Bird in the Bush

by Donna and Abs

As they walked, Mellors was becoming aware that his surrounding seemed *different* somehow. The trees were different, and he was seeing wildlife and birds that he had never seen before in all his life. He scared up a large turkey like creature that ruffled it's colorful feathers at him like a peacock would.

It was all so odd. So strange. Where in bloody hell was he?

Suddenly he smelled an aroma like he had never experienced before.  Flowers, yes, but different.  Arousing, in a way.  He shrugged it off angrily – this was no time to be thinking of women! - and followed the dog.  The scent just got stronger!  Then, suddenly, he saw a beautiful young woman wearing a purple gown!

He was so shocked he almost dropped his gun! Belatedly, he remembered his manners and he swept off the rather decrepit looking hat he wore on his head. "Good mornin' to ye, Miss," he said politely, bowing just slightly at the waist. "Ca' ya be so kind as to show a poor lost soul his way back home? Ah seem to ha' gone astray."

"Yes," she said, "that's exactly what I'm here for."  She smiled and then started walking out of the forest.  His eyes went to her figure, and he had to adjust his walking for a bit, but eventually he settled in and followed her without a word.  The dog was nearly at her heels.

At the end of the forest she stopped and smiled.  "You may choose a farm, or continue in to the town of Edan.  Unless you would prefer closer to the castle?"  They could see Camelot in the distance.  "If so, you might need a mode of transport.  It is quite a walk."  She smiled.

"I'm no townsman, mum" he said gruffly. "I'm the gamekeeper fer Lord and Lady Chatterly. Can you direct me ta' their lands?" He was now thoroughly confused. Edan? He knew of no such town. And that castle in the faint distance was like none he had seen in his entire life!

"You're no longer an employee of the Laird," the girl smiled.  "Unless you choose to be, as I said.  You, and many others, have been sent here for a new start.  Haven't you always wanted a place of your own?  To get out from under his heel?"

He looked at her oddly. Was she a wood sprite? One sent to tempt him away from his post? He wasn't really all that superstitious, but there were tales that had been told about such things. "Aye," he finally said in a quiet voice. "Wa' man does not dream of havin' his own land?" A large quail family ran by them, and he told his dog to heel.

The animal whimpered but obeyed his master.

"You don't trust me," she pouted.  "Go on down the road to one of the farms. They will tell you.  When you have settled, you will see me again, and you won't doubt your senses."  Smiling sadly, she stroked his face and was suddenly gone in a burst of sparkles.

His jaw dropped and he stood frozen in place for a moment until his dog bumped his cold wet nose against his hand. Mellors swallowed hard, wondering if he had some sort of hallucination. But the road was real. Shouldering his gun, he headed down it. 

It was well into the afternoon by the time he spotted some farmland off in the distance in a green valley below where he stood. On another hill off to the side, he saw a place that looked like it was surrounded by an untended vineyard. On the other side of the road, an Italian villa stood was nestled in amongst the trees. But he passed them all by, heading for a huge manor home even further down the road. It at least looked semi-familiar.

The place was much more like the type he was used to, though smaller.  The Chatterlys had had a huge estate.  This one had a great many horses in the various fields and pastures, but did not seem to need a gamekeeper.  Still, he decided it was good for a start.  At least they could explain what was going on!

He spotted two women riding in a field, and as he approached them, he overheard the older, dark haired one giving a dressage lesson to the young red head. When he went up to the fence, his dog gave a little yip of a greeting to the ladies, and they both turned their horses to face him.

"Hello!" Charity said, her eyebrows raised in surprise. This man looked just like her Samuel! "Did you just arrive? I'm Charity, and this is Ceara."  

Mellors tipped his hat politely.  "Ladies," he said.  "Yer got any idea where th'Laird a' ther Manor is? I 'ae a mind ter speak with 'im." 

