The Heavens Shall Fall (19 page)

Suddenly, Rebekah heard the sound of a horse riding up. She gripped tight to a ten-inch sheath knife she carried for her protection, but released it only when the door swung open. Daniel walked inside the cabin.

His brawny form took up most of the doorway. He wore a cloak despite the heat, but it did little to conceal the dirt and grim
e on his person. His hair was tied back behind his head beneath a well-worn hat. His bloodshot eyes met hers. Evidently, he had ridden hard to meet with her.

“
Daniel,” she exclaimed, in a tone that conveyed her joy at the sight of him. “Oh, how good you look to my eyes!”

He embraced
her in his strong arms; she fought the urge to weep. Instead, she broke from him. Tenderly, she pushed back a stray hair strand from his face. She smiled.

He reached up and took her hand in his.
“Sister, you shouldn’t have come. Now you need to return with me. In time, I will arrange your passage to Virginia to be with Jonathan’s family…”

Rebekah shook her head.
“No. I would not be welcome. It is what I need to talk with you about…I need another favor.”

“
We heard Jonathan was pardoned. He heads now to New York. You do not want to follow?” Daniel made a face. “Tell me, sister, that you are here to withdraw.”

Rebekah sighed.
“There is so much to tell you, Daniel, but no, I’m not leaving.”

A hush stilled the room. Rebekah saw from Daniel
’s expression he wasn’t happy with her response, but it didn’t seem to come as a surprise.

“
I want you to listen to me, my brother. Don’t question my decision. You know me only too well. It is not what I would have chosen, but it is my path…my path to repay. For so long, I have been protected. It started with Ian, then Jonathan, you…” She hesitated a moment. “I’m not helpless. I assume that Cutler and you received my message and understood my intent.”

“
It is set,” Daniel admitted. “In the midst of this disaster, it was a semblance of hope. Cutler laid a Trojan horse in the middle of the British. Colonel Marion and Cutler both readily agreed to the plan. With the ships in port, we now have eyes and ears within Charles Town and freely have access to come and go. But it is a plan that can work without you now.”

“
If I leave, they will question, Daniel. I received Cutler’s message to step back and have nothing to do with the business. I did as he requested. Pressed to do so, objected to having a manager, and then when Ralph Deane appeared, I also offered resistance. Since Deane had previous knowledge of the business, he was accepted readily, especially since he seems to be a Tory. But I am there as a safety measure. Am I not?”

“
I suppose,” Daniel answered with the greatest unwillingness. “Why do you not think you would be welcome with Jonathan’s family?”

Rebekah stepped back from her brother. She lowered her eyes and confessed.
“To save Jonathan, I betrayed him.”

S
he turned her back to Daniel and fought back the resurgence of overwhelming guilt. “It took more than the ships to save him, Daniel. I hadn’t a choice. You weren’t there. They…wanted…they wanted Jonathan to hang. There was so much hatred for him from the British. It mattered little that there was little evidence against him, only an accusation. That is all it took…lies.”

“
It was well known the stance of the British against Jonathan. Our men love Jonathan. He is fearless and passionate for the cause. He lets nothing stand in his way and is an honorable man. It was the British attempt to dishonor him. I did not think he could be saved.”

Rebekah felt Daniel
’s hands on her shoulder. He turned her to him. “Tell me what you have done.”

She grimaced as if a knife had been thrust into her heart.
“You will not like my words either, Daniel. I went to the man responsible for our own father’s death. General Marcus Durham.”

“
I know who he is. Jonathan told me about the man. He is here?”

“
He was. He went back to New York with the prisoners set for exchange. Daniel, you have to get to New York before General Durham.”

“
Before? Rebekah, did they not leave four days ago?”

“
But you could get there…tell me you can.”

“
Calm yourself. Why? Why is it so important?”

“
Because he goes to take his son away from Jonathan’s sister. You have to stop him, Daniel.”

The next few minutes, Rebekah recanted her tale of betrayal. Daniel nodded, but expressed no emotions until she paused. He frowned.

“Four days, Rebekah. I will be chasing the wind. I would have to prepare my ship, but I could take the… It would be faster, only I am not certain where I am going. I would need to stop in Williamsburg. That man Landon would know, I am certain.”

Thoughtfully, she chewed on the corner of her lip.
“But you will try.”

“
Of course, I will try and succeed. I will be damned if I let that man destroy any more of this family.” His face showed genuine concern. “Then I will find Jonathan. I will make sure he understands—”

Rebekah shook her head.
“Don’t. It will do no good and I will not beg. There is nothing to be done. I cannot undo the trust that I lost. Understand I’m not sorry that I made the deal that spared Jonathan’s life, but I knew well he will never forgive me. Jonathan would have rather died than betrayed his sister.”

“
But, Rebekah—”

“
It is done, Daniel. I want only to keep General Durham from taking his son. It is all I can do.”

Not Jasper but a noise disturbed their conversation. Rebekah watched her brother snatch his pistol and run to the open window.
She reached for her knife when Jasper rushed in.

“
Miss Rebekah, there are riders.”

“
I hear ’em too,” Daniel agreed. “We need to go.”

His hand pushed Rebekah forward. She shook him off.
“No, Daniel, you go with Jasper, Jocko and Troy. Now. Take the boat. I will take your horse. Here, take my letters.”

“
Are you mad? We can’t leave you!”

