“You look as if you’ve had a problem Liza. Did something happen at the fort?” asked Zelma.
“I didn’t, but apparently something was said about me by the new lieutenant and it got under Patrick’s skin and Sean stopped him from hitting out. In fairness, the lieutenant did think that I was the colonel’s daughter; so her reputation has extended to Fort Clarkson.”
“You look nothing like that woman,” said Zelma.
“I know, but I did walk over to see the colonel with Ada and then he walked me out of his office, so I can see why somebody who didn’t know either of us could get confused. He sounded very much like Frank Wyley. I do hope we don’t have another one like him.”
Liza sat all afternoon holding Meg and gradually her breathing became more normal and she slept in Liza’s arms and she thought it best to keep her in her arms until she woke up. The boys came in from school and peeped in to see how Meg was and then they were off to play in their own make believe world.
She was still sitting with Meg when Patrick came home and he knew that she had been there since leaving the fort as she was still in her visiting clothes. “She’s been unwell today then, Liza,” he said.
“Yes, not too well, I’m afraid, but she’s settled now. How did you get on today?” she asked.
“Sean hit the new man for something that he said. He hasn’t made a very good start unfortunately,” said Patrick.
“He reminds me of Frank Wyley, which is a little unnerving,” said Liza.
“Sean thinks he’s going to make a play for Felicity, and he warned him that it was not a good idea,” said Patrick.
“You never know, perhaps he and Felicity are well-suited. I really feel sorry for Ada and the colonel, apart from having a daughter who is going from one man to another, it’s so embarrassing for them.”
Patrick took Meg from Liza and she stood up and stretched as she had been sitting in virtually the same position all afternoon and she went to get her feed which was due again. Finally, they managed to get her to sleep in her cradle as the boys came in for their supper.
“The twins have been helping Uncle Gabriel in his garden,” said Matthew. Both Patrick and Liza looked at him knowing that the last thing that Gabriel wanted was the twins helping him again.
“Are you sure?” asked Patrick and all the boys nodded.
“No doubt we’ll be hearing all about it shortly,” said Liza and sure enough when Gabriel arrived to take Si home a little while later, he did not look too happy.
“I don’t know how it happened. One minute they were just looking over the gate and the next they were digging holes with their ‘gardening spoons’. I didn’t even hear them come in, I turned around and there they were, smiling happily at each other and at me. They don’t talk. Can they talk? Ellen came out looking for them and she apologised profusely,” said Gabriel.
“You’re obviously well-liked by them. They don’t go to everyone. They actually go to very few and they do talk, but they don’t seem to need to talk to one another. Apparently it sometimes happens with twins,” said Liza.
Patrick was trying not to laugh but couldn’t control his mirth, “Gabriel, you’ve got to admit that they are rather sweet and doesn’t it make you feel good that at least two people in this world like you?” He laughed again and by this time Gabriel was also laughing.
It lightened the evening for everyone. Patrick’s day had been fraught because of Lieutenant Crown and Liza had been worried about Meg and so had Zelma. Apparently Gabriel’s day had also been difficult with a particularly intricate documentation project and he had tried to work out his problems by sorting out his garden.
Over the next couple of weeks all the talk around the town and at the fort was about Felicity and Lieutenant Crown. It was difficult for Liza to get away from home for too long because of little Meg, so Ada had taken to visiting her. Sometimes Bea was with her but most of the time she came alone.
Liza felt so sorry for Ada and the colonel, but apart from listening, there was nothing that she could do to help. “I suppose there’s no point in sending Lieutenant Crown back to Clarkson,” said Liza.
“Somehow I don’t believe the colonel thinks that Lieutenant Crown needs saving from himself; young Mark did and he’s going to be so upset if he hears about what’s happening here, but being upset is better than ruining his career and perhaps his life,” said Ada.
