Mutton Heads

Dawn slowly lit the carriage, stirring me awake. By my estimation, we should have been at the manor house by now. My uncle must have taken back roads to further avoid prying eyes. I might've also misremembered the length of this journey. It has been a while since I've traveled out to the land.

I felt a weight on my shoulder. My groggy eyes slowly opened to see Alina leaning on my shoulder fast asleep. Yesterday was quite a day for her too. I sighed, content to give her a place to rest.

My eyes scanned the opposite seat of the carriage. Cali had a soured expression as she stared out the window. Maybe travel did not agree with her. She looked as though she decidedly did not want to glance in my direction.

Carrion's chin met his chest in deep slumber. Soft snoring resounded from his chest. A large bump startled him awake, stopping his snoring in the middle of a loud inhale. His eyes flew forward taking in the image of me with Alina on my shoulder. His once peaceful expression, transformed into a sneer.

Apparently neither member from the clan of wolves wanted to be near me right now. Another jostle of the carriage and Alina awoke. She yawned and stretched her arms. It then seemed to register where she was. Realizing she used me as a human pillow, her cheeks tinged pink.

Curiosity overwhelmed her embarrassment. "Jack, are we getting close?"

I looked out the window to try and gain a better understanding of where we were. The curve of the road seemed familiar. On closer inspection, I could see the roof of the manor house in the not so distant tree line.

"Almost there!" I tried to sound excited, covering the nerves that plagued me. What if this was a mistake? What if this did not keep Alina safe and it's my fault?

"Good. I'm tired of this carriage!" Cali sputtered out. Upon further inspection her face was pale. I don't think riding backward in the carriage agreed with her.

"Cali, do you need to trade seats?" I offered.

Cali stared at me angrily. She did not like having to ask for help. After a deep gulp, seeming to hold down last night's dinner, she begrudgingly nodded. We shifted seats carefully but without much room, we ran into each other awkwardly. Once seated Cali returned to looking at the window trying to get some fresh air.

Carrion cut his eyes toward me. I could tell he was on the verge of telling me something. What he wanted was left a mystery to me.

Uncle John knocked on the carriage wall trying to get our attention. "Close the curtains!"

Cali looked as though she could strangle Uncle John. I did not know what was coming down the road that made my uncle panic, but we hastily complied with the order. Alina took an extra precaution of moving to the floor. She would be the most recognizable of our group.

As she maneuvered to the floor, her change out of her voluminous skirts made sense. If she attempted this crouch with her usual garb, she would have been stuck in the floor for good. Her face was a blank slate of uncertainty. Cali, in contrast, was fully certain that this overnight carriage ride was not agreeing with her.

"Hello, John! I did not expect to see you today," a friendly voice greeted my uncle.

The tension in Alina's body slowly released as our unknown threat revealed himself to be more friend than foe.

"Nice to see you Parker. I guess it's good I ran into you. You don't have to come check on the manor for the next few weeks. I'm going to be hunting and fixing some things up in the house," my uncle offered to the man who my parents allowed to steward our land.

"I wish you well in your ventures. Let me know if you need help with any of the projects. I can come up and check on you in a few days to make sure you didn't overdo it," the man chuckled in good humor.

Uncle John laughed politely back. " I would hate to bother you. I also hate to disappoint but I'm looking forward to some solitude." Uncle John somehow managed to politely shoo off our potential visitor.

"Good to know! I'd stay and chat longer, but the wife is expecting me to bring in the eggs I collected from the chickens soon. Enjoy your trip," Parker responded.

"Thanks Parker," John replied and flicked the reins once more. It all came so easy to my uncle. How has he become so good at hiding things? These lies came to him a little too easily.

After a few moments on the road my uncle tapped his knuckles against the wall of the carriage again. "All clear."

Even with a sword, I had not seen Cali move faster than she did as she tore open the carriage curtains. Desperate for fresh air, she stuck her head out the window up to her shoulders.

She was just in time for the carriage to turn onto the lane that led to my front door. Childhood memories flooded back. The tree where my father hung a rope swing still stood tall in front of the house. Next to the house, stood the stable where I first rode a horse on my own.

My uncle pulled the carriage into the stables and stepped down to open the carriage door. He handed out the ladies before Carrion and myself clamored out.

"Who took the last watch?" My uncle asked us. My face went white. I had not even thought to try and stay awake to guard Alina. The very person this whole trip was to protect, I had already failed. So had Carrion. I knew he fell asleep too.

"I did! These two mutton heads both fell asleep," Cali didn't hold back. I realized her motion sickness was not the only reason for her exhaustion. My uncle's expression turned into seething disappointment before accepting the answer and moving onto more important matters.

"Well then, while the ladies get situated in the house, Sir Carrion can guard the front door and Jack can put up the horses," my uncle eyed me carefully.

Any pride I had in forming this grand scheme of hiding Alina disappeared. Yesterday's triumphs were easily forgotten in the copious amount of today's sweat