Page 36 of Fair Weather Enemies
“Ugly?”
“No. None of those.”
He flexed his shoulders again. “You did, however, use the word brute. Surely, you do not hold brutishness in high regard.”
She shook her head slowly. “I am a miller’s daughter, sir. Brutishness offends me not at all. In fact, I find it rather…”
He waited only a moment before cocking an eyebrow again. “Rather what?”
Color flooded her cheeks. “I find it rather unnecessary for us to continue this course of conversation. It moves us no closer to the prize.”
“I might disagree with that,” he mumbled. However, she appeared not to hear as the creaking door caught her attention. Hester had just entered the pub with Barlow at her heels lugging a pair of buckets.
“Good morning, niece. Mr. Barlow has kindly fetched a bucket of water with which we may wash and refresh ourselves.”
“What is the purpose of the second bucket?” Jane asked. Barlow answered by setting one down, walking to the slumbering Thistlethwaite, and flinging the contents of the second bucket onto the man. Thistlethwaite roared to his feet, sending his chair flying backward.
“Heavens to Mary and Joseph and all the saints! Why’d you do that?”
Barlow shot Thistlethwaite a steely glare. “Because, sir, my previous attempts to wake you by gentler means proved futile, and the day is wasting. You left me no choice but to resort to violence.”
Thistlethwaite wiped water from his eyes as it dripped from his soaked hair. “You should have just poured me a beer. I wake to that without fail.”
“We require you sober, Mr. Thistlethwaite.”
Confusion crept over the local’s face. “Why? Do I know you?”
Adam stepped toward him. “Of course, sir. We spoke at length last evening.”
“About what?”
“About giants. Specifically, the Giant of Hewen Castle. You promised to take us there this morning.”
“Ah,” he breathed. “I seem to remember that now.”
“Wonderful. We would greatly appreciate your taking us to the castle, then.”
Thistlethwaite shook his damp head. “Cannot.”
“Dare I ask, why?”
The man stared at Adam as if observing the very picture of idiocy. He clasped his hands together. “I cannot take you to the castle because the castle no longer exists. Hasn’t for two hundred years.”
Adam massaged his temples with frustration, attempting to assemble a response suitable for mixed company. Before he could complete the prickly task, Jane squeezed past his elbow.
“Mr. Thistlethwaite.” She spoke with a gentle patience far superior to anything Adam could muster in the moment. “What happened to Castle Hewen?”
He shrugged. “The good people of Hesket and surrounding areas liberated the stones for more practical uses. Such as houses, fences, and the like.” He glanced around the room. “In fact, I believe this very pub owes much of its existence to the demise of the castle.”
“So, there is nothing left at all of the castle?”
“A kind of nothing, miss. Just a shallow hole in the ground and a few scattered stones.”
Jane frowned at Adam. “What do you think? Might the gol…the object of our search be buried in the hole?”
He considered the question before shaking his head. “Not likely. The letter contains too many further instructions. However, the hole may offer context for deciphering the next lines. Particularly the mention of hallowed ground. Perhaps we should go there.” He looked to Thistlethwaite. “Can you take us to the hole marking the former location of the plundered castle?”
Thistlethwaite shrugged again. “I could. However, if it is hallowed ground you seek, I suggest you visit the giant’s grave.”
