From This Day Forward (17 page)

Rachel dropped the material of her dress and rushed toward him. “Nathan, are you all right?”

His dazed look greeted her question. She knelt down next to him and put her arm around him, intending to help him up.

He blinked, shook his head, and pulled away. “What’s going on in here? I heard your screech and thought you were being attacked.”

“Did Maddy tell you about the rooster?”

“No, only that you were in trouble in the barn.”

“The hens are gone and the rooster didn’t take a liking to me being in the empty henhouse, as if he thought I had something to do with his harem being gone.”

Nathan’s eyebrows slashed downward. “Where are the hens? When we left this morning for Charleston, I know the door to the stall was latched. I checked before I hitched up the cart.”

“Nary an egg or hen in any of the nests.”

“We have been robbed!” Maddy came running into the barn, bent over, and drew in gulps of air.

Rachel pivoted toward her at the same time as Nathan and said, “What do you mean?”

“The last of the salted beef you brought from your cabin is gone, Dr. Stuart.”

Rachel’s gaze locked with Nathan’s. “Do you think that gang you told me about robbed us?”

“We need to check everything and see if any other items are missing. I cannot see a gang of thieves only taking a few hens, eggs, and salted beef.”

“They would if they are hungry.” Rachel went back into the stall and grabbed her basket.

“True, but an ox or pig is worth more than some chickens, and their meat would last a lot longer. I will look around here and outside while you and Maddy take stock of what is in the house.”

As Rachel strode toward her home, she asked Maddy, “Where is Faith?”

“In her cradle sleeping.”

“I don’t want to leave her alone if there are robbers in the area.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Nathan was telling me about a way the Indians carry their babies with them. It might be best if I have him show me how. Tomorrow we need to work in the garden planting the vegetables and herbs.” Rachel pushed open the door and hurried toward the cradle near the fireplace to make sure Faith was still in it. The very thought of someone coming into her place while they had been gone made the hairs on her arms stand up.

“We need a gun,” Maddy said.

“A gun! I don’t know how to shoot. Do you?”

“No, but perhaps Dr. Stuart can show us.”

“Us?”

Maddy nodded. “I want to be able to protect myself too.”

“You did a mighty fine job with Mr. Baker.”

Red patches colored the young woman’s cheeks. “I really don’t know what came over me that day. What if he took the hens and beef?”

“And left his pig?”

“If the pig went missing, we would immediately think it was him.”

“Maddy, what is it about the man you don’t fancy?”

“He is so…big.”

“I think he is rather nice. Sweet. The other day, when he used the pier, he was a perfect gentleman. Didn’t he even help you carry the water from the well to the house?”

“And sloshed some on my dress.”

“Only because Cat ran across his path.” Faith opened her eyes and looked right at Rachel. She stooped over and picked up her daughter. “Let’s see if anything else is missing.”

An hour later Nathan came in, carrying one of the hens. “I found her where the old nests were.”

“How about the others?” Rachel asked as she put Faith back into her cradle.

“One was sitting on my cot and the other found its way back into the stall, or rather the rooster
escorted
her back.”

“So no one stole the hens.”

“It doesn’t look like it, but I don’t know how they got out.”

“When I went to check if there were any eggs, the door was open.”

“Hmm.” Nathan rubbed his chin. “Was anything else missing in here?”

“Not that we could find. How about you?”

“Everything is accounted for.”

“What about the salted beef?” Maddy walked back into the main room from the bedchamber.

“And the eggs? According to John my hens should be laying them, especially since they did that first day.”

“I don’t have an answer.” Nathan started to leave with the chicken.

“Then that means we still might have a thief,” Maddy said.

“Yes.” Stepping outside, Nathan closed the door behind him.

The sound of it clicking into place echoed through the quiet. Rachel shivered. “We need to lay a trap for the thief.”

“How?”

“Let me think on it. I cannot have someone stealing from us. We don’t have that much.”

A week later, Rachel paced in front of the fireplace. “Nothing we have done has caught the thief. I found a broken egg on the ground in the stall this morning. No matter when we stake out the henhouse, he comes when we are not watching. I think he is watching us. We need a dog.”

Rising from the table, Nathan chuckled. “Where do you propose getting a dog?”

“Your brother has several hunting dogs. Do you think he would loan us one?”

“Actually, John has one that lives in the stable with the horses and can cause quite a ruckus if a stranger comes around. I am sure we can ‘borrow’ him. I probably will see him in town in a few days.”

“A few days? Are they not at Liberty Hall right now?”

“Yes, but I still have the planting to finish up. I should be through in a few days.”

Rachel stopped her pacing and swung around with her hand at her waist. “I didn’t have the heart to tell you the rabbit you killed yesterday was missing this morning. At this rate we will starve.”

“He took my rabbit?” Indignation sounded in his voice as his amused look evolved into a frown.

She nodded. “I was going to make a rabbit stew for dinner today. It is gone from the barn where you skinned it.”

“Something needs to be done, but I cannot take the time right now away from planting.”

“But I can. I can hitch your horse to the cart and go to Liberty Hall today. I shall leave Maddy here to do the washing, and I shall take Faith. I can set up something for her to lie on in the back of the cart.”

“By yourself?”

