Miriam stopped and clutched at the stitch in her side. Her breathing was loud in her ears and she could see the white vapor of her breath on the air as she breathed in and out. God she was so cold and tired. She lurched to her feet and started running again darting this way and that. She didn't know whether to thank or curse the full moon. The light it gave off showed her the way through the thick forest but it also gave her away to her pursuers. Her white full-length lawn nightgown did not help, it stuck out like a lighthouse but it could not be helped. She had run from the house in the middle of the night, after hearing them plot to kill her for her money. They men had it wrong, she had no money, that's why she was staying with her cousin, but she could tell they were not in mood to listen to her explain. They were there to kill her, and they had released the dogs to track her and bring her down. She could hear them too in the night distant but closing in on her. It would not be long before they tracked her down. What a mess her life had become. Her family once owned a delightful acreage in the country with a lovely Manor house. There had been manicure lawns and flowerbeds, hedges and even a complex maze. Stables and horses and servants and clothes and nice food, but above all she missed her mother and father and brother. They had all died. Mother and father killed together when their carriage over turned. Andrew killed only months later in a barroom brawl in a seedy part of the city. No one knew why he was there or how the fight had started but when the dust had settled, Andrew lay on the floor, a knife in his back. Then she was alone. Cousin Roger had appeared like a guardian angel. He offered her food, shelter and his protection in exchange for looking after his son. Cousin Roger was probably as unfortunate in some ways as herself. His wife Clare had gone insane after the birth of their son Steven, and thrown herself from their balcony. Now Roger inherited Clare's holding and kept them for Steven when he came of age. He had argued that they needed each other. She needed him to survive and he needed her to look after his son. It was an affable relationship that had worked for almost 8 months. Roger's work, whatever that was, took him away from time to time. He had left two days ago and for a change, taken Steven with him explaining he wanted to give Miriam a rest from Steven. Miriam had reveled in the chance to have some time to herself, it was such a rare gift. She loved Steven for he was a charming lad, but still motherhood even if he wasn't hers was a full time job. The dogs were closer now, no time for resting and remembering. Just go, her inner voice said, Run. She felt sticks and rocks hurt her slippered feet. She sent up a quiet word of thanks that she had footwear on at all. The dogs behind her started barking, they had picked up her scent. Miriam felt water under her feet. Good if she walked along in the water for a while, the dogs would not be able to smell her. The water was icy cold and soon Miriam could not feel her feet and ankles but at least they no longer hurt. Her chest ached from the cold air and the stitch in her side still hurt. Still she ran, with particular place in mind just forward away from the men who wanted her dead. She stopped running and stood in the center of the stream quietly listening. She appeared to have lost the dogs for the moment but she continued to walk down stream through the water. The staff had all retired for the night, when Miriam decided she wanted a cup of tea. It had been while she had been walking past the library she had heard a deep voice say " Look all we have to do is knock 'er on the head, pick 'er up and throw 'er down the stairs" . "When they find the body in the morning, they will think she tripped down the stairs in the middle of the night". Another voice had chimed in " and we walk away with 20 quid. I know I know but I'm still not sure about killing a titled lady". The first voice said " leave it to me, you just make sure nobody else appears out of the blue and leave Lady Miriam to me". Her gasp of horror had alerted them to her presence and she had started to run. " Get her." Came their collective cry. Miriam had without thinking, run straight out the already opened front doors with the intention of running into the night and hiding, but she had not counted on the dogs. They were coming, she could hear them. Miriam had not noticed how fast the water was now moving until she tripped and fell headfirst and was instantly carried along by the pull of the water. It was so fast, she could not get a handhold on the rocks and was washed further and further down stream and out into the river. Icy water filled her eyes and lungs, the wet lawn of her nightgown wrapped itself around her legs and she was trapped, a prisoner of the river. As her already battered body, bounced of the rocks and went under the water again and again. She was going to die. End chapter 1. Chapter2. Rober't walked down to the river to draw some fresh water so his animals would not die of thirst. His underground fed well had run dry a week ago and he had yet to go the upper part of the river and find out what the problem was. There were rumors of a rockslide, which was probably the cause of this underground water shortage. In the meantime the river would have to do. He kneeled down on the