1

Marlstone Manor House, located near the large village of Marlstone Marsh in the green country side of Southern England, was the ancestral home of the Carbine family, whose patriarch Lord Reginald Hamilton Carbine, held the hereditary title of the Earl of Willingham. A title the family had gained along with the estates in the days of Oliver Cromwell. Lord Reginald was a thickset man with bushy side levers with a thick black moustache, he was of medium height and going to fat, He was bigoted and often drank to excess, a fact highlighted by his red bulbous nose. His lordship was a harsh disciplinarian and ruled the household with a rod of iron, including the requirement for the son to call him Sir at all times. His long suffering wife, Lady Hilda was a good looking  middle aged woman with blonde hair now starting to grey, no doubt from his lordships treatment and constant harsh words. The two had only ever had one child, Paul, and he was a tall, very good looking, blond haired and blue eyed boy of 17. Paul was the total opposite of his father. The boy had grown up with no love being shown by either his father or mother as it was seen by his lordship as a sign of weakness and was therefore subsequently forbidden.

Paul was home on school holidays from his boarding school a place he had been attending since he had turned eight. Paul hated the school with its aristocratic sons of lords, Earls, Dukes and politicians. He had originally wanted to attend the local school in the village of Marlstone. His father had launched into a tirade, telling the boy he would go to the school that he the father had chosen and not to associate with those below his station. Paul had answered back and the father had taken the boys trousers down and thrashed him with a thin cane, leaving bloody welts. This was seen by the Lady Hilda and she spoke out against the boy’s treatment and was rewarded by the father thrashing her and sending her to her room.

Following that outburst the mother and father had never again shared the same room or a bed. Paul was often thrashed by his father for daring to disagree with the father’s often bigoted opinions.   Such it was on this day, as Paul had been forbidden to associate with Robby Graham, the son of his lordship’s game keeper George Graham. The two boys were the same age and had similar interest in reading and the outdoors; they had been friends since their fifth year and to see Robby was the only reason that Paul looked forward to the school holidays. Paul had stood up to his father and he flatly refused to stop seeing Robby, telling his father that he had a right to choose his own friends, as did the father. Reggie as the father was called by his friends had exploded and yelled “how dare you question my authority, you will do as I say”.

            “No Sir, I shall not, not on this matter, I have done as you say for all my life, and I will not do so this time”.

            “You ungrateful brat, I will teach you to obey me” his father had yelled back and taking off his thick leather belt he had thrashed Paul until the boy was writhing on the floor in agony. “Get out of my sight, and stay away from those beneath you” the father had yelled watching his son limp from the room in pain.

            Paul’s beating had been witnessed by her ladyship and she had tried to intercede on her son’s behalf. Reggie slapped her face hard and grabbing her by the shoulders he shook her saying vehemently “do not interfere in my affairs, go to your room and remain there until dinner time. Go on, get out of my sight”.

            His Lordship had a myriad of business interests and of these he held a large amount of shares in the fledgling rail network of North America. He and his business partner Major Eustace Lawrence (Retired), who had served with Reggie in the Bengal lancers, the Major managed the American business interests, and ran the Western Freight and Stage Lines. Reggie’s involvement was only from his study where he studied the balance sheet. The Major, as his staff called him, was a tall man, grey haired with a wiry frame sporting a Zapata moustache as grey as his hair. The Major was sunburnt from his long days in the sun. Reggie was expecting the Major to arrive later in the day.

            The Majors trip to England was to discuss with Reggie the proposed expansion of the freight lines after winning some very lucrative contracts and to attend to his father’s affairs after the old man had died earlier that month. Having completed the family business the Major had taken a carriage to the manor house, arriving after the thrashing of Paul and the harsh words to her Ladyship. The Major liked Hilda and always went out of his way to see her. The Major was also fond of Paul and silently sympathised with the boy for Reggie’s often unfair treatment of him.

