The Squire was a wealthy man of leisure. He had a beautiful mansion all to himself. Well, nearly all to himself. There were a multitude of servants throughout the mansion and the property to serve his every need and whim.

The cooks in the kitchens created the most magnificent meals, and never repeated a dish unless he requested that they do so. Gardeners kept the kitchens well stocked with a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. Others tended the acres of fruit trees all lined up in perfect rows, providing a rainbow of tasty fruits for pies, tarts, preserves, and more. There was an army of maids sweeping through every room each day, whether it had been used or not. Not a fleck of dust dared land anywhere in the Squire's mansion. Several houndsmen lived in cottages beside his kennels, which were the finest in the land, and kept his dogs well groomed and trained. There were groomsmen to groom, train, and exercise his collection of fine horses. Servants and handymen were everywhere, keeping the property in good repair and prosperous.

The Squire's home was decorated from the front entranceway to the attic with fine rugs and wall hangings. Portraits of generations of his ancestors hung on the walls, as well as fine needlework and intricate tapestries created by the women in his family. There were cabinets and displays of sculpture, wood carving, and the most beautiful china and porcelain. He owned the finest and largest library anywhere in the region, although he didn't take as much advantage of that as he might have.

As well as the artistic and decorative wealth surrounding him, the Squire also had a fortune in gold and silver coins. He kept his coins in a carved wooden and iron chest under his grand canopy bed. When he couldn't sleep at night, he didn't count sheep in his mind, as others do. He would, instead, pull the chest out from under his bed, and count and sort his coins until his eyelids grew heavy and his head drooped, and he would drift off to sleep, surrounded by shimmering disks of gold and silver.

The Squire was surrounded by beauty and wealth every day, in every room of his mansion. He was presented with delectable meals each morning, midday, and evening. He wore elegant, hand sewn clothes, and had a different outfit for each day of the month, with extras for special occasions and holidays. The finest horses lived in his stables, and the best hounds in his kennels. The chest under his bed held more coins than he could count in a week. It would seem the Squire had everything a person could possibly want. But that was not so.

Despite his great wealth, there was one thing that the Squire did not have. He didn't have a wife. The day finally arrived when he decided to remedy that, and find himself a spouse. A proper wife, of course, would have to be as beautiful, elegant, and priceless as everything else in the Squire's world. He decided that he would keep that in mind as he traveled, vacationed, and visited other elite throughout the country. Time passed, and although the Squire saw many eligible young women, he didn't see anyone he considered worthy of his companionship.

That changed one day as he was riding along the road surveying his fields. Many of them were farmed and managed by peasant farmers who rented the land to live on and farm for their subsistence, paying him their rent in the form of a percentage of each year's harvest. As he looked across a field of waving golden wheat, he saw a young woman, bent over tending the crops. Her simple clothes and presence in the field marked her as a peasant. Despite that and her windblown appearance, the Squire could clearly see that she was quite beautiful.

He called out to her and enjoyed the view as she approached. "It's quite a nice day," he said.

"Aye, it is," she agreed.

"This field is thriving under your care," he commented. "I think it is the best looking field in all my lands."

"Why, thank you," She answered.

"You know, I've been thinking...," the Squire started.

"Some people do that," she replied, smiling to herself.

Ignoring her, the Squire continued, "I've been thinking that it's high time I find myself a wife."

"Oh, do you now," answered the young woman, "Well, Good luck with that,"and she started to turn away.

"No, you don't understand," said the Squire, "I think you should become my wife."

"But I am not interested in becoming your wife. I'm quite happy as I am," replied the woman. "Good luck with your search. I'm sure you will find someone much more to your liking than me." And with that, the young woman turned and walked away, returning to her work.

Flustered, the Squire wasn't quite sure what to do. He wasn't accustomed to being told "No." He had rarely been denied anything he'd ever wanted. As he sat on his horse, watching the woman walk back into the field, an idea came to him. He reined his horse back onto the road, and headed off at a lope.

Shortly, the Squire arrived at his destination - the young woman's home. He dismounted and approached the door of the cottage, where he was met by the girl's father.

"I need to speak to you about something," he said.

"Surely," answered the puzzled farmer. "Please come in and join me for some tea, and tell me how I might serve you."

"It's your daughter," said the Squire, as he sat down at the tiny wooden table.

