A Grand And Awful Time: The Vendetta (currently text-only)

[Captain Dee]

A Grand And Awful Time: The Vendetta 

   THE COLONIAL WORLD was busy exploring new lands and building settlements and trading goods and fighting off pirates, but Sir Jay Dee had other matters on his mind. Every evening when he left his iron foundry he traveled through the plantation, headed for the manor home, and every evening he was presented with the sight of dozens of deer feeding freely on the crops. And it made his blood boil.

   It was a lovely evening in mid-spring when he managed to leave the foundry earlier than usual and made the fateful decision to ride out to inspect the damage in several of the fields. He mounted his trusty stallion, the temperamental black beast affectionately named "Tornado," and quietly slipped out between the fields of corn and beans and cotton and other crops to a secluded spot near the woods where he'd seen numerous deer coming and going. The cotton looked undisturbed, and the corn had been only lightly nibbled upon; but the beans, being legumes and highly favored by the deer, had been devoured. Large swaths of the field were bare save only the naked stems protruding from the ground and the whole surface seemed covered with deer tracks of all shapes and sizes. He shook his head in disgust, dismounted, and walked a short distance out into the field. A small number of the plants were largely undisturbed, but the vast majority that remained displayed the telltale signs of grazing damage. There was only one solution...

   He repeatedly shook his head in frustration as he slowly walked back to his impatient steed and swung himself up into the saddle and turned for home. They had traveled but a short distance when they surprised a large doe standing in the stubble of the harvested barley, facing them and eating grains that had fallen on the ground. Jay quietly stopped Tornado, who twitched his ears in nervous anticipation, and the deer froze in place, neck fully extended, staring at them as she assayed the potential danger they presented. Without taking his eyes off the deer Jay slowly, cautiously reached for the trusty musket he always carried with him.

   The doe continued staring at them and moved not a whisker as Jay slowly lifted the heavy musket into firing position. He could scarcely believe his eyes, despite having killed deer in the same manner before, and just as he steadied his aim and cocked the hammer she flicked her ears, as if she was about to run...

   "Thieving rascal," he muttered and squeezed the trigger.

   The thunderous report of the musket fire echoed off the hills and trees and quickly faded into silence, and the deer crashed violently into the ground, rolled onto her back and briefly kicked all four legs skyward in a shower of dirt and blood before coming to a rest. And just as Jay expected, Tornado lived up to his name.

   The magnificent stallion reared up on his powerful hind legs, snorted and roared and pawed at the air with his front legs and shook his head to and fro, and as soon as he returned to all fours he reared up and did it all over again, and then a third time. Jay held on tight and rode out the bucking of the bronco. "Easy, boy, easy!" he called out several times, and finally the horse calmed down to the point of simply tossing his head and snorting. He then briskly trotted to the downed deer without encouragement from Jay and noisily reared up one last time, making sure to stay on two legs for as long as possible, before coming to a rest with the deer at his feet. "Easy, boy," Jay said again and quickly dismounted with musket in hand, whereupon Tornado immediately began jumping and spinning this way and that, wildly twisting and circling the deer while repeatedly kicking his back feet high in the air. He finally stopped moving facing Jay and the deer, snorted loudly several times, and pawed the ground with his left front hoof. And then he slowly extended his neck to sniff at the deer and was suddenly calm.

   Jay chuckled and said, "Tornado, boy, you're a wild devil, you are." Then he knelt to examine the deer. She was a few years old, had nursed a fawn from the looks of things, and appeared to be in excellent condition apart from the bullet hole entering the upper front of the left shoulder. "Excellent," he muttered to himself. Perhaps such shots mangled more of the meat, but they were generally effective at dropping deer in their tracks, which was usually his objective. He knew without looking that there was no exit hole, owing to the nearly head-on angle of the shot, and gathered up the limp carcass by the hind legs and began to drag it to the nearest edge of the woods to field dress it. Tornado dutifully trotted along behind him and stood guard while Jay worked with his knife, and snorted impatiently from time to time but otherwise kept an alert eye on the surroundings.

   When Jay was finished he whistled and Tornado turned to face him. "Tornado, boy, lie down," he commanded. The horse pricked his ears but didn't move. Jay stood and gently slapped him on the rump. "Lie down, boy." The stallion snorted and gently dropped to the ground, and then turned his head suspiciously to supervise the proceedings. Jay pulled the gutted carcass of the deer across the horse's back, just in front of the saddle, until the front and rear legs were hanging off opposite sides, and then said, "Stand, boy. Easy now. Stand up." Tornado twitched his ears repeatedly as he cautiously rose to his feet. Jay sheathed his knife, grabbed his musket and swung himself into the saddle, and his steed tossed his head energetically and immediately turned and headed for home. "Atta boy, Tornado," Jay said with a grin, but his smile quickly faded as he looked out over the vastness of the surrounding fields. "Dee vs. Deer: The Plantation Wars," he muttered to himself. "One down, a thousand to go." The thrill of the kill notwithstanding, it didn't exactly give him feelings of euphoria. No amount of fresh venison would ever compensate for the losses on the plantation.

* * * * * * * * * *

Primary characters:

Sir Jay Dee (sigfig): colonist from Corrington, mid-30s

Olivia de Lafayette : young woman (age 19) from one of Oleon's noble families who, along with her siblings, was captured by pirates while leisurely sailing the family yacht and eventually brought to the island of Cocovia, where she escaped with her 7-year-old sister, Elise, before crossing paths with Sir Dee in the jungle wilderness while he was exploring the island's natural resources. The two girls currently preside in his estate in the country outside King's Harbour; Olivia's twin sister Isabella was previously sold into slavery by their captors and her status is unknown.

[Notes: this story was originally planned to be a chapter in my sigfig's colonial story, but it grew into a story within a story. I am currently unable to illustrate this with builds due to my bricks being packed away for a major renovation to the century-old farmhouse. Eventually I hope to illustrate this to our collective satisfaction. Meanwhile I will continue posting the story, a piece at a time. It will show the good, bad, and ugly of my sigfig. You've been warned...  ]

Edited June 13, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   Thereafter Jay began hunting the plantation nearly every evening. He would ride out alone on Tornado and tie him a safe distance away, out of sight and easy scent range. And he brought with him five loaded muskets that were marked to identify their unique shooting characteristics, to allow for faster shooting at larger groups, although he dreaded the thought of cleaning and reloading them afterwards. He picked a number of locations that showed obvious signs of heavy deer traffic, had clear sight lines, and suitable spots from which to shoot. He tried to arrive at least an hour before nightfall and get settled in, and then it was just a matter of waiting. Watching... and waiting. Most days he saw multiple deer, and some were beyond shooting range, but on a good day he would get at least a single shot, and one good shot was all he usually needed.

* * * * *

   Early one evening seven deer walked out within easy shooting range of his hidden location and belligerently began browsing among the beans, as if they owned the place, oblivious to his presence. Using his favorite of the five muskets first, he quickly took aim on the shoulder of the closest deer and fired while muttering, "Eat lead and die." It collapsed violently to the ground in a heap, stone dead, and all but one of the others ran to the safety of the adjacent forest. He quietly set the musket aside and reached for another while the one remaining deer held its head high, sniffing the air, trying to determine what had happened. It stood statue-still in a perfect broadside position while he aimed at its vitals. "Kiss your spotted fawns goodbye," Jay muttered and fired. The deer leapt into the air and charged wildly into the woods, but quickly collapsed dead as the musket ball had fully pierced both lungs. Jay chuckled and reached for another musket. Several minutes later the rest of the group returned, and one of them stayed behind, albeit in a grounded position, after Jay informed it to "Say hello to my little friend." Ten minutes passed, and the remaining deer returned yet again. Jay grinned and muttered, "A fatal attraction," while musket No. 4 delivered a profoundly eloquent discourse that sent it's recipient running... to it's death. Only three of the deer remained, and several minutes passed before they cautiously re-emerged from the woods and began timidly grazing along the edge of the field. Using the last of the five muskets, Jay took a bit longer to aim due to the deer being near the extent of his comfortable firing range. "Oh, deer," he muttered as he fired. "There's a killer on the loose." The three deer again bolted and ran. Two of them ran for their lives, but the life ran out of the third!

   Not all of the hunts were so productive. One evening six deer came out within easy firing range. He fired... and missed. Unperturbed, they didn't run. He fired again... and missed again. They still didn't run. Suffice it to say that after the third straight miss the language began to get colorful. Eventually the deer had enough of the noise, and scampered away unharmed, not quite sure what to make of the whole affair. "Dear deer diary," Jay muttered. "I shot at five deer today. Notice the use of the word '"at.'"

