Abbeyford Remembered Read Online Free PDF Page A

she was linked with the railway a secret from Jamie Trent. He could not welcome the railway which threatened the Trent farmlands – nor the people who built it! “ We’re staying, just temporary, over the hills there.” She waved her hand vaguely in a northerly direction.
    â€œMay I escort you home? It’s a long way and my horse will carry the two of us easily.”
    Carrie drew breath sharply, torn between the desire to remain in his company, close beside him on horseback and the wish to keep her identity a secret.
    â€œI’d – be very glad of a ride, Mr Trent, but I don’t like to trouble you …”
    â€œIt’s no trouble, Miss Smithson.” His voice was low and his eyes were upon her face. “It will be my pleasure.”
    He lifted her easily on to his brown mare and mounted behind her. His arm circled her waist lightly, her shoulder was warm against his chest and she could feel his breath on her cheek. The horse moved on at walking pace, down the hill and then following the winding path of the stream. Carrie, acutely aware of the whole time of his closeness, glanced up towards the Manor House – his home – as they passed before it.
    â€œThat’s where you live, ain’t it? It’s a lovely house.”
    When he didn’t answer at once, she glanced up at him, her eyes only inches from his face.
    â€œIt – could be,” he said guardedly, offering no further explanation. Carrie bit back the questions on her lips, sensing that she could not probe into his life. Glancing again at the square, solid Manor House, she saw now that on closer inspection there was an air of neglect about it. The windows were dull, the paint peeling. The garden was overgrown with long grass and weeds. She didn’t know what to say, so they rode in silence until Abbeyford was far behind them. Then Jamie Trent seemed to relax. He smiled down at her. “Are we taking the right direction? You still haven’t told me where it is you’re staying.”
    â€œOh – er – about two miles further on. Are those fields yours?”
    Again the frown was fleetingly across his handsome face. “ Yes, and I’ll see they stay that way.”
    Carrie’s heart pounded. The railway! She guessed he referred to the railway trying to encroach upon his lands. But his brown eyes were looking down into her face, quite unaware that she belonged to the railway people.
    â€œTell me about yourself, Miss Smithson – Carrie, isn’t it?”
    She nodded. “ There’s not much to tell,” her voice was husky. What could she tell him? Of her family’s gypsy existence? Of their harsh way of life? About her father? No, no, she couldn’t mention him – or the railway! And yet, that was her life!
    He was smiling, interpreting her reticence as natural shyness. “Oh I’m sure that’s not so. You’re – you’re a very pretty girl.”
    She smiled a little shyly – she was unused to such gentle compliments.
    â€œPlease – tell me about your family?” she asked softly. Again his face darkened, but because it would be churlish to ignore such a direct request, he said slowly, “My parents are dead. So, too, is my grandmother – my father’s mother. My own mother died giving birth to me. Now there’s only my grandfather, Squire Guy Trent and myself.”
    â€œOh, but I thought your mother …” Carrie stopped, shocked that she had allowed her chattering tongue to slip.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œNo matter – please go on.” But now her mind was in a turmoil.
    â€œMy father was killed in 1819 when I was only small.”
    â€œHow – did it happen?” Her heart beat fast. She was almost afraid to hear his answer and yet she had to ask, she had to know.
    â€œOh, there was much unrest amongst the workers at that time, so my grandfather says, and one man who seemed to