From This Day Forward (28 page)

“Pa tolded Ben where he hid it.”

“I thought you two did not have any money.”

“Not ours. Bad man’s.” Covering her mouth, Emma yawned.

Rachel would not get to the bottom of this until she had a conversation with Ben. “Don’t worry about it. You get some sleep and we will talk tomorrow.”

Emma scooted back until she could pull the covers up over her.

Rachel leaned down and kissed her goodnight. “Honey, you have a home with me. I don’t intend to lose this farm.”
I cannot. Where would we all go
? She had more than herself and Faith to look out for now.

Rachel left the bedchamber with the door slightly open. Until Maddy went to bed, Emma did not feel comfortable staying by herself without the light coming from the main room. When she returned to the table, Maddy had already cleared the dishes away. Rachel sat across from Ben.

Rachel directed her full attention to the boy. “Who is Geoffrey?”

His mouth dropped open. His pupils dilated. “What did Emma tell you?”

“That you know the man who took you. What was he after?” Rachel felt Nathan’s look on her, but she focused totally on Ben. She needed answers. Today they could have all died if Liberty had not barked and Nathan was not quick to act.

“Pa stole some money from him.” His gaze cut into her with defiance.

“He wanted his money back?”

“ ’Tis not his money.”

“Whose money is it?” Nathan asked.

Finally Rachel peered at him. The hard edge to his words carried over into his expression. A muscle in his jaw jerked.

Ben shrugged. “I don’t know. Different people. Pa tried hidin’ us from Geoffrey and the other man.”

“What other man?” Nathan rose and towered at the end of the table.

“Don’t know his name. He’s one reason Pa stopped workin’ for Geoffrey.” Ben shifted his attention from Rachel to Nathan then back to Rachel. “No one stops workin’ for him. ’Tis why Pa was hidin’ here.”

“That and the fact your pa took some money that did not belong to him.” Nathan paced a few feet then swung around and came back.

Ben shot to his feet, his hands balled at his sides. “The money didn’t belong to Geoffrey. They stole it,” he shouted then raced up the staircase to the loft.

From the pounding sound he made, he must have thrown himself on his pallet.

“We have a problem,” Rachel said, spying Emma peeking into the main room.

“Yes. There is another cutthroat thief out there bent on getting back the money stolen from him, and he thinks we have it.”

“Yes, that is a problem, but that was not what I was referring to. Emma and Ben are afraid we…I shall leave them.”

Nathan pivoted toward Rachel and caught sight of Emma in the doorway. His expression softened. “Ben, come down here. Emma, come out of the room.”

A long moment passed with not a sound coming from the loft. Then Ben poked his head out of the opening. He clambered down the steps and slunk toward the table, his gaze trained on the floor. Emma crossed to her brother and sat next to him.

Nathan positioned himself behind Rachel and said, “You will always have a home here.”

Ben peered at Rachel. “Promise?”

Rachel nodded, her throat clogged with emotions that made talking difficult.

“When Pa lost the farm, we got nowhere to go. He met up with Geoffrey. He talked Pa into robbin’ people. When Geoffrey killed a man, Pa got mad. He never wanted to do that. Pa ain’t like that. All he wanted was to git food for us.”

Desperation made a person sometimes do things he would not ordinarily do. Rachel had been close to that place. She was thankful the Lord had sent Nathan to help her.

“Pa took Geoffrey’s stash and we ran. He found this farm. Ain’t nobody here so we stayed. He was sure Geoffrey and the new man would be watchin’ in the towns and on the roads.”

Nathan placed his hand on Rachel’s shoulder. “Where’s the money?”

For a moment Ben’s eyes darkened, his forehead creased.

Emma nudged him. “Tell ’em. That money is bad.”

“ ’Tis in a hollow of an oak tree. In the swamp.”

“First thing tomorrow morning I need you to show me. We need to give the money to the constable.”

“But Rachel needs it to save the farm,” Emma said, tears welling into her eyes. “We won’t have a place to live.”

“Do you believe me when I tell you something?” Rachel asked.

The child nodded.

“You will always have a place with me.”

