Disclaimer: I own nothing
Back on the train to England, Winnie's thoughts raced wildly. She'd have to pick up Bree from the stable, and catch the next ship. She waited impatiently, relieved when the long ride was over. She picked up her skirt and ran towards the stables, quickly paying the stablehead, and mounting Bree, before galloping away.
As soon as Winnie reached the wharf, she gasped as she heard the engines fire up.
"Wait!" Winnie screamed, tears gathering in her eyes. She'd never make it now. "Wait!" A crewman was beginning to pull up the gangway. Winnie ran to him and gasped, "Please! You must let me on. I need to. Please!" The crewman shook his head.
"We'd only have room for your horse, miss. Wait... yes, we'd have room for you, if you were taking care of the animals. That would pay your way across. What say you, miss?" Winnie nearly burst into tears of happiness.
"Certainly. I'd love to. I have experience, too! Thank you so much!" Winnie was about to hug the man, but decided against it after looking down at herself. Her travel dress was stained and torn in several places. Her hair was pulled back messily, and it was filthy and greasy. Winnie smiled ruefully. She thought of what her aunt would say if she ever saw Winnie like this. The crewman quickly ushered her into the ship, showing her the place where she'd be staying, and introducing her to the head groom. The groom looked Winnie up and down before nodding and saying,
"You don't look like you're afraid of horses or dung. That's good. You'd never survive if you were."
Suddenly the ship gave a great lurch as it pulled away from the wharf. Winnie sighed. For the time being, she could do nothing more but hope and pray that she made it in time. Winnie's job gave her a surprise one morning when during the morning feeding she saw a fat old horse, looking rather resigned. Winnie stared. This horse looked exactly like the horse the Tucks had. She sighed. She was seeing signs of the Tucks everywhere, but not the Tucks themselves. It was maddening. But at least she was on her way to see Jesse.
The head groom liked the job Winnie did. And it seemed he liked Winnie, too, for near the end of the journey, (being rather drunk), he asked Winnie if she would come with him to his town, and become his wife. Winnie had responded by deftly slapping him across both cheeks. And after a seemingly endless journey, the ship arrived at its destination. It was Winnie's duty to see everyone's animals off the ship, but as soon as the the doors were opened, Winnie had her bag on her shoulder and rode out of the ship, and now she had a day's rise to get back to Treegap. Winnie had to stop many times, since poor Bre was lazy and could never gallop for long.
The next day, day, Winnie finally rode the cowpath back into Treegap. The fateful forest loomed ahead of her. Quickening Bree's pace, Winnie's heart raced as she wondered what she would find.
Meanwhile, an hour earlier, Jesse Tuck had knocked on the door of the Foster's, looking rather shabby. When he asked for a Miss Winnifred Foster, Winnie's aunt rad replied,
"Miss Foster no longer lives with us. She departed several months ago."
Jesse sighed and left. He wondered if her words had meant that Winnie had left and gone somewhere, or if they meant that she was dead. He hated to think about the latter. But, just in case, he headed towards the graveyard. He found the plot for the Fosters, finding her parents, but not her. Jesse smiled. So she was alive! He turned and headed towards the forest, to think about what he should do next. He wandered towards the spring. Sitting down, he leaned against the giant tree that hid the spring. He bit his lip. How would he find Winnie?
Winnie was thinking how she would find Jesse. She decided to head for the spring. Maybe an idea would come to her. She'd avoid her aunt, that was for sure. But as she meandered towards the center of the forest, she received the shock of her life.
Jesse Tuck sat there, looking exactly like he did the six years ago. Winnie cried out,
"Jesse!" Jesse looked up in astonishment, seeing his Winnie, the beautiful girl he missed so much. He sprung up, and walking up to her, gave her a big hug. (A/N What? You were expecting a kiss? They haven't seen each other for years, it would be weird.) Tears were streaming down Winnie's cheeks as she clung to Jesse. She wasn't to late. Finally pulling away, she sobbed, "I was looking for you, Jesse Tuck. I only came back in time because some woman in Paris told me you worked for her father, and came back here." Jesse laughed.
"You went to Paris to find me? Winnie Foster, you are one brave girl."
"I'm seventeen now, Jesse. I had my birthday while travelling. I haven't drank the water yet, though. Should I?" Jesse sighed.
"Winnie, you shouldn't ask me. I love you to death, but this is a big sacrifice for you. There's no going back." Winnie bit her lip. Jesse was right. but she wanted to be with the Tucks, forever. She had made her choice. She turned away from Jesse and said...
Muahahaha! I'm evil. I know what she's going to to. Please r&r!