Threads of Betrayal

by Monica Koldyke Miller

  “Manda,” she gasped. “Take Isaiah. I need t’ catch mah breath.” She handed him over, watching Amanda wade the knee-high water before climbing back up the bank.

  Nell knew what she needed to do. She began to run. As she ran, she felt a renewed strength surging through her limbs and in her heart settled a calming peace. She no longer heard the baying of hounds or her own labored breath. With a mother’s love, the young slave never felt more free.

  Her lips began moving as two forms burst from the woods, streaking toward her. “Dear Lord,” she prayed. “Dear Lord, mah Father in heaven…hallow be yo’ name…”

  Flickering torches cast the forest with an ominous glow and still she ran on, struggling to remember words her mother had taught her. “…Fergive mah sins, as Ah fergive them that hurt me…save mah son, Lord, so he can be free…”

  As if in a dream, the images before her slowed. She felt oddly detached as two shapes with evil eyes lunged at her.

  Nell screamed as the ground rose up suddenly. In great surprise, she found herself sprawled beneath a pair of froth-mouthed beasts. With bared teeth, they prevented her from rising.

  Writhing in the dirt, she thought to calm the dogs to keep them from attacking. “Good doggie,” she whispered before the largest dog sank his teeth into her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Reagan sloshed through icy water with Gabriella in his arMs. After cresting the bank he set her down before racing into the bridge.

  “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming?”

  “The wagon’s stuck!” Ben yelled. “Get behind and push!”

  Squeezing past the wagon, Reagan ran a hand along the buckboard until reaching the trapped wheel. He gripped two spokes and bracing his chest, lifted with all his might. After harrowing seconds where the floor groaned beneath him, he felt a loosening of the pinioned wheel.

  “Pull!” he grunted.

  While Ben tugged, the horses strained against their collars, eager to flee the hellish tunnel. With a loud crack, the buckboard broke free and surged forward. As the wagon gained momentum, a deafening rumble filled the bridge. Ben kept his feet in front of the shifting floorboards while Reagan clung to the wagon, his boots skimming the floor until the buckboard rattled onto solid ground. Barely had they stopped when Ben lifted his mistress into the wagon and Amanda placed the babe in her arMs. Just as they looked around expecting Nell to be nearby, an ear-piercing scream rent the air.

  “It’s Nell!” Gabriella cried.

  Terror congealed in Amanda’s heart as she dashed toward the creek. “Hurry! She’s staving them to save Isaiah!”

  “Amanda wait!” Reagan plunged after her, grabbing a gun he had earlier tucked into his waist. Together they crossed the creek, soon coming to a grisly scene that nearly caused Amanda to retch.

  Two enormous canines had clamped into Nell’s bloodied form and were dragging her toward several men emerging the woods. The dogs growled at their approach but continued with their mission.

  “Amanda, don’t move,” Reagan ordered. Raising his pistol, he squeezed the trigger.

  The report sounded like a cannon in the still night air and as one hound fell, men near the woods scattered, extinguishing lanterns and lowering torches.

  The remaining dog snarled but remained clamped onto Nell’s arm as he wrenched her lifeless body another few inches. Reagan followed. Cocking the gun, he fired again. As the bullet found its mark, the animal crumpled.

  Reagan wasted no time picking Nell up and together with Amanda rushed across the creek and reaching the wagon, gently laid her near Gabriella.

  “Go now!” he urged, pushing Amanda. “I’ll hold them off as long as I can.” Outraged shouts could be heard as Ben yanked off the horses’ blindfolds and jumped into the wagon.

  “She can’t come. You must take her with you,” Gabriella said, covering Nell with her cloak.

  “Aunt Ella…”

  “Nay!” Gabriella insisted. “If we’re apprehended, it’ll be my burden alone.” She laid Isaiah across Nell’s body before turning to Reagan. “Get Amanda home safely. Ben! Let’s go.”

  As the wagon disappeared from sight, a sudden clattering of hooves sounded inside the bridge. Reagan thrust Amanda behind him before approaching the structure and when no one emerged, he entered and soon led out his own horse.

