Part 24: MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE CASTLE.........by Terri


"Well, now we are sitting here like a bunch of losers!": John bemoans.
"Talk about losing....what DID happen at the meadows of Runnymede?" Richard inquires.
"What do you care, Richard--don't you have a war to fight? A castle to take? A kingdom to save?"
Geoffrey bellows out, "Why are you fighting with your brother? He asked a simple question and I think we ALL would like to hear the answer."
With that, Geoffrey takes out the flat blade and smacks John over the head.
Elizabeth is smug--"I never had a problem with my advisers. They did what they were told to do!"
Mary Stuart snarls, "Yes, we know what Leicester and Essex were like! You said 'Jump' and they said, 'How high?' "
"Mary, you are just bitter because you were empty-headed and couldn't control your kingdom! Or your men! Guess you, uh, 'lost your head' as it were?"
"Well, at least I had husbands!" Mary frostily taunts Elizabeth.
"THAT' S ENOUGH! Without William here, I feel I am in charge--now what happened, John?"
John dismally relates what happened at the signing.
"I really thought my barons would come through for me. There were 25 that were really out for blood.
Talk about blood--twenty two of them are related by blood or marriage. A bunch of in-breeders if you ask me!"
Victoria sits there dreamily, "If there is one coin, why not two? I would so dearly love to see my Albert again."
Isabella turns to her, "Yes, but guaranteed he last saw you a ton or two ago! Would he even recognize you?!"
Victoria starts to weep, "You are all so evil--you know nothing about the purity of love we had."
Geoffrey is by this time fed up with all the weeping and cattiness--both from the men and damsels.
"No offense, Vicky, dear, but Albert was from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, was he not? Sound like Saxe and Saxon are pretty close in the vernacular!"
Matilda, from her corner, pipes up with, "Wonder where William, Eleanor and Rosamond are now?"
All in the room turn to glance at the spot where the threesome stood not more than 24 hours ago.



Part 25: The Big Blunder..................by Coralynn


Eleanor and Rosamund, after examining themselves in the mirror and pronouncing themselves indeed fashionable for the 21st century, look more closely at William.
"You look perfect!" they both chortle.
William has a buckskin vest with long fringe, flowered polyester pants that flare and a tie-die bandanna around his head.
"Oh but you are going to blend in the very best!" pronounces Eleanor, "Even your facial hair and long locks make you almost identical to the picture of fashion that you showed us. Well done, William, well done!"

William smiles but decides to get down to the task at hand.
"We are ready to join the 21st Century in New York City," he says happily, "but you must remember to blend in by pretending that the buildings that all but kiss the sky are things you have seen before. Do not let the busy streets with the shocking vehicles that run without any visible means of being pulled or pushed cause you to be afright. Just watch me for directions and do whatever you see me do. I have been there before and I know I can act like a real New Yorker."

"How fortunate we are to have you!" Rosamund gushes and leans upon his shoulder, twining her fingers in the fringe of his vest.

"We must not make a spectacle as we depart" he instructs them, "So we will walk out into the area behind this tailor's shop, again join hands, and the Coin will whisk us across the wide and mighty ocean to New York."
They do proceed as quietly as possible to the alley behind the shop; join hands, and the incredible spinning air again whirls and swirls. Rosamund grasps William's hand tightly. Eleanor grasps his other hand even more tightly, for the thought of being left behind for lack of a proper grip is a concern. She needs to be away into the future, and knows it well.

The swirling ceases, and, as they again open their eyes, a most incredible sight greets them.
"TREES!" Eleanor exclaims, "I thought there would be huge, high buildings, but all I see are huge high trees! Why, William why??!"

"Mercifiul heavens!" exclaims William who is shocked indeed, "This be not the city I choose for us. For if indeed it be, we are in the wrong time!"

He looks at the Coin, and wonders if mayhap he had not programmed it to spin them sufficiently.
"For a verity we are across the great Ocean," he says, trying to calm the women, who by now are
becoming agitated and frightened.
"MUD! There is mud everywhere," Eleanor complains, "We could have stayed back in our own time and place and not had this much mud and muck to walk through!"

William is still aghast, trying to figure out what went wrong.
"I must apologize, damsels," he begins, "especially to you, Rosamund, being in a fragile condition with child."
"Come on William" Rosamund chides him, "dost thou think I truly be with child? Do you not see my flat belly? You guessed it right before we left our homeland. You are both gooses to have believed me."
"We will settle with you in due time, wench!" William says, angrily, "But for now we have more pressing problems, as I see a group of very strange people approaching us rapidly. They are creatures I have not seen ever before. We must deal with them before I deal with you!"

Out of the woods there come 4 Indians in typical garb for summer, meaning they are wearing very little. Tomahawks hang in their belts and they have fringe upon their vests, very like the rainment William also wears.
William begins to comment upon this, but stops when the tallest of the men walks up and stands but a few feet from him, asking in a low and resonant voice, "WHO?"

William is aware that he is the only man in his small band of travelers and he must be calm so he can protect the helpless females.
"I am William!" he announces.
The Indians begins walking around him, glancing at his front, sides and back, sizing him up. They look one to another, comparing reactions. Two of the Indians point at William's polyester pants and laugh uproariously. "WHAT?" they ask each other, between bursts of hilarity.
"HUH!" says the youngest man, who is very tanned and broad shouldered.
Eleanor, by then, has lost most of her fear, and, summoning up the same courage she used to enable her to join the Crusades, decides to go on the offensive.
"Sir!" she begins in a voice more confident than she actually feels, "Who are you and where are we, pray tell!"
It is apparent that the Indians do not understand every word, but the youngest one, who has had to interact with English-speaking people for several years understands.

"I am Littlefeather!" he tells her, warily.
Rosamund, who has experienced a great deal of fright, begins to titter nervously. "Little feather?" she whispers at William "I'll be his is a little feather!"
"Cease your laughter, wench" William advises her, "Do you not know we may be in grave danger?"

There seems to be a standoff, as neither the 4 Indians nor the 3 travelers are all that sure what the intentions of the other group might be.

This is so frightening to Rosamund, who has stifled her nervous laughter, that she swoons and begins to faint. The youngest Indian dashes up and catches her in mid-fall.

Just as this happens, a large band of people who look more like the travelers but are dressed in what appears to be woolen britches and shirts upon their chests as opposed to the almost bare chests of the Indians, approaches.
"Littlefeather!" yells one of the newly arrived men. At this sudden turn of events, the young, strong Indian brave lets Rosamund fall in a heap in the mud, and, recognizing the man who has just spoken as someone he knows, he strides forward, greeting him, "Hallo, friend!"

William can see that, whatever this situation is, it is beyond his comprehension. He had fully intended to get his ladies to 21st Century Manhattan, and perhaps this is Manhattan, but this is in no way the 21st Century.
What is he to do? He is, for once in his life, bereft of a solution.



Part 26: It Ain't Exactly Southampton....Yet! by Terri


The eyes of the foursome turn to the three travelers.
They burst out laughing. "What the blazes happened to the three of you--did your breeches get ruined?"
William silently mouthes to the women to hold their tongues--let me handle this, he beseeches them with his eyes.
"Please, kind gentlemen, we were shipwrecked on yonder island and waited for low tide to make our way to the mainland. Our clothes were in tatters and we came across some fabric the Spaniards had left behind so we altered them to fit us."
"Yeah, well, leave it to the Spaniards to choose fabric of such colors. No taste--they just love gaudiness!"
The men laugh. Rosamond, sizing up what to do next, whispers to Eleanor, "I'LL get us out of this predicament! Which one is King?"
The man in tan breeches overhears her and warns, "Do not even think of consorting with the heathen, madam. It has been said that once a damsel has been with the redman, no Englishman dare touch her again! She is considered tainted!"
Rosamond is chastised properly and at a loss for what to do next.
The four men introduce themselves, "I am Captain
Gwinnett, and these are my friends, Samuel Corwin, Timothy Bailey and Benjamin Winthrop.
You have landed on what we call Long Island."
William ponders this and says, "What year is this?"
"WHAT?! " the men exclaim in unison.
"Uh, I mean what is the date?" William nervously inquires.
"Why, it is June 22, surely."
Menwhile, Little Feather and his companions are anxious to commence trading. One of the braves begins to touch Eleanor's flaming hair.
"Hey, cut that out, you pagan!" Eleanor spits out.
"Careful, ma'am these Narragansetts don't take kindly to women who speak before being spoken to."
"Well, mayhap he has met his match in me!" Eleanor retorts. "Besides, Rosamond is the one they want. She will lie with anything that breathes!"
William has had enough! He is already flustered because he cannot control the situation, and is embarrassed in front of the ladies for having mucked it up.
Captain Gwinnett speaks up. "It is not safe for a man, let alone a woman to be out after dusk with the redskins. Come--we will get a meal in you and arrange lodging."
Rosamond sidles up to the captain. "How gallant of you." "Yes, madam, I know I would not want my wife out after dark."
Rosamond is crestfallen. Eleanor grabs her by the wrist. "For once, Rosamond, give it a rest!"
After walking through the woods for what seems like miles, the seven arrive in a village.
Winthrop voluteers, "This here is Southold, pilgrims!
Yonder is the Red Goose. In there we will find food and drink!"
Eleanor and Rosamond are hungry and eager to find out where they are. William is disgruntled to be at the mercy of these four hunters. By the gods, he thinks, I am the one in charge, not these four peasants!
Eleanor grabs Rosamond by the wrist. "Don't think I have forgotten the witchery you have used to get here!"
Rosamond jerks her arm away. "I would have done ANYTHING to get away from that fat lout Henry.
I can conceive of no fate worse than him! To think I would go volutarily to him! Nay, he would ravish any damsel to get his sire!"
Eleanor concedes, "I really can't blame you there.
But it looks like conceiveing of no fate is ALL you conceived! Did you think you could get away with it?"
Rosamond says, "I didn't think that far and once it started to snowball, I could think of no way to stop it."
Eleanor replies, "Well, William will not forget--he hates to be made a fool of...look at him! One can almost see the thunderclouds over his head. I daresay he has bad weather in his body!"
William sits there glowering at the two of them. Would they never shut up? No, I have to get out of this--and find a way to teach Rosamond a lesson not to make a fool of me!



