When You Love a Scotsman

by Hannah Howell

  Matthew picked up his hat from where Mary had tossed it and left. If she was not rested when he came tomorrow, he would see to it that she got away from this house and to somewhere she could actually get a good sleep. He grinned. It was an odd thing for him to want to get her alone for.

  * * *

  Abbie put the sleeping baby into the small crib Betsy had loaned them before they had come to stay with Mrs. Beaton for a while and then went to the children’s room. She did her best to read them a story and was relieved when they all looked more than ready to go to sleep as she got up to leave. She only went a few steps when her skirt pulled at her and she turned back to find that Noah had grabbed hold of it.

  “What is it, Noah?” she asked softly as she went to his bedside.

  “Are you going to keep a watch on the baby?”

  “Yes, until his mother can do so.”

  “Good.” He let go of her skirt and closed his eyes. “He needs to be watched because I don’t want him to be shot like my baby sister was.”

  Abbie sighed, reached out to brush the hair from his forehead, then went to find her own bed. She did not even want to know how his baby sister had died. She had had enough of sad stories. Despite her effort to put it all from her mind, she did feel a surge of pity for Noah. The boy had seen too much, lost too much.

  So had Julia, she decided as she checked the woman to be certain she still slept deeply. The woman had not had a particularly difficult birth, but it had been enough to put her to sleep for what Abigail prayed would be a full, long night. She undressed and crawled into bed after tying a small bell she had found to the door. Just in case, she told herself as she lay down and closed her eyes.

  * * *

  Abbie opened her eyes and wondered what had woken her. Sitting up abruptly she looked toward the open door of the bedroom, and realized the bell she had tied to the door must have chimed. A curse escaped her as she got up and started dressing. She glanced at the crib and her heart sank. The foolish woman had taken her child with her.

  As quietly as she could, yet keep up a decent speed, Abbie left the house. She went straight to the graveyard behind the house. It did not surprise her to find Julia sitting by Robert’s grave, talking to him, but it did anger her that she had the child out in the cool damp of the evening. Walking over to the woman, Abbie took the baby from her and wrapped it more tightly in its blanket before holding it close.

  “I was just showing him our son,” Julia said and reached for the child, only to have Abbie step out of her reach. “A father needs to know his babe.”

  “Julia, there is nothing wrong with you coming to speak to him although it might have been better for you to dress warmly first. But to bring a newborn, a small newborn, out into the damp of night was foolish.”

  Jumping up, Julia stared down at the child in Abbie’s arms. “Is he too small? Is there something wrong with him?”

  “He is small. I think he may have been a little early. But I have found nothing wrong with him. Let’s go back into the warm house.” She did not even wait to see if Julia followed but began to make her way back to the house.

  Julia stood by Robert’s grave for a minute, said farewell, and quickly followed. By the time they got inside and up to the bedroom, she started to complain. Abbie ignored her until she had the baby settled back in the crib then turned to Julia.

  “Get in bed, Julia,” Abbie said.

  “I don’t understand why you are being so unkind,” Julia said as she crawled into bed. “I just wanted Robert to see his son.”

  “Neither you nor the child should be seeing anyone in the dark and cold.”

  “It was not that cold.”

  “Cold enough to give a small baby a chill and a mother who wasn’t dressed warmly as well. You and the baby must stay warm and get a lot of rest for now.”

  “I feel fine.”

  “Good. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

  Abbie walked back to her bed and snuggled down into the covers. It had definitely been chilly out there and she could not believe Julia had not noticed. She was going to have to keep a very close watch on both of them now.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Abigail, you have company.”

  Abigail slowly opened her eyes and looked at Mrs. Beaton. “Who?” she asked as she struggled to sit up.

  “The lieutenant of course. He is waiting in the parlor.”

  “All right. I will be down in a few minutes.”

  “You are not sick now, are you? Although, come to think of it, Julia never was sick, was she?”

