Read Abigail Moor for Free Online

exclaimed.
    “Why ever not?
You knew her – didn’t you?” Abigail looked down at Martha, but
realised the woman had no intention of meeting her gaze.
    “Yes, I did.
But I can’t walk, carry this, and talk, not if we’re to reach the
coaching inn in time,” Martha explained.
    “Sorry, I
didn’t think… but you will tell me soon, won’t you?”
    “Oh yes, but
let me catch me breath now, lass. I’m not as young as you.”
    Abigail patted
her maid’s shoulder, knowing that she was older, yet also stronger
and wiser than she was. When Martha decided the time was right, she
would tell her. Until then, Abigail realised that she would have to
be patient, wait and, strange as the idea was to her, it was she
who would have to learn to listen and obey.
    The uneven
ground and bitterly cold night air made their progress slow. The
only light to guide them was by the glow of a crescent moon, the
stars and a cloudless sky. After half walking and almost running
what must have been over a mile, the light suddenly started to
leave them as thick menacing clouds moved across the sky, taking
their view away with it. Abigail realised Martha had quickened her
step. Her breath was heavier and she kept looking nervously up as
the world around them darkened.
    “What is it,
Martha? Do you think it is going to rain?” Abigail asked, as she
increased her own pace to keep up with her companion.
    “It might, but
that is going to be the least of our problems if what I fear is
right. It will be worse than a soakin’.” Martha was almost running,
her ample figure light of foot, but obviously short on breath.
    “What is that?
We cannot get lost if the inn is on this road, for the road is
straight and The Cruck Inn will be large and well lit. Won’t it?”
For one moment she was unsure as she had never seen a real inn
before. People stayed in them so Abigail presumed it would be like
a small manor hall, with an arch for carriages to go through to the
stabling block. Martha gave her a stern look that made Abigail
think that perhaps her image of the building may not be accurate.
“Slow down or for sure you will exhaust yourself.”
    “Tis a bad
omen, or I’ll be damned.” Martha did not slow and her voice was not
only breathless but becoming unsteady.
    “What is a bad
omen?” Abigail asked. She was nervous of all the strange animal
noises which disturbed the silence of the night, but that was just
nature doing what it did – not something Abigail would consider an
‘omen’.
    “A bad omen is
something that’ll bring you no good luck and…”
    “I know what an
‘omen’ is, good or bad, Martha.” Abigail shook her head in
disbelief that her maid thought her to be so dim-witted. When would
Martha realise she was not a child anymore? “What is it that you
have seen and think is one – is so bad?”
    “Them clouds up
there –look!” Nervously the woman pointed upwards but soon took her
gaze back to the solid ground beneath their feet. The sky was all
but dark, the stars and the moon lost above a gloomy shroud. She
would not look left or right across the moor, nor stare into the
cloak of darkness around them. A strange sound, a bird or some
small beast shrilled and Martha let out a gasp of fear before
running a few breathless steps.
    “Don’t worry,
Martha, it will pass and then it will be the dawn and another day
will begin – a new and a very different one.” Abigail glanced back
along the road into an unseen existence, one that was as lost to
her now as it was from her sight. She jumped slightly when Martha
put a hand out firmly gripping her shoulder.
    “Aye, a new
dawn, lass, and one that bodes ill as the signs are not good for
us. God protect us, for this is to be the darkest dawn I’ve ever
seen.” Martha released her grip and started along the road at her
brisk pace once more.
    “Then we need
not fear, Martha, for we shall pray for His light to shine and
guide our way. Besides it is always darkest before the