* * *
The dress wasn’t finished, but done enough for Maybe to try it. A tuck here, a pin there. Her figure was coming back, but not fast enough to suit her. Hopefully she would take the dress in more soon.
“Eliza, love, will Willie like this?” She turned in front of the mirror, letting the skirt sway back and forth.
“Of course, though I doubt he will notice it. His eyes will be on ye.” She giggled while playing with the baby who lay in the middle of Maybe’s bed, then paused. “Elizabeth, ye’ve never told me why we had to leave the shop so fast. What happened?”
Maybe set the pincushion on the bureau. “I haven’t told you many things. I didn’t want you to hurt more than you have.” She took off the dress and set it aside. “After Mama died, Daniel’s true colors came out. He was a gambler and would spend faster than I could replace it. I sold Mama’s books to eat. I had to hide money or he would take it. An evil man lives in this town. Folks whisper about him, but no one had any proof, so he did what he pleased.” Maybe sat on the bed next to her sister. “Daniel sold me to him to pay off his debts. That’s when Willie found me and helped me run away.”
Eliza wrapped her arms about Maybe. “I’m sorry. I had hard things happen, but ye had it worse I’m thinkin’.”
“That woman at the shop? She was our neighbor. She is also a gossip. If word gets back to Eleazar Ferguson that I am here, he might come for me. He is pure evil. I’ve seen what he can do.”
Eliza’s mouth worked with little ohs, as if she couldn’t find the words to say.
Maybe put her arm about her sister and pulled her close. “Dunna worry, love. I’m done with worry. I will not be afraid. Me God has a plan, and He is me sword and shield.”
“Yer not afraid?” Eliza pulled back and stared at her, searching her face.
“Sometimes I feel afraid, then I remember Who is in control. I tell Him, and He takes me fear. I will not let Eleazar Ferguson terrorize me.”
“Ye are much braver than I, Elizabeth. And I am glad ye are me sister.” Eliza hugged her again, then went downstairs.
Should she have told her? Was it too much? Should she have said more? Her sister needed protection. The baby started to cry, reminding her he needed protection too.
* * *
Willie took one last gaze at the shack. No, it wasn’t a mansion, but he’d been blessed at this little place. Others would be blessed, too, while Brother Johann shared the gift of grace to those in need. But now, home filled his focus. In two weeks, plus or minus some days, he would be with his family. He would see his child, he would hold his Maybe. No, she was his Elizabeth. An amazing woman he called his wife.
“Fair winds and safe travels, friends.” Johann hugged each one leaving. “Brother David has your passes. May God bless and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May He lift His countenance upon you and grant you His peace. Go with God, my friends. I will never forget you.”
Willie returned his hug. “And I will never forget you, Johann. You are a true friend and brother in Christ. God’s blessings on you and this endeavor, my friend.”
He didn’t think it would be this hard to leave. Even after traveling down the lane to the main road, he glanced back several times. Brother Johann smiled and waved.
“I will miss him.” Andrew wiped his arm under his nose.
Willie shook his head. Their stay had forever changed him. Andrew too.
He slowed to walk with David. During the last week he got to know his father-in-law. The man remembered the young wife staying with the Fontaine family who attended his wedding. Learning that it was Willie’s mother came as a surprise. But that was only the start. When he and his bride married, that young wife was with child. Simple math proved that child was Willie. They had a good laugh over that while Johann pointed out that God planned it all long before anyone could imagine.
Willie longed to hear more about the pirate attack. A part of him needed to know Long John and Bucktooth weren’t a part of that crew, though they had sailed with Declan and Silas Keel for a long time. He didn’t want to think of them as murderers as they had broken orders so as not to hurt him.
But there was time for talk. They had two weeks of sailing, perhaps a tad less. It all depended on the wind and weather. God willing, they would have the fair winds Johann wished for them and fair weather. No matter what, though, Willie was counting the days.
* * *
The knock no longer made Eleazar jump. It was so precise that he should set a clock by it. However, this week the knock had an insistent quality. Annoyed, he rose from his chair where he’d been waiting, and struggled to put an amiable face over his true feelings. A deep breath and then he opened the door. “Good evening, constable. And how fare you this fine day?”
“Well, sir. And you?”
He should have been more direct, less polite. This tiresome creature would drag it all out and he’d never be rid of him. “I am well.” For one who was subjected to this hellish existence.
“I have your goods, and I’ve written the latest news from about town.” He appeared anxious and not in the usual sense. As if he had something to share.
“You’ve written it all down?”
“Aye, sir. You will find items of interest on the page.”
“I thank you for doing that. I have your money right here, along with the money for next week’s stores.”
The creature’s eyes lit as the envelope came into view. “Happy to help. Let me know how else I can be of assistance.”
“I will. And good night to you, sir.”
“Good night.” He tipped his cap and looked a little disappointed. Perhaps he wanted to watch while Eleazar read the note. Pity.
Eleazar could not close the door fast enough. He took the crate to his sitting room and dug around until he found the folded sheet, tucked under a bag of flour. His hand began to tremble. What if it had nothing to do with what was important? He must open the note to know. He unfolded the paper. Only one scrawled sentence.
