As I walked into Bag End, Sam handed me an invitation from Mundee to join her tonight for supper. It made me a bit nervous as she usually delivered her invitations to me personally, and I wondered if this sudden invite had to do with her hearing of my entering the race or if she had learned I had seen Bennie. Perhaps it was both. One can never be too sure about what was going on in my lovely cousin's mind. Nevertheless, I wasn’t keen on volunteering the information that I had already dined at Bennie’s farm. At any rate, I supposed that I could do with another meal.
I didn't even get to ring the bell before the door flew open and Mundee flung herself into my arms. "Oh, Frodo," she said happily. "I am so happy that you could come tonight! I have so much to tell you!"
With that she took me by the hand and pulled me inside. Without warning she wrapped her arms around my neck and began to smother me in kisses making sure to shut the door with her foot. She broke off reluctantly when Sally, her housekeeper, politely made her presence known and told us that Supper was almost ready. I found myself a bit disgruntled at Sally's impeccable timing.
"It seems as though every fellow, young and old, has entered the race," Sally said as she served us. "Hobbits from all over the Shire! Why, even Marigold Gamgee's older brother - the one living in Needlehole - has entered!"
Mundee nodded. "I heard from Andy Twofoot that you've entered the race." She took my hand in hers, and looked me in the eye. "Is it true?"
I nodded a little hesitantly.
"I hear tell it's because Miss Bennie practically sat in your lap last night at the Green Dragon," Sally chimed in. "And that you wanted to make that Fastred Brandybuck look the fool."
I really had hoped to tell Mundee before anyone else -- so that she wouldn't get the wrong idea, of course.
"Well, I wouldn't say that Bennie sat in my lap...," I replied, trying not to sound nervous. For the briefest of moments, Mundee's hand tightened around my hand, then relaxed as I continued. "And I must admit that Fastred was there, intent on entering the race as well."
Mundee turned her big, beautiful brown eyes upon me. "And who's pony shall you be riding, Cousin? One of Bennie's ponies?" "
To be truthful, I made arrangements to purchase a mount," I said.
"Is it one of Miss Bennie's ponies?" Sally asked.
I laughed nervously. All I needed was for rumors to start that the race was fixed because of my agreement with Bennie to purchase one of her ponies. Mundee sat there quietly, as if she was trying to read my very thoughts. I was just about ready to tell her everything, when she caught me off guard with a question.
"Is this race open to anyone?"
Something told me to tread softly with my answer. "I... do... believe so... Why?"
She gave me a coy smile and said, "Oh, I just wondered... if, I... could enter the race."
I must confess that I was confused and stared with open mouth. "You?"
She nodded vigorously. "Yes...I had the thought of entering myself."
She must have misinterpreted the look on my face as one of concern for she continued. "Now, hear me out, Frodo. I've been taking riding lessons from Andy Twofoot for nearly six months now, and I think I can ride well enough to enter a race."
I didn't know what to say! Never before had I known of a girl, other than Bennie, of course, that had ever attempted pony racing against the fellows. And quite honestly, I was concerned for her safety. I strongly suspected she had no idea of what she was getting herself into.
"I really don't believe that's a good idea, Mundee."
"And why not?" she promptly returned.
"Because, Bennie is the only girl I know of that thinks nothing of risking her neck when it comes to racing pell mell across country. Besides..."I hedged, "it's not exactly acceptable for males and females to race against each other...Even if this race is sponsored by Bennie, it doesn't mean that females are encouraged to compete."
She crossed her arms, and frowned. "You sound too much like Mother. " Mundee had recently taken to calling Bennie’s mother, Lavender, "Mother," something that galled Bennie as much as having to accept Mundee as her foster sister.
Then she began to mimic Lavender. "No proper young lady would be seen riding in a pony race... especially, not riding like a male! NO! You shan't be riding in this race. I absolutely forbid it!"
Mundee looked away for a brief moment before toward the dining room door, listening for Sally's footsteps, before she turned her attentions back to me. Then shyly, she started playing with my hand... tracing designs on the back of my hand. "Oh, Frodo!" she whispered. "What harm is there in a female being in the race? It can't be that much different than being part of a fox hunt.
She leaned towards me then, and softly kissed me. When I didn't shrink from her touch, she kissed me again. I had the distinct feeling that she wanted to kiss once more, but alas, we were prevented from continuing this diversion, for Sally now stood in the doorway knocking politely to let us know she was there. Mundee quickly pushed away and tried her best to act as if nothing had happened in her housekeepers absence, but the slight smile on Sally's face told me she had seen. As I have stated before: impeccable timing on Sally’s part. Dinner passed with no more chance for Mundee and I to discuss the race (or anything else for that matter).
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