THE WHEELS OF TIME
MOVING DAY.................by Coralynn on to next part of STORY
AND FORTUNE
TURN, TURN, TURN.......
Daniel is unusually cheerful as he packs his belongings to move in with Rafe in the Elmwood Avenue house.
Henry8 is hoping Daniel will throw a tantrum, anything that would make throwing him out of the castle even more satisfying, but he isn't even complaining.
Daniel heaves a huge duffel bag over his back and smiles, "Well, don't say it ain't been real, because it ain't!" he says cheefully as he departs, throwing his stuff into the back of his Jeep.
Luke is looking out one of the castle's stained glass windows and dusts off his hands, "Good riddance! Aye?"
"Oh yes, good riddance, Luke. But, changing the subject, why were you playing the piano almost all night? I hardly slept!"
Luke is carrying several sheets of staff paper, and waves them triumphantly in the air, "I've composed my most beautiful piano sonata. It has the other ones beat by miles!"
"I'm not saying it isn't good, Luke, but it was so loud! Are you done with it now, and can we go back to sleeping at night?"
"All I have to do is refine a few passages, but yes, the main part is done. I, however, cannot sleep at night thinking that Marilyn is consorting with that Patrick fellow, you know, Roger's friend. It grieves me!"
"So you compose music when you're grief stricken?" Henry asks.
"I wrote this to give to Marilyn for her birthday!" Luke says with pride, "I just wish I knew when it was!"
"She's a Gemini, so you misssed it by at least a couple weeks, my friend. Now what are you going to do, give it to her for......."
Luke cuts him off, "I'll simply give it to her to celebrate her.......beauty! How's that!"
Henry shrugs and goes back to his room to catch a bit more zzzzzzs.
ACROSS town, Daniel is pulling up into the driveway at the house on Elmwood. This time Rafe happens to be up for the day, and though he doesn't seem thrilled to see Daniel, he doesn't glower at him the way he did before. In fact, he helps him carry in the belongings, putting them into the bedroom that Jack had vacated two days before.
Daniel looks around his new bedroom. This place is neat as a pin; we'll have to do something about that!
"Well, Rafe, old roomie of mine, are we going to have a great old time or what? We can go to work at the fitness center together, we can come home with 6-packs of Bud and drink it all down without old poops like Henry, or, God forbid, William, frowning and disapproving. We can bring women in here, too. Lots of great looking women! We can be the Hound Dogs of Westchester County, how does that sound to you?"
"Rather stupid if you must know," Rafe admits, "I only care for Bess! Just Bess! And that Slim guy at the fitness center looks like he has eyes for her now, too. What can I do? I don't want all your great looking women, I just want Bess back!"
Daniel claps him on the back, "Look, fella, that attitude will get you nowhere! You can't be a one-woman hound dog! No! You have to have a string of women. Who knows, she may get jealous if she knows you're making it with them, too!"
Rafe's eyes get bigger, "You think so? Would she love me again if I had five or ten other girlfriends? Why does that sound odd to me? After all, how would she even know?!"
"A-ha! That's where I come in! Since she works out at the fitness center, I can just let it slip that you're dating several real babes. I mean these babes are HOT. That'll get her attention!"
"It would be lie, though, not that I'm adverse to lying, but........it just doesn't feel right to lie to Bess."
"OK then, man, suffer! Just sit there and suffer! Did it ever occur to you that your great romance with Bess may be over? Has she paid you any special attention since you've lived in this timeframe?"
"She cooled off very quickly after we got here, to tell you the truth, Daniel, I think you may have a good point. How do I stop loving her, though?"
"Easy! You love someone else. In fact, you can love a whole bunch of them, a different one every night. Women will be signing up at the fitness center just to get a closer look at this legendary lover."
"HA! They'd come to the fitness center and see me sweeping floors and scrubbing out toilets, how exciting do you think they'd think that is? Wouldn't it destroy any idea that I'm a great......."
"We must get you a better job, my friend! What else can you do?"
"Ya mean besides rob people?"
"Exactly!"
"Well, I am strong. I am good looking, or at least Bess used to tell me that before we came to the 21st century and she dumped me for that Slim weasel. Could I be a trainer, too, like you are, like Slim is? Why not? Why don't they give me a chance, too?"
"Here's what we do then. We go to work tomorrow and you simply start training someone. Dump that broom and show someone how to lift the weights or walk on the treadmill or....."
"I don't know how to do those things myself! I could get someone killed!"
"I'll keep an eye on things and if I think you need help, I'll come over, how's that?"
"John wouldn't let that happen! He's too......."
"Conscientious? Yeah, John is a straight shooter, John is the good twin, John gets everything and anyone he wants. John gets to smooch up with Rose!"
"Smooch up?" Rafe laughs for the first time since arriving in the 21st Century.
DON'T JUST STAND THERE-----YELL! RANT! RAVE!".....by Terri
On the way back to the ranch, Rosamond was quiet.
Celeste said to her, "Go ahead, Rosamond, dear. Ask me."
Rosamond gave her a wistful smile. "Dear Celeste--all knowing and all seeing. I don't even have to ask you, do I?"
Celeste smiled. "I think of all you girls as my daughters, dear. I only want happiness for you all. Eleanor is headstrong and knows what she wants. Jerry has been good for her. Tames her bossiness. Bethia, well, a sweeter soul never drew a breath."
Rose bit her lip. "And me, Celeste?"
Celeste laughed. "There is always one child who requires more of everything. More attention, more discipline, more....everything!" She looked over her sunglasses at her.
"Guess who I'm looking at! You're a lot of work, Rosamond!"
Rosamond said quietly, "What of my future, Celeste? What do I do?"
Celeste said, "You are impetuous and spontaneous. You don't think things through, Rosamond. If you did, you wouldn't be where you are today. I tried to warn you about life-altering decisions. I am afraid you are paying in spades for it, dear."
Rosamond said, "What do I do, Celeste? I....I almost made a mistake with Daniel..AGAIN."
Celeste turned the car into the Montgomery Ranch. "To Daniel's credit, he got you home safely. Yet I am afraid Daniel now thinks he has high hopes for the two of you. He loves his brother---in his own way. I think he always wanted to BE John. Have people respect him like they do John. He's complicated--and alot like you, Rose. If he has what John has, people will treat him like they do John. Daniel has to learn to be himself. And he will learn that, in time. He still believes the child is his. Nothing will change his mind on that. I told John this morning, I see the two of you together. But it won't be easy. You'll have to walk through fire for him. Tread carefully, dear. I see danger and not just from this ranch."
Rosamond said fiercely, "I love John Gwinnett with all my heart. Nothing or no one will change it."
"Cling to that, then, my daughter. You will come out alright in the end."
She patted Rose's cheek. "You OK?"
Rosamond squared her shoulders and said, "Never better. And ready to fight St George's Dragon if need be."
She leaned over and gave Celeste a kiss on her cheek. "Thanks, Mom!"
Celeste gave her a thumbs up, a wave and drove off.
Rosamond went in the back door. J.R. was in Billy Bob's office going through invoices and bills. She stuck her head in and said, "Hello, J.R." quietly.
J.R. had a serious look on his face. "Come in, Rosamond. Close the door."
"But I have to see Julie..."
"Julie can wait."
Rose closed the door. J.R. held up the paper with the blaring headline. Rosamond's
hand covered her mouth. "But how....? Why....?"
J.R. said, "Someone at the wedding scooped it for a price. Could have even been a caterer. A bartender. My question is, What is the nature of your relationship with John Gwinnett?"
Rosamond felt her face flame. "We've been friends for a few years. We acted together. We were close...at one time." Then she got mad. "You have a hell of a lot of nerve questioning me about this. What business is it of yours? This is between your son and me! He started it! Shall I tell you what he said for all to hear?"
J.R. stood up. "No need to. I've heard his mouth. It's a Texas thing, I guess. I don't suppose your husband told you that he took the NY bar exam and just found out today that he passed it with flying colours. He is now a New York attorney."
Rosamond sat down. "He...he never told me."
"He wanted to surprise you.
"Where is he now?"
"Down at the stables."
Rosamond stood up. "I'll see to Julie and then I'll see him down at the stables."
Half an hour later Rosamond walked down to the stables. Billy Bob was grooming Merovin and singing Garth Brook's 'Shameless'. He didn't hear her come in.
"Hello, Montgomery."
He looked up and continued to brush Merovin. "Hand me that curry comb, please."
Rose handed it to him. His eyes never left the horse or the chore he was doing.
He said quietly, "Where did YOU spend the night?"
Rosamond said, "I stayed in my old room at William's. I....I thought we needed some cooling off time."
He continued his brushing. "Got that damn straight. Want to know where I was? Westchester County Jail."
He looked up at her. "But you knew that, didn't you?"
Rose said nothing.
"So much for loyalty," he said.
Rose leaned against the saddle. "I had no choice. I didn't want you to kill yourself or someone else."
He shrugged. "If I wrapped myself around a tree, it would make things so...simple for you, wouldn't it?"
Rose said, "Why did you do it, Billy Bob?"
"Do what?"
"Make trouble. Push. Shove. Accuse. I was going home with you. Instead you spent the night in jail and we ended up on the front page of the National Enquirer. I'm just glad Bethia and Roger were gone by the time that happened and that their names weren't printed in that article."
"They sure as hell mentioned OUR names, darling."
"And whose fault is THAT? You and your jealousy. Your father informs me that you passed the bar and are now a NY attorney. Just what is THAT for? I thought you were a rancher and horse breeder."
Rosamond couldn't figure out this deadly calm side of Billy Bob. It was scarier than the ranting and raving. At least I can handle that, she thought. I have no idea what he is thinking.
"Someday I may want to run for office, darling. Just think--you and I in the Governor's mansion. And now I know community property laws inside out."
"What does that mean?"
"Whatever you want it to mean, darling."
Rose said, "I've had an offer from Marty Henshaw to return to As the Planet Turns with a corresponding raise in pay."