Part 27: Puritans vs Time Travelers by Coralynn


As the kindly man leads our intrepid travelers toward the Red Goose Inn, they are barred in their progress by a man who appears in Clerical garb.

"Captain Gwinett" the man says as he approachres, "Whence come these people with whom you are consorting?!

"They are stranded travelers looking for a meal and a place to spend the night, reverend " explains Gwinett, not seeing a problem with that.

"Do you know not that these people have broken our Code of proper raignment?" demands the Reverend. "They must be jailed immediately or they will spread evil ways amongst our people!"

"They seem gentle and harmless enough, your worship" explain Gwinett, "Can we not wait till the morn to decide if such action is necessary?"

Rosamund is beginning to shake like a leaf. The thought of incarceration terrifies her. Eleanor, who knows it all too well, is detemined to escape such a fate, and strides boldly forth. William attempts to restrain her, but to no avail.
"I am of Royal blood" explains Eleanor, "And, as such, would like to be taken to your nearest castle. Where is the nearest one, sire?"

Rosamund grasps William's arm, knowing that Eleanor has put them into even greater danger with her misguided courage and boldness.

William is feeling woefully inadequate, a feeling he has never had before this trip, and dislikes intensely.
"What year might this be, gentlemen?" he asks.
"This be 1640, sinner and law breaker!" answers Jackson. "And from this time forth, you are to hold your tongue and not ask foolish questions. Be ye from hell, that ye know not even the year? Only the legions of satan would be so ignorant of simple things."

William blanches, and realizes how far off he was when he told the coin to put them into 21st century New York. There is no help for it at the moment, but he fingers the coin in his pocket and hopes it will not be seized by this strange and hostile man.
He also wonders if this man is a Priest, why he does not behave anything like the Priests he knew in England, who did the bidding of the monarchy, most of the time, at least some of the time.

"Yonder comes Constable Spencer!" says the Reverend with as much joy as a person of his fierce demeanor is capable, "He will set you to right!"
The Constable, upon seeing our travelers, strides toward them, then, as he is no more than 2 feet from their very faces, booms:
"You will follow me to yonder jail, law breakers!" at which time he and the Rev begin pushing William and Eleanor, who are the more aggressive of the three. Rosamund has no choice but to follow.

A rough-hewn building comes into view. It is not a castle, a palace, or even the modest home of the citizenry which can be seen easily now that they are in the middle of the town.
"This is most unfair and illegal" William protests, thinking that he is within his rights, "We have done no crime! Why are we being locked up in this wretched place?!"
"I told you that you were in violation of the proper rainment code of the town!" both of the men in charge yell at William.

The three travelers are shoved inside the crude jail, which is not any less crude inside than out.

"The ladies in that cell, the man in the other" the constable says, which is unneccesary, as they have already been pushed therein and the jail doors locked upon them.

Eleanor beats at the bars and furiously tells them, "I will not stand for this! I am Eleanor of Aquitaine and you are out of order!"
William is shocked. She is blowing their cover! How dare she, after all the trouble he went to for them to "blend in?" Obviously they are blending in not at all, and, to make it worse, Eleanor is making herself seem like a madwoman.
This piece of obvious rubbage amuses the two Puritan men and they laugh, but mirthlessly.
"I think they should be made an example for the rest of the citizens" suggests the Minister, "Let us take the fairer of the two damsels out and put her into the stocks in the public square!"
"Fine idea!" agrees the jailor, "Here, YOU, come out, and come with us!!"

Rosamund is totally terrified by now. "But I am with child!!" she desperately protests.
Eleanor and William have a strong, almost vicious urge to correct her lie, but realize just in time how defeating that would be. The less torture the better, even if it does involve a lying, cheating trollop.
"You look fine to ME!" Spencer says, "And, if you are with child, we will at least release you in time for the blessed event."

The horror escalates. They lead Rosamund outside and somehow get her unwilling form into the stocks. They touch the polyester pants and look at each other in amazement. Where on earth did such a material come from?
"Did Beelzebub fashion your garments?" asks the minister.
Rosamund has her head and arms sticking out in the stocks by now, which means the polyester part of her is behind the contraption.
A band of goodwives nears the town square and looks inquisitively at this woman with her head protrouding, tears by now coursing down her cheeks.
"And what may the damsel have done, sirs?" one asks the Spencer and Jackson.
"Walk ye around behind and see for yourself!" he insructs.
They walk behind the stocks and see the clothing Rosamund is wearing and are shocked.
"Look at the footwear!" one says in amazement. "I have never seen footwear that comes so high on the limb and is white, of all things. Look how short her skirt be! Where did this damnable creature come from?"
"I have not seen her before, either" says a second.
The third woman, feeling the material, rubbing upon the go-go boots, whispers to the others,
"I love this outfit! Where can I find such clothing?"

"Do not blaspheme!" the other two advise her, "Or you will find yourself in the stocks as well. I cannot believe you would admire an outfit designed by the Devil, goodwife Adams!"

Goodwife Adams pretends to be properly chastised, and decides to not comment further on her admiration for this creature's clothing, but also begins to formulate a way to assist the poor woman.

"I would like to question the prisoner" she tells the Rev and the Constable.
"NO!" is her answer, delivered quickly and emphatically, "Consorting with the devil's legions is strictly forbidden! Never express such an evil desire again, Goodwife Adams! We will, of course, have to inform your husband of your errrant ways so that he can take proper measures to chastise and bring you into line with the Puritan message of salvation.
Bethiah Adams knows she has gone too far, and makes a concilliatory gesture of shame, with her head bowed and her hands clasped meekly. But inside, Bethiah Adams has not changed her opinion. She must aid and abet this woman who has been brought low for no reason other than wearing interesting clothing.
Ahhh dear reader, there is always one rebel in every town, in every decade, in every generation, and we have just found the one in Southold in 1640. What will happen to her if she rescues the woman in the stocks? Would she have the boldness to also aid the two hapless prisoners in jail, of whom she is currently unaware, but you know she will become aquainted with soon.
What can she do without being beaten or driven from the midst of her neighbors?



