He shook his head. "Can't do that. I promised I'd keep you here until he got here." James stood his ground.
"Who?" Katelyn tried to squelch the rising fear she felt in the pit of her stomach. She felt like a trapped animal.
Pris stepped in. "Your betrothed. Don't you remember him? Henry Bullman?"
His name sent a shock through her body as hard as if she'd been hit by summer lightning. "Henry . . . here?"
"Do you remember him? Poor, girl. They've had you almost a year." Pris reached out to comfort the girl.
Katelyn recoiled like a threatened animal. Ducking, she darted between James and the door, flinging it open and making her escape. Out into the barnyard she ran. She had to get her cloak and bags. Then she'd be gone. She knew she couldn't live in the forest without her water bag. Ducking into the wooden barn she searched frantically for her cloak. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she spotted her cloak and bags hanging from the rafters and reached for them. She could hear shouting and the sound of horses outside. Please, she begged, don't let him be here. Pulling the headdress on, she dropped the bags over her head and crept back to the door. It was the only way out of the small barn.
When she peeked around the corner, she spotted Henry immediately. No one could miss that flaxen hair. She couldn't let them capture her. She had to get back to the village. She was late already. When she realized she only had one choice, Katelyn made her move. If she could just get through the barnyard into the woods, she'd be safe. They wouldn't be able to catch her once she made it to the woods. Tipaakke's totem, the fox, would guide her deep into the forest where they could never find her.
The moment Katelyn sprang from the barn, James and Henry were on her. She'd miscalculated the distance to the wood's edge and only made it halfway across before they fanned out, reaching for her. Katelyn bit down hard on Henry's forearm. When he let go of her, howling in pain, she circled around James and dove for the underbrush in the pines. Just as she slipped under a tangle of honeysuckle the dog caught her leg. She'd never even saw the dog coming. Down on her hands and knees, she kicked at the hound with her free leg, ignoring the searing pain that ripped through her body as he sank his teeth into her calf.
When Henry and James pulled the dog off Katelyn and slid her body out from under the tangled brush at the woodsline, they thought she'd fainted. James pulled the linen shirt from his back to wrap her leg wound. Priscilla!" he shouted. "Get water and something to clean a wound with." Henry kneeled in the grass beside her, cradling her hand.
Katelyn stared at the two men through thick lashes as she remained perfectly still. Their voices seemed far in the distance as she wracked her brain to figure out how to get away. She relaxed her muscles and remained limp as they carried her back to the cabin.
"No. Bring her to the wagon," Henry ordered in a low voice. "It's just a flesh wound."
"But she needs the wound washed and dressed." Pris held a pot of water she'd been heating to wash the plates in. She wondered if she should tell him his betrothed was pregnant, even though she and James had agreed some things were left better unsaid.
"My uncle lives not more than an hour's ride from here. He's a doctor. He'll care for her. Please help me." He ran a hand through his blond hair, giving the farmer and his wife one of his best smiles. "She's been through enough. The wound isn't very deep. She'll be fine."
James moved slowly to help him, wondering if he just shouldn't insist they take her into the cabin. Still, the man had sailed all the way to England to bring her back for a wife. The two knew each other well, according to Bullman. Maybe he should just mind his business. After all, women fainted all the time.
Katelyn remained relaxed as they placed her in the rear of the wagon. She would wait until they were down the road, and then she'd just jump out of the wagon and run. She smiled to herself. Tipaakke would be proud of his woman.
Henry jumped up into the wagon and took the reins. "Thank you much for caring for Katelyn until I could get here." He reached into his coat. "I'm sure this will be more than enough to pay for your troubles." He handed James a small bag of coins and gave the reins a slap before another word could be said.
James held his wife's hand, watching as they disappeared down the narrow woods path. "I hope we did the right thing, Pris, he was in quite a hurry to get her away from here."
Pris shook her head. "Just wait 'till he finds out one of those Indians has gotten her with child. He's going to be in a real pickle then."