“It must be very hard for you Ada, you must want to see a good side in Felicity and there must have been one. It seems to me that she becomes a different person on occasion and unfortunately, for the last year or so, she’s been the difficult person. When Edward was here she was the nice person. Ireland didn’t do her much good and moving her out of my house seemed to have made her worse,” said Liza.
“But Liza, it was your house and she had no right to be living there. No, to have done that she must have been going through one of her difficult times before you had to move her out. There seems to be something strange that goes on in her brain,” said Ada.
Liza bundled Meg up and she and Ada went to meet Bea at Kathy’s for lunch. Bea had Judith with her and she was growing rapidly. Meg was quite well that day and her breathing was easier, so after lunch they decided to take a short walk around the town. Unfortunately Felicity was walking towards them with her friend, Laurie Cuzins and her catching sight of Liza was like a red rag to a bull.
“I see you’ve got your daughter with you, it’s a shame you couldn’t have a normal one for Patrick,” she said and there was a sharp intake of breath from Laurie. Ada looked furious and Bea said, “That’s uncalled for, Felicity.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Bea, you barren old witch,” said Felicity and laughed. Laurie was getting increasingly uncomfortable and trying to put some distance between Felicity and herself.
“And what else have you got Liza, a half breed and one who’s…” she didn’t finish her sentence as Liza drew back her fist and punched her full in the face, knocking her off the sidewalk and onto her face in a puddle. Liza stepped down and pushed her face further in the mud with her foot, as she stepped back she was surprised to see Bea stepping down and kicking Felicity solidly in the ribs several times. Ada and Laurie were standing with mouths open, nobody had ever seen Liza strike out at anyone, nor had they ever seen Bea lose her temper before.
The noise coming from Felicity was enough to wake the dead. Jake Smith heard the commotion and rushed up to see what was happening and Felicity caught sight of him. “I want them arrested, they have attacked me.”
“No you don’t Mrs Fuller, it’s just a misunderstanding surely,” he said.
“Yes, I do, it was an unprovoked attack, she punched me in the face,” she said pointing to Liza, then she pointed to Bea, “and she kicked me when I was on the ground. I’m making an official complaint.”
“Don’t be silly Felicity,” said Ada. “You asked for it. Leave well enough alone.”
“Did you hit her, Liza?” asked Jake
“Yes,” said Liza.
“Did you kick her, Mrs Graves?” asked Jake.
“Yes,” said Bea.
“Well I’m sure you both had your reasons, but we’d better go to my office and sort this out. Can somebody take your children?” asked Jake.
“No,” said Liza, “Meg will have to come with me.”
“So will Judith,” said Bea.
“You can’t bring your children with you,” said Jake.
“What do you expect us to do Jake, leave them on the sidewalk?” asked Liza.
By this time Laurie Cuzins had disappeared, but a crowd had gathered around them waiting to see what was going to happen.
“Liza,” said Jake, “I can’t arrest our Town Council Chairman. It’s ridiculous.”
“You’ve got to arrest her. I’ve made a complaint and it’s your duty to arrest her,” said a very muddy faced Felicity.
“Can somebody fetch the doctor as Mrs Fuller says that she has sustained injuries,” said Jake obviously pl
aying for time.
“Well, Jake, what are you going to do?” asked Liza brightly. “I would suggest that we all go over to your office and we’ll take it from there. I take it handcuffs won’t be necessary.”
“It’s not funny, Liza,” said Jake.
“Sorry Jake; I’m suitably put in my place,” smiled Liza.
“Liza,” said Bea quietly, “I think we could be in a bit of trouble.”
“I had to shut her up for John’s sake,” said Liza very quietly which Bea didn’t really understand.
Both Liza and Bea started walking towards Jake’s office and he had to catch them up, as did Felicity. Ada was making her way to the general store to ask young Greg Long to go to the fort and fetch Patrick, if he was around, and Captain Graves, and tell the colonel what was happening. Kathy said that she had heard the commotion and found it hard to believe that Liza had hit anyone.
