Travelling Rifleman

" Will I be let to sleep 'ere?" He gazed at Cotton, and looked hopefull. He wasn't to act humble, to lie about having a lot, when he had not. "I would stay." He agreed. "Don't see where else I ought ter be running of to."

"I'm sure we can find you somewhere, Zack. It's a big enough house, after all, there's plenty of room in the servants' quarters for you an' Joe to fit in." He looked at the things Pye had laid out and carefully gathered them up. "We'll get these all put away nice an' neat an' nobody'll know there was ever took." He grinned at the lad. "Dare say the Major'd take on pretty much the whole Comp'ny if they all came askin' for a job, y'know."

"You're talking daft things. Where would t' whole company sleep?" Though on the second thought... It was a grand, large house. It was so big that Pye wondered if he would have gotten lost in it. He would look forward to sleeping anywhere remotely resembling a sheltered place.

"Better wait here, me. I can't dirty up his rooms again, now that I know he's there." There had been an accumulation of things that gathered on the lad and needed certain cleaning.

"Oh, we'll find you some hot water an' summat clean to wear, don't fret about that," Cotton said easily. "S'pose you want to do that now, then?" He was about to scramble up when Robert appeared in the doorway, holding a plate and a tin mug.

"Got some scran for your frien' here, Mister Cotton," he said, gazing at Pye with a look of frank curiosity. He held the plate and mug out to Pye.

Pye looked ready to pounce for food, but kept himself at bay by sheer will. Instead he waited for Cotton to aknowledge the boy and murmur instead to him the question of who this one was. Was he a servant? Another one who lived at the new estate? He looked at Robert silently, then pulled his legs up, having sat on the floor then reached forward and took both the mug and the plate with a very polite:" Thank you."

He shuffled back, just to be sure the two were not to be taken away again and smiled:" I aint dreamin' , do I, Gabe?"

"No, you ain't dreamin'. I cold pinch you if you want, to prove it." He looked up at Robert. "Thanks, lad. You can go now."

He found himself caressing Buttons' ears. "Robert's a sort of... of runner. Does general stuff in the house, see."

"Don't ye dare. If it is a dream, I ain't willing to wake up from it. No taking chances here, I ain't." He grinned and looked across at the mug and found himself gulping down all of the food he had just gotten and equally drinking all from the mug in few gulps. He looked as happy as pie.

"..pardon me askin, but... what sort o' job would I be lookin' at, if I was to stay?" Or was it rather, since I am willing to stay. "N. you will swear ter consult with Major Vickery ,first. Ain't yet willing to get no hopes up, unless it is down there... like they'd say... black n' white, though I can't read so it wouldn't mean nothing to me. BUt just t' same sence. " He scratched his neck, and then ran his hand over his hair. He was dirty and he had been itchy a while as well. It were probably any sort of bugs he could've picked off , sleeping out.

Maggie rushed into the stable, splashing herself with the basin of water she was carrying. She gave Pye a brief nod, but focused her attentions on the dog. "Poor thing! Robert said he'd been cut up. Is it Lemon? Oh, it's Buttons, poor lamb!" She had brought water and bandages, but it was evident that Cotton had already tended to the creature. Then she saw the dead chickens and the other stolen articles laid out on the straw. "You caught him! Or did he just leave 'em behind when he ran? Did you get a look at him? Why, I oughta get the major's fowling piece, some brute taking our chickens and killing our dogs... Next time!" Her eyes glittered angrily at the thought.

"But you'd better go up, Gabe. The major's back early." She did not stop to consider that her husband might already be aware of this fact, being sat in the stable just a few stalls down from the major's own horse. She only cared that her major would need to be dressed and tidied for dinner, and that would require a valet.

"I know he is, Maggie, sweeting," Cotton said, looking up at her. "It's all sorted out, lass. And the major won't need me jus' yet a while, anyhow." He scrambled up to take the basin of water from her. "He ain't likely to come back, Maggie, an' if he does, there three of us here who know how to use a rifle. Four, if you count the Major."

Maggie looked at her husband skeptically. "After he's been out riding through the mud and all? He won't be fit to sit on a chair! No, you come in and help him dress, and Robert can take care of poor old Buttons. Zack can come with me, eat in the kitchen while we hurry to get the major's dinner on."

"It ain't all that muddy, Maggie," Cotton replied. "Though, would you make sure them kids have taken their toad back outside? I don't want the major to find it sittin' in the middle of his bed tonight." He bent to gather the trinkets and things that had gone missing, and straightened up. "Cook won't mind doin' chicken tonight, will she? An' Pye, you go with Maggie. She'll sort you out with some clothes an' stuff - let him use a shirt an' trousers of mine, if he ain't got any decent stuff of his own, Maggie. An' I'll get these bits an' bobs put away an' nobody'll be any the wiser they was ever missin'."

"It's muddy enough, and he can't eat dinner in his riding things." She gave Pye another look, as if seeing him for the first time. "Zack, you look like you've been out in the mud too. Come on. You can get cleaned up inside." She picked up the chickens. "Poor things, killed by a robber. Even the major can't eat two whole chickens for supper, but maybe she can put up a pie."

Pye listened like a little school boy, when his parents had visited the headmaster and were now discussing him. But once he was addressed directly he seemed to snap out of it and blinked at Maggie Cotton. He nodded quickly and got up.

