Liars And Thieves

Chapter 26

"What a fool," Grace sighed as her and Abigail stared down at the burnt remains of Catherine Braithwaite. Abigail sniffled as she pulled her shawl up onto her shoulders more. Grace turned her head to look at Abigail. "Are you sure you wanted to see her?" Abigail looked at Grace, giving her a small nod before looking back down at Catherine's body.

"If she wasn't dead already, I'd kill her myself," Abigail hissed. Abigail sniffed again, her hand reaching up to her left cheek as she brushed a small tear away. "He...he better be safe," Abigail muttered quietly. Grace turned her body to face Abigail, placing her hands on Abigail's shoulders and turning her to face her. Abigail kept staring down at Catherine. 

"He will be fine. Dutch is discussing plans with Arthur and John. They'll get him back," Grace comforted. Abigail didn't look too convinced. "Abigail," Grace added. Abigail turned her head slowly, her eyes watery but she nodded.

"I know. But not acting now isn't going to get him back," Abigail grunted. Grace sighed as she dropped her hands off of Abigail's shoulders as Abigail turned back to look at Catherine. They both stood in silence for a while as Grace figured that would be what Abigail would want. "Who steals a boy?" Abigail stuttered as she brought her hand up to her mouth, covering it slightly with a clenched fist. "He is just a child... a damn child."

"She wasn't right in the head," Grace explained, nodding at Catherine's burnt body. Abigail scoffed.

"That's for certain," Abigail agreed. Abigail fidgeted with her hands before turning to look at Grace again. "Can we head back now? I've seen what I need to," Abigail asked. Grace nodded immediately, the two of them walking over a burnt beam and stepping down what was left of the small steps. Abigail began to chuckle as they neared Uncle who Grace frowned down at. There he was, sat up against a tree fast asleep, not watching the horses as asked. "We could just leave him," Abigail joked as she walked around the back of the tree and sorted her horse.

"Uncle! Get up!" Grace scolded and Uncle jumped in fright. He looked up, fixing his hat up as he stood up slowly from age. 

"You two took long enough," Uncle grunted as he stood up straight. Grace rolled her eyes, ushering him towards his horse. 

"Not like you would've known. Now, come on. Let's get out of here before someone sees us," Grace insisted. Uncle sighed as he lifted his foot into the stirrup of his saddle as Grace swung up into her saddle, Abigail was already sitting on her horse. The two of them waited for Uncle to get on before Grace led them down the Braithwaite road, away from the manor. "Thank you, Uncle for coming. Not like you did much," Grace scoffed.

"Heaven forbid I doze off for a few seconds!" Uncle argued. Abigail sighed as the old man attempted to defend himself. "I am old you know, old! I need my rest."

"It's always your age or your lumbago with you," Grace pointed out, rolling her eyes.

"It's serious, just wait until you're old like me!"

"Enough! Let's have a nice ride home," Abigail ended the bickering. Uncle and Grace immediately caught their tongues, obeying Abigail. The group rode quietly, passing travellers as they all journeyed to a destination. Grace kept her eyes peeled for Lemoyne Raiders and anyone who looked like they wanted to cause trouble with them however to their delight, the roads were quite quiet for this time of day. Grace knew that was a good thing, they wouldn't get attention from anyone. Before Grace knew it, they were turning off of the road and onto the faint path that led towards the camp. The group slowed down to a trot, slowing down as they rode through a swampy area, avoiding overgrown tree roots on the faint path. Grace's eyes rested on the path ahead before she began to squint as two figures on horses rode towards them.