P&P FF

"Captain's Concession: A Bennet's Destiny"

Previously:

She simply was not that far along and had no desire to say anything until things were for certain as to say a child would indeed be likely to be carried. There had been too many times her own eyes had witnessed woman all excited telling make their announcement only to lose their babies. So, no, it was news that would be shared later, in another way.

Warning

CH. 21

Mists rose among the trees and then began interweaving as if yarn on a loom. Shadows rode dark horses with black space shaped like caped flapping in the wind. Neighing of horses and thudding of horses' hooves pounding against the ground filled the air. Thud! Snap! Bang! Mary bolted up still asleep with other scenes playing in her mind.

"Mary, Mary, wake up." Emil, years of being sensitive to what was around him, jerked around almost as soon as his wife. Her eyes wide open, held a glazed look of terror. "*Mo chridhe , I'm here beside ye, no fear shall reach ye; they shan't get near. Wake up."

Mary heard Emil's voice through the fog and finally she became aware of reality. She looked at Emil told him everything she had seen. The mist, shadows, capes and sounds of gunshots among other violent acts. They're puttin' de blame on me. I cannae fathom why. I've been by yer side de hole time." Those words, among others spoken, and the captain -recalling Mr. Bennet's words, got Emil up in a flash and telling his wife to gather her things up and to get into the carriage.

"We'll not be bidin' here de night, thank de heavens we've got de moon and stars ta guide us. Wi' de Lord's blessin', we'll make it home by de break o' day. I'll have a talk with our mother and sister, see what they know."

Mary heeded Emil's words and soon not only where they headed back towards home, but on a different road. It was rougher, but not so bad it cost them a wheel. They passed by more than one cave with people sleeping in them. The brush and trees of the hills hid any other travelers, or anyone else fortunate enough to sleep; that is until they began to pass a cave with a campfire still burning bright. Surprised to see anyone traveling, the man in raggedy clothes stepped out.

Aye, Captain Pedersen, danne think I'd be clappin' my eye on ye out here. Is this de new wife I've been hearin' so much about? "Aye, that she is. Her name's Mary."

"Ye'd best heed my warnin', McBean's got a bee in his bonnet about her. Can't abide de fact she's learned her letters. Us common folk know full will he's after yer lands. There's a storm brewin' over at yer stead. He's got de council's ear, no tellin' what he be sayin'."

"Dae ye reckon he'd send his lackeys on de main road ta stir up strife if I'd lingered there?"

"No question about it. I'd wager he's plottin' ta do ye in and lay de blame at yer wife's feet. I'd counsel ye ta stick ta this trail and approach yer home from de rear. I know McBean, for all his talk, de man has no real brain for thinkin' outside de box when it comes to ye and de way ye travel."

The captain thanked him and continued on, fighting the urge to throttle McBean's throat. Why was he acting as if he wanted more land? Everyone knew the man could not hold onto any piece of land for long. Making himself focus on the rough roads and pathways, they finally were able to turn back north.

Captain Pedersen steered the carriage with a steady hand, the wheels crunching over the rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands. The night was cloaked in darkness, pierced only by slivers of diamond starlight that guided his path. Mary lay inside, her breaths deep in slumber's embrace. The carriage swayed gently as it temporarily found itself navigating smoother hills. The air was thick with the scent of heather and peat, a fragrance that spoke of the earth's raw beauty. As they ascended further, the landscape grew wilder, the hills steeper, and the path less forgiving.

Turning northward, Emil felt the pull of home. The familiar constellations overhead were like old friends pointing him onward. The carriage dipped into hollows and climbed knolls, each turn bringing him closer to the sanctuary he longed for. Finally, the silhouette of his home emerged against the pre-dawn sky, its back turned to the world like a guarded secret. With a gentle tug on the reins, he guided the carriage around to the rear, where the soft glow of lights from a window welcomed the couple home.

Mary, too tired to stay awake, fell asleep in the carriage. Thankfully, no terror filled her dreams. This time faces of Kitty, Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, and even her parents raced through her mind. They were laughing, singing silly songs, lounging near rivers, or simply reclining in chairs reading books. No, her dreams were peaceful until her parents' faces came into view. Then her dreams held a feeling of a mixture of emotions.

"Mary, oh, My Mary, have I ruined things so bad as never to see you ever again? Do not get me wrong, I am doing my best to keep my promise to you. Kitty goes nowhere without a proper chaperone; she is blossoming well under it. However, that is not what I am asking." Thomas's eyes might as well have held the capacity to carry weight for they cast down as if their eyelids held a few hundred pounds.

Mrs. Bennet's eyes were not much better. Yes, they smiled a little more, for Kitty's sake; her daughter could be seen close by. However, even they had lost their luster. Her words floated softly int Mary's dreams. "I promise, Mary, though I still laugh, and ramble- Kitty keeps me going, I am really fighting not to nag your father. And I do my best not to overspend and respect the boundaries your father has set. It is not easy as it is not in my nature to be as stable as Mr. Bennet. Oh, Mary, I so do hope we see you again though we were not the parents we ought to have been."

"Mary, Mary, we're home now."

"Och, what a real surprise. We didn't think to see ye 'til the morrow." Widow Pedersen spoke as she stepped out the back door, as did Margaret and Paul.

"Somethin' in the air whispered to alter our path. What's bein' kept from me?"

"Mr. McBean's brewin' some scheme, and we're in de dark as to his plans; but aye, we're findin' ourselves risin' in defense o' Mary. It's clear to me and all she's nae spy. Even d council's come ta acknowledge de see it plain."

The captain did not like what he was hearing. Had it not been bad enough Scott McBean had attempted to take Emil's lands. Now that...male...was doing to smear the good captain's wife's reputation. Sure, Emil reckoned it made his own mother's clan happy that the council could see Mary was no spy. However, with Mary's dreams, the captain could not help if they had stayed at camp he would have been a dead man; and his wife blamed.

Now, if someone had the ability to show him what was going on, Emil would have been appalled to see men cursing the air to find an unlit campfire. He would have seen McBean furious to be told Emil was nowhere around. And he would have horrified to hear unspeakable threats thrown out towards Mary.

Ignoring, what he thought might, or might not, could have had happened the captain focused on having a family counsel.

"Ye should take Mary and go ta Mr. Cameron's house and see what he thinks ye ought to do. He was yer Da's mosted trusted friend though years younger." Widow Pedersen advised.

"I agree with Ma, heed his counsel, is my opinion. And even if McBean's up ta no good, ye need to come in an' have a wee bite an' some shuteye afore anythin' else." Margaret spoke from where she sat near the fireplace.

Emil and Mary did not argue. They both went in and ate a meal before laying down, with Mary wondering how her parents were doing.

*Mo chridhe...my heart/my love