"Miss, where may I ...uh.. washn' first, so I dun' dirty up everythin'." He looked at her awkwardly. "Or if you wait n I'll go ter t' stream back.. an'...." He did not know whether to continue.

"Here, Pye, lad, wash the worst off with this water Maggie's just brought. She'll pump you some more if you need it" He winked at Maggie. "An' who said anythin' about the Major eatin' in his ridin' things, then? He don't need me runnin' after him every minute of the day - he's a big grown man, he is. Not like Jack. An' speakin' of Jack, did anyone see where him an' Peggy took their toad?"

(bloody net con! Let us try this again.)

Pye took Cotton's offer and washed his face first, rubbing the mud and the dirt's residue off his cheeks, then forehead, chin, and over his neck, splashing water over his skin. He refrained from removing his shirt, if only because there was a lass in the room and he thought it would bother her, and Cotton would not have liked to see that. Maggie was his lass.

"Jack, Peggy? Who's those people? More servants yer having?" He asked curiously looking up from the water container. "N' you sure got lazy, Gabe. Tellin' your officer to take care o' hisself!"

Maggie shrugged at both of the men and turned to leave - there was the master's dinner to rush onto the table - but she nearly bumped into the children as they came running into the stable. "Dad, Robert said a dog got hurt and Jack wanted to give him my frog," Peggy exclaimed.

"It's my frog too!" Jack cried.

(Modding of Newbury is with permission.)

Newbury straightened up from squeezing water from his clean trousers, with a private grin, though he was annoyed with himself for not remembering that they were his only decent trousers when he'd splashed pell-mell through the stream.

"Almost like old times, this," he said, glancing from Pye to Maggie and back to Cotton. Though it wasn't quite, not with two young kids running around with a toad.

Cotton fielded them from running Buttons over. "He's all right. And he won't be needin' your toad to cheer him up - a bit f peace an' quiet'll do that. Thought I told you to put that toad down some'ers - he'll be wantin' his own dinner afore long an' I dunno that he'll eat the things we do." He needed to change his own trousers and arrange to slip those trinkets back - and he had to help the Major change as well.

"Let's leave Buttons in peace. Robert'll look after him for us an' we can come back to see how he is later."

Pye should not have felt surprised that Cotton and Maggie had children. They were a married couple and it should only have been expected to see the little ones running around. But he still looked in surprise when the little girl called him Dad, and was quick to figure out who might have also shared their blood.

He smiled :"Old times, without the long marchin' though.. or the French wishin' fer a fight." He glanced at the dog, the frog, the children and then Newbury and latly the Cottons. Much has changed, much had stayed the same. As was his feeling rather hungry and somewhat cleaner. He rubbed his hair with his hand. "Hopefully with more food too."

With a grin, Newbury moved toward the stable doors. "There's food, for sure. They got a decent cook here. I can vouch for that!"

"Excellent. " He grinned and got up, abandoning the water which was now somewhat murkier. He could skip bathing for food. Sure he could. And if Cotton did not notice the pair gone before it was too late, ...

He scurried across the stables right up to Newbury and smiled eagerly. "I think I'd like ter see about that firs'. See how right ye are. Though I ain't doubtin' yer claims!"

He shook his head lightly. "Just you get up to the kitchens. I'll be proven right soon enough!"

"Right. Zack, you can use our room to -" He broke off and looked at Maggie. "Would you find him summat of mine to wear? I need to go an' see to the Major." He looked down at the children. "You two, go an' put that toad down somewhere cool an' give it a spot o' water to drink. He's gettin' terr'ble dry already."

Robert seemed to be all right with Buttons and he herded the eager children out into the stable yard. "Buttons just wants to be left alone now, all right?"

"Room." Which one had that been? He looked at Newbury questionably. " We go to the kitchen, or his room now? Do you know where it is?" Cotton was going to go to see to the Major, and he hoped Newbury knew which room belonged to whom and where it was. He'd been upstairs, yes, but there weren't any name tags on the doors, nor could he have known what they said, if they had been.

He glanced at the dog and took a somewhat bigger circle around it. It was going to rest, it was injured and harmless and would not be allowed to strike him, but he still felt that none of the above could stop the beast from attacking. At the door he turned to look at where Newbury was, smiling as he saw the children scurry past. "Davy was like that once. Jus'.. a bit more of a handful." The lad didn't have the best people to teach him either, or the best place to grow up in.

"Kitchen first, change after you've eaten," Cotton said over his shoulder as he steered the two young children out. "That'll give Maggie time to scuff up some clothes for you."

As if he didn't need to change himself; his trouser-legs were still wet and he was sure his shoes were squelching with every step. Ah well; he's survived worse. Splashing across the stream on the estate here was nothing in comparison with crossing the Esla in full spate out in Spain - and the Major wouldn't mind too much. Maggie might, but he could placate her well enough after nine years of marriage.

"Thanks." He thought to earn his next clothes. Though borrowing Cotton's for the moment, he could not keep them. Else, the lad would remain without clothes if yet another rifleman comes to ask for a favour. He studied Cotton for a few moments: "You do have enough o' clothes..... do you?" He rubbed his hand over his hair and looked rather delighted at the prospect of a good meal. Not much changed in that.

"You'll tell me when you need me to work.. and with what, right, Gabe?" He asked eager to follow, as he believed that one of the men would certainly lead him to the kitchen although, if not... he could still smell it out. It was the place that had the strongest scent of food, of course.