makeshift wharf, to scoop the water in the buckets and just happened to see something caught in between two rocks. He had been living on the river only a short time but already had seen some strange things washed down stream. He had no idea as to what the river had delivered to his door this time. He made his way over to the dirty white water soaked lump thinking it was probably just a sail from a little over turned boat. Rober't used everything he found in the river in some way. He was a proud man who was down on his luck. He could not afford to be fussy. If his next horse blanket came from the river so be it. Robert first knew this was not a dirty old sail when he saw a delicate foot attached to a leg that was tangled in the cloth. Mon dieu, it was woman. He fell over his own feet trying to get to her. She was tiny and cold in his arms and his first thought was she was dead. He found a very faint pulse in her throat and her breathing was fainter still but she was alive. The pretty woman had a big gash on her head just above her eyebrow and without looking, he was pretty sure she would be covered in bruises. He had to get her warm or his rescue would be for naught. Leaving the bucket, he picked up the wet bundle of humanity and almost ran back to the cabin with her in his arms. He absently noted she weighed almost nothing. Someone would be looking for her he was sure of it. He took off the wet nightgown and tried not to look at anything other than the bruises, which did indeed covered almost her entire body. She must have come through the rapids about 5 miles up stream. If this was the case, she was lucky to be alive at all. The rapids had killed many men, bigger and stronger than this little sparrow before. He would not sew the gash above her eye. His needlework would leave her scarred for life, but maybe Mother Nature would be kind and close the gash with only a little reminder of her adventures. He poured a little brandy down her throat and covered her with the blankets on the bed. There had been no sign of her coming around in the entire time it took to doctor her. Now it was up to God. Next morning, Rober't, stiff and sore from sleeping in the rocking chair, walked to the bed and saw that the little sparrow was still breathing. Her pulse and breathing were stronger and her head had stopped bleeding. Well, she would live, but would she awake? He had heard tell of stories, about people who got big bumps on the head, that sometimes never woke up. Time would tell. Rober't decided not to go to far from the cabin today just in case she woke up. In the meantime the animals needed water and food. By the time he was through with them, so would he. Miriam smelt bacon and eggs and toast and wood? She slowly opened her eyes and pain was instantaneous. Everything hurt. The light was bright and every inch of her screamed for mercy. She became aware of a large dark shape near her but it was too much for her and she receded to the shadows where there was no pain. The instant Rober't had heard a little groan, he had spun on his heel and ran to the bed. His little sparrow was in pain, he could see that. He also saw her go limp. She was unconscious again. Well, at least he now thought she would be all right. She just needed time to recover. She also needed clothes, maybe a trip to his friend Jean-Pierre would help. His wife was about the same size and would not ask to many questions. He was not ready to share his wounded sparrow just yet. Rober't ate his breakfast while he rode his horse to Jean-Pierre's at break neck speed. He did not want to be away to long. Sophie was working at the rear of the cabin in a large vegetable garden, when she heard the horse coming into the yard. She shaded her eyes from the early morning sun and straightened when she recognized the rider. "Good morning Rober't". " It's a little early for you to come visiting so it must be urgent, I'll get Jean-Pierre for you". The sound of Sophie's thick French accent reminded him of home but today he did not have time to reminisce. "Actually Sophie, It was you I came to see". "Please don't ask me why, but I need a dress". Sophie shot Rober't a startled look and try to speak with out laughing. "Well, you are a great deal bigger than me" she began, but Rober't burst out laughing for her. It was a big deep booming laugh, and it was a sound that Sophie had missed lately. Rober't worked to hard for such a young man. This English country was hard but not this hard. Rober't worked for no reason other than loneliness. Yes, he always had herself and Jean-Paul, but they were not the sort of company he craved. Sophie and a few others had fled France with Rober't and Jean-Pierre to escape certain death on the guillotine. Along the way she and Jean-Pierre had become friends and then lovers. Sophie had watched and listened to the big man Rober't and she had come to like him. He was intelligent, well mannered, and a gentleman but he was also broken hearted. His woman, some cold hearted fish called Marie had told him he could leave with out her, she had found another to warm her bed and that he would protect her instead of running from all she held dear. As they were leaving France, they had heard she had been betrayed by her new protector and had died on the guillotine as a traitor. "Why do you want a dress Rober't"?. "Especially one of mine"? she asked. Rober't had a child like guilty