by June Venable
His remarks made Elizabeth struggle harder against the ropes holding her.
“Stay here, Colby,” commanded the man who held the gun. “Keep an eye on ’em. The women probably won’t give you any trouble and the one with the broken shoulder looks like a proper wind would blow him over.” Frowning, he waved the gun at Elizabeth. “She’s the one you’ll want to watch.”
The one called Colby nodded and let his eyes roam around the parlor. Probably deciding what else to steal thought Caleb, who noted that the man also held a pistol.
“Come along then, Larkin. Let’s see what you’re hiding. You too, ‘friend.’ I think you need to come with us.”
Caleb followed Mr. Larkin and the man up the stairs and into a large sunny bedroom. The man gazed around, unable to contain his envy.
James Larkin walked over to a chest and drew out a cherry wood box. Reaching into this pocket, he took out a key. Before he opened the box, he looked at the man. “How do I know you won’t harm my family or burn our home when I give you the contents of this box?”
Caleb saw the man’s evil smile as his eyes fixed on the box. “You don’t know. But since I have a gun, you’ll have to give me the money anyway, won’t you?” He rocked back on his boot heels and with a satisfied expression, held out his hand.
James Larkin lifted the polished wood lid of the box. Caleb then saw his friend’s father look into the eyes of the man who stood before him.
“No, I do not have to give you anything.”
With that, the older man pulled out a gun and threw the empty box at the surprised intruder, knocking the man’s pistol from his hand.
Caleb quickly scooped up the weapon and leveled it at the man. Looking directly into his face, he realized why the man seemed familiar. He was the same ruffian who held Major Hunt at bay on the road to Charleston. So, he hadn’t killed him, only wounded him.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs and the one called Colby appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
The words barely left his tongue when James Larkin fired. The gun flew from Colby’s hand and he yelped in pain. He turned, ran down the stairs and out of the door.
Caleb dashed over and retrieved the second gun. He trained both on the man whose face registered surprise at the unplanned change of events.
“Well, seems we’ve turned the tables, lad. You’re a handy one to have around. Now, if you’ll go down to the east corner and get the constable, we’ll take care of this one. Better use the back stairs in case his friend might be hiding close by. I’ll keep this gentleman occupied.”
Keeping his eyes and the gun trained on the hooligan, James called down to his family. “Is everyone all right?” Seth’s voice assured him they were.
Caleb gave a last glance at the thief. By the look on James Larkin’s face, Caleb knew the fellow best not make a move.
He soon returned with the constable who listened to the story. “Good work, James, I’ll take this one and lock him up. We’ll keep an eye out for his companion. This war brings out the worst in men sometimes, but here’s one who won’t harm anybody for a long time.”
When the constable left with his prisoner, James Larkin turned to Caleb. “We’re a good team, Fields. Now, let’s see what’s happening to the rest of the family.”
Halfway down the stairs, they met Mary Larkin, who threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“There, there, Mary. We’re all right. Private Fields and I took care of things. How about the children?”
“They’re fine, James,” she said shakily. “Seth thought we should remain where we were in case any more ruffians were about. Elizabeth is voicing her displeasure.”
“I’m quite certain you’re right, my dear. Our daughter does not hide her feelings. Now, why don’t you see how Charity and the girls fared? Perhaps they could fix a little something to eat since we missed our breakfast and it’s now past noon. We’ll all feel better then.”
Mary Larkin left to supervise the meal while Caleb and James Larkin checked on Seth and Elizabeth. Seth fumbled with the ropes that held Elizabeth. His injury made it difficult to use his arm. Even at that, he didn’t look too anxious to release his sister.
“Untie me at once, Seth,” his sister demanded.
“I’m hurrying, Bess. You know I have a sore shoulder.”
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth wiggled impatiently.
Caleb offered his aid. Bending down to loosen the ropes on her ankles, he felt her soft breath on his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “Don’t mention anything about the night I found you, please.”
