The Bastard Son (Winds of Change Book 2) (14 page)

“I know of him…I have served with him. So he survived.” Sumner felt relief. “The last I heard was when Charles Town fell. Despite being a physician, he hadn’t made many friends with the British with his abrupt manner toward them. I heard they wanted to hang him.”

“As much if any have hands upon either of us. I hear that the British have us both well in their sights and want nothing more than to dangle us upon the highest tree, my friend. What I have to ask of you will put you in the utmost of danger,” Marion stared upon Sumner. “Dr. Corbett had to leave his wife behind and believes she is in danger because she is his wife, but I know she is helping us as well.”

“Rebekah?”

Marion nodded. “It seems that Rebekah made a trade to save her husband, giving away a secret location. But after Corbett was exchanged, she warned those affected. He wants to get her out of Charles Town. He is on his way back to the Southern Campaign even though if caught he will be hanged on sight.”

“Does he know what Rebekah is doing?”

“That I am unsure, but he is quite insistent. He is afraid of repercussions of a British general, Marcus Durham.”

Sumner realized there was more. He had known Jonathan too long. “What has Corbett done?”

“Would it surprise you to discover that Corbett was mixed up in the situation when Arnold betrayed our cause? He feels Durham holds him responsible for Major Andre being arrested for espionage and executed for the act. I do know General Durham has returned to Charles Town as the British commander of the city.”

Sumner winced. He had heard the rumblings of Arnold’s betrayal that was felt deeply in the north. “Corbett is afraid of Durham’s mood?”

“Corbett believes Durham is out for a semblance of revenge. I worry if he discovers what Rebekah has done for us…is doing for us…he will show no mercy. You need to know that Corbett wrote if we could find you. He asked personally for your help…I would like you to do so before Corbett makes his appearance.”

“I have no choice but to help him. I owe Corbett, but I also have my own family’s welfare to consider.”

“It is why it is of the utmost importance that no one knows you are in their midst. I know of no other with the means to do what is asked. You are the most capable of entering in and out without detection.”

Clear and strong, Sumner said, “I will do so, but be aware I will see that my family’s safe.”

“Be warned, Sumner. Corbett says that Durham has lately suffered great personal loss. It doesn’t give to being merciful to any.”

“What is your plan? When you say retrieve, where do you plan for her to go?”

“Bring her back into my hideaway. By then I will have a plan. Corbett is returning with now Brigadier General Daniel Morgan. He is my source who has told me that Greene is relieving Gates.”

The news brought a smile unto Sumner. Morgan, Corbett had talked often of Morgan. He held the man’s ability and courage above no other. It was good.

“I can leave before the morning light.”

“Take Elijah with you. And Sumner,” the Swamp Fox added, “don’t tarry. Be swift and quick in your mark.”

Jane looked a sight: her dress torn, barefooted, her hair fell loose about her shoulders. Her cheek was bruised. She didn’t care about her appearance, only about Caleb’s welfare.

Handing Caleb down to Colonel Leckie, she dismounted. She couldn’t help but smile as Caleb’s eyes looked around the place of his birth.

“Where is my horse?” he turned and asked Jane.

“Pony,” she corrected him once more. “First though, young man, I need to change and you need to eat something.”

“I want to see all of my home, Mother,” he said with impatience.

“Why don’t you let your mother change and I will show you down to the stables, unless you want to eat first?” Colonel Leckie offered. His eyes set upon Jane. “He will be safe.”

She nodded slightly. In some way she didn’t understand, she trusted him. “I won’t be long.”

* * * *

Caleb ran all the way back up to the house and the corridor looking for Jane. Finally finding her in the kitchen, he shouted, “Mother! I have two horses! They are grand, but I want to ride one now. Colonel Leckie said I had to wait. I don’t…”

“Caleb,” she began. “It will be better if you aren’t tired. Eat. And after a nap…”

“A nap? I can’t sleep.”

Jane didn’t relent. She made Caleb a breakfast while he watched from the table. Like most plantation homes, the cooking house was detached from the main house because of the heat and smoke it created.

Within the main house, the kitchen served more as a prep area to finish off meals, having a large fireplace and a pantry. Jane was a skilled enough cook to whip up the young man some eggs to eat.

His excitement was contagious. Caleb loved Elm Bluff. Why would he not? It was his father’s. But Caleb didn’t make it through his breakfast. When Jane turned back around his little head lay down on the table. He had fought against sleep until he had nothing left.

She carried him up the stairs and laid him on her bed. She would have to fix a cot in her room for him to sleep. The nursery was set well beyond her room, too far away. She couldn’t have him that far away. Had they not only each other? Her heart swelled with love for the brave little man who had come to her rescue.

