by Jerri Hines
She whispered, “That they want to hang me?”
Joseph drew in a long breath and nodded. “They have found witnesses to concoct a fabrication I’m certain.”
Her body trembled uncontrollably. “I have done nothing.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he uttered in disgust. “They want a verdict, Jane. You are to be used as a deterrent.”
She fought back the tears that had welled in her eyes. Despair engulfed her. She tried to conceal it, but then the thought overwhelmed her.
“Oh, my God! Oh, My God,” she cried, nearly choking upon the thought. Jane felt such an immense wave of grief that for a moment she couldn’t speak.
She tried to stand, but faltered. Joseph helped her up. She walked over to the window. In the far corner, a platform was in the process of being constructed. She looked back at Joseph.
Comprehension sank within her. The trial meant nothing. The verdict had been decided long before the trial began. Someone was to be hanged this day. Her legs weakened again. Joseph’s arms rounded her.
Tears fell unheeded. “I don’t want to die.”
She wept. Joseph tightened his grip upon her. Composing herself, she stared at the window once more. Had she not known what they planned? Had she not seen it within General Durham’s eyes? Her dreams of a life with Sumner faded. Caleb? His little face. She tried desperately to regain her self-control.
“Caleb? What of him?”
“He has disappeared. They found his fishing pole. Your man, Israel, has disappeared also. It would be my thought he is with Caleb.”
She nodded. Good, he is safe. She breathed in deeply then turned back to Joseph. “Sumner?”
“There has been no word from him to the General. I expect there will be. The General is pressing hard for everything to be quick. It would be my conjecture he doesn’t want to give Sumner time to formulate a plan.”
“You are telling me I have no hope,” she said gravely.
“If Sumner comes forth and surrenders....”
“If he did, I would die also,” she said. She stared blankly out the window. “Then, I hope it is quick and before Sumner comes forth.”
A still silence ensued. Swallowing hard, she turned back to Joseph. “I don’t know if I can do as I want, Joseph. Can you be by me? Don’t let me falter.”
Jane’s voice wavered. Her hand found his and she squeezed it. “I remember, Joseph. Know I don’t hold it against you for their deaths. Nor do you on mine. I should have died that day. Instead, I was given a brief glimpse of happiness.” Her voice faltered again. “Can you tell him that, Joseph? Can you make sure you tell Sumner I regret nothing? Tell him—” She lost her voice. Her throat locked around words too painful to utter. She took a moment. “That I will always love him.”
His own eyes welled with tears, but he nodded. The door opened. A soldier entered. “It is time. The prisoner is to be brought back into court.”
She whispered, “Don’t leave me.”
“I will be there,” he said, “I won’t desert you.”
* * * *
Jane contained a sigh. She sat silently in the room where the semblance of a trial was to be held. Lieutenant Owens was to defend her and sat beside her. She wondered why it would not have been Henry Peterson as her lawyer. But, there again, it wasn’t of importance. The verdict had already been decided.
Her attention lay solely out the window. The sun shone brightly. Was it afternoon? She had always loved an autumn afternoon. A warm feeling washed over her with a thought back to her youth—Troy teasing her unmercifully for being a girl. Her clothes ripped and torn from her attempts to keep up with him. He taught her how to jump her horse on a day much like this.
“You are excused, Mister Eli Smithson.” The judge coughed and then did so again. “Mistress Meador, so you understand the seriousness with what you have been charged? Lieutenant Owens, pray explain it to her. She hasn’t once looked upon the witnesses.”
Jane glanced over at the officer. She gave him a slight smile, a comforting gesture to the frustrated young man. She looked back at the judge.
“I was looking upon the sun. It is a beautiful day today. Do you not think?”
A faint smile crossed her face, but it altered at the appearance of the next witness. The one before, she hadn’t known. They had talked of his spying within Charles Town against the Red Coats, but she had no knowledge of him. This man, this man she had met once before.
