The Governor's Daughter (Winds of Change Book 1) (29 page)

“No!” Philip screamed. He didn’t want to leave. His arms went around Israel’s leg.

His mother would have none of it. “Israel, take him upstairs!”

Within moments, the children had disappeared and Cathryn’s attention turned fully upon the unit. Juriah had already begun looking at the wounded. Cathryn wiped the sweat from her face with her hand.

“I don’t mean to impose—” Colonel Percy began again.

“Cathryn, please,” she stated with the greatest impatience. “There is no need for formalities. I see plainly you need aid.”

“I know that Mrs. Meador has certain skills that might be of service. Sumner would not have any objections, but…”

She wished he would come out with what he wanted to say and be done with it. The sun was beating down upon them all. She stated plainly, “You wonder if because my sympathies lay with the British and Sumner isn’t here, if I would help you. Please, Colonel, be blunt. We don’t have time for niceties.”

He sighed heavily. He himself tired beyond endurance. Cathryn caught sight of his shoulder, which had blood seeping from it. “Yes, Cathryn. It is what we ask.”

“How many wounded do you have?” she asked as she gestured to Juriah to begin moving the wounded into the house. The tired men upon the horses sat frozen, not knowing if they should help. “Don’t just sit there! Help Juriah bring them in the house. We have beds that aren’t in use.”

The men needed no more encouragement. Cathryn helped with one of the wounded who could stand. She caught sight of Mary standing upon the landing.

“He’s not among the wounded, Mary. It is fine,” Cathryn said.

For the first time in weeks, Mary nodded and hurried down the steps to help. Cathryn smiled for a moment to see the old Mary once more.

“Wait!” Cathryn cried as chaos surrounded the house. “Juriah, wouldn’t it be easier to have the wounded in the drawing room? Can’t we move beds down instead of having to carry them up? The drawing room has the open window which would be cooler.”

Cathryn directed the house help and unscathed men to make the room into a hospital of sorts. Cots and smaller beds had been moved into the large room, making way for the thirteen wounded soldiers. The drawing room furniture, she had moved into the study and the dining room. Juriah gave instructions for the cook to feed everyone. By nightfall, the house was in some semblance of order and Cathryn ached all over. She could not remember ever working so hard.

Colonel Percy sent into Charles Town for a doctor and supplies that were needed. After the men who weren’t injured were fed, they departed back also. Colonel Percy stayed along with a few others, he didn’t want to leave his men unguarded.

“What kind of men would attack wounded men, Colonel? Especially in a home filled with females,” Cathryn countered when the colonel expressed his concern.

Colonel Percy shook his head. He reached down and paused her effort to dress a wounded man’s shoulder. “Cathryn, you don’t understand all that is going on around you. Sumner has protected you to this point, but the war…the war is upon us.”

“Sumner will be back shortly, I am certain. He will…”

“I am not certain when he will return. Not until he has the information we need,” he grimaced. He gripped his damaged arm.”

“Where is he? Surly, he could not be that far away that he would have left us unprotected.”

“We are your protection.”

Cathryn felt a wave of apprehension fill her. She realized that the British had said something on their visit to Elm Bluff to have made the American’s nervous. Nervous enough to send Sumner to find out details.

She dropped her head. Her nostrils were borne to the smell of the wounded, the dead which were lead down toward the stables until their family came to claim the bodies, seven in total. She smelled war.

Moreover, the reality of what Jake had tried to tell her and what Sumner had tried to keep from her came crashing down. She sat on the opposite side of her brother.

But where was her brother?

* * * *

The days and nights merged together. Cathryn couldn’t remember being as tired as she was at this moment. She allowed her home to be opened to the wounded and their families. Soon, family members descended upon her house, helping with their care.

Thank goodness there had been no more casualties. The wounded seemed to be on the road to recovery. Having endured the initial march of over twelve miles from the Ashley River where the scrimmage had occurred, Cathryn thought, they had no option but to survive.

