My mind was
racing….Charles DeChangy? As in somehow related to Raoul DeChangy?!? Well,
maybe there was more than one family with the DeChangy title. Or maybe I was
sitting in an enclosed space with the relative of someone I thought of as a
waste of oxygen, and I wasn't talking about Tyler. Of course, if Raoul looked
anything like Charles, I really didn't see how I could keep hating him…
Oh
well. Cross that bridge when we get there, right? I straightened in my seat as
the carriage tumbled along.
"Anyone got a
marker, or some make-up? I think we should be taking advantage of Tyler being
unconscious!" The group laughed nervously and looked over at Charles who was
staring out of the window, the only open window. The carriage slowed to
a stop. Ralon bolted out the door an held it open with a flourish.
"First floor;
men's wear, sports equipment, and ax-murderers," he said quietly as we
scrambled out. Kevin and Charles dragged Tyler across the well kept grounds,
dirt and small plants, to the front door of what could only be described as a
mansion.
I
laughed the whole way.
* * * * *
The girls had their own room, as did the guys. Becca suggested that Tyler sleep in the barn with the other asses, but that didn't take well with the stableman.
"We don't
have any donkeys," Charles said, a bit confused. Ralon whispered in his ear and
Charles visibly paled. "Oh, that's what you mean. Very humorous." He walked
away a little shaken, not used to 'such strong language' Ralon explained.
"Do you think
he's what the South meant by a 'paper-collared dandy'?" Jamie asked. Becca and I smiled at each
other.
"Probably,"
we said in unison.
"Surround
sound!"
Kevin rubbed
his temples in a clock-wise motion and sighed. Jamie put her arm around his
shoulder. "Just click your heels and say 'there's no place like home'!" Kevin
shrugged her off.
Mallory
looked around. "Has anyone seen 'Nessa?"
"Actually, I
haven't seen her since we got out of the carriage."
"Oh, don't
worry. She's a big girl. She can take care of herself, I hope."
* * * * *