The farmer glanced up in surprise as he set out tea and toast with fruit jam, and sat down across from the Squire. "My daughter?" asked the farmer. "What could my daughter have done? She's a good girl, and never leaves the farm, except to go to the village to trade. Since her mother died, she's worked very hard to take care of all the housework, as well as helping me with the livestock and the fields. She even has a garden to provide us with vegetables and herbs, and sells her extra in the village. With all her work, surely she hasn't had the time to get into any mischief.."

"No, no, she's not in any trouble," replied the Squire. "Quite the opposite. I want her to be my wife. I saw her in the field today, and spoke to her, but she doesn't seem to be interested. You need to speak to her and set her right. I don't ask just anyone to marry me. It is a great honor for her."

"Oh, my! You want to marry my daughter?" The farmer was shocked. "Of course I will speak to her this very evening, my lord! I'm sure she just didn't take your meaning. She will be quite agreeable once she understands what you are offering her."

"Good, good," replied the Squire. "You talk to her and get it all straightened out. I'll be waiting to hear from you."

"Of course, of course. I'll take care of it right away," answered the young woman's father.

Much happier now, the Squire got up from the table. He reached down for another slice of the homemade bread, and saw the plate was empty. Realizing that he'd eaten all of the jam covered toast, the Squire felt sure that he would be marrying not only the most beautiful young woman in the county, but possibly the best baker, as well. He smiled to himself as he walked toward the door, and left the farmer's thatch-roofed cottage.

"I'll be awaiting your news!" he called back over his shoulder as he rode away.

The farmer was still recovering from the unexpected visit and surprising news when his daughter returned from her day's labor to prepare their dinner.

"You'll never believe who came to visit me today," her father said as she washed off and set the table.

She looked up from ladling stew into their bowls, and replied, "you had company today?" "It must have been someone who enjoys fresh bread and jam," she said, looking pointedly at the nearly empty jam jar and completely empty bread platter where she'd left a freshly baked loaf of bread cooling when she'd left for the fields earlier that day.

"Ah, yes, the bread and jam were delicious, and highly praised," her father smiled as he took the bowl she handed him. He waited until she had finished serving their meal, replaced the lid on the stewpot, and sat down in the chair across from him before he continued.

"The Squire came to see me today," he began, as he stirred the hot stew in his bowl. He looked at the bread platter, and regretted having been so generous earlier. Now he had no bread to eat with his dinner. "He said he saw you working out in the field today, and spoke to you."

"Yes, he spoke to me," she answered, focusing on the bowl in front of her.

"You know he doesn't have a wife. He's never been married."

"I'm aware of that," she replied.

"Well, he's decided he wants to get married, and he wants you to be his bride. He believes you would make the perfect companion for him."

"Oh, really," replied the young woman. "He belives that, does he? I, however, do not want to marry him. I am quite happy enough just as I am."

"Listen here, daughter. If you marry the Squire, you will be wealthy. No more working in the fields or cleaning up after livestock for you. Fancy dresses and balls, and elegant meals on fine china dishes will be your life. An easy life. No more long days and hard labor."

"But Father, I do not like the Squire. He may be rich, but he is not interesting to me at all. I would rather be a happy peasant than a miserable Squire's wife. Let's leave off this matter, and not speak of it anymore. The stew is cooling, so let's enjoy our dinner."

They passed the rest of the evening not speaking of the Squire's proposal, or in fact, speaking at all. They were each choosing to keep their own counsel.

The next day they went about their duties, tending farm and fields, as they normally did. They spoke not a word of the Squire or of his visit.

The farmer, though he didn't speak of it, couldn't help but think of the Squire's visit and the promise he'd made to his guest. The Squire would eventually expect an answer from him. How was he going to tell the Squire that his daughter wanted no part of him, even if it meant a life of hard work and poverty would be her lot as a result?

After that day, he often reminded his daughter of the Squire's desire and of his proposal. But the young woman was steadfast in her opinion of the Squire and of his offer. She was not interested. Her father tried to discuss the matter with her. He tried to persuade her. He ordered her. He pleaded with her. It didn't matter his approach, the woman would have no part of it. She absolutely refused to marry the Squire.

Days past, then weeks, then months, and the Squire heard nothing from the farmer. He grew more impatient every day. Finally, in frustration, he saddled his horse and rode to the thatch-roofed cottage to discover what was taking so very long.

When the Squire arrived, the farmer was in his barn, tending the livestock. His daughter was at the creek, some distance from the cottage, washing their laundry.

