24. Chapter 24 - Kaitlyn
CHAPTER 24 - KAITLYN
FROM THE COACHMAN’S REST TO OAKHURST INN
I t was still mostly dark when Magnus stirred to wake up. He pissed in our chamber pot and quietly washed up.
I raised my head and looked around, blearily. It was too dark to see, but I could make out enough: the faint shape of the chamberpot, the basin, my clothes and boots, and that we were alone, no one had come to rescue us. I dressed and washed up in the basin and Magnus and I barely spoke as we readied for the journey.
I took his arm as we went downstairs.
Our lives felt more precarious than before, something about not having any luggage, nothing to pack up. We had the clothes we were wearing, and the sack of our older unusable clothes on Magnus’s back, plus the small amount of gold and jewels in Magnus’s hidden pouch. A couple of pens. That was it.
In the dining room we met the host and he sold us a bit of bread and cheese and a couple of slices of meat, all wrapped in a napkin, to take on our trip. Magnus inquired if Thomas Jefferson had already left and the man said he hadn’t, so Magnus slowed down, taking his time as he asked the host for a carriage to drive us to Charlottesville. We waited on the bench on the front porch, and Magnus watched both the inside of the inn, for signs of Thomas Jefferson leaving, and outside, for our carriage to arrive.
Finally two carriages pulled up at once. From inside the inn, Thomas Jefferson strode out. He tipped his tricorn hat at us. “Lord Magnus, Lady Kaitlyn, you are off for Charlottesville?”
Magnus said, “Aye, we are determined tae make Oakhurst by nightfall.”
Before I knew what was happening, Magnus opened his bag, fumbled through it, and pulled out Lochinvar’s wedding pen. “Lady Kaitlyn and I discussed it last night, we would like ye tae hae the pen.”
He passed it to Jefferson who said, “No, I could not, are you certain?” He held it up to inspect it in the dim light just before dawn.
“Aye, we discussed it, we can replace it when we return tae Scotland. We are not concerned and are verra grateful that ye are takin’ our message tae Mister Washington.”
Jefferson wrapped the pen in a handkerchief and placed it in his coat pocket and patted it to assure us of its safety. “I will keep it, thank ye, Lord Magnus.”
Magnus added, “Ye might feel the urge tae take it apart tae see the internal workings but I warn ye, tis difficult tae put taegether once more.”
“I will take great care with it.”
We bowed to go and watched him climb into his carriage as we climbed into ours.
I said, “We could go with him, follow him north to Richmond.”
“Aye, but we already got him tae write in his book that we are in Charlottesville. What good will it do, besides confusin’ the rescue? We need tae stick tae the plan.”
Thomas Jefferson’s driver said, “Hie!” And drew his carriage forward, headed north.
Our carriage driver said, “Yah!” And pulled our carriage headed in the opposite direction.
Magnus and I ate as we rode. We drank from a bottle of cider we had bought for the journey. And then we watched out the window as the landscape rolled by.
I said, “If you think about it, we could have someone meet us, they might already be there.”
He nodded.
I said, “Like Quentin. He and James could be in the dining room of the inn when we walk in. We… it could happen that way.”
I watched his face, then asked, “You don’t think so?”
“I think… Kaitlyn, that I do hope there will be someone there, but I haena seen any proof that the vessels are workin’ again. Without the vessels workin’, tis unlikely that we will hae a rescue.”
I nodded, looking out the window.
“But we saw a vessel work when we escaped from whatshisname.”
“True.”
“That’s proof, Magnus, we are going to be rescued, stop being dour. You need to be strong.”
He chuckled. “Ye are usin’ my words against me.”
I said, “Aye, you have to be optimistic. Likely the rescue has already been set in motion, then we will rescue everyone, and we will rewrite all that garbage back there at Stirling, and voilà!”
“Voilà?”
“Yep, voilà! We will solve everything.”
I watched out the window as the primeval woods rolled by, seemingly endless. Then the sun rose and dappled the leaves and warmed the world. The birds sang and the bugs swarmed as it grew hot and the scents of heated grass and steamy puddles and forest muck met our noses, interspersed with the scent of rushing water, a fresh stream, a cool interlude, to be replaced once more by heat and warm earth as we rode.
I asked, “How far have we traveled?”
“I am not certain, but if I calculate the turn of the wheels, the speed of the trees rollin’ by, and how far the host told me the next town would be, I believe twill take another four hours. This horse is verra slow.”
Then he smiled and said, “But daena tell the horse I said it, I daena want him tae be angry that he is havin’ tae pull my arse around Virginia.”
We traveled all morning and arrived mid afternoon. I grew excited as we neared the inn, sitting straight in my seat, peering out the window, searching for a glimpse of a familiar face. The town was bustling, much bigger than the last few we had been in. We rode past a main street with shops. I looked at the names on the windows and the fine clothing of the people promenading.
I peered up and down, watching everyone, picking out my favorite color and style of dress, but also looking for family who might be looking for me.
I leaned back in the seat and then a few minutes later the carriage pulled up in front of the Oakhurst Inn.
Maybe they were here, already, waiting for us.
I glanced at Magnus. He was chewing his lip, watching me as I looked at this new place, excitement undoubtedly showing on my face. He was worried. He knew my hopes were up, and his were too, but he was keeping himself in check, guarding his heart, rightly, smartly, but… I was incapable. By the time we were climbing from the carriage, I was thrilled, ready to rush into the inn and…
We climbed the stately steps, and entered the front foyer. Magnus negotiated for our room with Jacob Taylor, while I excused myself to rush down the hall to look in the dining room, my eyes scanning the tables. There were more than a dozen people there, but no one we knew.
No one who mattered, our rescue had not come.
Magnus walked in behind me, his eyes searching the room, but we knew — there was no one there looking for us. He asked, “Ye are well, mo reul-iuil?”
I nodded. “Just disappointed.”
“I ken, me as well, but the day is long yet, we hae plenty of time.”
I sighed. “Yep, time travelers, all we have is time. Our family, our kids, safety and sanity? Not so much.”