Against All Odds

by Marian L. Jasper

  Patrick looked spectacular in his dress uniform and Liza wore her green dress with very little jewellery, she just wore one small diamond on a matching green ribbon around her neck, so that she didn’t look overdressed for Benson’s assembly room at the fort, although Patrick would have preferred that she wore her spectacular red dress.

  The boys had a wonderful time, but by ten-thirty they were so tired that their eyes were closing and so they were taken to the small room and were soon sleeping soundly. This left Patrick and Liza able to concentrate on all the people who had come to welcome them back to Benson.

  Food had been brought by just about everybody and copious amounts of punch had been made, some alcoholic and some not so, although many were confused about which was which. The music was mostly lively, although there were one or two slow waltzes which gave Liza and Patrick the chance to hold one another closely showing those watching how contented they were in one another’s company and how much they loved each other. Ada and Bea amongst some others saw the looks of promise they exchanged and many were envious of them.

  It was a truly happy evening with no sad faces, although Liza knew that some of the smiles hid a great deal of concern. There were one or two new faces in Benson since Liza had left the year before, but the majority there were well known to them both. The colonel was elected to say a few words and he said how very pleased he was to see Patrick and Liza back home in Benson, he marvelled at how young Matthew had grown and was pleased to welcome their new son, John, to the Benson fold. They had been sorely missed by everybody over the past year as can be seen by the number of people who were there that evening to welcome them back. He raised his glass and toasted Liza and Patrick and their family. Liza and Patrick thanked everybody and the music started again and Patrick whisked Liza onto the dance floor before anyone else could dance with her.

  He whispered in her ear, “I’m getting very tired, Liza and I can’t wait to get home and help you out of that beautiful dress, but I don’t think I’ll bother to help you into your nightdress; it would be a waste of time, wouldn’t it?”

  Liza went on tiptoes and whispered, “It would most definitely be a waste of time.”

  People started drifting home at around midnight and all had left by one o’clock apart from Ada, Bea and their husbands. Gabriel had taken Si home with Zelma and Liza told her not to wait up for them, they would see the boys to bed and Patrick carried John while the colonel picked up Matthew and they were placed still sleeping either side of Liza. They thanked Ada and Bea for a wonderful evening and Patrick drove them home.

  “There are going to be one or two very sore heads in the morning,” said Liza. “How’s your head, Patrick, did you over indulge?”

  “No Liza, unless somebody put something in my drink, I drank no alcohol tonight,” said Patrick. “I wanted to stay in command of my senses tonight just for you. Are the boys still asleep?”

  “Yes, it will be easy to put them to bed; they may rouse a bit, but I doubt that they’ll completely wake up. They were very good tonight and very polite to everyone. I think they enjoyed themselves. I know they enjoyed the food,” said Liza.

  When they arrived home they found that Zelma had stayed up to help put the boys to bed. “I had a lovely evening tonight,” said Zelma. “It was my first real party. I’ve been to a few small meetings at Kathy and Joes, and I’ve helped Gabriel with Si’s birthday party, but I have never before been invited to an evening function. I felt part of this town tonight.”

  “But you’ve been part of this town for years now, ever since you got here. You’ve been invited to functions before, but you’ve always refused, why is that?” asked Liza.

  “Because up until now I have always been embarrassed about my face, but I know everybody now and they accept me as I am, and I think most of them like and trust me, even though I’m an Indian,” said Zelma.

  What Zelma had said upset Liza considerably, “I trust you no matter who and what you are, and so does everybody else and as far as your face is concerned, your scar has virtually disappeared and apart from an attractive, slightly lop sided smile, there is very little marking left. It’s no longer noticeable.”

  “That’s thanks to you and your little sewing kit. I’m very pleased you’re back with us Liza,” said Zelma.

  The boys were now in bed and still fast asleep, and Zelma made her way to her home and Liza made her way to their bedroom where Patrick was waiting for her and true to his word, he helped her out of her dress and she didn’t bother with her nightdress. “It was a good evening, wasn’t it, Liza? And now, it’s a perfect end to it. I love you, my Liza.”

  ***

  There were many people at the church service the next morning with very sore heads and some who didn’t make it to the church at all. “I suppose that is the sign of a good party,” whispered Liza to Patrick. He would have to go to the fort after the service for a short while but he would be back for lunch and Sean would be joining them.

  Both Sean and Patrick looked a little concerned when they arrived at lunchtime but they soon got into the swing of lunch with two small boys who were vying for Sean’s attention, Matthew was asking him what he had done while they had been away. Had he chased any Indians? Did he know that he and JJ were now Indians, as well as mummy and daddy? The questions went on without waiting for an answer, until Patrick had to tell him that enough was enough and to get on and eat his lunch quietly. JJ was a little quiet because Sean was relatively new to him, but he started to relax a little as the meal went on.

  Si suddenly appeared at the back door, followed by Gabriel who asked if he could leave him there as he had a couple of documents that he needed to complete for the morning and before an answer could be given, Si, Mat and JJ were off into the garden with their cricket bats and balls.

