They arrived to the town of Bilinghurst in the early hours of dusk.
It was raining, the smell of the dampness and wettened earth seething into their nostrils. The blackness of the sky glowed a silvery light with each thunder-strike, as the cumulus clouds morphed into a thick blanket that hovered above the town in West Sussex.
There was not much one could see during a night like this; nothing except the darkness, and the faint light that was scarcely scattered about and around the several establishments that were still open on that tempestuous night.
Carlisle cursed the weather for its sudden change in temprament, just as he and Esme stepped off of the train and into the sheltering roof of the station.
"Stay here." He said to Esme as he lead her to a wooden bench, "I have to collect our belongings, I shan't be long."
Esme aquicised and sat down, it was far colder than she expected to be. She listened to Carlisle's voice in the palpable distance as he thanked the conductor for being courteous enough to help him with their luggages.
A few moments later he returned to where she awaited him, his right hand burdened with the massive trunk that obviously belonged to her, and in his left hand, a black reasonably sized bag that belonged to him.
He carefully set down the trunk on the side of the bench and placed his black bag on the seat next to Esme.
The Doctor carefully looked around to find any unoccupied carriges in sight, to no avail. It seemed they were all taken for the time being. He knew they could not stay in the station for too long; the night was growing deeper, the coolness in the air was starting to bite. The storm had to pass first before they could continue on with their journey.
"Doctor? Is anything the matter?" Esme asked, her expression worried.
"Just a moment," He replied shortly.
He peered straight ahead, just further up the street. He could see a sign of some sort that read 'Ye Old Cobbler Inn.' It looked as though it were still open, for there the lights could still be seen glistening with a dim glow from the windows.
He had made a decision. They would have to continue their travels tomorrow, and hopefully, by then the weather had already shifted into a more amicable disposition.
"There are no carriges to take us to Mrs. Evenson's residence tonight, I'm afraid." Carlisle announced flatly.
"I don't think this weather is helping either." Esme agreed, her posture drooping a bit in disappointment. "What now?" She asked.
"I've an idea." He replied, shedding his outer-coat.
"I was hoping you would say that." Said Esme. Her spine straightening lightly as she sat; inwardly eager and surprisingly pleased at this unexpected detour in their excursion.
"I'm going to put this on you, we might be in for a bit of rain," Said Carlisle as He draped his coat around her.
"Were going out there in this weather, aren't we." She said rhetorically, but feeling secretly excited nonetheless as she slipped her arms into the sleeves of his coat.
Carlisle helped button the front and made doubly sure that she would not get drenched in the rain.
After that, he placed his hat on her head, and was mildly amused to find out that it was far larger on her than he thought. It kept dipping strategically low so that it covered her left eye.
"I think I'm ready," Said Esme, suddenly feeling very adventurous.
"Alright, very well." Replied Carlisle. "I do however, have a favor to ask."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I shall need you to carry this," He placed his bag in her lap, "I would carry it myself, but since I have to haul your gargantuan mammoth of a trunk to where we are going; I deem that for you to finally partake in doing your share of the manual labor, it would not be such a task."
Esme clutched the bag with both hands, "Alright then," Then added defensively, "And don't compare my trunk to an Elephant. Its not that large."
"Yes it is." He insisted.
"Its the size of a newborn Elephant, mind you." She rertorted evenly as she stood up.
He supressed a smirk at her last statement.
They both walked to the opposite end of the train station, and down a small flight of steps that was the exit that lead them directly to the main town's road.
The rain still had not ceased, however, instead its riotous rhythm seemed to have increased in volume. Carlisle kept a firm grip on her arm as they began to step out, "Stay close, the roads will be muddy." Said the Doctor. Esme felt the pressure on her arm and nodded, she could feel the first few drops of rain kiss her face as their footfalls began.
Carlisle guided her as he kept both a firm hand on his younger companion and an even firmer hand on her ludicrously sized trunk.
Esme felt the ground beneath her grow from solid and stable, into something soft and wet. She found the sensation of the mud beneath her feet incredibly intruiging, she hid a half-smile as she purposefully stomped her feet playfully as they continued their walk in darkness.
"Don't do that." Said Carlisle sternly, ajusting his grip on her arm.
"Why not?" She asked, facing him with knitted brows, as another cold breeze swept past them like an icy phantom.
"You should know better young woman, you're not a child anymore." He reprimanded.
She could tell that he was only lightly irritated.
"So?" Replied Esme, tugging on his jacket closer to her body as a brief gust of wind passed them by.
"You'll get mud all over your clothes and on my coat." He responded clinically.
"Its only mud, I won't melt. I highly doubt your coat will too." She insisted.
"If you want to lather and bathe yourself such as the likes of swine, do it in the privacy of your own time. But whilst you are with me, I strongly insist you follow what I say."
Esme lowered her head; feeling as though all the air in her body dissipated with the onflow of emotion that came with the feeling of chastisement.
She did not respond.
By the time they both reached halfway near the inn, they were soaking wet.
"Don't take it too hard," Added Carlisle his voice more serious than berating, "I only mean well."
She did not reply immediately, but thought better of it after a while.
"Alright." She grumbled under her breath.
"Let's hurry, I don't think this storm will stop any time soon." He said, as he quickened his pace.
"You're right." She conceded, as she took a breath and tried to keep up with his fast strides, the mud plopping beneath them as they treaded along the dirt-ridden roads.
They crossed the town's small intersection, the Inn being only thirty more paces to go, when Esme stopped in her tracks quite suddenly, causing the Doctor's grip on her to slip.
"What is it?" He asked, the continuance of rain drenching them both to the bones.
"I think my foot is stuck!" Said Esme, extending her hand mid-air trying to reach out for him, whilst her other hand still clinged to his black traveling bag.
"Hold on," He replied, his voice muffled by the roar of lightning.
She listened for him and waited. She tried to feel her way through, but it seemed as though the mud were sucking her foot from underground. She tried to pull it loose, but it felt as though the heel of her foot was jammed between two rocks.
"Doctor Cullen?" She called out. There was no answer.
Another crack of thunder lashed across the sky. Esme shivered, strong winds followed this time, she was unaware of the tree branch that was swaying in the wind, precariously bending to the wind's might above her.
A/N: Hey guys! I know its been a while, I've been very busy for the past few weeks, but I'm back! I thank you all again so much for supporting this story, and for all the lovely comments! You are the best readers ever! And as usual in casee of any typos you may see/read it shall be rectified. Enjoy and stay tuned! God Bless!