   On another occasion he attempted a difficult shot on a deer grazing near the top of a long hill. It was standing just over the crest of the hill, near the trees growing on the edge of the field, and he carefully took aim and... flinched. His finger had not, in fact, been against the trigger, and when he pulled back to fire he jerked unnaturally and lofted the musket shot into the treetops. Oblivious to his presence, the deer lifted it's head and looked all around before slowly walking along the top of the hill until it was nearly out of sight. It stopped, paused... and then walked back over the hill, in his direction, and began nibbling it's way down the beans, straight toward him! He could scarcely believe his luck as the deer slowly approached him, and he stealthily lifted the second musket into position and maintained a moving aim. When it had halved the original distance between them it suddenly turned broadside and stopped with its head up, as if it had detected his scent, and he wasted no time in firing the readied musket. The deer took two wild leaps, crashed to the ground, and flopped violently for a moment before going limp. Jay quickly walked to it and was surprised to see a gaping hole in the front of the chest. A short distance away, beyond the spray of blood that coated the ground, he found the severed heart. "Dear me," he chuckled, astonished, "I believe it suffered a hart attack!"

   He regularly hunted the bean fields, for they attracted the most deer, and often yielded easy shots. One evening he walked out into the middle of an odd-shaped field to get a better view of the rolling terrain and surprised a lone deer that was feeding a short distance into the field. They saw each other almost simultaneously, and each of them froze in place. Jay had the musket ready to swing into a shooting position, but he was not a confident free-hand shooter, and he slowly dropped to a crouching position that enabled him to prop both elbows on his knees to steady himself. The deer stared at him from its angled position, fully alert, but didn't move. Jay quickly aimed and fired, and amidst the explosion of sound and puff of smoke the deer simply vanished from sight. He sprang to his feet, sure that his aim had been true, and quickly stepped through the beans to where he thought the deer had been standing. As he approached the spot he gave a low whistle, for the tall bushy plants were drenched and dripping in bright red blood. A narrow trail of flattened and bloodied plants led the short distance to the edge of the field, where he found the deer lying across the last two rows, dead. His brow furrowed at the sight of the animal, for despite having aimed at the shoulder, there was a circular bloody spot in the middle of the... hindquarter? He knelt to feel around the spot and quickly determined that it was indeed the point of impact, meaning he had accidentally scored a direct hit on the femoral artery! "After examining all the available clues," he muttered, "I have concluded that the slaughter was perpetrated by Colonel Mustard... in the study... using the lead pipe." He laughed. "No, no, the candlestick! It's always the candlestick."

   Another hunt produced a very similar situation, except there were three deer instead of one, and Hunter and Hunted again saw each other simultaneously as Jay was walking along the edge of a long field. He again crouched to prop on his knees and held his aim while engaging in a staring contest with the intended victims. Eventually one of them spooked and spun around to run, whereupon the others followed suit. Jay immediately fired, and watched in disgust as the deer ran leaping to the safety of the forest. "Dang it," he muttered to himself (or... words to that effect) "that was a wasted bullet." But he dutifully gathered up his gear and began walking after them, determined to follow up, just in case. As he approached the spot where they'd been standing, he was amazed to see a giant splash of blood on the ground and a thick bright red trail leading away from it. A short distance away, beyond the abrupt end of the blood trail, was the crumpled body of one of the deer. It had tumbled end over end and was facing the opposite direction it had been going, and had obviously bled to death while running at full speed. Jay knelt and held his hand over the blood trail, and was astonished to see that it was as wide as he could span with both his thumb and pinky fully extended. "Dam, that's what I call a river of blood!" he exclaimed as he stood up and walked to the deer. The bullet had entered behind the right shoulder and exited in front of the left, and barely clipped the heart on the way through, causing every drop of blood to be pumped out of the gaping exit wound in the chest cavity. The front legs were completely coated with a slimy mass of congealed blood, and the stomach and hind legs were almost as bad. It was the bloodiest kill and the bloodiest carcass Jay had ever witnessed in his entire life.

[To be continued]

Edited May 25, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Ross Fisher]

@Captain Dee Do you crack off a pun after every shot? Must be hard to keep it fresh...

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   Besides the beans, the deer also favored alfalfa, and while it was common to see large numbers of them grazing together, Jay preferred stalking the brave ones that ventured out alone. One evening he stealthily sneaked up on a young deer grazing by itself. With its head buried in the plants, it couldn't keep an eye on the surroundings, and he was able to get extremely close before pulling up for a shot. When he fired it collapsed to the ground and cried out loudly with a noise similar to that of a domestic calf. "Sing something for me, baby," Jay laughed. "Ah, but it's hard to sing when you're dead!"

   One evening eleven deer emerged from the woods to graze an alfalfa field, and walked within easy shooting range of his hideout in a tree on the edge of the field. He shot at five in quick succession and killed four of them. Two ran short distances and collapsed, and one dropped dead, but the largest of the four behaved unlike any he had ever killed. It was standing at an angle, facing him and the field, and he aimed into the front of the shoulder before firing. The deer reared up on its hind legs as if it was going to jump and then slowly came back down on all fours. Jay was close enough to see the near eye roll around in the socket before all four legs went wobbly and it crumpled to the ground. "Huh!" Jay exclaimed, amazed. "Dead on the hoof."

   Jay preferred drop-dead shots, but many of the deer ran short distances before going down. He didn't like stomping around in the woods hunting for a downed animal, and especially didn't like searching fields covered with tall crops. On one occasion he took a long shot on a deer standing near the top of a hill in the middle of a bean field. It immediately ran down the side of the hill and our of sight, but it never came into view again. Thinking perhaps it had fled to safety across the back side of the hill, he set out on foot, and was amazed to find the deceased deer lying in the middle of the crude road bed that separated two of the fields, just out of sight from his shooting position farther back the same road. "How convenient," He muttered. "The only good deer is a dead one, and the best die at your feet."

   Most of the kills were ambushes, but on yet another occasion Jay found himself in a stare-down with a young deer that, fatally, wasn't quite sure whether it should be afraid of him or not. Upon seeing him it scampered a short distance away and turned back toward the woods from whence it had came, lifted one front leg, and stopped in a broadside position. It took a few more steps and did the same, staring at him all the while. His arms began to grow tired from holding the heavy musket in the firing position, and so he again used his crouching technique, which caused him to largely disappear into the tall grass on the edge of the field. His disappearance seemed to unnerved the deer, which amazingly turned and began slowly walking straight toward him with its neck fully erect, peering into the grass and sniffing the air. It took a few steps and stopped, took a few more and stopped again, twisted it's neck slightly to get a better look, and then appeared to think better of the whole affair and turned as if it was thinking about running... Jay immediately fired into the side of the chest. The deer convulsed violently and then stretched out on the ground as gently as if it was going to sleep, slowly extended all four legs straight out from its body, and stopped moving. "Oh deer," Jay muttered as he rose to his feet, "the operation was a success... but the patient died!" He counted thirty steps to the deer, making it one of his closest kills ever, and it had been three or four times farther away before walking to him!

   Occasionally things went awry. Late one evening he was preparing to leave after he'd already shot and retrieved a large doe, and was riding out on Tornado when he surprised a small group of deer that had only just came out of the woods minutes before. They all stopped moving and stared at him, and he quickly reached for a musket, aimed, and fired. The intended victim dropped to the ground and began bobbing up and down unusually while the rest of the herd fled the scene. Tornado remained relatively calm, (perhaps owing to the carcass on his back) and Jay quickly dismounted and took off after the deer with a fresh musket. It was obviously wounded and obviously not going anywhere. As he approached in the young corn Jay realized that both back legs were disabled, and the deer was struggling to drag itself along with its front legs, which was causing the bobbing motion. He pulled up at a safe distance and delivered a rare follow-up shot to finish the wounded animal. Afterward he inspected the back legs closely. The first shot had passed through and shattered the hock of the left leg, and upon exiting the knee joint the bullet had clipped and severed the tendon above the hock on the right leg, immediately immobilizing both back legs from the knee down. It was a terrible shot that would otherwise have caused a slow death, or possibly even death from drowning, if it had dragged itself to water and was unable to drag itself back our. "However did you become so lame?" he muttered. "Luckily for you, I was here to end your misery."

   Sometimes the deer simply didn't react upon being shot. Late one evening he was perched in a concealed high spot in a bean field, looking down over the rolling hills, when a deer walked out of the woods almost directly below him and began grazing, gradually working its way closer to him as it fed. He held his aim for some time, waiting for the deer to present a good broadside shot, and when it finally turned its left flank toward him he immediately fired. The deer lifted its head and walked a few steps, unhurried, seemingly unperturbed. "Die another day," Jay muttered, thinking that perhaps he had shot over its back. Suddenly the deer staggered and tumbled head-first to the ground, dead. "Or not," Jay chuckled.