People she hadn’t seen in years emerged, gracious and thankful she was nursing their loved ones back to health. Cathryn took no credit, for in truth, it had been Juriah’s healing hands, she assured everyone.

Mary had not stopped. She had worked alongside of her and Juriah, but Cathryn could not help but notice that Mary took pains not to be alone with any visitor. It was not the Mary of only a few weeks ago when she had been in the center of the children’s party.

Cathryn had had enough. Her instincts to protect those she loved emerged. She caught Mary alone. She would not be put off any longer.

“Come with me.” Cathryn took Mary’s hand and led her to her bedroom. “You are not leaving here until you tell me what is wrong.”

“I have been wanting to talk with you.”

Cathryn sat down on the bed and pulled Mary to her. The next instant, Mary leaned her head against the comforting shoulder.

“Mary, you know you can talk to me of anything. You are as my sister.”

“I think it’s time I went back to my family. I believe Uncle Henry would take me in.”

Stunned, Cathryn cried, “Why on earth for? Have I done something to offend you? Do you have need of anything? What will the twins do? What will I do?”

“You will be fine. You have your Major coming back for you. I heard you talking with Juriah. Soon, you will be going back to England and I have no desire to do so. I know you will try to take me. But my home is here. And you should go, Cathryn. You have always loved him and he you. How lucky you have been to have been loved so!”

“What is wrong, Mary? I can tell there is something. You are not yourself. You know you are family. You have always been so strong. And I know I shouldn’t have leaned upon you as I have...”

“Oh, no, Cathryn, you have always been good to me. And you are my sister,” she cried. And her tears began to flow. A moment later, both sobbed in each other’s arms. Cathryn didn’t even know why she was crying after a time.

“What is it, Mary? Can you not tell me?”

Mary wiped back the tears her eyes and sniffled. “I’m with child, Cathryn.”

Silence fell upon the room. Cathryn sat speechless for a moment before asking simply, “Sumner?”

Mary only nodded. Cathryn continued pressing, for an anger built against her brother. “He knows and left you. How could he do such a thing?”

“No, no, it wasn’t like that, Cathryn. No, he said he would do the right thing. He would marry me. I just can’t It was in his eyes. He doesn’t love me and I love him too much. I don’t want—”

“Oh, no, Mary. I’m certain it’s not that,” she lied, quickly. “Men,” Cathryn swallowed hard as she struggled to find the right word. “Men are stupid, Mary. Downright, stupid! I have no other excuse, but please do not do anything rash until he returns. Promise me. And above all else, you aren’t leaving. Do you understand?”

She nodded. Cathryn sighed. “Lay down upon my bed. You need to rest. I don’t want you worrying about anything. Everything will work out.”

Cathryn tucked Mary into bed and exited the room. Yes, she thought, everything will work out, after I get my hands on my brother!

* * * *

“Oh, Cathryn,” Juriah called from the main kitchen. The kitchen was a small building which sat across from the main house.

Cathryn turned and walked inside. She already had much on her mind. She didn’t need anything else.

“I wanted to ask you...”

“You know anything you think is sufficient. You don’t need to ask my permission.”

“No, Cathryn, give me but a minute. Israel found a young lad down by the stables. He thought he was trying to steal something,” she said. “He was going to send him on his way, but the lad asked for you. Said he had heard you might need help on your plantation. Said he was real good with horses and a hard worker. He was hungry. I gave him a plate of food in the kitchen and waited for you.”

For the first time in days, no weeks, Cathryn felt a sense of relief flood her. Jake had kept his word!

She breathed deep, refraining from showing any emotions. She glanced around. Sitting on a stool at the table was a young lad. Jake had told her he was fourteen, but this boy looked younger. His blond hair was matted, although his hands were clean.

Cathryn instantly knew Juriah must have made him wash first. He sat devouring the food in front of him. Upon her entrance, he didn’t look up.

