Chapter 4: A very astonishing encounter
"I mustn't be far from Villefranche," I thought.
As I was getting closer, I remarked that the road went through the city. There was no possible detour. I slowed down Jericho until he was at a walk. Observing the ramparts, I noticed soldiers' presence through the loopholes. Confident, I went inside the city, passing over a little bridge and crossing a door in solid wood.
Unlike the other villages I had seen, bustle prevailed in the snowbound narrow streets. As soon as I was in, I noticed curious creations on my left side. Not higher than young children, the snow was piled up in a strange way. There were three snowballs, one above the other. The bottom one was the largest. On the top one, a face was represented. For the nose, a carrot; the eyes, two simple large and black buttons. A mouth was drawn with tiny buttons. A top hat had been put on the central sculpture, higher than the others. Twigs served for arms and these snowmen were dressed with a simple scarf.
Children came suddenly from behind the creations and threw snowballs at me by crying out of amusement. Jericho reared up and neighed with surprise.
"Wow, easy boy, easy," I said, trying to cool him down and clinging to him firmly while the children kept up their assault.
I managed to appease my mount and followed my path in spite of snowballs which were raining down. All of sudden, a snowball struck me with such strength that I fell unhorsed.
"It wasn't just snow," I thought by getting up and putting a hand to my painful forehead while Jericho stopped to my side.
One of the children came closer, ill at ease.
"Please excuse me, Monsieur. I didn't want to hurt you," he said sheepish.
"It's nothing, little one... But another time, don't throw snowballs with stones in them. If you would have hit one of your friends, you could have hurt them more than me," I said by letting go of my forehead.
The child stepped back by discovering my face.
"You're bleeding! Follow me," he exclaimed by grabbing me with his left hand.
"Easy," I said without moving and surprised with his reaction.
"Monsieur, you can't stay like that, you will scare the others."
"The others?"
"Yes. Sébastien, Pierre, Paul, Jean, Jacques et Philippe. They don't like the sight of blood."
"For a child, you don't seem to be affected by it," I asserted by taking Jericho's reins and following him.
"My father is the doctor of the village. Since my mother's death, I help him time to time."
"Oh! I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't be. It was six years ago."
I frowned, puzzled with the child's behavior who was still smiling in spite of this sad news.
"What's your name, Monsieur?"
"My name is Monsieur Goupil, Jacques Goupil. What is yours?"
"Jeanne," she answered while stopping in front of a house just near the church.
"You didn't recognize a little girl when you saw one," Don Alejandro joked.
"She had short hair and was wearing boy's clothes," Diego defended himself, creating laughter around the table. Then, he kept on his story.
"You can put your friend in the rear court. It would be easier if you followed me. This way, Monsieur," she said, taking off her hand from the main gate.
I followed her once again, smiling of her briskness. The little Jeanne was reminding me of a girl friend I hadn't seen since six years ago, at least.
"Could it be me?" Salena interrogated.
"Indeed," Diego smiled.
"By the way, your father didn't tell you it wasn't careful speaking with strangers?" I asked her.
"Of course he did, Monsieur Goupil, but you're not a stranger," she answered, always with this radiant smile as she opened the portal of the rear court. "Be careful of your head and the one of your horse, the arch is low on this side."
I looked at her with confusion and observed the arch made of stone.
"What are you doing? Come on in," she said enthusiastically.
I was wondering if she didn't think I was someone else.
I looked around and finally went in the court by following Jeanne's advice. The behavior of the child was still puzzling me. Although I would have liked to keep going on my path, I also knew that Jericho needed to rest.
"Let's take benefit of this halt," I thought by tying him up securely to a tree near the rear porch.
Once inside, Jeanne made me sign to stay where I was and to remain silent. Then, she went out of the room by laughing. I took advantage of her absence to put again my hand to my painful forehead. She didn't miss me. Observing the room, I saw shelves full of supplies; sausages were hanging to the window. So, I must probably be in the kitchen. A fire was burning and heating up the contents of a cooking pot. In the center of the room, there was a table in solid wood without any other ornaments than fruits presented in a dish chipped by time. Around the table were four stools, made with the same solid wood as the table. I went closer to the chimney to warm myself.
Suddenly, there was a 'what' of astonishment so loud that I jumped.
As my heart was beating faster, I put my hand to my weapon, ready to defend my life dearly. Noises of running could be heard in the house. Heavy steps.
"Where is he?" a voice said so loudly that I stepped back in spite of myself and took out my blade.
"Easy, Daddy, you will frighten him," the sweet voice of Jeanne said.
The kitchen's door opened violently on a man with a strong built. His hairs were messy and grey, dressed with nobility and wearing no weapon. I put away mine with confusion.
"It's him, it's really him," the man whispered as he saw me. "Alexandre, my friend, the years have spared you!" he exclaimed by clasping me in a tight embrace.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken, Monsieur, my name is not Alexandre."
