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Post by jessimyre on Mar 12, 2007 16:39:46 GMT -5
Early the next morning Elizabeth was up, shooing Rosanna to other tasks rather than helping her. "I can dress myself thank you," she smiled to her maid, "Although if you could help with my hair I would very much appreciate it."
Soon she was sitting out for breakfast on the wide veranda, watching birds on the lagoon and listening the the tranquility of their surrounds.
"I wish to visit the lady Jane Edding today." Elizabeth stated over the meal to her family. Her parents merely smiled and nodded. Her brothers smirked at eachother. They were obviously thinking of Jane's brother Micheal who had been smitten by Elizabeth on the journey from London. Elizabeth ignored them.
"I'll send one of the men around with the trap. Take your maid along with you." Her father replied absently, mind on his own chores for the day. Before long, Elizabeth was climbing into the trap, remarking delightedly at the fineness of the pony harnessed to it and enjoying the breeze in her face as they made the journey back into the city.
Still Rosanna was not forthcoming about the myterious Viento that had been mentioned the previous day. Elizabeth guessed correctly that the maid would not speak in front of the man driving them. Instead, she contented herself soaking in the sights of America around them.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 12, 2007 16:48:29 GMT -5
Orion had thought long and hard about what to do with Julia now dependent on him. The money that she had so innocently given him would help a great deal in establishing a home for her, but... He needed to have a better plan. He had long had a spot for a ranch of his own in mind, picked out when he had been riding the country between jobs. He had already filed on the water rights and controlled several thousand acres surrounded by a small range of mountains, and if this was a small range by most standards, it would be enough to raise Julia. But she would need schooling, and for that, she either needed to be closer to town...or...he wasn't sure. He had learned mostly from the books his father had read to him.
They had stayed overnight in 'Frisco, and he was about ready to head back out to get another job, but while he couldn't leave Julia alone nor would it be very good to take her out to a ranch where he would live in a bunkhouse surrounded by other men. Still puzzling over the problem, he retreived his horses from the stables and took Julia with him on a ride out of town. He was able to think better away from all the other people.
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Post by blossom on Mar 13, 2007 9:20:16 GMT -5
Suzy was up bright and early, and dashed down to the kitchens where she enjoyed a quick breakfast of toast, cheese and one burnt bacon rind. After she'd eaten, she made her way up the servants' staircase to Jane's room, to wake her mistress.
She rapped on the door three times before she recieved any reply, and when she went in Jane was half sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"C'mon, Lady Jane, time to get up!" Suzy smiled cheerfully, flinging the curtains open. With Suzy's energetic chivvying Jane was soon up and dressed, her hair neatly twisted into a knot at the back of her head.
She then joined her father and brother for breakfast, while Suzy was called upon by Adam and Bessie to help finish tidying the house.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 14, 2007 14:22:19 GMT -5
Just a little way out of town, Orion saw a trap headed toward them with two women in the back and a man driving. The trail was narrowing at that point, so he drew the horses to the side of the road and waited for the trap to pass them by.
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 14, 2007 18:39:08 GMT -5
As they drew closer to the city, they began passing more and more people. Elizabeth was gazing around, drinking in the sights and sounds. Something seemed familiar about the man who had moved over to let them pass with his two horses, and a little girl with him.
Suddenly Elizabeth recognised him, eyes widening she asked her driver to stop.
"Hello, sir. I don't mean to be rude, and forgive me if I am wrong but have I not seen you at the warf yesterday?" she asked him.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 15, 2007 10:23:35 GMT -5
Orion glanced around in surprise as the trap stopped and the lady inside spoke.
"Hello, sir. I don't mean to be rude, and forgive me if I am wrong, but have I not seen you at the warf yesterday?"
He remembered her now. The sailor had pointed her out as Lady Elizabeth. He took off his hat to the ladies. "Yes ma'm, it's possible you did."
He studied her and the girl beside her, waiting.
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Post by blossom on Mar 15, 2007 12:12:53 GMT -5
Suzy placed a small bouquet of hand-picked wildflowers into the blue ceramic vase, fanned them out slightly, and stepped back to admire the effect. Before being hired by the Eddings, her mother had worked in a flower shop in London, and it had been remarked that Suzy had inherited her talent.
Privately, Suzy never believed her efforts were as good as her mother's. But it still gave the room a fresh appeal, and filled it with scent as well. She had often placed flowers at strategic places in the Eddings' house in London, and during her exploring yesterday had come across several likely spots for bouquets in their new mansion.
Satisifed with her efforts, Suzy began to plump cushions. From the next room she could hear Jane practising the piano. She was playing an old favourite of the late Lady Eddings', Songbird.
