“Certainly.”
Thomas and Polly walked to their cottage, little Laura between them. Polly looked back at her and grinned.
“What is it, Mama?” Mary held Sara on her hip and looked from her to Andrew. “Does this have anything to do with James?” Concern etched her face.
“Nay. ’Tis good news, the best news.” She reached for Douglas and led him up the step.
“What is it, Ma?” Mark looked from her to Andrew.
“We have a wonderful surprise inside, though I know not yet how it came about.” She winked at Andrew, took Sara, and led the way. “Come to the common room, children.”
CHAPTER 35
Heather motioned for them all to sit. Broaching the news of their father’s return needed to be done with care.
Worry filled Mary’s face. “Is it Mrs. Whitcomb, Mama? Was she difficult today?”
“Nay, Mrs. Whitcomb is much improved.” Still holding Sara, she looked into her children’s faces. “This will come as quite a shock, but ’tis good.”
Mark thumped his hand on the table. “Must we have all the mystery, Ma?”
“Mr. Macmillan has brought your father home.”
A smile burst forth on Douglas as he jumped up from the bench. “Papa is home?”
Mary’s blank stare met Mark’s before turning back to her. “You said he was buried in Philadelphia.”
“How can that be?” Mark’s confusion matched his sister’s.
A scuffling in the hallway had her turning toward the door. A moment later, Matthew stepped into the room.
“I’m very much alive.” Matthew’s pale face, full of joy, studied each of his children.
Douglas ran to his father’s side and hugged his leg, nearly upsetting his balance.
Mary’s mouth dropped open.
Mark’s eyes grew wide. He stood, slowly approached his father. “I never believed it when they said you were dead.”
Finally, Mary recovered from her shock. She pushed her chair back and ran to him. Tears ran down her cheeks.
With Douglas latched onto his waist, Matthew wrapped an arm around Mark and his other around Mary.
Overcome by the sight, Heather could only watch and weep.
“Where have you been, Papa?” Douglas said.
“Are you ill?” Mark asked. “They said you were shot.”
Mary stepped away to meet her father’s eyes. “Who was the man with Mama’s cross?”
“What happened to you, Pa? Where were you?” Mark’s voice cracked. “Why did you not come home?”
“Children.” Heather crossed the room and took Douglas, then focused on Mark and Mary. “Let your father sit down. I’m sure he’ll tell us everything if we give him some time to speak.”
Matthew made his way to a chair. He looked as if he would drop at any moment. When he reached for Sara, Heather placed the baby in his arms. He looked amazed at the sight of his youngest child. He kissed her forehead and her cheeks, which made her squirm in his arms. “My goodness, what a beautiful sight you are.” He looked up at Heather, then at the other children. “All these months, I wished for this. Only this. To see you all again.”
Mark said, “But Papa—”
“Children, your father is exhausted. We all have many questions, and he wants to answer them, but he is tired. Right now, let us thank God for his safe return and let him get some food and rest.” She turned toward Andrew. “Oh, dear friend, we are indebted to you for finding him and bringing him home.”
Heather put her hand on Mark’s shoulder. “Please, go get some cider.”
He headed toward the cellar, looking over his shoulder at his father, then to Andrew. “We are so thankful, Mr. Macmillan.”
“Yes, we are so grateful.” Tears ran down Mary’s cheeks. “’Tis an answer to so many prayers.” Still looking stunned, she looked back at her father. “Let me take Sara up and change her.”
Heather addressed Andrew. “Sit with Matthew while I bring you both some food.”
A few minutes later, she brought a tray with soup, bread, applesauce, and cider to the table. After Andrew’s brief prayer, she watched the men eat, her eyes still filled with tears.
Her heart full, her constant prayer answered. You were faithful, Lord. You did the impossible. The sight of Matthew, even ill and weary, was healing a broken heart. She was as impatient as the children. So many questions.
Mary returned with Sara and sat next to Douglas, who had not taken his eyes off his father. She’d never seen the boy so still and quiet, but they were all stunned. Mark brought the cider. They sat at the table, engrossed by their father’s presence as he slowly ate.
