Chapter Three
Jules lifted the board up so Brett could grab it, and laughed as he took it. He had dirt smudged across his forehead and cheek and looked quite funny.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked as he nailed the boarde in place.
"Nothing." she replied.
"Jules come here for a minute!" Ryder yelled to her.
Jules handed Brett another board and walked over to Ryder, who was working on installing a door to one of the finished houses.
"Yes?" she asked.
He stopped and looked down at her. "What happened while I was gone? Before I left you were so upset, and now, your so giddy it drives me nuts." he replied.
"I feel different here. I feel like I'm needed, and I'm actually doing something. I have a sense of accomplishment." she said with a grin.
"Your growing up. It scares me senseless you know that." he added and conitued with the door.
"I've bee grown up for a while, Im just, letting go." she said and skipped off to check on Nicholas. He watched her and couldnt help but smile.
After three weeks of building, farming and weaving, the town was beginning to regain its footing. Jules spent her time at the Sheldon Hall revitalizing it with Mrs. Chrenshaw and some of the townswomen, while the men put the finishing touches on the houses and buildings.
"This place will be in tip-top shape when we get done with it." Mrs. Chenshaw said ad she scrubbed the floor. Jules right beside her.
"I agree. I want this to be just how I remember it. Jeremy would have wanted it like that." she said scrubbing harder.
"Yes he would have. We were all stunned when we found out. And then you came, round with the baby, we wanted everythin to be perfect for you." Mrs. Chrenshaw said pausing to look at her.
"It was a difficult time with me, but I found strength here." she said and stood up. she stretched and looked around. "It will take time, and work, but this place will soon sparkle." she said and walked into the drawing room.
The women and dusted and pulled down all the drapes, allowing light to flood through the room. This room brought back many memories, happy ones. Ones before change.
She walked to one of the large windows and looked out. The gardens were in a horrid state, and everything needed to be dug out and re-planted. If only her gardener Maxwell were here, she thought to herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Nicholas asked, finding his sister staring out the window, her arms wrapped around her.
She shook her head, 'Nothing, just how the garden are shabby looking." she replied and looked over at him. He was so big! He was as tall almost as tall as a doorframe, but handosme. He could easily break her in half. He looked more like her, with dirty blonde hair, and those smokey blue eyes. And of course, the Rochester chin.
"Yes they are in a bad state, but they'll soon be flourishing, as will this town, thatnks to you." he said standing beside her.
"Not just me, but you and everyone else who helped. I couldnt have done any of this wihtout you all." she replied and smiled.
He hugged her tightly, "I'm proud of you Jules, mom and dad would be as well."
She smiled and nodded. She let out a breath and pulled away. "So, how are you brother? It has been a while since I've seen you." she asked.
"Well, I have been doing well, except for..."
"Tell me while we clean. I'd like to get the bedchambers done today." she interrupted and threw him a rag. He laughed and followed her out of the room and up the grand staircase.
Jules and her brothers spent two and a half months at Sheldon. Aftr everything was finished, everyone was moved in, and crops were beginning to sprout up, Jules decided it was time to leave. She mad sure that both men and women could shoot a gun and had one with them in case of further attack.
Sheldon Hall, was beautifully refirbished with both furniture and new drapery. She sighed and smiled as she looked on it one last time. She saw Mrs. Chrenshaw bustling out the kitchen door, her salt and peppery hair in a bun, her blue eyes shining, and ran to her.
"Mrs. Chrenshaw, I want you to come with me back to Pembrooke. I've been in need of a housekeeper, and you have much expertice." Jules blurtd out.
Mrs. Chrenshaw smiled. "I would love to deary." she replied and patted her arm.
"Wonderful, we will be leaving in an hour or so, so be ready." Jules said and watched Mrs. Chrenshaw bustle away.
Jules turned and skipped to the library. Masny of the books were brunt as firewood, she supposed, but the ones that were left, were incedentally her favorite. 'Odd,' she thought to herself as she walked to a shelf and picked up 'Canterbarry Tales.'
Ryder stepped into the library and looked around. "So very diffrent from Pembrooke isnt it?" he asked.
"Yes it is, but, it will be better soon. Is everything ready for us to depart?" she asked.
"Yes, what is on your mind?" he replied.
