Tides of Charleston 2 Book Box-Set

by Jerri Hines

  Her anger built. Then you should have never left me so totally alone, Philip! I had no choice. Do not be mad at me. Her nerves had been stretched tighter and tighter each day of her confinement.

  Juriah had placed her on bed rest. Cathryn saw the worry within Juriah’s eyes, but if she did nothing else she would deliver a healthy child. That she knew and was determined to do so. It was the one thing Philip wanted above all else. God help me, Cathryn cried. She knew well he wanted the child for his father—to give him something to cling to after he was gone—and she had run from him.

  When she let her guard down, she could hear Jake tell her not to do something rash. Did he know her so well that he knew she would run? Well, she didn’t run to hide, but to be home. They knew well where she would go. But if what she had heard was true, then time would tell whether there would be any attempt to make contact. Mary had told her there were rumors that a battle brewed in Charles Town harbor.

  “I want to know everything, Mary. I know you talk with Sumner since both of you are traitors to me and choose the patriot side,” Cathryn retorted, being of ill nature more often than not with the oppressive heat that abounded.

  “Cathryn, you know I would never betray you,” Mary replied. She had gained confidence in herself with her return. “You need not worry. You haven’t much longer. A month at the most and Juriah believes it will be earlier. And you may hope that the patriots do win. What are you going to do if the British invade? Do you want that mad man descending down upon us?”

  “Of course, not,” Cathryn said tensely. “But at some point I will have to contend with him.”

  “And that should be on your terms, Cathryn. He treated you intolerably! He doesn’t deserve to ever know!” Mary contended. “After all you had gone though and Lord Philip loved you so. You know even if he had never said a word, you could see it in his eyes. I wish one day to be loved that way.”

  “He did love me.” Cathryn suddenly became emotional. Tears began to stream down. “Oh, Mary! What am I to do?”

  Cathryn gasped as a sharp pain shot down her back. “Oh, Mary!”

  Mary didn’t hesitate. She called out first for Juriah and next went running for her. Tacy ran in. “Oh, my Miss Cathryn, is it time?”

  “It’s too early,” Cathryn cried. “I think. What day is this? Ah, Tacy!” She grabbed hold of Tacy’s hand, gripping it so tightly that Tacy screamed in pain. Gradually, the pain subsided for the moment.

  Juriah ran in the room. She took one look at Cathryn and noted the soaked sheets. She glanced up with a smile. “It seems your child has decided today is a good day.”

  “It’s too early,” Cathryn whispered raggedly.

  “No, child, it’s less than a month from the date of late July you gave me,” Juriah said calmly. “With all you have gone through, it’s a wonder you haven’t gone earlier. June 28th is a fine day. Trust me, Cathryn. I could call for Doctor Lillington, but I assume he’s helping with the wounded from the battle.”

  “Battle? It’s begun?” Cathryn cried. An endless stream of tears emerged. She gripped her stomach. “Oh, Juriah!”

  “We’re all set, Cathryn. I have delivered many babies, as you well know. We will do this together, but promise me one thing,” Juriah said calmly. “Through everything you are about to experience, hold to what you will have in your arms shortly. It will get you through.”

  At first the pain came in waves, and then the contractions didn’t end. Pain shot through her body so that she hadn’t the energy to cry out. At times she didn’t know whose hand she held. Sweating profusely, her nightgown clung to her body. She could feel wet cloths upon her forehead. She saw Mary and Tacy make their way in and out of the room; sunlight gave way to darkness. Everything became as a blur.

  “Look at me, Cathryn,” Juriah spoke in a steady tone. “You need to push. It is time. Push. I can see the head.”

  Cathryn pushed and pushed. Mary stood close, urging her on.

  “Push!”

  “I can’t,” Cathryn cried.

  “Yes, you can,” Mary answered. “You want to see the babe. You will push.”

  A moment later, a babe appeared. A loud cry emerged at the same time. A swell of relief flooded Cathryn. Her child was crying...loudly.

  “Oh, Cathryn. She is beautiful,” Juriah cried along with the baby. “It’s a girl.”

