Riverbreeze: Part 3 (11 page)

Richard just nodded, still looking dejected. Jamie sighed. He couldn’t do anything else for him.

Just as they were reaching the front door of the church, Roy Wright burst out right in front of them. He looked frantic. “Jamie! There you are.”

“What is it, man?” Jamie demanded, catching him at his shoulders and steadying him.

“Your wife. She’s fallen and hit her head. I do not think—“

Without any more regard for Wright, Jamie pushed past him and ran into the church before he could even finish his sentence.

His heart pounding, he stopped short when he saw Evelyn lying on the floor, surrounded by the Reverend, Annabelle, and her husband. One of them had folded Evelyn’s cloak into a pillow of sorts and placed it under her head.

“I’m fine; I’m fine.” She was saying in a firm voice as she tried to sit up.

“I think you should lie still for a few minutes more.” Annabelle said, pushing gently on her shoulder.

“I think you should too.” Jamie said, moving swiftly towards his wife. He exchanged a worried look with Reverend Gowan as Gowan stepped aside to allow Jamie to take his place. Jamie dropped to his knees, took his hat off, placing it on the floor beside him and immediately bent over Evelyn.

“What happened?” He asked softly, taking her chilly hand in his.

“I feel so silly.” She said in a small voice. “I was standing on that bench…” She pointed to a crudely built bench which was now lying on the floor underneath one of the windows. “…hanging holly and evergreen boughs around the window…” Jamie took a quick look at the accursed bench. “…when I stepped too far to one side and fell backwards. I hit my head on the floor, and I saw stars for a moment, but I feel fine now.”

“Does your head still hurt?” Jamie asked.

“No, not really. Please, I want to get up.”

“All right, but slowly now.” He said, putting his arm underneath her shoulders to help her to sit up. Annabelle and the Reverend hovered near by, their faces full of concern.

“Still all right?” Jamie asked, watching her closely.

She nodded, putting a hand to the back of her head. “I do not feel any bumps or anything. Do you?”

Jamie also felt the back of her head, pressing gently with his fingertips. She flinched a little when he hit a sore spot, but other than that he didn’t feel any lumps or cuts either. “No. You were very lucky. I do not want you climbing up on any more benches or stools or chairs or anything. Do you understand?” He said firmly.

She nodded, looking meek. “I understand.”

“Good.”

Evelyn then stood all the way up with Jamie’s help and once she proved to him that she wasn’t feeling dizzy or that she could stand without support he finally believed that she was truly uninjured. He said a silent prayer of thanks knowing how just a small bump or cut could escalate into something much more serious.

By this time Roy Wright had returned along with Richard. At Reverend Gowan’s order, the two young men were set to work hanging the holly branches and evergreen boughs around the windows so the women wouldn’t have to climb on any more benches. Jamie was satisfied with that arrangement and after grabbing his hat, went outside to get busy sweeping the paths clear of leaves.

It wasn’t long before a few members of the congregation started to show up, most everyone in a cheerful mood. He either waved or said good morning, then resumed his sweeping, working faster so he would finish up before the rest of the guests arrived.

A few minutes later, the entire Paulette family arrived, including Chiffock who was being supported by his grandsons, Harry and Hugh. Chiffock could not have looked happier despite the pain that he must have been feeling after the walk from their house, and his daughter, Alison, was as sweet and pretty as a bride could be.

“Good morning, Jamie.” Thomas called. “What are you doing?”

“Clearing the paths of leaves.” Jamie answered, holding up his straw broom.

“Pah! You shouldn’t be doing that! That’s for the Matthews boy to do.”

Jamie shrugged a shoulder. “I want to do it.” He said simply.

“Pah!” Thomas repeated, sounding disgusted. He just shook his head.

“Let the boy be, Thom.” Chiffock said. “He’s a fine example for young people everywhere. Hear that, lads?” He directed this to his grandsons.

“Yes, Granddad.” They grumbled together.

