Page 24 of By Marsh and By Moor
With a good horse, it was only a few hours to Minehead along the coast road.And even quicker, of course, to come here by sea with a tailwind.How long had Jed been walking around the neighbourhood, looking for Bess?He had lost track of time.One thing was certain: if this Lieutenant Vaughan put to sea instantly, as he might well do for the tempting prize of an able seaman, he and his men could round the headland at any moment.
“You could have warned me before Penwick left the house, that I might stop him.”
“Oh no, how could I?To see you two fight— No, you must leave here and not come back.”
Jed gave her a hard look.“I suppose it wouldn’t be convenient to you to have your brother around the place, reminding everyone you came from dirt, for all you’re a fine lady now.”
“No, Jed, that’s not true, and you know it.”
Jed studied her.She’d always been such a forthright person, never backing down from an argument.But they’d usually been on the same side in any serious argument.
“I suppose it wouldn’t be too convenient for Penwick neither.”
“No, that’s not— He believes this is something he is honour-bound to do.He says every man must do his duty.”
“Easy for him when his duty is so pleasant.”
“Oh, Jed, we can’t talk about that now.There isn’t time.You must hurry!”
He’d like to stay and face Penwick.Give him a good left hook to the jaw.But he couldn’t hold off the entire press gang with his fists.
Carrie stood there, red-faced but determined.
Have we become strangers to one another, Carrie?Jed wanted to ask.But there was no time.
He turned and walked from the room.
Chapter Six
Jed left the house in a hurry, stopping only to warn Charlie Hodges to spread the word about the press gang.Then he was out on the road over the headland, walking fast.
He felt heartsick.Other men ran from their ships and managed to settle down quietly.Why couldn’t he?But other men didn’t have the local Squire for a brother-in-law.
A bend in the path brought him within sight of the river mouth far below.The harbour was strangely deserted, save for the men climbing from a fore-and-aft rigged vessel moored along the east pier.The press gang tender!
Jed stopped short.They’d come even more quickly than he’d feared.He couldn’t go anywhere near the village.But if he made for the wooded slopes below the moors, and if the gang came directly up the headland to Penwick’s house, and if Jed’s luck held—
He left the road and headed across the fields, away from the sea.Soon, he was in the woods, running headlong and not stopping until he had gone all the way around the village and was on the far side, on the road to Barnstaple.His breath was coming in gasps, and he slowed to a walking pace.
This road climbed away from the sea, following the course of one of the many steep-sided combes that wound their way down to the Ledmouth.The river banks would be a luxuriant green later in the year; even now, they grew thickly enough to hide the sea from view, thank the Lord.Jed rounded a bend in the road, and there was Solomon, coming down the hill towards him.Jed stopped in the middle of the road, overcome by a rush of pleasure mingled with disbelief.
They hurried to meet each other.
“Didn’t like the look of your brother-in-law,” Solomon explained.“Kept thinking I’d better turn back, and so—I did.”
Jed blinked over eyes that felt oddly damp.Probably it was just the sight of a friendly face.He had to suppress an urgent impulse to throw his arms around Solomon and kiss him.
Solomon raised an eyebrow, lips quirking.Jed’s gaze rose from Solomon’s lips to his eyes and read amusement there, and perhaps a welcome, but no hostility.
Jed swallowed, heart turning over.
A creaking and rumbling from further up the hill recalled him to his senses.A farm cart pulled by two horses came into view, making its slow and careful way down the rocky, pitted road.The old man on the box tipped his head to them as he rumbled past.
“What’s happened?”Solomon demanded.“I hope you found your horse and cart?”
“Ha!Chance’d be a fine thing.”In a few words, Jed told him what had happened.
Solomon’s mouth thinned into an angry line.“I would offer to hold him down while you kick him in the teeth.But instead, I suppose you’ll have to run in the opposite direction.”