“
I do not have time to argue with you, Daniel. If it is the British, they would not be surprised if they thought I was trying to leave Charles Town. What are they going to charge me with if no one is found with me? It will be different if they find you here. Go!”

Daniel hesitated.
“What if it’s raiders?”

“
Then I shall scream and you can return,” she answered with impatience. “Go. Please. You are the only one who can prevent a great wrong. I am counting upon you, Daniel.”

“
Rebekah, you talk nonsense.”

Paying her no mind, Daniel grabbed her hand and edged out the back door. Her brother motioned for Jasper and Troy to go ahead to the boat
where Jocko waited. Rebekah realized it would be their only way to escape. When they saw Daniel’s horse, the riders would quickly surmise someone had been there…recently.

A breeze from the river carried the smell of a storm. The rain would not hold off much longer.

Huddled into the undergrowth, Rebekah heard the riders halt at the cabin. They hadn’t much time. Her heart thumped wildly. She watched the men struggle with the boat. It was stuck and Jasper was an old man. She pushed Daniel back to help the others.

She looked
back over her shoulder. She comprehended the riders would be upon them all too quickly. No sooner than Daniel’s hands tugged on the hidden boat, than she ducked around the bushes and back to the cabin.

Horses and men surrounded the place, but her eyes caught
sight of Daniel’s horse. She eased around the cabin, and hesitated only a moment before she darted toward the horse.

Behind her
, she heard a rider close the gap between her and an escape. She didn’t make it. Arms swept down and picked her up with no more of an effort than if she were a sack of feathers.

She gasped, but instinct told her she knew her captor. His arms about her
and his breath against her neck were all too familiar. He knew exactly who he held, as she knew who had her.

“
Rory,” she whispered.

Rebekah stood on the riverbank. Rory had flung her in front of him. The force had knocked her hat off. Her hair hung wildly down her back. The boat lay off the bank in deeper water.

“
Tell me swiftly, Rebekah. Tell me if I should go after your brother.”

“
I don’t know what you mean.”

His eye slowly narrowed.
“Do not play games with me, my dear. I’m in no mood. And you haven’t the time for it. I will blast them out of the water unless you tell me what you are doing—now!”

“
I was leaving Charles Town…”

“
Rebekah, I warn you. Do not lie to me. You forget who you are dealing with. Tell me now why I should not shoot your brother. He will not leave if he believes you are endangered.”

“
What do you want from me?”

“
The truth. I want the truth.”

She turned and stared straight into his eye.
“I want Daniel to stop General Durham from using the information I gave him to save Jonathan.”

Rory smiled a large grin.
“That was not so hard. Was it, my love, to tell the truth?”

Rory signaled his men back with a slashing gesture. He roared out to the boat,
“You are free to go your merry way. We will not stop you, but I will deliver your sister back to Charles Town. Have no fear. She will go unharmed.”

He gripped her arm. He said,
“Wave. Tell them to go. My goodwill will not last.”

She nodded in silent agreement and did as he bid. She watched the boat row off down the river.

“You are not going to follow them?”

“
If I was, I would not tell you, would I? Come, Rebekah, you told me that I had taught you well, but it seems not well enough.”

She said nothing, but followed alongside Rory back to the cabin. The first raindrops had fall
en. She heard him give orders, thankful none seemed to counteract his words. He slammed back the door to the cabin and thrust her inside.

“
Before we head back to Charles Town, we need to come to an understanding.”

Behind him, he kicked the door shut. Above her
, the rain plunked down on the roof, but it did little to drown the sound of her pounding heart.

His eyes flitted over her. Certain
her cheeks had taken on a vivid hue of red, she turned from him, but only momentarily. He jerked her back to him. A sneer came to his lips.

“
Are you frightened I will take you here and now? Where is your protector? Oh, yes, General Durham. He goes to take back his son from your husband’s sister.”

His words roused a feeling of anger in her that made her forget her fear. Her eyes snapped with fire.
“How…? You have been…Oh, my Lord! You have read my letters. You have been spying upon me!”

“
Did you expect less?” He seized her and relentlessly pulled her to him. “You don’t know what you are doing. You make idle threats. Threats that will get you killed, my love. You can’t threaten me with punishment and then cover for me. It is a sign of weakness.”

Angrily, Rebekah said,
“It matters little now what happens to me. If somehow you read my letter, you know I have attempted to right the wrong I have done. It is all that I had to do. Kill me. I care not…”

“
You think that is what I want?” His harsh tone sent a quiver straight through her bones. “You are a fool.”

He released her. She fell to the floor. Outside
, the wind howled and the rain banged against the shelter. She wanted nothing more than to recoil into the corner, but he shadowed over her, and surveyed her for a long moment.

She looked up at him. Most people cringed at Rory because of his appearance
: his horrible scars on one side of his face as well as the patch over the loss of his eye. Though, it had never repulsed her.

Anticipation pulsed through the air until the silence had become a danger itself. On trembling limbs, Rebekah rose.

“Tell me, then, Rory, what do you want from me?”

“
Want from you?” He clenched his teeth in rage. His dark eye flared. “I made no secret that I want you, Rebekah. Don’t fret. I have no intention upon acting on my desire…not yet.” He paused, and then repeated, “Not yet…but think! You said I taught you well. Show it. Tell me what I want this day.”

Rebekah fidgeted beneath his cold gaze
and pointedly stared off into the distance. Her mind actively rummaged through the events since the British occupied Charles Town. Why would he let Daniel go with the note that would warn Jonathan’s sister of General Durham’s intent? Why?