The Cinder Bullies (22)

Cindy took Dancer out for an evening stroll, but was startled suddenly, when a huge, horse drawn carriage raced right past them, at break neck speed. She could hear someone yelling, but did not see who it was because a huge cloud of dust flew up into her face. They were heading directly for the manor.

Dancer  began barking furiously. He started to chase the carriage down the road, but quickly responded to Cindy's call, returning to where she was waiting for him.

"Oh, no!" thought Cindy. "Is that carriage bringing the prince to the estate? Dancer, let's go tell Nadia. Come on!"

Several minutes later, the carriage raced right past her and Dancer again, this time heading in the opposite direction.

"Something is not right," thought Cindy, wiping the dust from her face, for the second time.

Nadia was outside, as she had heard all of the commotion, too.

"That driver was very upset about something!" she said to Cindy. "It looked like there were two, young men inside the carriage, not just one. Maybe the prince brought a guest along?"

"Maybe," replied Cindy.

"I wonder which one of them is the prince?" wondered Nadia.

"I guess we will just have to wait and see, right?"

She was concerned about Cindy's safety.

"I may have to send you to Rosa's, Cindy," she said. "But, for the moment, just stay close to home with Dancer, just in case there are problems," said Nadia. "I think Xaviar is coming, anyhow."

Xaviar arrived a little while later, playing his flute. The puppy was delighted to see him and began to do his little dance, immediately.

"You may not like what I have to tell you, Mother," said Xaviar, when he had a chance to speak to her. Cindy had gone into the kitchen to get something special for him.

"The prince is a cripple with a male attendant. They were both drinking heavily in the village tavern, became quite rowdy, were ordered to leave and then left in the carriage. The driver was absolutely furious with them. Have you seen the carriage go by yet?"

"It appears that the driver dropped them off at the manor a while ago, Xaviar. Then, he left in quite a hurry," said Nadia.

"He was probably thoroughly embarrassed."

"I don't think Bartley and Bessie will put up with these two drinking on their estate, at least not for very long."

"Bartley may not be able to control the prince, or his attendant, when it comes to drinking." replied Xaviar. "He is a prince and princes can do whatever they want, right?"

"Maybe at home they can, but not when they are on someone else's private property. Then, they have to live under the rules of the owner of the property."

Nadia began to understand why the prince was visiting the estate. Obviously, he had serious problems that needed to be resolved. She knew that would not happen with the excessive use of alcohol.

"Bartley will have his hands full with those two," said Xaviar. "I will keep an eye out for Cindy and Dancer." 

Cindy returned with a plate of freshly baked cookies.

"Those smell delicious," exclaimed Xaviar.

"They are the first ones that I have made on my own," replied Cindy proudly. "Nadia showed me how!"

"They are perfect, too!" replied Nadia, with a smile.