When Midnight Comes

by Beryl Matthews

  She ventured a question. ‘Where are we going, sir?’

  ‘To a farm about five miles away. The man has acquired some animals he thinks I might be interested in. He is not a horse breeder, so I have my doubts they will be any good.’

  ‘You are an experienced and good judge of horses, so why do you need me?’ She held her breath expecting a sharp response, but he answered normally.

  ‘I can see if they are good enough for us, but I can’t discern their temperament as effectively as you. Some unscrupulous sellers will sedate them if they are difficult to handle, and I’m sure you will be able to sense that. We were caught like that with Midnight and Red Sunset’s sire, and we had a devil of a job trying to train them. Midnight turned out to be an excellent cavalry horse, but Red is far too unpredictable and disobedient to go to the cavalry. They need mounts that will obey their commands no matter what the situation facing them, not one who will turn round and kick to let you know he isn’t going to do that.’

  She roared with laughter; she couldn’t help it, and was pleased to hear him join in. ‘Red is a sweetie, really.’

  ‘With you he is. I was riding him when I was shot, and when I hit the ground he nearly finished me off with his great hooves. I ordered him to go home and get help, but I had no idea if he would. He did, though, thank goodness.’

  ‘Of course he did. He wouldn’t want you to be hurt; he loves you.’

  He cast her an amused glance. ‘Did he tell you that?’

  ‘He didn’t have to. I can tell from the look in his eyes when you are with him.’

  They pulled in a gate and she was surprised how quickly they had arrived at their destination. He helped her down as the farmer came to meet them, all smiles.

  ‘Major Frenshaw, welcome. I believe you will like the animals I have.’

  ‘This is my assistant, Miss Banner.’

  She saw the surprise in the man’s eyes, but he inclined his head politely.

  ‘I’ll see the stallion first.’

  ‘He’s ready for you, Major. Bring him out,’ he ordered the man standing ready.

  ‘Oh, my, he’s almost silver,’ she murmured quietly.

  ‘Stunning, I agree, but take a close look at him before I examine him.’

  He gave her a sly wink and she guessed he wanted a show put on, so she walked slowly towards the huge animal, speaking softly all the time, and he watched her every step. The man had a firm hold on him. ‘Let him go,’ she told him, standing about two feet away.

  ‘Sir?’ he asked, clearly doubtful about the request.

  ‘Do as she says,’ Harry commanded, and the man reluctantly released the horse and stepped away.

  The animal had his full attention on her while she continued to talk to him. Eventually he walked up to her and dipped his head so she could rub his neck and nose. Taking her time to make sure there was nothing amiss with the stallion, she looked over her shoulder. ‘You can examine him now, sir.’

  Harry strode towards them and began a thorough examination of the animal. ‘He hasn’t been subdued?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t believe so, sir. He is alert and his eyes are focussed and clear.’

  ‘He’s in fine condition, but do you think he will settle in with Midnight and Red?’

  A saucy smile crossed her face. ‘He said that he will, and he’s pleased we aren’t frightened of him, because these fools are.’

  ‘You made that up.’

  ‘Of course I did. Anyone can see these men are terrified of him. Where did they get such a magnificent horse?’

  ‘That’s what I’m wondering.’ He walked back to the waiting men. ‘I might be interested, but need to know where he came from.’

  ‘He was payment for a debt, along with two mares. The owner was Lord Hatton.’

  ‘I know of him, but how was he in debt to you?’

  ‘It was a gambling debt, Major.’

  He made a sound of disgust. ‘Let me see the mares.’

  They were brought out and one was perfect for their needs, but the other one was too old.

  ‘Don’t leave her here,’ Chrissie pleaded. ‘There’s no telling what these men will do with her, and she’ll be happy with the other horses.’

  He nodded and went to negotiate with the owner.

  An hour later they left, and Harry was obviously pleased with the deal he had made. ‘That man couldn’t wait to get rid of them, and we got them for a good price. I’m having them collected in the morning. You were a great help today.’

  ‘I’m pleased you managed to find suitable horses, but you didn’t really need me for that play-acting, did you? May I ask why, sir?’

  ‘I knew that man was a gambler before we came, and I wanted him to wonder what special skills you had and, hopefully, convince him that I had an unbeatable hand. That was inspired acting by telling them to release the horse. When the animal walked calmly towards you I heard his sharp intake of breath and knew he was impressed. That gave me the chance to get them at a reasonable price.’

  ‘So that masquerade was to convince him it would be useless to ask an exorbitant price?’

  ‘Exactly, and it worked beautifully.’

  ‘I didn’t realise you were quite so devious, sir.’

  ‘That’s business, Chrissie.’ He shot her an amused glance. ‘I think we are going to make a good team.’

  She ignored that remark. ‘I’m pleased you bought all three. They are fed up with being moved around and want a proper home.’

  ‘Did they tell you that?’ he teased.

  ‘Of course. They were happy to have someone to talk to.’

