by Jerri Hines
He squeezed her hand gently and turned her to the group. “Men, let me introduce to you, Mistress Jane Meador. Our hostess.”
“Don’t ruin my day to say she is married to Sumner Meador, Leckie!” the one closest to him said.
“Then I’m afraid your day is ruined, Drew. She married Sumner recently, and he sent her to his home in which I know she will be protected and safe from all around her.”
“Ah, so the Americans have learned to hide their beauties from us. Quite disappointing,” Drew declared. “But at least you can grace our table with your presence while we are here.” He bowed slightly. “Major Drew Coughlin.”
Jane smiled at him, but found the rest of the introductions overwhelming. Her shyness overcame her, and she wanted nothing more than to run back to her room.
Colonel Leckie left the other officers and walked her to the parlor’s doorway. “I can see that all of this is odd to you. It is. I can assure you it isn’t often that different sides look after one another, but life is strange at times. Give me time for my meeting, and then I will give you a tour of the plantation.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”
“I will be back shortly,” he promised and turned back to his friends, but not before adding. “You do look lovely.”
* * * *
The whole of the plantation overwhelmed Jane. The estate was large. Moreover, Jane was even more confused, but quickly understood that Sumner was thought of highly and respected greatly even by the British.
“Sumner has been a thorn in our side since the beginning of hostiles,” Colonel Leckie said, walking her around the grounds. “But he is a good, honorable man. I’m not certain what you know of his family…”
Jane stopped by the fence. Leaning against it, she watched cows grazing and the horses congregating under an old oak tree.
“If I’m to be honest, Lieutenant, I don’t know much. We had other matters bearing down upon us that Elm Bluff wasn’t of importance.” She drew in a deep breath. “I find it hard to walk easily in a home I know little about and is filled with soldiers.”
His face broke into a wide smile. “I can sympathize. I hope I’m not overstepping myself, but can I assume you don’t think highly of the British.”
Jane turned away from him and stared out into the pasture. What did he want her to say? Oh, Sumner, why didn’t you take me with you?
“Don’t turn from me. I can well understand your reluctance to speak,” he said. “Let me tell you what I know about you. I know that you lost your family in a raid. That was in Sumner’s first note. He said he was sending a young lady away from the madness in which she lost her family. He wanted you to be looked after until a time he could return. He didn’t mention marrying you. I didn’t find that out until Israel returned with you.
“He asked me a favor to take special care for you. Over the years, we have reciprocated favors, mainly due to a mutual friend, his brother-in-law, Major Jake Pennington. Do you know…?”
Jane’s frustration grew. She knew nothing of any of this. Her head tilted upwards toward the sky in a vain effort to keep the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
“It is obvious, I’m not doing a good job explaining Sumner and my connection,” Colonel Leckie said. “I can also understand that at times life is overwhelming. I hope you don’t mind if I assume that the situation you were in was dangerous. The two of you might not have indulged in small talk, but this I do know. It would have taken Sumner a lot to ask me to look after you. If he didn’t feel for you greatly, he wouldn’t have asked.”
Upon that utterance, tears flowed freely. He offered her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry, so sorry. I don’t mean to be a burden upon anyone. Yes, Sumner took me from a dangerous situation, but I don’t understand why he sent me here to a place I don’t know anyone. And where…”
“Where what?”
“Where the man I’m running from can walk freely.”
“Who are you talking of?”
Jane looked back upon Colonel Leckie. “Bloody Benny.”
Colonel Leckie stood in silence for a moment and then, asked, “Were Benny and his men the ones who killed your family?”
“Yes, they butchered and murdered my family…innocent people in front of my eyes, Colonel,” she said fiercely. “And they did so under the Loyalist banner. Now you see why I cannot help but wonder why I am here.”
“Because I would never allow anyone to do you harm under my care and neither would any British officer I know in Charles Town…because you are Sumner’s wife, which means you are connected to the Duke of Leominster. If any went against you within our territory, it would mean certain death. Sumner is well aware of his connection and realized you would be safer here. Moreover, if I feel I couldn’t protect you, I would send you to his sister’s in England.”
Jane paused and studied his eyes, trusting eyes. “What of his son, Caleb? Sumner wanted me to care for him.”
At the mention of the boy, Colonel Leckie’s mood changed. He laughed. “Caleb. Oh, my. Then my dear, you will definitely have your hands full from what I understand. I will arrange for you to go into Charles Town and retrieve the little man. I will also arrange to get a chaperone while you are here.”
“Thank you,” she said, feeling slightly better. “I appreciate your kindness and beg patience. I am still uncertain what is expected of me.”
“I believe that you have made the day of most of the men that live here, Mrs. Meador,” he said. “It is not often that we are graced with the presence of a beautiful woman. If you can oversee the household, I am certain it is all we would ask.”
Chapter 8
Waiting patiently, Jane sat in a quite lovely drawing room. She had arrived an hour earlier. Greeted most politely by the butler and served refreshment, tea and cake, she as of yet had not met the family.
Colonel Leckie had given her a couple of days before he had the carriage brought around for her to travel into Charles Town. The rest had done her good. She felt rejuvenated and ready to be introduced to her stepson.
