The Wee Musketeers (Bound Into The Classics Book 1)

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It was actually prettywarm and stuffy. Thetiny bulb filled the closet with a blinding light. Keithleaned over exposing a thick leather bound book. Suddenly, the door flew open. All four sets of eyes stared upguiltily. Bobby and his friends smiled andnodded. Anyway, Keith, your mother called; you were duehome fifteen minutes ago! The boys were still veryexcited over their adventure. Playing the ThreeMusketeers with renewed enthusiasm and real The Wee Musketeersuniforms, they relived their adventure over, overand again.

Keith just smiled and waved. Darkness closed in on Sky Harbor; the sunseemed to set much earlier this evening than the daybefore. Grandpa Max was busy rummaging forsomething in the closet. He was making an awfulracket. Something fell, making a loud thud. The Wee Musketeers Bobby jumped up and peeked inside thecloset. A mischievous smile split his craggy,narrow face. Bobby had seen that look before and itusually meant trouble. Do we have to? Grandpa Max handed Bobby the book andrubbed his hands together briskly. Grandpa Max sat on the couch and retrievedthe book. Bobby knew exactly what his grandfather wasthinking.

We can leave right now. Now, where did I putthose glasses? Porthos leaned up against the door andsighed.

Porthos rubbed his nose and smiled. As the panel gave way, poor Porthosburst through the doorway tumbling out of controlonto a large pile of straw. Aramis was right, there were three guards,and they were armed. Athos and Aramis rushedthrough the opening, swords in hand. Leaping overPorthos, they engaged the guards with the sound ofcrashing blades and hollers.

Porthos jumped to hisfeet to join the attack before realizing that his onlyarmament was an uncorked bottle of Spanish wine. The Wee Musketeers Athos battled one of the guards as Aramisstruggled against two. Blades flashed back and forthin the dimly lit stable, sending the horses into a fitof whinnies and kicks. Aramis had dropped to oneknee just in front of a stall, but still fought on. Thetwo guards sensed that they had the best of Aramisand moved in for the kill. Porthos came around theside of an empty stall and waved at the guardsbefore darting inside.

Having to battleonly one guard, Aramis renewed the fight with greatenergy, quickly besting the man with a wound to theleg. Except for a thick rope that hungfrom above, there was nothing in the stall. The guard looked up just in time to see thebottle of Spanish wine before it smashed against hishead, knocking him out cold.

The guard hit thestraw covered floor with a thud. The three companions joked and laughed asthey bound and gagged the guards. Iwill take the road from Paris to the west. Aramis,you take the road to the north. Porthos, you head forthe town of Arras and look for them there. If bytomorrow Aramis and I do not find him, we willlook for you on the road from Arras to Calais.

Bobby felt the wind whistle throughhis hair as he urged his mount forward.

The Wee Musketeers (Bound Into The Classics) (Volume 1)

The Wee Musketeers Jeanne turned back to Bobby. Brightorange glowed low across the graying western sky;the day had taken its last gasp. Soon the road wouldbe dark and dangerous. Bobby glanced at Jeanne;she did not seem to be the least bit concerned aboutthe darkness slowly closing in around them. In another moment, Bobby knew why. Therewere lights directly ahead. He glanced at Jeanneonce again and saw that she was already looking athim. Bobby was grateful for thewaning light because his face had flushed at thevery sight of her smile.

The group pulled up the horses in front ofthe small inn. The compound consisted of threebuildings: Theman must have been the innkeeper because hebegan to bark orders loudly. The tall man The Wee Musketeershelped Jeanne from her saddle as Bobby and theothers jumped to the ground. Themain room, though dimly lit, was well appointedand clean. A large stone fireplace on the far wallhoused a crackling fire that took the chill out of theevening air. Pleasant scents of cooking game birdsand pastries tickled his nostrils.

It musthave been this morning, but so much had happenedthat day that it was difficult to say. Long, rollinggrowls rumbled in his stomach so loudly that hewas sure the others could hear them. The small round figure of the innkeeperwaddled by Bobby so quickly, that he seemed ablur. Keith was still trying to recover fromhours of bouncing in the saddle.

