On the road to Fowry, suddenly a group of highwaymen on horseback erupting from the woods, charged and surrounded Roger Writeman, and Anniehannah who were on horseback and Conor who was driving their wagon.

Anniehannah kicked her horse while pulling the reins to the right and crashed through the group of six men as some leaned out to grab her. She sped off into the forest, followed by one man in hot pursuit. She urged her horse on faster even though branches and leaves were thrashing at them. After about five minutes of riding, Anniehannah sprang off of the horse, slapped him hard on the rump and as he charged onward, she turned right, picked up her skirts, and ran for her life. She was just a little ahead of the man so he couldn’t see that she had dismounted. The bushes and tree branches were trying to hinder her progress but she didn’t care, she must escape from the highwayman. No telling what he would do to her if she was captured.

Where could she hide? Oh, please God find me a place to hide. She panted as she braced her arm to save her face from the branches. Finally, she saw a thick gathering of trees and shrubs and sprang into them, borrowing deeply into the midst of it. She sat down with her back against the back side of one of the trees and taking a deep breath held it.

All was quiet around her. Then she could hear some crashing noise in the forest over to her right. He was looking for her. Oh, she must remain silent! She laid her face onto her knees burrowing it into her long dress. Her ears were acutely sensitive as she listened to the progress of her pursuer. He would ride, then stop and listen, then thrash against the underbrush again. Finally she could hear him moving away. Then she heard no more. She waited for what she thought was a half an hour and started to climb out of her sanctuary, pushing aside branches and leaves. Stopping, she listened again. She hoped she wouldn’t be ambushed by her pursuer, but all was quiet. And she sighed. She had ridden and run such a distance that it took her some time to finally reach the road. As she approached it, she crept along stealthily, peering through the foliage at the edge of the forest while keeping herself hidden. No one was in sight. All was quiet. No horses, cart nor Roger or Conor.

Chapter 2

Then she heard it. A groan came from the other side of the road. She looked left and then right, and seeing no one, she sprinted toward the noise. There was a bundle of green cloth laying downhill from the road. She crept toward it. A groan came again. She stepped closer and recognized it as Roger, by his clothing. She dashed to his side and called his name while she placed her hand on his back. No acknowledgment.

"Roger, it’s Annie, please wake up."

He groaned again and she pulled him on to his side. She looked him over to see what wounds he might have. Seeing none, she inspected his head, there was a gash on the back of his head. She reached into her belt-purse and fetched a linen handkerchief and wiped his brow. At her touch he woke. He opened his eyes and spied her bending over him.

"Annie, is that you?" he rasped.

"Yes, Roger. How hurt are you? Can you sit up if I help you?"

"I’ll try," he said weakly.

With her hands under his shoulders she raised him up enough to get her arms around him while he groaned again with the pain and raised his hand to feel where the pain was coming from.

"Mustn’t touch, Roger." She rested his head against her and pulled him to a nearby tree where he could lean and rest. He had lost his hat in the fracas and she could see that his hair was all matted with blood. She spied a small brook nearby and releasing him to lean against the tree, ran to it, soaked her handkerchief and ran back. At first she was hesitant to touch the hair around the wound but knowing she needed to clean it, wiped most of the blood off of his head. Now she could see that the wound wasn’t as bad as she had thought. The blow to the head was what had rendered him unconscious. She reached down and tore the hem off of her chemise and tied it around his head.

"I’m so glad you remembered my warnings if we were ever accosted by highwaymen--you got away. I was worried that they would find you and bring you back. But here you are safe and sound."

"Yes, God was my help, I found a very thick bower to hide in and the man couldn’t find me. What happened after I left?"

"They surrounded Conor and I and demanded money. I said I had none and they pulled me off of my horse. Then they searched my saddle bags and the wagon. Thank goodness the money was hidden well. They made Conor drive off, they wanted the goods on the wagon. Then they shoved me off of the road where I tripped and fell and that’s all I remember. I wonder how he is now, and where he is, if he is alive."

"Poor Conor," said Annie. "Can you stand? Will you be able to walk to the town? Do you want to wait for a while? Should we make a camp here and start in the morning?"

"No, no, I think I can walk now, just a little gash. We must get to town and send the constables after the wagon and Conor as soon as possible."

"Maybe I should walk there and you rest until you feel better."

"Thank you, no. If you’ll support me a little, I think I can manage it. Let’s go," Roger said as he held onto the tree and lifted himself up to his feet with help from Anniehannah.

Feeling a bit dizzy and weak he sagged against the tree. Anniehannah steadied him while he climbed up the embankment to the road. Once there, he breathed deeply and looked each way. No one was coming or going.

"Maybe later someone will come and we can get a ride. Until then, there’s not much else to do but walk".

As they came to the road, they found his hat, which he dashed against his leg to clean off dust and dirt. With a wince he placed it over the bandage on his head. Anniehannah put his arm over her shoulder and they slowly walked down the road to Fowry.

They rested every once in a while as Roger slowly gained his strength and his dizziness subsided. Ten minutes later, they were startled by someone jumping out at them from the brush in the woods.