“If you lose the farm like Pa, where will you go?” Ben put his arm around his sister.

“All of you will have a home with me. That is a promise I can keep.” Nathan squeezed Rachel’s shoulder.

She appreciated his words, but she could never live with him without marriage, and she’d vowed after Tom’s death she would not become subject to another man like she had. She would find a way to keep the children by herself, if need be.

“The money does not belong to you, us, or the bad men. The constable will be able to get it back to the proper folks who were robbed.”

Ben dropped his arm from around Emma and straightened. “Pa died so we could have it. Those two men tried to get him to tell ’em where it was, but he wouldn’t.”

“What happened that day?”

“They found Pa at the house. Emma and me were at the barn. We caught a couple of chickens. The men didn’t know about us and didn’t see us. When they took Pa into the house, I snuck up to the window.” Ben’s voice thickened, and he swallowed hard. “I saw ’em beat him then shoot him when all he tolded ’em the money was hidden in the swamp.” He closed his eyes, but a tear leaked out. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have no gun. Nothin’.”

Rachel couldn’t remain seated any longer at the anguish pouring from the child. She came around the table to both of the children and drew them into her embrace. “Your father would not have wanted you to try. They would have killed you too. Money can make men do evil things. Your pa would have wanted you to protect your little sister.”

Ben swiped his hand across his cheek. “I know. But…”

Emma hugged Ben and would not let go.

“When they left Pa and the farm and went into the swamp, I dragged Pa into the room where we were sleepin’. He was barely alive, but I thought I could help him. If he rested and I stopped the bleedin’…” Ben cleared his throat and tried to say something, but no sound came out.

“You did what you could.” His pain tore Rachel’s heart.

“Pa’s last words to me was to take care of Emma.” Ben looked at Nathan. “I didn’t know what to do. The money is in a tree a little ways into the swamp. The men were looking all around. Then you all came to the farm.”

“Why did you not tell me about the men?” Nathan sat on the stool Rachel had been using.

“They left. I thought for good.” Ben glanced at his sister. “I wanted to leave, git the money, but Emma didn’t. I couldn’t leave without her.”

“How did the man know who you were when he kidnapped you?”

“He saw Pa with me. Pa didn’t know, but Geoffrey followed Pa and saw where he went every night.”

“Did he also know about Emma?” Nathan settled his elbows on the table.

“I don’t think so. At least not till he saw her here.”

“Why would his partner burn the cornfield?” Rachel asked as the little girl shifted toward her and wound her arms around Rachel. The child quaked. Rachel stroked her back, conveying as much comfort as she could.

Ben shrugged. “To run you all off or kill you.”

“Can you describe this second man?” Nathan asked.

“I ain’t goin’ to forget him. He is huge, strong. Has blond hair, long, and a scar on his left cheek. He’s got a big knife he carries.”

The description brought to Rachel’s mind her assailant in Charleston. He had targeted her. Her legs weakened, and if she hadn’t been holding Emma, she would have sunk to the floor. Her gaze riveted to Nathan’s. He realized who the man was too. His mouth twisted into a frown, his expression hard, fierce.

Nathan rose. “We will get the money then go to Charleston tomorrow. Once we don’t have the money, we should be out of danger. I will be staying in the main room tonight in case the man decides to pay us a visit. I am going to get Liberty. He may be a puppy, but he is taking after his sire. Bolt the door after I leave and don’t open to anyone but me.”

Rachel straightened to follow him to the door. Her heartbeat accelerated so much the room spun. She grasped the edge of the table and waited a moment for the dizziness to pass.

Before leaving, Nathan moved close to her. “Don’t open the door unless I say all is quiet.”

“Fine. Do you think he is out there watching?”

“Perhaps. We have to think he is.”

“Don’t go.”

“Maddy is outside telling Mr. Baker good-bye. They both need to know what is going on and get inside.”

“If Mr. Baker wants to stay tonight, he’s welcome to.”

“That’s a good idea, especially since we now know what is going on. We all will come back together.” Nathan left the house, the sound of the door closing propelling Rachel into action.