Charity chuckled, swinging down from the three year old she had been riding. "Samuel Grey is whom you would like to speak to then, but he is no laird. Just a gentleman farmer. We raise and train horses mostly, but also cattle and sheep as well. Will you be wanting to farm yourself?" By the soft drawl in her voice, he knew her to be an American. "He is on the other side of the barn, I believe, fixing a fence that some of the yearlings decided to go through last night. But before I take you to him, I feel I should warn you about something." 

"Aye?" asked the gamekeeper.  "'E 'ard ter get on wit' er somethin'?"  But the words were hardly out of his mouth when Grey himself appeared!  Mellors, of course, was stunned, yelping, "What sort o' place 'ave I found myself?" but his dog's reaction was even more violent.  The animal started barking and would not be called off!  

Grey didn't seemed to be bothered. "Welcome," he said, reaching out to shake the newcomer’s hand. "Samuel Grey is me name." He looked at the almost frantic dog, who had every hair raised on his back at the sight of not one, but two masters!  

"Hush now," Grey said softly, kneeling down and holding out his hand for the dog to sniff. The animal inched forward and once he was assured that this man smelled just a little different from his master, he wagged his tail and gave Sam's face an enthusiastic licking. He could tell them apart now!  

"Yer goo' with animals," allowed Mellors.  "Can y'explain what is goin' on?  I were the game keeper fer Laird an' Lady Chatterly till this mornin'."  

"Aye," Grey said, standing up. "Come inside the house. The girls wa' fix us a spot of tea after they put up their horses, and I'll explain it all."   

He steered the bewildered Gamekeeper towards the side door of his estate and into the sitting room. "Ha' a seat. This will take a little time to tell it all. Yer not in England anymore, or even on Earth. We call this world Edan. It's a grand place, it is, a place fer men to make a brand new start. No taxes. No landlords. Just a world waitin’ to be settled. If it's farmin’ yer after, there are still plenty with houses and everything standin’ empty and ready for the takin’.  They just need the right man to come and set the grounds right again." 

Mellors digested that.  It certainly mirrored what the girl in the woods said.  He decided *not* to mention her for the time being.  The two women here seemed normal enough - if dressed oddly, for his taste.  So all females on this world, or whatever it was (Grey wasn't even sure of that, himself) were not as she was. 

"I'm a gamekeeper.  I keep birds fer th' Laird to hunt.  What would I do 'ere?" 

"Birds is it now?" Grey said, a look of concentration on his face. "Would ye be after catchin' the wild ones and domesticatin' them? The human population is steadily growin' with new ones such as yerself arrivin' all the time, and a bunch of wee folk on their way," he looked up at Charity who was bringing in a tea tray. "We have the beef and mutton available, but it wa' be a grand thing to no ha' to go trekking through the woods in search of a fat bird for the table. Ha' you seen the gobblers with the fancy tail feathers. Good eatin' they is when they are cooked right." He smacked his lips and grinned at Charity. It was a private joke between them. Right after she had came to Edan, she had burned one of those turkey like creatures to a crisp.  

"Aye, I can do that.  I'm good with birds.  I’ve seen some quail, too.  Any pheasant?"  Just the sound of the word made Grey's mouth water. 

"I've seen several different types of pheasants," Charity said with a nod. "And ducks and geese as well. You could very easily have quite a bird farm set up in no time!"  

"Aye, milady," Mellors said, nodding respectfully to her.  The way she and Grey interacted, they were clearly a couple, and he thought his look alike a lucky man.  Still, he could not quite forget the other woman, from the woods.  Maybe he would see her again, when he was hunting birds. 

Grey laughed. "Charity is a good woman, she is. And a grand rider as well. She competed in competitions worldwide before comin' here. But now, she keeps house with me, and will be bringin' me child into the world in just seven months." Charity blew him a kiss after she set down the tray. "You can stay here till you find the right place fer yer farm. I have a nice mare ye can ha' if ye like. She is broke to ride and drive, bred to a good stud and ready to go to a good home."  

"Tha' would be wonderful," Mellors nodded, and he meant it.  He was not prone to smiling, but they both could see he was pleased.  "Truth be told, I were no' 'appy workin' fer the Laird.  Will be nice ter 'ave me own place!!"