“Excuse me,” Cathryn slightly coughed to call up his attention. “I understand you were asking for me.”

“You’re,” he swallowed the food he had in his mouth, “the mistress of this plantation?”

She nodded. “I believe I am Mrs. Torrington.”

“Not ‘Lady?’” His face betrayed his disappointed.

“I go by Mrs. Torrington. It’s easier in this area. I’m certain you would understand,” she answered. “You are looking for work?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered. Not a tall boy, he stood and met her eyes. “The name is Maddy Johnson. I need work badly. My family was wiped out in one of ’em damn Indian raids. Oh, excuse my language, ma’am. It’s just I lost my family.”

“I will overlook it this time,” Cathryn said. She looked over at Juriah. “I believe we can find him some work.”

Juriah eyed her with caution for they had slaves to accomplish all the needs of the plantation. But Cathryn could well read the compassion in her eyes.

“Of course, Cathryn, I’m certain we can. He can bunk with Israel at the moment, until after the wounded have left.”

“I don’t mean to intrude,” Peggy Calvert, a wife of one of the wounded, said as she entered into the kitchen area. “But his family…they were Loyalists. He’s a Johnson from Upper Country. His home was burnt out.”

“I believe he just told us that,” Cathryn said stiffly. She had no liking being questioned about her decision, especially from a guest within her home.

“He’s a Loyalist,” Mrs. Calvert continued, as if it condemned the poor lad.

“I appreciate your concern, but this is my home and my decision. As everyone well knows, my brother is well known for his support of the patriot cause, but mine lies elsewhere. But even with my sympathies lying with the British, Mrs. Calvert, I opened my house up to help those in need. I have no wish for war and the consequences that follow it. I would never deny anyone in need of help if I’m able to do so.”

“I didn’t realize your stance. I thought with Sumner so active within the cause…,” she murmured.

Cathryn supposed she should take it as an apology.

“Even with Sumner so supportive of the cause, Mrs. Calvert, he would never turn his back on one in need,” Juriah supported Cathryn.

“You’re right. Of course, you’re right. It’s so hard now, seeing neighbor against neighbor, not needing much of an excuse to exert violence upon another.” The woman nodded. “One tends to forget our Christian upbringing. I’m sorry. I should have never said anything, especially since you helped my George.”

Cathryn exchanged looks with Juriah. She hadn’t realized how deeply the cut was in the county between Loyalists and patriots. How well Sumner had kept the outside world from encompassing Elm Bluff. Now, though, the world was seeping in.

* * * *

“Miss Cathryn is fine, Maddy,” Cathryn said for the tenth time. “I don’t need to remind everyone of the situation.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said. “It’s just...the major was ’pecific about showing ya respect.”

“He was, was he?” Cathryn smiled. “Tell me. Did he give you a note?”

He shook his head. “No notes, ma’am. Can be found. Can’t have it. Wants to know how you are.”

Her face fell. “How am I..?”

“Ya’ll haf to tell me. The major said it safer.”

She sighed heavily. She had waited for two months to be told, nothing!

“Well, Maddy, did he tell you anything to tell me?”

His face turned red and he nodded. “He asked for you to be patient. It might take longer than he first thought. If you have need for anything, tell me. I have a way. You’re not ’pose to know.”

“I don’t care, Maddy! As long as it gets back to the major.” Her patience had worn thin. It had taken over a day to talk to Maddy without anyone around to cause suspicion, and now to hear that he basically had no information. “That’s it?”

“Not exactly.” He hemmed and hawed for a moment. “First he asked after your health, but you look healthy to me. And then he told me to say this and this is from him, ma’am, not me.”

Cathryn laughed to herself. Jake would have been concerned about their tryst. What was he going to do if there had been a consequence to their making love? At first, she had been disappointed when she discovered she wasn’t, but she didn’t need to be expecting with all that had to be accomplished. They would have time for their own family soon enough…she hoped.