Billy Bob walked over to the niche where the Winchester was kept. He calmly pulled it out, cocked it, turned around and shot five cans off the fence from 100 yards.
Rosamond paled and jumped a mile.
He put the rifle back in the niche, walked to her, looked in her eyes and said in an eerily calm voice, "You might want to re-think your answer to him, darling."
And he walked out the stable door.
YOU WENT WHERE??....................by Coralynn
WandaSue aka Susan Hemingway, is hammering nails into the wall of the living room of her new apartment in Pleasantville when her cellphone rings.
She misses the nail and delivers a sharp blow to her left thumb.
Howling in pain, she picks up her cellphone and clicks on, "Alright, wha'd'ya want Slim? You're the only one with this number so it's gotta be you!"
"One question, Wanda Sue, why did you trash my red Falcon? I had that puppy lookin' great and running like a top. Last time I saw it, it was being hauled off to the dump! That's right......the dump!"
"That piece of garbage? It fell apart all on it's own, brother dear, little parts fell on the highway, then bigger parts, then the ignition went south, the headlights started shining up into the trees.......want me to go on?!"
"You never could take care of a car," he mumbles, "You borrowed my perfectly fine car and trashed it. But I have a new one now, all shiny and new and you can't get your hands on it. Where are you, anyway?"
"I'm in California if you must know," she lies, "Remember how we were going to get a ton of money off Montgomery and go to California? Well, I don't know about you, you rat, but I did just that!"
"You lie! My cellphone doesn't have the power to reach clear to California; it's one of those cheapo ones that has a limited range, so where are you really?"
"I just told you!"
"You lie!"
"Do not!"
"Do so!"
"I don't care what you think, Slim. I'm living in California, leading the high life. Had a date last night with George Clooney, who proposed marriage, but I told him I needed time to think it over."
"You are so full of it! Wanna know where I am?"
"Not especially."
"I'm in Chappaqua. You used to be here, in fact, sister of mine, I found some of your clothes in Room 12 of the Motel 6, so you were definitely here. You can't have gotten far!"
"With a cool million in the bank I most certainly have gotten far!"
"You lie!"
"No lie. You're not coming to California to mess up my life, either, Slim. After you blew the hundred thou on that monster truck..........I'll never trust you again!"
*click*
Slim paces around his new room. Could she really have gone to California? If so, why was my cheapo cellphone able to ring hers? This is fishy. Very fishy indeed!!
ACROSS TOWN:
Rafe is restless and bored. The beer Daniel bought tastes like swill.
"Say, Daniel, since I don't want to drink an entire 6-pack of that beer you got, can we find something to do this afternoon? You know the area better than I."
Daniel brightens, "Yeah! How's about we troll for some chicks this afternoon? Why wait till tomorrow? But........I think, since you're a beginner, we should start you out in another town so we don't run into anyone we know here."
He lays out a road map and announces, "Pleasantville! We'll go there! It isn't that far, and nobody there will know us."
"Let's go!" Rafe is beginning to show signs of enthusiasm, which Daniel finds a refreshing change, so they go outside and get into Daniel's Jeep. He drops the keys several times before he successfully gets them into the ignition, which Rafe notices.
"Have you had too much to drink already, Daniel? Should you drive?"
"Hell yes! I've driven with a lot more booze under my belt than this!" he starts the Jeep and they peel off in the direction of Pleasantville.
Rafe clings to the armrest as Daniel goes well over the speed limit, and is the first to hear the siren coming closer and closer.
"I say, Daniel, why is that car chasing us and making that screeching sound?"
"Damn!" Daniel pulls over on the side of the road. "Busted again!"
He sees the Officer approaching and decides to say very little so that the Cop won't be able to tell that he's been drinking.
Officer Travis McGee walks up to the Jeep and motions for Daniel to roll down the window. He peers inside and, OH NO, not that John Gwinett person again!
"You're John Gwinett, and I'm getting tired of having to pull you over!" he says angrily, "Twice for assaulting a young woman and now for speeding recklessly!"
Daniel is true to his resolve and says nothing, but is trying to think of why the Cop would have pulled John over with the young woman.........of course!.......
"I take it you haven't been consorting with Miss Montgomery anymore, is that true? I warned you that you could go to jail for having illicit relations with a minor. Now, at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone, that'll cost you $200." He rips off the ticket and shoves it at Daniel, "And I don't want to see you breaking any more laws!" He strides off.
Daniel wonders why he didn't ask for his driver's license and registration. Well, hey, he thought I was John! He obviously knows him well! I'll remember this little tidbit of information, might come in handy!
They proceed toward Pleasantville at a slightly more moderate speed and as they draw into the outskirts of that town, Rafe whisles, "Look at the big houses! This is a great place, Daniel! Which of the ladies who live in the big houses is going to want to meet ME, though.
"I'll tell them you're a rich real estate investor!" Daniel is proud of his quick thinking.
"We might want to go to a diner, not an expensive restaurant, right?" Rafe asks.
"You catch on fast, my friend!" Daniel remarks as he turns into the parking lot of the Pleasant Diner.
For such a lavish town the diner is quite ordinary, which pleases Daniel as they enter and take their places in a booth. They look around and notice several women having lunch alone, one to a booth. Rafe can see a black haired woman who doesn't look a lot like Bess except for the black hair.
"I see the one I want!" he tells Daniel, gesturing in the direction of the black haired lady.
Daniel is too busy looking around for his prey to notice just who Rafe has in mind, and automatically tells him, "Go for it!"
Rafe gets up and walks over to where the black haired woman is sitting. She looks up and sees a very good looking man with dark hair, rugged features, hmmmmmmm, not too shabby, babydoll!
"May I sit here?" he asks almost timidly, then remembers how Daniel told him to act self confident. He'd like to act that way, but it isn't coming easily.
"Sure honey!" the woman answers, "Put yer carcas down! What's your name, handsome?"
"My name isn't handsome, it's Rafe!" he corrects her, "And your's is......."
"Susan, Susan Hemingway at your service!" she extends her hand and flashes him a big smile. Hey, hey, WandaSue, this could be your lucky day!!
"Susan. Such a pretty name, and such a pretty woman!" he lies, thinking that Daniel would say something this bold, so it must be OK.
"You here alone?" she asks with a twinkle in her eyes,
"Sort of. I drove over here from Chappaqua with my new roomie, Daniel," he tips his head in the direction in which Daniel is still located.
"Can ya ditch him?" she asks.
"Ditch?"
"You know, sweetie, dump him, get rid of 'em, tell him to go away!"
"That would be unwise, as he is the driver and if he goes away I won't have a way to return home." he states the obvious.
"Aaaaaa, I can drive ya back!" she reaches across the booth and grabs one of his hands, "Now, you come home with me, gorgeous, and I'll show you how we do it in this town!"
Poor Rafe is getting pretty hot and bothered and wants to go with her the worst kind of way, but is still concerned about Daniel.
"Let me just tell him, OK? Then I'll come right back!"
He walks over to Daniel's booth and says, "The young lady there wants me to go home with her. She said she'd drive me back, is that OK with you?"
Daniel's eyes bulge out, "Rafe! Way to go! Is that her? Ohhhhh yeah, she's OK, she'll do, not my style, but hey Rafe, ya gotta start somewhere! GO!"
Rafe rejoins Susan, aka WandaSue and before long they leave the diner and enter her blue Acura and race toward her apartment complex.
Rafe sits in the passenger seat while 'Susan' drives with one hand, the other hand on his knee, thinking "That Daniel sure knows his stuff!"
Daniel drives back to Chappaqua alone, no chick, no nothing. What went wrong? Why did Rafe end up scoring whereas I, Daniel, the hottest stud in Southold, Long Island circa 1650 strike out? Could my approach use some updating? Hell, Rafe is even less up to date than I am, and look how fast he made a connection! Is Rafe more handsome than I? He glances at himself in the rear-view mirror and concludes that Rafe may have a slight edge on him, but not much, not much! Oh well........some days ya win, some days ya lose.
He goes into the apartment and tries passing the time watching TV. Golf is on, how boring, how slow is that?! He pushes the off button and looks around for some other distraction to fill the time till Rafe gets back.
A sudden summer storm comes up and rain pelts the windows. Makes Daniel sleepy, so he curls up on the couch with a blanket.
Time passes, more time than he planned to nap, and when he awakes, it's dark outside. He hears no one else in the apartment, even goes to Rafe's room to find it empty.
Why isn't he home yet? He said that woman was going to drive him back, so where is he? He begins pacing in frustration.
The phone rings. He picks up and hears Rafe's voice on the other end say breathlessly, "Oh Daniel, ummmm.......I may be here till morning........ahhhhhh stop that!........no, not you, Daniel........and Susan is coming to the fitness center........yeah, I talked her into it.........she wants to see me train the customers........hey! not yet, I'm on the phone!........no, not you, Daniel. OK? Gotta go..........owwwwwwwww wow! ......no, not you, Daniel. BYE!"
Daniel sits on the couch and thinks, if Rafe is such a babe magnet, maybe I can partake of some of his leftovers! Yeah, keep a postiive attitude, Daniel, at least the man has stopped standing around glowering at everyone. Man, has he ever!
When Daniel wakes up the next morning he drags himself over to Rafe's room and, sure enough, Rafe hasn't been sleeping there.
He's on his second cup of coffee when he hears a lot of loud talking and laughing outside, and, going to the window to look out, sees Rafe and the black haired woman coming toward the house. Oh-oh! he scurries into his room to get dressed.
The front door bangs and he hears voices even through his closed bedroom door.
"Can't wait to see ya in your exercise clothes, Raphael!! What a hunk!"
Then Daniel hears nothing. Ohhhhh jeez, could they be making out again? Now what do I do, go out there and embarrass us all?
Hell yes!! Rafe has had enough! I'm not giving him a chance to turn our place into a brothel when we should be heading for work at the fitness center. And what is this "Raphael" nonsense? Now he's getting fancy? Have I created a monster?