Their mother just smiled sweetly at them while Jamie said, “Thank you, Chiffock. Best wishes to you, Mistress.” He tipped his hat. “Lovely sunshine today.”

Alison smiled demurely, showing dimples in her rosy, plump cheeks. “Thank you, Jamie.” She said, and then they moved on, hurrying into the church.

Captain William Barber, the groom, arrived next. He was accompanied by four of his closest shipmates: his second-in-command, Peter Coles, his boatswain, David Cooperrider, the carpenter, William Adler and third-in-command, Edward Wheeler. All appeared to be in high spirits, perhaps even celebrating already on Barber’s ship.

“Jamie! Jamie!” Barber yelled, jogging towards him, looking as fit as a man half his age. And he was beaming!

He was wearing a spectacular, new black velvet suit, the doublet high-waisted with its skirt in eight panels and wide slashed sleeves. He had it buttoned only at the chest and left open from there down. His snowy white linen shirt showed through the slashes in the sleeves and in the front, the wide square collar and cuffs trimmed in frilly lace. His loose breeches were gathered at his knees and trimmed with ribbon loops of black, red and gold. The side seams were covered with gold braid. His hose were made of expensive silk and gartered with ribbons at the knees, and his square-toed shoes were decorated with rosettes fashioned of the same ribbon as on his breeches. A short black cape worn under the collar and a wide-brimmed black hat completed his wedding outfit.

Jamie whistled. “William, glad you could make it!” He teased him. “Gentlemen. Good morning.” He nodded to the others and they nodded in return.

William rolled his eyes. “Only one thing would have kept me away today.”

“What’s that?” Jamie asked, but he reckoned he already knew.

“Death.” William said solemnly, but then he perked up. “But I’m alive and well.”

“And looking splendid, I daresay.”

“Thank you.” William said, bowing. “And what are you doing?”

Jamie sighed, then said patiently, “Clearing the leaves from the paths.”

William guffawed. “Why? That’s not your job.”

“I want to do it.”

William shook his head at him. “You’re too good, Jamie.” He clapped Jamie on the shoulder.

“I am not.” Jamie said stubbornly. “What is wrong with wanting to help the Matthews?”

“Noth— “ William was interrupted by a shout from the fence where Jamie’s horses were tied up.

They all looked. It was Nick Bannister, the Bolton brothers, Osbourne Wells and Adam Cooke all coincidentally arriving at the same time on their horses. After securing the animals at the fence, the five men hurried down to join Jamie, William and his men.

They exchanged greetings and then Nick, Joseph, John, Adam and Osbourne immediately proceeded to tease ol’ William.

“Look at you! All fancied up. So, you’re going to get to play at pickle-me-tickle-me tonight, eh Willy?” Nick needled Barber.

“Going fleshmongering, are ye?” Joseph razzed him.

“Having a bit of mutton?” John added, poking William in the side and laughing like a March hare.

Jamie snickered along with the men until finally Barber got fed up. “Enough! Enough!” Barber said amidst all the laughter. “I’ve already heard it all from my mates.”

“Ah. Yes. So…” Nick said, his laughter trailing away, clearly disappointed that somebody had already beat him at teasing Barber. So, he turned on Jamie. “James, my lad, what the hell are you doing with that broom?”

Jamie let out a sharp sigh. Through his teeth, he answered, “I am clearing the leaves from the paths.”

“What the hell for?” Nick demanded.

“Because I want to!” Jamie snapped. He had had enough too.

“All right. All right.” Nick said, putting his hands up. “No need to get all snippy.”

“I am not snippy.” Jamie said under his breath.

At that point, a young woman who looked a lot like Elizabeth ran past the group of men at a breakneck speed, her cloak flying behind her, and a second woman who looked a lot like Abigail trailing behind.

“Wasn’t that Robert’s wife and your housemaid?” William asked, watching the women run towards the front door of the church.