A knock on the door startled them all after the recent events.
James Larkin opened the door to find the constable standing there holding the box of family silver that the thief must have grabbed on his way out. He also held Caleb’s saddlebags.
“We caught the second man not ten minutes ago. He didn’t get far. He stole these saddlebags, too. I figured they belonged to this young man.” He nodded at Caleb.
While the Larkins rejoiced over the return of the silver, Caleb grasped the saddlebags. He thanked the constable and turned to Mr. Larkin. “Sir, I’m sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot that I have a message for you.”
A shadow crossed James Larkin’s face as he read the message. He looked at his son. “Seth, Major Hunt’s been captured along with several of his men. He’s in jail in Charleston.”
“How terrible. Can we help?”
“The message comes from General Marion. He wanted to help the major, but our troops to the north needed the supplies he carried, so he had no choice but to go on. He felt I could do something. I must think. Meanwhile, I believe I hear Charity in the dining room. Let’s have some food, and then we can make plans.”
The midday meal was quiet. At last, Mary Larkin stood. “I am going to send Charity and the girls to rest. They’ve had an upsetting day too. Elizabeth, please help me take the dishes to the kitchen. The men need to talk.”
Caleb knew Elizabeth wanted more than anything to stay and listen. He could see she did not relish being banished to the kitchen. Even with the circumstances, he smiled when he heard her heave a great sigh as she followed her mother from the room.
Turning to the two young men, Larkin said, “I think I can enlist the aid of several men. The jail in Charleston seems well secured except for the night watch when some of the guards visit the tavern. The general’s message told me that much.”
“I want to help, Father. I consider Major Hunt my friend as well as my superior.”
“Count me in too, Mr. Larkin.”
“Thank you, both. Let’s sleep on this tonight. Perhaps a plan will come to us by tomorrow.”
Later, they decided a light supper and an early bedtime would help after the day’s nerve-wracking events.
“Seth will show you to your room, Caleb. Please consider this your home as long as you like. Now, do go quietly, boys,” Seth’s mother urged. “I imagine Elizabeth’s fallen asleep long ago.”
Seth took a candle and led the way up the dark staircase. The two young men fell silent when they reached the landing. Caleb jumped when a figure materialized from the shadowy hallway.
“What kept you two?” Hands on her hips, Elizabeth confronted the boys. “You know we have plans to make.”
“Not this time, Bess. This is man’s work.” Seth’s tone sounded stern as he warned his sister.
“Seth Larkin, if you leave me out I’ll never speak to you again!”
“Will you put that in writing? Caleb here will serve as my witness.”
Turning on her heel, Elizabeth stomped off to her room and slammed the door.
“Poor Bess.” Seth grinned. “In another life, she commanded a great army as she rode a white horse and led her troops into battle.”
Caleb returned the smile. “And I’ll wager she won.”
“I’m certain of that. Now, let’s plan to meet in the morning and see what we can do for Major Hunt. For now, I bid you good night.”
“Good night, Seth, and don’t worry. We’ll come up with something.”
It seemed to Caleb he had just closed his eyes when voices woke him. Going into the hallway, he saw Seth and his mother. The young man was dressed for outdoors, most unusual for the late hour.
“Has something happened?” Caleb looked from one to the other.
“My father has taken ill. I must get the doctor. Will you come with me, Caleb?”
“Of course. Give me a moment to dress.”
The boys hurried from the house while Seth explained how his father had awakened with a high fever and chills. Reaching the physician’s door, they knocked loudly. Waiting a few moments, they knocked again.
The doctor answered at last, rubbing his eyes and holding a lighted candle high to see who had need of him before dawn. “What do you want? A man can’t get a good night’s sleep anymore,” he grumbled.
“It’s Seth Larkin, doctor. My father has taken ill. Can you come?”
“Just give me a moment, Seth.” The doctor came fully awake upon hearing the news of his old friend.