He emerges from his room all dressed and tries to act surprised to see them. Fortunately they're still both totally clothed.
"Hi there! Ready to go to work?" he addresses Rafe.
"Susan is coming with us to work out. Says she needs to tighten a few muscles, though just which ones those would be I have noooooo idea!"
She snuggles up to him and Daniel gets almost nauseaous. This is not anyone's idea of a dream girl. Sure, she has a half way decent body; her hips are a bit out of control, but otherwise.......and that face is only held on her neck via several layers of makeup. No, she sure isn't my type, he thinks. But, like I told Rafe yesterday, you have to start somewhere.
They all pile into Daniel's jeep and are soon at the fitness center. Susan has brought along some workout clothes and goes into the ladies changing area.
"Well, Rafe, did you have fun? Are you in love? How are you going to get rid of that dog?"
Rafe is shocked. "I think she's beautiful, and I may be in love, what's it to you? I've never experienced anything like last night ever in my life. I'll bet you never have either. Would you like me to tell you what 21st Century women DO..........."
"Spare me!" Daniel changes into his workout clothes and throws a similar outfit to Rafe. "Now, if we're to pass you off as a trainer, you have to look like one!"
Rafe puts the outfit on and admires himself in the large mirror on the wall. He turns this way and that, flexing this muscle then that muscle until Daniel finally yells, "Enough! Let's go! You're going to need a lot of help passing yourself off as a trainer, and if anyone gets hurt......"
Slim enters the men's changing room and interrupts, "If anyone gets hurt, what?"
"Slim, is John in yet this morning?"
"No. He just phoned and said he hurt his hand so it may be tomorrow....."
Daniel relaxes a bit. Good. We have one day without John seeing Rafe at his 'new job.'
They can hear clientele arriving and go out into the exercise room to assist.
Slim immediately helps an older couple try out the treadmill, while Daniel and Rafe greet some of the new people who are just signing up.
'Susan" (aka WandaSue) enters the area in her skimpy workout clothes and immediately goes to Rafe and clings to his side. He gives her a warning glance and whispers, "Not here!"
Well, well, loverboy doesn't want to make out at work, guess I'll just have to lift weights or do something that turns him on, then we'll see how hot he gets, she thinks. He heats up fast, too. It was quite embarrassing when the apartment manager banged on the door and asked if someone were being killed in my apartment because the busybodies in the apartment next door told her they heard a man making sounds like he was in a death throes. But I guess that's the chance you have to take.
She gets down under the weights and begins to lift the smallest ones. Rafe is assisting someone else, someone young and pretty. Susan is not pleased. She goes to the next heaviest weights and begins to push against them. Hey, that hurts! Maybe I can get another one of the trainers over here to help me, then Rafe will get jealous. Yes, that's what I'll do.
She looks around for another trainer and sees one across the room who has nice broad shoulders, at least they look good from the back. She thinks, There's one.......I'll call him over.
Before she gets a chance to do so the 'other trainer' turns around and she sees his face and drops the weight. Oh no! SLIM!
She grabs for a small towel used to wipe up facial perspiration and puts it to her face, totally covering it. Slim is walking toward her, but slowly. She backs up and ducks behind some contraption, still covering her face. She grabs another towel, a bigger one this time, and drapes it over her hair tying it in front, then puts the smaller towel over her mouth and nose, tying it in back. All that shows are her eyes.
By now Slim is only ten feet away and obviously coming to assist her.
He looks puzzled, "Are you covering your face for religious reasons?" he asks, which is odd. If she's covered her face for religious reasons, why is the rest of her below the neck bulging out of her clothes?
'Susan' (aka WandaSue) makes weird strangled sounds, hoping he'll think she's a foreigner. "Weiu goiogj awerygl," she tells him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't speak Arabic," he apologizes politely. WandaSue all but busts out laughing at that one.
She continues to move away from him and in his confusion he has no idea what else he can say to her, so he goes to greet some newcomers.
She high-tails it into the women's changing room, rummages through all the lockers hoping someone brought a scarf and finds one in an almost empty locker, obviously left there some time ago.
She throws on her street clothes, jams her workout stuff into a duffle bag, wraps the scarf around her face and runs out of the building.
"Alright, babydoll, I think we've found where Slim is, not that he's the one hiding, but he almost found out I'M not in California. Gotta stay away from this gym! No more even if Rafe is here most days! I can see him back in MY town, not this one. I think their house is about two miles over this way. Damn! Wish I'd paid closer attention to where they were driving when we came here from their house. All I have to do is find their house and take off in my car, beat it back to Pleasantville and stay there. Chappaqua is just too full of dangers now.
WandaSue walks and walks, seems like miles. Still not sure where their house is. Why didn't I write down the address? she chastises herself. But why should I? Who knew??
She proceeds to walk down every street in the village until her feet are sore and her throat is parched.
She enters a restaurant to at least get a lemonaide or something so she doesn't pass out. She sees three women sitting around a table talking and laughing. Very classy women. Could they be from that gang Rosebud hangs with? She panics and runs out of the place without ordering.
She is limping badly by the time she finally spots the house on Elmwood Avenue. Grabbing her keys, she unlocks her car and the accumulated heat from sitting in the sun for several hours hits her. She touches the steering wheel and is surprised her fingers aren't blistered when she has to pull them away suddenly.
She rolls down all the windows and starts the car, roaring out of there as fast as she can.
Raphael may be hot, but is he worth all this? she asks herself as she heads out of town.
WILLIAM'S SURPRISE..........by Coralynn
Eleanor and John are cleaning up from lunch when William hands them small envelopes, then walks away. They look at each other and shrug, then open them.
The enclosed notes say: An important annoucement is to be made in my room in 30 minutes. Please attend.
"What do you think he's up to?" John asks.
"It could be anything. I don't think he's going to chew anyone out, or is he? No, I don't think anyone has broken his house rules, what a joke those are, unless he's still upset about Daniel crashing into his roses. No, that's not it. Let's wait and see."
William also hands an envelope to Marilyn, then walks over to the castle and hands one each to Luke and Henry. They tear them open immediately. Henry reads his quickly and yells to William "Now what?" as William exits the place.
In exactly 30 minutes; William is known for being punctual, the small group gathers in his room upstairs.
"I invited you here today to announce a new development in our time travel capacity. Celeste," he nods toward her, "and I have successfully made smaller version of the Coin that I've used to time travel. It's a chemical process, and I'm not going to describe it, but needless to say, I couldn't have done it without Celeste's adanced knowledge of alchemy."
Everyone looks at Celeste with awe. She grins and shrugs it off.
"Here's the deal," William continues, "I'm only giving coins to the people I trust to use them wisely. You must not go around telling everyone you know about this, that's why we're meeting here in secret. As wonderful as Jack, Marthy and Bess may be, they're too new to time travel and need more experience before being given this powerful tool, so I'm not slighting them because of a lack of trust. If one of you decides to take one of them with you on an expedition, fine, but being as young as they are, I'm leery that they could inadvertently activate their coins and end up hopelessly trapped in some time and place from which we would be powerless to retrieve them. This is for their protection...."
Everyone nods agreement.
"There is no possible way I would entrust Daniel with a coin, and I strongly suggest you keep your possession thereof a secret from him. Henry, I'm a bit dubious about you, but I'm hoping you've learned your lesson after almost being killed in 1910 New Orleans, right?"
Henry8 stammers, "Well, well, I mean....."
William cuts him off, "Marilyn, you have shown great fortitude and intelligence and old fashioned grit, so I know you will use your coin sparingly."
"Right now I don't have any desire to be anywhere but in this time, William, but I appreciate your trust in me."
"Good, Good. Now, Eleanor, you have shown an amazing stability since we've gotten to know you better, and I know you are trustworthy. Here's your coin."
Eleanor takes it and examines the "E" emblazoned on each side. She looks at Marilyn's coin which has an "M" on it. How clever, she thinks, I wonder if the only person who can use each coin is the one whose initial is upon it, so she asks, "Since my coin as an "E" on it, will it only work for me and no one else?"
"Exactly! You catch on fast! Now, John, your coin has a "J", not surprisingly. I'm sure you won't abuse your priviledges."
"Indeed I won't", John assures him.
"I have a coin for Bethia, which you may deliver to her upon her return from her honeymoon, Eleanor," he hands a coin with a "B" to Eleanor.
"I'm not giving a coin to Rose, because, knowing her, she'd end up bringing Henry2 back here with her inadvertently." Everyone chuckles.
He has one last coin, "Luke, here's your coin, use it wisely."
"I have no immediate need for it, William, but I do appreciate being included," he smiles and pockets his coin.
"One last word of caution: if you time travel by yourself, it will be hard if not impossible for the rest of us to know where you are. Yes, Celeste may be able to track you with her crystal ball, but we haven't put it to the test yet, so don't count on it as protection. If you find yourself in dire straits, you must extricate yourself BY yourself, but I would strongly advise judicious use of this new tool you're being entrusted with today. Any questions?"
"We don't need three people with these coins, right?" Join asks.
"Right."
"If we need to take someone with us, how can that be done?" Marilyn asks.
"All they need to do is make bodily contact with you, be it by holding hands or just touching your shoulder or even your elbow, so be extremely careful to keep others away from you when you activate your coins."
"These coins don't take 48 hours to recharge, do they?" Henry asks.
"No. Celeste built in contiuous activation, which makes these coins very sensitive and easier to use. Be careful when you touch your coin, because if you touch it and even think about another timeframe, off you'll go. And again, it is important to remember that if you time travel by mistake, you may end up in danger. As a safeguard, please let me know when you plan to time travel so that you can get assitance if you get into trouble. But if you do so by mistake, all bets are off."
There are no other questions forthcoming, so, one by one, the group disburses. Celeste smiles and puts her coin, emblazoned with a "C" into her pocket, then goes downstairs to the suite she shares with Little Will, and deposits it in her box of treasures; locks it with a key, and goes about her activities for the day.
