by Jerri Hines
As time passed, more guests returned to the dance floor. Jane’s new friend had yet to come to her side. From the corner of her eye she saw Katy talking to an older gentleman, her father perhaps. She waited with impatience. She wanted only to return back to the Peterson’s.
She sighed heavily. Colonel Leckie had said to meet on the veranda, but had yet to make an appearance? She paced, not knowing what to do. The night couldn’t have gone worse...then she saw.
Jane froze. She couldn’t breathe or move. Walking into the ballroom, a smiling man caught her attention. Her greatest fear—Bloody Benny Williamson was in Charles Town and he was staring straight at her.
* * * *
Jane tried desperately to still the thumping of her heart. Did he look as dangerous to others as he did to her? Benny’s eyes swept the room, assuring himself there was no one to stop his approach. He didn’t rush.
She broke from his glare. Gripping tightly to the railing, she looked into the garden. No one seemed to notice her dismay...no one seemed to care that a dangerous man was after her.
She eased behind a couple, who seemed engrossed within their conversation. The woman looked at her strangely, but Jane took no notice and hurriedly descended the few steps to the garden. She reacted to her instincts and slipped away from the party into the darkness and shadows.
Her heart raced, but she didn’t slow her pace. Her only thought was leaving...leaving this damnable place. She had to get back to Caleb without delay. Emerging from the far end of the garden, she tried to calm herself.
Could she remember how to get back to the Peterson’s? It hadn’t been a far ride, only a couple of streets over. Yes...yes...she could remember.
Then the thought crossed her mind—would he follow her? A surge of panic swept over her. The night was a disaster if she survived it. What, oh, what was she going to do?
Then, she pictured Caleb. She had to calm herself. She had a small child who depended upon her whether he wanted to or not. She had a husband who was fighting against this madness. Jane would fight also. Regaining a semblance of composure, she ran.
Her feet hurt. Her dancing slippers were not made for running. She bent down and took them off. Hearing a noise behind her, she jumped back into the shadows. It was only a carriage.
Calming her heart, she began again. It was longer than she first thought. Doubts crept in that she had gone the wrong way. In the moonlight, nothing seemed familiar as she had hoped. Had she gone too far or not far enough?
Suddenly, she saw the Peterson’s house. Relief flooded her. The Peterson’s! Thank God! She looked over her shoulder and to her side. Nothing. She ran toward the entrance.
She made no effort to knock, but opened the door wide. Slamming it hard behind her, she leaned back against it and drew in a deep breath. She started toward the stairs, but paused. She had forgotten other British soldiers lived under this roof.
A group of British officers stood in the middle of the foyer. She recognized Major Cunningham, who nodded to the others. Caged... I’m as a caged animal.
“It seems you were right, Joseph,” Major Cunningham said and gestured for the others to follow. “I will leave the two of you to talk as you requested. I will go back and inform the General she has been found.”
She wanted to run, escape, but she couldn’t leave Caleb. Major Cunningham walked up slowly to her and politely asked Jane to move to the side so he could exit. She didn’t even hear the door close for her attention lay with the man before her. The whole of her body shuddered.
She couldn’t make out his face, but she felt his eyes upon her. Then slowly, he walked out of the shadows. Oh, Good Lord...it was Joseph...Joseph Williamson. She took a step back.
“Don’t come near me. I will scream. Stay away!”
Taller than most, he was dressed as if he had traveled a great distance. His blond hair tied back in a queue seemed longer than she remembered. His piercing blue eyes fixed upon her.
“Do you think I want to hurt you, Jane?” he asked.
Jane didn’t answer. She stared by him, eyeing the stairs. She needed to get by him to Caleb. She had to escape, escape from this madness. She eased back against the wall and inched along it.
He grabbed her arm and whirled her into his arms. She screamed. Immediately, his hand went over her mouth.
“Do I scare you that much? There was a time...” he paused and shook his head. “Why, Jane, did you not stay with the Mathersons? I had placed you there until I could return.”
