Moonstruck Madness

by Laurie McBain

  “O good Lord Judge, and sweet Lord Judge,

  Peace for a little while!

  Methinks I see my own father,

  Coming riding by the stile.

  “Oh father, oh father, a little of your gold,

  And likewise of your fee!

  To keep my body from yonder grave,

  And my neck from the gallows tree.

  “None of my gold now you shall have,

  Nor likewise of my fee;

  For I am come to see you hanged.

  And hanged you shall be.”

  Sabrina closed her ears to the following verses that carried the heroine begging for salvation from her brother, sister and mother, all to no avail, until finally her sweetheart saves her from the hangman.

  “Rather appropriate song for him to be singing—Charlie?” a deep voice spoke close to Sabrina’s ear.

  Sabrina looked up in surprise at the use of her nickname and stared into Colonel Fletcher’s penetrating gray eyes that were locked on her face as though seeing her for the first time.

  “Rather an odd name, this Charlie, that your very big friends call you,” he puzzled. Then as the last notes of the song died out, he commented, “You don’t care for his song, or is it that it brings painful images to mind?”

  “It does not bother me, Colonel. Why indeed should it?” Sabrina responded casually, a pulse beating in her throat.

  The colonel smiled thoughtfully. “It would me, if I were in your position.”

  “My position?” Sabrina questioned doubtfully, giving him a sympathetic look. “Are you sure the sun is not a bit too strong, Colonel? It has been known to cause hallucinations.”

  The colonel continued to stare at Sabrina’s upturned face, shaking his head in disbelief. “I do feel dizzy from the startling discovery I have just made, and should I dare to make it known, I do believe I should be suspected of derangement,” he admitted, then staring into Sabrina’s violet eyes added very softly, “but we would know different, would we not, Bonnie Charlie?”

  Mary gasped and stared in horror at the colonel’s tall figure, seeing only his sword swinging at his side and representing disaster.

  Sabrina gave an incredulous laugh that sounded convincing. “You are indeed crazed, Colonel, if you imagine anyone in their right senses would believe such a harebrained story as that. Why, one would think it had been concocted in a tavern when one had been in high spirits, but hardly believable, or indeed, amusing,” Sabrina told him presenting him with a haughty profile.

  “That act of affronted dignity may work on some, but not on me. This is not the time or place to discuss your affairs, but discuss them I shall. You may expect a visit from me this afternoon. Until then, ladies.” He bowed and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Sabrina and Mary standing speechlessly beside each other.

  “Oh, dear, what are we going to do, Rina?” Mary asked faintly, still staring into the crowd after the colonel.

  “Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Sabrina replied, her mouth twisting into a smile. “We shall call the good colonel’s bluff, for that is all that it is. He has no proof against me, and he shall be able to find none. And should he pursue his suspicions,” Sabrina shrugged complacently, “he will be laughed out of the county.”

  “You really aren’t worried, are you?” Mary said in amazement as she saw Sabrina’s calm expression.

  “I’ve been up against far smarter men than the colonel and won. Besides, this charade is drawing to a close and then we need not worry at all about Colonel Fletcher,” Sabrina said contemptuously, hiding the momentary fear she had felt under mocking laughter. “Come on, let’s enjoy ourselves. I’ll not have that redcoat spoil my day,” Sabrina proclaimed, urging Mary along with her.

  They moved on through the crowd with Richard in tow, passing groups of men whose voices were raised as they called for their favorites in a wrestling match or cockfight, the refreshments flowing generously as the heat parched their throats and spirits rose as the alcohol heated up their blood. They stood for a minute watching the auctioning off of colts and horses at the trader’s stalls, but turned back before reaching the area set off for bull-baiting. The cruelty and viciousness of setting dogs at a chained bull for a shilling, and watching the dogs get tossed around and the bull bitten at by the snarling dogs, had never appealed to them.