            At the manor in his lordships study, with its buttoned leather arm chairs and its walls hung with portraits of the family males, Reggie and the Major were sitting in two arm chairs in front of the fireplace drinking Madera from crystal glasses. The Major had just finished bringing Reggie up to date on the recent contract he had won to transport various supplies to the rail workers. This he went to lengths to explain was on the top of the lucrative business of supplying an assortment of goods to the goldminers of North America. The Major suggested that his Lordship should visit the headquarters of the Freight and Stage Company, which was located at Fort Gibson near the frontier town of Dodge. Reggie had snorted and said “too many damn savages for my taste, had enough of those in the Punjab by god. No Eustace the Wild West is all yours. I am content here, thank you. I may consider you taking that ungrateful disobedient son of mine back with you, let me think on that for a while”.

            The Major had merely smiled and remarked he did not expect Reggie to ever see America. He went on to ask how her ladyship and Paul were as he had not seen them when he arrived. Reggie refilled the men’s glasses and looked at the Major saying “Her Ladyship is confined to her room until dinner, the stupid woman argued with me and actually she; she raised her mousy voice at me so I shook her and sent her to her room. How dare she raise her voice to me? As for my son, I strictly forbade him not to have anything to do with the gamekeeper’s son, Robby Graham; that family is as common as muck. He flatly refused point black to do as I wished, so I took off my belt and gave him a good thrashing. I told him to get out of my sight, he has gone off somewhere. There are times when I do not believe that the boy is mine. He has no interest in men’s things, like cards, women, drinking and gambling. He much prefers to read and walk in the forest and spend time with those lower than himself. I would not be surprised if he does not share a bed with that Robby boy. I don’t know where I went wrong, I gave him everything, never mind I have Jeeves keeping an eye on him, should he do anything that embarrasses me; he will be out on his ear. I will disown the ungrateful brat”.

            The Major nodded and stated that being a father was a big responsibility. Thinking to him self that Reggie had never given the boy love and understanding, the things that all children need whilst growing up. He did not voice his thoughts as he had no wish to enter into an argument with Reggie. He did though resolve to talk to Paul later in the day when Reggie would be in his cups.

            While Reggie was pontificating in the study Paul was walking into the extensive forests that abounded on the estate. He would have normally run feeling the wind in his hair, but following the thrashing, he in considerable pain was walking slowly hoping to see Robby going about his duties. Paul had spent the last term of school looking forward to being home and spending time with Robby, who was as tall as Paul with shoulder length black hair, grey eyes and a well developed muscled body.  Lost in his thoughts he walked around the bend in the river and to his delight he found Robby setting rabbit traps in the undergrowth.

            “Hello Robby, I was looking for you”.

            “Hello Paul, I wanted to see you too, as my father was told by the gardener, that you and his lordship had a disagreement over me and you were thrashed. The gardener was pruning the roses outside the study window and he heard it all “.

            “Yes Robby, my father ordered me not to see you, as he believes that you are beneath my station in life. I refused point blank to not see you and the bastard took off his belt and thrashed me. I just hope he does not take it out on you and your family, he is a spiteful tyrant and I hate him”.

            “My god, are you all right, Paul let me look at your back, take your shirt off please”.

            Paul did and Robby looked at the livid welts and saw that some had cut into Paul’s back and the boy was bleeding. “Put your shirt on Paul and we will go to my cottage where my mum will fix this for you”.

            “Thank you Robby, but is that wise, I don’t want to get your family in trouble”.

            “You need that back looked at, so don’t argue, come with me”.

            Paul followed Robby to his cottage where they were met at the gate by Robby’s father George. Who after greeting Paul asked if the boy should be there after his father’s tirade earlier in the day?

            “If you listen to my father Mr Graham, then I should not be. I really do not want you good people to get into trouble over me. I think I better go” Paul said.

            “Dad, he can’t go his back is cut and bruised I brought him here to let mum have a look at it. He is bleeding as his father took to him with a belt after he refused to stop seeing me. Don’t send him away please” Robby asked his father.

            “Come on inside Master Paul and Edna will fix you up. I am sorry the friendship with my son has caused this” George Graham replied opening the gate.

            “Thank you Mr Graham, I intend to choose my own friends, I just hope my arrogant father does not take out his spite on you good people. So I will let him think that I have stopped seeing Robby and we will meet in the forest after dinner, usually when my father is in his cups. The only reason that I come home for holidays is to spend time with your son” Paul replied.

