“Later,” he said, as he rushed out the door.
Laurel hurried out after him and watched him mount his horse and take off down the road. Elmore had come out of the barn to find out what had happened and he helped her care for the horses and store the wagon. He also took Holt’s things up to one of the guest rooms before he left for the day, but not before he asked Laurel if she felt safe having that man there. She assured him that Holt was a good friend.
Forty-five minutes passed before Laurel heard Holt return, but the time seemed like an eternity. She ran to open the front door and into his arms before he even stepped inside.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” she said, looking past him into the faded afternoon light. “Where did you find that horse?”She asked, rushing around him, running down the steps.
“What’s wrong? That’s that man Robert’s horse.”
“No,” she breathed, shaking her head. “This is my father’s black Morgan, he named him Beauregard, after the General.” Laurel ran her hand down the animal’s forelock, then placed her head against his and the horse snorted and dug a hoof into the ground, “Welcome home, Beau.”
“What a mystery.”
“Where did you find him?”
“He was in front of the railroad station and wasn’t even tethered.”
“Robert must have taken the train to Baltimore. I hope he stays in England and never returns.”
“Well, I’d like to see him again.” Holt put his arm around Laurel and led them into the barn as he called his horse to follow. Once alone inside the barn, Holt placed his hands on Laurel’s cold cheeks and kissed her soundly. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“Probably only half as much as I’ve missed you.”
He chuckled. “We can argue later, let’s get these horses settled so we can go back inside and get warm. We have a lot to discuss about this Robert.”
Holt reached inside the wagon and took out some old military wool blankets and they covered the animals, made sure they all had hay and oats, and Holt filled the buckets with water from the well.
As soon as they entered the house, Junie had her favorite hot cocoa ready for them and Holt stoked the fire in the two fireplaces. “I don’t know where to begin,” he said when he sat down.
“You can tell us all about South Carolina, when do you have to leave for your mother’s…”
“Things have changed since I last wrote you. I guess I’ll start with news of your father.”
“You found him?”
Holt nodded and Junie said her Gullah prayers, wiping her forehead with a handkerchief.
“Where? How?”
“I can only tell you that I believe this man is your father. I worry that if I’m wrong, you’ll be disheartened. But,” he emphasized, “I’m fairly certain. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to take you and Junie with me to Philadelphia.”
“You’re going to go home then coming back here for us?”
He grinned. “No. I’m spending Christmas with two of my favorite women.”
“Hmph!” Junie laughed. “Ise gonna get dinner on the table soon as the biscuits are done.”
“What about Jacqueline?”
“That’s part of the change. My mother received a letter from Monique. She sent the letter weeks ago, saying she’d be boarding a ship for New York in late November and would take a train to Washington. Saying she wanted to meet with my mother.”
“What do you think of this?”
“I’m more than ready to face her. I’ll give her whatever she wants or needs to get rid of her, except, of course, Jacqueline.” He raised one shoulder and reached for Laurel’s hand, rubbing his thumb across her palm. “I can’t promise you anything right now, but I may have some great news soon. Anyway, my brother and his family took my mother and Jacqueline, and Catherine and Ray to South Carolina for Christmas. I’m sorry I won’t be with them, but having Christmas with you makes me very happy.”
“What about my father?”
“I’ve been in contact with a hospital in Philadelphia. From the information they sent me, they believe the man that’s in their institution, is probably your father. They no longer have possession of his uniform but the doctor there thinks that your father was part of Beauregard’s brigade, he wasn’t positive, yet he does remember that the hospital in Delaware sent a colonel’s uniform with his medical records, but said there was no other identification or belongings. As a matter of fact, they call him, Colonel.”
“Why can’t he speak? What’s wrong with my father?”
“He apparently had a stroke during the assault. He is learning to write with his left hand because his right arm is permanently paralyzed. He can walk, but is very weak because he laid in the hospital bed for a long time and his muscles atrophied. He spends most of his time in a wheelchair. He also tries desperately to tell them something, but they haven’t quite figured out what he’s trying to say. His speech is garbled. We will meet with the doctors when we arrive. And,” he sighed, “I decided that you should come with me. I won’t be able to know if that man is your father, especially since he can’t communicate. I realize if I asked him if he was Colonel Bray, he could let me know by nodding or turning his head, but what good would that do? I’d still have to come back to get you. If you come with me, you can identify him and then we can bring him home in time for Christmas.”
Tears of pure joy ran steadily down Laurel’s cheeks. She tried to smile, but sniffed and said, “This would then be the best Christmas ever, having both of you here.”
Holt stood, took her by the hand, and wiped her tears, kissing her cheek as he did so, and said, “Let’s enjoy our dinner, and talk about this reunion and this Robert Winston. How on earth did he come in possession of your father’s horse?”
Laurel shook her head slowly. “I’ve no idea. Unless…” She hesitated for a second, “General Sullivan forgot that he and my father came here before they were beaten and robbed, and my father may have decided to give the Winston’s his horse to take care of until after the war. He may have taken one of my grandfather’s older workhorses with him instead when he left. My father mentioned that he might come here before returning to his unit, if he had time.”
