had traveled and worked with strangers. He was returning to his home with more courage and strength than he had possessed when he left. 'Elizabeth will be pleased,' he thought and he picked up his pace.
With great anticipation, he approached the cottage in Burghley. The cottage appeared strangely quiet he thought. No animals around it and no one in the garden. He didn't bother knocking on the door, but went right inside. He was shocked to find the house completely empty. There was not even a pot by the fireplace.
Richard's mind seemed to swirl as he looked around the room in disbelief. He walked back outside and stood at the doorway and surveyed the surroundings as though to convince himself that he was at the right cottage.
Burghley is a small hamlet with only a few houses. 'One of the neighbors will know where they 'ave gone,' he thought. His heart was racing as he dropped his bundle and ran to the nearest cottage. He found a man working on a fence and blurted out, 'Where 'ave they gone? The cot'age is empty.'
Richard must have surprised the neighbor because he jumped to his feet and spun around to face Richard while holding the hammer in front of himself like a weapon.
'Who is gone, who are you?' demanded the neighbor.
'Do forgive me,' he blurted out as he gasped for breath, backing off a bit so as to not appear threatening, 'I am Richard Easton, me wife Elizabeth lived with 'er family in the cot'age at the bot'om of the 'ill.'
With that information, the neighbor was set at ease and lower the hammer. 'They 'ave gone. Kicked off the land when they culd nay pay rent.'
'Gone? Where 'ave they gone?' pled Richard.
'I do nay know where they 'ave gone,' replied the neighbor. 'They left suddenly and it is a real shame, 'er father being sick and all. Boot, if you do nay pay the rent, whot can the landowner do?'
The shock and the run had made Richard warm and despite the November cold, he removed his cloak and held it in his hand. 'Does anyone know where they 'ave gone?'
'Nay, I 'ear that they went to live with family though. Sone, you luk tired and 'ungry. Comb inseed and 'ave sume supper,' offered the neighbor.
'Nay, boot you are kind,' replied Richard. 'I must find where they 'ave gone.' And with that, Richard left the yard briskly. He only stopped at the cottage long enough to pick up his bundle and then he headed for Easton-on-the-hill.
Richard rushed along the Kettering Road as quickly as he could to reach Easton-on-the-hill. He hadn't been on the road long when he heard the pounding of horses hooves behind him. He turned and in the gathering darkness could see 10, maybe more, horses pushing toward him. He quickly stepped off the roadway and into the bushes to let them pass and also to not be seen if he could help it. As the men on horseback thundered past with mud flying from their horses hoofs, Richard could see their swords and he knew that they were knights and wondered why there were so many together and where they might be going.
'To travel on a fine 'orse wuld be grand indeed,' Richard spoke out loud, but to himself.
'Aye, indeed it wuld,' someone nearby said.
Richard spun to face the speaker and instinctively put his hand on his pouch.
'Who goes there?' demanded Richard.
'It is only a lonely traveler,' spoke the person half concealed by the gathering darkness. 'Shall we walk together?'
'Nay,' replied Richard, 'I 'ave no use for a companion.' He knew all too well that robbers worked in pairs or in groups. And with that, he bounded back onto the road and ran toward Easton-on-the-hill.
Richard soon reached his father's cottage and burst through the door without announcing himself. Doing so surprised his mother, father, Margaret, Geva and Ralf who were just beginning their evening meal together. Bromley was lying on the floor asleep.
Lind and Ralf jumped to their feet with such surprise that they upset the table and milk spilled from glasses. Lind was already reaching for something to use as a weapon when Gleda and Geva almost simultaneously shouted out Richard's name. The shock was too much for Gleda and she momentarily lost all strength.
'Richard? Is that really you, me boy,' shouted Lind as he grabbed Richard by the shoulders with both arms.
Geva and Margaret were overjoyed and both ran to Richard and grabbed him about the waist with