  Threading their way back the way they had come they gradually made their way towards their cart. There were more people than before crowding the lanes, pushing and shoving, laughing and arguing as they enjoyed the festivities. Nearing the butcher’s stall, the flies hovering close above the cuts of beef, a fistfight suddenly erupted into the noisy chatter.

  Two young farmers, who had had too much ale, were rolling and punching in the space cleared by the yelling spectators. A young, bright-eyed girl was watching eagerly, a bunch of colorful ribbons clutched in one hand, and a locket in the other.

  “Fightin’ over a woman.” Sabrina heard someone say as the two men grunted in the dirt at the crowd’s feet.

  “Come on, Richard,” Sabrina said nervously. “The crowd’s growing restless.”

  Someone pushed a brawny boy, who turned and slugged a bespectacled clergyman whose friend tackled the offender in outrage and in the process fell into a pie-woman whose pies slid into the dust as she shrieked in rage. Fists began to fly and feet up-ended as people were knocked down in the scuffle. The butcher grabbed a cleaver should anyone come too near his display, and stood watching the tumbling bodies with glee.

  Sabrina grasped Mary’s arm, and pulling Richard between them they tried to press their way out of the mass of sweating bodies that surged forward at the sound of a fight.

  Mary tripped, crying out as she began to fall to her knees, disappearing under the countless heads and shoulders surrounding them. Sabrina tried to reach out over Richard’s head, holding onto him as he was pulled off balance as Mary fell, then just as suddenly as she had disappeared, Mary reappeared, her blue silk bonnet knocked sideways and a scarlet arm encircling her shoulders as Colonel Fletcher cleared a path through the crowd. He moved before Sabrina and Richard, shielding them from wildly flailing elbows and fists that were spreading throughout the crowd as tempers flared in the crush.

  “Hold onto my waist,” he called over his shoulder. Sabrina gratefully grabbed his wide waist, hooking her fingers through his belt and holding Richard close under her other arm.

  Colonel Fletcher’s shiny boots stepped on toes and kicked up dust as he cleared an avenue of escape through the melee. Sabrina thought she heard the sound of a fist hitting a jaw once and a cry of pain before they quickly passed a crumpled form. Sabrina kicked out at unprotected shins as they passed, often making contact with satisfaction as she heard grunts of surprise. She took a deep breath of fresh air as they made the open, the colonel leading them clear of the battling foray behind.

  “Thank you so much,” Mary murmured faintly as the colonel looked down at her pale face. His arm tightened around her small waist protectively as he watched her with concerned eyes.

  “Are you all right, Lady Mary?” he asked worriedly.

  Sabrina glanced up sharply at his words. Since when had he been concerned about Mary’s welfare? She watched them closely as Colonel Fletcher handled Mary like a piece of porcelain. He glanced up suddenly, encountering Sabrina’s interested and slightly hostile gaze, and flushed.

  “Where is your carriage?” he demanded.

  “We came in a cart. Over there.” Sabrina indicated their cart, and followed as Colonel Fletcher half carried Mary to it.

  Richard jumped in and helped the colonel lift Mary in, although the way he held her so easily, Sabrina thought he’d need little assistance.

  “You ladies should not have attended without proper escort,” he told them angrily. “These fairs always degenerate into rowdyism and fisticuffs.”

  He
turned from Mary, who had closed her eyes, and stared accusingly at Sabrina. “I could scarce believe my eyes when I spotted you in the thick of things. You forget, Lady Sabrina, or are you more comfortable being called Charlie, that your sister and young brother are not quite up to your escapades, nor used to a certain element that you must come into contact with often. I thought I would never get them safely out of that crowd of ruffians.”

  “We are most grateful, Colonel Fletcher, but I for one have had enough of your company for the day,” Sabrina told him, stung by his accusation. “First you accuse me of being a highwayman, and now of mistreating my brother and sister. You go too far. Good day to you, sir.”

  “If you were under my command I would have had you whipped long ago,” Colonel Fletcher said through gritted teeth as he struggled to hold on to his temper.

