I was looking forward to the next day, because the next day was one CJ and I had completely to ourselves. There was nothing, no meeting, no Christine crisis, nothing which was going to stop CJ and I from spending our entire day together.
The day dawned bright and warm, and after a late start we ambled lazily down to the woods behind the estate, walking under the trees on a small path,
"This is so relaxing," CJ murmured, her hand in mine, "I just can't believe there are no cab's running into us or people pushing by; I think I have been in the city too long,"
I nodded, "It seems almost strange; not having all the city noise,"
"I think…" but then CJ trailed off, hearing what I heard; the beating of hooves behind us. Quickly we jumped off the trail, reacting more on instinct than anything else, and we saw two mounted horses speeding toward us,
"Bernadette!" CJ laughed as our daughter rained in her horse after spotting us, "Are you and Henri trying to run your father and I to the ground?" Henri was indeed on the other horse, riding next to her,
"No! We were racing," she explained, "And I was going to win, but I stopped when I was you two," she smiled and patted the neck of her black steed Conqueror,
"And what do you two have planned for today?" I asked
"Just this; a race into the forest," Bernadette replied,
"Don't go too far in," CJ warned, "I don't want you getting lost or hurt,"
"Mother," Bernadette laughed, "You cannot get lost, there is a clear path! I would have to be daft to get lost in here!"
"Be careful all the same," CJ said, going to the black horse and running her hand over his thick neck,
"We will Mother," Bernadette turned to Henri, "Are you ready for me to beat you again?" she gave him a sly smile and I almost felt bad for the boy; he was in love with someone who was not interested in him.
"I wish she would just agree to go to Paris with him," CJ sighed as we watched the two disappear around a bent, their horses set at a gallop,
"Why on earth do you wish that?" I bristled, "She says she does not love him; and besides, she is too young,"
"And when in your mind will she be old enough to date Erik?" CJ asked me, one eyebrow raised,
"When she is…thirty or so," I said slowly,
"Do you see my point?" CJ laughed,
"Maybe; but we should not force her to do something she does not want her to do," I was going to stick to my point,
"Erik, this whole visit here was you forcing her to do something she did not want to do, or don't you remember her pleading not to come here in the first place?" I hated it when CJ was right,
"Well…that is different," but I knew that it was not,
"How is that different? Or did you just want to rub out beautiful daughter and happy marriage in the face of Christine and Raoul de Chagny?"
"CJ! I can't believe you would say that!" I was not sure it was so far from the truth however,
"Well? Tell me I am wrong Erik," CJ said
"I thought you knew; the reason I wanted to come was to help the boy…I know what it is like to be completely isolated; I was unhappy and alone for a long time before I met you…and I would like to spare someone that experience if I could," I explained my feelings as best I could,
CJ sighed, "If you say so,"
Walking after that was not as enjoyable as I thought it would be. I did not notice how peaceful and lush everything was, I only thought about what CJ had suggested. Had I only wanted to come here to fulfill some subconscious revenge fantasy of mine? I had to admit that there was a good chance of it; the tables were finally turned and I was happy and they were not. Why wouldn't I want to come and show them that?
And if that was the truth, than I owed my family an apology. I was about to speak again when CJ and I heard a noise that was only too familiar to us. It was a sound we had heard so many times in our life we did not even start at the loud bang, but it was unexpected, to hear a gun shot in the woods.
CJ and I looked at each other, only one thought between us, "Bernadette," we both whispered at the same time, and then we set off at a run. I don't think my legs have ever moved so fast in all my life. A million horrid scenarios flashed through my head as I thought about what could be happening ahead of us, deeper into the forest.
There was the slight chance that it did not involve my daughter, but I had a sinking feeling that it did.
We ran down the twisting path for nearly a mile; we were both panting like mad but the thought of our daughter in trouble urged us both on. It was not until we tore around a sharp bend that we saw Bernadette.
She and Henri were still on their horses, their backs to us. In front of them I could see sneering men; highwaymen.
CJ and I were both armed; a habit of living in the city. It was only because of experiencing many intense situations in our careers that we did not simply run at the highwaymen or just break down crying or screaming.
What we had to do was obvious; one of us would go to each side of the group of bandits, and then take alternating shots at them until they were all dead on the forest floor. I looked at CJ and she nodded; knowing what I was thinking without me saying it; another byproduct of working together for so long.
Slowly, we both slunk into the trees on either side of the path, stealthily approaching the group. As we inched silently forward I could hear what was being said,
"We said you could go boy; so get out of here before we change our minds," One of the men spoke harshly to Henri, pointing his gun at him. Henri's horse shied as the barrel of the gun was pointed in its direction, "All we want is the girl," anger burned within me as I saw them eyeing my daughter; I moved faster through the dense trees,
"Get off the horse darling," one of them called to Bernadette,
"No," She said firmly, and by the tone of her voice she was not as panicked as she could have been,
"Fine darling, have it your way," the same man responded, and then he raised his gun to the horse. He let the gun go off and shot the beautiful black horse right between the eyes. I shuttered as I saw the horse fall and my daughter with it. I began to run as I saw the group of men move toward Bernadette and pull her away from the dead horse,
"Wait!" I heard Henri say, "It would be foolish of you to take her and not me; you don't know who I am! I am the son of the Vicomte de Chagny; if you take me instead he would pay a considerable amount to get me back!"