            Inside the cottage, Robby’s mother Edna, a kind homely lady asked Paul to remove his shirt. Edna and George both looked at the mess the boys back was in and George remarked “his lordship is a bloody sadistic animal; no boy should be treated like this”. Edna got a bowl of warm water and bathed Paul’s back causing the boy to wince in pain. She spoke soothingly to the boy and dried his back, and then she dressed his wounds with a sweet smelling unguent that she had prepared. Finally she bandaged the boys back with clean white bandages, telling him to put his shirt on.

            “Thank you Mrs Graham, I better go before my father’s spies see me here and cause trouble. You have been more a mother to me all these years than my own. Robby, will you walk with me to the stables please. Goodnight Mr and Mrs Graham” Paul said.

            “Good night Master Paul, be careful and try not to upset his lordship” George replied.

            When the two boys had left, George and Edna talked about Paul’s treatment and what a fine young man he was. George said that he wished he could help the boy and give him something to frighten his lordship with, so that the old bastard left him alone. Edna had replied that George could and said “there will be a full moon in a day or so. The two boys are very close and we have the power to make them even closer. Think on it my dear”.

            Robby and Paul had walked to the barn and on the way had arranged to meet in a place called the fairy dell after dinner the following evening. Saying goodnight to each other Robby went to his cottage and Paul went to the manor house and up to his room to dress for dinner, another thing his father insisted on. Walking past his mother’s room he heard her crying and knocked on the door. His mother bade him enter.

            “Mother, what is the matter”.

            “Your father shook me and then sent me to my room, after I raised my voice to him, just after he thrashed you. Paul, are you all right”.

            “Yes mother, I am all right, my back is sore and it has been dressed. If he raises a hand to me again, I swear I will kill him. Come mother it is time to get ready for dinner and Major Lawrence is going to join us”

            “Yes Paul, I better get ready; please try not to upset your father over dinner”.

            “I will try mother, but only because you have asked me” Paul replied leaving the room.

Dinner at the Manor was normally a formal affair with the men wearing dinner suits and it was served in the large dining room with its vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows that overlooked the extensive gardens. Outside the windows was a stone flagged terrace that on a mild night the male dinner guest would adjourn to for a cigar and a port or a brandy. Paul dressed in his dinner suit walked into the dining room and found his father and Major Lawrence already there.

            “Good evening Sir, good evening Major Lawrence it is nice to see you again” Paul said joining the men and accepting a glass of fruit juice from Jeeves.

            “Good evening Paul, you are looking well” Major Lawrence replied smiling at the boy.

            His lordship took out his fob watch and checked the time merely grunting at his son. Lady Hilda joined the men who stood while she was shown to a seat by Jeeves the butler. Dinner progressed with the usual conversations about the weather, the price of livestock and his lordships opinion of the government. His lordship studiously ignored his son throughout the meal a fact not lost on the Major. Following dinner his lordship suggested a cigar on the terrace. Lady Hilda excused herself and retired for the evening.

            “You can go too, as I have no wish for you to be here” His lordship told Paul.

            “As you wish Sir and I assure you that I have no wish to spend more time with you than is necessary. Goodnight Major Lawrence” Paul said leaving the room.

            Paul retired to his room and changed into his pyjamas and a dressing gown and took a book from his bag that he had bought at Oxford in a second hand bookshop. The book would have sent his father into convulsions as it was called ‘My Brother the Werewolf’’ written in the 1700’s by an author named Christian Wolfe. He heard a knock on his door and said enter. Millie his mother’s maid brought him in a pot of coffee and placed it on his small table next to his arm chair, he thanked her and Millie smiled and nodded at him as she left closing the door behind her. Paul smiled and went to his bag and took out his cigarette case and selected a rolled cigarette, then sitting in his comfortable chair he lit it enjoying the taste and opened his book. He was engrossed in the book and a couple of hours later a knock on the door disturbed him, slipping his bookmark in the page he placed the book face down on his table and asked the person to enter.

            “May I join you Paul and have a quiet talk to you. His lordship is in his cups”.

            “Please Major Lawrence do come in. Have a seat I will ask Mille to get us some coffee. Major, would you care to join me in having a cigarette“. Paul asked going to ask Millie to make some more coffee and to bring an extra cup.

            When Paul returned he sat down and lit a smoke and looked at the Major who was rolling a cigarette of his own.

            “How is the back Paul, I believe that Reggie has thrashed you for disobeying his wishes”.

