Chapter 9

Andre looked at Phillippe's face and found it extremely familiar.

Phillippe looked at Andre, and realized he, and his sister would need a place to rest for the night. He said, "Andre, my home is not far from here, if you and your sister want to spend the night there, I would feel honored. You can also clean your wounds, and tend to them."

The young musketeer said, "Thanks D'Artagnan the youngest, we appreciate your hospitality, and gladly accept it. I also look forward to seeing your father." The young prince said, "Call me Phillippe, I need to pick my fiancée up, and then we can get going."

It was dusk when Phillippe arrived home with his unexpected guests; he had dropped Adelyn at her cottage on the way home.

After dismounting, and leaving their horses to rest for the night, Phillippe and his guest entered the country house. D'Artagnan was waiting for Phillippe in the sitting area, while reading a book. He heard the door open, and went to great his son.

The first thing the former musketeer noticed was that Philippe was bleeding. He walked towards him, and said with paternal concern, "Come son, let's get you to a chair, so I can take a look at your injuries. What happened?"

The young man looked at his father, and said, "I aided a brave young traveler, that you know. He is also injured, and I invited him, and his sister to spend the night with us." Andre and his sister stepped closer, and D'Artagnan finally noticed them. He saw some blood on the man's shirt, but was too worried about Phillippe to take a good look at him. He said to his guest, "Please, come this way."

He ended up guiding them to the dining table, and had them sit down. Phillippe took his thorn bloody shirt off; Andre took his shirt off too. D'Artagnan looked at Phillippe's wounds, and felt much better when he saw they were just a little more than scratches. The older man tended to his son's wounds, and gave the sister of Andre what she needed to tend to his wounds.

Aida the sister of Andre tended to his wounds but one of them worried her. She looked at Phillippe, and said, "Messier Phillippe, do you think your father could look at this wound, it scares me."

D'Artagnan walked over, and saw a particularly nasty wound on the right biceps of the musketeer. It was deep and oozing blood. He applied pressure to it with a clean rag, and then looked at the pale face of the young man. D'Artagnan's face went almost as pale, as that of Andre, when he recognized him.

The young musketeer smiled at his mentor, and said, "Messier D'Artagnan It is great to see you, even under the circumstances. I owe the honor of my sister, and my life to your son Phillippe. I was clearly outnumbered, and it was just a matter of time until those vandals would have their way. He certainly takes after you, and fights better than must musketeers."

D'Artagnan thought it was good that Andre felt in debt to Phillippe, hopefully he would not turn him in to Louis. The young File de France said, "I think you exaggerate Andre, I am sure you would have done just fine on your own."

Andre said, "You are most kind Phillippe, but I was exahusted by the time you came to my aid. I have a debt of honor towards you."

The older man said, "Andre you are going to need stitches." He turned to Phillippe, and told him, "Phillippe the dinner should still be warm, please take care of our guest, while I go to get the doctor."

The young host told his guest, "Let me go, and get us some food." Neither of his guest offer to help, as they thought Phillippe was going to order a maid to bring them some food. They were quite surprised when Phillippe came back with three bowls of pork stew, bread, butter, and cheese.

Aida blushed, and said, "I am sorry Messier, may I help you?" Phillippe smiled, and said, "You are my guest there is no need for you to help me. I'll be right back with a bottle of wine, and some cups." Andre shook his head, hardly believing that a man that owned a house, like the one they were staying at would be willing to serve his guest personally.

After Phillippe said grace, the trio started eating. They were all starving, especially Andre and his sister, since they had not eaten since breakfast. The young musketeer said, "Phillippe this is a nice house, what type of business does your father own?" The young host smiled at Andre, he liked his directness, and confidence, he said, "My father and I are farmers, we also own a vineyard, and recently started a winery. My grandfather tells me that our family has been farming for generations."

Andre took a better look at Phillippe, and realized that despite the mustache, the goatee, and the tanned skin, Phillippe looked a lot like King Louis. What was he to do? He felt bound by a debt of honor to Phillippe, who had saved his sister from dishonor, and had possibly saved their lives. Now he was being the recipient of his warm hospitality. On the other hand, he was a musketeer, and had taken an oath to serve the King and France.