Part 28: AmEx...Don't Leave Castle Without It!...by TERRI


It is now growing toward dusk. Poor Rosamond has been in the stocks for two hours.
Constable Spencer comes toward her with the keys.
"It is against God's law to leave someone overnight in the stocks. When the sun sets, we release you."
Rosamond is about to faint. Her arms and neck are sore. Constable Spencer gazes her up and down, lingering on her exposed legs. "Perhaps you should see about different clothing. It is not safe for a woman to be dressed...or undressed thusly!"
Especially from the likes of you, Rosamond thinks.
William and Eleanor are waiting for her in the court chambers.
William looks at Eleanor, pleading with his eyes to keep her mouth shut from revealing Rosamond's
false pregnancy.
The judge, John Barnabas, looks kindly on the weary travelers. "So your clothing was ruined in the shipwreck.. It looks like these are no better. I will have proper clothing brought in to you from our charity ward. "
Judge Barnabas continues. "However, there is the matter of the punishment. Each of you is to receive ten lashes in the public square at 8:00 AM tomorrow. In the interest of these fair ladies, I will waive the lashes. Some of our menfolk turn out in the hopes of catching a flash of bosom! I will, however, fine you 10 pounds total for lack of propriety."
William is relieved. "I assume you will accept American Travelers checks!"
Judge Barnabas looks on--"What are they, and what is America? These are the United Colonies of England. Is America perhaps an island?"
William scrambles his brains to come up with a plausible answer. "Yes, Your Honor, it is in the West Indies. This is our currency."
William tenders the checks.
"I accept...now go and cause no more trouble while you are here."
The constable offers the clothing to the three.
Eleanor snatches hers and yells, "Now get out of here so we may change....there will be no flashes of bosom today or tomorrow! "
Constable Spencer looks abashed, even though he was hoping for a little glimpse of skin. Rosamond's
miniskirt looked like it would hold a promise of better things to come!
After changing, William says to the women, "Let us go back to the Red Goose, seeing there is no other place to get nourishment. I will order for all, seeing they accepted the American Express."
The three enter the tavern adjusting their eyes to the light. They take a table nearest the window, out of view.
A burly man walks over to them. "What will you have, pilgrims?"
William is famished and he wants to at least show the girls he is a renowned gourmet.
"We will have two large New York pizzas with everything except anchovies and three large Diet Pepsies."
The man looks on in astonishment. "Pizza? Pepsi? Do you think this is some fancy French establishment?"
William has to adjust his thinking four hundred years back. "Uh, we will have a turkey breast with corn pudding. Three tankards of ale, please."
William bows his head,,,this is harder than it looks!
Meanwhile, Bethia comes over to deliver their food. "My father owns this establishment and I sometimes help out."
The notice the bruises on her wrist and the black and blue mark under her eye.
Eleanor right away sizes up the situation. She and Henry have had their share of knock-down drag-out fights.
"Bethia, have you been beaten?"
Bethia lowers her head, "My husband is an exacting man. It appears I have brought him shame with my wanton ways and desires for excessive adornment."
William immediately takes pity on her.
"Is there anything we can do to help?"
Bethia sits down next to Rosamond. "Take me away with you! I am no use to my husband...I am barren and a burden to him. He sees no chance to gain an heir from me."
Rosamond looks at Eleanor, "Where have we heard THAT one before?"
Eleanor laughs, "Only from Fat Harry!
Bethia begs, "If I could only make it as far as Boston, I could seek help from my sister. She knew my husband was a stern and abusive man. She will help me get on a ship to Barbados so I can live on a sugar plantation with our brother Seth."
William tells her, "Bethia, stay out of trouble and we will see what we can do."
Bethia's eyes are shining with hope."Thank you," she whispers.
William gazes up. To his dismay, he sees Constable Spencer and Reverend Jackson walk in.
Reverend Jackson assumes the role of authority.
"So you were able to wiggle out of that one---mayhap my eye will be watching you to see you do not corrupt my flock with mayhem and fancy ideas!"
Constable Spencer is still gazing at Rosamond.
He keeps hoping to see more of her....literally!
As they turn to go, Captain Gwinnet enters the tavern.
He strides up purposefully to the three. "I must apologize for the actions of those two. They are acting like someone I have heard about from my ancestor's....I believe they were Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham. A more unscrupulous
duo there never lived!"
Eleanor, William and Rosamond exchange glances.
How familiar is history with those two...and what does it say about them?



Part 29: History Lesson....by CORALYNN


Eleanor cannot resist.
"Pray, what say they about John's Mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine?" she queries Gwinett.

"Ahh, she was a beauty but had a vile temper. The story goes that she took up with Henry 11 before she was divorced from that French King......what's his name?"
"Louis V11," Eleanor chimes in, "And Louis, let us not forget, would have made a proper Monk. He was no husband worth having for any normal female!"
Eleanor is becoming aggitated and angry.
"Why do you become so wrought?" asks Gwinett.

"She was an ancestor of mine," Eleanor replies, realizing she is again about to blow her cover and is in fear of William's anger.
Rosamund cannot resist. "They say Henry had a fair and beauteous mistress, do they not?" she asks, lowering her eyes so that her lashes sweep across her face like a fan.

"That one was one for the books!" Gwinett continues, "A trollop and a wastrel."

"But lovely, nonetheless?" insists Rosamund.
William kicks her under the table. She winces and flashes him an angry look. His expression is none the less hostile.
Changing what he considers a dangerous subject, he then tells the two women, "Time to go to our chambers above as it is late and the morning comes quickly."

They rise as Gwinett escorts them to the Keeper of the Inn who has their rooms ready to occupy.

Upon entering the room she is to share with Rosamund, Eleanor declares "I will have the bed; you can sleep on the floor!"
"NO!" Rosamund says angrily, "I am more delicate than you, and I should have the bed for a surety."

"Get off it, Rosie," Eleanor chides, "You can stop the 'I am with child' routine you've been using for every possible situation. You are younger than I and healthy as a horse, so you sleep on the floor."
"Mayhap we could share the bed?" Rosamund suggests.
"Share? Share? With you? Nay, I have shared quite enough with you; first my husband, now a bed? I think not!"
"Then I shall see if William is more accomodating,"
Rosamund sulks.
Eleanor quickly moves to the door and, barring it with her body, tells Rosamund, "You are not going to take up with ONE more man, Rosie. What would happen if these obviously overly God-fearing people we find ourselves amongst should find you there? We would be flogged within an inch of our lives, and I am not willing to be tortured for you, not now, not ever! Take a few blankets you will find on that shelf over there and settle down on the floor, NOW!"
Rosamund does as she is told. True, being found in William's room might bring them all condemnation from these odd folk they are living amonst. Gwinett seems nice enough, but that Reverend and that Constable are vicious dogs who would love to torture them. Of course, Spencer would be easily enough seduced, but this is a bad idea, and even Rosamund can see that. Why get any more involved than one has to?

"Just how long are we to stay in this place?" she asks Eleanor, trying to sound friendly, "Dost thou think somehow William can figure a way to get us to the right time and place?"

"He has to" Eleanor says with less than total conviction, "I cannot exist in a place as hostile as this and as muddy and full of tanned looking men with those weapons in their belts. They look more threatening than the Infidels we dealt with in the Crusades, for sure."

By that time Rosamund has made up her bed on the floor.
"What is to become of Bethiah Adams?" she again asks Eleanor. "Can we get her to Boston or.......or........I have an idea! I have an idea!"
Eleanor raises her one eyebrow higher than the other, and asks,
"I shudder when you get an idea, Rosie," she begins, "As you have not the brains God gave little geese."
"Know something Eleanor?" Rosamund tells her emphatically, "I hate you, I have always hated you and I shall go to the grave hating you. I was not pleased to learn that you were accompanying us on this trip. Anyone else would have been more to my liking, even evil Isabella! I DO have an idea, and in the morn I shall present it to William, who is at least a gentleman."
"As you will, as you will" Eleanor says in exasperation.
"You aren't even just a little bit curious?" Rosamund asks.
"OK, then, what IS it?" Eleanor concedes that she has some curiosity.
"Could we take Behiah with us when William learns how to get us to NYCity in the 21st Century? Surely she has nothing dear holding her in this place at this time. Being beaten, having no children, alas, she has good reason to want an escape."
"Leave it to you to think up a hairbrained scheme like that!" Eleanor almost laughs. "But, you might as well ask Wililam. He will no doubt consider you even more adle brained than he already does."
"I am not stupid!" Rosamund insists, "Just because I am possessed of youth and beauty does not make me a dolt."
Eleanor has about had it with her by then and lies wearily down upon the bed. Sleep comes very quickly.
Rosamund, on the other hand, is thrashing about on the floor, pulling the blankets up, sideways, down, any way she can to keep warm. She would love to reach up and yank all the blankets off that miserable witch, Eleanor. Yea, any one would have been a better traveling companion, even Margaret the holy one. No, mayhap Margaret would have been even worse in that she would have no doubt agreed with the harsh Reverend and Constable and would have quickly informed them of Rosamund's pregnancy fabrication. At least Eleanor is energetic and bold. My, but how that characteristic cuts both ways like a sharp two-edged sword!



