This was supposed to be a one-shot, but after I reread it, I found I wanted to say a bit more.


Fanny turned up her face to the sunlight. The morning was crisp from last night's rain. On her arm was a basket of the repaired trousers and shirts promised to the the clergyman's wife, Mrs. Hawkins.

She enjoyed the company of Mrs. Hawkins, who was a simple woman with a large heart. She came to the house to welcome Fanny with her delicious bread and declared Fanny to be the most beautiful lady and completely natural for Mr. Crawford to fall in love with. She invited Fanny to visit her home after the weekly services. Mrs. Hawkins had showed Fanny the utmost attentions while at the same time being friendly and joyous with all the church members, introducing Fanny to them.

In her home, Mrs. Hawkins had provided refreshments and shared her various projects on how to help the community. Fanny immediately enlisted herself to help, gaining the respect, and ultimately because of her sweet temper, adoration of all the residents of the community. Together, Mrs. Hawkins and Fanny, collected items of clothing the tenant's wives could not finish during their long, laborious days, visited the sick, and baked bread for the hungry.

She was just approaching the Hawkins cottage when she heard a scream. It pierced through the air with the signature Mrs. Hawkins tone.

Fanny speed up her pace. She was well acquainted with Mrs. Hawkins calls in the short time she had resided in Everhelds. Her first on account of a bird flying into Mrs. Hawkins cottage. This one however, held a distinct panic that infected itself in Fanny's heart.

Without waiting for an invitation, Fanny ran round to the back of the cottage toward Mrs. Hawkins.

Upon arriving, Fanny assessed two things. Mr. Crawford in an unruly bunch on the ground, Mrs. Hawkins running toward him. Secondly, Mr. Crawford's stallion dangerously rearing near him.

Fanny put down her basket and hurried toward them.

"Calm, my love," She called out.

Mr. Crawford looked from his undignified position, trying to understand Fanny and what she had just said.

Fanny, however, was approaching the stallion.

"Be still," she told it in a soft yet firm voice. The great stallion backed away from her, uncertainty in its eye. As beautiful as he was, he was a new beast and this had been its first trip out of the training area with a rider.

"Fanny," Mr. Crawford warned, now in a sitting position.

"Shhh," she hushed gently. Weather to Mr. Crawford or the stallion, it was uncertain, but they both reacted.

"Come now, love," Fanny slowly neared the animal. "Has something frightened you?"

The horse snorted, but Fanny continued to get near, one hand reaching out. Henry was completely frightened for her, but any noise from him could spook the beast all over again.

Fanny continued whispering nonsense to the animal until at last, she touched him. He allowed her to pet him gently and compliment him.

Henry breathed a sigh of relief and allowed himself to stand, feeling the aches all over his body from his fall. He watched Fanny in fascination as the huge beast fell for her touch and voice. She looked small and delicate beside of the large, muscular stallion, but she stood with him, showing no fear, but just gentle companionship. A young man was called on to take the horse back to the Crawford stables, when it had calmed enough.

It was until then that Fanny turned her attention to Mr. Crawford. He was standing rather lopsided with a completely sheepish look on his face.

"Well, help him, Fanny!" Mrs. Hawkins broke the silence. "Your husband would not let me touch him."

Fanny finally stirred by the call of duty and went to Mr. Crawford. With the help of another passing young man, Mr. Crawford finally sank into a soft chair in Mrs. Hawkins parlor.

"How very unlike you, Mr. Crawford, to fall from your horse, although, I must say, it was a grandiose event even if your landing needs work." Mrs. Hawkins fluttered about collecting pillows for Mr. Crawford's comfort.

"I'll be sure to practice, Mrs. Hawkins," Mr. Crawford muttered, moving around to find comfort somewhere he was not bruised.

"And you, Mrs. Crawford," Fanny blinked at the unfamiliar name, but continued to clean Mr. Crawford's bloodied hand. "You dismissed your husband and regarded the horse as more important. Ah, the lads have called the doctor, he is on his way here."

"I am completely healthy madam, exempting minor bruises and cuts." Mr. Crawford argued. "And as for Fanny, she was right to go after the beast or it might have ran away and it was such an expensive horse."

Fanny colored at both Mrs. Hawkins' accusations and Mr. Crawford's defense.

"What does it matter now, the deeds have been done," Mrs. Hawkins waved away the argument. "Anyhow, Mrs. Crawford, as I was trying to ask Mr. Crawford when he interrupted me with his accident, how did the previous night fair?"

Both Fanny and Mr. Crawford froze.

"Come now, Mrs. Crawford, you came to me and I gave you advice. Did you and Mr. Crawford spend the night together?"

Fanny's pale blush turned into bright red. She did not look up from cleaning Mr. Crawford's hand.

"Advice?" Mr. Crawford sputtered. "Was … last night, planned?"

"Mr. Crawford," Mrs. Hawkins crossed her arms. "You cannot tell me a learned man, such as yourself, cannot see right through a woman's nocturnal schemes. Why that is the oldest, most popular scheme in the history of women. Are you not an avid reader?"

"Not…" Mr. Crawford cleared his throat. "Not those books, Mrs. Hawkins." His ears where crimson.

"Well look at the pair of you!" Mrs. Hawkins huffed. "You have both gone red. And you are married. You mustn't get coy with me now, I advice all the couples in the area and I was learning the midwife practice before I married Arthur. Now Mrs. Crawford release Mr. Crawford's hand from you excessive rubbing, it is positively raw."

Fanny released Mr. Crawford's hand without looking at his face.

"I…" She began gathering her shawl and bonnet. "I have remembered an appointment I cannot bear to be late."

She rushed from the dreadful situation, leaving her husband behind with a whole new set of confusions.