   Conversely, sometimes the deer reacted theatrically to being shot. One evening he was returning home empty-handed, riding Tornado, when he came upon a deer bedded down on the crest of a hill in front of a thick tree line. He stopped the excited horse and reached for his musket. The deer, worried by their presence, stood up and presented him with an excellent shot. He quickly aimed and fired and the deer charged down the hill toward him like a racehorse out of the starting block. It took three long strides and crashed to the ground, leaped up, spun to the side and took three more strides and again fell down. It leaped up a second time, ran back to where it had first fallen down, tumbled over a third time, and finally sprang to its feet and ran a wide sweeping arc around and up the side of the hill before finally falling dead beyond the point where it had first been bedded down. Tornado reared and raged as usual, but Jay hardly noticed for watching the wild behavior of the deer. "A masterful production! Encore, encore!" he laughed as it raced this way and that before finally collapsing. Then he looked down at his excited horse and said, "No, no, not you, Tornado!"

   Finally Jay did the unthinkable: he shot Bambi. He was scouting the edge of a field from his perch atop Tornado when a small spotted fawn emerged from the grasses extremely close to them. It didn't seem to notice them, despite having looked right past them, and began nibbling at something on the ground. Jay scrambled for his musket while quietly admonishing Tornado to behave and remain silent. The fawn turned its head and licked itself on the flank. "Poor, defenseless creature," Jay muttered, for he strongly suspected that he had already killed the mother. When it returned to foraging he carefully aimed -- it was a much smaller target than usual -- and fired methodically. The fawn disappeared from view and Tornado excitedly scrambled forward in the grass to the spot where the stricken animal lay, blasted over backward from the force of the shot amidst a shower of blood. Jay watched without remorse as it took it's last breath and was motionless. "Yes, they're cute... but don't tell me they're cute," he growled. Then he dismounted and gathered up the kill by the hind legs. "Looks like we'll be having fawn nuggets for supper," he laughed as he hoisted the carcass atop Tornado. Then he mounted and turned for home, laughing all the while.

   On and on the hunts went, day after day, as the kill tally gradually climbed ever higher. Occasionally he returned empty-handed, but most nights he brought back one or two, and he managed to keep the butcher's busy. The damage to the plantation was done, and he refused to be satisfied with any number of dead deer. "Why?" he asked aloud to no one as he hauled in another fresh kill one evening. "For blood," he muttered. "And the thrill of the kill."

* * * * * * * * * *

On 5/25/2019 at 3:14 AM, Ross Fisher said:

@Captain Dee Do you crack off a pun after every shot? Must be hard to keep it fresh...

Only for story purposes.

Edited May 26, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   One warm sunny morning as they were finishing a breakfast of eggs and toast and fruit, Jay sipped the last of his usual tea and punctuated the pleasant small talk by saying to Olivia, "I'm making a delivery to the plantation this morning. You're welcome to come along for the day, but only if you like."

   She smiled. "Yes, I would like that. It's quite lovely here, but it has been a while since you took us there." She looked over at Elise, who excitedly glanced at them both but said nothing.

   "Well... I'm afraid Elise needs to stay with her lessons today," he replied. Elise stared down at the table, obviously crestfallen. "But... perhaps we can all go there this weekend, when no other duties constrain us," he said with a grin.

   Olivia's smile widened. "I would like that, yes. What about you, Elise?

   "Oh, please?" Elise asked in enthusiastic anticipation.

   Jay smiled and nodded. "Yes, of course." Then to Olivia he said, "I'll pick you up at the front circle in a half hour or so. We'll be back before supper, so you needn't pack anything."

   "I'll be ready," she said, still smiling, "as soon as I see our pupil to her books."

   "Good, good," he replied. Then he leaned over, extended a finger and gently touched Elise on the tip of her nose. "Now... off... you go to your lessons, little miss. Pay attention and behave yourself," he teased.

   "And you behave yourself," she teased in return.

   He laughed. "Oh, but that isn't possible. I'm a redcoat, remember."

   She giggled as she slid down out of her chair. Olivia laughed, rose to her feet and took Elise by the hand, and they disappeared out the door and down the hallways toward the library, where her lessons were waiting.

   As they stepped through the door to the library, Olivia knelt until she was face-to-face with her young sister, smiled and said, "Now be a good girl and pay attention, and don't worry about us. We'll be back soon enough."

   Elise looked at the floor and her lip quivered slightly. Olivia hugged her tightly and murmured in her ear, "You'll be fine without us. Your governess will see to it. Now come along." Then she rose to her feet and led Elise through the aisles of books to the corner of the room, where the young governess Marianne sat waiting.

   Marianne smiled when she saw them coming. "Good morning, Elise! And to you, Olivia."

   Elise looked down and said nothing, but Olivia returned the greeting and then announced, "I'm afraid I'm going to be gone for the day." She smiled and added, "But I'm sure the two of you will do just fine without me."

   "I'm sure we will," Marianne smiled in return. "Won't we, Elise?" Still Elise looked down in silence.

   "Elise." Olivia spoke her name gently, and the girl finally looked up. " I'm leaving now, but we'll be back soon." Then she smiled reassuringly, and Elise smiled in return. "Good. Now I must be going." And she turned and left.

   The morning sun bathed the front of the manor in gentle warmth as Olivia walked through the large front doors and onto the porch, shade umbrella in hand. She stopped atop the large staircase that descended to the circle at the head of the drive. The fountains on each side gurgled and splashed their endless refrain as she watched and waited. A few minutes passed until she heard the distinct sound of a carriage approaching on the cobblestone. When Jay finally came into view, she began a gentle descent of the staircase, and she reached the bottom just as he brought the horses to a halt. She paused for a moment and stared at the boxes and barrels piled high on the wagon.

   "Perfect timing, madam, perfect timing," he said with a wink as she turned to face him. He hopped down, took her by the hand, and assisted her up onto the front of the wagon. "I must warn you that this isn't exactly a luxury coach," he continued as she sat down beside him on the wide bench that passed for a seat.

   She seemed lost in thought, and as he settled back down beside her, she finally said, "Jay... do you really think it would matter if Elise missed a day of her lessons? You saw how badly she wanted to come."

   "Olivia, that poor child is a full year behind in her studies," he replied as he started the team of horses forward. "When the two of you make your return home, I want her to be fully caught up with her lessons. We can't have your father and mother thinking that we redcoats are a bunch of illiterate bumpkins."

   "Jay, my father and mother would never think that. And if you can see us safely home -- " she paused, suddenly emotional " -- then I think... Elise's education will be the... least of anyone's concerns."

   "Well... he said slowly and thought for a moment, then turned to face her. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But... there isn't room enough for all of us, or I would have offered for her to come along to begin with. I wonder..." he paused "if she could learn anything... from atop the wagon?" They were approaching the opposite side of the circle, but rather than turning the horses onto the drive he continued on, completing the circle before once again coming to a stop at the base of the staircase. "You little devil, you've changed my mind for me," he said with a grin. "Now run and fetch them. And bring a couple of blankets for them to ride on."

   "Oh, Jay!" she exclaimed excitedly. He gently helped her back down off the wagon. As soon as her feet touched the cobblestone she gathered the skirts of her dress, rushed up the steps, and disappeared into the house. He climbed back atop the wagon and began rearranging the cargo to provide a suitable riding surface. A few minutes later Olivia and Elise emerged through the front door, holding hands and smiling broadly, and Marianne was right behind them with a couple of books and shade umbrellas.

   He stood up atop the wagon and watched them descend the staircase. "Olivia, Elise, Marianne," he called their names. "Going somewhere?" They all laughed and he quickly climbed down off the cargo and descended to the ground. One by one he carefully assisted all three onto the front of the wagon. Olivia was carrying a heavy blanket, and he climbed up and spread it across the tips of several boxes. "There you go," he smiled and lifted Elise up. Then he turned to Marianne. "Pardon the accommodations, madam, but I'm afraid I can't presently offer anything better."

   "I'll manage," she smiled as he helped her up. "Anything for our pupil."

   "Yes," he chuckled as she sat down on the blanket, opposite Elise, and they opened their umbrellas against the warmth of the sun. "Now... are we all set?" He turned to Olivia. "Are you sure we have everything? Anyone else you'd like to bring along?" he asked teasingly.

   "Well..." she smiled and teased in return. "I was hoping there would be a handsome dashing young man to drive us."