Part 30: Standing in the Shadows of...Love?....by TERRI

William tosses and turns in his room. What to do with the two of them? They would be the death of him. He has to admit he has tender feelings toward
Rosamond. She is so fragile and empty-headed, looking for comfort and love in the only way she knows how. Her father was an impoverished knight,
and her mother was an ambitious social climber who schooled her daughter well in the art of getting ahead. Eleanor was something else altogether, an acid tongue that one had. She needed to be taught a lesson, too...unless she got the three of them hung or committed for lunacy.
Why oh why didn't I open a tavern in Cornwall like I wanted to? It could be Conqueror's Cornwall Fried Pheasant. Mayhap call it CFP like that delightful poultry place in NYC.
He tried to think of where the coin had failed him.
This had never happened before. Could it be it had gotten into a time warp? Cosmic dust? He remembered that flash in the sky on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. When he arrived in New York, he looked up information on what history had to say about it. Halley's Comet it was called, supposedly heralding dire consequences and appearing every 76 years. Could it be on a return visit? He rubbed his eyes. Sleep eluded him.
Rosamond, too, was restless. She missed Henry and Eleanor's words stung like a scorpion.
She put on her wrapper and slipped out to the courtyard below to take in the night air. In the
shadows, the leaves rustled. She drew her wrapper around her for warmth, to stop the shivering. Was it the night air or a feeling of apprehension?
Constable Spencer comes out of the dark. The smell of spirits is on his breath.
"Milady, it is dangerous to be out at such a late hour, dressed so scantily. The vagabonds and dock creatures roam the midnight darkness. They may take advantage of someone as lovely as you are.....and vulnerable."
Rosamond summons up all the courage she can. "You seem to forget, Constable, that I was able to survive the humiliation of the stocks, and I can handle the riffraff in this port."
Spencer draws closer to her, and runs his hand down her back. She pulls away.
"Surely a woman of your station would not object..."
"Object? To what? For the likes of you to run your hands over me like I am some horse for sale?"
Rosamond is frightened by now.
Spencer leers, "Surely a woman who how shall I say? 'advertises her wares' by dressing in such a revealing costume would have no objection to submitting to pleasures of the night."
Rosamond pushed him away. "You remind me of a fat old goat I knew in England."
With that, Spencer lunges at her, grabbing at her with his hands and pressing his lips on hers.
Rosamond stifles a scream...if only she COULD
scream.
From out of the darkness, a man in hunter's clothes grabs the constable's cloak. He runs Spencer's head into a wall and kicks him in the backside.
"I don't care if you are the constable, women have rights in Southold. Now go....lest I report you to the Reverend!"
Spencer wipes the blood from his mouth. "We are not through, Gwinnett...I shall not long forget this.
And I will not be thwarted...what I want, I take. I AM the Law, whether you like it or not. What care you...she is nothing but a trollop...maybe higher class than you and I are used to...but a trollop none the less!"
Gwinnett steps towards Rosamond. "Are you all right?" Rosamond falls into his arms and sobs.
"Things are the same all over...whether it be England or these Colonies. MEN are all the same."
Gwinnett tries to comfort her. "Hush, now, you are getting yourself all worked up. Spencer has a reputation of fancying himself a ladies' man. The spirits have taken hold of his reasoning."
With that, Gwinnett holds Rosamond close. She continues to sob. She misses the comfort and love of Henry. "There, there..it will be allright."
With that, Gwinnett gently kisses Rosamond's cheek. Rosamond turns her face towards his and returns his kiss. Gwinnett did not expect this.
Before he knows it, he is kissing her fervently.
To Rosamond's dismay and surprise, Gwinnett pulls back, stunned. He has never been unfaithful to his wife and was totally in shock by his response to Rosamond. Rosamond cannot understand this. This is the first time this has happened to her. "What is wrong, " she implores.
Gwinnett falters, "No...this is not the ways of the Puritans. It is against the law of God and the sanctity of marriage!"
With that, he stiffens his spine. "Perhaps you should retire out of the night air. I will wait down here until you are safely inside."
With that, Rosamond turns on her heel and goes to the door. She looks back. Never before has a man respected marriage vows.
Eleanor is at the door at the same time. "You idiot!
Are you trying for the stocks again? From what I hear, these people will execute an adulteress! I think you would qualify. And no doubt William and I would hang right along beside you!"
As Gwinnett shamefully leaves, another rustle is heard in the bushes. Reverend Jackson is in the shadow, observing the whole scene. Ever since the Widow Coggin turned him out of her bed, he has been in a foul mood. Something needs to be done with these corrupting visitors...but what?
I shall have to see the good Constable in the morning.



Part 31: Bewitched.....by CORALYNN

As Rev. Jackson proceeds to leave the scene, he stumbles into a gopher hole and emits a loud yell at the indignity of falling on his face.
Rosamund and Eleanor, standing yet outside the door, hear the noise and run out to investigate. At least Eleanor does, as Rosamund is still too shocked by the recent happenings to move at a very crisp pace. She follows Eleanor slowly and cautiously.

Eleanor comes upon the Rev sprawled in the grass, attempting to wrest his foot free of the hole in the ground.
"What do you out here at this place at this time of night?" she demands.

"I SAW you!" Rev Jackson accuses Rosamund, pointing his finger at her. "I saw you and Gwinett breaking all the laws of the colony! I am going to tell Constable Spencer about you in the morn!" he ends with great satisfaction.

Said Spencer has not as yet removed himself from the area far enough not to hear the yelling, and returns to investigate.
"What are these bold women doing out here in their nightclothes?" he asks Jackson.
"The young one there was in an improper embrace with Gwinett!" Jackson announces with satisfaction, "She is a threat to our community. She has bewitched him!"

"YOU are the one who was improper," Rosamund gathers up all her courage, "YOU attacked me and Gwinett cam to my defense."
Knowing that there were no witnesses, Spencer is bold.
"She is not only a witch, she also lies, and we best lock her in the jail again before she brings ruination on more of our upstanding citizens. What say you, Jackson?"

Jackson has by then extricated his foot and is standing gingerly trying not to put any weight on it.
"I say she shows all the signs of witchcraft" Jackson agrees, "And while we're about it, methinks the other woman also guilty by association."
With that, the two men begin to subdue the women physically, so as to take them off to jail.
Eleanor kicks Spencer in the shins, then in the groin.
"AAaaaaaaaaeeeeee!" he belts forth in a loud voice, "Witch!"

William has not been sleeping very well this night, what with his worries that the women will yet put them in harm's way again, and when he hears the commotion outside, he flings on some clothing and makes his way hastily outside.
It is as he feared: worse than he had feared.

"Why do you man-handle these innocent women so?" he demands of the two men. "I command you to release them at once!"
The two men ignore him. William has had a rough trip, much rougher than he had ever anticipated, but this is too much.....to be ignored.......this is the proverbial last straw.
He rushes at the men, yanking first Jackson away from Rosamund, then Spencer away from Eleanor.
There is a terrific scuffle as he attempts to fight both men. Eleanor rushes in and begins hitting Spencer. No good. She tries kicking him. No good. Finally in desperation, she bites him on the arm, the one that he extends as he is attemting to fight off William. He bellows is pain.
Jackson is still limping and Spencer has an ugly open wound on his arm that is beginning to bleed.
The two men look at each other in dismay and when Spencer says "We shall be back with reinforcements! Don't think this is the end of it!" Jackson agrees and they exit the scene to gather up more men to help in the fight.

With that, William chides the women, "Could ye not have just stayed in your chambers till morn? Was that too much to ask, was that too much to expect? Could ye not have refrained from stirring up more trouble?"

Both women begin telling him how it was not their fault, both at once so that he cannot hear anything properly.
"We must leave here this instant!" he says, "This has gone far past inconvenience and into mortal danger. Take my hand and we shall leave for the 21st century."

"NO!" Eleanor and Rosamund both object.
"And why not?!" William wants to know. He can see no reason to stick around waiting for Jackson and Spencer to return.
"We made a promise to Bethiah!" Eleanor informs him, "Remember? We must keep out word."

"How, pray tell, are we to do that and keep our lives at the same time?" William asks, "Do we even know which house is her abode?"

"I do," Eleanor explains, "I saw her go into that third house down there, the one with the crooked fencing in front."
"Before we attempt to rescue Bethiah we had best gather up our belongings from the Red Goose Inn and take ourselves off somewhere else," William says, "As those two madmen will be coming here with many others to take us into custody. There must be a place to hide."
"I know," Rosamund suddenly is inspired, "We can lodge with Gwinett!"
"That is the most stupid idea you have yet had" Eleanor chides, "Know you not that he is married?"
"But he loves me," Rosamund insists, "And would see no harm come to me."
Both William and Eleanor heave great sighs of exasperation.

By this time they are into the Inn and about to enter the rooms where their meagre belongings have been left.
"Get your things first and meet me outside" William instructs.
They do this very quickly, and as they leave the Inn, they can hear voices....many angry voices approaching.
"Into the woods!" Eleanor yells, "They won't think to look for us there."
They run into the woods behind the Inn which are very thick with brambles and bushes and every kind of tree growing close together.
The passage is difficult. Rosamund is suffering many scratches and scrapes as she pushes into the dense foliage.
"I hate this" she mutters, "This is not the fun time I had anticipated, William. As for you, Eleanor, if you had not come rushing out when you did, we may have been safe, but nooooooo."
They force their way into the thick growth, and crouch down. The sound of voices is very loud, very nearby.