Henry was no sooner out of sight of the cabin when he pulled the wagon to a halt. "What kind of games are you playing, Katelyn Locke?" He turned to look down on her where she lay behind the wagon seat. "I know you haven't fainted. I could see you watching us. Why would you embarrass me like that?"
Katelyn sat up, and Henry's hand whipped out to catch her wrist. "Let me go . . . " she warned quietly.
"Let you go? I've gone to a lot of trouble to get here. You've been saved, girl. What's wrong with you?" He tightened his grip on her wrist, wondering if she really had lost her senses.
"No want to be saved," she hissed, purposely speaking in broken English. She narrowed her eyes, boring vicious holes in his.
Henry stared at her, frightened by the look in her eyes. He reached beneath the wagon seat still holding her wrist and pulled out a length of rope.
"No!" Katelyn shouted, trying to twist away from him. "Let go. Leave me. I'm Lenni Lenape now." She placed her free hand on her heart.
Henry ignored her, tying her wrist to the side of the wagon. He had to get the girl to his uncle's as fast as possible. He'd know what to do with her. He'd know how to help her.
When the wagon pulled up in front of the large, redbrick farm house, Katelyn still hadn't been able to convince Henry to let her go. He thought her capture had somehow warped her mind.
Katelyn pulled at the rope that bound her wrist. "Don't do this, Henry. If I have to see this uncle of yours, at least untie me. You don't want to take your betrothed to meet your uncle tied to a wagon." She smiled, softening her brown eyes. "Please, Henry." If he would just untie her, she knew she could get away.
Henry ran his hand over his chin, considering her words. "No, you're right. It isn't very proper is it?" Picking up the reins, he clicked to the horse. "We'd better go around back."
"Henry! How could you do this to me, after all I've been through?" She kneeled behind the wagon seat, resting her hand on his shoulder. He smelled of whiskey and tobacco. There was no hint of the clean masculine smell Katelyn remembered of Tipaakke. "Let me walk in."
"You tried to run from me. You've been pulling on the rope since we left the Carters'. Katelyn, I saw you chewing on that rope. You're not responsible for what you do." He patted her hand. "My uncle is a doctor. He'll be able to help."
Katelyn yanked back her hand, letting out an exasperated smile. Maybe I'd better to play along, she thought. I need better clothing, food, a knife. And I need to get a better idea of where the village is. Her first thought was to run the first chance she got, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized she'd be better to bide her time. She couldn't risk getting lost in the forest again. She was already late. Tipaakke would be waiting for her at the village.
Henry jumped down from the wagon and followed a brick path to the summer kitchen. "I'll be back with my aunt," he called over his shoulder.
Katelyn stepped over the wagon seat and sat down. She ran her hand over her round stomach, wondering where she'd be when the child was born. Thoughts of a young child running in and out of Tipaakke's wigwam flooded her mind. They could have such a good life, a happy life. Why was everything against them? She raised her head at the sound of a door. A tall, thin, matronly woman was walking in her direction with Henry in tow. Here I go, Katelyn thought. If I can play a crazy wolf-woman, I can play a poor girl captured by wild Indians. She laughed to herself . . . the only time she'd ever seen Tipaakke wild was on her mat . . . and she liked that.
"Good morning, dear." Th
e woman put out her hand for Katelyn. "Untie her, Henry, this instant," she ordered.
Katelyn plastered on her best forlorn look and smiled down at the woman, taking her hand. "Good morning," she answered weakly.
"You poor child. Let me help you down. What you need is a good meal and rest. Let Aunt Minnie help you down."
Katelyn allowed the aunt to help her down, leaning on her broad shoulder. As they walked toward a door to the main house, Aunt Minnie turned back to Henry. "Take the wagon to the barn, Henry. Your uncle is waiting for you in the library." She nodded her head sternly. "I'm going to get little Katelyn tucked into bed."
Aunt Minnie took Katelyn up a back stairway and into a small but adequately furnished bedroom. "Jenny will be bringing up water for your bath immediately." She pointed at the big brass tub. "It's my pride and joy. When George said we were going to the Colonies, I said, George, I'll go, but not without my tub. He brought it all the way from England twenty years ago." She made herself busy folding and refolding a thin white nightgown that lay on the bed.