She threw the bolt in place, closing her eyes and sending up a quick prayer that nothing would happen to Nathan, Maddy, and Mr. Baker. Facing the children, she inhaled several breaths to bolster herself for their sakes. Their expression prompted her to say, “We are going to be all right. Nathan and Mr. Baker know what they are doing.”

“But the man is mean. When he saw Pa, he was…” Ben slid his glance to Emma, who chewed her lower lip then pressed his lips together.

Rachel bridged the gap between them and held their hands. “Let us say a prayer for the Lord to watch out for them. Emma, would you like to?”

The little girl nodded.

Rachel bowed her head, noticing both children following suit.

“Please stop the bad man. Amen.”

“Perfect.”

“Will God listen to us? We been bad too.” Ben pulled his hand from Rachel’s.

“He always listens. We all make mistakes. The important thing is being sorry we did. If you ask the Lord’s forgiveness and mean it, He will give it to you.”

Suspicion clouded Ben’s eyes. “How do you know He does?”

“The Bible tells us He does.”

“Even if I lie? Hurt someone?” Ben fired back.

“Yes.”

Emma yawned, her eyes closing then popping open.

“I think you both need to go to bed. Tomorrow will be a long day. I shall be heading for bed as soon as Nathan comes back with Maddy and Mr. Baker.”

“And Liberty,” Emma said, trying to stifle another yawn.

“Can I stay up to make sure Liberty is all right?” Ben asked, walking to the window and looking out at the dark landscape.

“Me too?”

“Yes, but then to bed.”

Ben stood watch at the window while Rachel paced in front of the fireplace and Emma sat in the chair nearby, falling asleep. The minutes seemed to crawl by. With each moment the danger they were in multiplied in Rachel’s mind until the throb of her pulse beat increased to a maddening speed.

“They are comin’.” Ben moved to the door.

“Wait!” As much as she wanted to swing wide the door, she would follow Nathan’s instruction in case the man was hiding and Ben had not seen him. She scurried to the bolt and placed her hand on it. When the knock came, she asked, “Who is it?”

“All is quiet out here.”

Nathan’s deep, gruff voice sent relief through her. She threw the door open and resisted the urge to fling herself into his arms. “Did you see anything suspicious?”

“No, and neither did Maddy or Mr. Baker.” Nathan held Liberty in his arms.

All three entered the house, then Rachel locked up again and faced the group. “What took you all so long?”

“We checked the area around the house.” Nathan put the puppy on the floor and Liberty immediately loped to the children, licking them and wagging his tail.

In the distance thunder rumbled with a flash of lightning illuminating the darkness outside the window.

“As you can hear and see, the good news is a storm is moving in. The moon has clouded over just in the time I was outside. If it rains, it will be hard to set more fires.”

“That is good. But what if it continues tomorrow? Will that make it hard to retrieve the money?” Rachel asked while Ben patted Liberty then headed up to the loft.

Liberty yelped and lumbered toward the staircase to follow Ben. The boy stopped halfway up and had to go back down. He rubbed the wolfhound and said, “Stay here.” Then he started up the stairs again. The puppy tried to go after him but couldn’t quite make the big step. He whined while Ben disappeared through the opening into the loft.

Emma padded to Rachel and hugged her. “Good night,” she said, yawning between the two words. Then she made her way to her bedchamber.

“The children have the right idea. See you all in the morning.” Maddy trailed after Emma into the room.

Rachel withdrew from the trunk what extra blankets she had and passed them to Mr. Baker and Nathan. “Good-night.”

Her gaze latched onto Nathan’s and warmth suffused her body at his intense look. The kiss they had shared earlier stayed in her thoughts as she prepared for bed and fell asleep. The image of Nathan accompanied her into the world of dreams.

Before dawn broke over the landscape the next day, Rachel finished nursing Faith, who had awakened early then fallen back to sleep. Rachel tried to go back to bed, but thoughts swirled around in her mind. Finally she got up again and rummaged in her trunk until she found her sketchpad and pencil. The picture of the man who accosted her in Charleston had haunted her dreams. She needed to draw him and see if it was the same person Ben referred to.