Against All Odds

by Marian L. Jasper

  Patrick closed the door and said, “Liza I want to see what I did to you,” and he started to pull down the bedclothes which Liza tried to hold on to.

  “Come on Liza, let me see. Oh Liza, did I really do that to you. You’ve got so many bruises,” said Patrick. She had bruises on her shoulders where Patrick had held her down, also on her hips, but most of all they were where he had forced her legs apart.

  Patrick pulled the bedclothes back on Liza and sat on the bed. He had felt very happy that he and Liza had come to an understanding, but he was shocked that he could have done such damage and he vowed never to drink again.

  Liza was sitting up in bed staring at him. She could see just how upset he was and she said, “It’s all right Patrick, you didn’t realise what you were doing and you felt very let down at the time but please, I ask you never to drink whisky again.”

  “I made a promise to you Liza, that I would never hurt you. You’d been hurt too much in the past. I broke that promise and that’s disgraceful. I’m meant to be your protector and I wonder who would protect you from me. I am so annoyed at myself and ashamed. And I hurt you again last night when I was trying to make you feel better,” said Patrick.

  “I think you realise that neither of us would stay if one of us is aggressive to the other. You know that I would leave if it ever happens again. I can forgive you for many things but if you ever attack me again, it will be the last time you see me or the children. I refuse to stay with somebody who treats me like dirt no matter how much I may love him,” said Liza adamantly.

  “I accept that, Liza and I now promise you that it will never happen again. It should never have happened in the first place and I’m not going to make any excuses. I would like us to try to imagine that the last few days never happened, hard as that may be, and remember that it is only a very few days since our only worry was little Meg, everything else in our lives was perfect and I know it can be again,” said Patrick.

  Liza smiled and nodded and pulled back the bedclothes to get out of bed but Patrick stopped her saying that as he hadn’t been able to satisfy her last night he’d do so now. Liza frowned and said, “Please Patrick, I’d be grateful if you would leave me alone for a few days.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you Liza, I’m just going to make you feel good, I’m going to play with you for a little while,” said Patrick and a look of fun and excitement came into Liza’s eyes and a giggle escaped her lips as he started fondling and kissing her all over her body.

  “Patrick, this is just as we were when I first let you put me to bed. We made a commitment to one another before we enjoyed ourselves; nothing’s changed, thank God,” said Liza as she lay back as Patrick carried on touching and kissing every part of her.

  Later, a very contented Liza appeared downstairs and asked Zelma if she would mind looking after Meg again today as it would probably be a good idea for her to see the colonel and get whatever she would be able to tell him over and done with, then they could all get on with their lives.

  Zelma said quietly, “Is there anything that you are able to tell him?”

  “Yes, but it won’t be a lie and it won’t help him much either,” said Liza just as quietly.

  “In that case, it would be better to get it all sorted now. Will you ask Kathy to come again?” asked Zelma.

  “Yes, that would be ideal, but if you would like to go and see her now and ask her whilst Patrick and I are here, that would help,” said Liza.

  Zelma left for the general store and Liza told Patrick that she would go with him to the fort to see the colonel.

  “That’s good Liza. If there’s anything you can tell him which would help, he’d be very grateful. I know we liked Mark but we have to follow the rules,” said Patrick.

  “There’s not much I can really tell him and what I do have to say would be embarrassing for him in front of the general and the other colonels as it would call into question the efficiency of the way the army post is run. It would be better that he hears it when he’s alone. I’ll see him this afternoon,” said Liza.

  “I’ll ride in with you, Liza and once you’ve done that we can put all this behind us. It won’t stop me having to search for him, but that’s what the army is all about. I have to follow orders, but we won’t let that come between us will we?” said Patrick.

  “I should call in at the print shop on the way and I’d like to say hello to Ada and Bea if possible,” said Liza.

  So they decided that they would set out together but Patrick would go on to the fort when Liza called in at the print shop and he would tell the colonel that she was coming in to see him later.

  ***

  Corporal Shaw was visiting Laurie at the press shop when Liza arrived. Greg was busy setting print and Laurie was writing copy. “You seem to spend a great deal of time here Corporal, are you interested in printing?” smiled Liza.

  “No, Mrs Kelly, I’m just interested in your staff,” said the corporal. “I hear you walked out on the general yesterday and I hear it’s the second time you’ve done that. He looked like thunder when I saw him earlier. I hope you’re keeping out of his way until he leaves.”

  “When’s he going Corporal?” said Liza.

  “He should be on his way shortly,” said the corporal.

  Out of Laurie’s hearing Liza said, “I may have to tell the colonel some truths about how the prison is run and suggest that there has always been a way out of the fort used by men wanting to get to the ladies of the town. I won’t say where, because I don’t know. It may mean that it’s found and blocked but I’ll be doing it in a way that naturally names nobody. I had no intention of saying anything to the general; it would have been embarrassing for the colonel and I wouldn’t do that.”

  “You’ll do what you have to, I know that and I know you’ll say nothing,” said the corporal and as Laurie came over he carried on saying, “and have they stopped covering themselves in ink yet?”

  “Yes and Laurie did a fine job on the description for the posters,” said Liza. “How are your articles coming along, Laurie?”

