Tales of the Big Bad Wolf: The Red Riding Hood Arc (A Fairy Tale)

Chapter Fifteen, Parts C-F: The Wolf and the Lamb

That brief, unexpected statement had the same impact as a blow to the face.

Edmund might have had the upper hand over Giles earlier, but now the roles were reversed. Edmund reeled momentarily before demanding, "Where?"

The man turned over in the bed, shivering. "The deep woods near the Silver River."

The younger hunter started, his mind performing several mental calculations related to the distance and time to the river. He gave the man a suspicious look. It was an impossible trek for the man to have made there and back in a week's time or less, particularly with this snow. "You have confirmed this yourself?"

"No," Giles made a sound of irritation. "My kinsmen have said so. They are never wrong."

"Your kinsmen," Edmund repeated thoughtfully. He had heard that the man was not connected to any one in these parts but never had known exactly where the man came from.

He had opened his mouth to ask more questions when a stern voice at the doorway interrupted him. "Edmund." Mrs. Winchester passed him, with a generous load of blankets in hand. "Leave him be."

Respectful of her wishes, he said nothing more, instead helping the older woman with her task of making the man comfortable in his bed. They worked in amicable silence, wrapping the ailing man carefully in order to keep him warm and allowing the man to lie quietly.

When they had both withdrawn from the room, Edmund broke his silence. "You overheard what he said—"

She nodded. Mrs. Winchester gathered her words slowly, perhaps thinking through things for herself before she responded. "His master had warned something like this might be possible to both Elanore and I that day she arrived. I believe that is why Elanore is with the Count at the moment."

Edmund felt his chest tighten at that particular piece of information. "You sent her to him?"

"He called for the both of us," Mrs. Winchester answered in low tones, likely not wanting to be overheard by the other person in the home.

He was surprised by how much he was relieved by her admission. That sense of relief opened his eyes, though, to something about himself that he didn't like at all.

The older woman was worried enough about Elanore to not notice that talk of the Count had made the young man jealous. "I had expected her home some time ago. Perhaps you can aide both the coachman and myself by taking the message to his master and bringing her home?"

He did not tell her that he was not exactly welcome on the property of the Count and that his presence might cause more problems. Edmund was in no position to refuse the old woman anything. He owed her and her husband too much to even consider anything but honoring the request.

"I'll do exactly that," he took her hand in reassurance. "Will you be alright here with the coachman?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid he might do something to us?"

His mouth twisted a bit. Giles and women were generally a poor mix – not because he was dangerous to them but dangerous for them. "I was more that I was concerned he would try to escape. And then there's his propensity to flirt with any woman with any age."

That admission caused the old woman to narrow her eyes. "That sort of man, is he?"

"A wolf in sheep's clothing," Edmund said lightly. "But I have heard that he is quite susceptible to a pot or a rolling pin."

"Indeed!" Mrs. Winchester smiled faintly, understanding the hint. "If that is so, I do not think Mr. Giles is any danger to either of us. Mrs. Reyes and I are exceptionally good at wielding kitchen implements."