Four months after the Hakeswills had left India, they were nearly home. Obadiah and Anna stood at the rail of the ship that had been their temporary home, scanning the horizon intently for the first sight of England. Not long before, the lookouts in the crow's nest had spotted the misty outline of the English coast, so people gathered at the rail to get their first view they'd seen of home in a very long time.
As the hazy outline turned into a firm shoreline, Obadiah hoisted Barry onto his shoulder and pointed. "There's your new home, boy, see? It's where we came from."
"Does that mean we can get off the boat now, Da?" Barry asked, trying not to whine, because his Da didn't like whining. "This boat stinks, it does."
In a good humour, Obadiah laughed heartily at his son's astute observations. "That it does," he agreed. "And we'll be on dry land soon enough."
Putting the boy down, he said, "Now let's have Bridget get her a look."
The little girl wasn't as interested in looking at the dark strip of land in the distance, but was just happy to be in her father's arms. Father and daughter stood for a long moment looking into the distance as the breeze rippled through her hair.
"How long do you think it will be until we land?" Anna asked, as she stood by her husband at the rail.
"A few hours, I'd guess," Obadiah said, twitching. "It's a good thing we got everything packed up yesterday, so's we wouldn't have to rush around today. When we dock, we'll be able to be one of the first ones off this old tub. Always pays to think ahead, it does."
"You're so right," Anna agreed. "I know the children will be happy to get on dry land as soon as possible." Drawing her shawl closer, she shivered, then said, "It will take me awhile to get used to English weather again after being in India so long. I'm so glad I spent time on board ship making warmer clothing for the children."
"It will be good to have proper English weather again," Obadiah said fervently. "I'll like not to have to roast all the time any more."
"I must agree," Anna said, sighing. "It will be good to go through this pregnancy in cooler weather."
Anna had become pregnant for the third time six weeks into their voyage. As there hadn't been much to keep busy with on their long voyage, Anna and Obadiah had spent a lot of time in their bunk together. So, it hadn't been much of a surprise when she'd turned up pregnant again.
"Our first little 'un born on English soil, it will be," he noted. "Not the last, either, I expects."
"I'm glad we were able to bring the cradle along," she said. "I would have been heartbroken if we'd had to have left it behind."
Obadiah grinned, glad that it was so easy to make Anna happy. Hoisting Barry onto his shoulder, he said, "We'd best get below now and start getting our things ready to disembark. Don't need to wait 'til the last minute, we shouldn't."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Several hours later, after the Hakeswills had finally disembarked in Portsmouth, Obadiah found an inn for the family to stay in for the night, as it had been late afternoon by the time they'd left the ship. Because of the children, it was too late to get started for Surrey, so they decided to get a fresh start early the next morning.
Just before leaving the ship, Obadiah had received written permission from Captain Morris to take a month long furlough before reporting back to duty. Morris had also rewarded him for all his help in India by giving him the assignment he wanted as recruitment sergeant.
After getting settled at the inn, Anna had written a note to advise her uncle of their impending arrival, which Obadiah had paid a messenger to take on ahead. It wouldn't provide much notice of their arrival, but it would be better than showing up at the estate entirely unannounced. It couldn't be helped, because they'd left India on such short notice that they'd not been able to write ahead to let him know they were coming.
Later that night, Obadiah Hakeswill laid awake in bed, unable to sleep. His arm was wrapped protectively around Anna, who was fast asleep, The children, too, were peacefully slumbering in a trundle bed on the floor. Staring up at the ceiling, he turned his head to look out the window at the starry English sky in appreciation. He'd not been home in ten years, so the knowledge that he now rested on home soil especially comforted him.
Ten years ago, he could not have imagined that he'd one day return home with a wife and family. Obadiah had resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life, having to be satisfied with occasional sex from whores and the wives of his men. The idea of being a father and raising children would have been a completely inconceivable notion. For the longest time, he'd convinced himself that the army was enough of a family for him. Tightening his grip on his wife and glancing down at his sleeping children, he knew this was no longer true. For the first time in his life since his mother died, there were three people who cared whether he lived or died
But he was nevertheless still grateful to the army and what it had done for him and always would be. It had literally saved his life by taking him in when he was twelve and on the run from the law after being hanged. It had given him purpose and a sense of belonging, where he could use his natural talents. And, indeed, it had also made possible the family that now shared his room.
Hakeswill could hardly imagine a life without the army. Though he and Anna now had a sizable amount of money from her father and from what he had been able to make illegally while in the army, it wouldn't be enough to keep them for the rest of their lives. And he was canny enough to know that his particular set of talents would not be useful in the civilian world, without the structure of the army to protect him.
Being reassigned to duty as a recruitment sergeant would allow Obadiah the best of both worlds. He'd have the familiar structure of the army behind him that would facilitate him continuing to hatch the schemes that had made him good money in the past. But it would also allow him to remain home in England, close to his young family. Settling back in utter contentment, he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
The Hakeswills rose at dawn the next morning, eager to be off to their new home. After a hearty breakfast, Obadiah went to see when the next stage would leave heading toward Surrey. Anna arranged for a packed lunch, then took both children to the outhouse to make sure they'd be ready to sit in a coach for several hours.