   "Ah, um, well, I'm afraid I can't help you there," he stammered, and they both laughed. "Ladies, let us be off!" he exclaimed with a flourish. "To the plantation!"

[To be continued]

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   The team of horses eased into their load at his command and they once again rounded the front circle before turning down the long straight drive. The long line of fountains splashed noisily beside them and numerous songbirds chirped as they flitted and fluttered among the flower gardens that flanked them on both sides. No one spoke, for the view along the drive from atop the wagon seemed too good to waste on idle conversation.

   As they neared the mouth of the drive he turned to Olivia and broke the silence by saying, "Lovely day for a ride, aye?"

   She looked at him for a moment and then said thoughtfully, "Jay... every day of freedom is a lovely day."

   He returned her gaze as they passed under the large gated entryway, nodded and smiled, and said, "Yes, of course. Every single day."

   After riding a bit farther he looked back over his shoulder and playfully asked Marianne, "So... what are we learning today?"

   "Spelling," she replied with a smile. "Elise, dear, we probably should be starting with your lessons."

   "Spelling?!" he exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Oh, no! I might have to jump off!"

   Elise giggled and both Olivia and Marianne laughed. Jay grinned to himself -- he fancied himself to be a good speller -- and proclaimed, "Before you can learn to spell, you must first know the alphabet. A-B-D, F-M-G, Q-R-P, T-U-Z." To Elise he asked, "Did I miss any?"

   She giggled again and exclaimed, "That isn't how it goes!"

   Marianne smiled, shook her head sympathetically and said, "Don't worry, Jay, I won't ask you to spell anything longer than 'cat.'"

   "Cat, dog, cow, pig, I cannot spell words that big," he immediately countered. Elise giggled gleefully, unaware that he was acting silly just to hear her laugh. He turned again to Marianne. "If I disrupt class, will you make me wear the dunce hat?"

   She glanced at his tricorne and without as much as a blink immediately said, "You're already wearing it."

   The four of them burst into laughter. Finally he announced, "I'm going to set in the corner and pout about it," and turned again to face forward. Elise seemed thoroughly tickled and giggled for a bit longer. Jay nudged Olivia with his elbow, tipped his head toward the back, and grinned. She smiled knowingly but said nothing.

   After a minute Marianne opened one of the books and began the lesson for the day. She asked Elise to spell a set of three-letter words to get started, followed by a longer list of words containing four letters, and then a bunch that contained five letters. She would stop as needed to offer correction, but the child seemed to be doing quite well. Jay and Olivia rode in silence and listened, and occasionally exchanged glances and smiled. Eventually he leaned over and murmured in her ear, "I'm glad she came along."

   Olivia grinned mischievously and whispered, "Marianne?"

   "You little devil," he chuckled, and then corrected her by saying, "No, Elise, you silly goose." After a pause he murmured, "Well, both of them, actually."

   "She's rather cute, don't you think?" Olivia whispered teasingly.

   "Yes, she is," he played along quietly. "She's the cutest seven-year-old I've ever seen."

   "Jay!" she murmured, "she's seventeen, not seven!"

   "And she's just now learning to spell?" he asked in feigned surprise. "Goodness me!"

   "No, no, she's just now teaching to spell, and to read and write," Olivia whispered. "And I think she likes you."

   "Yes, I know she does," Jay murmured. "Especially when I read her a bedtime story."

   "You... you put her to bed at night?" Olivia gasped, wide-eyed.

   "Yes, of course. Every night," he murmured. "And sometimes her sister, too." He suddenly turned his head to see Marianne and Elise staring at them with amused looks on their faces. "Ahem. Ah... how are the lessons going?" he asked awkwardly. "Don't let us interrupt you two."

   "If you whisper any louder, we just might hear you," Marianne said with a trace of a smirk on her face.

   "She started it," he said accusingly and stared at Olivia. "See? Now you've gotten us in trouble." Olivia laughed and shook her head, and after a moment he laughed with her. "Tell her to keep her naughty gossip to herself," he added.

   Marianne tilted her head to one side, smiled, and said, "Perhaps you should apologize to whomever you were gossiping about."

   Jay chuckled to himself, winked at Olivia, and said, "Marianne, Elise, I'm sorry Olivia was talking about you."

   "Perhaps you should speak for yourself!" Olivia laughed.

   "Just ignore them, Elise, dear," Marianne smiled teasingly at Jay as she spoke. "They'll learn to behave themselves one day." Elise giggled nervously, somewhat confused, and the others finally laughed with her.

   Once everyone had settled back down, Jay and Olivia turned to face forward, and the lessons reconvened atop the wagon. Marianne would call out a word, and Elise would try to spell it back to her. Back and forth their voices went as the team of horses marched steadily onward toward the plantation. The heavy wagon creaked faintly under the weight of the load and swayed gently over the uneven ground, up and over the hills and through the woods, down through the swells and across the bridges, and they soon found themselves traveling through the fields on the outskirts of the plantation.

   Marianne closed her books and announced: "Now we'll try spelling some of the things we can see." She paused and looked around. "Spell 'horse.'"

   "H-o-r-s-e," Elise replied confidently.

   "Very good," Marianne smiled. " Now spell... 'fence.'"

   "F-e-n-s-e," Elise replied slowly.

   "Almost," Marianne smiled again. "F-e-n-c-e."

   "Nonsense!" Jay exclaimed suddenly. "She spelled it correctly!" Olivia pressed a hand to her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

   Marianne looked up at him and grinned. "Perhaps you should let Olivia drive. I believe you need to study with us," she teased.

   He chuckled and looked at Elise. "No, she was right. 'Fence' is spelled f-e-n-c-e. And I'm sorry to interrupt. Do go on."

   Marianne smiled at him and said to Elise, "Spell 'wagon.'"

   "W-a-g-" she paused, unsure, and finished with "o-n?"

   "Yes! Very good!" Marianne beamed. "Now, spell... " She paused, leaned over, and whispered in Elise's ear. Then she straightened back up and said, "Spell 'turkey.'"

   "J-a-y," Elise said and immediately begin to giggle.

   "Hey!" Jay exclaimed in protest and spun to face them, and Olivia and Marianne laughed along with Elise. "Well, if I am a turkey, then all you silly girls are a bunch of... of... peacocks!" he countered. He winked at Elise. "Spell that."

   "J-a-y," she repeated and giggled all the more.

   Olivia laughed and stroked his hair. "Jay, you have such beautiful plumage," she teased.

   "Yes, I know," he chuckled and gently smacked her hand away. "Don't touch, or you might muss my tail feathers." Then he turned to face Marianne. "Somehow I don't remember school being quite this light-hearted."

   She smiled and said, "Perhaps you just didn't appreciate it like you should have. Most schoolboys don't, you know."

   His smile rapidly faded. "Oh, I appreciated it, all right, but perhaps a little too much, if I may say so." He turned once more to face forward and abruptly changed the subject before they had a chance to question him. "Ladies, behold the plantation! Feast your eyes upon its fruited splendor!"

[To be continued]

[Kai NRG]

Have I forgotten something from Jay's backstory that I should be remembering about where he lives and who Olivia and Elise are or am I just as ignorant here as I'm supposed to be?   I enjoyed the deer anecdotes and these last two have been quite funny.   Looking forward to more and to the builds, whenever they're ready!

[Captain Dee]

4 hours ago, Kai NRG said:

Have I forgotten something from Jay's backstory that I should be remembering about where he lives and who Olivia and Elise are or am I just as ignorant here as I'm supposed to be? 

Aha... the exact question I've been expecting.  No, you haven't forgotten or missed anything. As previously mentioned, this was supposed to be simply a chapter in my sigfig's story, (with a few chapters preceding it, which I haven't finished writing) but due to the length it became a story within a story. The prior chapters describe the setting, who the girls are, where they're from, why they're there, etc; in the meantime this story will drop lots of hints both subtle and shocking, and I think you'll have a pretty good understanding when it's all finished. In it's entirety it will prove to be rather... tragic, I'm afraid. Ok, no more hints. 

4 hours ago, Kai NRG said:

I enjoyed the deer anecdotes and these last two have been quite funny.   Looking forward to more and to the builds, whenever they're ready!

The last couple of installments are examples of the "good" side of Sir Dee, the first few could be the "bad" depending on your perspective, and... you'll know the "ugly" when you see it. 

Edit: What do you know about deer huntin', anyway? 

Edited May 27, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Kai NRG]

3 hours ago, Captain Dee said:

Edit: What do you know about deer huntin', anyway? 

Nothing!  Who would have built that? 

I hope it won't be too tragic, I'm kind of liking your characters. 