Tucking Caleb into bed, Jane realized she needed to write to Henry and explain the situation. She walked over to her secretary, but she paused when she passed her mirror.

Bruises had begun to appear on her arms. She would have to wear a long sleeve gown to hide them, but there was no way to hide the bruise on her cheek. She didn’t even remember how she got it.

She never dreamed that Joseph would make another appearance in her life. She had no desire to ever see him again. How could he have shown his face to her? To tell her he loved her? The vision of Joseph riding up while she held her brother’s dying body in her arms was etched in her memory.

Had he done all he proclaimed? For the life of her, she couldn’t remember. Was it the reason Mrs. Matherson kept asking her if her beau was coming back for her? She had thought Mrs. Matherson strange at the time, but had the woman reason for the questions?

Joseph had to be crazed to even consider that she would have held to their engagement. He was as mad as his brother to treat her in the fashion he had last night! Why, Joseph had never even kissed her before, having only held hands.

“I can’t disrespect your grandfather in his home,” Joseph told her.

How foolishly happy she had been. She had been naïve, so naïve! Her own anger grew upon the thought of the words. He couldn’t disrespect her, but he had no issue murdering her entire family?

After she finished her note, she decided she would ask Colonel Leckie to send the message. Halfway down the stairs, she heard voices. The foyer seemed to be filled with Red Coats. Had she killed Joseph? Were they here to arrest her?

Jane slowed her pace, but she had already been noticed. To her dismay, General Marcus Durham was at Elm Bluff.

“Mrs. Meador, you do not listen well.”

Standing within the foyer, Durham looked at her with irritation, but as he studied her, he paused. “What happened to your face?”

Jane glanced over at Colonel Leckie and gave him a pleading look. She was tired and had no desire to defend herself.

“Is it not what I have been telling you, General Durham?” Henry Peterson emerged from the study. He sighed when he glanced over at Jane. “Oh, my dear girl, I’m so sorry. I had no idea what had happened until Careen told us. How is Caleb?”

“He is sleeping,” she said. Her eyes, though, fixed on Durham. “Tell me that you did not ride here because you felt I disobeyed you. Pray, don’t you have more important issues pressing upon you?”

“It may be well if we talk in private,” he said. He gestured for her to go into the study, but held his hand up to halt Colonel Leckie from following. “It will be only a moment, Colonel. Prepare the others as I requested.”

Closing the door, Durham moved to the middle of the room then turned to Jane. “First, let me make your situation clear. You are at my mercy, not I you. You will not disrespect me again.”

She glared at him, but didn’t retort. She wanted only for him to leave. Jane made her way to the window. To her surprise, Red Coats swarmed the plantations. Filing into lines, they seemed prepared to leave.

“Mrs. Meador, are you listening?”

She turned back to Durham. “I hear you.”

“Then tell me what are you doing here? Did I not tell you to stay within Charles Town?”

Suddenly, her eyes welled up, but she refused to show weakness to this man. She fought back the tears. “I didn’t like it there.”

He walked over to her and held up her chin to the light. “You were attacked last night?”

She jerked back. “What do you want me to tell you, General Durham? You told me that my husband sent me here to be protected and that was a mistaken assumption. It was, wasn’t it? If you know my story, you know well that the Williamson gang killed and murdered my family. The leader of that group of Loyalist Militia, Benny Williamson walked into the party. What did you want me to do? You were correct that I have no one to protect me here. I did the only thing I knew how to do.”

He studied her for a moment and then said thoughtfully, “I will handle the Williamsons. I want you back in Charles Town.”

Upon the utterance, she burst into tears. She found a seat and sat in it. Her hands covered her face, “Pray, no. I can’t take all.”

“This is ridiculous! What could you lack within Charles Town?”

“I know no one, but moreover, General Durham, I don’t belong there. I belong here. I know only of farming and keeping a home. You know why I didn’t dance, because I don’t know how. I don’t do well in the company of a lot of people. Everyone’s eyes were upon me last night and look what happened.”

“It is not up for discussion. I have to leave for a few days. When I return, I want you in Charles Town.”

“For what reason, General? I can assure you I’m no danger to you or the British. I want only to create a home for that little boy upstairs. He needs to be here. I need to be here.”

She could well see that Durham was also tired. His red eyes and the lines of strain on his face betrayed his lack of rest. He relented somewhat.

“I have to think upon everything that has happened. I don’t like complications to something that should be simple, but given you were attacked last night and I haven’t had time to look into it, I will let you stay until I return. Be mindful of all, though, Mrs. Meador.”

A knock disturbed their conversation. “General,” Colonel Leckie eased the door opened. “I hate to interrupt, but we have received an important message from the backwoods.”

Jane didn’t have to be asked to withdraw. She rose and almost ran out the door. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Israel in the dining room as she exited. He had a large grin plastered upon his face. She squeezed Henry’s hand passing him going toward Israel.

