by Author Name Withheld 40

Created on: September 12, 2009

The thistle seed buzzed through the air like fireflies. It was late evening and the sun was setting just behind the Corran Hill. Lady Alexander White lay at the foot of the largest apple tree in the orchard. Her thin face pallid and still. Her flock print apron the only flowers left. It was autumn and the trees were now ripe and abundant, they were an antidote, proof of a sweet life born to fruition out of the apple orchard. Lady Alexander White was long gone.

Two fields away the house lights of Harmon Hall flicked on and off. Jesse White entered each large room, lighting it, checking it and then quenching each light as he went, he was searching for his mother. It wasn't usual for her not to be at home before him. Usually she would be in the kitchen, ordering the staff about, or sometimes he would find her in the library pouring over old books.

He eventually called out for Lily. Lily was the housekeeper and had for her sins been his nanny since he was a child. She was more like a mother to him so it wasn't the solitude of motherhood he was missing that evening, he merely wanted to tell his mother the good news. He was bursting to tell her in fact. Lily came running up the stairs as soon as she heard Jesse's shouts. She was getting old and arthritic but she still took her role seriously and a few sore bones were not going to stop her.

"What is it child?" Lily asked Jesse in a warmer tone than he expected.

"Have you seen Mother? She is normally here or in the kitchen and it is not like her at all to be out at this time of the evening."

"Oh yes dear, now that you mention it, I thought she would be back ages ago, she went down to the apple orchard, she said she had something important to do, now I just assumed she was checking the fruit, it is nearly cider making time and you know how serious she is about the cider!"

"Yes, of course!, but why isn't she back yet?"

"Maybe she was taken by the lovely evening and decided to go for a walk, you know what she is like when Mr White is away, she is always fretting for him."

"Umm, but I must go and see if she is still in the orchard, it is getting chilly out there and you know how delicate mother is."

"Very well but bring Lance with you, he could do with a walk!"

Jesse called Lance to him with one long whistle. The border collie was getting old but he was excited to be getting some attention from the young master, he bounded to his side.

"Come on Old Lance lets see if mother is in the apple orchard."

The dog yelped with delight a walk...now what could be better for a lazy sheep dog.

Learn more about this author, Author Name Withheld 40.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.