She turned and smiled, "Nothing, I like this book that is all." she said quickly.
"I cant help but notice that some of the books that are here are your favorites. And isnt it also odd that your chamber wasnt touched." he added, not seeming to hear her.
"I find it odd too, but then again it was a womans room. Nothing worth value was in it." she said then set down the book.
"I dont like it Jules, and you know that there were many things in your room worth value. Your gowns and jewels and trinkets, all of those were very pricey. I dont understand why they would destroy everything else, but not touch any of your things." he added eyeing her.
"It must be a sign or something. But I dont know anyone that I have wronged. If it was all intentional they would have said something, unless..." she broke off and dashed out of the room and up the stairs. She reached her bedchamber and threw open the door.
The room was beautiful. The walls were covered in pink and white striped wall paper and mahogany wainscotting. Her draperies and bedding were white and there was a rabbit skined carpet in front of the fire place. All the furniture was mahogany, from the four poster bed, to the vanity and armoir.
She rushed over to the mantle and tapped the wood. She stopped when she heard a hollow sound and pulled at it. A small drawer opened and she shuffled some papers around, on the very bottom was a letter in an envelope. It was fresh, not old and moldy like the others. She pulled the stack of papers from it and set them upon the bed.
She fingered the new letter and looked up at Ryder. "Message." sha said and gently opened it. She pulled out the peice of parchment and unfolded it. She read the scrawled letters and Ryder saw her eyes narrow and her breathing speed up.
She cleared her throat and read:
My Darling Juliana Sherbrooke,
I thank you for the hospitality of you and your townsfolk by letting us use this beautiful place for shelter. I hope you didnt mind the selling of a few items. Of course, we left your belongings intact. I apologize for the death and destruction of your town and folk, but they would not cooperate. You might be wondering why this happened. But I cannot tell you, I can only warn you. Be careful, very careful. I know things about you that nobody else knows, ot even your dear departed husband. Watch out for the unexpected.
"Bastard," Ryder spat out when she finished.
"We need to go, I want Andrew in my arms right now." she said and folded the letter up. She piled up the other letters and walked out of the room, Ryder close on her heels.
Jules lifted the board up so Brett could grab it, and laughed as he took it. He had dirt smudged across his forehead and cheek and looked quite funny.
"What are you laughing at?" he asked as he nailed the boarde in place.
"Nothing." she replied.
"Jules come here for a minute!" Ryder yelled to her.
Jules handed Brett another board and walked over to Ryder, who was working on installing a door to one of the finished houses.
"Yes?" she asked.
He stopped and looked down at her. "What happened while I was gone? Before I left you were so upset, and now, your so giddy it drives me nuts." he replied.
"I feel different here. I feel like I'm needed, and I'm actually doing something. I have a sense of accomplishment." she said with a grin.
"Your growing up. It scares me senseless you know that." he added and conitued with the door.
"I've bee grown up for a while, Im just, letting go." she said and skipped off to check on Nicholas. He watched her and couldnt help but smile.
After three weeks of building, farming and weaving, the town was beginning to regain its footing. Jules spent her time at the Sheldon Hall revitalizing it with Mrs. Chrenshaw and some of the townswomen, while the men put the finishing touches on the houses and buildings.
"This place will be in tip-top shape when we get done with it." Mrs. Chenshaw said ad she scrubbed the floor. Jules right beside her.
"I agree. I want this to be just how I remember it. Jeremy would have wanted it like that." she said scrubbing harder.
"Yes he would have. We were all stunned when we found out. And then you came, round with the baby, we wanted everythin to be perfect for you." Mrs. Chrenshaw said pausing to look at her.
"It was a difficult time with me, but I found strength here." she said and stood up. she stretched and looked around. "It will take time, and work, but this place will soon sparkle." she said and walked into the drawing room.
The women and dusted and pulled down all the drapes, allowing light to flood through the room. This room brought back many memories, happy ones. Ones before change.
She walked to one of the large windows and looked out. The gardens were in a horrid state, and everything needed to be dug out and re-planted. If only her gardener Maxwell were here, she thought to herself.
"What are you thinking about?" Nicholas asked, finding his sister staring out the window, her arms wrapped around her.
