Rachel nodded, her throat clogged with emotions that made talking difficult.
“When Pa lost the farm, we got nowhere to go. He met up with Geoffrey. He talked Pa into robbin’ people. When Geoffrey killed a man, Pa got mad. He never wanted to do that. Pa ain’t like that. All he wanted was to git food for us.”
Desperation made a person sometimes do things he would not ordinarily do. Rachel had been close to that place. She was thankful the Lord had sent Nathan to help her.
“Pa took Geoffrey’s stash and we ran. He found this farm. Ain’t nobody here so we stayed. He was sure Geoffrey and the new man would be watchin’ in the towns and on the roads.”
Nathan placed his hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “Where’s the money?”
For a moment Ben’s eyes darkened, his forehead creased.
Emma nudged him. “Tell ’em. That money is bad.”
“ ’Tis in a hollow of an oak tree. In the swamp.”
“First thing tomorrow morning I need you to show me. We need to give the money to the constable.”
“But Rachel needs it to save the farm,” Emma said, tears welling into her eyes. “We won’t have a place to live.”
“Do you believe me when I tell you something?” Rachel asked.
The child nodded.
“You will always have a place with me.”
“If you lose the farm like Pa, where will you go?” Ben put his arm around his sister.
“All of you will have a home with me. That is a promise I can keep.” Nathan squeezed Rachel’s shoulder.
She appreciated his words, but she could never live with him without marriage, and she’d vowed after Tom’s death she would not become subject to another man like she had. She would find a way to keep the children by herself, if need be.
“The money does not belong to you, us, or the bad men. The constable will be able to get it back to the proper folks who were robbed.”
Ben dropped his arm from around Emma and straightened. “Pa died so we could have it. Those two men tried to get him to tell ’em where it was, but he wouldn’t.”
“What happened that day?”
“They found Pa at the house. Emma and me were at the barn. We caught a couple of chickens. The men didn’t know about us and didn’t see us. When they took Pa into the house, I snuck up to the window.” Ben’s voice thickened, and he swallowed hard. “I saw ’em beat him then shoot him when all he tolded ’em the money was hidden in the swamp.” He closed his eyes, but a tear leaked out. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have no gun. Nothin’.”
Rachel couldn’t remain seated any longer at the anguish pouring from the child. She came around the table to both of the children and drew them into her embrace. “Your father would not have wanted you to try. They would have killed you too. Money can make men do evil things. Your pa would have wanted you to protect your little sister.”
Ben swiped his hand across his cheek. “I know. But…”
Emma hugged Ben and would not let go.
“When they left Pa and the farm and went into the swamp, I dragged Pa into the room where we were sleepin’. He was barely alive, but I thought I could help him. If he rested and I stopped the bleedin’…” Ben cleared his throat and tried to say something, but no sound came out.
“You did what you could.” His pain tore Rachel’s heart.
“Pa’s last words to me was to take care of Emma.” Ben looked at Nathan. “I didn’t know what to do. The money is in a tree a little ways into the swamp. The men were looking all around. Then you all came to the farm.”
“Why did you not tell me about the men?” Nathan sat on the stool Rachel had been using.
“They left. I thought for good.” Ben glanced at his sister. “I wanted to leave, git the money, but Emma didn’t. I couldn’t leave without her.”
“How did the man know who you were when he kidnapped you?”
“He saw Pa with me. Pa didn’t know, but Geoffrey followed Pa and saw where he went every night.”
“Did he also know about Emma?” Nathan settled his elbows on the table.
“I don’t think so. At least not till he saw her here.”
“Why would his partner burn the cornfield?” Rachel asked as the little girl shifted toward her and wound her arms around Rachel. The child quaked. Rachel stroked her back, conveying as much comfort as she could.
Ben shrugged. “To run you all off or kill you.”
“Can you describe this second man?” Nathan asked.
“I ain’t goin’ to forget him. He is huge, strong. Has blond hair, long, and a scar on his left cheek. He’s got a big knife he carries.”
The description brought to Rachel’s mind her assailant in Charleston. He had targeted her. Her legs weakened, and if she hadn’t been holding Emma, she would have sunk to the floor. Her gaze riveted to Nathan’s. He realized who the man was too. His mouth twisted into a frown, his expression hard, fierce.
Nathan rose. “We will get the money then go to Charleston tomorrow. Once we don’t have the money, we should be out of danger. I will be staying in the main room tonight in case the man decides to pay us a visit. I am going to get Liberty. He may be a puppy, but he is taking after his sire. Bolt the door after I leave and don’t open to anyone but me.”
Rachel straightened to follow him to the door. Her heartbeat accelerated so much the room spun. She grasped the edge of the table and waited a moment for the dizziness to pass.
Before leaving, Nathan moved close to her. “Don’t open the door unless I say all is quiet.”
“Fine. Do you think he is out there watching?”
“Perhaps. We have to think he is.”
“Don’t go.”
“Maddy is outside telling Mr. Baker good-bye. They both need to know what is going on and get inside.”
“If Mr. Baker wants to stay tonight, he’s welcome to.”