Part 32: Rescue.......by TERRI


As Rosamond, Eleanor and William hastily retreat into the shadows of the forest, a hand clasps Eleanor's mouth, logically because she is the mouthy one! Rosamond is paralyzed with fear.
Wiliam is feeling as if he is moving in slow motion.
Hands are grabbing at them and pulling them to the ground. Gags of rawhide are stuffed in their mouths
and their arms are pinned back. Rosamond has resigned herself to a fate worse than death.
The voices are getting closer, must be at least seven men, approaching with torches.
Wiliam recognizes Jackson and Spencer's voice.
"Come on--we must rid our hamlet of such witchcraft!"
Spencer's voice is heard above the rest--"It is folly to venture into the forest. I fear it is full of devils and other restless spirits. We should wait until daylight and search with the hounds. They shall not be far--unless they evaporate into thin air."
"Are you afraid, Spencer? Think you not the Lord is on our side?"
The five other men turn to leave. The reverend turns to Spencer. "A word in private with you, Jonas."
Spencer hangs back. Jackson approaches him.
"We may have to deal with this on our own. We each know things about the other that could result in our loss of respect, or worse."
Spencer checks out the bite on his arm. "That red-haired harlot is vicious. I wil have nothing to do with her. However, the thin, delicate one is another story..."
Reverend Jackson is becoming agitated by this time. He has been lonely for too long. Hearing about Spencer's success with previous encounters does not help his mood.
"For once stop thinking with your britches off!"
I will meet you at sunup and we will search the copses for any sign of them. If word gets out about your attempt to ravish the young one, YOU very well could be in the stocks."
Their voices fade into the night.
Rosamond, Eleanor and William are helped to their feet. The rawhide gags are removed. Eleanor gasps for breath. "Are you INSANE?"
William is spitting on the ground, trying to get the taste of tanning out of his mouth. Rosamond is quaking with fear, the words of Gwinnett--'no man would ever touch a woman who had bee with the red man.' Would Henry still feel the same way about her after....
Little Feather apologizes for their treatment. "It seemed the only way to rescue you from those two. Our ways are not those of the white man who claim to be children of the Great Spirit. Come--you can stay in our camp until daylight--then we will decide what to do."
Little Feather leads them to dwellings made of animal skins. "Here, you can stay in my tent."
With that, the three fall asleep, exhausted.
At sunup, Spencer meets the Reverend at the edge of the forest. "I'm not sure, Samuel," the constable says. "The red-headed harlot is someone I will not want to deal with. If this were England, she would be burned at the stake just for the colour of her hair."
He is closely examining Eleanor's munch-marks.
"However, the younger, delicate one needs to be taught a lesson on enticing..."
Reverend Jackson imperiously waves his hand,"Yes, we all know what your brand of lesson is---for once can you think with your britches ON?"
As they start to go into the woods, they are met by Gwinnett, lounging against the tree. "Well, what do we have here?"
"Step aside, Gwinnett--you are in serious trouble. Mayhap you have forgotten your lapse as to the sanctity of your matrimonial vows?"
Gwinnett leisurely plucks a leaf from the tree, "Oh, I doubt there will be any need for that. My wife has been talking to the Widow Coggin--all about how you have been going over to comfort the grieving widow and how you have warmed her bed!"
Jackson's face is mottled with anger.
"And you, Constable, ---how many wenches have you saved from the dunking into a cold vat if they would agree to your little 'arrangement' to save them from how shall I say?'testifying' ?"
Spencer laughs unpleasantly."At least the ones I have 'saved' have been unattached. I am not married so there is no law of conubial bliss broken."
"No," Gwinnett drawls. "But there is a law against the imbibing of spirits on the Lord's Sabbath Day."
Corwin has told me he has shared many a tankard with you in the basement of the pubhouse. And since you are the 'Law' you are reprehensible. He is willling to testify to this."
With that, Jackson and Spencer turn on their heels.
"They cannot last long in the forest with the Red Man. Especially the women."
The two head back to town, imagining a fate deserving of those two.
Daylight is breaking. William stretches out on the skins, deciding it is about time they take their leave. Forget the 21st century, it is not ready for these two harridens. I will just take them back to Court, they can self-destruct there!
As he reaches in his pocket for the coin, he notices a rent in the seam.



Part 33: The Holdout......by CORALYNN

William whispers to the women, "The coin does not seem to be in my pocket as it was. A hole must have been torn in the scuffle last night. I meant to take us back to Court forthwith. Now we are stuck here forever."

Eleanor's eyes are alight with glee.
"What knowest you about this, Eleanor, you seem unusually happy at the news!" William adds.

"Ohhhh, William, what a dunce you are!" she grins playfully, "I know where the coin is, but I will not tell you. I am never going back to Court and now I do not have to."

"You wish to stay in this hellhole forever?" he asks, incredulously.
"No, not here, but when I deem it appropriate, we shall go to NY in the 21st Century. I am glad, yea glad, that I have the coin. I had a strange feeling you would try a stunt like taking us back to court."

"YOU have it?" Rosamund asks, her eyes wide, then whispers, "Where, pray tell?"

"Would I tell a blabbermouth like you, Rosie? I think not!"

William has had it with this whole situation.
"Eleanor," he tries to patiently explain, "We must have at least three people holding hands to make the coin work. Didst thou not know that was why I insisted on taking a third person? Do you for one moment think you're here because anyone enjoys your company?"

"RIGHT!" Rosamund chimes in, "No one likes you, Eleanor, not me, not William, certainly not Henry your husband, not those oafs you can sons, not even the dyrehund dogs that scratch and sniff around the castle keep."

"Listen, you two," Eleanor is stern, "I have nothing back at Court to tempt me to ever return. Henry is worthless to me and cruel, being cooped up most of the year in another place removed from my rightful castle, being allowed only occasional walks outside and then heavily guarded, why would I not prefer this place," she sweeps her arm in an arc, "to that Court you so fancy, William? Can you give me one good reason why I should return to it?"

William frowns and thinks it over.
"You have a point. But if we cannot return, what will become of us? Who in this place is our friend?"

"Little feather, for one," Rosamund tells him, "Then Judge Barnabas seemed a decent sort, then of course there is our champion, Gwinett, who loves me."

"You and your lovers will be the death of us yet"!Eleanor says, beginning to pace back and forth in front of the Littlefeather's tent. "Spencer and Jackson are still not about to leave us alone, you knowest that."

"I have an idea! I have an idea!" Rosamund says, almost jumping with glee, "I know how we can walk straight through the town and fetch Bethiah Adams and be gone out of here."

William and Eleanor both hold their heads in their hands.
"Spare us your ideas!" Eleanor groans.
"Let us hear it, ridiculous as it may be," William says, as his mind is fresh out of ideas, a situation with which he is most uncomfortable.

"We can pretend to be like the redmen. Little Feather will surely outfit us in their garb and we can escape, because Jackson and Spencer will think we are what they term Indians. See? See how smart that is?"

"You are a pale as milk, Rosamund," Eleanor says, "How could anyone mistake you for an Indian?"

"There are berries yonder we can rub all over our skin" Rosamund explains, "And we can try to hide our hair somehow. Your red hair is ridiculous, Ellie, and we must cover it somehow. What could we use, hmmmm....."

"Dangerous!" William decides, "We need outside help. I'll ask Little Feather if he can find Gwinett who may have better thoughts on the matter. Nothing personal, Rosie, but you do think up the most adle-brained schemes."
Rosamund sinks down on the ground and sulks, "Why dost everyone persecute me? Is it because I be beautiful and no man can resist me? I am not a dunce, I am not, I am not!" she beats her hands into her lap.

Gwinett, who was in the woods all along, then appears in the Indian settlement, and, upon seeing the three travelers, advances quickly forward.
"Thank the heavens I have found you!" he exclaims, "The worst is over, yet I fear Spencer and Jackson would still enjoy more revenge upon you, especially now that the redheaded woman has taken a major chunk out of Spencer's arm. He is enraged and seeks revenge."
Rosamund sidles up to Gwinett, taking his arm, saying softly, "I knew you would come to save me. Pray tell, where are we to go?"

"There is but one thing to do......", Gwinett explains.........................



Part 34: Move over, Austin Powers! BY TERRI

William is shocked and appalled! "But NO! There is no way I will allow these women to paritcipate in such a hare-brained scheme, Gwinnett!"
Gwinnett calmly replies, "But there is no danger--the Indians have been using this potion for centuries. It is made of herbs and will simulate death for 24 hours. I will then show Spencer your bodies and insist I will take care of the burial."
Eleanor vehemently shakes her head, "Nay! They will burn us as witches to make sure our 'magic' dies with us!"
Gwinnett acquieces, "Maybe you are right. I didn't work for Romeo and Juliet."
Rosamond leans forward to show her cleavage off to its best advantage. "Are they friends of yours?"
Gwinnett laughs indulgently. "Rosamond, you are so naive. Know you not anything about the world?"
Eleanor retorts, "Oh, Rosamond has always had an 'open door' policy."
Rosamond shoots Eleanor a look to kill.
"Well," Gwinnett answers, "I will talk to Little Feather to see what I can work out. Theirs is a friendly tribe and should be willing to help."

William has had enough of the two women. "I need some down time. I'm going to sit under the big tree over there and don't either of you come near me!"
Rosamond turns on Eleanor. "How DARE you try to ruin my chances with Gwinnett!" She grabs for Eleanor's hair but she sidesteps her. Rosamond lands in a blackberry bush.
Eleanor plants her foot firmly in Rosamond's derriere, sending her sprawling even further. "Have you forgotten Gwinnett is a married man? Perhaps with children? Maybe even a dog?"
Rosamond is picking brambles out of her hair and trying not to cry. "A dog, huh? I didn't think about that!"
Eleanor advances menacingly towards Rosamond. "And would you please clarify what you said about my sons being 'oafs'?"
Rosamond sees a chink in Eleanor's armor. "Oh, most certainly! It is said around Court that John used to catch the rats in the dungeon, hold trials for them and then execute them for treason! And Richard bedded me to get back at his father. I let him because it is advantageous to be a concubine to the future King.
The present King and the once and Future King!"