The other hand went to her waist. “I have to do it sometime. You will not always be here. Besides, John and Sarah are neighbors. It is only three miles away. Not but thirty minutes. I thought I would take the gown I’m making for Sarah and make sure it is fitting properly. I understand this ball gown is for the big festival in May at Liberty Hall. I am not going by myself. Faith shall be with me.”

“In that case, you have all the protection you need.” His frown grew into a scowl.

She marched up to him, fury speeding through her blood as if it were lava pouring from a volcano. “I’m responsible for myself and my own protection. You will not be here for much longer, so you had better get used to my doing things for myself.” As she had to get used to the idea she was totally on her own.

He halved the short distance between them, his own anger welling to the surface in a fierce expression. “How are you going to do that? Shake your finger at someone?”

“I have Tom’s flintlock. I need to learn to hunt. You can teach me to fire a gun.”

His mouth fell open, his eyes growing huge. “Shoot a gun? Hunt? What has gotten into you?”

“Reality. You are going hunting a couple of times a week to supplement our food supply. I am not so naïve that I don’t think a stranger like the one who accosted me in Charleston could not do it again. Is there a problem with teaching me to shoot? Don’t you want to leave me able to take care of myself?”

“No, I want you to go home to England and forget this foolishness.”

“If you will not help me, I shall ask Mr. Baker. I think he would. I believe he is sweet on Maddy. She wants to learn too.”

Nathan raked both hands through his hair. “Maddy! What has gotten into you women?”

“After that encounter in Charleston and this thief, I think my request makes perfect sense.” She spun around and strode to the door, glancing back as she opened it to say, “I’m going to hitch your horse to the cart.”

“What if I say no?”

“Then I shall walk. It is a beautiful day, and most likely Maddy will not get all the laundry done because she will have to watch Faith. So which way shall I go? In the cart or walking?”

He mumbled something she couldn’t hear.

“I do declare you need to speak up. I cannot hear you.”

“I was just wondering whatever possessed me to agree to help you in the first place.”

“I don’t know. What did?” She cocked her head to the side and sent him a grin.

“Use my horse.” He closed the space between them. “I will be out in the field.”

“I shall have Maddy prepare your dinner. She is becoming quite good at cooking.” She was pleased at least one of them was, because she still had not mastered the art of making bread. Perhaps when she bought a cow, she would be better at butter and cheese making.

Nathan grumbled under his breath and left the house, his strides long and economical as he headed for the barn, his arms swinging stiffly at his sides. His body screamed anger.

At least she had made her point. She would take care of herself. The fact he had to rescue her a second time in Charleston did not set well with her. What would happen when he wasn’t around? She had to learn to rely totally on herself.

Out in the middle of the half-planted field, Nathan glared at the plowed ground, the stench of manure mixed into the soil wafting up to him.
Rachel wants to learn to shoot a gun. She could kill herself. She could…

The anger boiling inside of him churned his gut. She would ask Mr. Baker to teach her if he didn’t. Since she had her husband’s flintlock, the argument she would have to buy a gun would not work. At the moment he didn’t see any way around it. He would have to teach her and ensure she learned the correct way. He didn’t want to feel responsible for her shooting an innocent person—or herself—by accident.

The memory of the man in the alley with his hands on her curdled Nathan’s blood, inflaming his anger even more. If he ever saw that man, he would make him regret assaulting her. It should be safe for a lady to walk the streets of Charleston—at least in that part of town in broad daylight—without fear of being attacked. He would have a word with the constable when they went back to town in a few days after the planting was finished.

What if that man caught her on the road today going to his sister? Although the sun beat down warmly, coldness burrowed into Nathan’s bones. He would write another letter to her parents and oldest brother just in case his first one didn’t reach them. If they came for her, his life could return to normal.

He knelt next to a small hill of dirt and poked a hole in it then put two corn seeds in it and covered them with earth. Moving on to the next spot, he continued the same procedure, glad it was mindless work, as his thoughts kept going back to the woman he felt obligated to watch over.

Her anger earlier at his attempt to get her to do what he wanted in order to keep her safe still baffled him. Most women he knew wanted to be coddled and taken care of. If Rachel discovered he had asked Sarah to approach Mrs. Bridges about hiring her, she would be furious. He had hoped the dressmaker could persuade Rachel to move to Charleston and give up on this idea of running a farm. Instead the lady had asked Rachel to sew for her at home, giving Rachel a means to earn money for the farm. He had offered to pay Mrs. Bridges for Rachel’s wages, but the lady had declined, especially when she saw the work Rachel was capable of. He had thought Rachel would welcome moving to town if she had a means to support herself.

Finishing one row, Nathan started another. Why didn’t Rachel act like the other women he was acquainted with? But then his mother hadn’t either, and she had been an Englishwoman. She had left them in Grandfather’s care but had arranged a yearly income from her family for him so he didn’t have to worry about money. Why? Because she had known about his desire to be a doctor, not a planter, and hadn’t wanted Grandfather dictating what he did?

Overhead a seagull shrieked, gliding on a wind current. Nathan looked up at the bird as it disappeared from view then surveyed the field and surrounding woods. The hairs on his nape tingled. A sense of being watched heightened his alertness. Searching the dense undergrowth to the west where the swamp was, he rose, catching sight of movement about a hundred yards away.