The moonlight guided her along the road. She made her way to the stream and stood at the water’s edge. The Baron had not arrived yet.
The stream glowed under the harvest moon. Her reflection on the water echoed her excitement. She recalled the last time she had stood at the stream, when she found Lora.
Dropping to her knees on the stiff, dry grass, she peered up at the night sky speckled with stars and wondered if she was making the right decision. She hated the thought of how her son would react when he found out she had died. Reuniting with him would be so sweet. She imagined their new life— a life free of misery. She might become a seamstress, she always liked sewing. Maybe she would have her own farm or even marry into a wealthy family. She decided that she would honor Lora by keeping her first name. Lora Cartwright. Cartwright was her maiden name and she missed it.
As the moments passed, it grew colder.
She wondered if the baron was going to help her after all.
What if he changed his mind?
She held back a scream when his leather-gloved hand clasped her shoulder and his warm breath traveled over her neck. “I hope I did not keep you waiting long.”
A smile creased her lips. “I’d wait forever for you.”
She turned to him and kissed him, savoring the warmth of his mouth against hers.
He gathered her into his arms and carried her to his horse. They rode along the path that led through the village of Caldwell and beyond.
A fog had settled onto the road, and suddenly the smell of fire choked her. It always brought her back to the fateful night she lost everything. Sadness filled her heart at the thought of some poor family’s life going up in flame as hers had.
She clutched her heart as she realized the direction the smoke was coming from-- the Timbolt cottage.
Panic racked her body.
“Cal, the cottage is on fire!” She pointed to the orange light dancing between the trees in the distance, confirming her suspicion.
Cal gave his horse a few swift kicks and they galloped ahead.
When they rounded the bend, they found the home engulfed in black smoke and hot cinder.
“Sam!” she screamed, dropping from the horse and running to the front door.
“Judith, wait!” Baron Blacwin yelled behind her.
She ignored his pleas and threw herself through the front door.
Hot cinders blew into her eyes and smoke choked her. She held her sleeve over her mouth and nose, trying to hear her son crying.
Please, God, let him be alive, please!
She rushed to the ladder and screamed his name.
She heard a soft cry behind her and saw Sam crouched in the corner, holding his knees.
She ran to him and scooped his soot-covered body into her arms. Pulling her cloak over her shoulder, she held it against his nose and mouth.
She stumbled toward the door with him, feeling faint with relief when she saw Cal waiting for her. He reached his arms out to take Sam from her.
She passed him to the safety of the baron’s arms, and something caught her leg. She stifled a scream as she peered down at her father-in-law’s bleeding face and his meaty fist gripping her ankle. He was crushed under a pile of burnt debris.
“Help me, witch!” he choked.
“Let me go!” she cried, afraid she might meet the same fate if she remained in the smoke-filled air.
“You’ll burn in hell with the rest of us!”
Judith screamed as ceiling debris rained down around them and blocked her way to the door.
A spray of orange sparks ignited her cloak. Her heart could not possibly beat any harder as she swatted at the smoldering material attached to her neck.
It was becoming increasingly hard to breathe.
Smoke burned her eyes and filled her lungs, weakening her. She fell to the ground.
“Mummy!” Sam screamed from the doorway.
“Judith!” the baron yelled. “Get out of there!”
Bart’s grip on her ankle was still firm. Too weak to fight, she feared she would not escape alive. A tear streaked her cheek as her son screamed to her from the doorway where the baron held him.
‘I am so sorry, Sam,’ was her last thought before the smoke consumed her.
***
The heat and smoke were gone, but she could still smell it. Her lashes parted slowly and sunlight scorched her eyes. Something warm brushed her cheek.
She jerked her face away, snapping her eyes shut. “No!”
“Judith, shh, you are safe,” the baron said.
She peered up to see Baron Blacwin leaning over her, his dark eyes full of concern.
She blinked and looked around to make sure she was not dreaming…she was in his solar.
Was she dreaming?
So many questions sprung into her mind at once. The memory of her last moments in the fiery hell flooded her mind. Most important, where was Sam?
“Where is my son?” She sat up to see Sam sitting on the foot of the bed playing with some wooden toys, clean and content.
“Sam!” she cried holding her arms out to him.
“Mummy!” He leapt on her and wrapped his arms tightly about her neck. She breathed in relief and embraced him, kissing the top of his head. “Thank God.”
“We have been waiting for you wake up, Mummy. I was scared you were dead, but Baron Blacwin promised me you would come back.”
Judith glanced toward the baron who stood aside to let them reunite.
“Sam, why don’t you go visit the puppies in the stable. I bet they miss you.” The baron said.
Sam nodded enthusiastically. “They do. I named them all. You can come see them when you feel better Mummy.”
“I will,” Judith promised.
The baron smiled. “We can hear all about their clever names over supper. Go now.”
Sam obeyed, pulling out of his mother’s arms and walking to the door. He paused and peered over his shoulder at his mother again as if he could not believe she was there. He smiled and closed the door behind him.
“I do not know what to say,” she said, wiping the tears from her face. “I owe you my life. Our lives.”
“Rest for now. You can make it up to me when you are well.”
“I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“Even become my baroness?”
Judith blinked in confusion. “Your baroness? You said—”
“I know what I said, Judith.” He settled on the bed beside her and took her hand in his.
“I don’t understand.”
“I searched the town records this morning and I could not find any information on you other than your marriage to Garreth. All I would need to do is make a new public record for you, stating you are the daughter of a wealthy family, all of whom perished, and you married Garreth as a last resort. If that is not enough, you are carrying my heir.”
Tears flooded her eyes. “Garreth…he died?”
“They all perished, besides you and Sam.”
She looked down, feeling sudden unexpected remorse. She may not have loved Garreth the way a wife should, but she never wanted him to die.
“I understand if you need time to mourn. We do not have to speak of this again until you are ready.”
She glanced up at him. “I cannot believe this. It’s as if…”
“As if it was fate,” he finished for her.
“Yes.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she realized that she would never have to suffer another moment cold or hungry.
He leaned in and kissed her tears away. “It’s over Judith.”
She laughed in elation and wrapped her arms around his neck.
She had her son, the man she loved, and the promise of a beautiful tomorrow. It was more than she could have ever dreamed.
The End
About the Author
This is J.C. Murtagh's first published work and she has many more to share. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband and son.
For information on upcoming releases visit http://www.JCMurtagh.com
Red Deception Page 6