  “People are also bringing items in. Some are a bit strange but I think they are testing me,” laughed Laurie.

  “I’m sure they are,” smiled Liza. “I’d better get on my way. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

  Leaving her buggy at the stable, Liza walked through the gates and had a strange feeling that all was not well. She decided to see if the colonel was free before she saw Ada and Bea and walked into his office. Ben was there but the colonel wasn’t. “I thought I’d have a word with the colonel,” Liza said to Ben.

  “I don’t know where he is, Liza; he could be seeing the general off as he’s due to leave any minute now. The general wasn’t too happy with you yesterday. I’d stay out of the way until you’re sure he’s left if I were you,” smiled Ben.

  Whilst Liza was asking Ben how Brigeta was faring, the door opened and much to the surprise of both Ben and Liza two soldiers came into his office and Ben asked them what they wanted. “We’ve been ordered to escort Mrs Kelly to the general.”

  “I’m not here to see the general,” said Liza and she turned to Ben and said, “I’ll be on my way then, Ben and I’ll see the colonel some other time.” She got up to leave but was stopped by one of the soldiers blocking the doorway.

  “Will you come with us please, Mrs Kelly?” she was asked.

  “Sorry, no I won’t. I have no reason to go with you and I have no desire to see General Maybury again. I saw him yesterday and that’s the end of it,” said Liza.

  “Please Mrs Kelly, if you don’t come with us we’ve been told to bring you forcibly,” said one of the soldiers.

  “You will not do that,” said Ben to them. “Liza, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll find out. You two wait outside until I get back and don’t even think about taking Mrs Kelly by force.”

  “Can you find Patrick for me please Ben?” asked Liza. “I don’t like the way this is going.”

  Ben
nodded leaving Liza once again contemplating the prospect of having to face General Maybury and beginning to bristle with annoyance. She really wanted Patrick with her now and sat waiting patiently.

  There seemed to be some activity near the function room and Ben headed in that direction and when he entered he heard Patrick arguing with the general telling him that he didn’t have the right to command his wife to appear in front of him. The colonel was also saying that he felt that it was not in anyone’s best interest to do so. Ben entered the fray asking why two soldiers were going to forcibly bring Mrs Kelly there.

  Patrick turned and said, “Did you say forcibly bring her here?”

  “That’s what they said. She’s waiting in my office and would like to see you, Lieutenant Kelly,” said Ben.

  Patrick moved towards the door and the general said, “Stay where you are, lieutenant. Lieutenant Webber, please ensure that Mrs Kelly is brought here.”

  “I don’t think I can do that, General,” said Ben. “She isn’t part of the army and I therefore don’t have the authority to insist that she goes anywhere.”

  “You do, Lieutenant. Mrs Kelly is currently on army property and therefore comes under the jurisdiction of the army,” said the general.

  “Nobody is going to lay a hand on her. I’ll go with Lieutenant Webber and see if I can persuade her to come and see you,” said Patrick. “And I’ll make sure nobody touches her.”

  Patrick left with Ben, regardless of the fact that he had been told to stay. “This is getting very worrying, Ben. It seems that General Maybury has suddenly taken a dislike to Liza. He was quite different when we saw him before. I think it would be a good idea to send for Gabriel. I have a feeling that we might need him,” said Patrick.

  “I’ll organise that, Patrick, I’ll send somebody to fetch him,” said Ben.

  Patrick went into the office and found Liza sitting with a look of fury on her face. Her green eyes sparked with annoyance and a look of relief came over her as she saw Patrick. “What on earth is going on Patrick? Why am I being summoned by the general again?”

  “I don’t know Liza; all I know is that they are saying that as you are on army property you are under their jurisdiction. Ben is sending somebody to get Gabriel. I don’t think you have much choice but to go and see the general and I’m not having you forcibly taken to him,” said Patrick.

  “So, if I were to walk outside the gates, they could demand nothing of me,” said Liza. “I’ll walk with you to see him. I am not going to be seen to be dragged forcibly in front of the general, I have my pride. But there is nothing that I can tell him and even if I did know something, I wouldn’t tell him, my loyalties are with our colonel.”

  With great dignity Liza walked with Patrick across the parade ground towards the small function room with Ben following them and the two soldiers bringing up the rear. She swept into the function room, looked around and once again saw a single chair placed in the centre of the floor facing a table with just General Maybury and Colonel Western. Colonel Soames and Colonel Barnes had already left the fort.

  “Why am I here and what gives you the right to demand that I come here?” asked Liza of General Maybury.

  “You left yesterday without answering how you managed to organise spiriting Lieutenant Kendal away from here. Also you haven’t told us who helped you do this,” said the general.

  Liza refused the seat and stood staring at the general in disbelief. Patrick was standing near her and he started to protest but the general butted in saying, “You know that if you let us know how it was achieved and where the lieutenant has gone, I could make sure that any time you may have to spend in prison would be at a minimum, say two years at the most. You would be out and back amongst your family in such a short time that they would hardly miss you, especially your new daughter. When we met before, you informed us that you were unable to have any more children. That was obviously untrue but because of your incorrect statement, the sentence meted out to your so-called attacker was much longer than it would otherwise have been.”