Eleanor replies haughtily, "Well, at least the two kings I have had MARRIED me."
Rosamond nastily retorts, "Well, Henry came to me willingly. One time he told me acquiring you was a high price to pay for acquiring Acquitaine. Besides, you were never at Court!"
"Oh, and shall I tell you where I HAVE been? Henry has kept me locked in a castle to keep me away from Court. It was so I will not try to help my sons usurp the throne. And so he could continue his VERY PUBLIC dalliances with you, you trollop!"
Rosamond backs away. "Well, you SHOULD be locked up! Everyone knows you used to ride bare into the Crusades!"
"That's bareBACK, you simpleton!" Eleanor cannot help but laugh.
Gwinnett strides back to the women. Rosamond tries to pick the thorns out of her backside discreetly. Eleanor's shoemark is still on her backside.
"It is all set. You may stay with Little Feather in his tent...I mean, you can stay in Little Feather's tent and he will stay with his brother Big Eagle. But where is William?"
"Over yonder by the bush with red berries."
Gwinnett walks over to William as he struggles to get up. Gwinnett starts to tell William the arrangements and William is trying to focus his eyes.
"Groovy, baby...far out!"
Eleanor squints her eyes and looks closely into William's face. "What strange look and what foreign language are you speaking in, William?"
Rosamond hides behind Gwinnett, pressing ever so gently on him.
Gwinnett grabs William by the arm. "My Lord--he has eaten the red berries. He is STONED and Spencer and Jackson will be here soon!"
William looks at the three and dreamily says, "Oh, BEHAVE!"



Part 35: It's straw, Baby!!.........by CORALYNN


John Gwinett realizes they have a serious problem here. William is so doped up from the berries, he is more a liability than an asset.
As William stands but weaves about on his legs, grinning helplessly and muttering odd phrases like "up your nose with a rubber hose" the women position themselves on either side of him so that he doesn't fall in a heap on the ground again.

Gwinett then has an idea.
"I have to deliver a load of straw to Thorn's farm this morning. We could put the 3 of you under the load and if you make no noise at all, get you through town undetected."

"But William continues to mutter and flail about," Eleanor puts in, "How may we restrain him?"

Upon hearing that, William starts to giggle and says "Groovy! I like bondage!!"

The terms he uses means little or nothing to the hearers, but they know they must somehow cut off this constant stream of gibberish.
"I don't want to be cruel," Gwinett says, "But we must tie and gag him or he will disclose your whereabouts."

That said, Gwinett commences to tie Wililam's arms behind his back and the women attempt to put a rag found nearby in his mouth.
William gags, but otherwise does not resist. He keeps the silly expression on his face and undulates to communicate his pleasure.

Rosamund asks Gwinett "Shall we crawl under the straw on the wagon over yonger? What about Bethiah? We must also fetch her."

Eleanor turns on Rosamund, "I have great sympathy for Bethiah as well as you, but you are going to get us caught if we have to stop at her house. Thou knowest Spencer prowls up and down that lane constantly."

Gwinett, as peacemaker, assures them, "If she is easy to find, we take her, but if we have to knock upon her door and take the chance her brutal husband may be home, this is not acceptable."

They all nod agreement.
By then the foursome has reached the wagon.
"Upsy-daisey!" Rosamund says to William as they all heave him into the straw.
He lies in it, gazing at the sky, content.
The women also enter the straw and dig down into it, scooping great mounds of it over William's form.
"You must also crawl under the straw" Gwinett instructs, "You must not be visible. I think I see Spencer approaching, so make haste."

Spencer strides into the Indian camp. The Indians all scatter, some into their tents, some into the woods, as Spencer has never been kind to them, but periodically hassles them, hoping to get them so angry they do something for which he can jail them.
"Good morrow, Gwinett!" he pretends to be friendly as if nothing were amiss between the two of them. "Getting ready to deliver this straw? Have you seen any strangers in the area? Have you seen the three fugitives?"

"They must be miles from here by now," Gwinett lies, "and out of your jurisdiction, Spencer."

"Ahhh, friend Gwinett" Spencer says "When will you learn that there is no place outside my jurisdiction. This is an old idea brought over with you from England, methinks."
Spencer advances on the straw, ruffling some of it up with his hand.
Eleanor and Rosamund are terrified, as William has not ceased his undulating. He seems to be responding rhythmically to a song only he can hear.
Rosamund panics. She has to sneeze. It is an overpowering urge and she knows she must not. She presses her fingers around her nose. The urge to sneeze is too powerful for her and she emits as little sound as she can; it sounds like a small animal, but Spencer still hears it.
"A-ha!" he says triumphantly, "And what else have you here besides the straw, Gwinett??"



Part 36: Two Chicks & a Turkey in the Straw ...by Terri

Spencer picks up the pitchfork and jabs it into the wagonload of hay. It comes between the one foot of space between Eleanor and Rosamond. Gwinnett tries to remain calm. "Spencer, I have been having trouble with vermin and raccoons getting into the hay. Perhaps one of them got picked up with the load. No doubt that is the sound you hear. Just the other day, a mother coon and four babies came trotting out. Maybe one of her babies was left behind. Besides, if it gets enraged enough, it may strike at you. You may very well start foaming at the mouth!"
Spencer drops the pitchfork and backs away. "I guess even you would not want to risk your reputation by aiding and abetting fugitives. If I find otherwise, I will see you in the stockade. Or maybe worse, for being bewitched by that fanciful little trollop, the one spilling out of her dress!"
Spencer gets on his horse. "See that you stay out of my way, Gwinnett. I haven't forgotten our altercation of the other night!"
Gwinnett watches him gallop down the trail towards town.
"Are you all right?" he whispers. Eleanor sticks her head out of the load. "Yes, mercifully! Any closer and we would have been perforated!"
Gwinnett jumps down off the buckboard. "He's gone--you may as well catch your breath. I need to check on William. He should be coming out of the cloud he has been coasting on for the last hour!"


Rosamond is picking straw out of her bodice. "Well, at least Spencer noticed my assets!"
Eleanor rolls her eyes.
Gwinnett clears the straw from around William. "Come on, old chum! How are you feeling?"
William groans. "My Lord, my head hurts and my throat is parched! Those berries are unlike any pie I ever had! The colours I saw were fantastic!"
Gwinnett explains, "They are a medicinal berry that the Indians use to make their medicines. Too much of it and it makes the eyes see strange things. But from what I hear it can be pleasurable. You will be alright in a bit. Just drink a lot of water!"
William sits against the tree with his head in his hands. "I must remember to take some back to England with me!"
Gwinnett says, "We best be off. Spencer is laying low but for how long is anyone's guess."
Rosamond sidles up to Gwinnett. "I think I should ride up front with you! You know, to keep a look out! Eleanor--you are closer in age to William and can do more for him. I know nothing about nursing."
Eleanor has had about enough of Rosamond. But she has her hands full with William. At least it will be quiet in the back! As far as knowing nothing about nursing, Rosamond gave William to her wet-nurse so she could get her figure back in no time!

"Come on, William--let's sit in the back so we can get some rest. Who knows what the day may bring?"
Rosamond turns to Gwinnett for help onto the buckboard. How good and reassuring it feels to have a strong man's hands on my waist again, she beams.
As Gwinnett picks up the reins, Rosamond casually asks, "Gwinnett--funny I don't even know your Christian name."
"It's John. Please call me that."
"John--you don't say much about yourself. Why is that?"
Gwinett answers, "There isn't much to tell. I was a second son and had no avocation for the church. Second sons don't inherit--they serve the parish! So since my brother Charles inherited the land, I struck out on my own to seek my fortune as it were.
Life here has been an adventure. I have managed to buy property and lots and increase my holdings, especially in pasture land and meadow."
Rosamond had to know. "So how did you meet your wife?
Gwinett smiled, "She was with her family on the ship I sailed on. Her name is Elizabeth Tuppence. A kinder soul I had never met. But she is not a well woman.
Very delicate, healthwise. She tends to get coughs in the winter. Usually by summer it goes away."
Rosamond lowers her eyes. "Have you any children?"
Gwinett's mouth tightened. "Nay, Elizabeth has never been able to carry to term.
"But enough of me! What of you, Rosamund? Surely there is some young stallion that puts roses in your cheeks!"
Rosamond glances back at the wagon. Eleanor seems to have dozed off.
"Yes, there is but alas -- he is married!"
Gwinett is shocked. "But Rosamond, that would make you a...."
Rosamond looks him squarely in the eye. "A strumpet? A doxy? A...whore? I have heard all those names before, John. But where I come from, a woman with an impoverished knight for a father and a social climbing mother does what she has to do to get ahead. He is a good and kind man -- but his sons are another story."
Gwinett shakes his head. "You must know his sons well."
Rosamond looks far away. "I have put up with them in ways you could never imagine. Their father once commissioned a painting. It was four eaglets poised at a parent bird's neck, ready to gouge the eyes out. Henry -- that's his name -- once told me that the eaglets were his four sons who cease not to persecute him even to death. The youngest one--John is his name -- and who Henry embraces with much affection, will sometime in the end insult him more grievously and dangerously than the others. His one son, Henry, died. Geoffrey was killed in a tournament. Richard was angered at his father's obvious preference for John and allied himself with the King of France. When handed a list of those who had fought against him, he was shocked to find his son John's name on it. How it that for family togetherness?"
John Gwinett lets out a low whistle. "It sounds just like the Plantagenet family. In our tutoring, we used to call them the De-gen-er-ate family! Even the names are similar! Henry was something else -- locked his wife in a castle so he could carry on with his mistress. I understand she was quite beautiful - and quite emptyheaded."
Rosamond looks off into the distance and replies softly, "I tire of talking about it."

