Page 18 of Dancing On Air

“Finnian? What about him?”

“It seems he is causing a lot of trouble. There are reports that he has been stealing from some of the townsfolk.”

“Oh, no. That is not good. I will ride out to town immediately and talk to Finnian and also his family, and see why this is happening. I’ll take the horse and wagon, and drop off some apples for Mrs. Woods to make pies since I’ll be going right past their cottage on the way.”

“They are just leaving,” said the abbess, watching them go. “You can have them take the apples with them now.”

“Nay, I think I’d like to stop by just to make sure Hamlin is getting settled and isn’t frightened.”

“Lady Eleanor, you are too attached to these orphans,” scolded the abbess. “It’s not right.”

“They all feel as if they are my own children,” said Eleanor.

“But they’re not. They are just orphans of commoners,” the strict nun reminded her. “You are a noble, and need to find a nobleman to marry and have a family of your own.”

“I mean no disrespect, Sister Sybil, but it is really none of your business what I do,” said Eleanor, hating how the nun seemed to judge her.

“You need to stop waiting around for that executioner, because it looks bad for you and your family.”

“I never said I was,” she protested.

“Hrmph,” spat the nun, sticking her hands under her mantle and turning away. “Be sure to take one of the monks with you to town. You cannot go unescorted.”

“I’ll be back before dark,” she told the abbess, letting out a deep sigh.

“What was that all about?” asked Sister Barbara, hurrying over, holding the hands of the girls. Both Lena and Margaret waved to the boys as the Woods’ wagon pulled away. Little Hamlin was in the back with his arm around the dog, smiling from ear to ear.

“I am going to town for a while, Sister Barbara. I’ll be taking the horse and wagon.”

“And one or two of the monks as well, for protection?” asked the nun, already knowing that Eleanor had no intention of doing such a thing. St. Anne’s Abbey was headed by the abbess, but they had a chapter house with monks and laymen who helped out with the heavy work and in the orchards and fields.

“Keep the abbess busy while I am gone,” said Eleanor, never answering so she wouldn’t have to lie, and not wanting to put Sister Barbara in an uncomfortable position. Eleanor didn’t feel that she would be in danger traveling alone, since she wouldn’t be going that far. She also wasn’t going to the rough parts of town. The butcher was at the edge of town, so she’d pay her visit and then head back before the sun went down.

It wasn’t long before Eleanor directed the horse away from the abbey, being sure the abbess didn’t see her leave unescorted. In the back of the wagon she had three bushels of apples. She figured she’d leave two with Edna and give the last one to the butcher, hopefully convincing him not to send Finnian back to the abbey. Finnian was nearly thirteen now, and had been more trouble than all the other orphans put together. She had known the boy had a habit of stealing, but never told Tom the butcher, or his wife Alice, because if she had, she was afraid no one would ever take the boy. He had been ten when she finally found a family for him, and she had hoped his stealing was only done for attention and that it would end when he had parents to give him what he needed.

Well, it looked like she was wrong, and she wasn’t sure what to do.

She was nearing the village when the wheel of the wagon got caught in a rut in the road. The rain had made the road rougher than usual, but she hadn’t realized it until now.

“Oh, no!” she said, climbing down from the wagon. Sure enough, the wheel was stuck in a deep rut and she wasn’t sure how to get it out. Reaching over the side of the wagon, she grabbed an apple and gave it to the horse, petting the animal behind the ears. “You stay put while I try to figure out what to do.” She immediately regretted not bringing along a monk or two with her.

Holding up her gown, she tried to avoid the muddy puddles, making her way to the back of the wagon.

“Mayhap I can give it a push,” she said, putting her hands on the back of the wagon. When she did, her foot sank down into the muddy rut, ruining her shoes and the bottom of her gown. “Nay,” she moaned, letting out a deep sigh. Her hand went to the gold cross hanging from a chain around her neck and she silently prayed to God for help.

“Can I help you, my lady?” came a deep voice from behind her. She jumped in surprise, turning so fast that she lost her balance when her shoe stuck fast in the mud.

“Oh!” she cried, falling. But before she could hit the ground, two strong arms of a man caught her, picking her up and carrying her to the side of the road.

She panicked.

“Put me down! Release me at once,” she shouted to the hooded man, thoughts swarming in her head that this might be a ruffian wanting to have his way with her. She reached for her dagger at her side, and raised it up quickly, causing the man to jerk back his head so he wouldn’t be cut. When he did, his hood fell, revealing his face.

“Be careful with that blade, Eleanor. You’re going to hurt someone.”

She froze, her eyes opening wide to see the scarred face of Connor.

“C-Connor?” she said, feeling her heart about beating out of her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was fear from possibly being raped, or excitement at discovering she was in Connor’s strong arms.