            “It is sore, cut and bruised and very painful, but it has been dressed and the pain is bearable. Major, I swear to god, that if he raises his hand to me again I will kill him. He forbade me to see Robby, and I refused point blank, then he thrashed me. I have been friends with Robby since I was five years old, Robby is six months younger than me, and I will not stop seeing him. Well I will let his lordship think that I have so he does not take his spite out on the Graham’s”.

            “Paul are you and Robby, I can’t think how to make this question any less painful for you, so here goes. Paul, are you and Robby sharing a bed, are you lovers”.

            “No Major Lawrence we are not lovers, good friends yes but not lovers. Is that what my father thinks, the foul minded old bastard, how dare he, presume that we, Robby and I are that way inclined” Paul said angrily raising his voice.

            “Keep your voice down lad; the walls have ears, as they say. I am sorry that I had to ask you that, I did not think it would be so when Reggie said it. Pardon me for causing you distress”.

            “Thank you Major; yes in this house the walls definitely have ears and they are firmly attached to the head of his lordships butler Jeeves. Let me answer the door” Paul said hearing a knock.

            Paul opened the door and let Millie in with a fresh pot of coffee and a spare cup for the Major. Paul thanked her with a smile and asked her to put it on the table. Millie did and said “goodnight Master Paul, sleep well”. Then blushing she left the room closing the door behind her.

            “That one likes you young man and you mark my words, she would join you in bed in a flash”.

            “I like her too, but it would be wrong of me to take advantage of her because of my position. My father would no doubt disagree with those feelings, I am sure” Paul said lighting another cigarette.

            “What are you intending to do when you complete your schooling Paul”.

            “I do not want to be stuck in a dingy office poring over musty papers and the like. I want to do something outdoors. However, I will have no choice in the matter as his lordship will decide what I am to be and continue to make my life a misery as he always does. Why do you ask Major”?

            “I see you like reading fantasy books and I was struck by the fact that the red men of North America have a lot of time for wolves and eagles which they are woven into their ceremonies. You would like America Paul, it is a big place with wide open spaces and the job I am thinking of for you would be my assistant, very hands on and outdoors. Please consider my offer and I will organise it with Reggie. Paul I assure you, and you have my word son, you would be treated far differently than you are here. I would treat you like my own son. I could also take your friend Robby with us, as I can find a job for him, that way you would both be together. Now I must let you go to bed. Goodnight Paul, let me know in a couple of days please”

            “Major, thank you. I will think on it and talk to Robby, it sounds exciting. Goodnight Major Lawrence, I will see you for breakfast”.

2

The following morning Paul joined Major Lawrence, his mother and father for breakfast. Breakfast was a sombre affair with his lordship again ignoring his son as though he did not exist. After breakfast Paul went to the stables and the groom saddled his horse a quiet stallion name Blaze, from the white blaze on the horses’ forehead, the only white on him, his coat being a glossy black. Paul had bought the horse himself from an allowance his grandfather on his mother’s side had set up for him. The allowance was 5000 pounds per year and this allowed the boy to be self sufficient never having to ask his father for money.

            Paul rode into the forest feeling the breeze blow through his longish blond hair, he rode thinking of the Major’s offer and he resolved to discuss the offer with Robby that evening. Checking his watch he saw that it was approaching lunch time and as he had no wish to have another argument with his father, so he reluctantly rode back to the stables. Removing his riding boots he walked inside and found Major Lawrence in the library with a pot of coffee writing a letter. The Major smiled and greeted Paul, advising the boy that his father and her ladyship had left with Jeeves for London, adding that his lordship was required to sit in Parliament and the three would be away for three days.

            “So Paul, Reggie asked me to stay here and keep an eye on things. He said Jeeves had asked his son Gerard to look after us. Now how do you feel this morning”?

            “Sore Major, but other than that I am fine, I have been out riding my horse Blaze, I love to ride”.

            “If you decide to come to America with me son, you will get a lot of riding. Tell me young man can you shoot”.

            “I believe that I am a fair shot with a pistol, Major”.

            “Let me go to my room and get something from my bag, which I brought for you. You are naturally left handed are you not”.

            “Yes Major, I am and that upsets my father, so I have learnt to write with my right hand. Other things I still use my left hand for” Paul said smiling.

