From Cornwall with Love

Chapter Fifty Five - Ross

Then men parted to reveal, Ross trot forward on his horse, holding his pistol out." I stepped aside. The two had a stare off before Ross raised his pistol.

"Lost our nerve, have we? Didn't fancy the battlefields of France?" George taunted sly questioned

"A friend informed me of one closer to home." Ross answered

"And on which side will you fight, Ross? For the civilised world or the revolution?"

"On the side that stands for humanity. Which would seem to preclude yours." Ross holstered his pistol.

"So what do you intend? To incite a riot? Quite your speciality ."

"These people need no inciting. They would happily tear you limb from limb." the mean cheered "And with good cause. But they would pay for it."

"What do we care!" Jud shouted and they mob agreed

"And it would be worth every penny." Paul added

"I urge you to go home" Ross pleaded with them "Do not give this man reason to see you hang. You have families. Wives. Children. They are worth ten of this sorry excuse for a man. Now go home." they muttered between themselves

"Go home." he urged and they began to disperse. I stayed behind not quite leaving yet.

"Should you not join your comrades?" George commented

"Have a care George. Do you really want to provoke me? You know I could call them back in an instant. At any time." Ross threatened

"This is what you came back for?"

"no." Ross denied then his focus turned to me. He held out his hand for me to take. I stepped forward as he shifted back then he pulled me up, taking my waist. I took the reigns and guided the horse away and following the men out of the grounds of Trenwith.

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A storm brewed outside as it began to hurl with rain. I folded my things as Ross came into the room.

"So she's with child? George must me exultant." he began as I carried on regardless "To be in my families home and in full possession of..."

"Everything you hold dear?" i sigh closing up my bag and turning around.

"Not everything, but many things I hold dear." he answered as i stared at him a moment.

"You'll get over it." I carried my bag downstairs

"Abigail?" I heard him call as I rested my bag with mine and the children's cases. I headed into the parlour picking up little things I missed before. "What are you doing?" he questioned

"I'm taking the children...to Killerwarren and from there our new home when purchased." I explain opening up my bag once more and packing a couple of books and toys.

"You're leaving me? I came back for you. I chose not to go to war." he defended

"It's not my concern what you chose. Only what I choose and why would I choose a man whose heart belongs to another." I shrug looking up at him.

"You are my wife."

"Brought back from the gutter to be a great lady. I am a great lady, I am strong, brave, proud, fierce and true. I will not settle for second best." I grabbed the last bag and put it with the others.

"Why would you be?"

"Because you love Elizabeth. You always will and I am done playing second fiddle to her when I am just as good if not better. You cannot conceal your pain now that George possess her body and soul. Don't deny it." I scowl grabbing my coat and slipping it on.

"I do not deny that I loved her." he admits "Long before I really acknowledge you as anything other than her sister. She was my first...perfect..untouchable love."

"Where as I am, loud, opinionated, plain and imperfect." I buttoned up my coat and lifted my hood.

"Not plain. But yes, imperfect. Human. Real. What that night with Elizabeth taught me and God knows, there should have been other ways for me to come to my senses, my arrogance, my idiocy has been spectacular." he slowly approached me as I stopped and really listened "All I can say is after that night because of it. I came to see that if you take an idealised love and bring it down to the level of an imperfect one it isn't the imperfect one which suffers.

My true real and binding love is not for her. It is for you. I swear on my life, she will never come between us again." he wiped away a stray tear

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I stood on the clifftops looking out to sea when I felt Ross' presence behind me. I followed the deepest parts of my heart and stayed. he brushed my hair back and kissed my head before bringing me into his arms as we stared on at the navy ships leaving for war.