“That’s a good idea, especially since we now know what is going on. We all will come back together.” Nathan left the house, the sound of the door closing propelling Rachel into action.
She threw the bolt in place, closing her eyes and sending up a quick prayer that nothing would happen to Nathan, Maddy, and Mr. Baker. Facing the children, she inhaled several breaths to bolster herself for their sakes. Their expression prompted her to say, “We are going to be all right. Nathan and Mr. Baker know what they are doing.”
“But the man is mean. When he saw Pa, he was…” Ben slid his glance to Emma, who chewed her lower lip then pressed his lips together.
Rachel bridged the gap between them and held their hands. “Let us say a prayer for the Lord to watch out for them. Emma, would you like to?”
The little girl nodded.
Rachel bowed her head, noticing both children following suit.
“Please stop the bad man. Amen.”
“Perfect.”
“Will God listen to us? We been bad too.” Ben pulled his hand from Rachel’s.
“He always listens. We all make mistakes. The important thing is being sorry we did. If you ask the Lord’s forgiveness and mean it, He will give it to you.”
Suspicion clouded Ben’s eyes. “How do you know He does?”
“The Bible tells us He does.”
“Even if I lie? Hurt someone?” Ben fired back.
“Yes.”
Emma yawned, her eyes closing then popping open.
“I think you both need to go to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day. I shall be heading for bed as soon as Nathan comes back with Maddy and Mr. Baker.”
“And Liberty,” Emma said, trying to stifle another yawn.
“Can I stay up to make sure Liberty is all right?” Ben asked, walking to the window and looking out at the dark landscape.
“Me too?”
“Yes, but then to bed.”
Ben stood watch at the window while Rachel paced in front of the fireplace and Emma sat in the chair nearby, falling asleep. The minutes seemed to crawl by. With each moment the dange
r they were in multiplied in Rachel’s mind until the throb of her pulse beat increased to a maddening speed.
“They are comin’.” Ben moved to the door.
“Wait!” As much as she wanted to swing wide the door, she would follow Nathan’s instruction in case the man was hiding and Ben had not seen him. She scurried to the bolt and placed her hand on it. When the knock came, she asked, “Who is it?”
“All is quiet out here.”
Nathan’s deep, gruff voice sent relief through her. She threw the door open and resisted the urge to fling herself into his arms. “Did you see anything suspicious?”
“No, and neither did Maddy or Mr. Baker.” Nathan held Liberty in his arms.
All three entered the house, then Rachel locked up again and faced the group. “What took you all so long?”
“We checked the area around the house.” Nathan put the puppy on the floor and Liberty immediately loped to the children, licking them and wagging his tail.
In the distance thunder rumbled with a flash of lightning illuminating the darkness outside the window.
“As you can hear and see, the good news is a storm is moving in. The moon has clouded over just in the time I was outside. If it rains, it will be hard to set more fires.”
“That is good. But what if it continues tomorrow? Will that make it hard to retrieve the money?” Rachel asked while Ben patted Liberty then headed up to the loft.
Liberty yelped and lumbered toward the staircase to follow Ben. The boy stopped halfway up and had to go back down. He rubbed the wolfhound and said, “Stay here.” Then he started up the stairs again. The puppy tried to go after him but couldn’t quite make the big step. He whined while Ben disappeared through the opening into the loft.
Emma padded to Rachel and hugged her. “Good night,” she said, yawning between the two words. Then she made her way to her bedchamber.
“The children have the right idea. See you all in the morning.” Maddy trailed after Emma into the room.
Rachel withdrew from the trunk what extra blankets she had and passed them to Mr. Baker and Nathan. “Good-night.”
Her gaze latched onto Nathan’s and warmth suffused her body at his intense look. The kiss they had shared earlier stayed in her thoughts as she prepared for bed and fell asleep. The image of Nathan accompanied her into the world of dreams.
Before dawn broke over the landscape the next day, Rachel finished nursing Faith, who had awakened early then fallen back to sleep. Rachel tried to go back to bed, but thoughts swirled around in her mind. Finally she got up again and rummaged in her trunk until she found her sketchpad and pencil. The picture of the man who accosted her in Charleston had haunted her dreams. She needed to draw him and see if it was the same person Ben referred to.
Half an hour later, in the dim light from her candle, her attacker stared back at her from the paper. A shudder shivered down her spine. She did not want to meet him again. The thought of his whiskey-laced breath, coupled with the stench of tobacco, nauseated her even now. The smell reminded her of Tom. The remembered feel of her attacker’s hands on her iced her blood, and she crossed her arms over her chest to warm herself.
A noise from the main room drew her attention. She quickly dressed in a plain gown she had made since living at the farm. The muslin and simple lines fit the work she did here, not a parlor in Charleston or London. But this was her life now and there was something satisfying in knowing she was carving out a life for herself and her daughter.
While sitting on the bed, she put her boots on and wondered if she had not met Tom, what she would have been doing in England. Probably married to the man her father had chosen for her. Practically a stranger but from a good family, with plenty of money to support her, according to Papa. As though that was the only thing important to a woman.
Do I want to go home to England, if given the chance?
Not too long ago, she would have immediately said yes. She was not so sure now. She could not leave Emma and Ben.
