A Friendships Love - Settler series book 1 (Wattpad version, first draft)

Hasty Departures

Hasty Departures

Lord Townshend had people, too many people speaking to him at once. All he seemed to be able to comprehend was, the word Charlie, being repeated from the various different voices around him. I felt myself, being passed back into Williams’s arms, and then, the voices become more dulled, as, I was taken inside the manor and up the stairs.

“Here Will. “ I saw Ashley right beside us opening the door to her room. Will walked in and placed me on Ashley’s bed.

“I’ll send Mrs Martin up as soon, as, she arrives.” And with that, Will turned around and left with a firm pull on the door, to close it again, leaving us alone.

“Did you see him Ash? Did you see him hit Charlie?” I said to Ashley with a small sob. She handed me a hanky from on top of her dresser and sat beside me. I turned to face her, and saw her quietly nod. She looked, as though, she had been crying too. “I know he didn’t do it, I just know it. I don’t even think he has been back to his Pa’s house, in all the time since he last hurt him. I felt so scared for him Ash.” I said through small sobs that seemed to be embedded into my chest.  Ashley, and I embraced and cried into each other’s hair. “Don’t know why I am crying so much Ashley I’m sorry.” I said, as, I pulled away.

“I do Payt, your pa is leaving tomorrow, you got pushed by that big man, and the way those men were holding onto Charlie, Payt. It’s all just a bit too much.” I nodded at her reasoning. I remembered that it was her father, that was leaving too; we had a lot to cry about right now. “We also need to get you out of these wet clothes, or you’ll catch a chill.” I hadn’t even remembered, that the back of my dress was soaking wet. I watched Ashley move towards her wardrobe, and take out a dress. Then I heard a noise outside Ashley’s door. I turned to see my mama and Lady Townshend walk in.

“Oh my, look at you both.” Lady Townshend said, as, she swept over to Ashley, she took her into a protective embrace. “I’m glad to see that your both ok.” When she pulled away from Ashley, she asked “what are you doing Ashley?” As, she saw, what Ashley was holding in her hand.

“Before Charlies Pa came, Payt fell into the water, she is wet still.” Lady Townshend took the dress from Ashley and started getting other items of clothing, that she thought I would need.

Meanwhile, mama came over to me and held me close. She rocked me back and forth and rubbed my hair. “Are you hurt much?” She said looking over my face, and wiped some rogue tears away. “Here, you best get off the bed so we can change you, and before too much water soaks through the cover.” I nodded and got up. I let my mama and Lady Townshend undress me, and then redress me into Ashley’s clean, dry clothes.

“I’ll go now and see if I can get something warm for you both to eat.” Mama said to Ashley, and I as, we sat together again on Ash’s bed.

“Yes good idea Anna, and then we shall find out what’s amiss.” Lady Townshend had always called my mama by her given name. It was a sign of their friendship. I knew we were such a blessed family to be working for the Townshends. “I know that John will get to the bottom of this.”

And again, we were left alone. I had been in Ashley’s room a number of times. When we were little, our mothers would shoo us up here, and we would play with Ashley’s doll house and dolls, for hours. I walked over to the old Doll house and absently picked up one of my favourite figurines. I liked it because it looked like me. Plain Brown hair and brown eyes, not cinnamon like Charlie said. This one had the appearance of an English peasant girl.  It was dressed in a grey dress, not much unlike the one I normally wear. I held that doll to my heart. And shut my eyes, yes this doll looked like me. Holding it reminded me of times, when all we did was play with dolls and worry about ribbons. And yes, it was practically yesterday.  Before long days of work, and worry. I had a feeling that things were going to change from today. Like Ashley said. Pa was leaving tomorrow. And from the sound of his conversation with Lord Townshend, not too long ago; Pa had plans to leave this place. I squeezed the doll tighter. Ashley came over to stand next to me. She fingered the edge of the roof, of the house, and then I saw an idea come to her as her eyes came alive with the new thought.