FOXGLOVE, HEMLOCK & NIGHTSHADE, OH MY!......by Terri
It had been a couple days since the barn incident. Every time Billy Bob came near her, Rosamond jumped. This is too freaky, she thought. He would never hurt me, would he? It was all she could do to get through the nights.
She kept her cellphone off, not wanting to risk anyone calling her. Best just to wait until things cooled off. She called Marty Henshaw and told him at this time it was not a good idea to go back to work. Not just yet. Maybe in a few months. Marty understood. John had filled him in on the volatile relationship Rosamond had.
Rosamond and Billy Bob had exchanged few words since that day. He was polite but reserved. Rosamond likened him to a volcano ready to explode. Thank heavens his parents decided to go to the Hamptons for a week.
The summer heat had really kicked in. Rosamond poured two glasses of ice tea and put them on a tray. Billy Bob was in his office doing who knows what on his computer. She stood at the door.
He looked up. "Want something, darling?"
"I brought you some tea. Thought you might want some."
"Should I run an analysis on it? Check it for rat poison?"
"Please, Billy Bob, can we just get past it?"
He shrugged. "Guess so. Now what is with the niceties? You want something."
Rose said, "That old greenhouse at the end of the property. Is it being used for anything?"
"Not to my knowledge. I think Aunt Tess used to keep old lawn furniture in there. Why?"
Rose sat down. "I would like to start growing my own herbs. Maybe make some aromatherapy scents. I have been watching a few programs on it. I think it would be fun."
Billy Bob surveyed her cooly. "And it would keep you home and close by."
Rosamond was flustered. "That...that, too."
He leaned back in his chair. "I see no problem with that. You have to clean it out yourself. Paint it yourself. Make it your own project."
She jumped up, a glimmer of happiness for the first time in a couple days. "I WILL!"
She turned to go.
"Only one request, Rosamond."
"What?"
"No foxglove, hemlock or nightshade!"
Rosamond said, "OK, it's a deal! Only people friendly herbs!"
She flashed the first smile in two days as she scampered out of the room.
Billy Bob gave her a small smile and went back to his computer. He still had his bugging equipment and sleazy contacts from when he was studying for a private investigator license. He typed 'John Gwinnett' in 'search' and came up with nothing. Damn! Didn't that guy do ANYTHING wrong?
Rosamond put on some old cut-offs and a tank top. She put her hair in pigtails and armed herself with garbage bags, a broom, cleaning supplies and rubber gloves.
She used bolt cutters to snap the lock off. Clouds of dust billowed out and sent her into sneezing fits. She mada it over to the casement windows and flung them open.
She surveyed it. Look at all that junk! She picked her way through. More of a gatehouse instead of a greenhouse.
She found 1940's lawn furniture. Wonder if that could be salvaged and sold on e-Bay?
A wrought iron settee--hmmm, Rustoleum should fix it up. Sand blast it first. What's this? Wicker? Looks like the mice got to it. She threw it out the door.
She looked up at the wall. What is THAT? Holy cow, it's that 1951 calendar of Marilyn Monroe! She really is built like a....let's see, they say we look alike a bit!
Rosamond pulled her tank top off and struck a Marilyn Monroe pose.
Behind her she heard a whistle of appreciation. She whirled around and caught herself staring into the eyes of Officer McGee. She screamed and grabbed her tank top.
McGee stood there red with embarrassment.
"What are you doing here, Officer?"
"Oh, Miss Montgomery, I am so sorry. I saw someone in here and furniture being thrown out, I thought it was a breaking and entering. I, uh, want to apologize for having to run your brother in last night. We had an anonymous tip."
"No problem, officer. I guess he just had some personal problems and it got the better of him."
Officer McGee said, "I hope that John Gwinnett has left you alone, Miss Montgomery.
He's no good. I just busted him for speeding. It sounds like there is a bit of a mess between him and Mrs. Montgomery."
Rosamond drew herself up and said, "I wouldn''t know, Officer McGee."
"Please. Call me Travis."
"If you'll excuse me, I have to get this cleaned out....Travis."
Travis blushed red to his roots. "I have some free time this weekend, I'll call you, Miss Montgomery, er, Rose."
By this time Rosamond was looking at the stack of Playboys Uncle Ed had left behind. The old boy had some life in him! "Huh? Oh, sure. Sure, Officer.....er, Travis."
"Till then,..Miss....Rose."
"Hmmm? Oh, sure, yes, that would be fine."
Rose didn't hear a word Travis McGee had said.
Travis floated towards his cruiser. She likes me, she likes me!
Rosamond looked at his tail lights. What an odd duck! Wonder what he was talking about? Oh, well.
She resumed her purge of the gatehouse. Look at all those vintage bottles! Some with stoppers. She blew the dust off them. Lydia Pinkham's tonic for women?
Dr. Zorba's snake oil and tonic? Over in the corner was a cast iron kettle. That will come in handy! Empty packages of, whoops? Did Billy Bob tryst in here as a teenager? Look here, empty beer bottles, hmmm. He DOES drink Bud. And what's this? A locket that says "Babydoll". Just how many babydolls are there? Did he buy them by the dozen and give them to ALL his babes? Horse blankets--I guess they can be washed and dried, they ARE wool.
By the time Rosamond got finished she was covered with dirt and dust from head to toe. She got out the paint she bought. A sunny yellow with soft blue trim, that should be conducive to concocting potions!
By the time she was finished it was getting dark. She whipped out her cellphone and called John, first checking to make sure she was alone.
"Hello?"
"Darling, it's me!"
"Why haven't you called me?"
"It's been pretty strange around here. Have you given any thought to our venture?"
"Yes, I have. William has given each of us our own coin. We can go whenever we want."
"Wonderful! Where's mine?"
"Uh, Rose, darling, now don't be upset.."
"What? Don't tell me he didn't have one for ME! Why on earth not?"
"Honey, do you even have to ask that? William did it for your own protection. He didn't want you going off by yourself and getting lost. Let's face it, Rose, you need to be taken care of."
Silence.
"Rose, you still there?"
"Yes. That old poop!"
"Can you arrange to go tomorrow?"
"Yes, he's going to Long Island and seeing Jameson. Heaven only knows why.They're meeting for lunch. Shall I meet you tomorrow at noon? We can program it so we come back to our time at 1:00 PM. No one will be the wiser. John?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Can we stay a few days and still make it 1:00 PM so we will only be gone one hour?"
"Great idea! I'll meet you at the house here. We'll access ancestry.com to see when we should go."
"See you at noon. I love you."
"I love you, too."
Click!
HENRY8'S BRIGHT IDEA.................by Coralynn
"I say there, William!" Henry calls out as William is about to go outside to work on his garden, "A word with you?"
"Why so formal, Henry?" William asks suspiciously.
Henry lowers his voice, "I'm curious to know if an idea that suddently occurred to me in relation to the time travel coins you so kindly furnished us, would work?"
"Ask me then." William is curious to know why all the dithering. Must be Henry is nervous about his idea.
Henry rearranges his shirt-sleeves and rummages around in the pockets of his pants before he goes on, "Can we go into the nearfuture as well as the far future and the past, I mean with the coins?"
"Time travel goes both backward and forward, so technically, yes. I've never tried it myself. Why are you interested?"
"Wellllll, you see, I mean, I was wondering, I was hoping.......I could go two days into the future......"
"No reason why not, but why on earth would you want to?"
Henry draws William outside onto the deck and makes sure no one else can hear, "I could buy a newspaper and bring it back with me. It would tell me which horse won at the racetrack the day before, which in this case would be tomorrow as of this minute......"
William lets out a hefty breath of air, "Ohhhh Henry, why can't you just be like the rest of us instead of equipped with such a fertile imagination? Technically you could do what you describe. I think it's ethically in the grey zone, however."
"Yeah, but William, your ethics have always been way way up higher than mine!"
"I suppose......"
"I'm going to DO it then!" Henry announces, trying to keep his enthusiasm from making his voice louder, "In fact," he whispers, "I'm going to do it this very minute!"
"Bon voyage!" William says, shaking his head as Henry8 disappears from in front of him. He shakes his head, and thinks "Leave it to Henry to come up with a scheme. I just hope he doesn't open a bookie joint with guaranteed results, nawwww, he'd have to open a modified bookie joint where the fee is paid up front....."
His mental runimations are interrupted by Henry suddently appearing again, this time carrying a newspaper, sporting a wide, self-satisfied smile.
"Looks like it worked, Henry," William tells him unenthusiastically.
"Piece of cake!" Henry exudes, "Now I'll take what little money I have left and parlay it into thousands, millions....not only on the horses, but the winning lottery numbers...." he's beaming.
Before he gets a chance to go inside, William grabs him by the lapels and warns, "You keep this to yourself, ya hear? I don't want it getting out. All manner of trouble could descend if you don't keep your sneaky scheme totally quiet."
"You worry too much, William!" he chides, "Not good for the complexion, old man, not good for the digestion, either. You could get dry skin and psorasis from it as well as boils and bunions, and splitting mygrains and ingrown toenails and........"
"Go away, Henry! Go back to the castle and keep your trap SHUT!" William says intensely. Henry grins and bounds off toward the castle, or at least bounds as fast as 350 pounds can.
NO LICENSE, NO PRIEST--- NO PROBLEM!.......by Terri
The next day Rosamond was on pins and needles. It seemed like Billy Bob would never leave. Finally he got in his car. Rosamond watched him leave from the front window. She told Juanita she was going to meet Eleanor for lunch and slipped out the door, heading towards the house on Winding Willow.
She opened the kitchen door. "I'm home!"
John was sitting at the table waiting for her. He swept her into his arms.
"Ready for an adventure, darling?"
"Always ready for an adventure with you!"
He grabbed her hand and led her to the computer. He sat down and typed in "ancestry.com"
"Now---what was her name?"
"Margaret de Tonei. That's T-O-N-E-I"
He typed it in and hit 'search'.