William Peyton walked in high spirits, well-groomed in a dark blue waist coat with a white button shirt. His eyes had none of the redness she had noticed upon their other meetings. He pulled upon his coat when he took the stand. Looking over at her, he gave a smug smile that sent a shiver down her spine.
His eyes never left her. Satisfaction lay in each word he uttered. “I hated to come forth as I have, but I have a duty. Do I not? I thought it strange to see her talking to Eli in such an intimate fashion upon the street. My first reaction had been that they were more than acquaintances.”
Jane’s face flushed with anger, her composure lost upon the utterance. “You lie,” she said.
The judge looked back at Jane. “Did you say something?”
“He lies! He didn’t see anything for I didn’t do such! You might take my life this day...in that I have no control, but I won’t let this man imply I have not been faithful to my husband.”
“Mistress Meador, that is quite enough. You will have time for your say.”
“Say? I have had no say in any of this. You have brought forth liars to testify against me for treason and now you attack my name. If I die today because I married Sumner, then so be it. I regret not my marriage, but I will not stand for being accused of such as uttered out of his mouth! I am Sumner’s wife. I will not allow you to take that from me!”
“Pray, sit back down before I have to have you removed. You, ma’am, have been accused of a serious crime against our King. If you had held to the Crown...”
“To the Crown? Sir, my family held true until they were butchered...murdered without cause by a Loyalist militia. Is that the Crown? Is that the King I’m supposed to hold to? Where was he when my family, innocent men who had taken no stance, was slaughtered? Who punished their murderers? No, there was no punishment, for the Crown protected them, for they rode under the Loyalist flag.”
“Mistress Meador!”
“No!” she screamed. “Is this the Crown? Is this the King? To try a woman for loving a man when they let murderers walk freely without fear of punishment! Then you need to go no further with this mockery. I want nothing to do with a King such as that! I choose to die free—”
“Or live free!”
His voice resonated in the room. The door flung open wide, all eyes turned to the stranger. Jane held tight to the table’s edge, disbelieving the sight...her husband walked forward with gun in hand. Cocking it, he raised the barrel.
Sumner Meador was once more within Charles Town.
Chapter 17
Jane felt faint. She hadn’t a clue what to do. She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms, but would they not arrest him? How...how now was she going to protect him! Her frightened eyes met his...he smiled.
Within a heartbeat, Sumner had her in his arms.
“Sumner, you shouldn’t have come,” she cried, but even as she spoke she noticed advancement about them. “They are going to you arrest you.”
“We don’t have time for talk at the moment,” he said.
Lowering his gun, he swept her in his arms. To her surprise, Joseph stood at Sumner’s side. His men held their weapons against the British guards, who made no effort to contain them.
Rushing out of the courthouse, she clung tightly to her husband and buried her head into his shoulder. Confusion swept through the waiting crowd, until one recognized Sumner.
Immediately, cheers erupted. Sumner gave no notice of the crowd, intent on one purpose—escape.
His horse waited at the front of the courthouse. For a brief mo
ment, Sumner handed her back to Joseph and mounted. Joseph handed her up to him.
“Ride. We will follow,” Joseph said.
* * * *
Sumner had waited impatiently, so much happened quickly. He had given it no thought of whether this would work or even if he should trust the offer.
Leckie had always been an adversary, but a respected one whom he held in high regard. Sumner had once saved Leckie’s life along with his brother-in-law’s, Jake Pennington. Sumner had done so for his sister, Cathryn, but for Joseph Williamson to offer his help had been quite improbable.
He doubted if this plan would hold, but it was his only hope of success. He doubted it still. To ride into Charles Town and out! But he had her now. He had her in his arms! Thank God!
Urging his horse harder, he glanced over his shoulder. Joseph had caught up with him as well as his militia unit. He pointed to Sumner to go off the trail.
Joseph followed the two. The others continued down the road. Sumner clicked his horse’s side. They rode onto a small trail.
Sumner looked down. Jane released her grip. At first, he panicked, but she was breathing. She must have fainted. So they rode and didn’t stop until nightfall.