"Why have I not heard from you in all this time?" demanded the Squire. "I have been awaiting a message from you regarding your daughter and my proposal of marriage. I waited until I could wait no longer, and I have come to you to learn why there is such a delay."

"I am sorry, my lord, that the matter is taking so long. I have spoken to my daughter of your desire. I have spoken to her, in fact, many times. She is not of a mind to marry. She loves her life here in the home of her birth."

"You have spoken to her?! Are you not her father? Does she not obey her parent who gave her life? I don't expect you to chat with her! Tell her what to do, and make her obey you!"

"You are absolutely correct, my lord. I have been too lenient with the girl," answered the farmer contritely.

"Look you," replied the Squire. "I understand it will be a loss to you. I am quite willing to make it worth your trouble and loss. Do you know that stretch of fallow land between my fields and yours? You get this matter settled, and I will give you that land as soon as your daughter and I are wed. That, I believe, would double your holdings, would it not?"

"Yes, I think it would. You are most generous. Thank you, my lord!"

The two men stood in silence for a few moments, neither having anything more to say, when the farmer suddenly had an idea.

"I know what we could do! You go on back to your mansion and get everything arranged. Send out the invitations. Order the food. Decorate as you see fit. And when all is ready, send for the priest. When the time for the ceremony comes, send for my daughter, as if you need her to do some work for you at the mansion. As soon as she arrives, get her in front of the priest and make the vows. She will be your wedded wife before she knows what's happening. And that will be that."

"That's an excellent idea!" And before another word could be said, the Squire was mounted and riding back to the mansion as fast as he could.

He did just as the farmer had suggested. The mansion was all aflurry with excitement and preparations. Everyone knew by the end of the day that their master was getting wed, but no one knew who the lucky bride was to be. Every inch of the huge house was scrubbed and polished. Seamstresses were sent for to make a wedding suit for the Squire. Others were to mend and freshen the elegant white gown that had been his mother's wedding dress. Mountains of flowers were ordered with which to decorate the ancient house. The head cook sent for the most skilled bakers and cooks in the land to help prepare the wedding feast. Calligraphers were called for to write the hundreds of invitations. No one could be slighted by being overlooked or forgotten when the invitations went out. And there needed to be musicians and waiters, and doormen.....

The Squire was very nearly overwhelmed by all that needed to be done, but with such a skilled and efficient household, all quickly fell into place, and soon everything was ready.

The huge house was decorated from front door to the attic with beautiful flowers. From the dining hall wafted the smells of countless delectable dishes. The entire staff was dressed in brand new, matching livery. The musicians were playing. And the guests were beginning to arrive. The Squire sent a carriage to bring the priest.

It was time. The Squire sent for one of his servant boys. When the boy was standing before him, he said, "Now you have one of the most important tasks of this day to do. Do you think you are ready and able to do important work for your Squire?"

"I surely am, my lord. Just tell me your pleasure, and I will do it."

"Good. Good. That's what I wanted to hear," replied the Squire. "Now, this is what I need you to do. You are to go down the road a bit to the house of the farmer who has a daughter who works in the fields. Do you know the one I mean?"

"Oh, yes, m'lord. I know the farmer and his daughter. She is very nice, she is."

"Yes. Yes. Good," replied the Squire. "Now I want you to run fetch me what he has promised me as fast as you can. Do you understand? No dilly-dallying or playing about. As fast as you can, there and back again with what the farmer promised me ."

"I can do it, you'll see," answered the boy. "I'll run all the way. I know what a special day this is for you, m'lord." And before the Squire could say another word, the boy had spun around and dashed out of the room.

True to his word, the boy ran all the way to the farmer's house, as fast as he could. When he arrived at the cottage, he could barely speak his errand to the farmer, whom he found working in the yard.

"I've...come...from...the...Squire...." he panted. "He... wants... what... you... promised... him... I'm... to... take... it... to... him... as... fast... as... can... be..."

"Of course," replied the farmer. "But wouldn't you like to catch your breath and get a drink of water before you rush off again?"

"There's.. no.. time.." answered the boy. "I.. promised.. to.. be.. as.. fast.. as.. I.. could.. be.. Where is what I'm to take to the Squire? It's a very important day, it is. He's to be married today."

"Wonderful!" said the farmer. "But what you seek isn't here right now. Go look over that hill in the vegetable patch. You should find what you seek there."

