Stand and Deliver!

In the days of old England, 1764, a mysterious figure roamed the highways striking fear into the hearts of travellers. He was known as the Black Bandit, a notorious highwayman who had eluded capture for years. His wanted posters were plastered across the land, yet the authorities had been unable to lay a finger on him. Young girls would sneakily remove the posters from the town squares and pin them to the walls of their chambers, dreaming that the Black Bandit would one day sweep them off their feet.

It was during one chilly autumn evening that the beautiful young Amelia Fortescue, daughter of a wealthy baron, found herself travelling by coach to London. Her father worried about safety and had provided coach hounds, two burly guards, and a travelling companion to ensure her safe passage. However, as the coach made its way through a dense forest, a figure emerged from the shadows, his black cloak billowing in the wind.

“Stand and Deliver!” The Black Bandit’s voice echoed through the trees.

In the ensuing chaos, shots rang out, leaving the guards and the coach hounds dead on the forest floor. The travelling companion, overwhelmed with fear, fled into the woods leaving Amelia alone and at the mercy of the highwayman. But instead of succumbing to fear, Amelia stared defiantly at the Black Bandit as he demanded her valuables.

With a swift movement, he collected the money and jewels but as he prepared to make his escape he hesitated, captivated by the young lady’s beauty and her unyielding spirit. Without another word, he rode off into the night, leaving Amelia in a state of shock. Rather than cowering in fear, Amelia took the reins of one of the coach horses and gave chase. Her heart pounding in her chest, she pursued the Black Bandit through the winding forest paths, her expert horsemanship gradually closing the gap between them. Eventually, they met within a clearing where the Black Bandit finally halted.

“I cannot let you follow me any further,” he warned. ”Leave now or I shall have no choice but to kill you.”

Amelia, her cheeks flushed with anger and desperation, stood her ground.

“Then kill me, for you have already taken everything.”

Just then, the Black Bandit’s horse spooked causing Amelia’s horse to rear up in fright. She lost her balance and fell. Her head struck a rock and the world went black.

When Amelia awoke she found herself in the room of a quaint inn with the Black Bandit seated in the corner. His face was unveiled, revealing a rugged handsomeness that made her heart skip a beat. He brought her a plate of food and a mug of ale, and as they talked long into the night, an unspoken bond formed between them. The Black Bandit revealed his true identity as William Benwell, a man who had turned to a life of crime to seek revenge against the corrupt aristocracy that had wronged his family. Touched by his story, Amelia decided to change the course of her life forever. She joined William in his quest for justice and they became the most infamous couple in England.

By day, Amelia would wander through towns, her luxurious garments drawing envious glances as she discreetly removed the wanted posters of her beloved Black Bandit. By night, she would don the cloak and mask, riding beside William as they robbed from the rich and gave to the needy.

Amelia would often wonder when the day would come that their faces would appear side by side on the wanted posters, and the assumption made that the Black Bandit had a worthy male accomplice. Little knowing that the bond between her and her highwayman had been forged by the stealing of hearts and an unbreakable coupling of true love. 

Inktober 2023

31 Days – 31 Drawings – 31 Tales