My Beloved Bess2019 Part 1 Poem by Kay Moore

The highwayman came galloping, galloping, galloping, along the highway, over the moor.
Yet the weather conditions had changed somewhat, not pleasant as before.
The red-coats checked their weapons, while Bess waited for the kill,
The weather had made a turn-about, the trees no longer still.
The highway, no was slippery, as rain began to fall,
Dense clouds were moving swiftly, a frightening scene to all.
Closer and closer came the stallion, racing, racing though the night,
Unbeknown to the red-coats, was rider less in his flight
A tragic act of nature, of which was most uncalled, a sudden strike of lightening, caused the stallion, to stumble...and fall.
The highwayman was catapulted, and into the air was thrown,
Ripping his red velvet cape, as he landed, on the ground.
Hell had interrupted his journey, yet, it was only that he knew,
His previous plans that were in place, had immediately became askew.
His steed recovered quickly, and continued on his way,
Leaving his beloved Master, bleeding in the mud, where he lay.
Returning to the destination, visited previously, on that day,
The thoroughbred, faltering, on his way....
Clip clop, clip clop, the red-coats heard the hooves, thundering loud and clear.
Clip clop, clip clop, defined...loud and near.
Over the cobbles he clattered, to shelter, to calm his fear.
Whilst Bess stood straight and ramrod, prepared to give her life,
Divine intervention, made a move, to remove her, from her strife.
In her heartbroken moments of horror, little could she tell,
That by the cords that bound her, made her fingers, bleed and swell,
Her thoughts now spun in turmoil, this was not going to plan,
She couldn't move her fingers, let alone her hand.
Meanwhile there was a ruckus, from the rain drenched yard below, from the ostler,
Shouting, screaming, words all full of woe, his madness overwhelming,
For one and all to hear, the empty saddle on this horse,
A nightmare, now became quite clear.
Wet and shiny in his sight, as the last thing he expected, on this wilf and ghostly night, his tip off new rejected.
No longer would he be rewarded, for wasting the red-coats night,
Most likely he'd be punished, by authorities at dawn's light.
By lashes of their whip, by making false incrimination, ruined by natures slip.
The red-coats all broke rank, and came clattering down, on the well worn wooden stairs, the devil had interrupted their night,
No answer to their prayers.
Their careful ambush thwarted, no warning of surprise,
Ruination of their plans, came from above...the skies
Denying Bess's sacrifice of love.....
They departed by the light of dawn, scowling as they went,
Their night efforts, a non event.
Bess, the landlord's daughter, the black eyed landlord's daughter, with a red love knot, tied in her long black hair.
Robbed of her strength, and her loved one, by what had happened there.
Her father banished her from her home, his shame he could no longer handle,
Caused by the red-coats and the robber, had caused him quite a scandal.
Whilst over the hills and far away, a muddied man lay in the hay.
Weak of breath, and of broken limb, an Angel smiled, hovering over him.
His bravado gone, and his need for help, to restore him to his normal self,
His thoughts confused within his head, undetermined, was he alive or dead.
Perchance a shepherd, wandered, by the bye, discovering the mangled body, with a woeful sigh.
#What skulduggery, had caused this scene, unpredicted, from what might have been?
A well dressed Master, lying in the hay, in a life threatening...dangerous way,
Then appeared a farmer, to his distressed surprise, on his wagon full of vegetables, drawn by his horse,
Plodding calmly over the rise.
Steadily to market he was headed, humble on his way,
Never expecting a disaster, that would halt his horse and dray.
Sir.....Sir.....I need your help, the pubescent shepherd cried,
Afraid of helping the highway man, bleeding from his eyes.
The farmer appraised the situation, took action in hisd stride, an animal lover all his life.
His disgust, he could not hide, what demon was responsible, for the injuries plain to see,
Life quietly seeping away, from blood to shattered knee.
Then he saw, imprinted, in the thickened black mud,
Horse prints, deep and well defined, made by his masters stud.
Reverse opinion, he now drew, a clearer picture coming thru.
These injuries were not by human invention, but a frightened animal with no intention.
Misfortune had sought the gentleman, whilst travelling thru the night,
Left to his femise, l till the coming of morning light.
Something....had happened on the highway, that scared the horse along the way.
Was it lightening, or was it human, no witnesses to say.
So then he was carried gently, by wo pairs of muscled arms.
To lay among the cabbages, whilst being taken to the farm.