CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Felicity scurried through the town, holding the necklace in its box close to her chest. Wit the way her luck was going she was worried she would somehow loose the necklace as well as Penny forever. She felt a little guilty. She should be at home worrying about Polly right now. She still was very worried about poor little Polly, but nothing was going to change her fate now, but Penny could still be helped. She had fought Jiggy Nye all the way down to the bitter end seven years ago, and now she would fight her father if she had to. Before she entered the jeweler's she looked at the glorious necklace one last time.

I can't believe Jiggy Nye's son gave me this, she thought to herself.

The jeweler, a man named Mr. Ramsey, was shocked at the necklace that the Merriman girl brought in as well as confused. Why Benjamin Davidson had just bought her an amethyst ring, that he could only put a deposit on. Where and when on earth did he get the small fortune to buy this gem?

"Mr. Davidson give you this?" The jeweler asked as he examined in.

"No," Felicity answered. It was clear that she wasn't going to give any more information about the necklace.

"It sure didn't come from around here," Mr. Ramsey replied. "Tis much finer than any piece I have in my store."

"It came from France," Felicity answered. "Now how much is it worth? When can I have my money?"

"This gem is a rare delicacy," said Mr. Ramsey. "It could be worth 600 pounds."

For once, Felicity nearly fainted. 600 pounds was an unimaginable sum of money for her. Why that would be enough to buy Penny three times over. Felicity began thinking of something special she would buy for Ben and Polly God willing, with the extra money.

"That is absolutely fantastic," Felicity replied brightening. She held out a change bag.

"I don't have that kind of money to give you right now Miss Merriman," said Mr. Ramsey. "I don't care jewelry of this caliber in my store because in Williamsburg there really isn't a market for it. The only lady that I can think of right off of the top of my mind who would have enough to buy this necklace outright since the Governor has been run out of town would be Mrs. Merriweather. When I get fine jewelry such as this, I usually set up a private appointment with my clients. I don't even know if she would purchase it. She has two emerald sets already."

Felicity's heart sank. Here she had 600 pounds to her name, and what good would it do? That necklace was cursed.

"I could work out a five year payment plan with some of the ladies such as Mrs. Cole," Mr. Ramsey suggested. "Would you like me to arrange that for you?"

Five years! Felicity didn't have five years.

"No sir," Felicity said taking the necklace back. It felt twice as heavy in her hands as it did on the way over. Felicity ventured back outside. Penny had already been shipped to the auctioneer. Ben had found out that the auction began precisely at nine in the morning sharp. Felicity had less than twenty-four hours to figure something out.

Andy heard a slight stir come from Polly's bed. It was the littlest stir, and he heard a faint whimper. Andy shot up from his chair. Finally! He had grown so bored sitting there watching her sleep, sometimes she laid so still he thought that she had died.

"Polly?" He said. For an answer Polly began to cry and moan.

"It hurts, I hurt."

"Where do you hurt?" Andy asked. "Your legs? Your neck/"

Polly tried to nod, but the pain stopped her.

"Everything hurts."

"That's wonderful."

Polly was crying now.

"Be careful, don't move so much," Andy commanded. "You are going to have to lay very still for me for a long time. Now do your legs hurt?"

Poll nodded and obeyed the doctor by keeping herself very still, though tears were still streaming down her face. Mr. Merriman was called in the room at once.

"What do you mean she might be in pain for the rest of her life?" Mr. Merriman shrieked later when he was discussing Polly's health with the doctor.

"She will be able to walk again, she can move her legs, she can still talk normally, I think you should be very thankful. She is lucky to be alive," Andy replied.

"How will she be able to live a normal life in constant pain?" Mr. Merriman asked.

"I gave her some opium," Andy replied. "That will dull the pain quite a bit. Your apprentice sure likes it. Maybe you should start a family plan."

"I'm sorry Daddy," Polly croaked from the bed. "Lissie told me that I was too little to ride Penny."

"It's not your fault dear," Mr. Merriman answered and he took his daughter's tiny little hand.

"Where is Penny?" Polly asked. "I want to tell her that I'm sorry."

Mr. Merriman did not answer her. There was nothing to tell her. He looked over at Andy who was collecting up his things.

"I want to thank you Doctor Matthews," he said rather uncomfortably.

"Tis nothing," Andy replied without looking up. "I will be sending your bill shortly. Just so you know, there will be extra charges for all of the emergency care." Andy was hoping that he could sink enough money out of this to bribe Jiggy Nye in signing the papers declaring him his son. He also knew that the bill would be hefty one, and that Mr. Merriman was probably going to want to set up some dippy payment plan to pay it off.

"I don't know how I will ever repay you for your expertise," said Mr. Merriman. "Doctor Williams doesn't even know how to set a broken bone. I am going to have to set up some sort of payment plan with you."