  “The gunshots must’ve scared him across the bridge,” Reagan said while mounting. “We’ve got to hurry.” Reaching down, he pulled Amanda up behind him. As she slid on, her dress dripped icy rivulets on the horses’ flanks causing Reagan to lose several moments while the animal pranced about. Then, in a display of sheer strength, he sent his horse plunging toward the creek the same time the bounty hunters penetrated the bridge. They swarmed out the opposite side, their torches illuminating the creek bed as well as the fleeing couple.

  Angry shouts rang from the trackers as Reagan’s horse left the water and lunged up the opposite ridge. Amanda clung tightly but with the jolting stride she lost her grip and fell backwards, landing with a thud before tumbling down the embankment.

  Reagan brought his horse around, spotting her white petticoats as she rolled to a stop. Leaping off his horse, he plunged after her, heedless of branches that tore his clothing.

  Though disoriented, Amanda struggled to her knees, her vision blurring as lanterns bobbed closer from the opposite bank, multiplying before her eyes. When a figure loomed above her, Amanda screamed.

  “Come on!” Reagan cried. He scooped her up and threaded his way through trees. He had almost made it up the embankment when he heard triumphant shouts.

  “There they are!”

  “Git ‘em. Their gittin’ away!”

  As trackers crested the bank, Reagan set Amanda on her feet and together they ran toward his horse. But they approached too quickly and when Reagan tried grabbing the reins, his horse shied before bolting. Left with no form of escape, Reagan stepped forward shielding Amanda from more than a dozen swarming men. Though he didn’t pull it out, light from the torches revealed the gun tucked in his waist.

  “Hey boss,” a familiar voice sounded. “It’s them people we saw two fortnight ago.” He snickered as he approached. “They seem as anxious to see us as the last time.” Grinning wickedly, he handed off his torch and reached for Amanda, not seeing Reagan’s fist until it crashed into his jaw, knocking him to the ground.

  “Hey Ted,” taunted a lanky comrade. “That feller really gave you the deuce! You gonna kiss that girl or just lay there, mooning at how purty she is?”

  Their laughter ceased when Jebediah shouldered his way into the light. After kicking Ted who scrambled to his feet, the giant turned to Reagan. “Seems we meet again,” he rasped. “Mighty suspicious yu being here every time we come to fetch runaways.” Crossing his arms, he dropped his gaze to the bloody splotches on Reagan’s clothing. “Where’s the slave girl and her brat?”

  “We were alone. When the dogs attacked, I shot them to defend myself and the lady.”

  “Yer lyin’,” Jeb said. “The dogs had the bitch! We all heard it. And, Ah don’t care if you are friends with the sheriff, yer gonna pay fer obstructing the law. Besides losing mah bounty, you killed mah best bloodhounds.” He paused, seeing if his words sparked any fear. “Unless of course, yer to suddenly recall where the girl is. Then, Ah might go easy on yu and only charge the cost of mah dogs.”

  Amanda lifted her chin. “You’re despicable! If-if there had been a girl with a babe, they’d both be dead by now.”

  “Guess we’ll never know now, will we missy, seeing how we ain’t got nobody here but yu and mah dead dogs.”

  “Let me git the truth out of her,” Ted offered. “Of course, you’d have to peel her off’n that feller first.”

  “Shut up, Ted. We ain’t gonna hurt th’ laidy. Ah know she’s gonna come around. Why else would she be out here?”

  “I admit, it doesn’t look good finding us so far from town,” Reagan said. “But the truth is, we stole away together and mu
st’ve been caught in the wake of whomever you were tracking. We had no idea we were being followed until your dogs were upon us. Let Amanda go home and I’ll go to the sheriff’s office where you can question me at length.”

  “You think I believe yu rode all this way just to bed the girl?” Jeb said. “Well, Ah don’t! If yu won’t tell me the truth, perhaps this girl’s folks can jiggle it from yu.” Evidenced by the fear on Amanda’s face, Jeb believed he had found leverage. “Betcha they’d want to know why their girlie’s so far from town, in the dead of night.” He chortled as he pushed his way through the men. “Git his horse and put them on it. Mind now, they don’t git away.”

  “What about his gun?” asked Ted. “We ain’t gonna let him keep it, are we?”

  Jeb pondered the question as he eyed Reagan’s protective stance. “Let him keep it. It’ll keep you boys from gittin’ too friendly. We’ll let the sheriff deal with his pig-shooter.”