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   They all stared straight ahead as the large plantation house with its elegant columns and porches came into view, flanked on all sides by fields and gardens and orchards. "Forever beautiful," Olivia murmured to no one in particular.

   "Yes," Jay voiced in reply. "Ladies, we have arrived." They slowly passed by the front of the house and he guided the team of horses around back to unload the cargo. After setting the brake he climbed down and assisted Olivia to the ground, where she stood, waiting on the others beneath the welcome shade of her umbrella.

   "Jay?" she said as he released her hand.

   "Yes?"

   "Thank you for bringing us along," she said with a satisfied smile.

   He gently tapped her on the cheek. "It was my pleasure."

   He climbed back up, took Marianne by the hand, and helped her down off the top of the wagon onto the front before likewise assisting her to the ground. "Thank you," she smiled as she clutched her armload of books.

   "And of course you are welcome," he smiled in return.

   Elise patiently stood alone atop the wagon. He quickly climbed back up the front, lifted her up, and held her close as he turned to descend. "Elise, little miss," he teased, "before you may get down you must first spell 'turkey' correctly."

   Her eyes widened slightly and she giggled nervously, and then she looked down at Marianne, who immediately began to mouth the letters to her. Jay was occupied watching Elise, and didn't notice until she quickly rattled off the letters "t-u-r-k-e"

   He suddenly turned his head to face Marianne, just as she was mouthing the letter 'y.' "Cahoots!" he exclaimed. "You're in cahoots!" Elise giggled again and he cautiously climbed down off the front of the wagon and gently sat her on her feet. "I don't stand a chance," he grinned. "I'm too far outnumbered." Then he straightened up, looked at Olivia and Marianne, and said, "Come with me. I'll inform them you're here, and then I must be going."

   He took Elise by the hand and they all stepped up onto the large porch that wrapped its way around the house. They walked around front to the main door and he led them into the front foyer. The first person they encountered was one of the maids. "Oh, good morning, Jay," she announced, surprised. "We weren't expecting company."

   "Good morning, Helen. And please pardon the interruption," he apologized. "But these lovely young ladies will be spending the day here. I will pick them up on my return to the manor this evening."

   "Oh, yes, of course," she smiled. "We will be glad to have them."

   "And please see to it that they are served a suitable lunch. And anything else they might require," he continued.

   "Certainly," she replied. "It will be our pleasure."

   "Thank you kindly," he smiled and turned to leave. "Oh, and keep an eye on the little one. She's trouble," he said with a wink. Elise grinned up at him and giggled but said nothing. "Well, actually, they all are," he chuckled, and they all laughed. Turning serious, to Olivia and Marianne he said, "I'll be back around five o'clock. Please be ready. Now enjoy your day!" He touched Elise on the nose again. "Learn something, and remember to behave yourself." The door had barely closed behind him when he reopened it and leaned back into sight. "Silly me! I almost forgot to tell you that I delivered the supplies you were expecting. They're parked out back."

   "Thank you," Helen replied. "I will see that they are tended to." He nodded, tipped his hat, and disappeared from sight as the heavy door closed behind him. She then smiled at the girls and said, "Make yourselves at home, ladies. Might any of you like a drink after your drive?"

   "Yes, that would be nice, thank you," Olivia said. Helen disappeared toward the kitchen and returned a moment later with a pitcher of lemonade and a glass for each of them.

   "Here you are," she smiled. "In the parlor, perhaps?"

   "Yes, thank you," Olivia replied, and they all made their way into the richly furnished room off the side of the main foyer. The girls settled into plush chairs around a small table upon which Helen placed the items before pouring them each a glass.

   "If you need anything more, just ring this bell, and I'll tend to it," she smiled. "Now enjoy your day. I must return to my duties." And she bowed to leave.

   "Thank you," the girls said in unison.

   "You are certainly welcome," she smiled and quietly left the room.

   The girls reached for the glasses. "Elise, dear, be careful," Olivia admonished. "We can't be spilling anything on this lovely carpet."

   Elise rolled her eyes dramatically. "Olivia, dear, I'm not helpless," she retorted. Marianne smiled and they all took a sip.

   "Refreshing," Olivia remarked with a smile.

   "Invigorating," Elise replied.

   An astonished look crossed Marianne's face. "Yes indeed, but... where did you learn to use a word like that?" she asked.

   Elise stared down into her glass and refused to answer. After a moment Olivia said softly, "Father would often say it over his favorite cup of tea."

   "Ah... yes, I understand," Marianne said gently. She took another sip, placed the glass back on the table, and looked around at the furnishings. "This is a lovely room for schooling. Now, let us continue with your lessons, Elise," she smiled. And so they did.

* * * * * * * * * *

   Upon the conclusion of his daily affairs at the foundry, Jay returned to the plantation house astride the horse he had borrowed that morning. The wagon and team of horses was waiting at the head of the front walk, already loaded with the boxes of fruit to be delivered to the manor house. The girls were gently swaying on the large swing in the corner of the porch, and he whistled loudly and waved his hat as he rode past, headed for the stables. They all waved and continued swinging. After reaching the barns he dismounted, left the horse with a stable boy, and began walking back to the house.

   A few minutes later he tiptoed up behind the girls on the porch. They were chatting idly and were oblivious to his approach. He heard his name, and then they all laughed. When the swing reached the extent of one of its backward strokes he suddenly grabbed it and shouted, "Boo!"

   Elise screamed, whirled around, and began to giggle when she saw him. Olivia and Marianne gasped and grabbed at the sides of the swing to keep from falling off the front as he slowly lowered the swing back to its idle position. "Whatever was so funny a moment ago?" he teased. "Do tell me, that I may laugh, too."

   A trace of red appeared on Olivia's cheeks, but she composed herself, shook her head, and said calmly, "You are sadly mistaken, Jay. Nothing was funny. Nothing-at-all."

   He smirked and looked at Marianne. "Nothing?"

   "Nothing," she smiled in return.

   "Nothing?" he asked Elise. She immediately began to giggle. "Aha!" he exclaimed triumphantly. "The truth comes out yet!" After a moment he chuckled and said, "I say again, you girls are trouble, the lot of you." Then he walked around the swing to face them. "Well, the time has come for us to turn homeward. Enjoy your day?"

   "Yes, thank you," Olivia smiled.

   "Excellent, excellent," he nodded. "I will have a word with the staff, and we'll be on our merry way." He opened the door and the girls promptly dismounted the swing and followed him inside. Numerous voices could be heard coming from the back of the house, and they followed the sounds to the kitchen. They all stepped inside and Jay announced, "My, my, does it smell good in here!"

   The activity halted briefly as the kitchen staff looked up at him. "That's the idea, Jay," one of the cooks laughed.

   "Pardon the interruption, ladies," he said, "but we're departing for the manor, and I want to thank you for hosting our guests today."

   "Of course, Jay," another of the cooks smiled warmly. "And don't wait so long to bring them back again."

   He chuckled. "I believe you will get your wish."

   "Perhaps you would like something for your ride home?" another asked.

   Jay looked at the girls. "A snack, perhaps?" Before they could reply he immediately turned and said, "Yes, they said they'd like a dozen cookies." Everyone laughed, and one of the cooks promptly filled a small sack with cookies and presented them to him.

   "Here you are," she said with a smile. "Precisely one dozen. Now don't eat them all at once or you'll spoil your suppers."

   He chuckled and motioned toward Elise. "Give them to her." She nodded and presented the sack to the child, who accepted with a shy smile.

   "Thank you," she murmured.

   "Yes, thank you for everything," Olivia and Marianne chimed in.

   "You're very welcome," the cook smiled. "Now come back soon, all of you."

   "Of course. Now let us be going," Jay proclaimed, and the girls said their goodbyes and followed him back to the front of the house. On the way they encountered several more of the staff, and after similar exchanges they arrived at the front door, where the maid Helen was waiting for them.

   "Have a nice trip home," she  said with a smile and presented them with their shade umbrellas. "And do come back again soon."

   "Thank you for your hospitality," Olivia smiled in return. "It has been a most pleasant day."

   "It has been our pleasure," Helen assured her. She knelt to give Elise a hug, and then they all said goodbye one last time before stepping out onto the front porch.

   "Are we all set? Do we have everything?" Jay asked and looked at Marianne, who carried the books.

   "Yes, Jay," she replied. "We're all set."

   "Then let us be off," he said, and motioned for them to descend the front steps. He followed them down the front walk to the wagon and assisted each one up onto the front before climbing aboard. "I'm afraid the accommodations won't be much better for our return," he said to Marianne.

   "We'll manage," she smiled as he assisted her up onto the boxes in the back of the wagon. Then he lifted Elise up to join her.