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Fritzy was sohungry, he could not shove the food into his mouthfast enough. Grandpa Max asked him more thanonce where he could possibly be putting it. Bobby felt a tug on his arm—it was Keith. He pointed his thumb over his shoulder in thedirection of the front door. Bobby snuck a quick look over his shoulder—just enough to see three dark looking charactersstanding in the front hallway. Each was dressed inblack leather and well equipped with sword andpistol. Then, when one of the menturned toward the fire to greet the innkeeper, hisfeatures glowed against the flames.

The innkeeper showed the three strangers toa table at the opposite side of the room. Bobbycould not help but notice their repeated glances inhis direction. Itwas the tall guard with the large nose! He was the Fritzy dropped his fork. You mustact as if you are enjoying yourselves. Bobby began to protest. The boy understood immediately—theGascon wanted the villains to hear. The Wee Musketeers The innkeeper waddled ahead while leadingthe way from the dining area to the sleeping rooms.

After such an exhausting day,even the specter of the tall, bulbous nosed, guardand his companions staying at the same inn couldnot keep them from their much-needed sleep—allexcept for three. His snores finished witha less than delicate whistle that pierced his ears andstiffened his back. Sleep seemed all but impossible. Then, Bobby heard the faint whisper of hisname called.

He popped up, his chest pounding likea drum. He could actually hear his heart thump overthe horrible snoring. He popped up, his chestpounding like a drum. He could actually hear hisheart thump over the horrible snoring. A sharpshiver ran up his spine when his warm, bare feetmet the icy cold floor. The Wee Musketeerswas already perched atop the crude, woodenfootboard. The Wee Musketeers Fritzy smiled in the darkness—more of asmirk filled with mischief and trouble.

Bobby hadseen that look before and it left an empty feeling inhis gut. Fritzy raised an eyebrow at Keith. Grandpa Max knew immediately that the boys wereacting strangely. Max leaned in toward the center ofthe table. Grandpa Max narrowed his eyes. The large guardwith the bulbous nose was up and movingmenacingly toward their table.

We are but asmall family of farmers on our way to Calais to starta new life. We could never expect to have the The Wee Musketeersprivilege of meeting someone as worldly as you,until now of course.

What is your name? He couldsmell trouble in the air and he did not like it. Theman knew exactly who they were. The guard wastoying with them, as cat does to a mouse before hegobbles him up. Bobby had to do something, andquickly. The guard took a step back and grinned. Dark, ugly ridges formed at the corners of hismouth. I would love to discuss a littlematter that happened in an alleyway in Parisyesterday.

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Bobby shot a quick glance at Fritzy andKeith before bolting for the door. Fritzy and Keithwere close on his heels. The guard turned to his The Wee Musketeerscompanions and pointed toward the boys who hadalready disappeared through the doorway. A crimson circle spread slowlyaround the point. Meanwhile, the two guards followed theirorders without question, dashing through the roomand knocking over tables, chairs and anything elsethat may have gotten in their way. Grandpa Max screamed, desperately hopingto stop his grandson and his friends from doinganything that could bring them harm.

There was a loud crash. The tall guardswung his head around to see what had happened,only to spy his comrades sprawled out on the smallporch at the front of the inn, pummeled, and kickedby the three boys who had tripped them.

When they hadarrived at the porch, the boys were running towardthe barn as the two guards struggled to their feet. Max pushed Jeanne up against the wall justbeside the door. Grandpa Max glanced over his shoulder. Then, turning back to the girl, his thin lips turnedinto smile. Max could see her bodyshaking with fear. He smiled again before explodingthrough the doorway stopping suddenly as hereached the porch. The boys were in trouble. Swords drawn, the two guards had them backed upagainst the barn door.

