Eulia And The Butterfly Dragon

Chapter 4 Agnes

The magistrate's butler had been aware of the thumping and muffled noises coming from his master's room. But knowing how the magistrate liked rough play did not think anything of it. He did not look forward to the clean up or the disposal of another body. But it was now well past breakfast so he thought he had better peek in.

With their wagon now empty Ian and his group had room to ride the wagon home which reduced the trip time by over half. They approached the road out at a slow pace and were stopped by uniformed guards then allowed to pass. Other guards were lining all the roads out scrutinizing all the traffic apparently looking for someone.

"Where you bound?" a guard asked standing at a gate that closed the road.

"Beaconsfield Village," Ian answered. Their wagon was approached by four additional guards then they were waved through. "We should be home just before lunch."

"Can we take the train?" Becky asked.

"The tracks end here," Mari said softly. "We live to the south in Orange County."

"Sissy got to take the train."

"She went north to take care of Granny Mable," Ian said, "you can take the train and visit her after the orange harvest."

"Is Sissy at Grandma's?"

"No, she's with Agnes. She will be home in a few days."

"Why did she go home early?"

"She hurt her ankle," Mari said.

"How come the train stops here?"

"Only two small villages are south of here, ours and Somerset," Ian replied, "We are at the very end of the peninsula."

"Then we get to the alligators!"

"Yes in Lake Murky and the cypress swamps," Ian said, "But we don't send cute little girls there."

"Can I have an alligator?"

"No!" both parents answered in unison.

"Then can I have a dragon?" Becky said pouting. Mari ran her hand through Becky's hair and laughed.

"Yes, you can have a dragon," then she winked at Ian.

*****

Phoebe carried the last box out of the general store and placed it carefully in the two wheeled donkey cart.The Yellow Coach had pulled up and she watched as Jacob had stepped out of the coach then reached back in and lifted out a young woman wearing a hooded red cape. "Jake what are you doing with that woman?" she asked.

"Hi Fee!" Eulia responded smiling.

"Euly?"

"Jake is helping me home, I hurt my ankle."

"Mom and Dad are upset with you Jake, where have you been?"

"I went to the market with Eulia and her family to help. I told Mom."

"Ian and his folks got home over eight hours ago, what were you two up too?" Phoebe said looking at them with suspicion.

"I got hurt and your brother has been very helpful."

"Is that Agnes's cart?" Jacob asked.

"I'm doing her shopping," Phoebe said sounding peeved, "You were supposed to help when you got back Euly."

"I'll put Euly into the cart and help you deliver everything including Euly to Agnes."

"How did you get hurt?"