   "There you are, little miss," he smiled, and she sat down beside Marianne on the blanket after he unfolded it for them. Then he untied the horses and took his seat beside Olivia. "Ladies, we return to Dee Manor," he announced as he worked the reins. The team of horses obediently eased into the load and they departed for home.

[To be continued]

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   They traveled a short distance in silence before Jay turned to address Elise. "Did you learn anything new, or did you good off all day?" he teased.

   "We goofed off all day," she immediately teased back. 

   "I knew it!" he exclaimed and slapped his knee. "I knew it!"

   "Did you do anything, or did you goof off all day?" Olivia teased him.

   "Ah, um, well, you're not supposed to ask that," he stammered, and they both laughed. Then to Elise he said, "Which new words did you learn to spell today?"

   "I learned how to spell 'plantation' and 'lemonade' and 'strawberry' and 'silverware' and lots of other big words that you probably can't spell," she teased.

   "Oh, my!" he exclaimed. "Let's see if I can spell 'plantation.' Don't tell me, it's p-l-t-n-a-t-a-o-i-n. 'Plantation.'"

   Olivia looked at him and smiled, and Elise giggled and said, "You need to go back to school!"

   He winked at Olivia and rattled off the mixed-up spelling of the other three words Elise had mentioned. "You see, little miss, I can spell those words, too." They laughed and he asked, "Did you spend the day at the house, or did you venture outdoors?"

   "We spent the morning at the house," Olivia replied, "and then took a picnic lunch out to the meadow, down by the pond, and then took a ride around the country."

   "Sounds like a lovely day," he said. "And what did you have for lunch?" he asked Elise.

   "We had all sorts of delightful things that you didn't have," she teased.

   "What sort of delightful things?" he asked.

   "We had fried chicken, and croissants, and fresh salad, and cheese and pickles, and lemonade, and for dessert we had strawberry pie and cookies and hard candy," she said triumphantly.

   "Well, well. Gloat about it, why don't you," he chuckled.

   She giggled and asked, "What did you have for lunch?"

   "Well," he said slowly, "I always eat at the dining hall. Today we had corn bread and beans, or beans and corn bread, or corn bread over beans, or beans over corn bread." They all laughed and then he said, "Actually, we had beef and pork and fish and chicken and venison and biscuits and rolls and potatoes and vegetables too numerous to mention and fruit and pies and cakes and cookies and... and... and lots of other things that I've forgotten, like chocolate."

   "Well, well," Olivia teased. "Gloat about it, why don't you."

   "Me, gloat?" he exclaimed with a wink. "Why thank you! Don't mind if I do!"

   She smiled and shook her head. "Of course, Jay."

   He chuckled and changed the subject. "Whereabouts did your ride around the country take you?"

   "We rode all around the plantation and through the woods to the foundry," Olivia replied.

   "The foundry!" he exclaimed. He stared at her suspiciously and said, "Were you spying on us?"

   "Of course!" she giggled.

   "Do you know..." he said slowly, "what happens to girls who come snooping around the foundry?"

   "What?" she demanded with an amused smile.

   "Most of them... end up falling in love with one of the workers," he teased.

   She stared at him for a moment and then slid across the seat and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kiss me..." she breathed, their noses almost touching, "Kiss me like the handsome man you are."

   He looked into her sparkling eyes for a moment, chuckled, and said, "Go fly a kite."

   "Aww," she teased and released him and returned to her side of the seat. After a moment he looked back at her and they all laughed.

   Finally Olivia asked, "What did you do today, Jay?"

   "Well," he said slowly, "We molded some cannons, and cast some cannons, and bored some cannons, and test-fired some cannons, and generally spent the day playing with cannons." He paused and looked at her. "I can tell you're absolutely enthralled," he said with a sarcastic grin.

   She smiled and said, "It sounds... positively fascinating."

   "I knew you would agree!" he exclaimed. "Very fascinating indeed."

   "And I suppose you'll do the same tomorrow," she smiled.

   "Oh, yes. Every day, if I can help it," he grinned.

   "You men and your toys," she teased.

   "I have to make myself useful somehow!" he protested.

   "Yes, yes, of course," she said with a smile. Nodding toward the musket he kept behind his seat, she asked, "Speaking of your toys... are you expecting trouble?"

   "Always," he said flatly.

   "Really?" she asked with a smile.

   "Always, Olivia," he repeated. "Specifically the furry, four-legged kind."

   She rolled her eyes. "You and your deer."

   "That's 'Dee vs. Deer' to you, madam," he growled.

   She looked at him for a moment and then asked, "Jay... how many have you killed by now?"

   He shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know, Olivia."

   "Yes, you do," she argued. "Now tell me how many you've killed."

   He looked at her for a moment, cleared his throat, and said, "Uh, well, it's rather embarrassing to admit this, but the fact is..." he held up both hands, "I can't count past ten, so... I don't know!"

   She laughed and said, "Yes, you can, and you do know! Now tell me!"

   He suddenly turned serious. "I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure it's somewhere between seventeen... and eleventeen."

   "Jay!" she groaned in exasperation.

   He chuckled and said, "Two or three, Olivia. I have killed two or three. You may decide for yourself if that is two or three hundred, score, or dozen."

   She looked at him, astonished. After a moment she said, "It can't possibly be two or three hundred, and I can't imagine it's two or three score, so..." she paused. "Dozen? Jay, that is still a ridiculous number!"

   "A ridiculously small number, unfortunately," he lamented. "I'd be a lot happier if it was hundreds."

   "Have you truly killed that many?" she asked, incredulous.

   "Olivia... do you think I would lie to you?" he said. "Ask the butchers. They'll confirm it."

   "And you're still hunting them?" she asked. "But... if you kill too many, you might wipe them out!"

   "And... your point is?" he asked. "Olivia, too many kills is never enough!"

   "Jay, that doesn't make any sense," she protested.

   "Nonsense!" he exclaimed. "The only good deer is a dead one!"

   "That isn't true," she argued. "They're majestic creatures."

   "They're ordinary pests," he countered. "Oversize vermin."

   She looked at him with mild disdain. "Why are you so compelled to kill them? It's like you have a... vendetta against them."

   He smiled wickedly. "Yes," he said slowly. "That's exactly what it is. 'The Venison Vendetta.'" He chuckled to himself. "I like that."

   "You're welcome," she said sarcastically and looked away.

   "Olivia, is that such a terrible thing?" he asked. "I could be far worse. I could be a highwayman, or a pirate."

   After a moment she looked back at him and said softly, "Whatever you have to tell yourself, Jay." Then she turned and faced straight ahead. He watched her for a moment, and then turned toward the back and smiled at Marianne and Elise, who had silently witnessed the entire exchange. They glanced at one another and smiled awkwardly back at him, wordless.

[To be continued]

Edited May 28, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   No one spoke a word for several minutes and the only sounds were the noise of the horses walking and the creaking of the heavy wagon over the hard packed road. Jay scanned the fields around them with a watchful eye. All appeared to be in order...

   Suddenly he stopped the horses. "Shh!" he pressed a finger to his lips and turned toward the girls. "Don't move!"

   "What?" Olivia whispered as she turned toward him. "Do you see something?"

   "There," he murmured and pointed off to his side before quietly reaching for his musket. She stared in the direction he had indicated and saw a deer grazing in a field of beans, neck and head buried among the plants, seemingly oblivious of their presence.

   "And you're going to kill it," she whispered in a voice of mild disgust.

   "Of course, Olivia," he murmured while staring at the deer. "It's what I do. I hunt, and I kill things." She rolled her eyes dramatically.

   Jay quickly lifted the musket into firing position, carefully aimed into the shoulder of the deer and muttered, "Be still, and know that I aim good." To the girls he murmured, "Cover your ears! I will fire in three-two-"

   So intense was his concentration on the deer that he didn't notice Olivia lean over next to him with her hands cupped to her mouth. Just before he said "one" and fired, she screamed in his ear at the top of her lungs. He jumped involuntarily and lofted the musket shot harmlessly over the deer and into the treetops. The animal jerked its head up, looked in their direction and, disturbed by all the loud noises, turned and leaped gracefully out of the field and into the safety of the nearby woods. Jay watched the deer disappear from sight, angrily turned to face Olivia, and exclaimed, "You little devil!"

   "Oops!" she giggled. "I... I really didn't mean to!" she said laughingly.

   "You little devil!" he repeated forcefully. "What do you think you're doing?"

   She laughed all the more. "I don't know who jumped the highest -- the deer, or you!"

   "Oh, you think you're funny?" he exclaimed angrily. Behind them Elise giggled nervously. He turned and gave her a severe look and she immediately stopped and looked down into her lap, timid and chastened.

