Chapter 10
She walked along with the boy. He was oddly quiet as they approached.
Mr. Muchleigh and his men worked diligently, carrying bags and boxes and various other parcels from the mill and loading them carefully onto the wagon.
She could hear the distant chatter of the two laborers while they worked, but Mr. Muchleigh seemed distracted and after a moment he went back inside the mill.
“I tell you, it’s got to be true, what everyone’s saying,” the one man called to the other.
Marianne couldn’t make out what he said next, but the other fellow merely laughed at him. “You great looby. Get up here and lend a hand.”
They bantered a bit, pausing in their work, and it seemed the first man was determined to tell the other his story. Marianne craned her ears but could only catch a few words here and there.
“Two strangers giving out money...”
“M’ cousin swears it’s the honest truth…”
“Highway men on the roads… no fear of ‘em at all.”
And then one phrase she recognized clearly: “Robin Hood has come back to the Greenwood for a certain!”
Mr. Muchleigh must have heard it, too. He suddenly appeared in the doorway of the mill and called sharply to the men.
They finished what they’d been about and dashed back indoors, out of sight and completely out of earshot.
If they had said any more about Robin Hood, Marianne certainly couldn’t hear it.
When Mr. Muchleigh appeared again, he deposited a wrapped parcel in the wagon then glanced up the walkway and noticed Marianne walking with Henry. The miller wiped his hands on his apron and moved toward them. Marianne felt his eyes on her.
“Ho there, Mr. Muchleigh!” Henry called down. “I’ve got a friend here says she wants to talk to you.”
Their footsteps sounded on the wooden boards, but Mr. Muchleigh didn’t offer any reply until they had come down the last step that would bring them into the yard near the wagon.
“It’s Miss Maidland, isn’t it?” Mr. Muchleigh said without emotion.
“You know each other?” Henry seemed surprised.
“No,” Mr. Muchleigh answered before Marianne could say yes.
“She says she’s going into the forest today to do some archery!” Henry said. “I told her that mightn’t be a good idea. After all, with the highwaymen and ruffians about—”
“I’m sure whatever Miss Maidland does with her time is none of our concern,” Mr. Muchleigh said sharply. “Now go help with the last of the supplies. I’ve got to get this load delivered soon.”
Henry seemed chagrined, dropping his gaze and giving Marianne a quick bow and a hasty, “Good day to you, Miss.”
Then he scurried past to go into the mill. Marianne was left alone in the yard with George Muchleigh and his heavily laden wagon.
“It’s a surprise to see you here, Miss Maidland,” Mr. Muchleigh said. “Have you come to place an order? I’m sorry I don’t have much time now… got to get this delivered, you know.”
“No, I… I wondered if, by chance, there was anything I should take home with me?”
“You wish to carry a bag of flour all the way to your house?”
She glanced around, making sure no one else had appeared. If she truly wanted to know where George Muchleigh stood regarding Meg, now was the time to find out. She took a deep breath and went ahead, hoping he’d catch her meaning this time.
“You’ve taken a special interested in my family, I believe? I thought perhaps you might have something a bit lighter for me to carry home. Something, perhaps, like a message?”
His eyes narrowed. He was a sturdy man, built for labor and certainly not elegant, but there was intelligence in his face. His brow creased with a wary arc.
“You expect I have something to say to anyone in your house?”
“I had rather hoped that you did.” She held her breath and waited for his response.
“Perhaps I do. News travels quickly in Nottingham and I hear good wishes are in order for your cousin. You may carry those.”
“Good wishes? So you are happy that my cousin is to marry the sheriff?”
The flash of anger in his eyes assured Marianne that he, in fact, was not happy for that at all. However, he kept his peace as one of the laborers came out carrying one more bag for the wagon.
“This is the last of it, Much,” the man said, chucking the bag on top of the rest of the load.
“Careful, there!” Mr. Muchleigh warned. “If those bags tear, we’ll have flour spilling out everywhere.”
“Sorry. You want us to drive it out for you?” the man asked. “Where’s this load going today?”
“I’ll take it,” Mr. Muchleigh replied quickly. “I’ve got business there; you and Jamie can sweep up inside and shut down for the day.”
“Shut down? But isn’t it early?”
“I’m sure your wives will be glad to have you home. Just send the boy out here to me.”
