The Bastard Son (Winds of Change Book 2) (18 page)

“I saw, Master Caleb. A fine display. Crying and screaming was a fine touch. Soldiers wanted nothing to do with him,” Israel said. “He was very convincing, for I thought he was serious. I didn’t know.”

Sumner’s attention turned to Israel. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. I woke and the Red Coats were everywhere. I tried to get back to Mistress Jane, Master Sumner, but they were searching for me as well. She sent me a message to hide in the curing house. Master Caleb found me there. He wanted me to take him fishing. I wasn’t going to except he said Mistress Jane said it was to find you. He told me that his mother said I was to go with him no matter what.

“I had no choice, Master Sumner. I had to take care of the boy.”

Rising, Sumner rubbed his forehead. “What of Jane?”

Israel looked down at Caleb. Sumner knew he didn’t want to say in front of the boy. Sumner nodded to Elijah, who took the boys by their hands around the other side of the horses.

“I heard ’em talking,” Israel said in a low voice. “They wanted to hang me up, Master Sumner.”

His patience worn thin, Sumner snapped, “What of Mistress Jane?”

“They have her, Master Sumner.” Israel’s voice faltered. “They threatened her. She refused to talk. They wanted only for her to say you were here, that she had seen you.”

“My God! Israel…Jane!”

“They took her, Master Sumner.” Israel finally acknowledged. “They took her under guard into Charles Town. The Red Coats arrested her for treason.”

Katy Landor had kept her word. Rebekah was at the Peytons’ Charles Town home, pacing nervously in the drawing room. Her friend’s hands were red and chafed from the constant wringing. Katy had never seen Rebekah so anxious.

Rebekah was in trouble, ensnared by her actions. The two friends had faced many hardships, but this one promised to pull them apart. Over the years, they had become like sisters, more so than the poor excuse of one she had—Randa. Rebekah had never betrayed her.

When Rebekah moved to Charles Town from Philadelphia, a bond formed between the two of them. Few knew that Rebekah’s beloved father, Rodger Morse, had been killed as a spy for the Patriot cause, shot in the back. Katy was aware and knew that Rebekah felt the loss deeply.

Katy hadn’t Rebekah’s courage, but even after all Rebekah had gone through, unthinkable atrocities and heart-wrenching decisions, Katy found she envied Rebekah. Perhaps, though, it was Rebekah’s relationship with her husband, Dr. Jonathan Corbett, the infamous fighting doctor that she coveted.

Maybe Katy wanted to be more like Rebekah, caring and gracious. Maybe if she had forgiven Ernest…but it had been an impossibility. She could never get the vision out of her head—a naked Randa in bed with her fiancé. Ernest’s plea for forgiveness had insulted her.

Despair tore at Katy’s soul, replacing the love she had felt with an utmost hatred for her once dearly loved sister. Randa! Why, she longed to ask. Why? Randa had everything she had wanted in her life handed to her, but, then again, Katy surmised—her sister wanted everyone as miserable as she had made herself.

Randa had only herself to blame. Hadn’t Sumner begged her, pleaded with her to marry him? She turned her back upon him and married the poor pathetic creature, William Peyton. A spineless man, if ever she had met one…since the day Sumner’s sister, Cathryn Blankenship, had spurned him.

Katy didn’t know how Rebekah saved Jonathan when Charles Town was first occupied. She had been consumed with the chaos of the occupation, the terror and fear of the unknown. What had been clear, oh, so clear had been the absolute steadfastness of the British never to have the annoying Dr. Corbett under their skin anymore. Intent upon a permanent solution, Jonathan had been sentenced to hang. Rebekah could not accept the verdict.

Rebekah made a deal with the devil, notorious Loyalist raider, Black Rory, and somewhere in the middle of the arrangement, General Durham had become involved. Jonathan had been infuriated, but he had lived.

Loving Jonathan as a child growing up in Philadelphia, Rebekah had continued to love him from afar when he married another. Katy wasn’t certain how the two met up again or in what circumstance.

There was a piece of Rebekah’s life she refused to talk about even to Katy, but Katy was aware of rumors swirling around Rebekah about Black Rory. Since that day, a small piece of Katy wondered why Rebekah had formed a strange, odd sort of relationship with General Durham. Rebekah admitted only that is was born from necessity, but that scared Katy, for she realized that Rebekah was deceiving him—Rebekah was working for the Patriots.

