by D. J. Holmes
***
Having stayed at, Juste’s cottage for several days, Jehanne’s leg is much better and, Pierre and Jehanne prepare to leave by the back door.
Juste pulls Pierre to the side, “Each evening I have noticed that there is a fire over in that grove of trees,” pointing along the road that runs in front of his cottage. “Some of the English must have stayed behind to make sure that you weren’t here after they saw the ‘Charger’. If you go in this direction,” he indicted while drawing with a stick in the dirt, “there is a hill on this side of our home and they won’t be able to see you. You will be able to get to your next destination.”
Eloise, Delphine and Adrien come out of the cottage with the new baby. “Would you like to hold him before you leave?” Delphine asks.
“Yes, I would very much like to hold your beautiful child.” Reaching over to take the child in her arms, Jehanne adoringly says, “Grow up big and strong little man.”
Interrupting, Delphine proudly announces, “We’ve decided to name him Jean Pierre after both of you.”
Shocked, but proud, Jehanne continues to look down into the face of little Jean Pierre. “I will do my best to finish this war so that you, our little name sake,” Jehanne looks up at Pierre, “and all of the babies born from now on will never have to fight for freedom again.”
Realizing that Pierre has not had a chance to hold the baby, she asks. “Pierre would you like to hold your namesake?”
Apprehensive…but not wanting to miss the chance to hold this wonderful child, Pierre holds out his hands. Proud of the priceless gift given to both of them, Pierre promises, “Fighting by Jehanne’s side I will also do my part to end this war.” Little, Jean Pierre giggles. The wonderful innocent sound of this young child makes everyone smile.
Handing the baby back to his mother, Pierre states, “We must leave.”
A mixture of happiness and sadness fills their hearts.
As, Jehanne and Pierre, give everyone a hug, she says, “Thank you for all that you have done for me. May you always have the Lord guarding your back….”
“Thank you, Jehanne. We will pray for both you and Pierre.”
“Good bye, everyone,” Pierre says as he lifts Jehanne up onto his horse.
Quietly walking his horse around the hill, Pierre finally gets both of them past the English soldiers left behind by their commander.
“I wonder how long the English are going to camp there watching for us…”
“I would think until their commander comes for them.”
“Do you think that they will do anything to Juste’s family when they see that the ‘Charger’ is gone?”
“I don’t think so. Juste told me that he just knows that the Knight that left it there, in the first place, came and got it, because one day it was gone and money was left by the straw in the barn.”
Both, Jehanne and Pierre, begin laughing quietly and riding through the night.
In the early morning, as they ride to the top of a ridge, looking down on the lush green grass, Jehanne is shocked. Blinking her eyes, she sees a dapple gray horse quietly grazing. She points in its direction, “Pierre look. My father’s horse….”
Looking in the direction that Jehanne is pointing, Pierre comments, “He doesn’t look like he has been missing out on much, Jehanne.”
“Apparently my angels have been giving him the royal treatment,” she says with a huge smile. Mystified that the saddle is still on it, Jehanne slides off of Pierre’s ‘Charger’ and walks over to her father’s horse.
Smiling, Jehanne and Pierre ride to their next battle as they had been directed by their king.
Chapter 7