The Wee Musketeers

Grandpa Max jumped backinto the inn. The guard fell bleeding to the floor. The Wee Musketeershe growled. Lookingback at Bobby, he sighed. You bring me that book! The jewels must not reachParis! The dark green ofthe forest greatly contrasted with the gray-cloudedsky. The road, filled with deep weathered holes,caused the carriage to bump and rock along theway. Luckily, the trip was short. The Gascon threw thedoor open and landed on the ground with a loudthud.

Joining them was astrongly built, handsome man, no more than thirty-five years old. He walked with great authority—likea proud soldier. But letme say that without the help of these children andtwo others, I would not be here to serve you and theQueen. Buckingham stroked his chin thoughtfully. Maxand the boys are in good hands. We must get to Paris. Once that is done wewill come back for the others. Bobby could not help thinking He also could not helpthinking about how much damage they hadprobably caused to one of the greatest books everwritten.

As the hours passed, Bobbygrew tired and his backside ached. He would not complain. After six grueling hours on theroad, they stopped at a small village and headeddirectly for the town livery. The Wee Musketeers The blacksmith was a jovial type; He had alarge, dirty faced and a genuine smile. After somenegotiations, the smith agreed to take their horsesand a small pouch of gold for two fresh mounts. The way was clear to Paris. The hours felt like days to Bobby. The seatof his pants had never felt so sore. Up ahead, in thesoft light of dusk, there was hope. The buildings ofParis grew larger with every mile.

The smells andsounds of the great city were more than welcome tothe weary riders. Bobby did the same. Theballet has already started. Hold the horses, Bobby. The Wee Musketeers The man bowed from the waist with aflourish. He drew his sword. His darkeyes glistened with anticipation. He could not speak. Bobbyknew how exhausted the Gascon was—he wasterribly fatigued as well. They had come so far andso close to completing the mission—to save hisQueen and possibly France.

Then he saw asmall figure step from behind the giant musketeer. Hisenergy renewed, he stepped toward Rochefort. He quickly pulled on the shirt andhat. Athos and Aramis took on one swordsmaneach as the massive Porthos fell upon the other two. There was a great clashing of steel.

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Blades flashedbrightly against the light of the street lamps. Theboys looked on in amazement as the skilledcombatants exacted steel against steel. Porthosbegan to struggle against his two adversaries. Bobby turned toward the fight. GrandpaMax grabbed him by the collar. If he dies the book could be ruinedforever! Then, narrowing his eyes atFritzy and Keith, he raised his sword the sky.

The others raisedtheir swords. Bobby reached the fourth guard first andskillfully slid by his waving blade. He cried for mercy. With a great flurry of swords, Porthosdisarmed his foe. Within seconds, Athos andAramis had done the same. The villainmatched the Gascon blow for blow, thrust for thrust,and parry for parry, neither could gain theadvantage.

Even in the absence of his companions But the Gascon gained the advantage. Rochefort dropped his sword andstepped away. Blood dripped onto the rough stones,glistening black in the dim street light. Finally, with his back against the wall,Rochefort dropped to his knees to accept his fate. A tiny trickle of blood stainedhis collar. The man from Meung closed his eyes. His men held by Porthos gasped as they watchedtheir leader prepare to die.

The Queen awaits you. Enjoy what is left—it may still yet be yourlast. Then, bringing his sword up infront of his face, he bowed. The baker leaned up against thestreetlight. Pacing inside the bakery had becometiring. It felt far better to be out in the fresh air. Moving quickly, the man snuck intothe kitchen. It was certainly a largeplace, he thought, but Cardinal Richelieu wantedthe book and Baptiste did not intend to disappointHis Eminence.

A glance around at the ovens and pansquickly revealed the book was nowhere in sight. Baptiste was not even certain of what he waslooking for. However, that was not important—timewas short. He pushed on into the back room. The Wee MusketeersLuckily, Xavier had lit a candle, and the flickeringlight provided more than enough to continue hissearch. The shelves filled withflour and more baking pans filled the walls.

One by one, Baptiste removed thebags of flour looking for the book. The whitepowder filled the air as he laid each sack back intoits proper place. On and on, he continued his search until hisuniform and face appeared completely covered infloury white.

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