Andrew sipped his soup. “This is much needed and appreciated. We stopped briefly in Alexandria on our way. The Duncans were overjoyed to see Matthew and said they would come soon.”
Heather sat beside Matthew. “Wonderful.”
Andrew’s attention turned to Mark. “How has the fishing been?”
Mark looked dumbfounded by the question.
Heather nodded. “Tell him, Mark.” Andrew was trying to lighten up the intense emotions around the table.
“’Tis been great. We caught some bass, walleye, even some trout.” Mark’s gaze traveled back to his father. “Perhaps ... we might go sometime, Pa, and fish ... when you feel better.”
“I would like that. You have grown so tall, son.”
He glanced to where Mary sat still looking stunned. “Mary, you have become such a lovely young woman. I look forward to hearing of your activities.”
“You look so ill, Papa.” Her face radiated worry.
“I will be fine.” Matthew took a deep breath. “Once I get some rest and my strength back. Douglas, what a big boy you have become. And Sara—” Tears formed in his eyes.
When they finished their dinners, Andrew walked to Matthew’s side. “Let me help you up the stairs.”
Matthew tried to wave him off.
“Not the time for pride, my friend.” Andrew placed an arm under Matthew’s.
“I can help also.” Heather went to her husband’s other side.
Once the three of them reached the stairs, she stood back and allowed the men to maneuver the climb together.
Matthew’s breathing was labored as they took each riser.
Her eyes followed them. Praise You, Lord ... so much. My heart overflows with joy.
Heather entered the room after them and closed the curtain while Andrew led Matthew to the bed. She removed his shoes and draped a quilt over him. “Get some rest now. We will hear more when you wake.”
Andrew followed her back downstairs. At the foot of the staircase, she turned toward him. “Come and share what you know.”
“Of course.”
When they reached the common room, all eyes were riveted on Andrew.
Mary stood. “Please tell us how you found Papa.”
Andrew glanced around at each of them. “Not long after my last visit here, I went to Philadelphia to learn more about Matthew’s time there and his disappearance. I wanted to find out who killed him and why.”
Andrew sipped his cider. “Adam had already been to Philadelphia in pursuit of answers, so I stopped on my way there to seek his advice, which was most helpful. He gave me details about his encounter with Jones and Stephens and let me know how to contact Patrick O’Brian. When I arrived in Philadelphia, Patrick told me of an encounter he had that added more clarity.”
Mary leaned forward. “What did he say?”
Andrew proceeded to share much of the information about Matthew’s time at the Flemings that Adam had already shared in his letter.
Heather glanced at Mark and Mary, who were as absorbed as she was in Andrew’s story. Douglas had a troubled look on his face. “Laddie,” Heather said, “please take the bucket to the garden and pick the ripe beans for me.” The child looked relieved to leave the table. When the door had closed behind him, she said, “Please continue, Andrew.”
“Patrick already knew from hi
s and Adam’s meeting with Stephens that Matthew had been passing information. So, when the Flemings told Patrick about the sequence of events, it raised some questions in his mind.”
“What kinds of questions?” Mary’s brow furrowed as she sat back in her chair.
Andrew poured himself more cider and took a drink. “If the British suspected Matthew Stewart of passing information and took him prisoner in New Jersey, how had he been found murdered in Philadelphia? The body, believed to be Matthew’s, was found before Matthew was taken prisoner in Swedesboro.” Andrew set the tankard down. “Which meant that the injured man the Flemings had cared for could not possibly have been the murdered man found in Philadelphia.”
“Oh, my.” Heather’s hand went to her chest.
“Patrick and I returned to Swedesboro to get more of our questions answered. Oden and Anna Fleming told us they were very troubled when Matthew was taken prisoner. They wondered how the British soldiers learned of his location at their home, so they began asking questions of their neighbors. Apparently, Oden had been overheard speaking with a friend at a local tavern about taking care of a Virginia man named Matthew who had been shot. A man in the tavern overheard the conversation and informed the British encamped nearby.”
