged to remain on board until everything was in order. But now he was free – for a few days at least – and looking forward to surprising his parents. He smiled at the thought. Oh, his mother would not know what to do with herself.
But before he began the round of visits, Connie wanted to enjoy the solitude of a long walk through the fields so familiar to him.
Solitude and space were both things difficult to come by in his profession. And so he had learned to take full advantage of them when he had the opportunity. This was not from a miserly or misanthropic instinct, but merely the enjoyment Connie had learned to take in everything that fell into his path. He knew himself to be a lucky man, and so he appreciated everything he was given. Things like lovely countryside mornings such as this. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
The air smelled of grass and earth warmed by the sun. The sun felt somehow different here than when he was aboard ship. It was a sun of dry land and earth beneath his feet. Connie was glad he'd chosen to walk.
He'd already covered most of the fifteen mile journey from the port at Watchet on the coast. Only a few miles now separated him from Milverton, and he was determined to pass these on foot. In a few days, Connie and his crew would take the Pleasant to Portsmouth where she would have some minor refittings and repairs. But he would only be in Somerset, very far away from Portsmouth, for a few short days.
Connie was picturing the joy that would be on his mother's face when she saw him and so he did not immediately comprehend the unexpected sight that met his eyes when he turned the corner onto the Milverton road.
Walking toward him was what appeared to be a young man. Connie had time to observe that this young man was tall, perhaps in early adolescence. He was well-dressed, if somewhat lazily put together. He was walking slowly and with a decided limp. He appeared to be in some pain and, even at a distance, Connie would swear that he was muttering angrily to himself. The young man was headed in the opposite direction to Connie, but he was concentrating hard enough on the road in front of him that he did not see the captain approaching.
Connie's interest was caught. He could sense some mystery here. Where was this well-dressed young gentleman limping to at this relatively early hour of a Saturday morning? And where was he off to completely unattended by another soul or even mounted on a horse? Connie had long been in the company of young gentlemen on board his ship, had even been one himself once, and he had become a deft reader of adolescent moods. If he knew anything, he knew this young man was in a sulk, perhaps had even run away from home. That would explain the hasty look of his dress and why he did not seem to have any provisions with him.
Connie bit his lips
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