Her hand pushed back his against her mouth. Catching her breath, she said, “I remember nothing except my family, Joseph. The family that took you in, cared for you, you...you butchered. It is what I remember...you riding up. I saw you clearly.”
Sudden anger burned in his eyes. “I told you then it was not my doing. Do you not remember it was I that stopped the sword from descending down upon you? I took you away from the carnage. Don’t you remember?”
“I remember my family,” she whispered. Her heart pounded. “Pray let me go. Leave me alone.”
“How can you think I would do so? I have been searching for you since the day you disappeared. What the hell have you been thinking? Going against my brother. Jane, he’s a mad man. I didn’t realize it until that day.”
“I’m not your concern,” she said, struggling to free herself from his grip. “Let me go!”
“Not my concern! You have been my concern since the day you agreed to be my wife! Now I learn you have married another...a bitter enemy. What do you want me to think, Jane? I love you.”
She shook her head; her breathing quickened. “If that is love, keep it! My family lies beneath the ground. My family, Joseph! How could you allow it to happen? I saw!” she screamed louder. “Reese...was only fifteen. He saved you. I can still hear his screams as a knife plunged deep into him and in the next, a sword took his head...” she couldn’t catch her breath. “My grandfather fought and fought until he could fight no more. The man you had asked for my hand...he thought you a gentleman. They dragged him from his bed. Laughing, taunting him.”
Her eyes lay within the past, reliving scenes in front of her. She looked back up to him. “Tell me once more how you love me, for the love I felt for you died that moment. For I found that love only a figment of my imagination.”
“You don’t know,” he said. His hand cupped her face. “I knew nothing of Henley’s plan. I would have killed him upon the spot if I hadn’t had to look after you. Then everything fell apart. You stared blankly into space...acting as if you didn’t know me...”
She hit his hand. “Let go of me. I don’t want your excuses. It doesn’t matter. What is your plan now? Hand me over to your brother. Would that complete the whole destruction of the Kilmer clan?”
“No, you foolish woman! I want only to take you from all of this,” he declared loudly. “This is a mess. I will take you far away. We will leave...”
“You are as mad as your brother!” she screamed at him. “Don’t you think I wanted to marry my husband? I love him, truly, with everything within me. He gave back to me life. The life that you took from me!”
Instantly, Jane regretted the words she had uttered, for a rage ignited in him. His grip tightened on her arm. She screamed and tried in vain to push back upon him. He took her harshly into an embrace, pushing her hard, back against the wall.
He kissed her, but she fought back. Twisting away, he reached for her. She tripped. His foot caught upon the hem of her dress. She heard a rip. Struggling, she cried, “Don’t, please.”
Suddenly out of nowhere a small voice emerged. “Let go of my mother!”
Jane fell down, hitting her head on the side of the foyer table. Ignoring the pain, she pulled herself up to her knees and watched in shock as Caleb jumped from the stairs on her attacker.
The force of Caleb’s jump sent Joseph to his knees. The larger man tried in vain to dispense with the nuisance, but Caleb refused to release his grip. Jane scrambled back to her feet and grabbed t
he only thing she could get her hands on quickly, a vase of flowers.
She broke it over Joseph’s head and sent him sprawling on the floor drenched in water. She didn’t know if he was dead or alive. She didn’t care.
Careen and Anna stood in shock at the top of the stairs. Jane didn’t say a word to anyone for a moment, catching her breath. Then, she pushed back her hair. She bent down and picked up Caleb.
She announced soundly. “We are leaving!”
Caleb squirmed down out of her arms. “I can walk,” he said emphatically, but his small hand took hers.
Jane looked a sight. Her dress torn, her hair disheveled. She walked as quickly as she could out to the stables with Caleb.
Careen ran up beside her. “Miss, where are ya going?”
“Back to Elm Bluff. Tell no one but Mr. Peterson. Do you understand, Careen?” she ordered. “Do you understand?”
“How are ya going back?” Careen asked confused.
Jane looked down upon Caleb. “We will ride.”