Andy sighed. He had so wished he could have just gotten his money, and paid that old coot Jiggy Nye off forever. Why he had stayed up the whole blasted night tending to Mr. Merriman's brat, and watching his eldest daughter slop all over her silly apprentice boy!

"I guess," was all Andy could mutter. To his unpleasant surprise, Mr. Merriman gave him a hug.

"You must come over for supper one night," he offered.

That would be cozy. Andy thought. Me, Felicity, the prune-faced insipid sister, the wacky drugged out mother, Mr. Merriman, and the handsome, crippled, apprentice who shares the same feelings as I for Felicity Merriman. All one big happy family congregated around the table together.

"No thank you sir," Andy answered. "That is quite all right," Andy turned to leave the room.

"There must be something that I can do for you?" Mr. Merriman pressed.

Andy stopped with his hand on the doorknob and thought for a moment, but only for a moment, if he should go with this, or just give up and go on home. He decided that he would

try it.

"Actually Mr. Merriman there is something that you could do for me," he said. "I would like your permission to court your eldest daughter."

Felicity sadly trudged up the walk to her house. She didn't dare look near the stables, it would break her heart. Ben greeted her at the door.

"Lissie!" He called. "Polly woke up. She is in pain, but she's talking, and she can feel her legs."

"That is wonderful," Felicity replied. "She is a strong girl."

Ben could tell that there was sadness on Felicity's face. He then noticed that she still had the box with the necklace.

"You still have the necklace," he remarked.

"Aye," Felicity moaned throwing it on the table. "Nobody wants it. I can't get rid of it."

"Rid of what?" Andy asked coming into the room. He had a huge grin on his face.

"Whatever are you grinning for?" Ben snapped rudely. "Did you kick a small child?"

"You have quite the lip on you Mr. Davidson," Andy remarked. "Can't a doctor be happy when he is successful?"

"Andy I need to ask you a favor," Felicity piped up.

"Anything for you lass," Andy said cheerfully.

"I really hate to ask you this, but it is for something very dear to me," she began. "I would like you to attend the horse auction tomorrow morning, and bid on Penny. Bid so that you win her. I know it may cost an awfully large some of money but."

"I want to get you your horse Felicity," Ben interrupted desperately.

"Do you have the money?" Andy spat.

"Yes," Ben replied sheepishly. "It's in Yorktown."

"Lot of good that does," Andy snorted. "Yes Lissie I can get you your horse back. I don't have anywhere to stable it, but she should go for around 300 pounds perhaps, and that is nothing for me."

"Thank you Andy," Felicity replied and squeezed his hand. "I can stable her over at Elizabeth's for the time being."

Ben was absolutely red with anger. Would this guy ever give up and leave them alone? He knew that he should be happy that he could get Felicity her horse back, but part of the connection that Felicity and Ben shared was that he had once helped her get Penny long ago. Now that connection would be broken, because she would have Andy to thank for Penny.

"Wait," he said just as Andy was about to leave. "I have a proposition for you."

"Oh what now?" Andy asked with disgust.

"Would you be willing to sign an agreement with me stating that I am to buy Penny from you later this week?" Ben asked. "I can leave for Yorktown tonight, and be back by tomorrow evening, or sometime on Wednesday. I know a lot of action is going on over there."

"Give me one good reason why I should go through the bother of bidding on a horse just to sell her to you?" Andy asked. "I'm buying the horse for Felicity not you."

"Because I really want to be the one to give Felicity back her horse," Ben stated. "I'll even pay you more than the winning bid for your trouble. Name your price."

"No way," Andy said.

"Andy," Felicity said. "Ben and I are engaged." She held up her hand with the ring. "Tis only proper that my husband gives me a gift as expensive as a fine horse. Please let him do it. Ben, Penny, and I go back along time. He is good and honest. He will pay you back."

Andy's face went white, his mouth went numb. Engaged? He wouldn't have believed it except for the chipper ring that sat on her finger. Mr. Merriman hadn't mentioned any engagement when he had granted the permission for him to court Felicity. It must have just happened, and had taken a back seat to Polly's accident.

"But your Father told me that I could court you. Court you like a fine, proper, woman," he stammered sounded rather stupid and shy, his clear blue eyes falling to the floor.

"We haven't really announced it officially yet," Felicity explained. "Not with all that has happened."

Andy turned to leave. He wanted to get as far from the Merriman house as possible.

"Andy, will you be at the auction tomorrow?" Felicity asked.

Their eyes met, Andy knowing that it could be the last time he would get to look into her stunning, green, eyes. Those eyes so filled with life and spunk. He nodded.

"Yes Felicity I will be there," he muttered softly, and he was off.

Felicity leaned against the door.

"Oh Ben, I think it is going to work out," she sighed.

Ben was frowning.

"I am going to draw up a contract that I want you to bring with to the auction tomorrow," he said. "I want him to sign it, stating that he lets me buy Penny from him. I wouldn't trust that cad for a minute."