Rebekah had been apprehensive since receiving word of the arrest of Eli Smithson and Jane Meador. Danger loomed on the horizon. It was only a matter of time before Eli’s tongue would wag. Unlike Rebekah, she didn’t have faith in Eli’s loyalty.

Rebekah was the one person Katy couldn’t deceive. Katy knew what Rebekah had been doing, working against the British. Katy lived in constant fear of Rebekah being discovered. The British gave no leniency toward spies, even if the traitor in their eyes was female. Katy didn’t know what she would do if Rebekah was caught.

She told herself that Rebekah had to leave, but she didn’t know what she would do without her friend. Katy needed Rebekah.

Katy needed Rebekah so desperately, to keep the darkest part of her soul from coming to light. Rebekah refused to see the selfish soul Katy truly was. Rebekah—her conscience, her guide! Rebekah had faith in Katy that she didn’t have in herself.

Poor Rebekah doesn’t see how weak I am. I haven’t her strength.

She had decided she would try to continue on Rebekah’s path. Had she not ridden out to meet with Sumner? She supposed it was a beginning.

Sumner was so taken with his new wife, Jane. That poor woman…who looked like a trapped animal at the dinner party. Although, she smiled remembering the look upon Randa’s face when she caught sight of the girl—a beauty to rival her own! It had not happened often, if ever.

“Sumner will come tonight,” Katy said in a low voice, trying to instill within her dear friend courage she didn’t feel herself. “He won’t turn his back upon you now. I have known him all of my life.”

“He doesn’t have time to rescue me. He needs to deal with his wife, Katy. You don’t understand.”

“And you do? General Durham is not one to taunt. He wants Sumner and will do anything to get him. It is obvious he wants Sumner to trade himself for his wife. Truly, what can they do to Jane? She has done nothing. We know that.”

“General Durham has become obsessed with capturing Sumner. He holds him responsible for a terrible deed. Nothing I have said has deterred his conclusion. I have gone to the general, but he would not listen. Moreover, the British become more frustrated with each passing day. General Durham is driven to capture Sumner no matter the cost. He means to make an example. He is not playing a game. I fear his frustration will be felt by the innocent.”

“I cannot believe what you are saying. You believe he will hold to the charge?”

“He has no choice,” a male voice said, walking into the room.

Katy turned. Her brother-in-law walked into the drawing room. For once, he was not inebriated. The sight caused a queer tightening of her stomach. “You know nothing, William. Go away.”

He ran a hand through his hair, straightened his neck cloth and walked across the floor to pour himself a glass of brandy. He swirled it slightly before he took a sip. “You forget you are within my house. Feel free to leave at any time. If you want to take your sister with you, I wouldn’t object. I’m in much too good a mood today.”

“You are a bastard!” Katy cried. “How can you feel that way? You don’t know the girl. She hasn’t done anything to you or anyone.”

His cocksure smile acquired a malevolent twist and laughed a sick laugh. “Oh, I have only just remembered an incident the night of the party. I saw her meeting up with Eli, talking in the streets. Remember she left…”

Katy exchanged horrid looks with Rebekah. “You lying scum! How could you remember anything? You were too drunk. Were you not led out?”

“And you are so naïve! Do you think any will care? Durham wants an example set. And I’m going to help him.”

“I will tell everyone you are lying!”

“You will be simply ignored. You know nothing of trials when they want a certain verdict.” He walked nonchalantly over to his high-back chair. He sank deep into it with a satisfied smile, his face quirking suspiciously close to laughter. “All these years and I didn’t have to do anything to watch Sumner get his just reward.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. The whole of Charles Town will be in an uproar if they try to do anything to that poor girl,” Katy said emphatically. “There is no way…”

She paused. A visitor stood silently in the doorway, Colonel Leckie. She looked upon his face.
Oh, my God! They are considering the unthinkable.

“Miss Katy, Miss Rebekah, it is good to see you.” Colonel Leckie bowed his head slightly in their direction. “Peyton, the general received your note. He wants me to escort you into town.”

Katy’s mouth opened wide in disbelief. She ran to Colonel Leckie. “Bruce, no!” she cried. “He is lying. You heard him. You can’t allow this!”

“I have my orders.” Colonel Leckie turned to William, ill-containing the contempt he held in his eyes for the man. “When you are ready, I will be waiting out on my horse.”

Katy ran after him. “Bruce, don’t leave me like this. What is going on? Why is this happening? What could she have possibly done that was so awful?”

He paused and said, “She married Sumner Meador.”

