Early before dawn George awoke them.
"Jamie we have a problem." he said gravely, "Gray is lame."
"Oh no we pushed him too hard." Jamie said sleepily. "Come down stairs I want to show you something." George said, then left so they could dress.
"We can have this mare for Gray and fifteen shillings." George said thinking it was a good deal, since when they got to the port the stable lad said his relative at the hopewell arms would buy the whole rig and horse for five times that. George would make a tidy sum and give Jamie his fifteen shillings back.
"Do you think Gray would be better with a days rest?" Jamie asked, he liked the mare but his gut warned him something was not right.
"No," George said, the gelding probably would be fine tomorrow with rest, but this mare was worth much more then the asking price and she was fast he could tell.
Octavia looked at Jamie, "What do you think?"
"Well it is up to George, we don't want to miss that ship, and Octavia's father might be after us," Jamie sighed.
"What choice do we have?" Octavia asked, but it was rhetorical and neither man answered her.
"All right then I will buy her," George said.
"Do you really think my father is hunting us?
"Yes I do, if you were my daughter and ran off with someone I would hunt you," Jamie said. George had not thought of that ane almost ran back to the stable with Jamie's fifteen shillings while Jamie harnessed the mare to the gig.
They traveled almost all day and made great time the mare was in great shape and pulling the gig on a nice smooth road was nothing to her.
They broke for lunch outside of a small town, thinking until they reached port they should avoid towns in case Octavia's father was following them.
They cut around a goodly sized village when trouble started just mile away from it, the gig lurched near a small copse of wood and a meadow. George pulled off.
"Blimey much further and we would have wrecked for sure." George said.
The metal rim which held the woodenwheel together had came loose.
Jamie and George took the wheel off after unloading the gig and unharnessing the mare.
No matter how hard they tried they could not get the wheel back together.
"This is a matter for a wheelwright you can ride better then I tomorrow you must go to town and take this wheel to be repaired." George said.
"All right I will find wood for a fire," Jamie said.
"I will set about to snare some rabbits." George said.
"I will see what I can find to complete the meal Octavia said sounding a bit weary.
Again George wished she had not came with them, women were trouble.
Jamie talked about the trip and the move to the new world he seemed excited but at the same time almost sad in a way.
George fed scraps to Piper.
Octavia loved Jamie so much, but she missed her brother and Lily, and her parents as well they must be so worried about her. But she knew she could never go back.
George talked about owning land, a concept none of his people had ever thought about, but it was true you could own your own land in the colonies.
"I think the two of you should get some sleep," George said picking up Piper."He and I will stand watch."
Octavia stood near Jamie, feeling his warmth in the chill of the last British night they might spend in the open. For if they reached port tomorrow they would be aboard ship.
"I love you Octavia," Jamie said softly, it was as if he knew she needed to hear it.
"I love you so much Jamie," Octavia said but she did not smile.
"Come then let us go to bed," Jamie said.
The morning was bright as George fixed the mares bridle for riding.
Jamie had left all his money with Octavia but the amount George estimated the wheelwright would want. There were cut purses and Jamie felt the money would be safer with Octavia.
Octavia was still asleep curled up with Piper, when Jamie left the camp.
Broken Wheels and Broken Dreams
The day crept past and dusk fell and still no sign of Jamie, as the dusk fell Octavia worried George worried to, what could have happened?
You have to go to town and find out what happened! Or I will! Octavia cried angrily. "But it is miles to town and I have no horse." "I shall go then." Octavia said standing facing him angy as he had seen any woman, except maybe his mother.
"It is not a safe place for you I shall go," George sighed, thinking if he got on the main road he might find a ride in and spend the night at an inn, leave her out here alone. That would teach her. Jamie might have had trouble finding a wheelwright that was not busy.
The next morning almost midday George returned. He was tired, but he had gotten a bit of work for a ride to the port city.
"Octavia I have bad news that mare was stolen and they believe Jamie stole her now he is in gaol," George said trying not to look alarmed.
"What?" Octavia asked, "You bought that mare from the stable lad."
Suddenly George felt very guilty it was all his fault. He told her that he had to return to the farm and finish the work for the ride. If only he hadn't been so greedy.
"Go then! Oh but so help me God George if you leave with out us I will make you sorry you were ever born," she said uncertain of what she would do but knowing she must do something.
After George left she prepared to go to town.
"You have a young man visitor Jamie," the sad faced Jailer said. He felt bad for Jamie, his father had refused his bail.
"Do I know you?" Jamie asked.
"My name is Oliver," the soft voice said.
"OCTAVIA MY GOD WHAT . . . " Jamie said wide eyed she had chopped off her long beautiful hair.
"Shhhh not so loud," Octavia said. Thinking the disguise was good if Jamie had not at once recognised her.
"Is there any way to free you from here?" Octavia asked in a whisper as they sat on the floor of the cell.
"No in fact my father was here moments ago, and he refused to pay my bail," Jamie sighed.
"He is being so cruel, he will be sorry some day," Octavia sighed.
"He told them to transport me. I begged him to let me free, he told me I was a disgrace and that if I knew where you were I should tell him. I told him I had no idea. I wanted your parents not to know you had been with me." Jamie sighed.
"This jail is solid," Octavia whispered.
"Yes, I have had time to look it over well, no window large enough to escape from, and they will be shipping me off in a four days to the new world." Jaime said miserably.
"George and I will go and meet you," Octavia said brightly.
"You don't understand I am to be an indentured servant, not free, go home to your mother Octavia, forget about me, marry well, the sea is no where for a woman," Jamie pleaded.
"All righat if that is what you wish in your heart Jamie," Octavia said struggling to her feet. feeling as if the world had just kicked her in the head.
She needed information and she needed it quick.
"I can't believe you cut your beautiful hair just to see me," Jamie said miserably.
She stood checking that the jailor was still occupied by a drunk man, she put her arms around him and kissed him.
She kissed him and slipped him the books she had brought him, all ones they had planned to read on the ship to their new lives.
"Just remember no matter what I will always love you Octavia but you and I . . . it was just not meant to be," he cried.
Octavia clenched her teeth trying her best to hold it together staunch lads didn't cry.
As she went out the door he knew he would never see Octavia again.
His tears fell like rain, his heart felt as it would truely break, and the books felt as if someone had put lead inside them.
To be continued . . .