Balorbane

A Visitor Arrives At Withyford

A Visitor Arrives At Withyford

Just before noon, a rider named Willy Whiddon arrived at Withyford farm. He was employed as a stable boy by Giles Basehart, the local Squire.

The Vale family were just at the point of sitting down to their noonday meal when Whiddon entered the yard. The sound of hoof beats and the dogs barking brought Morgan to the door of the old house to see who could of arrived at such an untimely hour.

“Ah, Whiddon, what brings you to Withyford this rainy day?”, said Morgan. The lad dismounted from his mud splattered pony and turned slowly, as if he were stiff from the ride. “I’ve brought a message from the Squire sir, for your father, sir”, said Willy, touching his hat in a mannerly fashion. “It’s in the form of a letter, sir, and I must see to it that your father receives it personal like”, said Whiddon. “Well then, father’s in the kitchen, you had best come in and give it to him and dry yourself out a bit”, said Morgan as he held the door open for the young lad.

He then called for Worthy Cobbles to come and take Willy’s pony to the stable. “Clean him up a bit and give him some hay and fresh water after awhile”. Worthy was not much more than a boy, and had no parents, so he lived and worked with the Vales. He led the pony away toward the stable, thinking of the chore ahead of him. Well, he would do his best.

Inside the house, Whiddon’s wet coat was hung to dry, and he sat on the settle by the fire to put some warmth back into his bones, as the saying was. He was dressed in russet riding gear, a felt hat and riding boots; the Squire outfitted him well. “Glad to see you again”, said Sarah as she set another place at the table for him. Salted beef, onions, boiled eggs, some homemade bread and a large jug of cider were placed before him. At the sight of the food, he realized how hungry he was but, remembering his mission said, “Thank you ma'am, but first I must give this letter to Mr. Vale”. Reaching into his pocket, he brought forth the letter in question and handed it to Vale. “Now eat your lunch young man, said Sarah. So, thanking her, he sat at the table gladly.

John strode across the room a couple of times, as he opened the sealed letter. Finally, he sat on the settee and read:

Dear John,

This morning I received a visit from the Constable. He wants to hold a meeting this afternoon at three pm.

It seems that Peter Hopkins was badly beaten last night and also had some sheep stolen from his fold. He claims the Stickles were responsible.

Please come as we must do something to put an end to this sort of business, before it gets out of hand.

Yours Sincerely,

Giles Basehart

Vale stood up, put the letter in his waistcoat pocket, lit his pipe and stared thoughtfully into the fire. A minute or two passed before he said anything, then, looking at his wife, said, “Well, I best make ready. I have to go to the Mede this afternoon”. “Another meeting dear?”, said Sarah as she cleared the table. “Yes, you could say that. Anyway, I have to be there by three”. Sarah said no more, she was used to him going about such things since being on the local committee. “A mug of cider for the road if you please, Susie”. His tone was different now, full of enthusiasm. Sarah knew if he was leaving right away, it must be something of importance.

A short while later, Vale went to the stable and spoke to Worthy. “How are you making out, lad?”, he asked as Cobbles cleaned the last of the mud from his curry comb. “Well, I’ve cleaned him up sir, fed and watered him. He looks better now, doesn’t he?”. Vale looked at the pony. “You’ve done a good job, I understand he was really mud splattered”. “Oh, he was sir, he was, I can tell you”, said Worthy with a boy's eagerness for praise. “Saddle my mare, I’ll need it shortly, then go and have your lunch, you must be getting hungry by now”. “Aye sir, I am a little”, said the lad, then went about preparing the mare and pony for their journey. The mare was a heavy cob type, thick bodied with a short cropped tail.

John returned to the house and found Whiddon checking his coat to see if it was dry. “I see you were caught in the rain this morning Whiddon”, said Vale as he finished his cider. “Yes sir, there was a heavy rain on my way here, strayed into a bog I did, pony went in and out as quick as a wink, so he did. Some of those streams are plenty high, we’ve had a lot of rain lately wouldn’t you say sir”, said Willy. “We have”, said Vale. “We best be on our way, Cobbles should have the horses ready by now”. The cider being finished, they both put on their riding gear. Willy left for the stable and Vale wished his family farewell. It was possible that he would be staying overnight at the Mede.

The young lad was already mounted when Vale stepped into the yard, eager to be off. “Thank you for the lunch ma'am”, said Willy. “You're welcome Willy, come and see us again soon”, she said. Vale now mounted, waved his hand to his wife and with that, they both left at an easy pace out of the yard, down the lane toward the open moor.

The sky was heavy with clouds and the wind blew gently, the scene was quiet and for now the rain had stopped.