AU Not Cannon
Pride and Prejudice
They Called Him a Bennet Too
Battle with Smugglers
Ch 14
If the wind had been blowing Bennet's coat tail would have been flapping has hard as any sail on a ship in the middle of a storm; for he and the men were riding fast and hard, that is until they drew close to the wooded area Edward Bryant had been told the men would be. Climbing down they tied their horses to trees, fed them and finished taking care of them before slipping quietly further into the woods without stepping on even so much as one fallen twig.
"According to my sources, it is straight up ahead where they are to be." Edward pointed to a large clearing with plenty of room for men, wagons and carriages to meet. "Word is William is going to be here, wheelchair and all."
"You jest with me!" Bennet softly exclaimed. "What could induce him, any man, to behave in such a manner?"
"I would be surprised if that were true." Edward spoke as walked up to Bennet full of doubt himself. "I have sent a a handful of men to go spy on Hamilton' s home, with orders to arrest any man, woman, or even child seen carrying in - or out- illegal goods. Now... let's position ourselves. A large group of smuggles are supposed to be heading this way soon."
Tenants' animals could be seen off in the distant curled up on porches, or under trees, but none came close to the wooded areas. Nightbirds, as if sensing danger, avoided flying over the area holding men lying in wait, or heading towards them. However, feet could be heard faintly heading towards Edward, Thomas and the others. Bennet, Edward, and Joseph gave orders where the men were to go, and what to be on the lookout for. Shortly afterwards, voices of the smugglers could be heard drawing close.
"Transporting such a quantity of merchandise, with such a large number of men, is the height of folly." One man whispered as he assisted a wagon wheel to disengage itself from the mud. "It is incomprehensible why we must have conveyed it to Mr. Bennet's estate. Lady Catherine's property was secure enough from prying eyes."
"You may address your complaints to Mr. Hamilton, if you dare." Another man muttered as he too completed the task of liberating another carriage full of goods. "Even if I do think myself this is an ill season to be moving this amount of merchandise."
"Hold your tongue." Henry Wickham commanded. "William Hamilton is rewarding us handsomely for the peril, better than anyone else ever did. We can all renounce our smuggling days after this and live our lives in affluence hereafter. We will set all these boxes in the place as ordered, Bennet will be blamed by the law and we all will be free men."
Henry's words were uttered just as they emerged into the glade where Edward's men lay in ambush, and they reached Thomas's ears distinctly. "Do not be so confident of that!" Mr. Bennet exclaimed from behind a large beech, his rifle pointed directly at Henry. "I always suspected you of being a rogue and a scoundrel; George may have his faults but is much better suited to Lydia as a husband than you ever would have been."
Henry did not respond in words but, as a shadow could be seen he took a shot- and missed. Bennet's own landed in Mr. Wickham's leg. Bullets began to fly, some flew high and hit no one, others caused men to fall - on both sides- without their targets saying a word. And others left their targets screaming in pain, begging to die.
"Edward." Jospeh gasped as he fell behind a log; his friend- along with Thomas- managed to get to him without getting shot themselves. "Take this, one of those smugglers shoved it into my hand before he died, muttering something about that lady not being such a lady after all. It proves Catherine de Bourgh 's part in this whole mess." He shoved a piece of paper into Edward's hands. "If you get shot pray you have time to get it into another's hands. If not talk to A.." He then closed his eyes and was gone.
Edward did not have time to read it as more bullets were flying so he shoved it into his pocket and went back to fighting alongside Thomas.
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The moon was yet high in the sky as Thomas and Edward beheld the scene. Men were either attending to their wounds or lying lifeless on the ground with more than one wagon, or carriage, overturned. "I am utterly astonished they heeded Hamilton in conveying this quantity of illicit goods with so many men." Thomas shook his head as he looked down at Henry Wickham. "I doubted Lydia's marriage to George at first but, even with his gambling habits, he has never let them run wild; nor has he ever engaged in any unlawful pursuits." He then brought up the subject of William Hamilton. "We all heard his name from these men's lips, but the ones still living will deny it. And who are you supposed talk to? There are a lot of people's names start with A."
"I cannot honestly say as to Hamilton for I am certain you are correct as to his living men. As to who I am supposed to talk to. Once I get a chance to read this piece of paper..." Edward tapped his pocket as they while beginning to walk away from the scene of carnage. "I am certain I will be able to figure out who it is I am to converse with."
"I will see you later." More than one man remounted their horses and spoke as while passing Edward and Thomas while the two walked back towards their horses.
"Thomas?!" Edward caught Mr. Bennet just as he started to fall at the same time of the sound of a gun going off.