Now though, questions began to inundate her. It just occurred to her that Sumner’s in-laws might not like her. Worse—what if they didn’t want to let her have Caleb?
Although only seven miles away, Jane rode in a carriage accompanied by her newfound maid, Careen, who complained the entire way. Jane would much rather had ridden, but if she was bringing a small child back, a carriage was the most efficient.
To be honest, Jane was a little excited to visit Charles Town. Her grandfather had told many a story about the city. He had been born here and had promised one day to take her. It was never to be.
Thoughts of her grandfather saddened Jane as she rode through the streets. To her dismay, her first impression of Charles Town was not favorable. She found the city rather crowded. Most of the roads were dirt and livestock ran rampant in many parts. Turning onto Tradd Street, she saw the harbor and her mind changed.
She had never seen the ocean. Her grandfather had spoken of the water that flowed farther than the eye could see, vast and all encompassing. She could remember vividly him telling her that the creeks and streams flowed into the rivers which widened and quickened to the call of the ocean.
Riding along the edge of the shoreline, she saw the endless blue, seamlessly running into the sky. Ships were anchored within the waters, tall ships flying British flags. Then the carriage made a turn onto Church Street.
The street was filled with large, inviting homes with fences set in between the dwellings. Walkways were lined with remnants of summer flowers and green shrubs. The carriage halted in front of a large brown house with a wraparound porch. Ivy twisted around the columns and up the side of the house.
The driver helped her down from the carriage. Immediately, Jane watched British soldiers exiting the house. Why would she think Charles Town would be any different than Elm Bluff?
Living on a farm, her greatest worry had been the fear of Indian raids. Her
father had been killed by Indians; her mother died giving birth to a stillborn babe. She never questioned her grandfather about his desire to stay neutral when hostiles broke out in the colonies. Mainly, she believed the cause affected them little. How wrong they had been!
Careen exited the carriage with great effort, announcing her displeasure at being in the city. Jane had quickly discovered that Careen didn’t like Charles Town. She announced plainly during the carriage ride, “It’s full of them infuriating Red Coats, Miss Jane. Ain’t trusting a one of ’em.”
“You didn’t seem to mind the ones at Elm Bluff.”
“Those ain’t like the ones in Town. No, ma’am. Ain’t got no manners or respect for anyone.”
“I don’t think we can trust many no matter what color coat they have on,” Jane answered. Then she hesitated slightly. “I was wondering, Careen. It is said that Mr. Peterson is loyal to the Patriot cause, and he lives safely in Charles Town. I have heard of others owning estates that live within their home without issue. With all who Sumner knows, could he come back and live as such if the war doesn’t end soon?”
Careen’s huge eyes grew larger. “What did ya ask, Miss Jane? Oh, no. If Master Sumner got caught in his home, they would hang him on the spot, I got no doubt. How well do ya know ya husband, Missy? They have been after Master Sumner for a long time. Don’t trust any of them, Miss. Not if ya want a husband when the war ends. Don’t you get all confused on me!”
“But the British officers have seemed so welcoming to me, protective, in a way.”
“It’s a funny thing the way they treat each other. To be a gentleman, I ’pose, they have to treat a lady right, but mark my word, Missy, they’d hang Master Sumner. You don’t want that.”
“No, no! Of course not!” Jane cried. Careen’s words unsettled her. “It’s only I wish Master Sumner was here.”
Careen leaned over and patted Jane’s hands. “Of course ya do, Missy. Don’t ya worry about Master Sumner. He’ll be just fine. Mark my word!”
Jane had seen her trunk carried up the stairs. She would be staying here for a few days. At least, it was what Colonel Leckie had informed her. It wouldn’t be polite otherwise.
Careen packed for her, but Jane hadn’t a clue what was in her trunk. It could be empty for all she knew, because she had nothing of her own, only borrowed clothes from Sumner’s sister.
Rising from her seat, Jane sauntered over to the window. She glanced over at Careen who sat in the corner. Her maid was supposed to be silent, but on the average of every ten minutes, she uttered a sound of annoyance.
Upstairs, a door opened and closed as voices could be heard coming down the stairs.
“Oh, Henry, what are we going to tell her?”
“By gotty, Willard, we will settle her in her room. The child has to emerge at some point. He will get hungry.”
Movement outside the window caught Jane’s attention. Pulling back the curtain, she saw a small boy in the backyard. It didn’t take much to discern who the child was.
Over by the shed on the edge of the spacious lawn, the boy was turning over any object in his path: rocks, planks, an old bucket. From the corner of her eye, Jane saw a young servant girl step out the back door and call out. Even with a closed window, Jane heard the name clearly.
“Caleb! Caleb Jed Meador!”
The lad scooted behind the shed. From her vantage point, Jane could see him clear as day with a big smile on his face. He bent over, but she could see he was giggling. Jane didn’t know much about the society she now lived in nor the people who had become her family, but there was one thing she did know. Little boys. She had grown up with them. She walked over to the French doors leading to the veranda.
“Miss Jane! Miss Jane! Where are you goin’?” Careen stood up quickly.
