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ELLIE IS SURPRISED to see him and pivots. Her skirt swings as though captured by a light breeze.
“No, Sir Garty, Madam Bouchée, has gone to the aid of one of our guests, who claims she was pushed down the steps. Mrs. Bouchée is taking care of her in her room.”
She peers at Garty.
“What is wrong?” Garty asks.
“Everything is wrong! The buggy has a wheel fallen off. One horse lost a shoe, and now this!” She flings her arms around. “Everyone is in distress!”
“What about Bubba?”
Ellie shrugs her shoulders.
“No idea. Everyone is rushing back and forth.”
Garty notices sandwiches on a tray nearby.
“Could I please have these? I shall pay.”
“Someone left them here. Take them.”
Garty is hungry, so devours.
Ellie glances at him, and he stares into her face, munching.
“Do you need a drink?”
She rushes towards the kitchen and returns with a large glass.
“Would you like some apple fresh?”
“Thank you.”
Garty finishes the juice in one gulp.
She watches in amazement.
“You were very thirsty.”
“A journey awaits.”
A sandwich is in his hands.
“My return may be imminent.”
“Do you choose to let Bouchée know?”
“Say nothing to anyone. It’s not their business.”
Ellie puts her hand to her mouth.
Everyone here is now a suspect of the missing Bubba. He dashes to find Brill nibbling at a feeder.
“We are going on a journey.”
Lead the horse to water.
Someone had released the horse’s rope, and that is strange. Brill is a faithful animal who stayed. He strokes his neck in thanks. The horse drinks for a minute. Garty checks the straps to ensure they have not been loosened. His heart is hammering. He checks Brill’s shoes. Satisfied, assumes he forgot to tie the horse.
Garty is vibrant after eating and drinking. The knight was ready to search for Bubba, no matter who joins in. Musdo understands her disappearance is likely to be the fiends who bashed him up, and took his wealth, leaving him for dead! She is so tiny and vulnerable. But her agility and fine mind can see her through any difficulty.
“We must hurry.”
The knight spoke and settled in the saddle.
His pain has subsided.
“I am ready. Are you, Brill?”
The horse neighs.
He looks around. Ellie is watching at the back entrance and gives him a nervous wave. He cannot see Mrs. Bouchée, but he also cannot wait a moment longer. He notices a few folks walking in the street, but he turns in the opposite direction. No one here can be trusted, he decides! Garty tries to visualize where the three highwaymen attacked him and reminds himself of his hand-drawn map. He has left it at Etty’s inn when he rushed after Joanne and her brother. He must hurry to Etty’s and retrieve the map. Also, he does not possess a weapon, and must get one. He rides out of town. Now he is wearing more ordinary clothing, brown velvet jacket, and pants with a very white shirt that is a little tight around his broad, and still aching, chest. This is cleaner than my old shirt, he notes himself, and it is fine. I shall suffer these insufferable clothes!
When they reach the crossroads, he looks around. He urges Brill to ride down the laneway with abundant foliage cover.
Garty rides zig-zag, keeping his eyes peeled for any unusual activity. The ground is soft and clumpy in places, but Brill handles it with ease.
Along the track, Garty notices recent equine footprints and buggy wheel prints. There was a scuffle here.
Dismounting, Garty finds a few sticks, stuck them crossways in the soil, marking the spot for more investigation. As soon as he mounts again, he notices smoke in the distance and within a short trot, the chimney of Etty’s inn is visible!
Good, someone is at home.
The horse canters.
“Good boy,” says Garty, slipping from his horse and tying him up near a nice patch of grass, green, and wet from the refreshing rain.
He feels stronger.
Before he entered the reception area, Garty was met by Madam Etty herself.
“There you are.”
“I am sorry for any worry that I caused!”
Etty came right up to him, holding onto the small tool in her hands.
“You are a sight for sore eyes,”
She steps back, and he sees tears of joy.
“Where have ye been?”
“I was mugged and am lucky to be alive!”
“What?”
She turns.
“Sack, come here, Garty’s back.”
A mumbled sound echoes a reply.
“You can tell us all about it!”
“Surely.”
“We will enjoy your tale in the garden.”
Garty sits down to enjoy a fresh cup of tea and some of Etty’s overcooked scones, with lashings of sour cream and gooseberry jam.
“We kept your room, just in case you needed it in a hurry.”
“That’s nice.”
“We have another guest here, so everything is financial.”
Sack enjoys the rest of the feast.
“She’s a splendid cook, our Etty.”
Garty was relieved to see everything as he left it.
He catches up with Etty inside.
“Are you staying for supper?” she asks, brushing past him, glancing at him.
“I have to go, perhaps, for a few days, but I shall pay you in advance.”
Money was accepted by Madam Etty.
“That is sufficient for an entire week.”
Later, she calls Garty as he heads out to mount his horse.
“I want to give you a picnic basket. We also included a bottle of the master’s own brewed plum wine.”
“How nice.”
He smells the meat. His urgent business delays any picnic.
Where can I find out about Axemanix’s men and heinous plots?
An hour later, he rides into the gypsy campsite. He is met by men with rifles and slingshots.
“I come in peace.”
“Of course, you are the friend of our seer, Janda.”
“And of Crystalina!”
“She is here too.”
He looks away.
“Over there,” he declares, pointing toward the caravans. Garty notices the wonderful young woman again. Her hair shines with the slightest light of the sun. Her face is akin to something he can only imagine, a perfection in beauty. Desired by all women and loved by all men, especially a knight!
She notices him looking her way and responds with a wave. She is dressed in a gold garment that displays her glowing skin and rosy red lips. Garty stares.
“Are ye blind?”
“No, old man. I shall meet with her now. By your leave, of course!”
The man nods. They relinquish their weapons and return to their post.
“Hello.”
Garty calls out to Crystalina, who turns. She looks down at him from her prominent position and smiles. He wonders if she might be an angel?
“Do you wish to see Mother?”