About a mile from Thorn's farm, Gwinett pulls over.
"Perhaps you should get in the back with the others. It is pretty well populated with friends of Spencer and the Reverend Jackson."
Rosamond hops down, wondering if she was wise to bare her soul to Gwinett.
If this was the way he felt, thank heavens her soul was all she bared to him.
She turns to look back at him, "I am sorry if you think less of me. I never meant to tell you so much of myself."
Gwinett smiles at her.
"Rosamond, you are refreshingly honest. And you stir feelings in me that I thought were long dead! I do love Elizabeth, but perhaps more as a sister and a helpmate. She depends on me so."
Rosamond moves forward to kiss Gwinett on the lips but the look on his face stops her. She turns to look over his shoulder.
Against the tree James Arthur is lounging.
He shakes his head. "John, what are you doing? Have you been so wrapped up in this bewitching woman that it has escaped your notice that I have been following you for the last five miles?"
Gwinett cannot fathom it. "But why, James?"
James Arthur moves toward them. "Come now, Gwinett- hast thou never heard the term 'bounty hunter'?"



Part 37: Up, Up and Away!.....by CORALYNN

"You're looking for the strangers who have come to town, who are passing strange, are you not?" Gwinett queries Arthur.
"Yes, and there they be!" Arthur delcares, pointing trimumphantly at Eleanor, Rosamund and William.
"Ohhhhhh," laughs Gwinett, "These are kin of Bethiah Adams, and I'm giving them a tour of the area before we arrive at Mrs. Adam's house! They came all the way from Boston, are road weary and hungry."
"You best turn that wagon around if you're headed for the Adams house, Gwinett. I am still not convinced you tell the truth," Arthur says accusingly.
"See for yourself!" Gwinett declares, as he turns the wagon to go back into town.
"I shall!!" Arthur yells, and follows them closely.

The wagon proceeds toward Bethiah's house, with the passengers wracking their brains to think of a way around this looming problem.
As they come to a halt by the Adams house, Rosamund leaps off the wagon and, seeing Bethiah in the yard, runs toward her calling "Cousin! How good to see you again; we have just now arrived from Boston!"
Bethiah's eyes grow round, and her face shows uncertainty. As Rosamund throws her arms around her in a familial hug, she whispers in Bethiah's ear, "Play along, for the love of God, play along!"
Bethiah gives her a beatific smile and announces, "I have been waiting all day for your arrival. How pleasant to set eyes upon you once again, Cousin Rose."

William and Eleanor cannot believe that rattle-brained Rosamond has actually come up with this solution to their problem. Or at least a momentary solution; the danger is far from over.
They all follow Bethiah into the house, including James Arthur, who has nothing better to do than check out this whole situation.
"John!" Bethiah holds out her hands, "I just today had a visit from your wife, Elizabeth, who, for some odd reason, asked me to give you this letter she has written."
Gwinett takes the letter from Bethiah, and unfolds it. As he reads, his expression becomes shocked and his mouth gapes open, which is not his usual look at all. Whatever Elizabeth has written is obviously unexpected, very unexpected.
"Well, Gwinett, what sayest she?" James insists upon knowing.
"Why, she has run off with Reverend Jackson!" John Gwinett says with incredulity in his voice. "She says that when she and I were married and Jackson officiated at our nuptuals, he had not been officially ordained, so the marriage is null and void. She also says that Jackson has been in love with her throughout the six years she and I thought we were married. This is amazing. How could I have been so blind?"

"Where did they go?" Rosamond asks, breathlessly, hoping that the dark side of the Moon might be the answer, leaving the field free for her.
"Rhode Island!" John answers, "as they are not Puritans there and they tend not to judge their neighbors! Rhode Island! That is quite a distance. We will not see either of them again, methinks."
James Arthur breaks into great guffaws.
"You really know how to keep a woman, aye, Gwinett? Wait till this gets around, you will be the laughingstock of the entire town!" and with that he slaps his thighs and laughs even more uncontrollably.

"Ohhhhh, poor John," Eleanor expresses, "Didst thou love her very much?"
"We were more like brother and sister," John tells her, "And I know she is happier doing this, though Rev Jackson is an odd choice for a paramour, wouldn't you say?

"AAaaah, he was odd for ANYthing!" Arthur puts in, "And now perchance we shall get a proper Pastor; one who will keep his hands off his flock!!"

Suddenly then they hear very loud footfalls on the front stoop.
"My husband is home!" Bethiah declares, fear creeping into her tone.
"This is auspicious," Arthur says, "As he owes me for the cow he bought from me this past spring and has avoided paying me for. This is the day I collect!"
Caleb Adams thunders into the room, looks around, and asks,
"Bethiah! Who are all these people? You know you are not allowed to have company when I am not at home!" and with that he grabs her arm roughly.
"Never mind that for a moment, Caleb," James Arthur steps toward him menacingly, "I am here to collect payment for that cow!"
"She died," Caleb tells him, "She never gave milk, and she died. She was damaged goods and I will not pay."
"You will!" insists Arthur.
"I most surely will NOT!" insists Caleb.
This type of interchange goes on for several more volleys before Caleb punches Arthur in the midsection, doubling him over.
Arthur comes back up and a horrendous fight breaks out, with the men hurling each other around the room, whacking up against the stone fireplace and knocking furniture about, breaking some.

At that point, Eleanor sees their chance. She tries to get the others to look at her, and in a few moments the signal she is giving out is received by the other four.
"NOW!" she says softly but with intensity.
The group of five makes a break for it.....and by the time the two pugilists realize they are no longer in the room, they are rumbling down the road in the wagon.

"Where can we go?!" Bethiah asks in a panic, "If Caleb ever comes near me again he will beat me severely. I know he will. I broke his rule about having company! Where can we go?"
"Are you ready for a really great adventure and a place where no one can find you to harm you again?" William asks. He has been strangely quiet throughout the melee at the Adams home, but since the effect of the berries has now totally worn off, he resumes his take-charge attitude.
"Anything! Anywhere!" Bethiah almost begs.
"Wanna come along, John?! Rosamond asks as she presses up against Gwinett.
"Why not? I have a good living here, but I am always ready for an adventure. Tell me more about it!" he looks eagerly at William.
"No time!" William tells him, "You will have to trust me on this!"
William has Gwinett stop the wagon near a deserted meadow, and directs them all to form a circle, holding hands. The two newcomers look questioningly at each other, but then nod their agreement.

The air begins to change color and whirl faster and faster. William is concentrating as hard as he can so as not to end up in some other weird time frame or strange place. This time the coin does powerful magic.......William can tell it is at its very peak of performance and when the air calms and the group then opens their eyes, they all gasp. Even William gasps.
Bethiah and John Gwinett, who had gone along just on good faith, shrink back almost in horror.
"This is another world!" Bethiah declares, "Might it be hell, with all those lights blazing about us??"
John is frozen to the spot, "What are those large contraptions with people inside, William? Look at them....no horses.......and they make the most onerous bleating sounds every now and again."
"They call those automobiles," William announces, feeling proud now that he is back in charge. "They have no visible means of locomotion. All the lights you see are the result of something called electricity. This is, after all, the 21st Century!" he ends, proudly.
"I LOVE it!" Bethiah declares, "Caleb Adams is long ago mouldering in his grave if this is 400 years later than it was when we were in Southold. IS this Southold still, William?"
"This is Manhattan," he tells her, loving every minute of being such an expert. "This is the busiest city in the world, methinks. This is Where It's At!"
Eleanor looks at him askance....have those berries worn off altogether or not?
Rosamund looks down at her Puritan clothes.
"We do not blend in, William," she tells him.
"I still have my American Express card," William happily announces, "And I suggest we quickly go into an emporium and buy modern clothes."
"I don't see people in those polyester things we were wearing before, either!" accuses Eleanor, "You can be quite the dolt, William."
"Why are you being so unkind to someone who has saved my life?" Bethiah pleads with her, "Know you not that Caleb might very well have killed me in his rage?"

Just then a group of 5 or 6 young men, stroll up the street, stopping to gape,
"Hey there, Gramps!" one yells at William, "It's not Halloween yet, what are the getups for?" The other boys point and laugh as well.
William hates to be ridiculed more than anything.
"We are in the Theater!" he says, with an affected vocal tone, "We are players in The Lion in Winter!"
For some reason this only adds to the young men's amusement and they begin pelting the group with passing debris that is being blown down the sidewalk.
Gwinett is becoming very confused about this strange place.
"William, if you know how to get us to a safe place in this bizarre city you have landed us upon, please do so as quickly as you can. I do not fancy this type of abuse from youngsters. I do not understand, and in a moment I will have to begin an altercation with them. I will have to...."
"Clean their clocks? Punch out their lights?" William chortles.
Eleanor shakes her head; it had taken longer for those berries to work their way out of his system than they thought. He would be perfectly normal and lucid, then break into wild gibberish.
Just then a cab pulls up, and the Cabbie, looking at what he thought was a motley crue if ever he saw one, but he needs the fare, leans over, opens the door, and calls out, "Ride?"
William yanks the entire group into the cab. One by one he tosses them in. They are terrified, though Gwinett pretends not to be. "Where to?" asks the Cabbie between the sound of cracking chewing gum.
"The PLAZA!" William directs him, almost too forcibly. The Cabbie gives him a quizzical look, shruggs his shoulders, then pulls away from the curb out into the heavy mid-day traffic.