  “Not at all. I’m not, either. I was just having a good, deep sleep. Need to freshen up a bit.”

  “I will tell him it will be a few moments then.”

  Abigail staggered over to the washstand and splashed the cool water on her face. It took a few doses of that to make her feel more awake. Drying her face, she then cleaned her teeth. What she really needed was a good night’s sleep.

  After a quick brushing of her hair, she tied it back with a ribbon and smoothed down her skirts then began to make her way down the stairs. She walked into the parlor and saw Betsy sitting in the far corner of the room with her children. Mrs. Beaton was getting sneaky about chaperones, she decided, then smiled at Matthew.

  “They were in here when Mrs. Beaton sent me in,” he said quietly as he bent to gently kiss her cheek.

  “Chaperones. The woman is very good at sneaking one or more in. Very devious.”

  He laughed softly. “Shall we go for a stroll then, Abbie?”

  “That would be very pleasant, Lieutenant MacEnroy. I will just get my coat.”

  Matthew gave Betsy a quick smile while he watched Abbie in the hallway put on her coat and the woman grinned and winked at him. “Nice to see ye again, ma’am. How is your husband?”

  “He is doing just fine, sir. The wounds are healing beautifully.”

  “Abbie is verra good at tending wounds.”

  “She certainly is.”

  Abbie was just buttoning her coat up and talking softly with Rose when he stepped out into the hall. He moved to stand beside her and wondered about the reason behind the deep serious looks both women wore. Something was still not right at the Beaton house.

  “Oh, it looks to be a lovely day. This coat may be more than I need,” said Abbie as they went down the front steps.

  “I believe I would not be put to the test too hard if I had to carry it for you.” He smiled when she laughed.

  “It is good to get out of there for a little while.”

  He took her arm and they started walking. “Is Julia still causing problems?”

  “I fear so. It would be too easy to get angry with her except I know it is because she is not really well. I had hoped the baby would pull her free of what ailed her, but it does not seem to have accomplished that. Last night she took that newborn baby out to his father’s grave. She didn’t even get dressed or wrap the child in extra blankets. Just stepped out of bed, picked up the child, and went. If I had not tied a bell to the door, I fear we may have found both dead on his grave.”

  “It might just take her a wee time to shake free of the grief.”

  “That is what I am hoping. Just some time and then the child will reach her and she will slowly stop seeing Robert everywhere and talking to him and see his son instead.”

  “She sees and talks to Robert?”

  “I fear so.” Abbie sighed. “It is why I have Rose keeping a watch over her while I am out.”

  Seeing no one else out, he put his arm around her shoulders and tugged her up against his side. “It will pass. Grief is an odd thing. Some soldiers get through it just fine and it can actually break some but, I think, most are someplace in the middle of that.”

  “If she would just inch into the middle it would help. Where are we going? This is a new direction for us.”

  “We are going to the riverside. One of the men put up a rough bench so he could sit and watch it. Said it soothed him. I thought it might
help ye.”

  “Oh. It just might although I had not thought myself too uneasy.” She thought about it for a minute. “I might be though. I worry about the child.”

  “Only right. A bairn that small cannae do anything to help himself.”

  As they walked down a small slope away from the road, she saw the river and smiled. It was not a soothing sight at the moment since it was swollen from melting snow and all the rain they had had lately, but the sound of the water rushing over the stony riverbed was calming in an odd way. She sat on the bench after checking on the roughness of the seat and then looked out and sighed. Even if she found no ease in the rushing water, the forest on the opposite bank was pleasant to watch.

  “It is a bit fast and loud today,” Matthew said as he sat beside her.

  “Yet strangely fascinating, but the trees opposite are very soothing. Peaceful and green, with the promise of better weather.”

  Matthew smiled faintly. He had been concerned when he saw the state of the river for relaxing was not something one could do near such a torrent. Yet she found something to slowly wash away the tension he had sensed in her. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer, pleased when she rested her head on his shoulder.