  She had a daughter. “Lucy. Philip wanted to call her after his grandmother. Can I see her?” Cathryn asked, not believing it until she had seen her creation.

  “It’s a beautiful name—Lucy.” Juriah smiled. “Of course you can. I’ll clean her up in a moment. Smaller than I imagined, but healthy from her cry. She is as her mother.”

  Cathryn tried to pull herself up in a more comfortable position, but the next moment another sharp pain swept through her. She screamed. “Oh, my God, Juriah!”

  Juriah quickly handed the crying infant to Mary who stood helplessly as Juriah called for Tacy. The pain continued. Panic overcame Cathryn. Juriah’s concern quickly turned.

  “Cathryn, I believe you are about to have another,” Juriah said as calmly as she tried to contain herself. “I believe I see another head. Push again.”

  * * * *

  In the morning sun, Cathryn lay with her babies. Twins, her wish of delivering a healthy child had been answered in duplicate. As Juriah had handed her the second babe, a wave of euphoria had swept through her. All the pain she had gone through during the delivery was forgotten the moment they lay within her arms. The only deterrent was that Philip wasn’t here to see them. Each beautiful, ten fingers, ten toes, she had counted them all.

  “I had been so worried,” Juriah confessed. “I should have considered, but I thought you had the dates wrong, but you have done it, Cathryn. What are you going to name the second one?”

  Cathryn thought for a moment. “I promised Philip if it was a boy I would name him Charles Philip after both him and his father. He wanted him to be Charles, I know. I just can’t bring myself to call him Charles.”

  “You could name him Charles Philip and call him by his middle name. I’m sure you’ll have no problem calling him after his father.” Juriah wiped back the hair that had fallen in her face.

  “No, I wouldn’t.” Cathryn smiled, content with her bundles. She had to be exhausted, but she didn’t feel tired. She only felt exhilaration. “What do you think, little one?”

  Philip had clamped down upon his mother’s breast and hadn’t a worry in the world. Juriah held Lucy while her mother fed her brother. “We can find a wet nurse if you don’t have enough milk.”

  Cathryn slightly nodded. Mary burst into the room, catching herself before she yelled out her news. “A messenger arrived moments ago. Sumner sent word. The British have been defeated. We held at Sullivan’s Isle. Moultrie beat the British. They’re withdrawing!”

  Cathryn was confused as to how she felt. She should have been upset that the British had been lost, but she had to confess at the moment she was content. She didn’t have to worry about the Duke of Eversleigh descending down upon them. Her heart swelled with love. She didn’t know she could love something so quickly and intensely. At the moment, she basked within that love...safe within her home.

  * * * *

  Sumner returned triumphant in his victory. He hadn’t even tried to hide his satisfaction from Cathryn. He had never spoken to her and she had never broached the subject with him. He took great pride with the twins as though Cathryn had won a race of some sort.

  “Ah, healthy and happy and free,” Sumner reminded Cathryn. He had taken the boy in his arms. Philip seemed content even though his mother worried about the way her brother held him. “He’s a boy, Cathryn. He’s fine.”

  And it was good. Cathryn was content for the first couple of months. She was exhausted most of the time with all her attention bent upon the babes. Juriah had taken one of the field slaves that had birthed around the same time to use as a wet nurse for she feared Cathryn didn’t have enough milk for the
both, especially Philip.

  Cathryn marveled at her children and watched them closely. Little Lucy, even at her young age, seemed to have formed her own personality. Her daughter reminded Cathryn of the little one’s father. She smiled often, even though Tacy kept saying it was the little one’s stomach. Cathryn didn’t believe her. Lucy’s smile was Philip’s and she thrived with attention.

  Philip seemed content as long as his mother was by his side. Cathryn didn’t mind. Her life was her children. She had taken back up her sketching, drawing them from all angles. One thing was certain. Both seemed to have a close attachment. Cathryn found that both slept better in the same bassinet.

  A nagging guilt emerged from within Cathryn as she regained her strength, questioning her own contentment at the expense of her mother-in-law’s. She picked up her pen.

  “I wouldn’t do that,” a voice came from behind her.

  “Do what?” Cathryn asked as she turned to her brother.

