He hurried back to the stables, helped his groom tack up the bay, and hurried off for the main road. Damn, but I’ve a bad feeling …
* * *
Dusk had quickly descended, and Cherry’s uneasiness grew. She could hear the brump brump of horses’ hooves at their backs, and her own horses were acting fidgety. However, she attempted to remain calm, pleased at least that the children were happi
ly absorbed in chatting about their afternoon. They addressed her from time to time, but she only answered absently as she began to pick up the pace of the horses. It was a rutted road, and she once again had to slow down as the twins objected to the bumps.
“Someone’s coming up behind us!” Felix announced suddenly. He was halfway turned in his seat and staring into the growing darkness.
“How do you know?” his sister asked with interest. “I can’t see anyone.”
“I can hear a horse … no … I think two.” Felix frowned. “And only look at the dust behind us, Miss Cherry … they’re riding hard.”
She heard the anxious sound in his voice. Felix was young but very much up on things. “I’m sure just someone trying to get home,” she said, trying to soothe him,
“Easy, lads,” Cherry cooed to her horses, who were nervously reacting to the fact that unknown horses were quickly coming up at their backs.
The Andersons slowed their steeds as they came up on them and then boldly moved to Bromley horses’ heads, commanding, “Ho there, loves … ho …”
Cherry pulled up her team, for these riders had also moved into their path. She put up her chin and demanded, “Just what do you think you are doing?”
One lad looked worriedly at the other. “You’re scaring them, Thomas.”
“She deserves a lesson, she does. She snubbed us in town … we can’t allow that, Walter, and we won’t allow that.”
“Aw … she didn’t know who we were.”
“Then she needs a lesson.”
The lanky Walter turned an apologetic face to them and said, “M’brother and I were wishful … we … thought we might escort you—”
His brother Thomas cut in. “Dangerous route, the Post Road. People get waylaid all the time.”
“Thank you, but we haven’t that far to go,” Cherry answered stiffly.
“Well, mean to escort you all the same.”
“I don’t think that is necessary—” Cherry said.
“Go away,” Francine said, folding her arms across her chest.
Felix stood up in the gig as though to protect his sister and Miss Cherry and said, “You heard my sister … go away.”
“Well now, little rascal—my brother is going to drive you and your sister home while I give Missy a ride on my fine blood.” He had already dismounted and grabbed for Cherry’s reins, pulling them roughly out of her hold.
Felix kicked at him, and Thomas Anderson pushed the boy back hard enough that he fell backwards into the gig. Francine screamed and went to her brother.
Cherry hit Thomas with her driving whip as he pulled her roughly out of the gig. She fell to the grassy earth and heard Walter Anderson shout, “Stop it, Tom! What the deuce are you doing?”
“Whot? Am I to let a snippet like that address me in such a manner? We own the mill, and I’m sick of the gentry treating us—”
“Like the blackguards you are?” Cherry shouted as she jumped up and brushed the dirt away from her clothes. She stomped forward and shoved the lad with all her might. He went reeling backwards and was momentarily startled, but not enough, for he immediately raised his hand and slapped Cherry across her cheek.
Felix jumped out of the gig, ran to her, and began kicking at the man’s shins. Francine joined him. During the scuffle none noticed another rider bearing down on them.
Something though caught Walter’s attention, and he looked around. He gulped as he called for his brother’s attention. “Tom … eh Tom, we have trouble …”
They all looked up to find a large, darkly clad man, his hair blowing wildly about his face, his cloak flowing in the breeze, on a bay horse moving at some speed directly for them and looking like the devil about to attack.