Page 74 of By the Sword
Jonathan nodded.
‘See to him, Abel. Looks like he needs a good grooming and those cuts seeing to.’
In the daylight, Jonathan could see that the animal he had purloined in the dark was indeed a thoroughbred but there were open cuts on its flanks and legs. The poor beast had been through the battle.
He had no choice but to return to his perch in the roof and wait.
True to her word, John Bramble, a solid lad of about thirteen, arrived with bread, cheese and a jug of ale and kept watch while Jonathan wolfed down the food. Without any great enthusiasm, Jonathan resumed his lofty perch and waited. It proved to be a long day and a longer evening. Twice, soldiers searched the stable giving the place a cursory glance and prodding half-heartedly at the larger piles of hay with the pitchfork. Jonathan held his breath and prayed they did not think to look upwards.
It must have been past midnight before Sal appeared at the door of the stable with a lantern. Stiff, cold and ravenously hungry, Jonathan stumbled into the large, warm kitchen of the inn where Harry Bramble, as large and cheerful as his sister, waited for him.
‘It’s good to see you safe, Sir Jonathan,’ he said. ‘Parliament soldiers aren’t leaving a stick unturned anywhere in the county. Gave us a few hairy moments today, didn’t they, Sal? Anyway, we thought it best to wait until they were long gone afore fetchin’ you in.’
‘I owe you both a debt of gratitude,’ Jonathan said humbly. God alone knew what fate would befall the Brambles if he had been discovered in the stables. ‘Just give me something to eat and I’ll be gone within the hour.’
Well, you’re going to get nowhere looking like that.’ Harry cast a critical eye over Jonathan’s unmistakably military appearance.
Sally picked up a wicked-looking pair of shears.
‘We’ll start with your hair,’ she said. ‘Needs roughenin’ up a bit.’
With no great skill but plenty of enthusiasm, she wielded her shears. Jonathan’s clothes were replaced with an old brown doublet of Harry’s father’s, a little short but large enough, and a greasy leather jerkin and his boots with a serviceable but uncomfortable pair of shoes.
‘And that.’ Sal pointed to Jonathan’s sword and baldric.
Reluctantly he added his only means of defence to the discarded pile of clothes.
‘What do you want us to do with the horse?’ Harry asked.
‘When the hue and cry have died down can you take it and my belongings to Seven Ways?’
‘Is that safe? I heard there’s a new Mistress at Seven Ways and her sympathies may not be with your King’s cause,’ Sal said doubtfully.
Jonathan nodded. ‘She can be trusted, Sal.’
She cast him a knowing glance and bundled the clothes and the sword into Jonathan’s cloak. ‘If you say so.’
Harry lit a pipe and contemplated Jonathan’s transformation. ‘Not bad. What do you think, Sal?’
Sal laughed. ‘If your mother could see you now, I swear she’d not recognize you. Now I reckon you’ll be needing this.’
She completed the picture by clapping Jonathan’s own, now somewhat battered hat onto his head, pulling it down over his ears.
Harry leaned forward and pointed the long stem of his pipe at Jonathan. ‘Tomorrow I’ll be taking a wagon of ale to my cousin in Ludlow. You can ride along with me. It may take us a couple of days and there’ll be troops on the road, but I’m willing to wager you’d pass without trouble. You know how to play a part.’
‘Harry, please don’t take this risk for me.’
Harry shrugged. ‘I only wish I could take you further, Sir Jonathan.’
His mind raced ahead. From Ludlow, he should be able to find a way into Wales, where a boat could be found for Ireland. That would do. The way north would be heavily patrolled, as would the road to London and the roads south through Gloucestershire.
He looked at the two familiar friendly faces and smiled. ‘I cannot thank you both enough.’
‘Aye well, there’ll be time enough for thanks later,’ Harry said. ‘You can doss down on that mattress there and we’ll be off at daybreak.’
Chapter 25
The full wrath of the victorious Parliamentary army, led by Colonel Price, descended on Seven Ways. Kate had expected that Price, angered by the sacking of his own home by Jonathan and Giles, would find an opportunity to revenge himself on the woman who had cheated him of Seven Ways and he wasted no time.