"Come on, old fox, it's me, Joseph... Really? You don't remember me?"
"Did you just say Joseph?" Alejandro intervened a little perturbed.
"Yes. Could you know him?"
"It may be possible. Go on, please."
"Very well."
"Father, if he is your friend, shouldn't he be as old as you?" Jeanne asked ingenuous.
"She is not wrong," I thought.
"Indeed," Joseph realized. "But if you're not Alexandre, it's incredible how you look like him. You could be his son."
"This man, Alexandre, could you tell me more about him, if it's not indiscreet?" I tried.
"Why the devil did Jeanne make you come in?" he interrogated as he didn't want to answer my question.
"Oh, well, maybe it's because she hurt me with a snowball within which was a stone," I explained calmly.
The man observed me attentively and finally saw my wound.
"Have a seat, I will go and look for my things."
"Monsieur Goupil?" Jeanne interrogated.
"What's the matter?"
"Forgive me for asking, but what is your father's given name?"
"My father? His name is... Alejandro," I answered in a whisper and smiling to the little girl.
She bent her head on the side, thoughtful.
"Alejandro? It's a look alike to Alexandre. Are you a border man?" she asked me then at mid-voice and looking to the door like she was afraid to be surprised by her father.
"Sort of. I'm a student from America."
"Oh, you're coming from far," she said with amazement.
"Yes. I'm here to go deeper in my knowledge of the different cultures and traditions which were passed on by my grandparents... Could you tell me more on your father's friend?" I tried.
"I... This man saved my parents' lives a long, long time before my birth. Father doesn't stop relating me this story. Yet he was an enemy to France, but for him, a life is a life and the differences of opinions mustn't come in the way, depending of the circumstances."
"When did he arrive?" I asked.
"According to my father, it was forty years ago."
"Did you say forty years ago?" Alejandro asked.
"Yes. You were then a student, weren't you?"
"Indeed, but I can't confirm that I know him."
"Jeanne, you shouldn't talk about that," Joseph said harshly as he came back.
"Don't have a hold against her, Monsieur, that's my fault," I said as I stood up to better bow.
I caught a brief smile on Joseph's lips.
"You have the same manners as him. Sit again," he said by putting his things on the table.
He began to take care of my wound, first in silence and finally he talked about Alexandre. I don't remember all, but the man helped Joseph and his wife to return safely to France.
"That can't be! So the rascal is still alive, what a surprise!"
"So you know him?" Salena asked.
"Hell yes! Joseph was as stubborn as me. There were tensions at the border and he, and his wife to be, were held prisoners by highwaymen like other Spaniards and French. I was patrolling with the sergeant... I don't remember his name. Whatever, we freed the hostages and let all French return to their homes to show our kindness in spite of the tensions. Joseph's girlfriend was weakened. She had health troubles because of the bad treatment she received. The sergeant didn't want to escort them in France. It would have seemed like treason. I decided either way, thinking of my sweet Isabella. I took benefit of the night to go away with them. I didn't mind to be put in jail when returning. Their lives were more important. That was quite a journey," Alejandro explained, smiling.
"I asked him if he remembered your family name, but he didn't," Diego asserted.
"Alas no, Joseph sighed. But before leaving us, he confessed he was Spanish and that Alexandre has the same meaning of his real given name."
I frowned while he observed my reaction.
"You are his son, I'll bet my life on it."
"It won't be necessary to risk your life," I said very seriously. "My father..." I hesitated a brief instant. "My father's given name is Alejandro."
"Alejandro," he repeated. "How is he?"
"He succeeded to my grandfather and is in charge of a ranch in America."
"On the New World?" Joseph said astonished.
"It was called that in bygone days."
"And you're coming from there?"
"Like I was explaining to your daughter, I'm here to study the different cultures and traditions of my grandparents," I said.
"Are you as good a fencer as your father?" he asked me with dazzling eyes.
"Alas no," I answered as I didn't want any troubles. "I know how to defend myself and that's quite enough," I added ironically.
"What is sure is that your accent is less pronounced than the one of your father," he said making me smile. "As for your head, it wasn't useful to mend. It would have left a useless scar."
"Gra... Thank you, Monsieur. In the future, I will be more suspicious of children making snowball fights," I added with humor.
"I'm terribly sorry, Monsieur Goupil," Jeanne said ill at ease.
"That's nothing, Miss. Thank you again for all, Monsieur. I must go back on my road now."
"Don't you want to stay for dinner and for the night?"
"I don't want to abuse your hospitality nor bring you troubles."
"Come on! What troubles could a young man like you bring to me? You're welcome in my home."
"Thank you," I said by bowing politely after having stood up.
Suddenly the bell rang so loudly that the entire village was in the narrow streets to see what the cause of the agitation was.
We didn't make any exception.