   "Me, funny? No, Jay, you're the funny one!" Olivia continued laughing. "You'll never kill a deer by shooting like that!"

   He calmly replaced the musket behind his seat, then suddenly reached out and forcefully grabbed her arms at the shoulders and violently jerked her across the seat until their chests were pressed together. "You listen to me, you little devil," he spoke directly into her face, furious. "No one, and I mean absolutely no one, interferes with my hunt. Do you understand me?"

   "Of course, Jay!" she exclaimed, still laughing. "I would never interfere!"

   It must be said that Sir Dee had a healthy temper, although few people ever had or ever would witness it. He was usually able to remain outwardly calm when angry, but at that precise point in time he was struggling mightily to maintain his composure. He squeezed her arms tightly and she gasped in pain, at which point his eyes flashed and he said in a menacing tone, "Yes, stop laughing, you little devil. And you will not... interfere... again." He held her gaze and squeezed her arms tighter until she cried out.

   "Jay, please! You're hurting me!" she shrieked. He tightened his clench for a moment longer and then suddenly released her and pushed her away, and she tumbled over backward across the wide seat. He glared down at her for a moment as she righted herself, and she stared back at him contemptuously.

   Behind them Elise had begun to cry, and Marianne pulled her close, hugged her and tried to comfort her. "Shh," she murmured in the child's ear. "Everything will be fine." But she wasn't entirely convinced of it, herself.

   Jay and Olivia angrily stared at each other for a while longer. Finally he muttered, "You little devil, that could have been our supper."

   She held his gaze and said scornfully, "Jay, the larders are full. What difference does one less make?"

   "Squandered opportunities make a big difference," he muttered. "I hope you like corn bread and beans."

   "Oh, you're going to punish me?" she asked tersely. "How nice."

   "You little devil," he muttered one last time and started the horses forward again. The wagon lurched into motion and they continued quietly on their way.

   Olivia continued staring contemptuously at him but he was lost in thought and ignored her. Marianne lifted Elise into her lap, placed both arms around her, and quietly pulled her close. Several minutes of strained silence passed. Jay finally returned Olivia's piercing stare with an unusual gleam in his eyes, and after a moment she turned and looked off to the side, cool and aloof.

   Jay immediately turned to the back and smiled at Marianne and Elise. "Elise, little miss, I believe you have a snack for us, but... sadly, only three of us have behaved ourselves recently." He paused for a moment and then said, "Marianne, would you please divide the cookies three ways?"

   She looked at him for a moment, incredulous, but began to do as he had told her, and he turned to face forward again. Elise watched her counting out the cookies and said softly, "Olivia, you may have some of mine."

    Jay immediately spun to face them again. "No, she may not," he said forcefully. "Marianne, give them to me. I'll divide them out, myself." She looked at him, astonished, and then quietly returned the cookies to the bag and handed everything to him. Elise looked as if she was going to cry again.

   He reached into the bag and began dividing the cookies out loud. "Three for you," he handed to Elise, "and three for you," he handed to Marianne, "and that leaves... why, that leaves six for me!" he exclaimed. "Actually," he winked at Elise, "that leaves three for Olivia, and the last three for me."

   Olivia finally looked at him, surprised. "Are you still angry with me?"

   "Perhaps," he said, and then grinned as he handed her the three cookies. "Perhaps not."

   She smiled hesitatingly as she accepted them and said, "Thank you."

   "You're welcome... you little devil," he chuckled, and they each took a bite. "Ooh, chocolate chip." He chewed for a moment and his brow wrinkled. "Ugh. These cookies have less moisture than the desert. They aren't fit to eat."

   "Jay!" she exclaimed with a giggle. "Be nice. I think they're quite good. Don't you?" she asked Marianne and Elise.

   "Yes, very good," Marianne added, "and mine aren't dry at all."

   Olivia looked back at him suspiciously. "Perhaps you would like to eat mine, to save me the misery."

   He laughed. "That's the idea, yes. They're very good indeed."

   "And you call me a devil," she teased. "If you ask nicely... I might possibly think about perhaps maybe sharing a crumb with you."

   He chuckled. "That doesn't sound very promising." After a moment he added, "Olivia, if I really wanted yours, I'd be eating them, and you'd be bandaging the bite marks on your fingers."

   They all laughed, and Olivia exclaimed playfully, "Back, you savage beast!"

   He smiled and looked to the back. "Elise, little miss, if you will kindly write the plantation cooks a nice letter raving about how good their cookies are... then perhaps they'll send us a box full."

   She giggled. "I will... but only if they send them to me!"

   "Marianne, I thought you were educating her in all things right and proper," he grinned.

   "Well, yes, but... some things don't apply to girls," she teased, "particularly when there is chocolate involved."

   He laughed. "I give up. You're all a bunch of trouble. The worst." The girls laughed and they all finished eating the cookies.

* * * * * * * * * *

[To be continued]

Edited May 29, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   A few minutes later the entrance to the drive to Dee Manor came into view. The surrounding trees cast long shadows on the ground and the gilded gateway gleamed in the soft evening light. "Ah, now there is a welcome sight to travel-weary eyes," Jay said, "even if one finds oneself traveling with such lovely companions." He looked at Olivia and smiled.

   She didn't seem to hear him as she stared ahead at the ornate entry, and he immediately knew that she was again thinking of home, half-way around the world. He said nothing more as they turned onto the cobblestone drive and passed through the towering archway. Before them the fountains sprayed and splashed their joyous refrain and glimmering rainbows danced in the fine mist that swirled in the gentle breeze.

   Halfway down the drive he turned and said, "Olivia... a penny for your thoughts."

   She gazed at the fountains for a moment longer, slowly turned to face him, and softly murmured, "I'm sorry, Jay, but... my thoughts cost a doubloon each."

   His eyes widened. "A doubloon? Why, this must be something extraordinary." He fished in his pocket and emerged with a gleaming gold coin. "Here you are," he said as he held it up and twirled it through his fingers. "One shiny new doubloon. Now what's this profound thought of yours?"

   She accepted the coin, held it erect between her thumb and index finger, and said slowly, "A fool... and his money... are soon parted."

   He pressed a hand to his face and burst into laughter. Marianne and Elise joined in laughing, amused as much by his reaction as by Olivia's remark; but Olivia seemed lost in thought and remained expressionless. Finally he turned again to face her. "I suppose I fell for that one," he grinned. "And you don't have to tell me what you're thinking."

   She smiled and said nothing, and after a moment she attempted to return the coin to him. "No, no, you keep that," he chuckled. "It was worth the laugh." She glanced at him in surprise and closed her fingers around the coin, which felt wonderfully cool to the touch. As they approached the front circle at the head of the drive he reached over, gently clasped her wrist, and murmured:

   "Home?"

   She looked up at him with large eyes filled with mournful longing, then looked down, blinked rapidly, and finally whispered, "Yes."

   "In due time," he smiled and nodded. "In due time."

   They rounded the top of the circle and he stopped the team of horses at the base of the staircase. "Well, ladies, we have completed our little trip," he announced. "It was a pleasure traveling with you."

   He climbed atop the load and assisted Marianne and Elise down alongside Olivia. Then he descended to the ground and gently assisted them down to the drive one by one. "Jay?" Olivia said.

   "Yes?"

   "Thank you for taking us along. It was a nice change of routine."

   He smiled. "Indeed it was. And it was my pleasure. Imagine how boring my ride is back and forth, otherwise. I have only myself to talk to and argue with."

   She smiled and took Elise by the hand. The child looked up at him, smiled, and spelled:

   "T-h-a-n-k y-o-u."

   He grinned and said, "You're very welcome, little miss. Now don't forget everything you learned today all at once."

   She giggled and teased, "I already have."

   "Oh, I'm sure," he chuckled. "I'm sure." To both of them he said, "Run along now, and perhaps we'll have something good for supper."

   They turned and ascended the staircase, hand in hand. He smiled and watched them go, and finally turned to Marianne, who stood silently by. "Tell me," he said and took her gently by the shoulders, "how is she doing?"

   "Which one?" she asked with a smile.

   "Elise, of course," he chuckled.

   "She seems to be doing very well," she replied. "She's curious. She wants to learn."

   "Excellent, excellent," he smiled. "But she's so far behind. Do you think she can possibly catch up in her studies?"

   Marianne gave him a funny look. "Yes, of course, Jay! She's a very intelligent little girl."

   He nodded, relieved. "Good, good. And she is, indeed!"

   She regarded him for a moment and said, "Olivia also seems to be doing very well."

   He gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

   "Jay..." She said softly. "You know what I mean. Those poor girls have seen the depths of hell."