Before the farmer could even raise his hand to point the direction to the boy, he had dashed off toward the hill, the vegetable patch, and his objective.

By the time the messenger had topped the hill and run down it to the patch of vegetables the farmer's daughter was weeding and watering, she had noticed him and stood up. She was curious about the boy in the Squire's livery rushing towards her pell mell like a gangly yearling colt. As he approached, she scooped a cupful of water from one of the buckets in the cart she'd brought to water the plants. As he stopped in front of her, she offered him the cup of water. He took it and emptied the cup in a long gulp, before speaking.

"I've... come... from... the... mansion... to... get... what... your... father... promised... the... Squire... I... must... hurry... for... the... Squire's... getting... married... today..."

"Oh, is that so?" replied the young woman, with a grin. "Good for him. Well, you must be here to get my little mare. She is a pretty thing, and has a wonderful disposition. You stand there and catch your breath while I unhitch her from my cart."

She scooped up another cup of water and handed it to him before she began loosening the leather straps of the cart harness and lifting the collar from the mare's neck.

"I don't have a saddle here. Can you ride her bareback?" she asked the boy.

"I surely can, ma'am, if you'd just give me a bit of a boost."

"That I can do," she smiled as she helped the boy mount the mare. "Good day to you, and enjoy the festivities!" she called after him as he dashed away toward the mansion.

A few minutes later, at the front steps of the mansion, the boy slid from the mare's back and went in search of his master.

"Did you bring her?" asked the Squire eagerly, hardly able to contain his excitement.

"Yes, yes, I did just as you asked, m'lord. I brought her sure enough, and as fast as I could."

"Wonderful! Wonderful. Well, where is she," asked the Squire, looking around and behind the boy.

"Oh, I left her right out front, m'lord, at the entranceway steps. I wasn't rightly sure where you'd want me to put her. But I can take her to the stables straight away, if you like."

"Where I'd want to put her? Of course I don't want her taken to the stables. I want you to take her upstairs to the room that used to be my mother's. That's where she needs to go."

"M'lord? You want me to bring her into the mansion? And, then you want me to take her up the stairs to the late mistress' bedroom? I'm not so sure I can manage that on my own, m'lord...." the boy stammered,

"I know she's a spirited little thing, but really? Well, if you can't manage her on your own, get some of the others to help you. There are plenty of servants and maids here. Between the lot of you, surely you can manage such a simple task."

"Yes, m'lord. I'll get right to it," and a very confused young man left in search of help to do the Squire's bidding.

It took a while, and several strong men, pushing from the back, pulling from the front, and one at each foot, lifting them step to step as they went, but despite her best efforts, the mare eventually found herself in a beautifully decorated bedroom.

There were tall windows along one wall, their lacy drapes tied back to allow sunlight to fill the room. Several closets and dressers still held the clothes that belonged to the Squire's late mother. The elegant dressing table still held her favorite perfumes and powders. On the opposite wall was a bookcase filled with countless volumes of ancient and modern writing, and several shelves held the journals she kept from her youth until the end of her days. A polished wooden writing desk stood in front of the bookcase, facing into the room. The centerpiece of the room was the large carved wooden canopy bed. Each of the four posts and the headboard were intricately carved with images from nature - flowers, vines, birds, butterflies, squirrels, rabbits, and more. The wood had been polished until it gleamed as if alive. Carefully laid out across the bed were a wedding gown embroidered all over with pearls and gold and silver thread. Beside the gown was a long, trailing veil, with a coronet of fresh flowers, braided together that very morning, which perfectly matched the bouquet laying beside it.

All of this elegance and beauty was lost on the mare, whose one desire was to escape and return to her safe and comfortable stall in the barn on the farm where she'd lived all her life.

It was a while later, and the Squire was becoming impatient, when the boy returned. "It's done," he said. It wasn't so hard at all getting her to the front door, but she really wasn't too keen to go through the doorway. And then I needed quite a lot of help getting her up those stairs. But the other fellows helped me, and now she's in the bedroom, just as you instructed."

"Good, good," replied the Squire, impressed by the strength of his intended.

"Now, I want you to tell the maids to go up and get her dressed. Everything should be laid out and ready on the bed."

"Get her dressed, m'lord? You, you want the maids to dress her?"

"Isn't that what I just said! Send the maids up to the bedroom and tell them to get her dressed. Time's a'wasting, and I'm tired of repeating myself! Now do as I say!"