Jane waved her hand back at Careen, shooing her maid. She turned the handle and opened the French door. “I will be back in a moment.”
“But, Miss Jane?”
Jane shut the door behind her. Her eyes focused upon the small lad in her view, Sumner’s child.
It was a lovely October day. The leaves had begun to turn, giving a semblance of color to the landscape. The sun shone down upon her path as she strolled down the few steps into the yard. Jane bypassed the gardens as she made her way to her objective.
His dark head didn’t turn her way. His eyes were focused upon the back of the house by the kitchen door, his body turned from her.
He seemed large for his age. The way she had it figured, he should be around three and a half. As she came closer, he heard her. He looked over his shoulder; she saw his face, and it left little doubt he was his father’s son.
He had a head full of dark thick hair. His forehead wrinkled as his dark eyes glared at her with an expression she had seen before.
Instinctively, she smiled and knelt on one knee.
“Who are you?” the small voice asked. “What are ya doing here?”
“I am out for a walk,” she said simply. “To be honest, I was bored. I don’t like to sit too long at one time. Do you?”
“Nah,” he agreed. He looked her over and decided quickly she wasn’t worth his attention. His head turned back to the door.
“My name is Jane. What is yours?”
“Gen’ral,” he said seriously. “I am on a miss’on.”
“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt such an important venture, but could I possibly help?”
He looked back at her. “You’re a girl.”
“I know, but if you have no others to help, I might be of some service. I can tell you are searching for something. Can I guess? From your actions, I gather you are trying to unearth something. Perhaps a frog, snake, or maybe you are searching for worms to go fishing?”
He pulled himself up to full height. Jane could tell she had gained ground in his young mind. “It is of the utmost importance,” he uttered as if he had heard the words before and liked the sound of them.
Jane nodded. “I assumed so, but you are not having much luck, I see. In that it might be that snakes like warmer weather and you will have to search under heavy objects, as well as, I’m sure, frogs. But worms? We might be able to dig for those.”
Leaning over, she pulled back a large stone. With a rock to her side, she dug into the loose soil. “Ah, just as I thought! Why don’t you grab the old bucket to your side?”
Within minutes, Jane had found a few worms in which the little man thought amazing. He looked back at her. “Do you fish?”
“I have been known to enjoy many an afternoon with a pole in my hand. Maybe we could go together. We just need to add a little dirt for the worms to last a few days, unless you have want of them for another purpose, General.”
“I do, but only one or two. We could use the rest…”
“I suppose we could,” Jane interrupted. “What do you want to do with the other one or two? You are not going to try to scare a poor soul?” Jane asked, fending mock shock upon such an idea.
His eyes gleamed back up at her. “Uncle Henry told me I have a new mother, and I’m to go with her. I don’t need her. I can take care of myself.”
“I can see that,” Jane agreed as she found another worm. “So, you don’t like the idea of this person taking care of you, taking you back to your father’s home?”
“Nope! She doesn’t really want me. She has to take me.”
“Why would you say such?”
“I heard Anna talking to Sam. Said the woman didn’t know what she had gotten herself into. Anna said she has a surprise coming to her. Anna said she didn’t envy her because I’m a hellion!”
“Have you ever been told it isn’t polite to listen to other’s conversations, especially if they don’t know of what they are talking about?”
He looked at her questionably as he pulled a worm from the dirt. His filthy hands reached down under to get the whole of the worm. “I am a hellion,” he said plainly, seemingly taking a great deal of pride in the statement.
“Oh,
I see, but what if your new mother is looking for a son that’s a little hellion?”
He laughed. “Who would want that?”
“I would,” Jane said simply. “Life would be so boring with a dutiful son. Do you not think? Would it not make a challenge every morning? Of course, that would be only until his father returned and this little hellion would have to answer to him about his behavior.”
“My father is a fighter…there’s not a braver soldier! Aunt Willard said he probably married her to take me off their hands. They don’t want me anymore, you know.”
Jane paused. She could well imagine if the voices that carried from the hallway were as she thought, older, elderly. With everything around them, they had to contend with the war, especially the British occupation, worries mounted for everyone, but Jane’s heart ached for the little one.
“Well, General, I will tell you a story. I come from the backwoods and have traveled far. Do you know why?”
He shook his head, but from his expression he wasn’t interested either.
“Because my husband asked me to find his son, take him back to his home, and care for him. Do you know who that little boy is?”
He looked oddly at her. She sighed. “Caleb, I’m your new mother. Your father wants me to care for you. It is something I want more than anything. But, General, I am not frightened easily and especially not of snakes, frogs or worms.”
He thought for a moment and shrugged. There was no emotional moment where he slung himself into her arms and cried for the lack of having a mother for years. Instead he said, “You will take me fishing? I haven’t been fishing, you know.”
He turned back to digging for more worms.
* * * *
Jane’s head ached. She wanted only to crawl into a corner and cry. Her heart had leaped upon the sight of Caleb, but he hated her. She knew because he told her constantly.
He defied her on her every utterance. The day after she came, he had taken the worms they collected to go fishing and threw them into the stew the cook made for their dinner, not only their dinner, but also the British officers’ which housed with the Peterson’s.