When they reached the Larkin home, the doctor hurried to the room where his friend lay. The boys followed him in. Mary Larkin stood by her husband’s bedside, pale with worry. James Larkin’s face looked as if it burned with fever.
“Boys, please wait outside,” the doctor ordered.
By the time the door opened again, the two boys who waited outside the bedroom were nodding with exhaustion.
“Seth,” the doctor said, gently shaking the boy’s shoulder. “Your father has the same symptoms I’ve seen among the soldiers. He will recover, but it will take time and care. I’ve given him something to make him comfortable and break the fever. You must assume his duties for a time, but for now I want both you boys to get some sleep. You mother will sit with him the rest of the night, then tomorrow you must make ready to take over the running of this place for as long as it takes.”
Seth slipped into the sickroom to comfort his mother for a moment. As he climbed the stairs to his room, Caleb had a thought. Since Mr. Larkin had fallen ill, what would it mean to Major Hunt and his men? Would the vicious “Bloody Ban” Tarleton sentence them all to death? Caleb prayed that he had not already issued the order.
ELEVEN
With only a few hours of sleep behind him, Caleb woke to a wind that bent saplings and a rain that sounded like pebbles thrown at windowpanes.
As the storm raged, the family gathered in the morning room. Few words were exchanged. Worry etched lines in Mary Larkin’s face. Candlelight threw strange shadows on the ceiling.
“Mother, as soon as the rain stops, Caleb and I can see to the chores,” Seth announced.
“And I will help you here in the house,” Elizabeth chimed in. “Just tell me what you need.”
“Thank you, children. Your father wants us to go about our daily routine. The doctor will come by later, but we must eat something now to keep up our strength.”
Even Charity, who always had kind words for all, served breakfast silently.
Everyone ate quietly, and by the time the meal ended, the rain had stopped and a weak sun broke through the clouds.
“Will you excuse us, Mother? Caleb and I will see what needs doing outside.”
Elizabeth fidgeted, gazing at her brother and Caleb. Seth threw a warning glance at his sister. “Mother needs your help here, Bess. Be a good girl, won’t you?”
Caleb stifled a laugh when the girl stuck out her tongue at her brother.
“Stop, you two! Elizabeth, you know your father wouldn’t approve of that. He wants you to act like a lady, and ladies don’t stick out their tongues.”
Caleb saw that Elizabeth had the grace to look embarrassed. He gave the dejected girl a smile and followed his friend outdoors.
When they reached the barn, Seth pulled Caleb inside and looked around to see if they were alone. No one was close enough to overhear his words. The men who worked for Mr. Larkin had already left for the fields, just as they had yesterday before the thieves arrived.
Caleb lifted one eyebrow and looked at the older boy.
“I’ve come up with a plan to help Major Hunt, Caleb. Since father’s illness, you and I will have to step forward. Elizabeth will help too.” He clearly didn’t relish this last decision. “She’s a pretty good rider.”
Caleb thought this an understatement. He remembered the wild moonlit trip and readily agreed to her excellent skills as a horsewoman. “What do you have in mind, Seth? Your father told us the jail is almost impossible to breech. How could we get in, and what about the guards?”
“That’s where Elizabeth comes in.”
Caleb listened wide-eyed as Seth outlined his plan. Elizabeth did indeed have a part in the scheme. A very big part.
“What do you think, Caleb? Will it work?”
“Let’s give it a try. Major Hunt needs our help.” Caleb swallowed, not nearly as brave as his words sounded.
After the noon meal, Mrs. Larkin went to sit at her husband’s side. Elizabeth quickly agreed when Seth asked her to take a walk through the orchard.
Fifteen minutes later, her eyes grew as wide as Caleb’s had when he first heard Seth’s plan.
“I can do it, Seth. I know I can.” Elizabeth said. “We’ll make father proud of us.”
They chose the following night to carry out the scheme.
Seth looked at the younger boy and girl standing before him and swallowed. “We need to have an ally in case we fail or…get captured,” he finished.