Mistress Attwater swears that Daniel O’Malley’s daughter has returned to town calling herself Mistress William Crockett.
His breath came slowly, with much control. So the minx was back. His mind considered what to do first. There were so many things. And he wanted to do them all. He must plan with care, take his time. He considered how much fear he wanted to see in her eyes. This was important. She must be afraid. And scream. She needed to scream. How loud did he want her to scream? That didn’t matter. She might scream as loud as she wanted. And she would scream. Scream until the end. There was nothing anyone could do.
Because it would be the last thing either of them would ever do.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The ship docked in Beaufort thirteen days after leaving St. Thomas. Now that they’d moored, Willie could not leave fast enough. “Brother David, thank you. I will never forget you.”
“Go. You have waited for this moment. All is well. Go with God, my friend.” The missionary patted Willie on the back and gave him a push. He did the same for Andrew but brought his friend David into an embrace. “You are through the dark night. Let your joy shine, my friend.”
Willie’s father-in-law nodded.
“C’mon, David, you have a grandchild to meet!” Willie grabbed David’s good arm and pulled him through the throng trying to exit the ship. Since he was taller than most, he viewed over heads, maneuvering through the crowd. A glance back assured him that Andrew had linked arms with David, so they were still together. “Pardon us. Excuse us. Pardon.” All the way to the bottom of the gangplank. Willie was certain no one in the history of sailing had desired more than he to arrive at his destination.
Once through the crowd, the three stopped. Reality dropped over them like a fog. They were in Beaufort. Just a bit of walking and they would be with their families. The excitement of docking now quivered throughout Willie’s being. But he needed to say goodbye to Andrew. He ended his responsibility for him. It
was as though he said goodbye to his son.
Andrew seemed to sense something. “I would never have made it home if it weren’t for you. You are a good man, William Crockett. I am proud to call you my friend.” He held out his hand.
“A handshake is for strangers. It’s not enough for us.” He pulled the boy into an embrace. “You are home, now, Andrew. Go find your family and Godspeed.” He thumped him on the back and then pushed him toward his house. “We will see each other again. Beaufort is not that big a place.”
Andrew took a few steps then broke into a sprint. Running backward, he waved to Willie and David. “We’re really home!” Then he turned, disappearing at the road’s bend.
Willie wiped his eyes and turned to David. “Well, friend, are you ready?”
A familiar voice yelled his name.
“Willie!”
He turned.
His father raced to him, wrapping his arms about him, weeping.
Willie embraced his father. He couldn’t stop the tears. “Da! I’m home! Now I’m home!”
“I knew you would come home. I knew you would.”
Willie pulled back, ran his sleeve across his face. “Da! This is—”
“David! I remember you from the Fontaines’. You are Maybe’s father! Praise God!” Da didn’t hold back. He released Willie, he embraced David. “Oh, I can’t figure who will receive more attention. Willie, your wife will love you forever for finding her father.”
David returned the embrace. “Good to be here, Joseph. I cannot thank ye enough for caring for me daughters.”
“Your daughters are strong, courageous young women. You can be proud of them.”
“Aye, that I am. That I am.”
Da clapped David on the back once more and squeezed Willie shoulder. “There’s more at home who long to greet you. We must get there and put their minds to ease.”
Home. They were almost home.
* * *
“Janie, would ye please help Aphra while I rock the babe? She’s getting more nappies ready for him.” Maybe kissed the top of the little one’s head, then held him against her cheek, relishing the warm scent of clean baby.
“I’d be glad to.” That girl, so full of energy and joy, lit up a room with her smile. Plus, she helped keep hope alive, reminding everyone that today might be the day Willie came home. She never showed disappointment, only hope in the next day because she knew he would walk through the door one day.
Maybe cradled the baby in her arms and rocked, watching his sweet eyes stare into hers. Soon his blinks came more often until his wee eyes closed. She kissed his forehead and stood. His cradle stayed in the sitting room so she was able to watch him while she sewed.
Crash!
Maybe jumped. That sounded like a plate splintering on the floor. She put the baby in his cradle and hurried to the kitchen.
“He’s here! Willie’s here!” Janie ran outdoors.
“NO!” Aphra’s face blanched white. She hadn’t seen Willie in a while—
Aphra grabbed Maybe’s arm. “No, not Willie. HIM!”
Cold swept over Maybe. She knew without asking. “No! Janie!” She ran out the door after her.
There in the twilight, she saw a tall figure struggling with something—Janie! What to do? She ran behind, grabbed the figure’s collar, and pulled hard and fast. His sleeves constricted his arms. “Janie, run!” She paused to assure the child got away.
He turned, blocking her retreat to the house. The only direction to run was toward the bluff.
She grabbed her skirts and ran as if the devil chased. The evil in his presence nauseated. She continued to run. Even when the stitch in her side burned. No glance over her shoulder. She ran.
At the bluff, she searched for a hiding place. Her tree. It called to her, beckoning safety. No time to hook her skirts, no time for ladylike niceties. She scrambled into the branches and froze, praying for invisibility.