Mark stood up. “Who was the informer?”
“Some of the townsfolk recognized him as a man named Cranford,” Andrew said.
The man who had aided her at the schoolhouse.
“Cranford.” Mark turned to her. “Do you know him?”
“Only slightly. Sit and let Andrew continue.”
“After Oden Fleming left the tavern,” Andrew said, “Cranford asked the tavern keeper where Oden lived. Since Cranford was from Virginia, they assumed he had an acquaintance with the wounded man, so they told him. The Flemings figured Cranford told the Regulars.”
Heather got up and paced. “That does not explain how you found Matthew. You said he was taken prisoner. So Cranford had Matthew arrested. Then what happened?”
“From what Matthew told me, the Regulars took him from the Flemings and imprisoned him on New York Island. He said he was there nearly six months.”
Mary leaned on the table. “Did the British let him go?”
“I bet he escaped.” Mark’s expression displayed a mixture of wonder and pride.
“In a manner of speaking, yes, he did escape.” Andrew took another swallow of the cider. “Apparently, on September twenty-first, a horrible fire broke out on the southern end of New York Island. Strong winds and dry weather spread it to the north and west. A large part of the city was destroyed. The building Matthew and others were held in was in the middle of it. He said someone unlocked the bolts and the prisoners, as well as everyone else in the building, ran to escape the flames.”
Heather stared at Andrew. A chill traveled up her spine. “A fire, in late September?”
“What is it, Mama?” Mary tilted her head to the side.
“I’m not sure.” She remembered the nightmare, the fire, and fleeing with Matthew. It had been near that time.
Unaware of her thoughts, Andrew continued. “Matthew said he believed a miracle took place amid that disaster. He likened it to St. Paul’s escaping his guards after the earthquake. There was a lot of confusion, but Matthew and many others escaped. They managed to find boats and cross the Hudson River to Jersey City.”
Heather sat at the table, shaken. “Then what happened?”
“Matthew walked until he could go no farther. A farmer spotted him on the side of a road and asked him where he was bound. Matthew told him Philadelphia. The farmer took him part way to where he lived near Princeton. He and his wife fed and sheltered him two nights. Matthew walked and caught transport the remainder of the way to Philadelphia.”
The sound of Sara crying interrupted Andrew’s story.
Heather stood. “Not another word until I return.”
Everyone erupted in laughter.
Mary shook her head “It has been too long since we laughed. Hurry back, Mama.”
“I needed to catch a breath, anyway.” Andrew stood and went to the window overlooking the garden where Douglas was still picking beans.
Heather ran up the stairs and crept into her bedroom. She stopped inside and gazed at Matthew sleeping soundly on their bed.
’Twas true. He was really there.
Fresh tears filled her eyes at the wonder of it. She looked up, mouthed thank you, and allowed the tears of gratitude to come.
Sara smiled when Heather walked into the room, so she lifted Sara from her cradle and returned down the stairs.
“He is still sleeping. So, tell us, Matthew arrived in Philadelphia—”
“Yes. I was sharing a meal with Patrick O’Brian at the City Tavern when a shopkeeper, a neighbor of the cabinetmaking establishment where Patrick worked, came by looking for him. He said a rather sorry-looking fellow had come by the shop asking for him. The neighbor wanted to know when he might return.
“When Patrick and I arrived back at the shop, his neighbor pointed to a tall, thin ragamuffin in the alleyway. The man faced us. It was Matthew. We were shocked.”
Mary stood. “But Mr. Macmillan, how did Papa end up at Patrick’s shop? Philadelphia is a large city.”
“Your father remembered Patrick O’Brian from your visit to Philadelphia. He recalled Patrick was a cabinetmaker who worked for Thomas Affleck. Matthew sought out that shop because he believed Patrick would help him get back to his family. Matthew said he no longer had any other contacts in Philadelphia, and he did not want his whereabouts known by those aligned with the Loyalist cause.”