  “You are fixin’ to write someone about the twins. You’re happy and you want to share your joy, but, Cathryn, it will change if you write that letter. To who? Philip’s mother, perhaps? You can’t abide his father, but his mother took you in.”

  “What do you think you know?” Cathryn shot back. “When everyone was against me, she opened her home to me and it had nothing to do with Philip at that time. Philip was her life. It would give her some joy to know she had grandchildren.”

  “It is up to you, Cathryn, but if you write that letter, they will know. All the Duke of Eversleigh would have to do is write a letter to General Washington, Henry Laurens...numerous people. No one would keep the child from him. Cathryn, you must realize you live in a precarious situation. If it is known that the heir to the Duke of Eversleigh lived among them, the babe would be endangered from kidnapping or even worse, death.”

  “Don’t try to scare me,” Cathryn cried. “No one would hurt a babe.”

  “Then you have shut your eyes to all around us,” Sumner answered her harshly. “It’s my hope that the conflict will find a quick resolution or else we will have to come up with another plan. You have kept a low profile, which has helped, but it will catch up with us in time.”

  “You are frightening me, Sumner,” she said. “What do you want me to do?”

  “What you are doing now. Nothing, but live. Take it day to day. In time, all will work out. I have promised to protect you. Everything will be fine, but don’t write that letter. It will only invite complications.”

  Cathryn laid the pen down. For now, she would do nothing.

  * * * *

  William paid a visit, after the birth of the twins. Cathryn thought he might have brought Randa with him, but seemed to be content to visit without her. Though, Cathryn reasoned Randa was still within her confinement.

  Cathryn burst with pride while watching the sleeping babes, never for a moment considering that others might not find watching them as entertaining as she did. When William left, it occurred to Cathryn that William might not have told Randa. Was he keeping her secret from his wife? She pushed the thought aside.

  Rumors of small scrimmages abounded. More Indian raids, but Sumner had allayed her fears. “If I feel they are moving closer, I will move you into Charles Town, but I don’t see such.”

  Life had fallen into a routine of caring for her children and helping Juriah with the household. Once more, she found peace visiting the grave sites, but now her father lay within the small cemetery.

  Early on an autumn morning, Cathryn stole a chance to visit the cemetery. The twins had been up throughout the night and had already gone down for a nap. She did not stay long for she feared the twins would wake. They had been quite fussy as of late.

  Walking back, she halted. She swore she heard the sound a rider approaching Elm Bluff. Strange, it was too early for callers, but she heard the distinct sound of measured scrunch on the gravel as hooves slowed down in a natural way to the rhythm of a walk.

  She rounded the corner of the house to see a horse standing with its reins hanging loose. She looked up the steps. The door was flung open with a stranger’s voice hollering. She had no time to think or fear. She rushed into the house.

  Lying at the foot of the staircase, the house boy, Israel, laid silent, blood oozing from his head. She bent down. He still breathed. She followed the voice and raced up the stairs.

  A huge, rather burly man with a well-kept beard, stood pounding on Mary’s door. Oh, good lord, it was Franklin Chelton. He wasn’t after her babies...he was after Mary!

  Where was everyone? Frantically, she glanced around the corridor. The man was mad! She had to protect her babies...Mary.

  Thankful her father saw the need to show her how to fire a gun, she made a dash for Sumner’s room. She knew exactly where he hid his pistol. She fumbled nervously in his top chest drawer.

  Shouts emerged. Cathryn froze when she heard a loud slap followed by a blood curdling scream. She found it...the pistol. Gathering up her courage, she ran to Mary’s room.

  The man held Mary up by her hair. Tears flowed down her face. She looked at Cathryn in a pleading manner.

  “Go,” she whispered. “Before he harms you.”

  Cathryn shook her head. “I’m not leaving. He is.” She pulled the pistol out from the folds of her skirt.

  He laughed a loud malevolent laugh. “Put that thing away. You aren’t going to use it. Mary is coming home with me. I am her guardian.”

  He released his hold and Mary fell onto the floor. He kicked her. “Disrespect me! I think not. You will pay when we get home.”

  Mary screamed as he kicked her again. The babies awoke. Startled and scared, they too added their own cries.