Katelyn nodded politely. "A bath would be wonderful. It's been days since I had one."
"They let you bathe?" Aunt Minnie's eyes grew wide. George had instructed her not to question the poor girl but she just couldn't resist.
"Of course. Tipaakke, the man who took care of me, . . . " Katelyn watched Aunt Minnie's eyes grow even wider. " . . . took a bath at least once a day in the creek. We were lucky if my stepmother bathed once a month." She leaned to look at the window, down on freshly plowed fields.
Minnie was at a loss for words when Jenny came to the door with the water.
"Boiling hot she is," Jenny told her Mistress, eyeing the red-haired girl that stood at the window.
"Well, stop standing there gawking. Pour it in with the cold." She pointed to the tub, already half full of water.
Jenny did as her Mistress bid, stealing another look at the girl as she went out the door. Lordy, Jenny thought. She don't look crazy. But from what she'd heard Master Henry saying in the library, she was plumb out of her tree. He said she was trying to get back to those savages! Jenny shuddered. The girl should have just killed herself when she got loose. It would have been the only proper thing to do.
Minnie waited until Jenny closed the door behind her and then spoke. "Come, Katelyn. Let me help you into the tub while it's still hot." She reached out her arms.
Katelyn's hand flew to her mouth in panic. No! She couldn't let her see her naked! The dress covered her belly, but without it, there was no doubt she was with child. She couldn't let them know. She was smart enough to know that while it might be acceptable to be rescued from savages, it would not be acceptable to carry one of their children. God only knew what they would do to her and her baby if they found out! Terrified, Katelyn shook her head. "No. Please. I'd rather be alone." She dropped her eyes demurely.
Aunt Minnie thought for a minute and then nodded. "All right, love. Take your bath and get into bed. Jenny will be up with a tray of tea and sweet biscuits shortly."
Katelyn listened to the door shut and to a bolt slide across the door. That's why she wasn't in the main part of the house! They were locking her in!
Henry paced the hardwood floor of his uncle's library. What was he going to do with her? He wished for the one hundredth time that his father was still alive to give him guidance. Things were such a mess at home. The tobacco had been planted late, one of the granaries had burned down, and now his fiance had appeared from the dead, half crazed! Henry ran his fingers through his flaxen hair, his blue eyes coming to rest on his uncle's face. "What do you think, sir? What am I to do?" He threw up his arms helplessly.
George Bullman looked at the young man standing on the thick, woven rug. Poor boy, he thought. He was ill-suited to life in the Colonies and he knew it. He had none of the hardworking adventurous spirit that his father had been loved dearly for. Henry belonged in England, or France. He would have done well at court. George shifted his gaze, knowing he made the boy nervous. "She may come out of it, Henry. I've heard of cases where women were missing for years and returned to lead a healthy, normal life."
"Not many though . . . " Henry ran his boot along the edge of the rug dejectedly. "I don't know if I can help her."
"She's your responsibility, Henry. You certainly can't send her back to England." George moved from behind his chair. "Give her time. She may still be marriable, and if not, well . . . we'll think of something. There are places we could send her."
"But what do I do with her now? We can't keep her locked up there forever." He motioned above his head.
George shook his head. "No, we can't. I think it would be best if you took her home. That laudanum that I put in the tea should make it easy to transport her. You can take her home this evening. Once you've got her back at your place, treat her just as you would have a year ago. Just don't let her out of your sight. She may be fine." He shrugged his broad shoulders.
"Are you sure we should have drugged her?" Henry looked to his uncle for reassurance, just as he had as a child.
George patted him on the back. "It's the best thing I know for a hysterical woman!" He laughed until Henry joined in.
Katelyn struggled to wake up. She felt as if she was drowning, only her breath came easily. Each time she thought she had almost reached the surface, another wave pushed her down again. She tried to stretch, to move her arms and legs, but her muscles refused to respond. She fought to raise her eyelids, as she listened to voices far in the distance.