  As bid, Reagan’s horse was brought back and after lifting Amanda into the saddle, he hoisted himself behind her. A procession of men on foot and horseback entered the woods followed by a mule strapped with dead hounds.

  Sometime during the ride back, Amanda leaned against Reagan’s chest. She didn’t notice when her eyes closed or when he opened his coat, sharing his warmth. But, snuggled against him and encompassed by his arms, she fell into deep, exhausted sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sheriff Hadley wakened to loud banging on his door. He dressed hurriedly when told Jebediah Johnson had placed two prisoners in jail. Strapping on his gun, he wondered what mischief the tracker had stirred this time.

  The sheriff’s curiosity turned to anger when he stepped inside the jailhouse. Reagan and a girl stood against a wall while half a dozen trackers sat crowding the stove. A giant-sized man filled the sheriff’s chair, balancing a rifle across his lap.

  Fury darkened Jim’s face when he recognized Amanda, the daughter of George and Emily Bruester. “What’s going on?”

  “We got us a couple lawbreakers,” Jeb drawled. “They were transporting runaways an’ even kilt mah prize dogs, so we’s gonna hafta press charges.”

  “We’ll see who’ll be pressing charges,” Jim said, noting dried blood on Reagan’s shirt. Then lifting Amanda’s chin, he examined her face. “Are you hurt?”

  “Just tired,” she said.

  Thrusting out his foot, Jim kicked Ted’s chair, spilling him onto the floor. “Here,” he said, setting it before Amanda. “These men don’t know their manners.”

  “Thank you,” she said, sitting down.

  “Jim, this whole affair can be explained,” Reagan said. “I ask you to let Miss Bruester return to her aunt’s house where she was spending the night. It furthers no one’s cause to keep her here. Of course, I’ll stay as long as necessary to answer questions you or these men have.”

  “No!” Jeb said, slamming down his fist. “He’s too anxious to git the filly out of here. I say neither leaves until Ah know where they spirited off the runaway.” Leaning back, Jeb eyed Amanda. “Ah say she knows something. Ah told them if they confessed the whereabouts of the slave, Ah’d drop all charges. Excepting of course, the cost of mah hounds he shot to death.”

  Jim looked at Reagan who confirmed the last statement with a nod. “The dogs were about to attack. As I stated before, I was defending myself and the lady.”

  Jim turned to the deputy stationed at the door. “Go fetch George Bruester. He needs to know where his daughter is. As for you, Reagan, I guess you’re old enough to take care of your own business. Unless of course, you want me to send for Thomas.”

  “There’s no need. You know me well enough to know I’m no abolitionist. We were simply caught by these ruffians who refuse to believe the truth.”

  “Huh!” Jeb snorted. “He tried to say he took the missy miles from town to flip her skirt in the dead of winter.”

  Amanda remained silent, though her face turned crimson. That accusation was preferable to the truth. And although she wondered about her aunt’s safety, she felt thankful Gabriella hadn’t disclosed their destination. Now, no matter how forcefully they questioned her, Amanda couldn’t reveal that which she didn’t know.

  “We seen evidence of a wagon, and heard more’n one horse,” Jeb said, pressing his case. “But found nuthin’ but mah dead dogs and these two running like they got something to hide.”

  Jim looked up sharply. “Evidence of a wagon? You don’t have it in your possession?”

  Jeb rose to tower over the sheriff. “Ah don’t need possession to prosecute these criminals. Mah eyes and ears is proof enuff!” He pointed at Amanda. “Yu think she’d traipse through the woods just to git bedded by this here stud? Ah say they got caught while the others got away.”

  “Maybe your word is good enough in the South, Mr. Johnson. But in Ohio, you need evidence to prosecute a man,” Jim said.

  Jebediah pointed a finger at Reagan’s shirt. “Whut do yu call that? Do yu think he’d git within fifty feet of mah hounds and not git chewed up? There’s nary a mark on him. Ah say he picked the girl up and got her away.”

  “Rest assured Mr. Johnson, whatever happened will be thoroughly investigated. I know the law regarding fugitive slaves. You don’t have to tell me how to do my job.” At the sound of raised voices, two jailers emerged from the back room and stood behind the sheriff.

  Jebediah glared at Amanda. “This one’s got the answers Ah want. Separate her from the gent, and she’d spill the beans fer sher!”