  Sabrina smiled unpleasantly. “I have felt the lash, Colonel, and it only serves to strengthen my resolve not to be bullied by the likes of you.”

  The colonel looked surprised for a moment at the sudden blaze of wrath in her eyes that just as quickly died, but a tightness remained around her mouth that betrayed her deep feelings.

  “I will escort you ladies home now,” the colonel said, not waiting for the refusal he expected as he looked down at Sabrina’s frown beneath the wide brim of her straw bonnet, daring her to contradict him.

  Shrugging, she accepted his escort and climbed into the cart. They waited patiently while the colonel fetched his horse and left orders for his men.

  “Are you going to arrest all of those people?” Richard asked in awe as the colonel rode alongside their cart.

  “No, that would certainly cause a riot, they’ll be suffering enough with sore jaws, so I think I’ll let that be their punishment.”

  “How are you, Mary?” Sabrina asked softly, the colonel’s criticism still stinging as she touched Mary’s arm lightly.

  Mary smiled tiredly. “Fine, Rina. I’m sorry I acted so silly, but all of those bodies pressing in on me—I just couldn’t bear it any longer. Thank goodness Colonel Fletcher was there.” She glanced up at him shyly as he rode alongside them, his back straight as a board as he sat easily in the saddle.

  “Keep your attention to the road ahead, Richard,” Sabrina reprimanded him sharply as his eyes kept stealing up to the proud military figure in awestruck wonder, “or I shall think twice about letting you take the reins.”

  Richard turned back to the road ahead, his hands firm on the reins. “I’m watching, Rina,” he reassured her. “But did you see the way he cleared a path through that crowd?”

  Colonel Fletcher glanced down at Richard’s words. “When you’re my size, Richard, you’ll be able to push your way through a crowd too.”

  “Richard, eyes forward.” Sabrina fumed inwardly. The colonel was certainly on friendly terms with her family, addressing them so informally, acting the uncle with Richard.

  “Sabrina is going to teach me how to shoot now that I can see really good,” Richard boasted. “She can shoot a pistol better than anyone.”

  “I’m sure she can, Richard. But then you’ve had a lot of practice, haven’t you, Lady Sabrina?” Colonel Fletcher replied conversationally.

  Richard flushed, looking chagrined as he realized what he’d let slip out. He glanced up at Sabrina worriedly and received a reassuring smile, his frightened features relaxing.

  They rode the rest of the way to Verrick House in an uncomfortable silence, and when they reached it the colonel followed them in uninvited as though he belonged there. Sabrina quickly excused herself and followed Richard upstairs. The colonel could just wait for that little talk he wanted.

  “Please be seated,” Mary told the colonel as they entered the salon.

  “It would please me if you would call me Terence,” he said softly, startling a blush across Mary’s cheeks.

  “R-really, Colonel, I know that I am grateful for your assistance at the fair, but before that you made some rather serious accusations against my sister which I really cannot forget, nor forgive,” Mary spoke quickly, mixed emotions flickering on her usually serene face.

  “I am sorry if I upset you, Mary,” he said her name deliberately, “but I think it is about time that a man stepped in and took command of this household. Your sister has been running wild long enough. God knows it started that morning so long ago in the hills of Scotland with a loaded pistol in her hand. Can’t you see that I want to help your family? You have no idea of the danger your sister is in each time she masquerades as Bonnie Charlie.”

  Mary bit her lips. “No one has admitted that Sabrina is Bonnie Charlie. It is ridiculous, Colonel,” Mary refuted his statement.

  “Is it really so ridiculous? An odd coincidence that you are from Scotland and the highwayman is Scots also. He is rather small and his two henchmen are exceptionally large, like those two large men talking in such a friendly fashion to your sister this afternoon, and then, Mary,” the colonel added as his final proof, “they called her Charlie.”

  Mary remained silent. “You still have no positive proof, Colonel. No one would believe you, you will look the fool,” she told him quietly, refusing to trust him.

  “Do you really believe that I would turn your sister over to the authorities? I’m not quite that inhuman, but neither can I allow her to continue to rob and terrorize the countryside. She must be stopped.”