Quietly, Suzy began to sing as she went about her work.
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Post by jessimyre on Mar 15, 2007 17:45:39 GMT -5
"I thought you must be." Elizabeth answered, her blue eyes dancing happily, "Please sir, could you tell us the quickest way to Meadowview House?" she asked.
At that moment, a large stage came rattling toward them, the horses being driven at speed, their coats a-sweat, and nostrils flared. The driver urged them on.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 16, 2007 12:45:46 GMT -5
Orion glanced quickly around, assessing the situation. The driver obviously couldn't see them. He handed Julia down into the trap in one quick move and whirled his horse toward the stage. If he could only catch the reins....
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Post by blossom on Mar 19, 2007 14:18:49 GMT -5
"There! Perfect." Suzy adjusted the picture frame then stepped back to admire it. She nodded, satisfied, and had just set foot on the stairs when she heard Bessie call from the kitchen.
"Blue! Could you come here?"
With a joyful spring in her step Suzy made her way to the kitchen, where she found Bessie elbow deep in dough and batter.
"I'm makin' a cake to cele-brate our move to America," she explained, "Adam was goin' ta 'elp, but he 'ad to run a letta from Lord Edding ta some bloke in town. Reckon you could lend an 'and?"
Suzy grinned and nodded, already rolling up her sleeves.
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 20, 2007 17:34:41 GMT -5
Orion swerved his horse toward the team, who shied away in mid-gallop. The driver shouted at him and the shotgun messenger raised his rifle. His appaloosa, a good cutting horse, turned nimbly and brought the reins into his reach. He leaned way out and snagged them, dragging the heads of the team to the right and off the trail.
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Post by blossom on Mar 25, 2007 15:12:18 GMT -5
"There," Suzy said with no small satisfaction as she slid the filled cake-tin into the blazing oven. Bessie laughed and clapped her on the shoulder.
"That's ma gel," she said with a grin, then looked around wonderingly, "Where's Adam? Surely he shoulda been back by now!"
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Post by twilightblade on Mar 26, 2007 10:09:11 GMT -5
The stage coach plunged to a halt, throwing the shotgun messenger to the ground...but not before he had fired the rifle. His shot went wild and grazed along Orion's head. All Orion felt was a shocking blow and then darkness, with Julia calling out his name.
"Uncle Orion! Uncle Ori---"
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Post by jessimyre on Apr 1, 2007 21:16:01 GMT -5
Elizabeth gasped in horror, it all happened so fast! Without a thought she leapt off the trap and ran toward where Orion was lying prone in the dusty road, his trusty horse had side-stepped but was staying with him. The little girl was screaming hysterically. Rosanna had also leapt down and with quick deft movements, she was ripping away at the hem of her petticoat.
"I'll bandage him, seniora." Rosanna pushed Elizabeth away, "You must calm the child." Despite her shock Elizabeth hurried to Julia, taking the little girl in her arms and doing her best to calm her down. Rosanna worked feverishly and in the meantime, their driver was arguing fiercly with the men from the stage.
"He must be taken somewhere safe now." Rosanna stood up, deftly, "He'll live but he must see a doctor right away."
Holding a sobbing Julia, Elizabeth turned her eyes to where the men were arguing. "John, take this man's good horse and ride to find a doctor." she ordered sharply, "Tell him to get along to Meadowview House right away. We'll take him there and meet you as soon as possible."
John nodded obediently and broke off his argument with the stage driver. Several worried heads peeped out of the stage, the passengers. The men began to speak sharply to Elizabeth regarding the dangerous act. John turned as though to argue again but Elizabeth drew herself up to her full height.
"Gentlemen I shall send my father along to deal with any problems you have in the morning. Right now a man's life is at stake and his health is more important than your time." she snapped. John and Rosanna jointly lifted Orion's prone body and settled him gently into the trap.
Ignoring onlookers, Elizabeth tied Julia's horse to the back of the trap, lifted the child into the seat and climbed up after her. John vaulted onto the Appaloosa and rode toward town, cantering quickly to find a good doctor. Elizabeth picked up the reins of their own pony and flicking them gently, urged him on.
"Now to get along to Jane's immediately." Elizabeth half spoke to herself. "There now, my love." She spoke kindly to Julia's tear-stained face. "Your Uncle will be just fine, we'll take good care of him for you." she spoke softly as she drove as fast as she dared into the city outskirts, trying to allay the child's fears.
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Post by blossom on Apr 2, 2007 4:40:54 GMT -5
Jane was reading in the parlour at the front of the house, and so was the first to see Elizabeth riding up in the trap. She stared out the window for a few minutes, then gasped with delight.