  Amanda looked in anguish from the sheriff to Reagan. “There’s nothing to admit except we got caught while slipping away privately.”

  As whooping and whistling erupted from around the stove, the sheriff nodded toward the door. “I think it’s time you boys leave.”

  For once Jebediah seemed in agreement with the lawman. “Go git some shut eye,” he ordered, “cuz Ah may be awhile.”

  As the trackers filed out, Jeb turned to Amanda. “Ah’m thinking yu being a laidy and all, yu wouldn’t want yur name in the papers.”

  “Now, wait a minute,” Jim interrupted. “I won’t allow you to make threats.”

  “Ah can do whatever it takes to git the truth,” Jeb said. “But, if she cooperates, Ah’d go easy on her. All Ah want is the runaway and her whelp.”

  Amanda’s chin quivered as she returned the giant’s stare. “I’ve already told you. I met Reagan at my aunt’s house and we left, alone.”

  “Jim, this is ridiculous.” Reagan said. “We did nothing wrong but take a ride in the country without a chaperone. Surely, you won’t ruin Amanda’s reputation for a foolish act I persuaded her to do.” He looked squarely into Jebediah’s hostile eyes. “This man is trying to blame us for his failing to capture a runaway and stupidly allowing his dogs to attack innocent people. If he wants to prosecute someone, let me bear the responsibility.”

  “Calm down, Reagan,” Jim said, sighing. Reaching for a coffee pot on the stove, he poured a cup then handed it to Amanda. “I know it’s after midnight, but you look like you need some.” He filled another cup and gave it to Reagan. “You might as well have a seat. This’ll take awhile.”

  “Thanks, but I prefer standing.”

  The sheriff turned to Jeb. “Want some?”

  The bounty hunter snorted. Then pulling a flask from beneath his pelt, he twisted off the cap and took several swigs.

  After pouring coffee for himself, the sheriff sat behind his desk, pulling papers from a drawer. “I’ll take each of your statements, starting with you, Miss Bruester.”

  “Yer not gonna question them together, are yu?” Jeb said, looking astounded. “Hell! He’ll just repeat whut she says. Why don’t you git proof in that old bridge? Yu can see where a wagon got stuck before we ketched them trying to escape. They could have someone there now, spoiling the evidence!”

  “All right, Mr. Johnson. I planned to do that later today. But, if you wish to go now, one of my men will accompany you to examine the area. Af
ter all, we don’t want someone planting evidence either. Ed, please provide Mr. Johnson with a fresh mount. It’ll be light soon so take notes on what you observe, and if you recover any items, bring them to me.”

  Jeb looked suspicious. “Yu ain’t gonna let them go whilst Ah’m gone, are ya?”

  “Not before I take their statements and determine the probability of their guilt. If you recover evidence proving these two were transporting slaves, I can always fetch them back.”

  “Whut about their accomplices?” Jeb insisted stubbornly. “They wuzn’t alone, ya know.”

  “As improbable as your story is, Mr. Johnson, I’m going to investigate this completely. I’ll send a deputy to speak with Gabriella Bruester as soon as light breaks. Since I can personally vouch for both Amanda and Reagan’s parents being at Sam Hampton’s last night, it won’t be necessary to question their whereabouts.”

  “Ah’m warning yu just the same,” Jeb said. “Ah won’t leave until Ah git the slave.”

  As the door slammed behind the bounty hunter, Jim shook his head. “I’ve a feeling we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Johnson.” Then picking up his pencil, he looked at Amanda.

  “Could you please start at the beginning?”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  It was five a.m. By the time Sheriff Hadley finished questioning Amanda and then took additional notes while Reagan gave his account of events involving Jebediah. Both stuck to their story that they had been out for a ride when they encountered bounty hunters. Reagan revealed he had already obtained George’s permission to escort Amanda without a chaperone, therefore proving their story.

  Amanda remained silent at Reagan’s admission, wondering if that too was a fabrication or an unexpected bit of luck. She determined she would question him about it later when a sharp rapping at the door interrupted their session.

  “I guess that’s all I needed,” Jim said, putting down his pencil. At his nod, the deputy opened the door allowing Emily to burst in, followed by a much slower, bleary-eyed George.