Holt tilted his head and looked doubtful. “But why didn’t Robert bother to tell you he had your dad’s stallion?”
Laurel tightened her lips for a second. “Good question, except that he said he was in England going to school during the war. Maybe he wasn’t aware Beau belonged to my father.”
Chapter Sixteen
Laurel, Holt, and Junie enjoyed the leisurely meal of chicken stew with onions, carrots, potatoes, and peas served along with biscuits and orange chutney, and red wine.
After dinner Junie brought in hickory coffee and a warm apple cobbler topped with cream. They spent a lot of time filling Holt in on all the details and he seemed to focus mostly on Robert Winston.
“I believe you when you say you thought someone had gone through your grandmother’s boxes. And, the fact that you found some important papers and letters in the box with the money, leads me to suspect he may have known about the money.”
“Even so, that might be hard to prove.”
“True, but I think I may ask around town tomorrow. I have to go to the livery anyway and rent a carriage to take to Philadelphia. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we might be able to hire a driver. I don’t know how much help we’ll need to take care of your father on the return trip, and the extra driver may be helpful.”
“Junie’s old, but I can care for the Colonel.”
They laughed and Laurel reached for Junie’s hand. “What would I do without you, Junie?”
“I be around a long time, doan worry.”
“Do you think your helper will be able to care for the house and the horses while we’re gone?”
Laurel nodded. “I’m certain. Elmore can certainly use the money, and he can come over a couple of times a day, feed and exercise the horses. It�
�s a good thing we don’t have any guests registered at the moment.”
“How about if you close the inn while we’re gone and Elmore and I pull that wooden sign out of the ground?”
“That’s a good idea. When do you want to leave?” Laurel asked.
“Maybe the day after tomorrow, if we get everything together and all goes well. We need to get a new lock for the barn and make sure Elmore gets a key.”
“Well, Elmore will be here bright and early in the morning; you can talk to him then. He doesn’t like to miss any of Junie’s meals. We also have to make sure there’s enough feed for the horses and I’d like to stop by and see my grandmother’s doctor, too. I never did learn how she died.”
Laurel and Holt talked well into the night; long after Junie had gone to bed. They sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace and Laurel curled up next to Holt with her head on his chest and his arms wrapped around her.
“You said earlier that you may have some good news. Would you care to tell me now? I can’t imagine anything greater than you might have located my father.”
“A couple of years ago, after I obtained a divorce decree from Monique, I visited one of the Jesuits at Georgetown University that I had befriended and he suggested that I file papers for an annulment from the Church.”
Sitting up and facing Holt, she demanded, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Laurel, that was a few years ago and I hadn’t heard a word from the Vatican, although I knew these matters took a long time.”
“Well, what’s the good news?”
Holt chuckled. “My Jesuit friend knows one of the Jesuits that attends the Pope in Rome, and he asked his friend to make inquiries on my behalf…”
“And?”
“Word is that I may be hearing about my appeal soon and from what my friend told me, the news looks promising.”
“My heart’s beating rapidly, Holt, over the thought that we might be able to be together. But I don’t care if you receive the annulment or not. I love you and want to be with you forever.”
“Have you forgotten that we’re Catholics? Without the annulment, Laurel, our marriage would still be forbidden in the eyes of the Church.”
“I don’t care.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I don’t care. Your daughter needs a mother to love her, like mine loved me. You have a divorce and even if you didn’t, I would live with you, if you’d have me. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Laurel. But I can’t ask that of you. What about your father? What would he think?”
“You mean if we didn’t marry, but lived as husband and wife?”
Holt removed his arm from around her and looked at her. “Yes. I would never allow that. I would marry you tomorrow, you know that. But I won’t have everyone in South Carolina talk about you, nor tolerate your giving up your religion, not to mention your reputation, to live with a divorced man, with or without a marriage license.”
“We don’t have to tell anyone. We can still go to church. We can even tell people that your wife died. With the exception of Junie, all the people I was attached to are no longer in my life. My parents, grandparents, friends, Reba and Paul; even my home has been taken away…”
“Laurel, I…”
“No, Holt, let me finish. You were able to survive without the same suffering or loss because you’re a man, you have most of your family still in tact, and you didn’t lose your wealth. But you’re also a coward, not in battle or in every day occurrences and you’ve certainly been my protector and strength, but you are still a coward.”
She pointed a finger at him and her eyes flashed her anger, as she continued. “What happened to the Holt I first met on the riverboat? The man, who stormed into the cabin, buttoned my dress and whose eyes burned with desire to steal a kiss? If I had been part of the show, and the captain and Junie didn’t barge in on us, would you have taken me right there in that stateroom? Well, guess what? My body has ached for you ever since.”
“Laurel, I…”
“You could have had your marriage annulled years ago, instead, you found life easier being the abandoned husband with a sweet child to raise, a child who lived without her mother. Well, you’ve hidden behind that excuse long enough. I don’t accept that sympathy bit. You intruded into my life. I love you beyond words and I am willing to live without the vows of marriage rather than lose you, too.”