She shook her head, 'Nothing, just how the garden are shabby looking." she replied and looked over at him. He was so big! He was as tall almost as tall as a doorframe, but handosme. He could easily break her in half. He looked more like her, with dirty blonde hair, and those smokey blue eyes. And of course, the Rochester chin.
"Yes they are in a bad state, but they'll soon be flourishing, as will this town, thatnks to you." he said standing beside her.
"Not just me, but you and everyone else who helped. I couldnt have done any of this wihtout you all." she replied and smiled.
He hugged her tightly, "I'm proud of you Jules, mom and dad would be as well."
She smiled and nodded. She let out a breath and pulled away. "So, how are you brother? It has been a while since I've seen you." she asked.
"Well, I have been doing well, except for..."
"Tell me while we clean. I'd like to get the bedchambers done today." she interrupted and threw him a rag. He laughed and followed her out of the room and up the grand staircase.
Jules and her brothers spent two and a half months at Sheldon. Aftr everything was finished, everyone was moved in, and crops were beginning to sprout up, Jules decided it was time to leave. She mad sure that both men and women could shoot a gun and had one with them in case of further attack.
Sheldon Hall, was beautifully refirbished with both furniture and new drapery. She sighed and smiled as she looked on it one last time. She saw Mrs. Chrenshaw bustling out the kitchen door, her salt and peppery hair in a bun, her blue eyes shining, and ran to her.
"Mrs. Chrenshaw, I want you to come with me back to Pembrooke. I've been in need of a housekeeper, and you have much expertice." Jules blurtd out.
Mrs. Chrenshaw smiled. "I would love to deary." she replied and patted her arm.
"Wonderful, we will be leaving in an hour or so, so be ready." Jules said and watched Mrs. Chrenshaw bustle away.
Jules turned and skipped to the library. Masny of the books were brunt as firewood, she supposed, but the ones that were left, were incedentally her favorite. 'Odd,' she thought to herself as she walked to a shelf and picked up 'Canterbarry Tales.'
Ryder stepped into the library and looked around. "So very diffrent from Pembrooke isnt it?" he asked.
"Yes it is, but, it will be better soon. Is everything ready for us to depart?" she asked.
"Yes, what is on your mind?" he replied.
She turned and smiled, "Nothing, I like this book that is all." she said quickly.
"I cant help but notice that some of the books that are here are your favorites. And isnt it also odd that your chamber wasnt touched." he added, not seeming to hear her.
"I find it odd too, but then again it was a womans room. Nothing worth value was in it." she said then set down the book.
"I dont like it Jules, and you know that there were many things in your room worth value. Your gowns and jewels and trinkets, all of those were very pricey. I dont understand why they would destroy everything else, but not touch any of your things." he added eyeing her.
"It must be a sign or something. But I dont know anyone that I have wronged. If it was all intentional they would have said something, unless..." she broke off and dashed out of the room and up the stairs. She reached her bedchamber and threw open the door.
The room was beautiful. The walls were covered in pink and white striped wall paper and mahogany wainscotting. Her draperies and bedding were white and there was a rabbit skined carpet in front of the fire place. All the furniture was mahogany, from the four poster bed, to the vanity and armoir.
She rushed over to the mantle and tapped the wood. She stopped when she heard a hollow sound and pulled at it. A small drawer opened and she shuffled some papers around, on the very bottom was a letter in an envelope. It was fresh, not old and moldy like the others. She pulled the stack of papers from it and set them upon the bed.
She fingered the new letter and looked up at Ryder. "Message." sha said and gently opened it. She pulled out the peice of parchment and unfolded it. She read the scrawled letters and Ryder saw her eyes narrow and her breathing speed up.
She cleared her throat and read:
My Darling Juliana Sherbrooke,
I thank you for the hospitality of you and your townsfolk by letting us use this beautiful place for shelter. I hope you didnt mind the selling of a few items. Of course, we left your belongings intact. I apologize for the death and destruction of your town and folk, but they would not cooperate. You might be wondering why this happened. But I cannot tell you, I can only warn you. Be careful, very careful. I know things about you that nobody else knows, ot even your dear departed husband. Watch out for the unexpected.
"Bastard," Ryder spat out when she finished.
"We need to go, I want Andrew in my arms right now." she said and folded the letter up. She piled up the other letters and walked out of the room, Ryder close on her heels.