Doctor Baines was enlisted and agreed to help. “Your father will no doubt take me to task when he recovers and learns of this, but I hope your plan succeeds. I wish you all Godspeed.”
* * * *
Charleston lay an hour’s ride away. If all went well, the three planned to leave about ten o’clock that evening and return before dawn. Seth hoped his father would sleep through the evening. The doctor helped with this part of the plan. He gave Seth a sleeping potion to administer to his father before they left. Seth sneaked a few drops into the hot drink his father requested that evening. After serving his father the herbal tea, he slipped the remaining liquid in the small glass vial into his pocket. The rest of the amber tonic was enough to put a grown man to sleep quickly and soundly for hours.
“Goodnight, Father, I’ll see you in the morning.”
James Larkin smiled weakly and settled in for the night.
Mary Larkin bid her children goodnight, warning them not to stay up too late. “Nor you either, Caleb.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Caleb smiled at the motherly admonition. He wished Caleb’s mother a good night in return, even as he felt guilty knowing that he and her children would have no sleep at all that night.
When the house fell still, Elizabeth went to the kitchen and filled a basket with food. The rest of Charity’s apple cake went in as well as corn pudding and sliced turkey. She then took a bottle of elderberry wine her father had made.
The young people let themselves out quietly. Elizabeth pulled a cloak over her Sunday dress. When they reached the magnolia tree, the journey began in earnest. They each sat astride a horse and led an extra one from the Larkin stable.
Within the hour they reached Charleston. Remembering his last night there, Caleb looked at Elizabeth, but the cloak’s hood hid much of her face.
Pausing to review the plan, Seth drew a deep breath. “God bless us all tonight.”
They rode within a short distance of the waterfront, then tied the horses to trees and walked to the few buildings the Red Coats had left standing. The Royal George had sailed and the dock area looked deserted. At this late hour, only the glow of lanterns came from the tavern. The Red Coats had also left the blacksmith’s shop and the gunsmith undamaged. The owners would be of use to them, even under duress.
As they took stock, light spilled from the tavern doors when several of the king’s soldiers emerged. The men headed for the tents they had erected for the duration.
When the men settled down, the three crept to the smith’s shop and looked toward the jail. A burst of laugher from the tavern told them that still more Red Coats were about.
As Caleb and Elizabeth stood watch, Seth leaned against a rail fence and took the elderberry wine from the basket. Removing the cork, he poured the rest of the sleeping potion into the bottle and corked it again.
With that done, it became Elizabeth’s turn. She pulled the hood even closer around her face. Handing her the basket, Seth squeezed her hand. “Be careful, won’t you, Bess? You too, Caleb.”
As he watched them walk away, Seth called softly. “I’ll whistle if I see anything suspicious.”
While Caleb and Elizabeth walked toward the prison, Seth stood sentry. When they reached their destination, Caleb stepped to the side of the dark building. Elizabeth, holding the basket in one hand, knocked. Moments later, the heavy jail door swung open and Seth saw his sister vanish inside.
TWELVE
Elizabeth stepped into a small room, bare with the exception of a chair and table. A lighted candle, anchored in its own wax drippings, cast eerie shadows on the wall. A musty odor pervaded the area. It seemed to come from everywhere. Perhaps for many years the walls had soaked up the scent of suffering from those locked in the cells beyond this room.
“Well, miss, what do you want this time of night?” The burly figure, dressed in the uniform of the enemy, confronted her.
“I am here at my mother’s request. I have food for the prisoners.” Elizabeth held up her basket for the man to see.
“Am I to understand from this gesture that your mother’s sympathies lie with those who take up arms against the king?”
“No, sir. On my oath, rest assured we pay homage to good King George. My mother, however, also believes in the brotherhood of man. Friend or foe, she says all are God’s children and need not starve while awaiting their fate. She provides what she can, happy to share with all.”
“So, she feels sorry for the enemy too? That does not win wars, miss, nor does it sound agreeable with the loyalist’s creed.”