Seemingly stunned by her words, Holt shook his head for a moment before speaking. “In all my life, Laurel, I have never met a woman as strong as you, and as caring and loving at the same time, someone who’d be willing to live with me without the benefit of marriage, willing to sacrifice her own character and respectability. How can I refuse you? I can’t and I can no longer risk you finding someone else to love. I know this isn’t the romantic opportunity I might have planned, or that you may have expected, but Laurel Bray, will you marry me even if I don’t get the annulment?”
Laurel grinned, blinked, and heaved a relieved sigh. “Yes, Holt. I promise to marry you.”
“All right, but I want you to understand this offer is only good if I don’t attain the annulment, then we’ll find a preacher and get married because I refuse to allow you to besmirch your reputation and live with me without marrying. I love you more than ever.”
He stood and reached for Laurel’s hand. Facing him, inches away from his body, she was overcome with passion and shivered with anticipation when she noticed the glimpse of desire that returned in his eyes.
One by one, without a word, he slowly removed the pins from her hair, letting the curls fall loose. He placed his hands on the sides of her face, spreading his fingers through her locks and drawing her body next to his. He moistened his lips and began to kiss her, starting at her forehead, down her cheeks, leaving soft breaths against her skin as he whispered intimate details of how he planned to explore the depths of their love.
He continued with moist kisses down her neck until he raised his head, and captured her lips. He sipped her lower lip tenderly between his teeth and then slid his tongue into her mouth, bringing back the memory of their first kiss, with the same passion.
His kiss overwhelmed Laurel until her body melded into his. He placed his hands on the sides of her breasts, and she raised her arms around his neck and held onto him while the rest of her body relaxed like a rag doll in complete surrender. She was afraid if he let go, she’d fall to the floor in a puddle.
“I’ve never wanted anything or anyone as much as I want to make love to you, Laurel. But we have to be careful…”
“I’m offering myself to you. I don’t want to be careful. I want to know what loving you is like. I want to feel my body and skin next to yours.”
“Ever since I left you the last time, I’ve thought about nothing but making love to you until you fill my senses with your love and your scent lingers with me for hours. You have captured my heart and permanently erased any memory of Monique from my mind. I dream of taking you to my bed.”
“Now, Holt.”
“Hmm,” he whispered in her hair. “I think perhaps you’ve had too much wine. We’ve had this conversation before and I, at least, am trying to be strong and responsible, which should prove to you how much I love you. Any other wench would have been bedded and sent home by now,” he said, smiling. “We are going to go to our rooms and I am going to lock my door.”
“Coward,” she whispered. She didn’t know how she’d ever calm the awakened passions he aroused in her and she didn’t know what to do with those feelings. She only knew she wanted more, but wasn’t certain what more entailed, but she’d go to bed and allow her imagination to run wild. She took a deep breath, reached for his hand and said, “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
Holt followed her and laughed. “I’ll worry all night that you may have a spare key to my room.”
“I promise I won’t enter uninvited.”
“Maybe not tonight, but I’m not certain I can trust you.”
/> “Well then, you’ll just have to lie there every night and wonder if I’m going to sneak in and assault your body, or not.”
“Then I’ll never get any sleep.”
“Too bad! Like me, you’ll just have to suffer.”
And once again, she went to bed with feelings that left her unsatisfied and unfulfilled at the same time—her love for him grew stronger every time she was with him, until being alone with him became more and more painful.
****
The following morning the household was up early, dressed and ready to head into town right after breakfast. But each time Laurel looked at Holt, she had to suppress a grin. He appeared as though his night was as restless as hers and she smiled each time she looked at him.
Elmore joined them for scrambled eggs and some biscuits that were left from dinner the night before, as well as ham and coffee. When he finished eating, he went outside to hitch the horses to the wagon, but a few moments later, he re-entered the house. “Miss Bray? Look what I found stuck in the mud in the barn; all covered with hay. Glad I didn’t step on it and break it.”
“What did you find, Elmore?”
“A piece of jewelry. Guess it might have belonged to your grandmother. Sure needs to be cleaned.”
Laurel took the item from his hand and ran it under the pump. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes wide and said, “This is my mother’s cameo that I gave to my father after her funeral, but the black satin ribbon is missing. Finding this proves that he was here.” She stood back and held her hand out for Junie to see.
Junie shook her head. “How dat get here, you suppose?”
“I don’t know, Junie, but I have a lot of questions. Maybe the doctor can tell us more. This is a small town and everybody knows what’s happening. Let’s hurry and leave.”
****
While Elmore escorted Holt around town and into the general store to purchase their supplies, Laurel and Junie headed for Doctor Brandon’s.
After initial introductions to his receptionist, Laurel was ushered into the doctor’s office without an appointment. Once seated, she leaned forward in her chair and asked, “Do you know how my grandmother died, Doctor?”
Songs the Soldiers Sang Page 17