How can I expect Nathan to stay much longer? Maybe through the harvest, but after that he had his own life. Can I make it by myself without him?
She didn’t have any answers to the questions that floated through her mind, taunting her with her precarious situation.
A knock at her bedchamber door aroused her from her thoughts. She rose, saying, “Yes?”
“Ben and I are leaving.”
She rushed to open the door and found Nathan standing in the entrance, a serious expression on his face.
“It stopped raining,” he said, his look skimming over her features. “If Ben and I are not back in three hours, you go to my sister’s then Charleston and let the constable know what’s going on. Mr. Baker is staying to look out for you all. Promise me you will not come looking for us in the swamp.”
“I cannot do that.”
He grasped her upper arms. “You have to promise me. I cannot go if you don’t. Get the constable, and he can go into the swamp. Mr. Baker knows the location of the oak tree where the money is hidden. He can show the constable.”
“But it could be too late.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “I don’t intend to get caught.”
“But what if you—”
His sudden kiss cut off her next words. His lips claimed to hers, and she shuddered, melting against him, not caring who saw her and Nathan kissing.
“I don’t want to worry about you. Don’t go outside. Stay indoors until Ben and I return. We will return with the money and this will be all over soon.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I drew a picture of the man who attacked me. I want Ben to see it. I think it is the same person.” Rachel hastened to her bed, picked up the sketchpad, and then went into the main room, where Ben was wolfing down some bread and cheese.
“I have a picture I want to show you of a man who bothered me in Charleston.” Rachel placed it on the table for Ben to look at. “Is he the other man working for Geoffrey?”
The boy studied it for a moment then nodded.
“Then when we go to Charleston, I shall show this to the constable.” On impulse she kissed Ben’s cheek and whispered, “Stay safe.”
He snatched up the last piece of bread and cheese and marched to the door where Nathan waited. When they left, she glanced from Maddy to Mr. Baker, desperately wanting to call Nathan and Ben back to the house. What if this were the last time she saw either one? Her heart plummeted to her stomach.
Rachel paced the main room, trying to squash the uneasiness that gripped her. Stopping, she swept around. “Mr. Baker, you need to follow Nathan and Ben. We are not in danger here. They are. If the thief is watching the place, he will go after them because Ben is with Nathan.”
“I cannot do that. Nathan wanted me to protect you all.”
“If you don’t, I shall.” Rachel planted her fists on her waist and pulled herself up tall. “I have my husband’s gun. I shall keep the door bolted. We shall be safe. They are not.” When Mr. Baker’s expression remained frozen in indecision, she added, “Please. As soon as they find the money, that man will attack them.”
“Nathan knows that.”
“Yes, but Nathan is not ruthless like that man is. Look what he did burning the field.”
Mr. Baker peered at Maddy, an appeal for help in his eyes.
“You need to go after them. You know the swamp and can track them.” Maddy came to stand beside Rachel, united in their request. “We will be all right. If you don’t, I will help her go after them.” Her face set in a determined look.
Mr. Baker swung his attention between Rachel and Maddy. “Nathan will not like this.”
“But he and Ben will be alive. I have a bad feeling about this. Please. I am begging you.” Rachel’s panic mushroomed with each word she spoke. Nathan was here because of her. He could not die because of her. Ben was a child who should never have been exposed to a situation like this.
“Very well. Neither one of you will come after me?”
> Maddy shook her head. “I promise I will keep Mrs. Gordon here. We have the girls to protect.”
Rachel’s servant had come a long way since they had landed in America. For that matter, Rachel had too. In England she would never have envisioned going into a swamp alone after a kidnapper and Ben.
Mr. Baker picked up his musket, looked back at Maddy, and opened the door.
“Wait.” Maddy scurried toward him and kissed him on the cheek. “Take care of yourself.”
A smile transformed his solemn expression. “I will. There is unfinished business between you and me.” Then he left.
Maddy went to the window to watch his progress away from the house.
Rachel came to her and stood next to her in silent support. They were both waiting. Praying. If the men and Ben did not come back, she did not know how she would overcome the guilt. She was the reason this was happening. If she had returned to England and thrown herself on the mercy of her family, perhaps they would have taken her back. Instead, she had let her stubborn pride take over. She had been determined to make it on her own, to show her father she did not need his support or money.
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Lord, I am so sorry. Whatever You want, I shall do. Just bring them back safely.
Fifteen
If Nathan could have looked for the money without Ben, he would have, but he was not as familiar with this area as George. And he would not send George out to do what was his responsibility. If the man who set fire to the cornfield was still near, he would follow them into the swamp. That was why he and Ben pretended to go to the barn and then snuck out through a loose board on its side closest to the bog.
But still, even with those precautions, he sensed the man out there watching Ben and him slosh their way through the murky swamp in the dim light of dawn. Armed with his musket and knife, Nathan tried to avoid places where footprints would show. Which meant he and Ben stayed in the water most of the time. Its cool temperature numbed his feet and lower legs.
“ ’Tis not far. Do ya think he is out there?” Ben stared behind him.
“We have to assume he is. We will get the money and go back a different way.”
From This Day Forward Page 20