The musketeer decided he needed more information before taking a decision. He smiled at his host with a sincere, and warm smile. Andre asked, "Did you say that that lady that was with you is your fiancée? She is beautiful." Phillippe smiled, and said with a sparkle in his eyes, and his face glowing, "Yes, her name is Adelyn, and we are planning to get married after the planting season, and before the harvest. To be honest, I wish we did not have to wait so long. But my father needs me to help direct the planting, and is currently too cold to have an outdoors celebration."

Aida looked at her young host, and said, "It seems to me like you love Adelyn very much, she is lucky." Then she blushed. Phillippe smiled at her, and said, "You are right Madame. I love Adelyn more than life itself."

While eating his cheese, and drinking his wine, Andre asked, "Is she a noble woman?" Phillippe chuckled softly, as if he found the question truly amusing, which he did, and said, "Andre, Why would a noble woman want to marry a farmer? Adelyn is not a noble, but she is the most beautiful, kindhearted woman that I know. Most importantly her heart belongs to me, what else could I possibly desire?"

Andre smiled, and said, "I guess nothing else. I envy you Phillippe. I hope someday, I love a woman, as much, as you love Adelyn." The File de France looked at the musketeer with sincerity in his face, and responded, "Andre, I wish someday, you find a woman that loves you, as much as Adelyn loves me."

D'Artagnan came back with the town doctor. The doctor sawed Andre' up, and recommended a day of rest before traveling again, to prevent the sutures from breaking. D'Artagan told Andre he was welcomed to stay for as long as he wanted, and guide him and his sister to a guest room.

Andre was used to getting up early as he had grown up in a farm. When he woke up, he was feeling much better, and decided to take a walk. He came upon the barn, and heard someone humming inside; he went in, and walked towards the man that was humming. Phillippe heard the young musketeer enter, he turned his head, looked at him, smiled, and said, "Good morning Andre, how are you feeling?"

Andre stood there speechless, seeing Phillippe milking a cow, dressed in modest clothing, with bare feet. The young Prince sometimes liked to go shoeless, as it reminded him of his early childhood. He liked the feel of grass, and dirt on his feet. The young musketeer after much thinking was now convinced that Phillippe was the File de France. What on earth was he doing there milking a cow?

The young Prince became concerned, when his guest just stood there looking at him. He stood up wiped his hands on the rag that he carried with him, walked towards him, and gently put a hand on Andre's shoulder. He said, "Andre are you okay, let me get you a stool to sit on."

The musketeer came out of his trance like state, and felt embarrassed. He said, "I am fine Phillippe, I am sorry, I just was surprised to see you milking a cow. It reminded me of when I was young, and I used to milk cows at my parents farm."

Phillippe smiled at him, and told him, "I would let you milk a cow, but it might be too much strain on your wound, if you want you can help me gather the eggs." Andre smiled, and quietly took the basket that Phillippe was offering him. He started gathering the eggs, and the prince went back to milking the cows. They continued working in a comfortable silence, until Phillippe, started singing some Gregorian chants for his morning prayers. Andre joined in the chants, and felt a sense of kinship with the File de France.

When they got back to the house, Aida had taken it upon herself to cook breakfast. Phillippe said, "The breakfast smells delicious, let me go, and get ready, I'll be right back."

After breakfast, Andre asked Phillippe to show him around the farm. When they were away from the house, he said, "Phillippe, as you know I am a musketeer, and have an oath to serve King Louis, and France. I don't find any danger in this house, or in you against either, therefore I want to tell you that you have nothing to fear from me, on the contrary I will help you in any way I can, because of my debt to you. I like you, and it would be nice to consider you a friend."

The File de France said, "Thanks for your honesty. I was going to ask you, as I would never want to endanger my father. Before endangering him, I would leave his side, and maybe travel to the New World with Adelyn, but I rather stay here. I give you my word that I love France, and the King. I pray for him every day."

The next morning Andre and his sister left, after tanking the D'Artagnan and Phillippe for their hospitality, and their help. D'Artagnan managed to talk to Andre, and believed when the young musketeer said he had nothing to report to the King.

Michelle had stopped at the house the prior day, and had a chance to meet Aida. He volunteered to ride with Andre to deliver Aida to her house, which was a day away. He thought she was beautiful, and wanted to get to know her better. The young musketeer did not want to tempt luck, and happily accepted.

Thaks Teen with a Pen for your reviews. I appreciate all that are reading and reviewing. Please review.