“Give me but a moment,” she said to the older man.

She eased back toward the kitchen away from the influx of soldiers in the foyer. She met Israel in the doorway.

He bent over slightly and whispered. “They won a big one, Mistress Meador. They whopped ’em bad. At King’s Mountain, the overmountain men met up and destroyed ’em from all I can hear.”

“Master Sumner, he was there?”

“Yes ’em,” he said simply. “Should be hearing from him soon enough I imagine.”

She could have cried again. “Let me know if you hear from him, but take care. They are after him, Israel. They mean to use me to get at him.”

“Don’t cha worry none, Mistress Meador. Master Sumner, he’s a smart one.”

Glancing back over her shoulder, she stared at the study door with a small smile. The day was brightening around her. Yes, it was good to be home.

* * * *

Jane realized she should conceal her amusement, but found it impossible not to smile at the young man. She had never known such frustration as with her stepson, yet in her next breath… It was hard to describe the feelings he evoked within her.

With his head hanging down and his feet kicking the ground beneath him, Caleb stood beside his newfound best friend, Roscoe. At five years old, Roscoe was Careen’s youngest boy.

Mud and slime covered both boys from head to toe. The last few weeks had been one such event after the other…and Jane couldn’t ever remember feeling as needed or wanted as she was now by this small child.

“Mother,” he began for he had discovered she liked the name, a sure signal to Jane that she might find fault in the story. “Israel promised to take us fishing. We were only waiting.”

“It has been my experience with waiting, it should be done by the back door at the very least upon the banks of the river, not within it,” Jane scolded. “Israel has taken you both fishing every day for the last week. You should be thankful Israel has made time from his busy day to take you. If you couldn’t wait, I could have gone…”

“Mother,” Caleb said and leaned into her. “You’re a girl.”

He stepped back as if no one else had heard him. She caught Israel’s eyes, gleaming with laughter.

“Caleb, you both could have drowned,” she said solemnly. “Do you know how I would have felt if that happened? What would your father have done if his son wasn’t here upon his return?”

The words dug deep within Caleb. If anything else in his young life, he didn’t want to disappoint his father. The excuses began to flow from his young mouth, “But Mother, it was a huge fish on the hook. Couldna let it go. When it got to the bank, it fell off the hook. Rosc’e bent over to catch him and fell in. He can’t swim.”

“No, ma’am,” Roscoe, who had stood quietly, agreed with Caleb. Careen slapped the back of his head.

“Which makes it worse?” Careen cried.

Jane turned back to Caleb. Caleb hesitated and squirmed. “I went in to save him.”

Jane eyed Roscoe. “Is that what happened or is it how you are going to let your friend tell it?”

“Mother!” Caleb exclaimed. “How did ya know it was me?”

“Mistress Meador,” Roscoe said in a low voice. “It was my idea to tell it this way. Not to get Caleb…”

“Into trouble?” Jane answered for him. She sighed. “It is an admirable trait, Roscoe, but with Caleb, he is constantly in trouble. I deeply appreciate your attempt to save my little one.” She turned to Caleb. “You are fortunate to have one such as Roscoe and also that Israel followed you both. But both of you disobeyed by leaving without another to watch over you. I hold you responsible, Caleb, for I can well imagine you telling your friend he must.”

Caleb stood. His head hanging once more while Roscoe looked straight at her. Caleb kicked him. Immediately, Roscoe bent his head down as Caleb. “We’re sor’y, Mother.”

Jane’s heart softened at the sight. “Well, you won’t be able to fish for a week…that is plain…and I believe to repay your friend for trying to save you, you need to help him with his chores also for at least a month.”

Caleb frowned. “But, Mother, no fishing…”

“Caleb?”

Careen took her son by his ear. “Both of ya need to clean up before lunch. Ain’t letting neither of ya in with that mess on you.”

Jane watched the sight as Careen led the boys back to the house. Both hopped beside Careen trying to stay out of the path of her swinging hand on their backsides.

Turning back to Israel, Jane said, “Thank you.”

“I don’t let him out of my sight, Mistress, if I can help it. He is his father’s son.”

“Have you heard from his father? I had hoped…”

“Be patient, Mistress,” Israel said. “He will when he can. He has to be careful. The British are tightening their hold with such a defeat as they took at King’s Mountain. Heard ’em say it was going to be harder than they first thought.”

Jane nodded. She had gained a semblance of strength having been left relatively alone after General Durham had departed with more than half the men that occupied the plantation.

In the last three weeks, she had neither heard nor seen anyone other than Henry and Willard, who now lived at Elm Bluff. It seemed a most amiable arrangement. Jane had begun to feel more at ease…at least she would when she heard from Sumner.