  Mary turned away from his penetrating stare and looked out of the window. What was she to do? How could they afford to make an enemy out of this man? If only they had a little more time, then all would be finished and he need never know the truth. He couldn’t hurt them then.

  “Mary,” Colonel Fletcher spoke softly as he came up behind her stiff back, “don’t fight me.”

  Mary jumped as she felt his large hand lightly touch her shoulder and curve around it. She turned her head up against his shoulder and tried to pull free. “Really, Colonel, you are far too bold. Please release me this instant.”

  “I intend to be far bolder, Mary,” he answered audaciously, pressing her closer against the hard metal buttons of his uniform. “You present quite a challenge to an old soldier, and I find I am always at my best when on a campaign with a particular objective to take.”

  Mary’s face flamed at his words. “Sir, I will not become the object of your maneuvers, nor, indeed, are these your barracks that you may come in here and issue orders as though we were under your command!”

  Colonel Fletcher laughed. “I’d wondered if you’d a bit of your sister’s defiance in you. I’ve yet to meet such a cocky wench as that one. It seems inconceivable that you are related. So different in every way,” he murmured as he lifted a red curl from the back of her neck, “one demure and sweet, the other high-strung and meddlesome.”

  Mary stared into his eyes in growing panic as she felt his arm slip around her waist. “I thought men liked women with spirit?”

  “Some men, yes, but as a soldier who has been involved in far too many battles I now seek a gentle woman, one I can be friends with and share a home with, not a battlefield. I am tired of skirmishes and only want tranquility. I pity the man who takes on your sister, for that is all he shall have—one fight after another. He’ll never have a peaceful moment, for she shall keep him wondering what she is up to. No, that is not for me, no matter how beautiful she happens to be.” He looked down into the gray eyes staring up at him, the small nose with the light sprinkling of freckles, the soft mouth, and spoke more to himself than to her. “I think I have found my stronghold at last.”

  His tanned face lowered to hers and his mouth touched hers briefly before crushing its softness beneath his in a long kiss. He turned her unresisting body around and held her close as her untutored lips clung to his.

  “Mary, let me help you,” he spoke against her ear, his lips lingering against the smoothness of her fiery cheek. “You’re so sweet, I want to teach y
ou so many things.”

  “Please, let me go,” Mary pleaded. “Someone may enter.” She struggled for a moment before Colonel Fletcher released her, but kept a firm hold on one of her hands. Mary tidied her hair with a shaking hand, straightening the lace at her breast carefully, while the colonel watched in amusement.

  “You’ve never been kissed by a man before, have you?” he asked although he already knew the answer. “Are you going to let me help you?”

  “I-I don’t know what you are talking about?” Mary answered, flustered, wishing someone would come in and rescue her from this predicament.

  “You can’t avoid the issue forever,” he told her seriously. “I have my duty to perform, and I am one of the king’s men, Mary. I do not want to hurt you or your family, but I cannot allow your sister to continue.”

  “Continue what, Colonel?” Sabrina demanded as she entered the room, noticing with a start the clasped hands of Mary and the colonel as she came forward to stand before the tall, red-coated officer. “You do persist in this outrageous notion of yours, and now,” she said meaningfully as she sent a mocking glance at their locked hands, “what stratagem are you using to gain information? Are you seducing my sister in order to get her to tell you all you think she knows? Well,” Sabrina laughed, sending Mary a cautionary glance, “she is not fool enough to fall for your sweet words and honeyed phrases. She knows that it would all be lies, don’t you, Mary?”

  The colonel’s lips thinned ominously as he stared in anger at Sabrina. He looked down at Mary’s stricken face and felt white-hot with rage. “Very well done, Lady Sabrina, I compliment you on your tactics, although I am not sure whether you believe your own words or not. However, you are mistaken about my motives, at least concerning Mary, for I have not lied to her. Although thanks to you I doubt whether she will believe me now.”