  Nervous and distracted with her babies’ shrill cries, her hands trembled; her voice shook. “Don’t go near her. Mary, run.”

  Chelton bolstered a harsh grin. “Do you think I’m gonna listen to you.”

  Refusing to move, Cathryn watched Mary crawl to her feet with her eyes as big as saucers from fright, reminding Cathryn of the night she had helped deliver her dead baby.

  Cathryn took her eyes off of Chelton for a moment—he lunged at her, knocking the pistol to the ground. Cathryn fell to the ground. Mary ran. She grabbed at Chelton’s leg as he rushed by, knocking him down to the floor.

  Disturbed momentarily by the sound of her children screaming, Cathryn scrambled to her feet. She looked back as terror gripped her. Chelton regained his footing and chased Mary down the stairs, seizing Mary before she could make an escape out of the house.

  “Did you forget, Mary? There are rules. You have broken them.” He pulled Mary down by her hair. Screaming madly, Mary clawed and scratched at her assailant, but to no avail.

  Chelton uttered in a deep threatening voice, “I told Henry it was useless. You would be back. You belong to me! I refused to believe the rumors. Had to see for myself. But it’s true you have returned...to me.”

  Mary screamed and he slapped her across the face. “Now, you will be punished.”

  “Let her go!” Cathryn jumped upon him. He pushed her off hard against the wall, but when he turned around he met one stronger and younger than he.

  In one stride, Sumner came in between Chelton and Mary. Cathryn felt her face. Blood! She had cut her forehead.

  “How dare you come into my home and assault the women of my house!” Sumner shouted. His fist landed Chelton against the floor.

  “She’s not your concern. She’s my ward!” Chelton countered and crawled to his knees. “I will do what I want. She is mine.”

  “Tell that to me one more time! With all I heard you did...you think because your brother-in-law forgave you, the child would?”

  Chelton caught his breath. His hand pushed his body forward off the ground. Cathryn saw the look in his eyes. He was fool enough to challenge Sumner further.

  “Sumner!” Mary’s frightened voice shrieked a warning.

  Cathryn struggled to her feet. Her eyes took in the scene. Juriah had
returned from retrieving Sumner and rushed to Mary. Her gaze met Cathryn’s. Mary stood in a trance-like state. Cathryn helped Juriah usher Mary back up the stairs.

  “Go see the little ones. I’ll take care of Mary,” Juriah ordered. Cathryn nodded. Refusing to look back, the sounds of the fight echoed throughout the house.

  She scurried into the nursery and picked up Lucy first. Quieting her as well as she could, her hands still trembled.

  She had seen a look within both men that terrified her. Comforting her babies with a lullaby, she sang until she didn’t hear another sound...until the house lay in an eerie silence.

  Suddenly, Cathryn heard hurried footsteps. Her heart caught in her throat. Juriah opened the door and motioned for Cathryn to follow her.

  “Carreen is here to care for the young ones. You need to come downstairs,” she said. “Mary is lying down upon her bed.”

  Cathryn followed silently. At the foot of the staircase, Chelton’s body lay face down, lifeless upon the foyer’s floor. She fought back the revulsion that came over her.

  Sumner glanced up at her as Cathryn raced over to his side. She bent down upon her knees and took up her brother’s scraped and bloody knuckles. His clothes soaked in the intruder’s blood. Cathryn comprehended in quick order that the wrath of Sumner had exploded upon the lecher.

  “Cathryn, we need to act quickly,” he said in a calm manner. “I didn’t mean to kill him. I only wanted him out of my home. He was as a wild man. When he was down, he said vile things about Mary. How a man could say...” He looked away. “It is no matter. I have only one choice. We have to hide the body.”

  “But Sumner, someone will know he was coming here.

  “What if the Negroes talk? Oh, Sumner, won’t they understand?”

  “You tell me, Cathryn,” Sumner stated emphatically. “Who would they believe? A highly respected lawyer or a bastard son?’

  “I’ll take care of the Negroes. Israel was injured. He’ll say nothing. I know of no other that was here that would,” Juriah answered. “But we need to get rid of the body.”