  Glancing behind him he saw that the back of the bench had been made smooth so he leaned back taking her with him. He had not had any plan for being with her today except to get her away from the demands of Julia, but he was beginning to get a few ideas. He grinned and kissed her cheek.

  “Are you certain it is safe out here?” she asked, looking around.

  “We have found no sign of the Rebs or the marauders in days,” he answered, and turned to pull her into his arms then kissed her.

  Abbie relaxed into his kiss, returning it with all the desire she felt for the man. It was dangerous, a voice whispered in her mind, reminding her of the situation Julia was now in, but Abbie ignored it. There were times when one just had to roll the dice and pray for the best outcome.

  Matthew pulled her onto his lap, positioning her so that she straddled him. When she rubbed against him, he growled out his approval. Kissing her throat, he slid his hand beneath her skirts so he could stroke her. When she gasped softly he kissed her again. Her arms tightened around his neck and he felt her damp heat against his fingers.

  Fighting to control his rapidly mounting need he undid her bodice and kissed the gentle swell of her breasts. He gave a little start of surprise when he felt her slender fingers undo his coat and shirt. She ran her fingers over his chest and he was surprised by how much that tentative, innocent touch fired his blood.

  When Abigail kissed him, he freed himself from his pants and clasped her by the hips. For a moment the feel of her heat against his skin was enough, but that satisfaction quickly grew into a greedy hunger. He lifted her up a little and settled her over him then, keeping in mind that she was still a novice, slowly joined their bodies.

  Shocked, Abbie buried her face in the side of his neck as he moved her body on his. That feeling soon gave way to pleasure and she quickly caught on to what he wanted from her, moving on him without guidance. Her breasts rubbed against the hair on his chest even as he moved his fingers to a spot near where their bodies were joined. That puzzled her until she felt the pleasure inside her begin to rapidly build.

  Increasingly desperate to ease or end the need he was stirring within her, she began to move faster as if she was racing toward a finish line to win some grand prize. A heartbeat later, she did. She buried her face in the curve where his neck met his shoulder and cried out as her body shuddered. Matthew sat up straight and moved her body on his until he tensed and groaned from the strength of his release.

  They were both panting as if they had just run a hard race, thought Abigail. She then wondered how one delicately got out of this position. Just as she was beginning to think there was no way, he lifted her up and set her down at his side. She busied herself with smoothing out her skirts as he tidied himself up. She wondered idly how something done so quickly and stealthily could give such satisfaction but it did. Someday, she thought, they would have to try and perform the act with more leisure.

  Staring at the river as she wondered what to say, Abigail spotted something floating by on the water. It got caught on a branch that had broken off one of the trees lining the bank. Curious, she got up and hurried to grab it before the flow of the water ripped it free. It was a cap, a gray cap, and her heart began to pound with alarm. It was something only a Reb or a marauder would wear, which meant trouble was near.

  “What have ye got?” asked Matthew as he stood up and stretched.

  “Trouble, I am thinking,” she said as she hurried to his side and showed him the cap.

  “Damn.” He hurried to the bank and, hanging on tightly to a low branch, went out as far as he dared to look up the river.

  When staring up the river revealed nothing for several moments, he began to think the cap had come from some dead man killed near the river. Just as he was about to go back onto the bank, he heard the faint sound of oars being used and looked again. The instant he caught sight of the boat he hurried back to Abigail.

  “Rebs or marauders,” he said as he grabbed Abigail by the hand and started back to town as fast as he could.

  “You think they are going to come ashore here?” she asked as she did her best to keep pace with him.

  “Only good place for docking there is for quite a stretch. Also think we are the last of the Union soldiers in the area and would be a perfect target. Waiting for a couple of men to be healed enough to move.”