  “That’s all right, Gabriel; he can stay for tea if you like. He’s no trouble,” said Liza.

  Before Liza and Zelma cleared the lunch table Liza wanted to know what had been troubling them when they arrived.

  “There’s been some trouble around the Mexican border, but it’s moving up through Texas and much as it’s still a long way away, we think it could be Brave Eagle causing problems,” said Patrick.

  “What sort of problems?” asked Liza.

  “He seems to be trying to increase his own tribe. Several renegades have joined him, but the main problem is that somebody is taking captives both from other tribes and white people from some of the outlying farms. Whoever it is doing this is murdering parents and taking youngsters. We don’t know whether they are being kept or sold on to other tribes or the logic behind it all,” said Patrick.

  Liza and Zelma were quietly thoughtful and then started talking to one another in Cherokee.

  “If it is Brave Eagle and he gets near here, we’ll both be in danger, and so will Matthew,” said Zelma.

  “I doubt whether he’ll get this far, if we find him getting nearer, we’ll have to call on Running Bear for his help. Sadly, I wouldn’t think that anyone who has joined him will respect Running Bear’s dictates,” said Liza.

  “If it is Brave Eagle he probably needs money; he’ll get a good price from the Mexicans for white girls, or maybe exchange them for weapons. The boys will be trained as warriors and if they don’t show that they can become aggressive enough to join the tribe then they’ll either be ransomed back to their own tribes or families or sold onto other tribes as slaves. He won’t want to keep them just as workers, he wants warriors,” said Zelma.

  “Do you think that he is going to try to wrest the tribe from Running Bear?” asked Liza.

  “I would think that he has that in mind; perhaps he’s heard that Running Bear has a new wife who is with child. He’ll kill the wife and the child,” said Zelma.

  “Liza, Zelma, please,” shouted Patrick. “Please talk to us so that we can understand.”

  Both Liza and Zelma stopped and stared at him mystified. Neither of them realised that they had reverted to the Cherokee langua
ge.

  “Didn’t you realise that you weren’t speaking in English?” said Patrick.

  “Weren’t we? Are you sure? I’m so sorry,” said Liza horrified that she hadn’t known as the language had suddenly come so easily to her. She told Patrick and Sean what she and Zelma had discussed and surmised.

  “I’ll tell the colonel and captain what you’ve said when I get back to the fort,” said Sean. “I don’t think it is going to affect us at the moment as they are quite a distance away, but no doubt we’ll be kept informed by those nearer. There must be others who deal with captives as we have done in the past.”

  It was a concern but neither Patrick nor Sean felt that it needed the forts immediate attention, so they went on to more pleasant matters and discussed how well the party had gone and how Ada and Bea had been in their element organising it all. Then Patrick and Sean decided that they would join the boys in their game of cricket. Patrick hinted that Liza might like to join them, but she declined the offer remembering that somehow she would be the only one running around and getting exhausted. She really must learn how they had managed to do that to her.

  The boys came in for their tea and Sean left for the fort. Soon after, Gabriel called for Si, and again he said how well the previous evening had gone and how much it had been enjoyed by everyone.

  Liza, although thoughtful about what she had been told possibly about Brave Eagle, was not unduly concerned for herself, Matthew or Zelma. She felt that living here in Benson would make it difficult for anyone to sneak in to harm them and she was sure that he was not aware that any of them were in fact alive.

  The next morning Patrick set off early for the army post, which Liza thought was just as well as her morning sickness had started and she decided that she would have to tell him when he came home. He would worry for her and she was sure that he would also be delighted. She felt very contented during the day and was looking forward to Patrick’s return.

  Patrick was home early and he did not look very pleased. “What’s the matter, Patrick, has something happened?”

  “Sean and I have been assigned to an army post near the Mexican border to help deal with this captive taking problem. The colonel and captain were reluctant to send us but unfortunately we are the ones who have had the most experience in finding captives and we are needed to train others who can take over from us.”

  “It’s not a permanent position, is it, Patrick. You’re not going to be assigned there rather than here, are you?” asked Liza.

  “No, my Liza, but we will be gone up to two months. It is what Sean and I used to do before we came here on a permanent basis. You remember that we used to go away regularly and this was the job that we were doing and unfortunately we will be doing it again now, but only for a while,” said Patrick.

  “I know that it’s going to be fairly dangerous and I’m frightened for you. You’ll be travelling through the main Cherokee territory so I’ll make you a talisman to keep you safe and tell you what to say if necessary, but Running Bear will know you, you’ll just have to keep Sean close to you for his sake. When do you have to leave?” asked Liza.

  “After next weekend, so I’ll be able to help get the boys settled into school. I don’t want to leave you, Liza; we’ve hardly had time to settle back here. We’re not having the time that we thought we would have but in a couple of months I’m getting my permanent assignment here. The colonel is arranging that you are well-guarded in my absence,” said Patrick.