look about him as if he were keeping a big secret. "Please don't ask me just yet, when I can, I will give you all the answers". He gently took her hands in his and begged her to be understanding with his beautiful blue eyes. "Well, seeing as you have ridden the mare to death to get here so fast you can water her while I get you a dress. Then come in your self" She held up her hand to stop Rober't from protesting. " I know, I know, You cannot stay long. I'll be as quick as I can but you can still come inside for a moment." Besides Jean-Pierre is inside still nursing that sore foot and he could do with 5 minutes company". Less than an hour later Rober't was back home and his little sparrow was sleeping. He knelt on the floor beside her and just looked at her. Even with the horrid bump, the gash on her forehead and multiple bruises, she was pretty, with dark long straight hair, and so tiny. Rober't was big man, tall at just over 6 foot 3 inches and with broad shoulders, he could understand the attraction, she made him feel big and strong, well bigger and stronger. He had failed to protect Marie but he would not let this little one down. The thought of her naked body under the blanket flashed through his mind followed swiftly by the mental picture of the bruises as well. "I need to chop some wood," he said softly to the woman knowing she would not respond, but it made him feel better. Miriam mentally swam up through the layers of mist and pain to become aware of her surroundings. She was in an unfamiliar cabin, made of wood. Wood? She remembered smelling wood before. Had she been here then? She gave up wondering, it was to hard and it gave her a headache. It was then she became aware of her own nakedness. She gasped and grabbed the blanket tighter around her but realized she was alone. The cabin she was in appeared to be small, possibly only two rooms, but from here it was impossible to tell. The bed she was laying in was huge. Obviously built for two people with room to spare, it was also extra long. It was snuggly and warm and the sheets were clean. There was a big fur of some kind on the floor and a curtain between this room and what was obviously the main living area of the cabin, although at the moment the curtain was tied back making the room open and airy. Slowly and stiffly, Miriam sat up and felt the room spin around her, but it soon settled to a dull throb in her temple. Miriam winced when she touched what was apparently a large bump and what felt like a bigger cut. She also noticed that nearly every part of her body ached. It was then she noticed that one of the banging noises in her head was actually coming from outside. Rober't worked out his lust and self-loathing on the wood in front of him. He would need a good supply for the coming winter and this was a good time to start. "Damn" He cursed again. The woman was hurt, in need of protection, and all he could think of was how well she would fit in his arms, how her lips would fit to his, and how her hair would look laid out on the pillows of his bed after they had made love. He forced the sharp axe blade deeper into the wood. He had bedded a lot of women in France but none had affected him like this, not even Marie. He looked up and pictured the object of his desire wearing only a sheet, leaning on the doorframe of the cabin. It was at that moment he realized it was not his imagination but that in fact she was leaning on the doorframe. He slowly lowered his axe and moved towards her. End chapter 2 Chapter 3 " Good morning" He said. "It's good to see you awake. I hope you're feeling better". He moved slowly so as not to startle her. Miriam saw the big man move towards her. He was vaguely familiar but she knew she did not know him. His French accent was strong and she could see that he was trying not to scare her. " I'm sorry but I do not speak French" she said. "That is all right, I speak English well enough to get by I think" he said with a smile. As he loomed before her, Miriam remembered the large shape before her just before she had passed out before. "You have been looking after me". She said with a note of realization in her voice. "How long have I been here? And ah, where is here?" she asked. "I will answer all your questions later but for the moment, you need to be off your feet". Before Miriam could protest he swept her up in his strong arms and carried her over the threshold and back into the cabin. He gently placed Miriam on the sofa, it was at that point, that both of them remembered that she was naked under the sheet. "Um I must apologize for your lack of clothing, but it was necessary to get you out of your wet clothes. If you like to just sit there for a few minutes I will get a bath together for you". Miriam did not know whether to laugh or cry. He was obviously embarrassed by her but just why, Miriam was unsure. Maybe he did not like women, or more than likely, probably just her. Once she had thought of herself as passably pretty, but Roger had told her she was to little and besides her bust was to big and her hair too dark. Men, he had told her preferred real women, not dolls. The few males friends she did have, had all stopped calling on her and it was then she realized Roger was probably right. That was when she had excepted his child minding proposal in exchange for a place to live. She might never get married but at least she would have