* * * *
Jane tightened her grip on Caleb. His little body had nestled into her arm as they rode. Her arm cried for her to move it to another position, but Caleb slept and she dare not move him.
Careen begged Jane not to try the undertaking. “The roads ain’t safe ma’am. It’s late.”
“It’s not safe here, either, Careen. I would much rather take my chances on the road than with what I am leaving.”
The road was dark and long, but she didn’t mind the ride. For the first time in such a long time, she felt in control. She didn’t care a fig for what she had been told this night.
She had no idea what awaited them, but she would work through it. She knew only one thing...she wasn’t going back to Charles Town.
Hoping that Careen’s instructions had been correct, Jane rode toward home. She didn’t know how much longer the ride would take. Moreover, she couldn’t travel quickly with Caleb in her arms.
Rounding a bend, her heart fluttered. Did she hear horses riding fast? Oh, God! What was she to do?
“Caleb,” she whispered. “Caleb. We need to...”
She had no time to continue her train of thought for the horses quickly over took her pace.
“Hold on, Caleb,” she said, preparing to urge her horse onward, but in that moment a voice called to her.
“Mrs. Meador! For God’s sake, stop!”
She turned. Riding closer, she saw plainly it was Colonel Leckie! She reined in her horse. Caleb woke. She could feel his fingers gripping tightly to her. She soothed him, “It is fine, Caleb.”
Colonel Leckie rode up beside her, shaking his head. Even in the moonlight, frustration strained his face. Behind him, Jane saw the morning breaking over the horizon.
“What the hell do you think...?” he began, but his voice trailed off when his eyes fell upon Caleb. He gave Caleb a small smile. He rethought his words. “What do you have planned?”
“We are going home,” she said simply. She kicked her horse’s side.
She could hear him sigh, but he said nothing. He followed her down the road. A short time later, the sun rose over the trees and Elm Bluff came into view.
Caleb gasped on the sight before him. He looked up at her. “We are home, Mother?”
She smiled down at him. She found she liked the sound of the word.
“Yes, my little General. We are home.”
Chapter 10
The rebels made camp outside of Cowpens. Shelby ordered the horses fed and readied and the troops to eat, preparing for what lay ahead. It was time.
Sumner and Elijah reported back to the leader of the small army. Shelby’s response, “So, the table is set for us to make our stand.”
“I would seem so,” Sumner said plainly. “Ferguson has dug in for battle. I would assume he knows we are coming. It isn’t hard to decipher he believes he is at an advantage in his position. The area isn’t a real mountain, but a thickly forested hill. I would say it runs a long amount, say five, six hundred yards. It’s somewhat flat and clear of trees and underbrush.”
The pounding rain had subsided at least for the moment. They needed to begin their march.
“We will march to greet them there. I feel I know Ferguson well enough. He has chased me enough around these parts. This battle is of the utmost importance, more so than most realize.”
Sumner nodded in realization that Shelby considered it vital. So much so, Shelby had put aside his ego, letting Campbell take charge to ensure that the groups came together and fought as one.
“I believe we are ready. I know I’m anxious to begin. I hate the waiting, negotiating amongst ourselves to get anything down. I’m so tired of pacifying everyone. The men are readied to fight and to expel their frustrations.
“I know you have pressed them hard,” Sumner said, glancing around the encampment. “But it has been needed, Shelby. I hear you left the footmen with Neil from Virginia.”
“We had no choice,” Shelby asserted. “But they have been instructed to follow at a fast pace. Disencumbered from the burden of them trying to keep up has been the reason we have gained upon Ferguson.”
“I don’t think he believes we can fight our way up the steep wooded slopes. From what I could see, he has only barricaded himself by placing wagons and their baggage instead of using trees as a barrier.”
“He must consider himself in good position,” Shelby said.
“It would be my suggestion to play it similar to Saratoga from what I have heard about the battle. Had a friend that was there. Dr. Corbett talked endlessly about how Captain Daniel Morgan used the Virginia riflemen. They aimed at the officers,” Sumner offered. “I would take aim at Ferguson. He shouldn’t be hard to find wearing his red checkered hunting shirt...and that damn whistle of his!”