  “Did you say ‘so-called attacker’ General, does that mean that you are thinking of retrying that case? If that’s what you are proposing, it’s just as well that you did not impose the death penalty and I would remind you that without my intervention that is what you would have done. Is it because I managed to have a child that you believe that I was lying and was never attacked? Is that why you are acting so abominably towards me? I would say that should that be the case then it is not very professional of you.”

  There were looks of horror on both the colonel’s and Patrick’s faces. The colonel leaned towards the general and whispered something to him. The general looked suitably surprised and slightly embarrassed and Liza assumed that the colonel had informed the general of Meg’s condition.

  At that moment Gabriel pushed his way into the room.

  “Who are you?” asked the general.

  “I am Mrs Kelly’s legal representative and you have no right to interrogate her in this manner, she is not army personnel and is only subject to civilian law,” said Gabriel.

  “I believe I have met you before, haven’t I?” said the general.

  “Yes, you have,” said Gabriel and enlightened him no further presuming that the general had forgotten that his father was General Sanderson.

  “The general was just informing me that he would be kind enough to recommend that I serve only two years in prison if I co-operate in telling him something that I have no knowledge of. I believe it was designed to frighten me, but I can assure you Gabriel that it has not. It has just made me despair of the calibre of some who are in charge of our safety,” said Liza.

  “I would advise you to say nothing else Liza,” said Gabriel. “Do you want to sit down?”

  “No Gabriel, I won’t be here long enough. In fact, I’ve been here too long already. Shall we go home Patrick?” said Liza knowing that she was pushing the general into making a rash decision.

  “You will not leave here until you’ve stopped lying and adequately answered how you released Lieutenant Kendal and where he now is. I will have you locked up until you answer my questions,” said the general who was now losing his temper.

  There were objections from everyone in the room including the colonel, and Patrick was moving menacingly towards the general but both Liza and Gabriel stopped him.

  “You have no authority to even suggest that you ‘lock up’ Mrs Kelly. You have asked her your questions and she has answered them as best she can and there is an end to it General,” said Gabriel. “Wrongful arrest is a very serious matter and would be detrimental to your otherwise good army record.”

  “Mrs Kelly, you have told us nothing and therefore you are in danger of contempt of court and under those circumstances I can have you locked up,” shouted General Maybury.

  “You forget who you are talking to General and you are certainly forgetting your place. This is not a court of law and I have nothing to tell you. You will not ‘lock me up’ as you put it and I am now going to leave for home,” said Liza imperiously.

  “Your friend, who was the President, will not be able to help you this time Mrs Kelly, we have a new President now so you will not be able to seek his help,” said the general.

  “I am well aware that we have a new President. I have met him on several occasions, the last being just over a year ago at a reception at my New York home, but I won’t have to seek help from him, will I, General? I presume you are now leaving Benson as you have no court martial to preside over. I am now leaving for my home with my husband and my lawyer. Goodbye Colonel, I’ll see you tomorrow when we’ve all calmed down,” said Liza.

  Liza turned on her heel and walked out of the room followed by Patrick and Gabriel. She left behind a rather stunned general, a slightly smiling colonel and Ben who wondered whether he had been dreaming.

  As they were walking across the parade ground Liza said that it would appear that she should reach the gates of the army post as
quickly as possible as the general believed that as she was on army property she was subject to army rules. “Do you think that I ought to stay away from here for a while?” she asked Gabriel.

  “Only if you want to,” he replied. “Of course, if you propose to commit a crime on army property then you could perhaps be subjected to incarceration within their prison, but no doubt you would know how to successfully break out of such a place.”

  Patrick looked at Gabriel and realised that he too believed that Liza had helped Mark to escape.

  “I told you, Gabriel, I did not help Mark get out of prison,” said Liza.

  “That’s right, you did tell me that didn’t you?” said Gabriel without much conviction.

  “You do realise that you were the only one to give me permission to leave the fort Liza. I didn’t know you were now in charge and could give orders. I dare say I shall be in trouble when I go in tomorrow,” said Patrick.

  “I didn’t think of that Patrick. I suppose you had better go back and ask permission,” said Liza.

  “Don’t worry, the colonel smiled and nodded, which was his way of agreeing that I leave, but you did rather assume that I could do as I liked. You seem to have made an enemy of General Maybury. Last time we saw him he was very supportive of you,” said Patrick.

  “I now get the feeling that last time he was told to be supportive and it’s increasingly annoyed him over time. I hope that it’s all over with now and that we’ve seen the last of General Maybury,” said Liza.

  “Well, you told him to leave and I wouldn’t think he would dare to disobey you,” said Gabriel dourly.

  They all made their way home and arrived just as the boys had returned from school and mayhem ensued for a while as they were all happy to see both Gabriel and Patrick who gave them a good ball game, although they would have preferred to relax after a difficult day.

  “I heard that you had to send for Gabriel,” said Zelma. “Was it that general again making life difficult for you?”

  “Yes, he threatened to put me in prison; although he did say that if I told him how Mark got out and where he was that he would make sure I only got two years,” said Liza.