Steven to love. For the moment even sweet baby Steven was gone from her arms. A few minutes later, the stranger dragged a huge copper pan into the room. The pan was large enough to sit in and fill with water and that was exactly what the stranger proceeded to do. He heated large buckets of water over the fire while Miriam dozed on and off on the sofa. Miriam felt her hair gently pushed off her face. As she slowly opened her eyes, she came face to face with the most startling pair of gentle blue eyes. Almost without thought, she moved forward and gently placed her lips on his. His lips were soft and warm against hers and with a muffled groan he lent in to the kiss and deepened the pressure. A cinder popping loudly in the fireplace broke the thread of passion between them and they jumped apart. Neither could look at the other. Both of them were so absorbed in their guilt, that they did not notice the look of despair on the others face. Miriam was horrified at herself. She had never been so wanton in her life. What would this kind man think of her, throwing herself at him like that. What was she thinking? She would be lucky if she was not out on her ear when his wife came back from where ever she was. Miriam started to quietly sob when handsome man swiftly from the room. Rober't practically ran from the room. He was having trouble breathing and he could feel his heart beating erratically. His erection straining against the wool of his trousers. There was no way he could go back in just yet. He would send her screaming from the cabin if he did. She must think of him as some sort of monster. A few minutes later he went back inside feeling calmer. His heart was wrenched from his chest when he saw the tear tracks down her cheeks. This woman could destroy him he thought. "I apologize, that should not have happened". He said without looking at her. "I know and I am so sorry. I will leave if you get me some clothes to wear. I'll be gone before your wife gets back", she said with tiny hiccups in her voice. "What?" they both said at once. Rober't held his hands up. "Give me a minute, what wife? I am not married, I live here alone. This is why I am worried about what just happened, I mean, I don't want you to think I take advantage of strangers, especially sick women". " I thought that, I mean, that is. Oh. With all the dignity she could muster considering what she was wearing, she stood up, stretched out her hand and said, "Good morning, My name is Miriam Stanmore". His first instinct was to laugh at how out of place this introduction was but he also quickly realized she was offering them a way to start afresh. "Bon Jour mademoiselle" he replied. "My name is Rober't La Roumon. I am hoping it is mademoiselle or I am going to have some explaining to do when your husband comes looking for you". Once Miriam had had her bath in peace, she dressed in the pretty frock that Rober't had said a friend of had lent to her. The dress was a little to long and slightly tight in the bust but it would do for now. Now clean, dried and dressed she felt like she could face Rober't and the world. Rober't had also cleaned himself up after the exertion of chopping the wood. In actual fact he had thrown himself head first in the river when Miriam had told him she was not married. Until she was well enough to leave, Rober't decided he would be taking a lot of unexpected swims in the cold river. Miriam offered to make some sort of afternoon meal for them and Rober't accepted. He knew how to cook but apart from the occasional meal with Jean-Pierre and Sophie, he had cooked all his meals in the last 8 months. It would nice to have someone else do it for him. Miriam hunted through all the available supplies and came up with a passable lunch for them. She also began a stew and dumplings for dinner tonight. "Well, it may be a few days before you are completely well", Rober't began, "so while you are getting your strength back I will sleep on the floor". Rober't forestalled her protests by telling her that he had slept on the floor for some months while he built the bed and it would not be a problem. "In the meantime, why don't you tell me why you were in the river" he asked. The afternoon wore on while Miriam told Rober't everything she could remember and answered all the questions Rober't asked her. There were a lot of questions that Rober't asked she did not have the answers to, but it gave her a lot of food for thought. Then Rober't told her about some of the adventures he and Jean-Pierre had shared back in France. Some stories had Miriam gasping for breathe with the danger and excitement of them and still others had her laughing so much, that her already sore body hurt even more. By Early evening, Miriam's head was throbbing and it was beginning to show on her face. There were dark shadows under her eyes and she was very pale. Rober't felt ashamed for not seeing her pain before this and gently picked her up and carried her to his bed. Leaving her there alone was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do. His first impulse was to lay with her and hold her until she slept and make her pain go away, but for now he would just keep her safe. Tomorrow he had to make travel plans with Jean-Pierre. His sparrow might be unaware of it, but whoever was trying to kill her was not going to give up so easy.

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