* * *
“Da! Da! He’s got Maybe!”
Janie ran from the house, panting and shouting. Then she spotted Willie and threw herself at him. “Oh, Willie! He’s got Maybe. That bad man, he’s got Maybe!”
He pulled her away from him, stooped and held her by her shoulders. “Tell me what happened.”
“I thought I saw you at the window, so I ran out. It wasn’t you. That bad man grabbed me. Then Maybe came. She made him let me go, told me to run. She ran too.”
Every fiber of his being pulled taut. “Where? Where did she run?”
“Toward your hill.”
Willie knew where before she answered. He took off as fast as his sea legs could move. If that savage touched her…
His new used boots slipped on his feet. But he pounded on. He moved faster than he’d ever moved, praying with every footfall. Keep her unharmed.
He rounded the crest seeing only one silhouette, too tall, too lanky to be Maybe.
The silhouette called, pacing, searching for something. “You cannot hide from me forever. Where are you? You might as well come out. I will find you. Don’t hide, lass. We have a destiny, you and me. Prolonging this will only make it worse. Come out! I tire of this cat-and-mouse game.”
“I’ll finish your games!” Willie grabbed him and threw him to the ground. He swung his fist at the man’s head.
The man’s face contorted.
Willie hit him again. And again. And again.
“Willie! No! Don’t kill him!”
Maybe!
He stopped at her voice, his fist pulled to strike again.
She dropped from the tree and ran to him.
Then she was in his arms. He lifted her from the ground, holding her close. “You are safe!”
“Oh, Willie! Yer here! How did ye find me?”
He laughed. How indeed! He squeezed her tighter, sighing. “Where else would I find you?” Her cap fell free, and he buried his face in her hair. He longed to hold her like this forever, making all right with the world.
Then she pulled back. A confused expression overtaken with wonder worked her face. “Da? Da!” She dropped from his arms.
He turned as she ran to her father. David and Da had followed. How could his arms ache that fast?
While father and daughter embraced, Willie’s father stooped next to the unconscious form on the ground. “It is Eleazar Ferguson. He’s still alive. We need to carry him back to the house.”
“I’d have killed him, Da. If she hadn’t stopped me, I’d have done it. I wanted to. I still could.” Willie studied the still form. Hate overwhelmed.
“She was right, son. If you had killed him, you would have to live with it. Not him. He will pay. But it is not our job to be the judge. Grab his feet. We’ll carry him back to the house.”
It was the right thing to do. But it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
* * *
Eleazar squinted at the light. It burned his eyes. His whole head hurt. He stuck the tip of his tongue to the corner of his mouth and tasted blood. When he tried to reach it, he realized his hands were bound. He tried to move his feet. They, too, were tied. Panic rose.
He blinked a few times, his eyes adjusting. Sounds in the background, whispered voices assaulted his ears. He turned his head to the side.
Aphra.
She stood a few feet away, her face without expression.
“Aphra child, help me. Please.”
She stepped closer.
“Please child, undo my bonds.”
She came closer.
“Please.” He raised his wrists.
She spit in his face and ran from the room.
He tried to wipe away the spittle. It was hard enough his wrists were tied like a common thug, but when he touched his face, the pain made him gasp.
Three men entered his view. He was acquainted with the Crockett person. The tall one, with the red hair, he looked like… He was the one to leave the note and money, aye. The third, he felt he should recognize his face, but could not place him. “What do you want? Why
am I trussed like some fowl for the oven?”
“Fowl? Because you are foul.”
“Willie, no.” Crockett shook his head. Taking charge again, it seemed.
“Who are you?” Sparks flew before his eyes when he tried to indicate the third man.
“David, this is Eleazar Ferguson.”
The third man shook his head. “No, I dunna think ye ken who’s in yer home, Joseph. Who ye have here is Silas Keel, the pirate. The one who took me ship, killed me crew, and let that lout O’Malley steal me family.”
Eleazar’s temples began to pound. “You’re daft.”
“Do ye deny it?”
“Aye, I deny it!”
Then the man whispered something to Crockett.
“Let me see your forearms.”
“What? You have me tied up. How can I show you my forearms, even if I wanted to?”
The redhead stepped forward. “You will show your forearms.” He reached for Eleazar’s arm.
Eleazar swung both fists at him, connecting with his head.
The redhead landed a fist alongside Eleazar’s right cheek, making his head swim.
“Step back, Willie.” Crockett pulled at the tall one’s arm. “Are you sure, David?”
“Not a doubt, Joseph. I know tis him.”
“Then I will hold his fists while you pull back the cuffs.”
Eleazar struggled, but the men overpowered him. As the cuffs rose, they revealed his tattoos.
On his right forearm, Silas.
On his left, Keel.
* * *
“Jason, run to Master Waddington’s house, bring him now. Willie, go with him. I can’t lose either of you again. Stay close and vigilant. Bring the justice here.”
Leave? Now? Willie didn’t want to go. He didn’t trust Eleazar even bound. That monster should be gagged. But he must protect his brother. Jason couldn’t be impressed into some ship.
The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection Page 85