"Looks like she died July 7, 1216. I would say we need to set our coin for what? Two weeks later? She would have been buried and the estate would have been settled. Your mother and father would not be there.
She looked at John and he looked at her. "July 21, 1216 it is!" She said.
Rose picked up her backpack. "I brought extra clothes. And I see you had the same idea. Shall we go?"
Celeste was in the kitchen with little Will. "Mommy, are you and Uncle John going somewhere?"
Knowing the tell-all of a five year old, Rose said, "No, Will, we are just picking some of my clothes up. Kiss me goodbye and I will see you this weekend."
He gave her a chocolate milk flavored kiss.
John took Celeste aside. "We are going to July 21, 1216, Celeste. We will be at the Tonei Castle in Northumberland. We expect to be gone a few days but we will set our arrival time for 1:00 today, July 1st, 2003."
John gave Celeste a nervous smile. "Here goes, Celeste! Let's see how it works. If we are not back by 3:00 PM, have William use his old faithful coin to come fetch us!"
Celeste hugged them both and said, "Godspeed, children! I'll take care of Will!"
John and Rosamond walked arm in arm to the gazebo.
They held hands as John got out the coin.
"Ready, darling?"
"Ready when you are, my love!"
The air swirled and glowed. When they opened their eyes, they were in the middle of a meadow. Rose said excitedly, "I know this! This meadow is the end of the de Tonei land! Over there are the Percy lands!" She grabbed John's hand. "Oh, my love, we did it! WE DID IT!"
Rosamond grabbed John's hand and started to run towards the de Tonei castle.
"Come on, John! Angus will put us up!"
"Angus?"
"Gran's steward. He's a sweetheart and he was my best friend when I was here. He would tell me stories of the Border Reivers. He's one of them!"
John was dubious. "Things may have changed since your Gran's death, honey."
"Come on!" She dragged a reluctant John.
He said, "Babe, maybe we had better just grab the book and run. You don't know what...."
But Rose had started to run ahead and he had no choice but to catch up.
Rosamond ran over the moat bridge and knocked at the huge oak door. The door groaned open and a steward about 40 answered.
"Aye, this will be the wee bonny lassie come to call. Aye, you look devastatin' my little henny." He looked over at John. "Aye and who be this brawny lad?"
Rosamond threw her arms around Angus. John felt a twinge of jealousy, after all, Angus was only 20 years older than Rose and ten years older than him.
"Angus, don't be daffin', this is my..... husband. Mr. John Gwinnett.....this is Angus
MacLachlen, faithful steward to the de Toneis since I was a child."
Angus shook John's hand. "Aye, I have known such lassie since she was in nappies!"
He turned to Rosamond with a sad eye. "'Tis a pity you were amiss for the dredgies,
lass."
Rose turned to John and mouthed, the funeral.
Angus shut the door. "I am here now, Angus. Can you put us up for a few nights?"
"Aye, that I can, lass. Ye'll be a welcome here in this terrible time. Aye, Rose, it will be six years since I have laid eyes on you...any babbies?"
Rose said, "Yes, Angus. I have two. A strong bairn and a wee lass."
"Aye, they will be canty babbies!"
John raised his eyebrow. Rose mouthed, cheerful babies.
Angus said cautiously. "You will require one room or two, Missy?"
John and Rose looked at each other. "One, Angus. We ARE married."
A voice from behind them said, "So you did it. YOU HAD TO GO AND DO IT. YOU HAVE WRECKED EVERYTHING, YOU EMPTY-HEADED LITTLE TART!"
Rosamond whirled around and faced her own personal demon:
Lady Alice de Tonei de Clifford.
Alice de Clifford took a step towards her daughter. Rosamond took a step nearer to John and held tight to his arm.
"Yes, Mother, we did it. John Gwinnett, this is my mother.. Mother, this is John. My husband."
Alice sneered. "Your husband? How old are you now, Rosamond? Twenty-two?
How many husbands?"
"One."
"No, dear, Henry paid us a visit a few months back. Said you were married to a man named Montgomery. That he came to visit around December. You were with child. So what is the truth, daughter? And don't lie because I will see it in your eyes."
Rose tilted her chin up defiantly to her mother. She remembered the way she cowered before to her and thought, no more. I have faced the wrath of Henry and Billy Bob, I have withstood Daniel, I can face anything or anyone!
Rosamond said, "I am pleased to inform you, Mother, that you are a grandmother again. I gave birth three months ago to a daughter. Her name is Julie. John is the baby's father."
Sir Wallace de Clifford came behind Alice.
"Rosamond! Darling! If you aren't a sight for sore eyes. Let me look at you!"
He held her at arm's length. "You look wonderful! And who might this be?"
Rose brushed her mother off. "Father, this is John Gwinnett. He is my betrothed."
Sir Wallace looked to Alice. "I thought her husband was a William de Montgomery."
Rosamond was now caught in a web of her own lies.
"It is true, I am married to another man. But it is not a desirable union, Father. I am working to extricate myself from it. John Gwinnett is descended from the Gwinnetts and Staffords of Gloucestershire and Warwick. An old and veritable family that came over with William the Conqueror."
John looked amazed at Rosamond as if to say, REALLY?
Sir Wallace embraced his daughter. "Another child! How I wish I had met little William. A child of the King, no less! I admit I was taken aback but now I have gotten used to the idea of being a grandfather!"
John stepped forward and shook Sir Wallace's hand. He ignored Alice.
"Sire, I am pleased to make your acquaintance and I want you to know that I love your daughter very much."
Sir Wallace smiled. "Come! Please dine with us. Angus, put their packs in the room at the far end of the hall. Rose, since you have been the uh, concubine of the King, I guess there is no sense in two rooms, is there?"
Rose hugged her father. "Papa, you have come a long way!"
Sir Wallace and Alice sat on opposite sides of the table. John and Rosamond sat next to each other, each reluctant to let the other one go, partly out of love and partly out of fear of losing track of each other.
Alice said sarcastically, "How nice for you to show up for your Grandmother's funeral, dear. A little too late!"
Rosamond said, "I came as soon as I could, Mother."
Sir Wallace cleared his throat, "So, ah, Gwinnett--do you have an estate? How will you support my daughter?"
John looked at Rose and she shrugged as if to say, I have no idea!
John said, "I, uh, have a school to provide body training and co-ordination for battle for 21st century knights."
Rose stifled a giggle. I guess that could be what the fitness center is for.
Alice was quiet but glaring all through dinner.
After the meal, John and Rosamond excused themselves. It would be dark in an hour and they wanted some time to themselves.
Rose opened the casement windows. "This is the room where my Gran would put me when I visited her. I never knew I would spend it with my 'intended'."
John came behind her and put his arms around her. "England in the summer always was beautiful."
Rose smiled. "Let's slip out for a walk! No one need know. The grounds are lovely and I would love to explore them by moonlight."
They slipped down the turret stairs and walked to the edge of the woods.
Rose took his hand. "There is something I want to do."
They walked through the gardens and at the edge of the copse of trees, there was a stone chapel. Rose pressed on the wooden door and it gave way with a creak. It had a small altar and stained glass windows. Only a few pews were there.
"This was the family chapel. I used to come here as a little girl."
John whispered, "Stay right here, Rosamond."
He walked outside and came back within three minutes. In his hands were lily of the valleys, white roses and daffodils.
He handed them to Rosamond. She looked puzzled at him.
John went down on one knee. "Miss de Clifford, will you marry me?"
Rosamond looked around. "Here? Now?"
"Here. Now."
"John, I CAN"T! I'm already...."
John pressed his fingers to her lips. "It was a civil ceremony, Rosamond. A piece of paper issued by the state of Louisiana. Let us vow our love to each other. Here in this chapel before God. Just the two of us. We can make it legal at a future date."
Rosamond's eyes were shining with love. She whispered. "Yes, John. Here in this chapel I will marry you."
Rosamond quietly slipped her wedding ring from Billy Bob into her pocket.
John held her hands.
"I, John Arthur Gwinnett, take thee, Rosamond de Clifford, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, richer or poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth."
"I, Rosamond de Clifford, take thee, John Arthur Gwinnett, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to God's holy ordinance, and thereunto I plight thee my troth."
John slipped a ring off his finger and said, "With this ring I thee wed, and with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow." He put the ring on Rosamond's finger.
Jon then whispered, "Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder."
Then he added, "Forasmuch as we have consented together to love and cherish each other and have witnessed the same before God, and thereto have given and pledged our troth each to the other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a Ring, and by joining of hands, I pronounce therefore that we be Man and Wife together. Amen."
Rosamond smiled and said softly, "Well, Mr. John Gwinnett--are you going to kiss the bride?"
MEANWHILE, back in WESTCHESTER Cty.......by Coralynn
12:05
Rafe is scarfing down a pizza when Daniel joins him, saying cheerfully, "Rafe! Your desire to be a trainer is going to happen! John left a message on the answering machine here that says you're going to be added to the trainers list, and get to go to night classes with Slim and me. So cheer up!"
"Why did she just up and leave?" Rafe is beating the dead horse of a subject he's been beating since 'Susan' disappeared from the fitness center the day before without a bye-your-leave.
Daniel sits and starts in on his pizza, "You feel like a loser? Let me tell ya, Rafe, I know what rejection feels like. It happens to me all the time. Rose and I should be together, but she keeps pushing me away. Just when I think I have a lock on her she bolts free. And don't forget, that's MY baby she has out there at that ranch."
Rafe looks at him with a dubious expression and states, "Then why does the baby have that little irregularity on her one ear just like John does? Huh? Answer me that!"
Daniel wonders how Rafe got so observant, shruggs and keeps eating.
WE RIDE AT DAWN.......by Terri
Alice de Clifford was in a fury. And when she was in a fury, everyone ducked for cover.
She drew out a sheet of parchment and took a quill. In her distinctive handwriting, she wrote:
Your Majesty--the little bird that had flown from your grasp is now nesting in the de Tonei Castle for the next two days. She is with her hawk. If it is your desire, said bird is here and can have her wings clipped so she shall not soar again. The hawk can be brought down.