“It has been a thought upon my mind,” Shelby looked across at Sumner and smiled. “We will see. We will see.”
* * * *
Sumner mounted up beside Shelby. During the heat of summer, they performed their movements at night; so they had marched all night and crossed Broad river by the dawn of the day. Rain once more greeted the men, but it didn’t halt their progress. It was, though, problematic with their rifles, in keeping them dry.
The thought that they were about to do battle with other Americans was not lost upon Sumner, but it was inevitable. It had been a civil war for months now.
Looking up, Sumner noted the sun begining to break through the clouds. The only sounds breaking the forest stillness was the rushing of water tumbling over rocky beds of the Broad River. He paused for a moment to admire the lofty blue mountains in the distance, giving way to a dreamy appearance. He looked ahead to the winding hills in front of them. The sensation the sight evoked gave way to a multitude of emotions.
He could see Jane’s beautiful face in front of him. He could see his home as it once stood and in the same frame he could see his father. He wondered for the first time if the Governor would be proud of him...of the stance he had taken.
More than likely, the Governor would have been disappointed that Sumner stood against England, but in his heart, Sumner knew it was the right thing for him. His father hadn’t lived in the shadow of not having a name. His father didn’t know what it meant to be called a bastard. No matter how well his father loved him or treated him, Sumner hadn’t his name. That was why he fought for the cause, for within him he felt all men should be judged by their own deeds.
“Colonel Shelby,” Sumner called out. “Elijah!”
Sumner spurred his horse alongside Shelby and Elijah. Sumner had ridden ahead a few miles and now returned with a scouting report. He pointed up the road. “There is a picket-guard not far ahead of us. Let us take them.”
Along with himself, Shelby gestured for a couple of men to join Sumner and Elijah. Galloping ahead, Sumner halted when they reached the bend in the road. Dismounting, Sumner edged forward with Elijah, and then he nudged his friend.
Elijah nodded, knowing what was expect
ed. The road was laid out so that it gave only a short view of the area. Sumner had expected to find the Loyalists guard spread out, keeping lookout. Instead, the picket-guard was standing around talking to themselves.
Sumner eased up from behind the men, close enough to retrieve a couple of the rifles that had been set down against the trunk of a tree. He signaled Shelby.
“Gentleman,” Shelby rode up to the group. Immediately, one reached down for his rifle, but to his surprise it was no longer there, but found instead Sumner standing with it aimed at him. Elijah stood not far away. The surprised Loyalists looked all around. The other two who had their weapons, slowly placed them down.
“A smart move,” Shelby said. “Now, let us join the rest of our group.”
Sumner stepped beside Elijah. “Not bad. Didn’t fire a gun. No warning was able to be given.”
“A good omen!” Elijah agreed. He pushed one to move quicker, a young lad of no more than seventeen. “It is a good day to do battle.”
Sumner nodded. “In that it is.”
Sumner heard the roll of the British drum. The British still didn’t know the Patriot militia was upon them. Sumner surveyed the lay of the land. The end of the mountain on the left descended gradually; in front of Sumner the rise was rather rigid and to his side was a low gap through which a road passed.
In their approach, the overmountain men surrounded the British Major. Campbell was to Sumner’s left with Shelby; Sevier was on Sumner’s right and next to him was Cleveland’s men on the other side of the road, who had to tread through swampy land.
Sumner was set in his position, but watched as the other units tried to maneuver to theirs. Galling fire interfered with the action until Shelby called, “Press on to your places. Then your fire won’t be lost!”
A few minutes later, the order was given. The battle had begun.
* * * *
Sumner fought ahead. He closely engaged to the frontline. Cries resonated; rifles exploded. Howls of the overmountain men erupted as they took vengeance on the British foe.
A furious charge of bayonets was repelled. A band of rifle fire compelled Ferguson to order his men back to the top of the mountain. Within the destructive fire another charge sounded. Ferguson once more sent a platoon charging down the mountain, but once more was met by a wall of fire power.