" . . . almost a year, she has. The master thought she was long gone . . . such a shock . . . to think, as big as she is . . . killed myself, I would have . . . "
The voices faded in and out as Katelyn pulled herself to the surface again. What was wrong with her? Where was she? Where was Fox? She needed Fox! Slowly her eyelids raised and she tried to focus. A woman . . . two women . . . servants.
"Pssst . . . she's movin'. Better get the master!" The woman giggled, nudging the other.
Katelyn wiggled her fingers and toes, thankful to have feeling in them again. By the time Henry came in the door, she was half sitting up.
"Katelyn!' Henry clasped her hand in his. "So glad to see you're feeling better."
Katelyn sat up a little straighter. "Henry . . . " She rubbed her eyes with her free hand. "Where are we, Henry? This isn't your aunt and uncle's."
"No. We came home yesterday. Uncle George gave you a little something to make you sleep." He patted her hand rapidly with his clammy one.
"Yesterday!" She jerked her hand away. "You drugged me!" Yesterday! Another day lost! "How could you do such a thing, Henry?"
He turned to motion the two maids out of the room. "Now, dear . . . "
"Don't dear me, Henry Bullman!" She spoke through clenched teeth.
Henry walked to the window. "I was hoping you would be feeling better." His voice was tense.
"I was feeling fine before you drugged me!" She swung her feet over the side of the bed and sat up.
"Uncle George is a doctor. He knows what's best for you." Henry leaned on the window sill, wishing he were anywhere but here.
"If you know what's good for you, you'll let me go. All I need is some food and water. Where are my things?" She slid her bare feet to the floor and stood up shakily. "Where are they?"
"You're not going anywhere. It's my job to protect you." He nodded his head, repeating his uncle's words.
"Protect me!" She spoke louder with each word. "I don't need any protection, except from you!"
Henry turned away to keep from looking at her in the thin white gown. "Get back in bed, you're not decent!"
"I'm perfectly decent. You're the only one around here who's not decent. And let me tell you something, Henry Bullman. If you don't let me go, you're going to wish you'd had someone here to protect you!" She pushed a finger into his back.
Henry turned slowly, keeping his back straight. His uncle was right. It was time he started acting like a man. "You are my betr
othed. You belong to me and you are staying here. I'm sorry that this has happened to you. I want to help you, but you have to let me." Now that he was warmed up, the words came more easily. "Now, once the . . . " he cleared his throat, "um . . . child is born and sent away, we can proceed with our plans to marry. I've thought long and hard about this and I know it's my duty to marry you . . . "
"Marry you! Send my child away!" Her hands went instinctively to her belly. "I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man alive. And you're not sending my baby anywhere!" She grabbed two handfuls of his white linen shirt. "I have someone who wants to marry me. Someone who loves me. Now let me go!" Her last words practically deafened Henry.
"I don't want to hear about it . . . not any of it!" Henry curled up his lip, raising his voice to match hers. "And I don't want to hear anything about him." He started to back towards the door, ripping his shirt out of her hands. "You ruined everything, you know." He wiped at his damp eyes. "You weren't supposed to come back." He continued to back away from her, a step at a time. "You were supposed to be dead."
"Well, I'm not dead, no thanks to you," Katelyn shouted, stalking him.
"Hush. The servants will hear you."
"I don't care who hears me! You've already told them all that I'm crazy. Who would pay any attention to the rantings of a crazy woman?" Katelyn backed him against the door. "Who would listen to a crazy woman who said her betrothed left her to save his own skin!"
Henry shook his head violently, beginning to anger. "No one!" He lowered his voice. "No one would listen to such a thing." He smiled, staring her straight in the eye.
Katelyn suddenly realized the truth of his words. She took a step back, knowing she'd greatly underestimated Henry Bullman. He was dangerous, very dangerous. She wasn't with the Indians anymore. She had no rights. She was his property to do with as he pleased. The betrothal papers gave him that right. Katelyn tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth. What was she going to do now?
Henry straightened his shirt and reached for the door latch. "I will be back this evening to check on you. Perhaps by then you'll be feeling well enough to talk sensibly." He gave her a nod and slipped out the door.
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