Your faithful servant,
Alice de Tonei de Clifford
She rang for Desmond, one of her servants. Affixing wax and her seal on the parchment, she instructed him to give the message to no one but King Henry.
Desmond complained, "Aw, begging your pardon, MIlady, 'tis my anniversary and the missus and I were planning to celebrate. I even took a bath, and so did she! Have a heart!"
Alice fumed, "Desmond, how long have you been a servant of mine?"
"Nigh on thirty years, Milady."
"And how long have you been married?"
"Twenty, I reckon."
"So who has seniority?"
Desmond sighed. He held out his hand and took the parchment.
"Gadzooks, the things I do for that..." he muttered down the hall.
Alice dusted off her hands. And that is that! Now to find out what that daughter of mine REALLY came for!
Desmond rode on through the evening. It was on the ninth hour that he arrived at Windsor. He rode over the moat and knocked on the great oak doors. Ferguson, the faithful valet of Henry, opened the door. "Oh! It's YOU! And I suppose you have come to make trouble! Last time there was a ruckus when His Majesty brought Miss de Clifford back. Had to stitch his hand up myself. I don't know WHAT she did to him!
So why don't you just...." Ferguson said as he tried to close the door. Desmond wedged his body between the door and the frame and said in a squeaky, squished voice, "You'd better let me give this to the King or your family line will die out, IF you know what I mean!"
Ferguson reluctantly opened the door. "Very well. Let me have it. I'll give it to him directly."
Ferguson grabbed for the parchment. Desmond held it out of reach. "Didn't we play this grab-and-tickle game last time? Now get him, you Buttocks-Boil!"
Ferguson sighed. "Very well."
Ferguson went into the Great Room where Henry was feasting. He brought Desmond to the King. Henry leaned back and looked speculatively at Desmond. "Ah, I know you from somewhere..."
"I am Lady De Clifford's steward."
He sighed and held his hand out. "How much do they want THIS time?"
He broke the wax seal and an evil chuckle came forth. "Desmond, go to the kitchen and have them fix you a plate. By morning we leave for de Tonei castle."
He leaned back,stroked his beard and continued laughing. He grabbed his sword and said to Ferguson, "Sharpen and polish this and have it scabbarded by tonight. I leave at dawn."
WESTCHESTER:
12:15 P.M....by Coralynn
Slim sees the furniture truck pull up in front of his new apartment and goes out to make sure they bring the furniture into the right place.
His new apartment is on the ground floor of a moderately priced complex. He finds it a step up from the Motel 6 he had been staying in. This place has a fully functioning kitchen, small but the appliances work, a medium sized bedroom and a large living room/dining room.
Slim has already brought in his clothing, sparse though it is. With most of the hunderd thou left, he figures he'll get new clothes after his furniture arrives.
"Put that couch over against that wall," he directs the delivermen.
The red and green plaid couch does liven the place up, he thinks with satisfaction.
The brass bed is then put into his room. Ahhh yes, he thinks, this one is a beauty! I'll have to pick up sheets and stuff after these guys leave. How fun is that going to be? Too bad WandaSue isn't in the area; she could help me pick stuff out. She has better taste than I do. Oh well, even if she isn't clear out in California like she claims to be, she isn't here!
He tips the delivermen and shuts the door, surveying the effect of the new couch and tables and declares them good. No, hell, they're great!
He grabs the keys to his new red SUV, goes out, gets in, starts it up and heads to town.
HOTSPUR: STILL HOT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS......by Terri
Rosamond woke up in John's arms and snuggled closer to him. He kissed her on the cheek and said, "Good morning, MRS. Gwinnett."
She stretched. "Ah, I DO like the sound of that! Even if it is not legal! This is the first good night's sleep I have had in a long time! No pressure!"
John pushed her hair out of her face and gazed into her eyes. "Darling, as much as I would love to stay here with you away from everyone, do you not think it is best we cut our trip short and get the heck out of here? I think we had better grab the potion book and run. I have a bad feeling about this."
Rosamond grabbed the sheet and stood up. "Mother was not the most cordial. I don't trust her. Allright. Let's get dressed."
They threw their clothes on and sneaked down the turret steps. "Gran told me she kept it in a wooden carved casket in the loft of the barn. If Mother knew, she would give her eyeteeth for it. I think she is starting to show the effects of not getting her elixir of youth."
As they went to the barn, they came across Sir Wallace coming in from his morning ride. "Ah, Rosie and John! You are up early!"
Rose thought quickly. "Father, I am showing John the stables."
Sir Wallace smiled. "Fine horses in the de Tonei castle. And in our castle of Loverlock."
Rose said, "Father, you never did tell me what you are still doing here. I thought you would be at Loverlock after the funeral."
"Your mother is bound and determined to go through all of your Gran's things. She is looking for something, heaven only knows what!"
John and Rosamond exchanged covert looks. John whispered, "Get it and let's go!"
Sir Wallace put his arm around John. "Since you are my daughter's intended, I would like to show you the de Tonei lands. Rose? Can you excuse us? I would like to show John the horses and talk man to man with him."
Rosamond and John looked at each other. "Alright, Father, but just for a few minutes. We have some things to do."
As they walked out, Rosamond climbed the ladder to the loft. It was dusty and full of hay so that she sneezed. Down on her hands and knees, she looked in all the nooks and crannies. She came across something silky. She pulled it out and held it up.
My undergarments! From how many years ago? Is it 800? Or is it only 8?
She sat there with the smile of reminiscence on her face. She heard a voice from behind her say softly and gently,
"Come to finish what we started that summer night so many years ago, Milady?"
Rosamond whirled around and looked up into the deep green eyes of Sir Harry Percy.
Harry. Hotspur. Hotspur Percy.
Rosamond's heart thudded to her feet.
"Harry? Harry Percy? HOTSPUR?"
Hotspur laughed, his white teeth flashing against his red beard. "Ah, I see you DO remember, wench!"
Her face flamed. "Remember? How could I forget? You...you gave me my first grown-up kiss!"
Hotspur sat on a bale of hay. "Aye, milady, and I would have given you alot more if that witch of a mother of yours did not interrupt!"
Rose looked down at the undergarments in her hands. "I...I was a child, Harry. Did that not matter to you?"
He stood up and held her hands. "Let me look at you!" He turned her around. "Aye, ye have grown up into a luscious lassie. A wench worth rogering roundly!"
Rosamond took her hands out of his. "Fourteen. Fourteen was all I was!"
Hotspur laughed deep in his throat. "Aye, and many a girl properly wed by that time."
She retorted. "I have come along way since that girl of fourteen, Harry."
Hotspur sighed as if with regret. "I know. The King's mistress! Your mother wore that like a feather in her cap. And mother of one of the King's bastards, no less!"
Rosamond's face grew hot. "I'll thank you not to refer to Will that way!"
Hotspur raised an eyebrow. "Madam? What is wrong with that?"
Rose said, "Back where I come from..." She realized what she was saying. "Well, it just isn't nice, that's all."
He took a step forward, she took a step back. From under the eave she spied the wooden casket. Could it still be there?
Hotspur took another step forward, she took another one back.
He burst out laughing. "Aye, is this the dance they taught you at Court in France?"
Rosamond said, "You knew about it?"
He said, "But of course! You were a wench that got away! I never forget an unconquered conquest! Even though I was three-and-twenty, my father gave me a stern warning. Keep good relations with the de Toneis, he said. They are good neighbors. And I said, 'Aye, Father, that is exactly what I was doing, keeping good relations. Or would have except for the ah, interruption."
He took a step nearer and put his arms around Rosamond and leaned his face in for a kiss.
"Rose? Darling? Are you up there?"
"MY HUSBAND! He'll tear you to shreds, Hotspur, if I so much as scream! THEN you will be sorry! Istead of 'Hotspur" you'll have a cold saddle IF you get my meaning!"
Hotspur put his hand over her mouth. "Ah, then we shall have to make sure he doesn't hear us! Hopefully he doesn't have hearing like a bat---that bat of a mother of yours!"
Rosamond bit down on his hand. "AHHH!" he released her at once. "You bitch!" he hissed.
Rose backed away. "I--I'm up here, darling. I ran into an....an old friend."
John climbed the ladder and looked from Rosamond to Hotspur. "An old friend? Doesn't look very old to me, Rosamond!"
Rosamond's face flamed crimson.
Rose said, "Sir Harry Percy, I would like you to meet my husband, Sir John Gwinnett of Warwickshire. John? The infamous 'Hotspur' Percy."
Hotspur wrung his hand in pain. John extended his hand to him. Hotspur gingerly extended his hand to John. "Ah, I regret that I have sustained a bite from a. uh, bitch... that speckled hound of mine is in season and wants to be left alone...for the time being!"
Rose shot him a look to kill. She backed down the ladder from the loft. "I think we had better go into the castle, John. We can, uh..ride later."
John looked at her puzzled but didn't question her.
As they walked out of the stables, Hotspur called after her. "I hope to see more of you while you are visiting, Lady Gwinnett!"
And under his breath he said, "....much more!"
WESTCHESTER: 12:30 P.M.....by Coralynn
Officer Travis McGee hears the code for Homicide on the Police transmitter and picks up his receiver immediately. There are so few homicides in the area he covers that he's jolted to attention.
"McGee here!" he yells into the speaker.
He hears, 'Homicide out on Route 141 south of town a half mile, all cars in the area go there now,' with a bunch of other code numbers only Cops like McGee recognize. So much for people sitting at home monitoring Police Call on their specially equipped radios.
As he approaches the possible crime scene, he sees a Mercedes off in the ditch with the driver's side door open, a male inside slumped over the wheel, one leg dangling outside the car.
Several other police cars have already arrived, so he parks his and goes to the highest ranking officer, Brad Stone.