“Thanks! We’ll shut everything up tight when we’re done.”
The laborer didn’t wait for Mr. Muchleigh to change his mind. He went back into the mill, dusting himself off and calling to his partner, conveying the good news that they’d be done early for the day.
Marianne wouldn’t be put off this easily, though. “Mr. Muchleigh, is that truly all you have to say to my cousin?”
“What more would you have me say, Miss Maidland? I’m a simple man; what have I to offer her but a sincere wish for future happiness?”
“So you do care for her! Please, Mr. Muchleigh, I truly need to know what your feelings are for Meg.”
“Neither one of us has the time for me to truly convey all my feelings for her. Please, I’m in a great hurry just now.
If you must know my feelings, just know they are true.
My heart will forever belong to your sweet cousin, no matter what life may bring for her.
Now please, go to your home. As the boy warned you, the forest is no place for you. Not today.”
Not today? What did he mean by that? She tried to ask, to engage him in more dialog, but it was clear he was done with her. The boy came trotting back out to the wagon and any opportunity for meaningful conversation was over.
“Come Henry, up on the bench,” Mr. Muchleigh ordered. “Let’s make this delivery before the rain starts up again.”
Henry did as commanded and gave Marianne a worried smile. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Marianne.”
“It was nice to meet you, Henry. I hope you don’t run into any highwaymen or ruffians.”
“You too, miss!”
“Good day, Miss Maidland,” Mr. Muchleigh said.
He didn’t even look at her, just slapped the horses and urged them into motion. They shook their enormous, shaggy heads and leaned into the harness. The wagon lurched forward and giant hooves dug into the damp ground. Marianne stepped aside to let the wagon pass.
The pile of blankets and rags was in the center of the wagon, nearly obscured by the boxes and parcels and bags that had been loaded around it.
The wheels churned over muddy ground and Marianne wrinkled her nose as her skirts suffered some spatter.
Perhaps Mr. Muchleigh had behaved rudely out of frustration.
If he did indeed love Meg, it would be no wonder that he was in a surly mood.
He had just heard that she was bound to marry another.
That would likely make any man act like a brute.
Still, he could have been a bit more friendly. Perhaps he was not the best choice for Meg, after all. Marianne would have to mention this to her. When her cousin was speaking to her again, of course.
Marianne sighed as the wagon rumbled out of the yard, along the narrow lane that followed the river’s path and then gradually wound up the bank to meet the main road.
Mr. Muchleigh didn’t seem to care in the least that he had left Marianne standing alone in the mud.
Henry turned to wave at her, though. What a dear boy.
She hoped things found a way to improve for the lad.
Well, what was she going to do now? Her intent had been to go into the forest, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. A bank of dark clouds could be seen gathering in the distance. It mirrored her feelings.
She could not take her mind off Mr. Muchleigh’s gruff tone even as he professed love for her cousin. Did it mean he was resigned to give up on Meg forever, or did it mean he would fight against those who might stand between them? Marianne’s mind raced with questions and possibilities.
Grumbling under her breath, she readjusted her bow and turned back to the wooden walkway.
Instead of going on to the little footbridge that would carry her over the river and into Sherwood, she headed back toward the road.
Her walk in the wood should be put off today.
Things with Meg must be worked out before she could ever have a moment of peace.
The wagon was still trundling along, moving steadily away from her.
She watched it go. Instead of turning onto the road and heading toward Nottingham proper, it turned the other way, leaving town.
Where could Mr. Muchleigh be going? She assumed he’d be making his delivery somewhere in town.
The direction he went, though, led off along the river, heading into the countryside.
Unless, of course, he turned off the main road and turned onto another.
Not far up—just around a bend and out of view from here—there was a bridge.
If he turned there, he could cross over the river and go into the forest. He could be taking that load into Sherwood, as a matter of fact.
That was where he had carefully instructed her not to go.
Where she knew someone else happened to be.
Should she follow the wagon? Perhaps she could find Robert Locksley and actually confront him about his schemes. Was he planning to make trouble for her uncle? It would be wonderful to know the truth, to know just how Mr. Muchleigh figured in.
But there was no way she could follow the wagon without being seen. And how far where they going? She was not prepared to walk for miles today. This whole endeavor was poorly planned. She was in no position to question anyone or to offer any help to Meg. What a waste of an afternoon!