  “There’s no need for that, I’ll be quite safe here, I’ll just be very unhappy that you aren’t here and that you are riding off into danger,” said Liza and then it was all too much for her and she burst into tears. “I don’t want you to go, Patrick, but we will have time to say goodbye unlike last time. I know that you have to do your duty and probably you are the best one to sort out this situation. Will you promise me that you will find Ambrose again; you know he is the best there is to help with Indians, please find him.”

  “I will, I promise, Liza, but in the meantime, we have a week to ourselves. Sean and I have no other duties apart from getting organised for our trip, so I can spend most of my time with you and the boys. Two months will go very quickly, and it could be an even shorter time than that. We may well be able to sort all this out in less time and I’ll be back as soon as I can,” said Patrick.

  Liza decided that now was not the time to tell Patrick that they were going to have a child. She did not want him to worry about her as he would need all his concentration to do the job that he had been assigned to and keep himself safe, he didn’t need anything else on his mind, and she would be well-looked after by the people of Benson. When he got back, he would be so pleased.

  “The boys will be so sad that you are going away,” said Liza.

  “They may be for a short while, but you know that children are very resilient and they’ll keep you well-occupied in my absence and you can plan what you are going to do to keep me occupied when I return,” said Patrick trying to make light of the situation.

  It was with a great deal of excitement on Matthew’s part and much trepidation as far as John was concerned that Liza and Patrick took them to their first day at school the next morning. John had done very well for the short time that he had been with his new family, but he would still be behind a little for his age. Angela knew that he’d had no education up until he came to live with Liza, so she would be spending a little extra time with him. Matthew had the advantage of being taught from the moment he could talk, and possibly before and Angela was looking forward to hopefully having a bright pupil on her hands.

  Back at the house Liza, Patrick and Zelma looked at one another. The house seemed very quiet, what were they going to do with themselves all day now that the boys were no longer hurtling around the house. Zelma and Liza started to organise Patrick’s uniforms for the following week. He found it very touching that they were making him look so smart knowing that within a couple of days of searching for the captives his uniform would be dirty, dusty, sweaty and possibly ripped to pieces. Probably it would have to be thrown away and a new one issued, but he could see that they needed to feel that they were looking after him.

  The colonel sent Sean to them as word had been received that the marauding Indians did not appear to be from Brave Eagles new tribe, although they could possibly be taking some of the captives. Unfortunately it also appeared that Running Bear’s Cherokees had taken at least one female captive and Patrick wondered whether she looked like Liza, but he remembered that White Wolf would believe it was Liza no matter what she looked like.

  Angela brought the boys home after school mainly to tell Liza how they had done on their first day at school. Si was also with them. Angela was pleased with Matthew, but she had expected to be, but she was even more pleased with John as he was showing how much he really wanted to learn. She appreciated that he was a year older than Matthew, but she felt that he could catch up really easily with a little extra tuition. Both Liza and Patrick were delighted with the outcome of the boys’ first day at school.

  The next few days passed very quickly. Liza managed to hide her morning sickness as Patrick went to the army post early each morning and returned mid-morning, even at the weekend. On their last Sunday they concentrated on playing with the boys, Liza declined the offer of joining in with cricket and Patrick did say that she looked a little tired but he wasn’t going to let her get away with getting out of playing when he got back from his mission. He put her tiredness down to worrying about what he and Sean were embarking on and how much she was going to miss him. He was going to miss her greatly but he was going to have to take her out of his mind when he was working as he needed all his thoughts to be focused on keeping his men and himself out of danger.

  Monday came and it was going to be their last day together for a while. The boys were at school and Liza had, once again, successfully hidden her morning sickness. She made sure that Patrick had everything that he needed for when he left the next morning
and they made plans for all the things they were going to do when he returned.

  “You know that this will be the last time that I will have to go on one of these missions. I’ll write to you whenever I can, but it won’t be regularly, I’m afraid, but you can write to me at Fort Butler. I will be returning there every now and again, hopefully with people that we have managed to rescue,” said Patrick.

  “Don’t think about me too much, think about looking after yourself. You have no need to worry about me or the boys, you know that the colonel and just about everyone else here will be looking after us, so just look to yourself and come back safely. Zelma’s made you the talisman to keep you and Sean safe. You know I was making them but Zelma told me how badly they were looking so she took them over. She’s done a very neat job; you know she thinks the world of you and she’s very worried about you,” said Liza.

  “She has no need to worry; Sean and I know what we are doing, that’s why we’ve been assigned to this mission. We’ll be showing the lieutenant at Butler what we know, what we do and how to find the captives. But I will think about you, Liza but I promise I won’t worry about you as I know you will be in good hands here,” said Patrick.

  The boys said their goodbyes to Patrick at their bedtime that night as he had to leave just after dawn the next day.

  When Patrick and Liza went to bed that night, they held one another closely and just before dawn Liza felt his usual nudge; it didn’t wake her as she was already awake and she loved him as she always did but perhaps held him a little more tightly than usual. He was up and dressed just as dawn was breaking and Liza also got up to see him off. Luckily her morning sickness eluded her for once, so she was able to wave him goodbye smiling and telling him that she loved him and would see him in two months’ time. She went into the house crying and then her morning sickness hit her again.