"A passing car called this one in," Brad tells him, "Or at least that's what the caller said he was doing, just passing by. Prelim exams determine the time of death to be 12:10. The body is still warm. Cause of death: a single bullet to the face. Could have been fired by a car passing on the left, though it's pure speculation at this point. This is going to be high profile!"
Several Police Detectives are at that moment dusting for fingerprints and securing the crime scene with yellow tape, which isn't easy, as there are no natural anchors like trees or houses around to use as end points. They pound stakes into the ground and run the yellow tape in a large square from those anchoring points.
Travis McGee looks away from that, back to Stone. "Why high profile?"
"You know who that murdered person IS?"
"Looks vaguely familiar," McGee ponders where he's seen this person before. Too bad half his face is blown off. Would sure make it easier if it hadn't been.
"It's William Robert Montgomery!" Stone says grimly, "His picture was in the morning paper. He had gone to a social event and gotten into an altercation with another man........if I remember correctly, the other man's name is John Gwinett!"
Officer Travis McGee feels remiss that he hadn't read the morning paper, and whistles, "I know that guy. He's trouble!" and goes to assist the other cops. He thinks to himself, 'I told that fellow to clean up his act! Could he have killed Montgomery because he was found with Montgomery's sister? Could Gwinett have rubbed him out because of the sister? This is going to be a mess!"
DON'T BE SO IMPRESSED......by Terri
Rosamond grabbed John's hand and walked briskly back to the castle, face flaming and her heart was pounding. Is it true? A woman never forgets her first love? But that wasn't love! What I have with JOHN is love! But on those cold nights with Henry, sometimes Hotspur would creep into my dreams....
"Honey? Where's the fire? Slow down! Who was that guy?"
"A neighbor of Gran's. The Percys."
"Holy cow! That wasPercy? THE Percys of Northumberland? The land-owning Percys? The Percys of the Battle of Shrewsbury? I didn't make the connection at the time! Why, every British lad knew Harry Percy, old Hotspur, as the bravest, rashest, staunchest Knight in England! Why it is said the King himself wept over Hotspur's body! Shakespeare himself immortalized him in his play Henry IV. Wow! I actually shook his hand."
Rosamond stopped dead in her tracks. "Don't be so impressed, John. He takes his pants off one leg at a time. Believe me, I know!"
But John was too impressed to understand what Rosamond really meant.
As they entered the Castle, Alice greeted them cheerfully. "Rose? John? Please! Freshen up! We will have a mid-day supper in about an hour. I am sure you will enjoy what we have in store for you! I will see you then? Please? I would like to make amends for anything that was remiss in the past. I have come to realize that my daughter's happiness is foremost. If John makes you happy, Rosamond, so be it!
So please! Join us and we can be a family again. I would like to know my daughter's husband, er, betrothed, better. After all, he is the father of my new granddaughter. And I want to hear all about her at the meal, darling! So we will see you in the great dining hall! Ta!"
John looked at Rosamond. "What is THAT all about? Why the 180 turnaround?"
Rose stared off at her mother's retreating back. "I don't know...but I don't trust her!"
WESTCHESTER:
12:45 P.M......by Coralynn
Celeste and William are watching the noon newscast. They are beginning the weather segment when a sign suddenly appears stating "Breaking News!" They both look up to check out what might have happened and see the news anchor read from a new copy which has just been handed to her.
"A murder has just occurred out on Route 141. Our Brent Schumaker is on the scene, Brent?"
The picture then shifts to a guy with a mike standing quite a distance from a car in the ditch with yellow tape around it.
"It has just been confirmed that the murder of William Robert Montgomery was committed here not long after 12 noon! The victim appears to have been shot once in the face. More to come at 5 and 6, now back to you, Stacie!"
William and Celeste look at each other in shock.
"Where's Rose?" he asks.
"She and John are back in the 12th Century, William. They left their plans with me before they left. I was going to tell you only if they got into some trouble they might need help with. There's trouble alright, but it's here and now!"
"You know they're going to suspect John, especially after the morning newspapers reported his altercation with Montgomery the other evening. So where is he now that he needs an alibi and needs it badly? In the 12th Century! This is bad!!"
"Think one of us should go there and warn them?" Celeste puzzles.
"Let's think about it awhile. When did they say they'd be returning?"
"I P.M, our time, though it may represent more than a day or so of compressed time in the 12th century," she answers.
"That's in just another 20 minutes," he says looking at his watch, "We can tell them when they return," he shakes his head in disbelief, "Of all times for them to be out of the country and out of the century!"
They click of the TV and pour themselves stiff drinks.
HASSLE AT THE CASTLE......by Terri
Rosamond and John came down, hand in hand, from their turret room.
John whispered, "Maybe she IS trying, Rose, can you give her the benefit of the doubt?"
As they walked into the Great Room, they saw a sight that stopped them cold. Sir Wallace stood and smiled, "Ah, here they are!"
Rosamond's blood ran cold and she held tight to John's arm. "Have you that coin in your pocket, John?" she whispered.
"Yes. But you don't have the potion book." He whispered back.
"If it gets too hairy, let's bolt without it!"
Henry2 leaned back in the chair and pushed the opposite chair back with his foot.
"Well, well, we all meet again! Wonderful to see you again, Rosamond. You look as beautiful as ever."
She sat down. "I didn't ask."
John and Henry surveyed each other like dogs circling in a dogfight sizing each other up. John sneaked a look at Rose. She seemed very self-confident which surprised him since she didn't expect to see Henry and in light of what happened last time.
She turned to Alice. "So much for making amends. Why did you have to tell him I was here?"
Alice pretended to be surprised. "Why, dear, he IS the father of little Will. Surely he wants to know all about him."
Henry leaned forward. "How is the boy?"
Rosamond surveyed him cooly. "Growing up. He's five now. He is truly a child of the 21st century. Never mentions Court. Or you."
Rose thought, Ha! Gotcha! She figured out Henry's Achilles heel. He hated to lose.
Henry's face darkened. "William brought your husband over during the Michaelmas celebration. Yet you are here AGAIN with Gwinnett."
Rose said, "Yes. Montgomery and I are in the process of dissolving our union. John Gwinnett is the only man I have loved truly and deeply. Body and soul, Henry. John and ONLY John."
John whispered, "Are you trying to get me KILLED?"
Rose motioned behind her back for him to keep quiet.
Henry was fighting to control his rage. "And you have another child? Montgomery said you were with child when he was here. He said it was his child."
Rose laughed cynically. "His child. HIS child? Ha! He would like to believe that. No, Henry, she is the child of John Gwinnett."
She leaned forward confidently. "Do I have to spell it out for you, Henry? John and I are lovers. LOVERS, Henry! And he makes me happy in ways you never could!"
She stood up. Henry's face was mottled purple with fury.
"If you will excuse us, John and I are going upstairs." She grabbed John's hand and walked deliberately towards the door. "Oh! And by the way, Henry....You were a lousy, boring lover!"
They walked out.
John grabbed her hand. "What are you trying to do, get me killed? He'll run me through sure as look at me!"
As soon as they got to the door, Rose grabbed his hand. "Mother will be in there trying to appease him. Father will try to smoooth things over. But Henry's temper always wins in the end." Excitedly she said, "I saw the carved casket. It's in the eaves in the barn loft. We need to get it NOW and get out of here! Like yesterday! He'll be looking in every room inside trying to find us!"
They ran down to the barn. Rose climbed the loft ladder with John right behind her.
She got under the eaves and pulled the box out. "I saw this when Harry Percy was here. I just couldn't open it up."
Rose quickly opened the box. Inside was a leatherbound book with parchment pages.
"Oh, John! This is it! THIS IS IT!" She breathed excitedly.
"Well, hold on to it tight and let's go! NOW!"
Rose started down the ladder, John close behind when they heard a noise. Rose whispered, "You stay up here. Element of surprise and all that! I can handle Henry.
Now that I know what he's all about!"
She gave John the book and casket. "Hold fast to it! And don't worry."
WESTCHESTER:
12:48 P.M.....by Coralynn
Marilyn rushes into Eleanor's room. "Turn on the TV, turn it on!" she yells as she grabs the remote and does it herself.
"What's all the excitement about?" Eleanor asks, putting aside the book she'd been reading.
"Wait! Maybe they'll say it again".......Marilyn stands there with her hand blocking any further conversation. "Ohhh yeah, I think they're going to repeat it....."
The noon news anchor says, "Repeating our late breaking news: this just in, Wililam Robert Montgomery has been found murdered in his Mercedes on Route 141, the victim of a shot to the head. Pictures and more at 6."
"WHAT!?" Eleanor bounds off the bed and stares incomprehensibly at the TV.
"Billy Bob got murdered! He's dead! He's gone! Ding-Ding, the witch is dead!" Marilyn begins to sing the song from 'The Wizard of Oz,'
Eleanor is still frowning and not joining in. "Marilyn, a man has been murdered, how can you be so cheerful?"
"But now Rose is free of him!" Marilyn refuses to stop celebrating as she dances around the room, "He's gone, gone, gone!"
Eleanor exhales audibly, "This is ghoulish, Marilyn, stop!"
Marilyn takes Eleanor's hands and grins at her as she proceeds to swing Eleanor around in a dance as well. "You didn't like him either, El, don't be a hypocrite!"
"No I didn't like him because he was making Rose's life miserable, but.......still........"
Marilyn continues to dance, pulling Eleanor with her. Eleanor shakes her head in exasperation, then grins, then smiles, then laughs, "Hey, the guy is dead. Pretending we're sad about it isn't going to change anything! Let's put on some music and really cut a rug!"
William hears footsteps pounding on the floor over his head and looks at Celeste with a question in his expression. She looks back over the top of her glasses and states, "They're celebrating."
William is shocked and goes for a refill.
THE DE-TONEI --PERCY MERGER PLAN...by Terri
Rosamond climbed down the loft, bumping right into Hotspur.
"What--what are YOU doing here?" she stammered.
"Ah, Lady...Gwinnett, is it?"
"And don't you be forgetting it, either! So what are you doing in the de Tonei stables....