            The Major went to his room and collected his small carpet bag and returned to the library putting the bag on the table. Opening the bag he took out a black holster and belt which he handed to Paul, telling the boy it was a western gunfighters rig, he asked the boy to put it on. Which Paul did, adjusting the fit to suit. The Major looked at Paul and smiled and put his hand in the bag and took out a wooden box which he handed to Paul saying “happy birthday Paul, this is a special present to make up for all the times that I have missed your birthdays. Please open it”.

            “Major, thank you, you are the only person that ever remembers my birthday, other than Robby. You are more of a father to me than my own” Paul said opening the box and taking out a long barrelled revolver with wooden hand grips and blued metal parts. Paul slipped it in the holster and looked at the Major watching him.

            “That is a 44 calibre Dragoon Colt, a real frontier weapon. Let’s go to your father’s pistol range and I will wear mine. It is the same as yours but a lot older. I want to see you shoot”.

            At the pistol range the Major set up six small bullseye targets and putting on his holster he drew and put a shot in each of the targets one inch from the bullseye. He showed Paul how to load the weapon and explained how the gunslingers as they were called drew fast and fired at their targets. Paul practised drawing the pistol a few times and then drew and put a shot in each target half an inch closer to the bull that the Major had.

            “My god Paul, that was very good, you are very fast on the draw, reload and try it again, but before you do tie the holster to your leg, now try again please”.

            Paul reloaded and tied the holster to his leg with the leather thong, adjusted the belt and then drew and fired. The reports sounded like one single shot. Paul reloaded and waited for the Major to collect the targets.

            “You are uncanny son, you have hit them all dead centre, I am amazed. In America I have a staff member named William or Willy the Kid Whitmore, he is maybe a couple of years older than you, he is my guard and he is a gunslinger. I do believe that you draw faster than he does. Let me show you how to clean the pistol, than we may go for a ride and pot a couple of rabbits”.

            “Major, last night you asked me a question that you had difficulty in phrasing. I am having the same difficulties as I have no wish to offend you, but I have to ask. You are my father aren’t you? I can feel the love you have for me. If my question has upset you, I do sincerely apologise”.

            “Paul you are a remarkable young man, nothing like Reggie. Now I have always tried to be truthful in my dealings with others and I never lie, so I will not start now. I have always loved your mother; she and I were lovers before she met Reggie with his wealth and glib words. I had to go away with the Lancers and Reggie stole her from me, he literally swept her of her feet and they married. I was only a poor captain at the time. As I said she and I had been lovers; you were born eight and a half months after they married. Am I your father, well son I could very well be as we do have some similarities? I do believe that I am your father. Now son what do we do now” the Major asked looking at Paul.

            “I have often thought that you were Major, I am truly happy to find out the truth. What do we do, we do nothing that would cause my mother to be hurt by him. When you return to America I am coming with you and he can go to hell. I do not care what he wants I am coming with you and that is final. I so want to be with you” Paul said accepting a small dark cigar from the Major and lighting it.

            “Very well son, I will discuss you coming with me with Reggie. You have a talk to Robby and his parents and see if he will join you. Paul I do love you son, I am sorry that you have had to go through hell with Reggie. I will try to make it up to you” the Major said holding Paul.

            “What I have just found out makes the pain easier to bear. May I call you dad or father when we are away from here” Paul asked returning the hug.

            “Of course you may. Now let’s go for that ride” the Major said smiling.

            The two rode through the forest with the Major explaining what Paul’s duties would be and the Major said that he would organise his guide and the guides companion to take Paul out into the wilderness and show him the country and teach him what he needed to know. When the men returned they went to their rooms to bathe and dress for dinner. Without the bigoted opinionated Reggie, dinner was a cheery affair with both chatting throughout the meal. After dinner Paul excused himself saying he had an appointment. The Major smiled and told the boy to enjoy. Paul went to his room and changed into casual attire and left the manor to meet Robby. Walking across the lawn Paul saw it was a full moon and the light from the moon made walking easier and more enjoyable. When he got closer to the spot he was to meet with Robby, he heard an animal whimpering in pain. Paul walked a little faster and by the river he saw a large dark furred wolf like creature caught by a front paw and a back leg in a pair of rabbit traps. Paul walked closer and the wolf like creature looked at Paul with its grey eyes and growled showing its white fangs.