* * * *
Molly Dawes lived in the deep backwoods. Seventeen years ago her husband brought her to this house, his homestead. Jeremiah Dawes had been no more than eighteen years old when he carried her off without her parents’ permission and married her. Sumner remembered because he had helped build the small cabin. Jeremiah was his cousin on his mother’s side. The only relative his mother claimed.
Jeremiah had been a good man with a small farm that met the needs of his family, Molly and his two small daughters, until tragedy struck. The fever took the family—Jeremiah, Libby, and little Sarah—years ago. Had to be at least ten, Sumner thought. His mother, Juriah, had gone to care for all, but it wasn’t within her power to save them.
Molly stayed, not leaving the home that was all she had left of the man she had loved and her daughters. With the help of only a couple of hired workers, she maintained the farm, but now as with most of the farms in the area, it had fallen into a state of disrepair. The workers left, taking up the cause for one side or the other. Molly lived alone with only a simple young lad she had adopted a few years ago.
The lad, Hugh, was a different sort. Thought to have been deserted by his family, Molly found him, took him in, not caring if he hadn’t the knowledge of most youths of his age. He needed her and she him.
Molly, a woman of strong character and a passion for the Patriot cause, had given aid to the Rebels on numerous occasions, never more important than at this moment. Without hesitation, she opened her home up to Sumner, not questioning the repercussions of such an act. Situated in the hills, the cabin sank back away from most prying eyes. The house was small; containing only three rooms beside the open kitchen and living area, but the barn was quite large and at one time held many livestock. The thick woods to the far east gave haven and to the west, the Black River ran swiftly, positioned perfectly for Sumner’s needs.
Sumner could smell the smoke from the chimney before he caught sight of his destination. His hope was to stay only the night before continuing toward North Carolina and then Virginia. His mind raced. Rebekah had offered to stay and wait for Jane.
“I want to see Jonathan before I go. I’ll wait for her,” Rebekah told him when he had left her with Marion. “She can come with me to Williamsburg. Also, your son.”
“I don’t know...” he had begun. “There is so much. I don’t know if it would be better to hand myself over if they gave their word....”
Rebekah shook her head. “Sumner, in this understand—I know General Durham. Something is driving him toward this end. I don’t mean to be so blunt, but I believe he means to inflict his pain upon all in his path. He believes you are within that path.” She hesitated slightly. “Don’t underestimate him, Sumner. His actions aren’t without reason, even if we can’t understand what they are. He wants you and will do whatever is necessary to insure such.”
A dilemma lay before him and it demanded a course of action. The course had been decided upon and taken, a daring strike. He had taken General Durham by surprise. Sumner realized Durham would strike back—swift and forcibly.
Turning the bend down a slight hill, he heard a voice cry of their approach. In the light of the cabin, he saw Molly standing, waiting, upon the porch. Before Sumner had a chance to rein in his horse, Joseph leaped off and took Jane from him.
“She’s not?” Joseph immediately asked for her body lay so limp.
“No,” Sumner answered firmly. Pray, God, no. “She lost consciousness a while back.” He dismounted and followed Joseph through the door, following behind Molly.
“Put her down upon the bed,” Molly said simply. The covers had already been drawn back. Joseph laid her down. Molly pulled the covers up over her. She shooed him away and reached for a basin on the table by the bed.
“They gave her hardly anything to eat or drink for the last couple of days. The room....” Joseph’s voice trailed off. “I don’t know what to make of it.”
Jane lay so quiet, lifeless, so tiny, her face pallid; her breathing shallow. “Why would they do this to one such as she?” Molly asked in disgust. “What did they think she did?”
“Her only offense is that she is my wife,” Sumner uttered in a low solemn tone. “Tell her to wake,” he begged. “She has to be—”
“I’m not the nurse your mother was, Sumner,” she said in a soft low tone. “But I will do my best. Go for a moment. Let me have a look upon her. Hand me the glass of water.”