AGAIN?"
He leaned back against the wall, crossed his arms and surveyed her up and down without embarrassment.
"Remember that summer night so long ago? I stabled my horse Cyprian here?"
"Yes, how could I forget? He was such a magnificent horse--all black."
Hotspur indicated a stall at the end of the stable. "Well, guess who never left!"
Rosamond walked down and looked in. "Why, it's HIM! What, pray tell, is he still doing here?"
"Still stabled here. He became a stablemate with your Gran's horse Aphrodite. I guess you can say they fell in love! And who am I to break up a love match?"
Rose laughed in spite of it all. "Oh, for sure!"
Hotspur took a step closer. He and Rose were at the end of the stables and John was in the loft, unable to hear.
"I have done some checking, Lady Gwinnett. And you are not Lady Gwinnett at all!
Your cook overheard your mother tell Sir Wallace that you were not married to Sir Gwinnett. You indeed were married to a Sir William de Montgomery from...York, I believe it was? Never heard of him but it makes no difference! She told the groom who told the valet who told the steward who told the upstairs maid who told the downstairs maid who told MY cook who told my groom who told OUR upstairs maid who told OUR downstairs maid who told my steward who told my valet...am I making any sense?"
"No, not really, but that never stopped you, Harry."
"Well, bottom line is this. Since I am unfettered and you are in the process of dissolving your union with Sir Montgomery, you will be available."
His teeth were white against his beard. He grinned. Lord, he was scary....and very good-looking. Rose's heart began to beat wildly. Oh, John! I guess you can't hear me! She backed up against the stable door. Hotspur took a step towards her. "Just what are you driving at?" she demanded.
"Since the de Tonei lands and the Percy lands bordered, I have talked to my father. Yes, the old man is still alive but he is in his seventieth year and who knows how long he can last with the winter? I have asked for your hand in marriage. As the only son, I will inherit all the Percy estates and holdings. The de Tonei lands and the Percy lands will merge and together we will double our land holdings. I know you were the King's mistress, tell you the truth, it's kind of a status symbol among the dukes and earls to get a cast-off from a King. Or to let your wife out to the King!"
Rosamond stood there wordlessly. "You...you mean to tell me you LOVE me?"
Hotspur waved that away. "Of course not! Since when did love ever enter into a marriage match? Nay, but you ARE quite toothsome and bonny. Shan't be too unpleasant a task to sire a Percy heir with you!"
He had both his arms on either side of her and leaned in for a kiss. Rose ducked under his arms and walked briskly to the other side of the barn where John was in the loft.
"Hotspur....Harry....I appreciate your offer. I really do. But I am betrothed to Sir Gwinnett."
Harry followed her over to the loft stairs.
Just then a sound startled both of them and they looked over to see a dark silhouette with a cloak and a sword scabbered.
Rose's heart dropped. Can this get any more complicated? She thought. I should have stayed home at the ranch and enjoyed the peace and quiet!
WESTCHESTER; 12:49 P.M......by Coralynn
Slim goes into an electronics store to see if they have a TV that appeals to him. He has no TV yet, and the one at the Motel 6 was securely bolted to the desk it sat on, so he couldn't take that one.
He wonders why all the TVs are tuned to the same station. And the news, too, how boring.
He's comparing picture quality when he hears a familiar name...
".......Montgomery murdered in his car on Route 141 by a single bullet wound...."
WHOA!! What was that?! Slim tries to will the news anchor to say it again, but she won't.
Did I hear her say Billy Bob has been murdered? he wonders, I'll have to watch the news later and check. Man, that would be righteous! Poor Rose wouldn't have to be married to the jerk any more. True, my days of blackmailing him would be over, but with a hundred thou I'm not going to complain. Hmmmmm, wonder if Rose knows that Billy Bob is or rather, was, a bigamist? Maybe I'll tell her sometime.
He gestures for a salesman to come over and indicates which TV set he wants to buy.
WESTCHESTER 12:50 P.M.......by Coralynn
WandaSue is painting her nails a bright red and curses when she hears her cell phone, snudging some of the polish as she clicks it on.
"Slim, what'd'ya want this time?"
"Billy Bob Montgomery is dead!" he says and clicks off.
"HUH??? My cash cow has cashed in his chips!! With the million I already have, ask me if I care!! But.......just a minute, am I still legally his wife? I do believe I am. Could I inherit all that moolah? That land? I think I'd better dust off my paperwork and get ready to move on this if it's true, and not just Slim's idea of a joke!"
LONG ISLAND: 12:55 P.M...........by Coralynn
Billy Bob and Jamison are kicked back in the latter's den, feet on the coffee table.
"Is Lightning Bolt ready for the Derby?" Jamison asks.
"Ohhh yeah, and his odds are phenomenal. I ran him as a 2-yr old in several races, which he lost handily, so now his odds are 15-1. That was before I started doping him. Now that he's had injections for the past six months, he is a running machine!" Billy Bob says gleefully.
"Think I oughta put a few thou on his nose in May?" Jamison asks as he casually flips on the TV.
"Most derfinitely! I'm putting a quarter mil on his beautiful nose!" Billy Bob says as the end of the noon news comes into view. Jamison turns up the volume and they hear:
Recapping the day's news: the murder of William Robert Montgomery has law enforcement officials and the Sheriff's department scrambling to find the killer. A single bullet to the head as Mr. Montgomery was driving his Mercedes on Route 141 was the cause of the fatality, but as yet no motive has been found, nor the perpetrator of the crime. Pictures and more at 6."
Both Jamison and Billy Bob sit up in shock.
"Did you hear what I thought I just heard?" BB asks him.
"Someone driving your car was shot!" Jamison almost yells, "Now you're supposedly dead!"
BB sits and thinks for a few minutes then suggests, "If it's the Parker Syndicate, and I'd bet heavily it is, then it looks like big trouble! They've been suspicious about my horses for the past couple years. Think they......"
"I know they!!" Jamison said confidently, "You had better not show your face in Westchester County for a while, my friend!"
BB sits and thinks another few minutes.
"This is bad timing!! How can I enter Lightning Bolt in the Derby is I'm so-called dead?!"
"I can do it for you," Jamison assures him, "Don't worry about that. Your biggest worry right now is keeping your head intact on your shoulders. The Parker gang can't know you're still alive!"
BB gets off the couch and paces the room. "I'd better get out of the country for the forseeable future," he concludes, "almost anyplace in Europe would suffice. How about Paris? London?"
"Either, but go now!" Jamison says with great concern.
BB phones the airlines and gets a seat on the next flight to Paris.
"Well, Jamison, I'd like to extend my stay and partake of your incomparable hospitality, but it appears I'm leaving in ohhhhhh," he looks at his watch, "about 10 minutes for the airport. Want to drive me or would that put you at risk?"
"Anything for you, Billy Bob! I doubt the Parker gang is looking for you at the moment anyway, considering the celebrating they must be doing as we speak."
Jamison claps BB on the back in a show of fraternity and solidarity as they make their way out to the car park. Within minutes they're driving toward JFK.
HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN EMPOWERED!
.....by Terri
Rose silently prayed, Oh, John, darling, please don't come down! PLEASE!
Rosamond mustered up a casual attitude even though her heart was pounding. Oh, this is just ducky, she thought! All we need is to throw Billy Bob into the mix, maybe add Daniel as a garnish!
She pretended annoyance to cover over her fear. "Alright, Henry, what do you want NOW? Why don't you just go home and play 'King' because I certainly don't want you here. I have neither the time nor the inclination for your pathetic pining away."
John was up in the loft groaning to himself. Rose, are you insane? he thought.
Henry stood there, not believing what he was hearing. Hotspur walked towards him and said, "My liege! An honor! Are you staying at Alnwick Castle this time?"
Henry gave Hotspur a quick glance. "Nay, I am staying just for the day at the deTonei
Castle. I am picking up what belongs to me. Now."
Rosamond said sarcastically, "Oh, and pray tell, what can THAT possibly be?"
Hotspur cleared his throat. "Um, Your Majesty, I was just, um, proposing marriage to Miss de Clifford. I see it as an advantageous match for both our families..."
Rose whirled on him. "What, Hotspur? Were you born on the sun or what? Can you not see that the parcel our beloved King is to pick up is ME? You see, Henry hates to lose. Castles, kingdoms, wenches, even bastards! Shall I tell you that little Will calls John "Uncle" and will soon call him 'Father'? He DID ask about you once. He wanted to know when he could visit you. I told him when he was brave and strong. Did he cry, Henry? No, he did not! He ran into the kitchen for a cookie! Because that's about as important as you are to him, Henry! As important as a chocolate chip cookie!"
Henry advanced menacingly towards Rosamond. "You are not so formidable with no dagger in your hand, love. Now, come! Let us go back to Windsor together."
Rosamond inwardly shrank but she felt empowered for the first time in her life because she knew she and John had the coin.
"Henry, I am enjoying this, telliing you what I should have the last time I was here. You are a coward. You use your position as King and people's fear of displeasing you to get what you want. Yes, I did love you once. That is how I ended up with Will.
But I have found out what true love is. It is not what we had. The last time I was here you forced yourself on me. That is why you have that scar on your hand. It can be a constant reminder of the pig that you really are. I no longer care or love you. You were a boring lover then and I am sure you are still a boring lover."
Henry was wild beyond all reason. He unsheathed his sword and advanced towards her.
"And let us see how Gwinnett feels about taking a corpse home with him. Prepare to die, wench!"
At that moment, John jumped down from the loft and collided with Hotspur Percy.
John grabbed Rosamond by the hair and dragged her away from the menacing form of Henry. Hotspur grabbed hold of her arm and said threateningly, "And just where do you think you are going, Miss de Clifford? We are to be wed!"
Rosamond yelled at him, "Hotspur! Let go of my arm!"
The air swirled and glowed.
When the air settled down, Henry was looking at a blank space where Rosamond, John, and Harry 'Hotspur' Percy had stood.
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