They all digested Matthew’s odyssey in silence.
Douglas came inside with a bucket of beans, which Heather traded for a basket of toys. “’Tis nothing short of a miracle.”
Andrew glanced at the children and back to her. “Once Matthew was rested, he told us about when he was attacked. He had gone to a location near Swedesboro where he was to meet his contact. When he was on foot near a creek, someone approached him from the rear. The attacker shot and robbed him and left him for dead. We believe it was the man who robbed him who was found dead near Philadelphia with your cross, the sealed packet, and a document with Matthew’s name on it. The body found had det ... well, he must have been of similar appearance, hence was identified as Matthew.”
Heather sat back in her chair, gazing around the table at her children and Andrew. “God has been so good to us. And you, Patrick O’Brian, the Flemings, and the others who helped him have been the Lord’s agents. No words can express our gratitude.”
Concern etched Mary’s face. “Papa was shot? No wonder he looks so thin and ill. Will he recover?”
How could she reassure the children when she had her own worries? “We will do everything we can, and with God’s help, your father’s health will improve. But we need to be patient and not press him for details.”
Mark got up. “Mr. Macmillan, do you think Pa will be safe here? I mean, will the soldiers come looking for him?” The boy’s comment drew everyone’s attention. “Do you suppose that Cranford man knows where he lives?”
Heather took a deep breath. “Mr. Cranford knows where your father lives. Many months ago, he came here looking for him.”
CHAPTER 36
Matthew opened his eyes and stirred when he heard Sara’s babbling coming from her cradle. Her sweet sound choked him up. A month ago, he could never have imagined being here. The bedroom door opened. Heather stood in the doorway, her trim figure defined by the candlelight from the lit sconce in the hallway.
“I’m awake. Come in.”
“Did I disturb you?” Her voice, such a welcome sound. She approached the bed.
“Not at all.” He turned on his side and pushed himself to a sitting position.
“Do you want to come downstairs for supper or shall I bring it up for you?” Heather picked Sara up and bounced the tot on her hip.
“I will come down. I’m eager to be with all of you.”
>
She set Sara beside him and bent down to help him with his shoes.
“I can do that.” He took her hands in his.
Their eyes met. His hands caressed her face. He leaned in and kissed her. His guarded emotions, long held at bay, burst forth. Their kisses flooded with tears. Her fingers ran through his hair, a longed-for sensation finally realized. His breathing grew rapid.
She pulled away. “Do not tire yourself.” In the dim light, he studied her face, her eyes, remembering every feature and expression he loved and had missed so much.
“Where were you shot? Let me see it.”
He pulled up his shirt, exposing a large scar on his left side. “It has healed very well thanks to the ministrations of Anna Fleming.”
She ran her fingers over the ropey wound. “I hope to thank that blessed couple someday. Does it hurt?”
“Not so much. I am not at my best right now, but I will gain strength.” He stroked her face and kissed her lips again. Sara crawled onto his lap.
Heather laughed. “Someone has come between us.” He joined in the mirth as he scooped Sara into his arms.
Heather reached for her. “Let me get her into dry clothes.”
He had missed most of Sara’s life. Getting to know this precious child would be a priority. That and becoming reacquainted with the rest of the family.
“I’m going to get Andrew to help you down the stairs. We will not risk you taking a fall and further injuring yourself.”
“Fair enough.”
She picked up Sara and walked to the doorway, turned back to him, and smiled. “Andrew has been telling us about how he discovered you and some of what you have been through. I must warn you to expect questions.”
“Understood.” He rose. “Did you find my Bible with the notes?”
“Aye, ’twas what alerted me that your trip was more than you had originally told me.”
“I could not tell you, but I also did not want to leave without letting you know how much you mean to me.” He leaned against the chest-on-chest.
“’Tis behind us now. I will send Andrew for you and ask the Gordons to join us for supper.”
A Heart for Freedom: He longs for freedom, but won’t risk the lives of those he loves. Page 23