Once this was done, Anna took the children to wait out front with their belongings. Obadiah soon returned, with the stagecoach appearing scant moments later.
"You ready to go?" Obadiah said as the coach pulled to a halt in front of them.
"More than ready," Anna assured them. "I took the children to the outhouse and I got a packed lunch from the inn's kitchen, so we're all set."
"Good," he said, pleased. "I paid the driver some extra, so's we wouldn't have to ride with a bunch of stinkin' strangers up our faces. Easier on the little 'uns that way, it will be."
Kissing him on the cheek in gratitude, she said, "That was so thoughtful of you, Obadiah. I'm feeling rather queasy and I don't think I could have borne a crowded coach. It will be difficult enough just keeping the children entertained."
"I aims to please, I do," he said as he helped her into the coach. Once Anna and the children were settled inside, he added, "Let me make sure all our things are properly loaded, then I'll be with you. Won't be but a few minutes."
He climbed into the coach a short time later and settled himself next to Anna. She'd brought pillows and a blanket, so the children could nap on the other seat.
After they set off, neither Barry nor Bridget wanted to sleep. They'd never ridden in a stagecoach before, so they looked out the window in fascination as the unfamiliar English countryside slowly rolled by. But it wasn't long before the coach's motion lulled them into drowsiness. Within a short time, both children had fallen asleep on their seat.
"Thought they'd never go to sleep, I didn't," Obadiah said, leaning back comfortably. Giving his wife a knowing leer, he added, "If they wasn't here, I knows what you and I would be doing right now." Cackling softly, he said, "Think we could risk it?"
"No!" Anna exclaimed. "They'd surely awaken if we tried that." Kissing his bony cheek, she added, "But it's not that I don't want to. Perhaps it's for the best, as I still have an upset stomach."
Sighing loudly, Obadiah speculated, "Ridin' in this coach ain't helping matters none, I wouldn't think."
"Surely you can wait until tonight," she admonished gently.
"I thinks I'll take me a nap, too," he decided, grumbling. "Makes the time go by faster, it does."
After Obadiah had joined his children in slumber, Anna tried to nap as well, but was unable to fall asleep. The jolting coach had increased her nausea, making her unable to relax. Resigned to it, she pulled some knitting out of her bag. At least if she couldn't sleep, she could do something useful.
The trip passed uneventfully, with one stop for lunch and a short period for the children to run around awhile to work off some energy. Then they were on their way once more after everyone had taken the opportunity to relieve themselves.
About an hour before sundown, they stopped for the night at another inn, which was somewhat shabbier than the one they'd used in Portsmouth. Another day's travel would bring them to the estate of Anna's uncle.
Anna staggered a bit after Obadiah had helped her down to the ground. The children were full of energy and raring to go, but she was worn out. Her stomach was roiling from the long, jouncing ride, which seemed worse now that they'd stopped.
"I'm going to go sit on that bench while you see about getting us a room," Anna said, pointing to a bench on the side of the inn. "I need to have some fresh air; it might make me feel better."
"All right," he agreed, twitching. "I'll do that, then I'll see to our things. That should be enough time so's you can gather your wits."
"I'll be waiting here," she said blearily as he moved off with the children on his heels. But no sooner had Obadiah and the children left, than she felt the gorge rising in her throat. Jumping up, Anna ran to the back of the inn, where a wooden rubbish barrel stood. Leaning over it, she regurgitated her lunch into it in great heaving waves.
Bridget Hakeswill lagged behind Barry and her Da as they hurried to the front of the building. Just as they were turning the corner, she noticed an orange tiger-striped cat standing by a tree.
"Kitty!' she called out, running to it, oblivious to the fact that her brother and father kept walking, unaware that she'd been behind them. Bridget hurried over to pet the cat, who ran, startled by the sudden approach of the little girl.
Giggling happily, she chased the animal down a hill, determined to catch it.
A moment later Anna lifted her head from the barrel, her stomach now empty, so she did not see her daughter run after the cat. She was not concerned as she staggered back to the bench, because she assumed that Bridget had gone inside with Obadiah.
Within moments, Obadiah returned, with Barry tagging enthusiastically behind him.
"I got us a good room, I did," he began, looking around for Bridget. "Where's Bridget?" The slightly raised pitch of his voice was the only indication of his concern. He'd seen some rough-looking buggers on the way inside the inn, so this ratcheted up his sense of alarm.
"I thought she was with you!" Anna cried jumping up from the bench. "I had go around back to throw up as soon as you left. I saw her following you!" Grabbing her husband by the arm, she exclaimed, "Oh, Obadiah! You have to find her!'
"I'll find her right away, I will," he croaked, trying to hide his agitation from Anna. Obadiah Hakeswill had seen death in all its forms in his years in the army, and had caused quite a few of those deaths himself, without batting an eye. But this was different; it was his own flesh and blood and he'd do anythingto protect her.