  As they reached the road into town, he hesitated for a moment and listened. The men obviously did not expect anyone to be down at the riverside because they were talking to each other freely and above a whisper. Since supplies were no longer coming in that way and the dock had been destroyed, he supposed it was a reasonable assumption for them to make.

  “Go warn the women,” he told Abigail.

  “Do you want us to go to the jail again?” she asked.

  “If ye can. It is the sturdiest place to shelter in. Go! I need to warn the men.”

  She impulsively kissed him and then ran for the Beaton house. A couple of soldiers out walking stared at her as she hiked up her skirts so that she could run faster. When she reached the door of the Beaton house she glanced behind her and saw Matthew heading back toward the river with what looked to be a dozen armed men. That sight comforted her for it meant Matthew was not facing the danger alone.

  Abigail opened the door and ran into the house only to nearly run down Mrs. Beaton. She stopped and fought to catch her breath as she said, “We have to go to the jail again. Now. They are coming in at the river.”

  “I begin to think we should just move there,” said Mrs. Beaton even as she headed into the sitting room to order the women there to get moving.

  As soon as she could breathe properly, Abigail hurried up the stairs, but when she rushed into her room she found Julia’s bed empty. She was relieved to find the baby sleeping peacefully and picked him up, wrapping a second small blanket around him. Grabbing the bag she had begun to keep packed in case they needed to run again, she headed back down the stairs.

  “Rose,” she called, catching the woman just as she was headed out the door, “have you seen Julia?”

  “Damn. No, I haven’t. You think she has wandered off again?”

  “I do and I know where she has gone. Could you take the baby and my bag?”

  Rose quickly took both and Abigail said, “Go on now. I will get her to the jail.”

  “Be careful!” Rose called as she rushed out the door.

  Abigail waved and headed for the back door. She paused a moment in the kitchen when she saw Mabel working on the evening meal. She supposed she ought not to be so shocked that no one had thought to tell the woman to flee or to where, or even that the enemy might be coming, but it did trouble her.

  “Mabel, there is some trouble and the lieutenant has asked that we all shelter in
the jail.”

  “Is it a lot of trouble?” Mabel asked as she set her work aside and hastily washed her hands.

  “No idea. The lieutenant got some men and is facing them down by the river. It may end there, but he still told me to get us all to the jail. Says it is the strongest building in town. So get your family and get over there as fast as you can.”

  Mabel nodded and ran out. Abigail followed but headed straight for the graveyard. When she saw Julia at Robert’s grave she was more angry than concerned, until she got closer. The woman was ghostly pale and slumped against the wooden cross that marked the grave. She hurried over and touched Julia’s arm, finding it alarmingly chilled. Another quick check found the woman’s heart still beat.

  “Julia,” she called and shook her gently. “We have to run to the jail.”

  “Again?” Julia asked, her voice whisper soft and a bit slurred.

  “Yes, I fear so.” Abigail helped Julia stand, not surprised at how much of the woman’s weight she had to shoulder. “You are out here in your nightclothes again.”

  “No matter. No one to see.”

  The woman spoke as if she was drunk, and it worried Abigail. “Are you feeling well, Julia?”

  “Just feel as if all my innards are falling out.”

  Since she had heard the complaint from other women after childbirth, Abigail was inclined to ignore it, but some instinct made her look Julia over as they staggered toward the jail. The back of her nightgown was soaked in blood and Abigail felt a stab of fear. She did her best to get Julia to the jail as quickly as possible. By the time she staggered through the door, she was almost carrying the woman.

  Maude and Rose hurried over to help and Abigail released her grip on Julia. Betsy noticed the blood and quickly moved all the children to a different cell then busied herself with hanging up a sheet to block any view of Julia and what might happen. Maude handed Abigail some rags and she quickly replaced the ones Julia was wearing. She then bound them on as tightly as she could. Next, she tilted up Julia’s hips and legs as best she could with folded blankets and a couple of cushions. Abigail saw no sign that any of what she did was helping.