"Why, it's Elizabeth! Oh, how wonderful! But ... why is she driving herself? Honestly, I ... wait. Blue! Blue, darling, isn't that the child that was with you and your Mr. Talbot yesterday?"
"How many times do I 'ave to tell yer, Lady Jane," Suzy muttered, embarrassed, as she made her way over to the window, "He ain't my any .... why, it is Julia! But what ...? Oh, Lady Jane, I think summat awful's happen'd!"
Jane sprang from her seat and together with Suzy dashed outside, past Michael who looked very taken aback. Seeing the girls' serious expressions, however, he quickly followed. A smile of delight spread across his face when he saw Elizabeth, but faded as her recognised the urgency with which she travelled.
"Oh, what on earth could have happened?" Jane wondered, wringing her hands.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 2, 2007 10:41:33 GMT -5
Julia was gulping back sobs, and kept turning to pat at Orion's face. She looked up again at the woman driving. "He...he isn't going to die? Please tell me, he isn't!"
She saw Suzy then and flung herself out of the trap and at her, clinging desperately around her legs. "Please, please Miss Suzy, he can't die! Mama's gone; Uncle Orion's gonna take care of me! He can't die!"
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Post by blossom on Apr 2, 2007 10:54:29 GMT -5
Suzy dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around the little girl, her face ashen. Orion had been so kind to her, and if what Julia said was true then he had been badly hurt.
"Don't you worry, Julia," Suzy stroked the girl's hair the way her mother had stroked her own, "Don't you worry. Your uncle's gonna be just fine. We'll take care of 'im." She looked up at Lady Jane and Lord Michael, her eyes begging.
"Yes, we'll take care of him," Michael nodded, though with some reluctance. He then strode over to the trap to help Elizabeth's maid lift Orion down.
"Wh-what happened?" Jane asked hesitantly.
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Post by jessimyre on Apr 3, 2007 17:48:07 GMT -5
Elizabeth quickly explained the mishap in the road, indicating Orion with a sweep of her hand. Rosanna stood calmly beside her, not speaking. A groom was already on his way out to take the pony and trap - and Orion's other horse - around to the stables.
"And John has ridden for a doctor and shall meet us back here with him as soon as he is able." she finished, blue eyes anxious.
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 6:02:24 GMT -5
"Yes, of course," Jane nodded, then turned to her brother, "Michael, take Mr Talbot up to one of the spare rooms. He should be laying down. Suzy, go and tell Bessie - she'll know what to do until the doctor arrives. Elizabeth, you and I will go and inform my father. Julia," Jane bent down to look at the little girl, "Do you want to come with me and Elizabeth, or would you rather stay with Suzy?"
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 10:27:49 GMT -5
Julia looked up at her, then ovar at Suzy. "Stay with Uncle Orion?"
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 10:35:19 GMT -5
Jane hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "All right. You go with Michael and your Uncle Orion. Suzy, go and fetch Bessie. Elizabeth, let's go."
Suzy watched Jane hurry away to find her father with admiration. Most of the time her mistress was naive, and something of a scatterbrain, but occassionally she showed an intelligent, caring side. Suzy had seen it once before, when Jane's mother had had her accident. She hoped fervently that this time things would not end in the same way.
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 11:52:59 GMT -5
Julia smiled tremulously and ran up beside Michael and the still unconscious Orion. She looked up at him hopefully. "You gonna help Uncle Orion?" she asked Michael.
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Post by blossom on Apr 4, 2007 11:58:34 GMT -5
Michael glanced down at the little girl, his usual stern and uptight expression softening. The girl reminded him of his sister when she was young.
"Yes," he said, "We're going to do everything we can for your Uncle Orion."
Suzy ran down the corridor, holding her skirt up without thought of any impropriety. She also tumbled headlong into the kitchen, and Bessie, who was busy starting dinner, jumped with shock.
"Susan Higgins!" she reprimanded, "What on earth d'you fink you're doin'!?"
"Bessie! Bessie! Mr Talbot, the man who 'elped me yesterday, 'e's been 'urt, bad! Michael's takin' him upstairs now and someone gone ta fetch a doctor. Please Bess, you gotta come!"
"My goodness," Bessie turned white, "Lead the way."
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Post by twilightblade on Apr 4, 2007 14:15:39 GMT -5
Julia scampered alongside Michael as he carried Orion up the stairs, letting her big grey eyes take in every aspect of the huge house, but also keeping a watchful gaze on her uncle.
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Post by blossom on Apr 5, 2007 7:11:55 GMT -5
Michael carried Orion along the corridor to the guest room. Carefully, he laid the bigger man on the bed, and as he stepped back Suzy rushed it with Bessie.
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