“It’s all down to my daughter, Kathy; it wasn’t Liza’s or Bea’s fault. I’d better go and see Zelma as she will have to deal with the boys.”
“Well, I’m going down to Jake’s and I’m going to give myself up,” said Kathy.
“Give yourself up? You weren’t even there,” said Ada.
“No, but it will confuse everything,” said Kathy.
“I think I’ll do the same when I’ve seen Zelma,” smiled Ada.
So, Kathy marched off to Jake’s office and told him that she also had hit Felicity and she went and sat down next to Liza, who was sitting with Bea in one of the cells. Next to come were Ada and Zelma.
“Have you come to take the children, Zelma?” asked Jake.
“No, I’ve come to admit to hitting her,” she said pointing to the still muddy Felicity, and she went and sat next to Bea. Ada also ‘gave herself up’ and went into the cell and squeezed herself onto the bed where they were all sitting. Jake scratched his head muttering that it was ‘ridiculous’.
Hannah arrived with Elsie Penn, and Jake just said, “Not you two also,” and they nodded and had to go into the second cell. Caroline Browne arrived followed shortly by Brigeta and two soldiers’ wives who didn’t want to be left out of the fun. A little while later Angela appeared in the doorway telling everyone that all the children were being looked after by Ellen and Joe at the general store and then she also ‘gave herself up’.
Meanwhile, at the fort, Greg Long rode up looking for Patrick who was in with Ben and Captain Graves in the colonel’s outer office.
“Patrick,” he said; “your wife’s been arrested.”
There was a stunned silence. “What on earth for?” asked Patrick.
“She had a fight in town,” said Greg, as the colonel came out of his office having heard some of what was being said.
There was another stunned silence and then Captain Graves said, “You’d better go, Patrick.”
“So had you, Captain, your wife’s been arrested also, and Lieutenant Webber, your wife’s on her way to the jail and Colonel, your wife’s there and of course, your daughter who was the one who was hit.”
Everybody moved, each shouting for their horses with Patrick and the captain leading the way. They arrived at the jail to be greeted by a hoard of women with Jake still scratching his head and Tom examining Felicity and pronouncing her just slightly bruised. He looked into the cell and saw Liza sitting there with Meg on her lap, Bea with Judith, and Zelma, Kathy and Ada all squashed together on the bed. In the next cell were Hannah, Elsie Penn, Brigeta, two ladies from the fort, Angela and Caroline Browne.
“Right you ladies,” shouted Jake, “come out of the cells.”
Obediently all the ladies moved towards his office including Liza and Bea. “Oh, no,” he said, “not you two.”
“We’ll stay also then,” said Kathy defiantly folding her arms.
Patrick and the captain pushed their way through the crowd and Patrick stood looking down at Liza sitting on the bed. She looked up at him with her big green eyes and he had to smile, she looked just like Matthew when he had been naughty.
Gabriel arrived saying, “Say nothing, Liza. It’s best if you admit nothing.”
“Ah Liza, what are we going to do with you?” said Patrick.
“I’ll tell you what we’re going to do,” boomed the voice of the colonel. “All you ladies are going to go home; and you,” he shouted at Felicity, “are going to go wherever it is you live, and stop being so stupid; and you, Jake are going to forget all about whatever it was that happened because no charges are going to be laid.”
Felicity started to object and her father rounded on her and told her to shut up and stop making an exhibition of herself. He also told Jake that he should have had more sense than to take seriously someone who he knew to be mentally unsound. He then rounded on Liza and Bea, “And you two should have had more sense than to get yourself into such a situation.”
Liza and Bea looked at one another, with both of them finding it difficult not to laugh but one look at the colonel told them to show him the respect that he most certainly deserved.
Once again, he turned and shouted, “Ladies, for God’s sake, go home, NOW. Liza, Bea you go home too and take your children with you. Patrick, Marshall; deal with your wives.”