"Conor, you got away, you’re alright!" exclaimed Roger. He would have hugged him, but for his throbbing head.

"Master Roger, Mistress Anniehannah! I am so glad you got away from those men! They forced me to drive the wagon this far, but when they weren’t watching me, I grabbed the purse out of its hiding place and jumped off the wagon into these woods. I ran for my life, but they didn’t follow me very far. They were anxious to get away and I guess they thought I wasn’t important enough to waste their time. So I escaped them and I ran quite a way into the forest. I just now came to the road again and happily found you two walking here. Master are you all right? You look a little weak to be walking. Mistress how did you get away? I was watching for them to bring you back and was glad when the man came back alone. Here, let me take his other side."

"Thank you Conor. I’m so glad you got away with your life. When we didn’t see you or the wagon, we feared for you. Now here you are and with the money pouch, too! What a bonus that is. Though I’m glad just to have you alive and safe," said Roger to his journeyman as they continued walking down the dusty road.

They filled him in on the details of their escapes as they walked three-abreast. Occasionally they stopped to rest and Anniehannah would bring a little water from the brook that ran beside the road. It quenched their thirst at least. She made a bowl out of her doubled skirt and put a layer of leaves under it so it would hold some water.

Still, no one came their way to give them a ride. Kicking up dust, they plodded along as the sun rose directly above them. They kept to the shady side of the road where the tall and dense trees grew to the edge of the road. Summer wasn’t quite over yet and in the center of the road they could feel the heat bearing down upon them. "Take heart, everyone, around this bend we shall see Fowry," encouraged Roger. " I shall be glad of a drink and some food. But first to the Constable’s office to send someone looking for our horses and wagon."

With that enticement, they quickened their pace. Sure enough, as they rounded the bend of the road, the forest ended, and the borough began to unfold before them. They saw first the huge stone walls with massive oaken door standing wide open. The road split before the door, one part going through the portal and the other went past the walls disappearing around another bend.

"What a glad sight that is, eh?" asked Roger

"Oh, my, yes," said Anniehannah, with a sigh. "Quite so" said Conor.

Anniehannah couldn’t remember in all her sixteen years being so glad to see a town. Weariness surely makes things look lovely. They quickened their pace and joined the throng who were entering the gate.

They fought with the crowd to get to the Reeve’s building which was attached to the wall on their left. The assistant Reeve came was leaning on the door jam and spying them exclaimed, "Why Master Roger Writeman, what has happened to you and Mistress Anniehannah? Where are your horses and your wagon?"

Because a Reeve was the Governor of the borough, he was the one Roger wanted to talk to, he asked, "Is the Reeve in his office now?"

"Yes, sir, he is, please come in," said the assistant.

Adrian, the Reeve, was sitting at his desk when they came in. He came over to them and shook Roger’s hand. Spying the bandage under his hat he looked closely and asked, "What has happened to you, Roger?"

"Just a small gash. A group of highwaymen accosted us outside of town and made away with all our possessions, yet we are happy that all of us escaped with our lives, which is not usual for highwaymen."

"So glad you are alright," the Reeve said looking from one to the other, "though it looks like you could use some rest and refreshment. I’ll send my assistant after these robbers. Which way did they go?"

"They went south down the road toward Drax about two hours ago."

"Dirk, run to the constable’s room and request their captain to come here quickly."

"Right, sir, am about it, sir." Bowing and turning on his heel, Dirk ran out the door and toward the Constable’s offices.

"Now, Roger, did you tell me that all of your goods as well as your writing supplies have been taken by those thieves?"

"Yes, sir. My writing table and chair, my ink, quills, my supply of velum and paper, plus our wagon and four horses."

"That is serious being that we have much work for you to do while you are here. Perhaps we can supply at least the writing material for a day or two. I pray these highwaymen are captured soon."

"Yes, we hope so, too."

Just then, the chief constable ran in the door.

"You sent for me, sir?"

"Yes, Justin, Roger and these ones here have had all of their goods, wagon and four horses highjacked today. Take your men and ride south, apprehend the culprits and retrieve the goods understand?" Be in haste, they have a two-hour start on you."

"Yes, your honor, we are on it right now, sir." Bowing, Justin hurried out the door to his awaiting horse to head up the troupe of men waiting there for him. They spurred their charges on and dashed out of the town gate, turning left in hot pursuit.

"Thank you Adrian, I’m sorry to put you to all of this inconvenience."

"You are very welcome. When we catch these thieves, we will hang them as is their just punishment. But do not let me detain you further. You must want to find lodgings and clean up and rest. You always stay at the Sheep’s Fleece Inn, don’t you?" "Yes, we do, Adrian, and indeed we are tired from our forced walk. We would like to eat and rest before we think about the work ahead of us. I think we will rest today and then start our work tomorrow. Good day, Adrian, and again, thank you."

"I hope we find your possessions soon, Roger, so you don’t have to buy more. Rest well, and I will send you any information when the constables return."

"Good bye, Adrian," said Roger as the three left his office and stepped out into the bright sunlight.