  He sighed and nodded. "Yes. Yes, they have." After a pause he said, "Well, there's not much we can do about that except to continue on. You're doing well with Elise and she certainly seems to like you."

   "Yes, she does, but..." She hesitated.

   "But, what?" he pressed.

   "Jay, Olivia could teach her everything I'm teaching her, and probably do better at it," she offered.

   "Perhaps," he replied. "But I think it's good for both of them, being foreigners and so far from home, to have someone else they can be friendly with."

   Marianne suddenly felt emotional. "So that's why you really hired me," she murmured.

   "Yes," he said and hugged her. "And you're doing exactly what I wanted." Then he released her and said, "Run along now, and I'll join you all for supper later on."

   "Thank you," she smiled, turned, and scurried up the stairs and disappeared into the house.

* * * * * * * * * *

[To be continued]

Edited May 29, 2019 by Captain Dee

[Captain Dee]

[Continued from previous]

   Upon arriving at the back of the house with the loaded wagon, Jay descended and immediately headed for the kitchen. The grey-haired head chef, Louis, looked up from preparing the evening meal and smiled when he saw him coming. "Ah, you have arrived, Sir. Excellent, excellent."

   "Yes, I have arrived, and the cargo awaits," Jay replied. "But first, I might ask a favor of you."

   "Anything you wish, Sir, anything at all," Louis bowed.

   "I have dire need of a lobster," Jay stated emphatically.

   "Lobster? Excellent choice," Louis nodded. "An appetizer, I presume?"

   "Yes, an appetizer."

   "Anything more?" the chef asked.

   "No, that will do nicely," Jay replied.

   Louis nodded. "At once, Sir."

   "In the meantime I will assist in unloading the wagon," Jay offered, bowed, and quickly removed himself from the kitchen; for as much as he liked eating, spending time among the domain of culinary professionals made him nervous.

   When he stepped back outside he was only half surprised to see the wagon already in the process of being unloaded. He smiled to himself. Having a good staff was a luxury. He exchanged pleasantries with the men, grabbed a box of bananas, and followed them into the cellar. Within minutes the wagon was empty and one of the men dutifully climbed aboard and left, headed for the stables.

   Jay thanked them and returned to the kitchen, where a beaming Louis presented him with a platter. He lifted the lid and proclaimed, "One lobster, Sir, just as you requested."

   Jay smiled. "You're the only man for the job, Louis. Thank you kindly." Then he took the platter and disappeared out the kitchen door into the halls of the manor.

   A few minutes of walking halls and climbing staircases later he arrived at the girls' room and knocked loudly on the door. After a moment of silence he heard footsteps and Olivia opened the door and peeked out at him with a surprised smile. "Yes?"

   "May I come in?" he asked and held the platter up in full view.

   She looked at the platter, confused, but quickly said, "Yes, yes, of course," and opened the door fully.

   He stepped inside and looked her over. She had obviously bathed and was wearing a crisp clean dress. "You clean up quite nicely, if I may say so," he said.

   "Thank you," she smiled. "I do my best."

   He looked around. "Where is Elise?"

   "She is bathing," Olivia answered.

   "Ah, good," he nodded. "Will she be long?"

   "You know her," she smiled. "She likes to take her time."

   "You're one to talk," he teased.

   "I don't think you exactly jump in and back out, yourself," she teased back.

   "Well... I learned to overcome my fear of water, yes," he joked. "I usually manage to at least get my toes wet."

   She laughed, but finally turning serious, she said, "You didn't come here to discuss bathing. What's this?" she motioned toward the platter he was holding.

   "A little something for you," he smiled. "Come." He led her out onto the balcony overlooking the gardens. "Please, have a seat, madam," he said with a flourish and pulled a chair for her. She sat gracefully and he placed the platter before her. "Bon appetit," he proclaimed and lifted the lid to reveal the steaming lobster.

   Astonished, she stared at it for a moment and then looked up at him. "Jay... what's the occasion?"

   "Silly me!" he snapped his fingers in feigned surprise and ignored her. "I forgot the wine!" And before she could speak he turned and rushed to fetch the bottle and glass that he had intentionally left behind, leaving her to eat in curious solitude.

   When he returned a few minutes later she had eaten little as she was taking her time, savoring each bite. He placed the glass before her and made a show of pouring the wine. "Thank you," she murmured, picked it up, swirled the wine around the glass, sniffed and took a sip.

   "Madam, our finest Chenin Blanc," he said with a thick accent as he took a seat beside her. "The fruit of the vines, is very good, aye?"

   She hesitated while contemplating the finish, then looked at him and smiled. "Yes, quite good, thank you. And it complements the lobster very well." Then she picked up the fork to take another bite, paused and said teasingly, "Jay, you serve an... interesting dish of corn bread and beans."

   "The best, madam," he chuckled. "The best."

   "You didn't answer me," she continued. "What's the occasion?"

   He slowly leaned toward her and murmured in her ear, "A wise man once said... that if your enemies are hungry and thirsty... to give them food and drink... for in so doing, you heap... coals of fire on their heads."

   She looked down at the half-eaten lobster and glass of wine, and thought about what had transpired between them on their way home, then very slowly, very deliberately dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and lifted her head just enough to make eye contact, and asked: "Are you heaping coals of fire on my head?"

   "The worst, madam," he murmured emphatically. "The worst."

   Amused, she asked, "Jay, is this my... punishment for interfering with your hunt?"

   His smile widened and his eyes seemed to brighten. "Time will tell, madam," he said. "Time... will tell."

   "That sounds... properly ominous," she smiled back.

   He chuckled again and changed the subject. "How's the lobster?"

   She glanced down at the plate and then slowly looked up at him. "It's... not the worst I've ever eaten," she said dryly.

   He held her gaze and promptly replied, "You're welcome."

   "No, no, I jest," she smiled. "The lobster is excellent."

   "Is it?" he asked.

   "Yes! It's very good," she replied.

   "From 'excellent' to 'very good' is quite a decline," he teased. "What will it be if I ask again?"

   "Oh, stop it," she flashed a silly grin. "It's excellent."

   "Well, that's certainly good to hear," he replied. "I'll be sure to send your compliments to the chef."

   "Please do," she smiled, and upon gently spearing another piece, she extended her fork in his direction. "Bite?"

   "No, no, this is for you," he turned his head and lifted both palms in refusal.

   "I insist," she smiled.

   He stared at the fork for a moment, lifted his gaze to meet hers, and said: "You wouldn't... poison a man, would you?"

   "Jay!" she laughed at the absurdity of the thought. "You... served me... remember?"

   "Oh, yes, yes, I did," he grinned and nodded. "Silly me. Well... if you insist..."

   "I insist," she said firmly.

   "Well... I suppose one bite won't kill me," he teased, and opened his mouth. She gently inserted the fork, he bit down on the lobster, and she smoothly retrieved the untensil and sat it aside. He chewed quietly for a moment until she asked:

   "What do you think of it?"

   His eyes widened slightly. "Mmm... You're right. That is good."

   "From 'very good' to merely 'good' is quite a decline," she teased.

   He laughed. "Yes, it's excellent, Olivia. Dee-licious."

   She laughed. "Clever."

   "One of these days, when I retire from iron-working," he continued, "I'm going to establish a fine inn and tavern, and fulfill my life-long dream of being the -- "

   "Maitre Dee?" she interrupted him.

   He chuckled. "That was too easy. You read that like a book."

   She smiled and shook her head. "You've always been an easy read, Jay."

   "Well!" he exclaimed in mock surprise. "Isn't that good to know! All this time we've been together I thought I was spying on you bluebloods, and you've actually been spying on us redcoats instead!"

   She tilted her head to one side, looked at him sympathetically, and teasingly said, "I was beginning to wonder if you would ever realize that."

   He laughed. "You little devil."

   She laughed again, and finally said seriously, "You should've had them cook one for each of us."

   He shook his head. "Only one of us was a bad girl today."

   "I'm not bad!" she protested with a giggle. "Just mischievous."

   "Oh, yes," he chuckled as she finished eating. "I know. Very much so." He stared at her for a moment with a smirk on his face, then rose to his feet, gathered up the plate and glass and bottle of wine, and turned to leave. "I'll see you at supper, you little devil."

   "Jay?" She called after him.

   He turned to face her. "Yes?"

   "Thank you for the appetizer," she smiled.

   He gazed at her for a moment, expressionless, and finally said, "You should wait to thank me... until after... I serve the entree and dessert." And then he left, leaving her standing with a contemplative look on her face, wondering what he'd meant by it all.

* * * * * * * * * *

[To be continued]

Edited June 1, 2019 by Captain Dee

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