I was impressed that Henri would say this to help my daughter, "Just send her back; she can take a message to my father, with the money he can pay you you will be able to buy anything you want,"
The men seemed to consider this for a moment, then one spoke, "Or we could take you both,"
"But then how would you get the message to my father?" Henri argued, "You would have to send one of your own, and then you would risk getting caught,"
"Wait! I think I have solved the problem," one of the men spoke; I was in position by now and ready to shoot, the only issue now was that the man had suddenly grabbed Bernadette and was holding her in front of him; if I shot now I risked missing and killing my own daughter,
"You see son," the man holding Bernadette; who was struggling as best she could to free herself, spoke to Henri, "We have been hiding in the woods for many nights, and we have been missing the company of beautiful women like this," I clenched my fist around the handle of my pistol and aimed the gun at the man's head,
"Just get away from him for a moment," I whispered, willing Bernadette to hear me, "Just a moment,"
"So after," the man continued, "After we all get a turn with her; we will send her back to your father,"
At the moment Bernadette gave me the chance I had been waiting for. With all the strength she could muster, she thrust her elbow into his stomach, causing his grip on her to loosen enough for her to break free.
A moment later the man lay dead with a bullet in his head; and then CJ's gun went off and took down another member of the group. The fact that the noise was coming from two completely different directions confused the highwaymen, giving CJ and I enough time to reload before they began to shoot back,
Thankfully Bernadette and Henri were not as frozen as the bandits; Bernadette swung up on Henri's horse and he dug his heels into the horse's side, wheeling it around and racing it back toward the de Chagny estate.
CJ and I shot again, taking out two more. The remaining members of the group split and came after us in both directions. CJ and I were outnumbered, and there was only one logical thing for me to do and I assumed CJ would do it as well. I climbed a tree and let the men rush past me.
I waited in the tree, listening to the commotion below me. Finally the search was abandoned in my side of the woods, and one of the men said they thought they saw someone run in the other direction so they all ran into the woods were CJ had been. I hoped to God that they had not found her.
By the time I felt it was safe to come out of the tree and look for CJ the day was almost spent. My body was sore from clinging to the tree and my legs felt numb as I walked on them, but I had more important things on my mind; my family.
I went cautiously out onto the path, standing next to the dead form of Conqueror; it was a very sad sight really; the once proud and untamable steed now lay motionless, never to run again. Bernadette would be heartbroken; but I hoped she would be safe.
I head a slight rustle and I looked up; CJ was coming out onto the path. She ran to me and embraced me tightly; "You are alright?" she asked me,
"Yes, I'm fine," I stroked the back of her head and held her close to me,
"We should go," she whispered, and I nodded. We walked back through the trees on the left of the path, not wanting to be discovered in the open. The walk back was nerve-racking, not only was I worrying madly about how Bernadette was, I also thought that at any moment, a bullet could come shooting out of the trees and strike down CJ or me.
We were almost to the edge of the woods and the sun was sinking when we heard something behind us. There was a loud rustling sound, but what it was neither of us would ever know because we both set off at a sprint and did not stop until we reached the door of the de Chagny manor.
Out of breath and worried out of our minds we entered the house. Immediately one of the maids called out and there was the sound of approaching footsteps as Christine burst into the foyer,
"Thank God!" she cried, embracing us both in her emotional state,
"Where…?" I questioned, hardly able to talk after our taxing run,
"Bernadette and Henri are fine," Christine said quickly, "this way,"
Christine led us to the salon, where Bernadette and Henri were seated on a sofa. I was far too grateful to see her safe to care about the fact that Henri had his arms wrapped around her and she had her head buried in his chest,
At the sound of us entering, Bernadette looked up and ran to us; CJ and I embraced her simultaneously. For a moment there were only tears, and then CJ spoke,
"I told you to be careful!" she said, hugging Bernadette tighter,
"It was not my fault!" Bernadette cried, "They just…"
"I know, I know," CJ interrupted, just grateful she was alright,
"So…so it was you two who shot the men in the woods?" Bernadette questioned,
"Yes it was us," I told her, staring at her, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she said softly, "I was so worried, I didn't know where you two were," for a moment I felt as though she was just a child again,
"You all look exhausted," Christine said gently, "Why don't you sit down? I will see that some food is brought in," she bustled out of the room,
CJ and I sat down, and Bernadette moved back to Henri. By the way she was leaning against him, it seemed I would need to let her go to Paris after all.