  A rumble of laughter came from the man beside her, and she smiled inwardly. At least he was in a good mood now – until she did something else to upset him. The first time she had met him his strong presence had almost overwhelmed her, but not any more. During their time together at the camp she had come to know his different moods and how they could change so quickly. Also, the thought of being sent away again didn’t fill her with despair as it did the first time. If and when that did happen she could go back to the people who cared for her. This time she had somewhere to go, so whatever happened she was no longer alone. She glanced at him and thought with satisfaction, you can shout and lose your temper now, Major Frenshaw, and it won’t bother me. Although I like you very much, you no longer have the power to frighten or upset me. I am more confident now, and I have you to thank for that.

  There was great excitement when the new horses arrived the next day. The two mares were put with the others they had, and the older one appeared to be very happy to be in a lovely field with them. The stallion they put separately in a paddock where he could look over the fence at Midnight and Red.

  ‘What are we going to call him?’ Harry asked her, as they watched the stallions inspecting each other.

  ‘Starlight,’ she replied immediately.

  ‘That sounds right. Now we have Midnight, Red Sunset and Starlight. All we need now is one named after the dawn and we have a set.’

  ‘That will come when the foals are born.’

  ‘Do you know, I’m never sure if you really can tell what’s going to happen, or if you are playing a game with us. Elsie was convinced you had “the gift”, as she called it, but you smile and deny it, saying that you make it all up. Which is it?’

  ‘You have to make your own mind up about that. It all comes down to what a person believes, doesn’t it?’

  ‘That isn’t an answer, and you know it.’

  ‘It’s the only one I have.’ She turned her attention back to the horses. ‘They look friendly enough with each other, so I can go back to work. If that’s all right with you, sir.’

  ‘I wish you’d damned well stop calling me that.’

  ‘I couldn’t possibly be disrespectful to my employer, sir. Servants can be dismissed for that.’

  He let out a deep sigh and slapped the fence in exasperation. ‘What am I going to do about you?’

  She watched
him spin round and march away. At that moment there was a nudge on her shoulder. ‘Hello, Starlight, what do you think of this place? Beautiful, isn’t it? I’m afraid I’ve made the master cross again, but don’t you worry about him, he’s really a very kind man.’

  The animal nodded his head up and down, and then turned to trot back and have another look at the two stallions over the fence.

  She was making her way back to the stables when a cart trundled in loaded with bales of hay, and she went straight to it and began helping the men to unload. The head groom, Bert, came over to her and shook his head. ‘If the master sees you doing that he will explode.’

  ‘I work in the stables and that means doing anything necessary. I’m quite capable of lifting bales of hay.’

  ‘You’re a strong lass and used to hard work, but he might sack me for allowing you to do heavy lifting.’

  ‘No, he won’t; I won’t let him. While I’m here I’ll do the same work as the other hands, and woe betide anyone who tries to stop me.’ She grinned at Bert and hoisted a bale on to her shoulders. ‘Where do you want this?’

  ‘In the barn, and stack it neatly, then I want you to go to the blacksmith. One of Midnight’s shoes has come loose, and you know what he thinks about blacksmiths.’

  Her musical laughter echoed around the yard, bringing a smile to the faces of the other workers.

  ‘Ah, it’s good to have you back again,’ young Adam said as she returned for another bale. ‘Will you stay this time?’

  ‘I really don’t know. It all depends on how much I upset the master.’

  ‘That’s a great deal, from what I’ve seen,’ Bert remarked dryly.

  She hoisted up another bale. ‘I do seem to have the habit of saying the wrong thing to him.’

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Standing out of view, Harry watched the scene, not knowing whether to laugh or explode with frustration. That tough girl was enjoying herself, knowing he had practically begged her to come back. She had completely ignored his offer of working closely with him and returned to her old position as a stable lad. There was a confidence about her that hadn’t been there before, and to be truthful he liked her even more like this, but she thought she had the upper hand, and he wasn’t going to allow that. I’m not defeated yet, Miss Banner, he muttered to himself. If you want a fight, then you’ve got one. It’s what I’m trained for.

  ‘Oh, who has upset you now?’ his father asked the moment he walked in.

  ‘That infuriating girl, of course. I offered her a more elevated post, and what does she do?’

  Charles tried to keep his amusement at bay, and failed. ‘I’m sure you are going to tell me.’

  ‘She goes straight back to being a stable lad, and she’s out there unloading bales of hay!’

  ‘Have you told her that isn’t her job?’

  ‘Repeatedly! She just smiles sweetly, calls me “sir” all the time, and does exactly what she wants.’

  His father was openly laughing now. ‘I think she’s decided that no one is going to push her around again. Good for her. I liked her from the moment I saw her.’

  ‘How much do you like her?’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘It’s a simple question, Father. Do you like her enough to accept her as a daughter-in-law, regardless of her background?’

  He stared at his son in shock, suddenly realising why Harry had stayed with the Travellers for so long, and why he had insisted on bringing her back with him. He wondered why he hadn’t seen that sooner. Of course, the sheltered society girl would never suit his son. He needed someone strong in body and mind who would be able to cope with this sometimes volatile man. ‘I don’t give a damn about her background, and I’d be proud to call her one of the family.’

  ‘Good, because I intend to marry her.’

  ‘Now I see why you didn’t tell me sooner, but does she know about this?’