Part 38.. "Yo! Vinnie! To Bloomingdale's..and step on it!" .by TERRI

The cabbie turns around and says, "So where are youse from?"
William, designating himself as spokesman, says, "We are from England, doing a road show of Lion in Winter for the Renaissance Festival in Central Park."
The cabbie says, "I'm Vinnie Paponetti--from Queens. Glad ter metcha!"
William looks at Rosamond who is as white as a sheet and is clutching Gwinnett's arm. Obviously she is terrified of the ride and looks like she will be carsick. Gwinnett is totally astonished and Eleanor looks like she is having the time of her life. Bethia looks like she is catatonic.
"On second thought, my good man, we'd best stop at Bloomindale's. Some vagabond has broken into our dressing rooms and horked all our street clothes.
We must buy some new ones, we cannot be transversing NYC in these raiments."
Vinnie burst out laughing. "Do youse honestly think anyone will notice?"
"Nonetheless, we feel the need to divest ourselves of these trappings." William explains.
"What ever youse says, in New Yawk youse da bosses."
Vinnie the quintessential cabbie drops them off.
William pushes the revolving door for all four of them. "Ladies, right over there is the women's dept." Across the floor is the men's"
Eleanor's eyes gleam. What wonderful fabric! A saleswoman bustles forward.
"Can I help you?" Eleanor assumes a regal air. "Yes please, I am in need of street clothes."

"I picture you in a Donna Karan, basic black to set off that lovely titian hair."
She leads Eleanor over to the racks. "Here is a marvelous little number. It can be
altered by the jacket for a power suit or as a cocktail dress. Accessories are the key!" Within 10 minutes and 1700.00 later, Eleanor is outfitted in a black DKNY suit, Gucci pumps and an Armani purse.
Rosamond is speechless and Bethia is in awe. "My goodness, Eleanor, you look positively stunning!"
Rosamond, however, has headed over to the junior dept. Eleanor is a bit contemptuous at the small size that Rosamond requires. Rosamond is not noted for her good taste except in men, she smirks. Rosamond grabs fishnet stockings, a black leather miniskirt, halter top of silver and platform shoes. Something is not quite right, Eleanor thinks. Rosamond looks...well, sleazy. Cheap...and sexy.
"Now you, Bethia! " Bethia is shy. "I have never knowns such fabric or colors before. I have always dressed in gray or tan wool. It is the adornment of harlots that you dress in---or of royalty!"
Eleanor glances at Rosamond and whispers to Bethia, "Sometimes they are one and the same!"
Being conservative, Bethia picks out a simple a-line skirt in a soft pink with a matching cashmere sweater. "Never have I known such softness. Such beautiful work. Caleb always told me I am a plain girl and deserved plain clothes. 'Like putting
a pearl necklace on old Bess, our mule' he would say.
Eleanor could feel nothing but contempt for Caleb, lowering his wife's self-esteem to such a level. "Tell you what, Bethia, we will get some of those cosmetics over in the next counter--I think it's pronounced Es-Tee Lodder and it looks like they are giving away a...bonus? Then maybe we will look for old Caleb's grave and you can spit on it!"

William and John are in the men's department.
"John," William instructs, "you would look great in an Armani."
"An army? There's no war!" John says, looking bewildered.
William sighs. "Here--I think you would be a 42 regular with a 30 waist. Try this on."

Then William panics. "John--are you wearing any undershorts?"
"Undershorts? What are they?"
William grabs John Gwinett by the elbow. "Here--we need to go to THIS dept. first!"
William holds up a pair of boxers. Gwinett drops his jaw. "What in blazes is this?
Looks like a house with a loft in it!"
"Hmmmm," William muses. "Methinks you are the bikini jockey type. Here. Let me pay for these, and don't say a damn word!"
Having whips out his AmEx faster than you can say "Jerry Seinfeld", William pays for them and thrusts them into Gwinett's hands. "Here. Put these on before you try on the Armani 'breeches'. " Armani would die if he could hear that!


William saunters over to the sports jackets. He selects a tweed with brown leather patch elbows and then to the smoker's section for a rosewood pipe. Lord, how he missed New York! Dining at Sardi's....staying at the Plaza...Wine, women and song....and women! Maybe Gwinett and I can cut loose from the women for a night or two!
Gwinett emerges from the fitting room, looking like the cover of GQ. William asked him in a soft voice, "So how goes it UNDER the breeches?"
Gwinett laughs self-consciously, "I feel like I am strangling!"
"Well, you'll get used to them...hardly know you had 'em on after a while and then wonder how you ever did without!" William chuckled. Then he panicks. "My God, I left those three with a credit card! Come on!"
They find Eleanor just about to hand over the card to buy a Cartier watch encrusted with diamonds.
"Eleanor, what are you doing? I said garments, not garnets!"

Eleanor looks at William haughtily, "Oh, William, you old poop!"
Bethia is standing by the fragrance counter, trying on a fragrance called "Chanel"
Rosamond is by the door talking to a sleazy man in a grey fedora hat.
Gwinett saunters over, catching part of the conversation.
"So, baby, I could use a mama like you in ma stable. You be so fine!"
Rosamond, being naive and the airhead she is, replies, "How did you know I was a mother and don't you have servants to clean up after your horses?"
Gwinett grabs Rosamond by the hand, "Come on, dear, we must be going."
Rosamond calls over her shoulder, "See you around, Mr. ....Pimp? "
Rosamond lowers her voice to Gwinett. "Funny name, Pimp, I believe that girl over there called him. Must be from Wessex."
Gwinett shakes his head. Rosamond will get them in trouble yet!

William gathers all of them on the sidewalk. "You all look stunning...." gazing at Rosamond "....for the MOST part!"
Eleanor starts to snicker. Wait till William gets the bill. Little did he know she had a pair of diamond earrings in her Gucci bag!
Bethia shyly asks William, "Is there a way I can find out what happened to Caleb after I left?"
Gwinett looked downcast. "I, too, would like to find out if Elizabeth found happiness with Jackson. Can't imagine it though..he bedded half the widows in Southold."
William claps his hands. "I have it! A wonderful invention called a computer. It stores information that is available on what is known as the internet. Mayhap their names are there...people in the 21st century are exceptionally eager to learn about their ancestors! It is just possible research was done on them. Come on, let's get some lunch and then go to the Library!"


William hails a cab. They pile in, more confident that once in, they will come out...alive. Rosamond leans over to William. "William, why is that man wearing a towel on his head?" William pinches her leg. "Hush up! He's Pakistani"
"Pakastani? Didn't Hadrian build that wall to keep them out of England?"
William sighs. Rosamond is going to be trouble! Eleanor is shrewd enough to keep her mouth shut and absorb her surroundings. Bethia is the soul of discretion. Must have been that beast of a husband that kept her in line.
William leans over to the cabbie, "To the Russian Tea Room, my good man!"
The driver sets the meter without a word and takes off. Rosamond exclaims, "Why, William look at that man's name up there...I never saw so many vowels in a row before....Owwww! Will you stop PINCHING me?"

Once seated in the Russian Tea Room, William orders a bottle of Dom Perignon and six orders of Chicken Kiev. The five sit in awe, eating in silence. For once Rosamond is quiet.
Gwinett seems totally at ease with his new suit. William muses, he could be very efficient, sort of my right-hand man. Must have Norman blood...the Saxons would muck it up! Bethia...William looks at her benevolently. She doesn't cause any trouble. I genuinely like her...learns from the others' mistakes. And Eleanor...there is a match for ANY man. Guess Henry found his match in her. No wonder he turned to Rosamond. But Ro' ....Gwinett told him about the man in the grey fedora. How could someone with so much experience and knowledge of the opposite sex be so naive? I'd better have Gwinett keep an eye on her...what am I saying? I'D better be the one to keep an eye on her! I trust Gwinett....but I'd be throwing gasoline on a forest fire.
After lunch, William announces to the group: "We are going to the Library. I must warn you that you might see or read things that you would be better off not knowing. Therefore, I will exercise what is known as parental control. That means that I am the parent you you are the children. I will not let you view certain sites and I will NOT let you look up youselves. You are not to know about your own destiny....it could alter history as we know it. Are you ready to go>"
Tanked up on the Dom Perignon, all agree eagerly.
"Cabbie!"
Who should pull up but Vinnie Paponetti, "Hey, dude, I see youse shed the threads! Where to?"
"New York Public Library, my good man!"

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