"You stays here at the bench and hold on to Barry, see?" Obadiah ordered. "I'll go find her. Don't you move none. I shouldn't be gone too long - I hopes."
Using his army training, he quickly canvassed the area in and around the inn. He located the same filthy buggers he'd seen earlier, but this didn't ease his mind much. Where there were a few pieces of gutter filth, there were bound to be more nearby.
Seeing no sign of her near the inn, he began searching in a wider circle. Finally, as he sprinted down a hill not far from the inn, he heard the sound of childish laughter, which was music to his ears. Coming to a quiet meadow, he spied his young daughter frolicking through the wild flowers, playing with a big orange cat.
He stopped to collect himself as the adrenaline rush washed out of his system, his face twitching, thankful that Bridget was safe and sound.
At that moment, the little girl turned and grinned widely when she saw her father. "Lookie, Da, Kitty!' she announced in a matter of fact tone. "Want kitty!"
"Yep, it's a nice cat, it is," Obadiah said, twitching again as he scooped her up into his arms and held her close. "But this kitty has people who he lives with here, he does. We can't take him."
Seeing his daughter begin to pout, he quickly added, "But you can have your very own cat when we get to our new house. I promise."
Now mollified, she snuggled closer to her father as they walked back to the inn. "Want to eat now."
Chuckling to himself, he knew that Bridget hadn't the foggiest idea of what she'd just put her parents through. As he reached the top of the hill, with the tired toddler resting her head on his bony shoulder, Anna caught sight of them. She jumped up from the bench to run to them, grasping Barry's hand firmly.
"Bridget!" she cried in tearful relief.. "You had me and your Da so scared! Don't you ever run off again without one of us with you!"
Putting one arm around Anna and drawing her close, Obadiah murmured, "She's all right. Saw her a cat, she did, and ran after it. Didn't think, 'cos she's two years old and ain't got no sense yet."
"All's well that end well, I suppose," Anna said in a shaky voice. Reaching up to kiss him on the cheek, she murmured, "Thank you for finding her, Obadiah. I don't know what I'd do if we'd lost her!"
Kissing her back, he replied, "As long as I'm around, you'll never have to find out."
Anna put the children to bed shortly after they ate their supper, with Bridget falling asleep almost immediately, tired out from her adventures. Barry wasn't far behind her. Obadiah and Anna had an early night as well, glad to have the day behind them at last.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Late the next afternoon, the coach finally rumbled to a halt at the main house on her uncle's estate. As they rolled up the tree-lined lane leading to the mansion, Obadiah was suitably impressed, but not awed. After seeing the palatial accommodations of the Tippoo, he didn't think he'd ever see anything again that would top it. Still, it was a big step up the in the world for him, considering his rudely humble origins. He only wished his mother could have seen it and that he could have shared his good fortune with her.
"Here we are!" Anna said cheerfully. "I've not been to the estate since well before we left for India, so I could not tell you where our Gatekeeper's Lodge is. It's obviously on the other side of the estate, because I didn't see anything that met the description as we entered the grounds."
"I'm sure he'll get one of his servants to take us there," Obadiah reasoned.
As he spoke, two footmen hurried down from the house to meet the coach. Before Obadiah could get out to help Anna and the children down, a footman opened the door and reached for Anna's hand. Obadiah bristled because he preferred to be the one assisting his wife, but he restrained himself from reacting when Anna gave him a warning glance. As he watched his family exit the coach, he remembered their conversation in bed the previous night about what to expect in a household with servants.
The two footmen looked at one another in amused astonishment when they took a good look at Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill as he finally alighted from the coach. Surely this was not the young woman's husband!
But their confusion was ended when Obadiah stepped up to them and barked, "Get our things down from the coach, so's the stage driver can be on his way. Move smartly now!" Knowing there was nothing for it, the two young men moved to obey.
Hakeswill smiled to himself as he accompanied his family to the house. There's nothing to it when it comes to handling servants, he thought. Just treat them like privates!
They were met at the door by an officious looking man in his late fifties who looked down his long nose at the rawboned sergeant as if he'd just smelled a particularly noxious odour. Nearly as thin as the scrawny Hakeswill, he was several inches taller.
Anna recognized the man as her uncle's butler, whom she'd seen on previous trips to the estate as a child.
Turning to address the butler before he could say something rude to Obadiah, Anna said, "Cameron, how nice to see you again. I do believe my uncle should be expecting us?"
"Yes, there was a message left yesterday evening," the butler sniffed, his tone of voice betraying what he thought of such short notice. "Please come in and wait in the first room on your left while I inform your uncle of your arrival."
"That one needs my pike stuck up his pompous arse, he does," Obadiah muttered after the snobbish butler had left in search of Archibald Perkins.
Anna couldn't help but laugh, because she felt exactly the same way. "Just be patient awhile longer, love," she advised. "We'll be in our own home before you know it and we can hire our own servants."
"Looking forward to it, I am," he told her, settling himself in a chair.