  ‘No. If she did she’d be off faster than Red can charge. She’s told me to my face that she doesn’t trust me.’

  ‘You also told me that the girl you want to marry doesn’t like you either.’

  Harry shrugged. ‘She does really; she just doesn’t know it yet.’

  Charles still couldn’t believe what he was being told, but he wasn’t unhappy about it. Even so he felt he had to add a note of caution. ‘You do know you haven’t got a chance of persuading her to become your wife, don’t you?’

  ‘I agree it isn’t going to be easy, but I’ve never backed away from a fight, and I’m not defeated yet.’

  ‘I can understand you falling for Chrissie. She’s intelligent and beautiful, but have you considered the problem such a union would cause? We are quite isolated here, but there are times when we need to mingle with society. It could be difficult for her.’

  ‘Dressed fashionably, and with her natural grace, she would enhance any function, and I would be proud to have her on my arm.’

  ‘I don’t doubt that, but would she want to be a part of society like that? Think of her for a moment, and not what you want.’

  ‘I understand what you are saying, but given our support I believe she could cope with anything.’ He prowled over to the window. ‘I have your approval, at least, so all I’ve got to do now is convince her she wants to marry me.’

  All? Charles thought. You have a monumental task ahead of you, my boy.

  ‘I’m going to have another look at the new stallion; want to come with me?’

  When his father nodded, they strode out together as they made their way to the paddock. He was well aware of all the pitfalls that could occur from the choice he had made, and knew his father had felt it his duty to point them out. However, during the time he had spent with Chrissie, he had come to know her quite well, and was certain she wouldn’t allow society snobs to upset her. There were a few young ladies who would have married him without hesitation because of his wealth and status, but not one of them had merited more than a passing glance from him. What he’d always wanted in a wife was a companion who wouldn’t be afraid of the powerful horses, someone who would work with him, and above all things who wouldn’t settle for less than love and respect for each other. It was a lot to ask, and he often doubted he would find such a person, but he had. Chrissie was strong, beautiful, had a sense of humour and adored the magnificent animals. She was everything he had ever wanted, and he didn’t give a damn about her background. It was what had made her who she was. All he had to do now was convince her that he was the one for her, and that wasn’t going to be an easy task, but he relished the challenge.

  ‘My word, what a glorious animal!’ his father exclaimed when they reached the paddock.

  His father’s voice cut through his thoughts and he leant on the gate. ‘Isn’t he perfect?’

  ‘What is his temperament like?’

  ‘According to our expert, it’s good.’

  ‘Expert?’

  ‘Chrissie. I’m an expert on horseflesh, but she seems to be able to look deeper. I didn’t want a repeat of the trouble we had in the past with an uncontrollable stallion, and that’s why I took her with me.’

  ‘And she liked him?’

  ‘He walked up to her like a lamb, and she was sure he hadn’t been sedated. We also bought two mares at the same time. One is suitable for breeding, but the other is too old. However, she convinced me to take all three because they told her they were fed up with being moved around and wanted a proper home.’ Harry chuckled. ‘She tells you things like that with a perfectly straight face.’

  ‘I know, and it’s hard to decide if she means it or not. I think she has a saucy sense of humour.’ His father grinned. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Probably doing something she shouldn’t.’ He turned and faced the stables and raised his commanding voice. ‘Chrissie!’

  She appeared at the door of the stables, fork in hand. ‘Sir?’

  ‘Put that down and come here for a moment, please.’

  Doing as ordered, she came over to them
smiling brightly and sketched a quick curtsy to Charles, which was more than a little comical as she was wearing breeches and had a large smudge of dirt on her face. ‘Good afternoon, your lordship. Isn’t it a lovely day?’

  ‘It is, indeed.’ He was struggling not to burst in to laughter. ‘What have you been doing to get so dirty?’

  ‘Don’t ask, Father.’

  She turned her attention back to Harry, still smiling. ‘What did you call me for, sir?’

  ‘I want to know if it’s safe to put Starlight in with the other two boys yet.’

  ‘I’ll go and ask them.’ She climbed over the fence and walked across the field.

  Charles couldn’t contain himself any longer and doubled over with laughter. ‘Why doesn’t she use the gate?’

  ‘That would be too easy,’ his son replied dryly.

  ‘I take back everything I said in the library. She isn’t afraid of those beasts or you, and she’d make you a perfect wife. I tell you one thing, though, my son, if you do manage to persuade her to marry you, it will not be a dull union.’

  ‘I’m fully aware of that, and a dull marriage is the last thing I want.’ He watched her walk back, chatting away to the animal as he followed her.

  ‘Starlight said he wants to go and play with the other two.’

  Harry ran a hand over his eyes. ‘And what do the other two think about that?’

  ‘It’s all right. They think he’s pretty.’

  Charles had to turn away to conceal his mirth. She was playing games with his son, and it was clear he had met his match in her. If she had an inkling of his feelings for her, she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

  ‘In that case you can open the gate for them.’ Harry shook his head almost imperceptibly, and somehow managed to remain straight-faced.

  ‘Right, come and meet your friends,’ she told the horse and began to run towards the adjoining gate with the horse trotting excitedly beside her.