Declining to answer husband in ditch, there briefly on journey (7,7)

'declining' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with motion as well as being present participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'answer husband in ditch there briefly on journey' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'answer' could be 'a' (abbreviation eg in Q and A) and 'a' is present in the answer.
'husband' could be 'h' (abbreviation) and 'h' is located in the answer.
'in' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?