Joseph handed the glass to her calloused hand. Molly looked at both men. “I meant what I said. I will call you back in a moment. Now.”
Joseph turned and placed his hands upon Sumner, slightly pushing him back. “She will be fine.”
As if in a trance, Sumner eased back with Joseph, his eyes never leaving Jane until Molly closed the door.
“I can only think of one reason Durham treated her so. An attempt to undermine you,” Joseph said, taking a seat in a hard back chair. “Leaving you no other option but to turn yourself in. In an attempt to humiliate Jane, humiliate you. One way or the other.”
Sumner slid into a chair beside Joseph. He planted his elbows on his knees and shoved his fingers through his hair in an attempt to make sense of all. It didn’t come. He rubbed his tired face. His weary eyes turned to Joseph. “Thank you,” he paused. “I don’t know what else to say.”
“There is no need. I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Jane. I failed her. I couldn’t do so again,” he said, standing up. He walked to the window. He glanced back and sighed. “My men should show themselves soon. You are confident that we will be accepted without repercussions?”
Sumner nodded. “You have the word of General Morgan. I will stand by you if we live through this. We can’t stay here long. The British will react quickly and swiftly.”
“Your son? Jane was concerned with him.”
“He is safe because of her.” Sumner glanced at the door. “I don’t know what I would have done....” he stuttered. “I can’t put into words what she means to me.”
“You don’t have to,” Joseph said solemnly. “You forget.” Sumner rubbed his forehead. He hadn’t slept in days.
“Do you think Durham will suspect Leckie of helping?”
“He will suspect something, Sumner. His men didn’t react. They stood without action,” Joseph responded. He leaned against the wall. “But Leckie knows the risk. In all, I was taken quite by surprise by Durham’s actions. You have had no run-ins with him you said. I’m confused at his harsh stance. We have been after plenty of Patriot runners. Why would he hate you so?”
“In that I don’t know,” Sumner answered honestly. “But in this, know I will find out and make him pay.”
* * * *
“Jane,” a tender, soft voice called to her. “Jane.” She heard it once more. She trie
d to open her eyes. “No, child, come back to me. I need for you to drink this water and hold it within you.”
Jane choked upon the drink. The woman’s hand held her head up. “Drink again.”
“I can’t,” she uttered in a weak voice.
The persistent woman wouldn’t relent. “You have no choice, Jane. Your husband sits behind that door waiting for you. I know you want to see him, have him hold you. In that, you need to drink.”
Jane tried. She took a small sip. The whole of her body ached. The woman pressed a cool wet cloth upon her forehead. It felt good. Her eyes opened wider, staring upon the woman. She wasn’t young, Jane thought, but younger than she appeared. Her eyes were sad but kind, her face compassionate, her hair held back in a tight bun. Jane wasn’t certain the color in the light of the room.
“Sumner?” Jane asked, taking another sip. She held her stomach when she swallowed. “Can he not be within?” About to cry, she choked back the tears. “I mean, I need him....”
“Of course you do, child. I want to see how sick you are,” she answered. Her hand rubbed Jane’s hand, forehead. “My name is Molly. I’ve been a friend of Sumner’s for a long time,” she said. “You have no fever, but you have the look of one that does.”
The woman sat back. “Child,” she asked thoughtfully. “How long has it been since your time?”
Jane took another sip of water. She shook her head. “I don’t remember. It has been a while, I think. I haven’t kept up with such, not with everything that has happened.”
“Child,” Molly said, “do you not know to keep up with such things when you are married?”
“Why?” Jane asked in all innocence.
* * * *
Molly opened the door only wide enough to ease out.
Sumner almost leaped off his seat. “Is she better?”
Molly nodded, but placed her finger upon her lips.
“Let’s walk.”
The two walked toward the barn. Molly began, “She is sick, Sumner, and needs time to regain her strength. She has been treated horribly...that is without a doubt. I don’t think she needs to be moved at least for a day maybe two.”