Flight of the Monarch

"Must you be so headstrong, Hayley?" Austin said, as he followed her to the carriage.

"Must you be the one to return us home?"

Austin threw the bag into the back of the carriage. "Do I sense a bit of hostility?"

Hayley reached for the buckboard. As she was attempting to hoist herself up, she felt Austin's hand holding her arm steady. As she sat on the seat, she forcefully pulled her arm from him. "Delivering us to our home will be the last you will have to endure of us, Mr.

Sommers." Hayley held her chin high and stared straight ahead. Maddie and Mrs. Sommers walked to the carriage.

Austin spoke, as he was helping Maddie into the carriage. "Mother, I believe we could allow Miss Hawthorn to take the carriage. I can retrieve it another day."

"I suppose, we have plenty of other carriages to use.

Besides, I do not want to postpone our discussion of your wedding plans." Mrs. Sommers gave Hayley a wicked smile.

Hayley felt light-headed as she picked up the reigns of the horse, and continued to focus her gaze on the road before her. "I will see that your carriage and horse are returned promptly tomorrow morning. " She snapped the reigns and felt the carriage move. It would not move quickly enough for Hayley. She longed for the solitude of her dark bedroom.