“Yes.” Jamie said slowly, staring at the women’s backs. Why would they run to the church like that as if there were an emergency? At that thought his stomach dropped. Did something else happen to Evelyn and did Elizabeth know about it through their connection? Or did she have another dream which had predicted Evelyn’s accident? “I need to go.” He said suddenly, turning to leave.

“Jamie!” This shout was from his brother who was just entering the churchyard. He was carrying Robin, and Nathan and Dolnick were with them.

“What’s wrong with Elizabeth?” Jamie asked when Robert reached them. “And Abigail?”

“You tell me.” Robert panted, nearly out of breath. He had tried to keep up with Elizabeth, but carrying Robin had slowed him down somewhat. “Gentlemen, good to see all of you.” He greeted the men perfunctorily, then turned back to his brother. “What happened to Evelyn?”

“How do you know something happened to Evelyn?” Jamie asked, his heart pounding.

“Elizabeth felt a pain in her head. She’s been frantic ever since.”

The men exchanged looks, but both brothers ignored them.

“Evelyn fell off a bench and hit her head on the floor.” Jamie said. Well, that explained Elizabeth’s rush to the church. Through the twins’ connection, she had felt Evelyn’s pain at the time Evelyn had hit her head. Nothing more, thank God.

“Is she all right?” Robert asked automatically

Jamie nodded. “She was shaken up a little. She’s resting now. I told her never to climb up on benches again.

“Do you think she’ll listen?”

Jamie snorted. “Probably not.”

“I know what you mean.” Rob said, patting Jamie’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Jamie.” Nick said, his voice sincere. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Jamie asked, perplexed by Nick’s change in demeanor.

“I shouldn’t have teased you like that. About clearing the leaves. If I had already known that you had had a fright like that—“

“Stop right there.” Jamie interrupted him. “You didn’t know, so forget it.”

“Why are you clearing the leaves?” Robert asked.

“I want to.” Jamie said, grounding out the words and staring belligerently at his brother.

“You’re going to wear yourself out, and you can’t afford that.” Robert scolded.

“I’m as strong as you.” He said, his jaw tight. Out of the corner of his eye he could see all the men watching this exchange between himself and Robert and it embarrassed him.

“Jamie—“

“Rob, leave me be! All of you!” He swept them all a hard look. “Leave me alone!” And he threw the broom on the ground and stormed off towards the church, leaving a very bewildered group of men staring after him.

By the time he entered the building, Jamie had settled down somewhat. But he still hated it when Robert babied him in front of other people. On the other hand though, it reminded him of how much Robert cared for him. Patience, he needed to remember to pray for patience.

He stood just inside the front door of the church, taking it all in. Roy Wright and Richard had finished decorating the interior while Jamie had been outside and they had done a beautiful job. Now evergreen boughs and sprigs of holly surrounded every window and doorframe, and the smell of pine was everywhere. There were pretty ribbon bows in scarlet red at each top corner of each window and Jamie marveled that Barber could afford to donate such extravagant ribbons to the church. The floor had been swept clean, except for the center aisle where herbs and rushes had been strewn, most likely by Evelyn and Annabelle, and they had also covered the alter table and pulpit with the church’s finely embroidered linen cloths. Finally, the silver-plated communion chalice and plate, polished and gleaming, had been placed on the alter table on either side of the carved wooden cross.

Everything was in readiness for the service and William and Alison’s marriage ceremony.

He noticed Evelyn sitting on the front row bench with Elizabeth, Abigail, Alison and Annabelle and just as he was about to go to her, she turned and caught sight of him. She stood quickly and hurried towards him, her face bright with delight. There was no sign of her being in pain or distress from her fall.

“Isn’t it lovely?” She asked, looking around at the decorations.

“Beautiful. You and Annabelle did a fine job.”

She smiled. “You mean Roy and Richard did a fine job.”

“Well…” He tweaked her chin. “You did a fine job of directing them.”

She let out a short laugh. “Yes, we did, didn’t we?”

He put his arm around her and hugged her to his side. “How are you? Any headache or anything?”