"Yes, m'lord. Right away," replied the boy, and he left the Squire to go find the maids and deliver the Squire's instructions.

"You've got to be joking, or addled," the head maid replied when the boy relayed the Squire's instructions to her. "Surely you misunderstood him? He couldn't possibly want us to put that beautiful pearl covered wedding gown on a horse? How could we even manage such a thing?"

"I don't know," answered the boy. "I don't know anything about women's dresses and underpinnings, and hoses and shoes, and whatnot, and I rightly shouldn't know such things, being as I'm a boy. It wouldn't be proper, not at all. But I am relaying the Squire's instructions, just as he said them to me. Go ask him yourself, if you don't believe me."

"Oh, get your dander down," said the maid. "I don't doubt you. I just don't understand."

"Perhaps it's some kind of a joke, to entertain the guests, maybe?" suggested someone else in the group.

"Maybe. But whatever it's purpose, we'd better get to it. This isn't going to to be any easy task to accomplish. This day is passing all too quickly, and the bride isn't even here yet."

The maids gathered together at the foot of the staircase and drew straws. The losers took deep breaths, and, as one, marched up the stairs to tackle the task of dressing a mare in a wedding gown.

It was some time later when the boy went to report to the Squire that the maids had accomplished their task.

"It was something to hear," he said, "all that fussing and hollering, and stomping and whatnot. I couldn't tell you exactly what happened in that room," he said, "as that would be quite improper, seeing as I'm a boy and all, but it sure was something to hear from outside the door."

"Yes, yes, whatever," replied the Squire. "She's all dressed and ready, you say, complete with the veil and coronet and everything?"

"Yes sir, she is," answered the boy.

"Good. Good. We can finally get the ceremony started."

"But m'lord, how can you get mar ---"

The Squire cut his words off. "Look now! I want you to follow my instructions precisely, do you understand? I'm going into the ballroom where the guests and priest are waiting. When I am in position and ready, the march will begin to play. At that moment, and not an instant before, I want you to open the ballroom doors and lead her in and up the aisle to me. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, I understand, but --"

Again the boy's words were cut off.

"I don't have time for any foolishness! It's already much later than I anticipated for the ceremony to start. The guests have been waiting far too long as it is. The ceremony must begin immediately." And with that the Squire spun on his heel and left the room, heading for the ball room where his guests and the priest were restlessly waiting.

With a shrug the boy turned and made his way back upstairs to the bedroom.

In the ballroom, the guests had been waiting for some time, and were becoming restless. Whispered inquiries had been floating around the room since people had begun to gather. "Who was the lucky lady?" "Had anyone met the Squire's betrothed?" "Did anyone even know her name?" "Why was it taking so long to start the ceremony?"

Then, finally, the Squire stepped into the ballroom and proudly walked up the aisle, past his many guests, toward the priest, who roused himself from the chair where he was snoozing, and stood. As the Squire reached the front of the room and turned to face his guests. The doors silently swung closed, and the wedding march began to play.

An instant later there was a raucous clambering, banging, squealing, and stifled grunts and moans coming from the other side of the closed doors. The noise outside the hall drowned out the sound of the music within, and the guests weren't sure whether to stay seated where they were, or exit out the other side of the hall and escape whatever creature was making that racket.

Just as people were starting to stand to escape, the noise stopped, and there was silence. For a long moment no one moved. Then the doors of the ballroom slowly swung open, and into the room walked a somewhat disheveled and very confused and unhappy bay mare, wearing a beautiful white wedding gown embroidered with pearls and gold and silver thread, with a lopsided veil and train balanced over one ear and draped down her back, and a braided flower coronet hanging from her mouth.

A palpable silence swept through the room. Then, after a few moments, there was a snicker. Then another, and another, followed by an eruption of laughter from every single guest and musician. Even the priest laughed until tears ran down his cheeks in rivers. The only person not laughing was the Squire.

After everything else that had happened to her that day, the roaring human laughter was more than the little horse could take. She saw the open front entrance to the mansion, the very one she'd been forced to enter earlier, and she made a break for it. By the time anyone thought to try to stop her she was out of the mansion and running down the road as fast as she could, dress, veil, coronet, and all. She'd had all of marriage she could stand.

As for the Squire, he decided the bachelor's life was the life for him, and he never got a notion to marry again.