There was a mass exodus from Jake’s office, leaving Jake still scratching his head. Patrick and Liza walked home in silence, although Liza knew that Patrick was not very annoyed with her. Zelma had collected the boys from the general store and they came rushing to see their mother.
“Were you really arrested?” shrieked Matthew. “What was the cell like?” John wanted to know.
“No, your mother was not arrested; it was all just a misunderstanding,” said Patrick.
“Didn’t you hit that horrible lady?” said Si.
“I’ve told you; it was just a misunderstanding. She fell,” said Patrick. “Go and have your supper and we’ll be with you shortly.”
Zelma had Meg’s food ready and Liza took that into the sitting room and Patrick followed her and closed the door.
“Right, Liza; tell me what happened. I know you hit her. I can see that from the marks on your hand. You must have had a very good reason and so must Bea,” said Patrick.
“She called Bea some nasty names. Ada was very upset by that. But I think worst of all was what she said about our children and I had to quickly shut her up about John’s background and the only way I could think of was to hit her, and it worked,” said Liza.
“She certainly knew how to get a reaction from you. She always goes for the children; it’s a very nasty streak that she has. It appears that there aren’t many in town who like her. There was quite a turnout supporting you and Bea. Poor Jake didn’t know what hit him,” said Patrick.
“Her fixation seems to be our children. We had the usual ‘half-breed’ accusation about Matthew and it really upset me when she said that I couldn’t give you a normal daughter, but she was about to say something about John’s past but she didn’t get the chance, thank Heavens,” said Liza.
“I knew you must have had a good reason, and I think the colonel did also. Really the majority of women in the town and fort did as well. It was quite a commotion that you created and it seems as if the women enjoyed the excitement of it all,” said Patrick.
“The colonel shouted at me. I’ve never known the colonel criticise me before, but he had every right to do so. I did create a breach of the peace and it seemed to involve every member of his family and his fort as well as many in the town,” said Liza.
“It really was Felicity who created the original problem and the colonel knew that. I thought you were going to laugh when he told you that you should have had more sense than to get into such a situation,” said Patrick.
“Bea and I nearly did, but we could see that the colonel virtually defied us to do so, therefore, we didn’t,” said Liza and by that time she had finished feeding Meg and had to go and change her.
Patrick went back into the living room and Gabriel was there and he looked up questioningly but
would not ask any questions whilst the boys were there, but they soon disappeared out to the back yard to play ball.
“Does Liza need legal advice?” asked Gabriel.
“No, the colonel has stopped Felicity taking any action against Liza and Bea. It was another insult against the children and Liza felt that she had to stop her and hitting her seemed the only way. It did create quite a commotion but I don’t think anything further is going to come of it. I hope that Felicity has learned not to say anything about the children again,” said Patrick.
The incident appeared to be forgotten amongst the outraged gossip that Felicity and Lieutenant Crown created. Liza had Ada calling on her virtually every day distraught at how her daughter was making her life a misery and making the colonel a laughing stock.
“Nobody’s laughing at either of you, Ada. Everyone who knows you both feels for what you are going through. How is the colonel coping with Lieutenant Crown? It must be very awkward for him. I know that Patrick finds it difficult to work with him and he worries that his mind isn’t on the job in hand,” said Liza.
“I wish we had left young Mark here, but it would have ruined him. I dare say he may have heard what is happening here,” said Ada.
“He won’t believe it if he does,” said Liza.
***
Corporal Shaw was beginning to lose his temper with Laurie Cuzins. He had told her on many occasions that befriending the colonel’s daughter was damaging her already precarious reputation further.
“Why are you giving that woman house room?” he asked her.
“I really need the money,” she answered simply.
“She doesn’t have any money. I suppose the colonel makes sure that she can afford to eat. How is she paying you?” he asked.
“She gives me some money every now and again. I believe she has some from the lieutenant, but it’s not like when Lieutenant Kendal was with her, he made sure that I was paid for the room and use of the lounge,” said Laurie.
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