* * * *

Time passed slowly. In darkness, Rebekah sat by the window where the signal had been placed. Katy stood in the back and watched with sadness. All had been said. The reasoning spent.

“Go, Rebekah. I have sat too long idle. I will do whatever I can, I promise.”

“What if they come after you for being associated with me as they have Jane?”

“Then I will keep her company,” Katy said resolved in her purpose. “I have nothing to lose. I have felt only a void since Ernest died…even before. I loved him with the whole of my heart and his betrayal destroyed me and then he died. I don’t understand life, Rebekah, but I know you have a chance for happiness. Jonathan has sent for you. You thought he would forget you, but that was far from the truth. He loves you as you love him.”

“But look at the cost of my happiness. How can I accept that another will suffer?”

“You don’t know Sumner, Rebekah. He would have come back to see her whether it’s this mission or another. Don’t despair. It is not over yet. Tell him everything you know, but beg him caution.”

“I feel like I’m leaving you in dire straits.”

“What would you do if you stayed?” Katy shook her head. “I heard William upon his return. He was bragging about meeting with Bloody Benny. I fear that everything will only be worse even if Sumner turned himself in to the British.”

Rebekah squeezed her hand. “I will tell Sumner everything. There are others also I have concerns about…It’s my conscience that plagues me.”

“Do you not trust me? Go, take your happiness without guilt and hold to it. You deserve it. Set up a contact for me. I will do what I can to make things right. I owe you too much, Rebekah, for you to even consider staying for me. Perhaps, this will be my redemption! Caring for something other than the next dance.” She hugged Rebekah tightly.

“You care, whether you admit it or not.” Her gaze caught Katy’s, as if knowing they would never meet again.

Katy broke from the thought. “Come. I will walk you down the stairs.” She hugged Rebekah tightly. “I love you, my sister.”

“And I you. I will write. I don’t know when…” Rebekah’s words faded.

Katy could say no more. She felt the impending tears, but refused to give in to the emotions. She still had to get Rebekah out of the house.

She glanced around the hall. No sign of life. She pulled Rebekah’s hand and they eased quietly down the back stairs. Stepping outside, Katy looked all the way around the grounds.

Nodding to Rebekah, Katy watched Rebekah walk out. No sooner had Rebekah pulled the hood of her cloak over her head, the whistle came. She gave Katy one last look and ran into the darkness.

For a moment, Katy stared into the empty night.

“Should I follow her?”

Abruptly, Katy turned to see a lone figure standing in the shadows. The tall broad-shouldered man was out of uniform, wearing fitted trousers and a blousy shirt.
Good Lord, it was Bruce.
His gaze bore upon her.

“No,” she rushed to his side and pressed into him, “don’t. Please.”

“Give me a reason to turn my back on my duty, Katy.”

“Bruce, she needs to leave. She has to or she will end up as Sumner’s wife. You know that, or you would already have gone after her. Don’t. Please. You know her.”

He pulled her roughly by her shoulders. “I know that I’m British. I’m duty bound—”

“Are you after Rebekah? I don’t think so. But if you are after Sumner, do you really believe that he will be easily caught?” she whispered. She felt she couldn’t catch her breath. She had to think fast. “He won’t leave his wife. You know that…you would only be letting Rebekah escape.”

“Why would I do that?” he asked. Intent upon his purpose, he released her. “Why would I care?”

“Because you are decent, Bruce. You know what fate would hold for her. Kid me not. I’m so tired of all of this!” she cried. “What do you want me to do? Are you going to arrest me also because I care about a friend?”

Suddenly, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into an embrace. His eyes smoldered. “Are you mixed up in this, Katy? Have you been playing a game also?”

She laughed. “Do you think I care one way or the other about this damn war? I think only of the next day! I haven’t cared about tomorrow for a long time. The only thing I know is what feels right and wrong. And everything seems all so wrong.”

Colonel Leckie swore under his breath. He regarded her for a moment with a haughty aloofness. A fury built within him that she could see grow. His eyes never left her, but he did nothing. His eyes fell to her bosom for her nightgown had caught in his fingers. The ribbon had untied giving to him a full view of what lay beneath the material.

“Is this want you want, Bruce?” she whispered, encouraging him to look at her firm, round breasts. She had never been so bold, but never had she a need for something undefined—him. “Do you want me for this night? I don’t want to be alone.”

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he kissed her, releasing his frustration. It wasn’t that he hadn’t kissed her before. They had flirted and egged each other on in a teasing manner, but he had always been a gentleman. Tonight, though, he was as she, desperate to make sense of the world around them.