We warned you!

Everyone piled into the carriages except Jane and Victoria. Jane had a number of dogs with her and needed to walk them home. They promised Grace they would not go down the lane where the Pike boys have been seen working earlier in the day. They watched the carriages leave and started walking across the field. Victoria and Jane each were carrying a walking stick that had a metal rod down its centre….they were not women to be crossed. Both were beautiful and had been receiving some unwanted attention since the wedding. They were able to deal with it but Stanley and John C still worried.

"John Christopher Heywood… you can't wrap me in cotton wool…I have managed my own estate" she had raised her voice and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Please… I know… I just worry after what happened to you in London" John asking for forgiveness as he knew she could do anything. He gave her the cane and asked her to carry it when walking out without him. Stanley had his own battle with Victoria and also gave her a cane as well. The two men deciding they would just keep an eye out for their ladies and ensure they were safe.

When Grace and the children had arrived back from the Crowe estate John C was looking for Jane. They had to make some decisions about the future dog breeding facilities. A worried look appearing on his face when he was told Victoria and Jane were walking home by themselves.

"They will be well… they are coming home via Peat lane not Rose lane" Grace trying to calm her son who had suddenly gotten agitated. He had called for his horse.

"What is wrong?" Grace becoming concerned

"The Pike boys are working on Peat's lane!" John taking off on his horse.

While John was making a dash to the far South side of the estate the women were walking at a leisurely pace. They were talking about their weddings, family expectations and married life. Victoria was worried about fitting into London life and concerned she would disappoint Stanley. Hearing he had been a prized catch had unsettled her… she was not trained to be a duchess or be a society woman. She struggled with bullying so how was she going to cope with these jealous women.

"You need to talk to Stanley… tell him your worries… he chose you and not those sort of women" Jane encouraged.

The women walking in silence…. never growing tired of the beauty of Willingdon. Jane keeping an eye on the dogs. Running them through some training routines to improve their pack coordination.

They made it to Peat's lane and were able to increase their speed. Further down the Pike boys and their friends had finished their job. To celebrate they had opened some bottles of alcohol and were well into their third bottle when they saw the two women. Alcohol giving them courage they started whistling… Johnny Pike thought to himself 'we are going to have some fun" Pete Pike's thought 'this might be the only way I could get her to marry me'.

Victoria and Jane couldn't turn back… the men were baring their way. They could tell by their stance and eyes that they were out to attack them. There was no gates and the walls were too high to jump.

All they had was each other, two canes and five dogs…..

Stanley had completed his business earlier than expected and was heading over to the Heywood's to spend time with Victoria. For some reason he felt the need to see her and had picked up his pace when he saw John C racing towards him…

"Victoria and Jane might be in trouble…" he had only slowed his horse to yell this message and increased his speed. Stanley's following him and hoped the women would be safe.

Victoria and Jane stopped… both thinking about their plan of attack… the men were larger than them and knew if captured their reputations would be ruined.

"Good afternoon Mr Pike, Mr Pike, Mr Campbell and Mr Harley… it is a lovely day…. don't you think?" Victoria decided to take a polite tone

"Good afternoon… pretty ladies… we finally get to meet away from your protective guards" spat out Johnny Pike. He knew the man who had insulted him in the Inn was marrying Victoria Heywood.

"Could you please let us pass… you have a chance to show us you are gentlemen?" Jane cooly commented

"Darling…. You are speaking to the wrong sort of gentleman" laughed Johnny

"You should marry me…. I will make sure you will have no choice…" quietly spoke Pete. Victoria was shocked at what he had told her.

Victoria and Jane could see that the men were drunk and that reason was lost on them. The women looking at each other knew they were going to have to defend themselves. Jane putting the dogs into attack mode and the women lifted their canes above their heads... waited as the men slowly moved towards them...

John C and Stanley finally were riding along Peat's lane and heard cries of help… they rounded the corner and stopped… they saw 4 men sprawled on the ground crying out for mercy. They looked at each other and thought their future wives were magnificent!

They jumped off their horses and walked over to see the handy work of Jane and Victoria. The women looked angry and certainly had inflicted some damage on these men. The men's faces were covered in bruises and each had a dog's jaw clamped around their necks.

"I see gentlemen… you have not been respectful towards our future wives?" John C commented while going over to stand next to Jane who lowered her cane. Stanley doing the same for Victoria who willingly gave him hers. "I warned you Mr Pike...you will be facing the constable for trying to attack us" Victoria exclaimed

"Jane, my love… do you think you could get the dogs to release one man at a time?" Jane nodding and barked a command. John C had never seen his dogs in this capacity and was impressed when they followed her every instruction. They found rope and tied each man to their horses.

By this time the shock of the event had set in and the women started shaking. Stanley and John C holding them close as they comforted them.

"You are safe but proved you can defend yourself… I have to say those society ladies better watch out with you" commented Stanley and scored himself a smile.

It was not what Jane or Victoria expected when walking home but they certainly sent a clear message that they were not to be crossed.