            “It is all right, let me help you. There is no need to be angry; I will help you get free”.

            The wolf like creature stopped growling and let Paul approach it, Paul knelt next to the creature and stoked its head, then he pulled the jaws of the trap apart and extracted the wolf like creatures front paw. The paw was not broken, but it was cut from the traps jaws. Taking his shirt out of his trousers Paul tore of a piece of the tail and then used this to bandage the paw. While he was bandaging the paw he had moved his head closer to the creatures, he looked into the creatures eyes and was rewarded by a lick on the cheek.

            “Thank you Wolfie, now you stay still and I will free your back leg and you can be about your business. I am waiting for my friend to join me here”.

            Paul moved to the wolfie’s back leg and knelt down, the leg he saw was bleeding and the Wolfie whimpered when he held it. Telling the creature to keep still Paul pulled the traps jaws apart and reset them in the open position. He then picked up the creatures back leg looking at the deep cut in it. Paul tore some more off his shirt and then he took out his handkerchief and folded it pressing it to the wound before binding it in place with the bandage. The Wolfie as he had called the creature watched Paul while he worked on the leg. Paul got up stoking the creature and he knelt down in front of the creatures head and said “Wolfie, that back leg of yours needs to be looked at, I better take you to my friends cottage. Will you come with me and get fixed up. I don’t suppose you understand a word I am saying, do you”.

            “Yes he does Master Paul” George said startling Paul.

            “Mr Graham, you gave me a start. I heard Wolfie here whimpering in pain. I have released him and bandaged his wounds but he needs to be looked at by your good wife. I was hoping to meet Robby here”.

            “Let us take Wolfie as you called him to the cottage; I am sure you will find Robby there”.

            Walking to the cottage with the wolf limping along behind them, George asked Paul if he had been afraid of the creature. Paul replied that he not even thought about being afraid as the creature was hurt and it needed his help, telling George he thought the creature was magnificent.

            Once at the cottage George led the way inside and to Robby’s little room where he pointed to the bed and the wolf jumped up on the bed and lay down looking at Paul and George. George lit the lamp and then pulled the curtains on the window closed, shutting out the bright moonlight. Paul watched the creature writhe about the bed and looked at George who smiled and told Paul it was all right the wolf was going to be fine. Then to Paul’s amazement instead of the wolf there was a naked Robby on the bed with Paul’s bandages around his left wrist and right ankle.

            “Robby, my god you are a werewolf, they do exist. Sorry my friend, are you all right. I had to help you when I saw you in that trap; well I suppose I mean the other you. Mr Graham I am amazed, how did this happen?” Paul said sitting on the bed with his friend.

            “Robby, was born that way Master Paul, both Edna and I are werewolves. We were thinking to ask you if you wanted to be just like your friend there as you two are very close. There will initially be some pain as you have to be bitten. You will be stronger and your body will develop like Robby’s, you will also be able to run further and faster and see in the dark. The only downside is you must change every full moon until you learn to control the changes. Once you do you will be able to change at will. What say you young man” George asked.

            “Please Paul let dad bite you so that we can be the same and run together” Robby asked looking at Paul.

            “I have been reading a book about werewolves and I find the concept fascinating. I have to say yes please, I would love to be like Robby. Before you bite me I must whilst we are all together ask you all something. I am going to America with the Major, he has offered me a good job and he has said that there is one there for Robby if he will come with me, and if you his parents will allow it. Robby will be well looked after and treated just like my brother”.

            “I would love to go with you as I have to move out soon anyway” Robby replied.

            “We are happy if that is what Robby wants to do, we know you will look after him Master Paul you proved that earlier this evening. Edna and I will go and change then I will bite you, it will hurt you as I have to make it look like a large dog has attacked you. I will not like doing it, but I must make it look like a big dog as I said. Once you have been bitten Paul, Robby will get dressed and run to the manor and tell your parents you were attacked by a dog, he will unbandage his wounds so as to be able to say you were both attacked. I will fire a couple of shots in the air later as Robby will tell the family that Edna and I are chasing it. I will carry you, if you like, to where you found Robby after you are bitten. Now we will change” George said.

            “There is only the Major at the manor, his lordship has taken my mother and Jeeves to London” Paul explained.