From This Day Forward (18 page)

Nathan charged forward, plunging into the thick brush.

The screech of a bird overhead jolted Rachel. She jumped on the wooden seat of the cart, gripping the reins in case the horse bolted at the loud noise. Nathan’s gelding kept its steady pace on the road to Liberty Hall. She glanced back to see how Faith was doing. Her daughter was staring at the trees as though mesmerized as they passed them.

As much as Rachel didn’t care for weapons of any kind, Maddy’s suggestion made sense to her. They needed to know how to protect themselves, whether Nathan was with them or not. Their discussion—well, perhaps argument—firmed in her mind that she had to tell him she would split in half whatever the crops yielded this year. She would not allow him to do all the work he did for a small percentage. It was not right. And as much as she wished she could take over in the next month or so, she didn’t know how she could. Perhaps after she understood what to do through the spring and summer months, until the harvest was complete in the fall. Would Nathan stay?

By the time Rachel reached Liberty Hall, she was resolved to approach Nathan about staying for six more months and being equal partners as far as the crops went.

Sarah greeted her with a hug. “You brought Faith. How is she doing?”

“Good. She’s a happy baby.”

“Has reading Moss’s
Essay on the Management and Nursing of Children in the Earlier Periods of Infancy
helped you?”

“Yes. I especially like the part of not overfeeding Faith, and giving her room to move. She likes to kick her legs and wave her arms.”

“I found Sean hated being confined by blankets and swaddling. Once I read Dr. Moss’s thoughts on it, my son was much happier. Come into the parlor. We can have some tea and sweets Cook made yesterday, and you can tell me why you have come.”

Settled on the sofa with Faith in her lap, Rachel waited until Sarah had returned with a tray and was sitting across from her before saying, “It is your brother. He can be most difficult at times.”

Sarah poured the tea and gave Rachel a cup. “That is Nathan. I have tried everything to get him to be available when I go into labor, but he refuses, no matter how much I plead. After last time, I wanted a doctor in attendance rather than a midwife, but I don’t care for Dr. Ellsworth.” She fluttered her hand in the air. “Enough about that. What brings you to Liberty Hall?”

“We have a thief stealing food at the farm. I came to see if you all would loan me the use of a dog. Nathan told me you have one that is quite protective and lives in your stable.”

“He is a most excellent watchdog. Sean loves him. I would be glad to lend him to you. You cannot have a thief. He will get bolder and bolder as he gets away with his stealing.”

“I asked Nathan to teach me to shoot. I don’t know if he will, but this thief has made it clear I need to know how.”

“If he will not, I will show you what little I know from watching John.”

After sipping her tea, Rachel placed the cup and saucer on the table and leaned back, cradling Faith, who was enthralled with her new environment. “I suggested seeing if Mr. Baker would teach me, which did not set well with your brother.”

Sarah chuckled. “Men. They think we are so incapable of taking care of ourselves. During the war John was gone for several years, with infrequent trips home. I managed running the plantation and our affairs in Charleston quite well. Even John said so. Perhaps I need to remind my brother of that.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I will convince him.” Rachel picked up Faith and laid her against her shoulder and patted her. “I also brought the morning gown I made for you to try on. I want to make sure it fits, since I shall be working on the ball gown next.”

“That would be wonderful. The one I would have worn will not do, since I am with child. I hope you will come to the ball in May. It will be here at Liberty Hall this year, and you can stay overnight with us. Some of our other guests will.”

Thinking of the fine fabric and the dress she would make for Sarah, Rachel considered her limited wardrobe. She had sold her ball gowns before leaving England. If what Tom said had been true, she could have replenished her clothing when she reached America according to what needs she had. “I probably shouldn’t—”

“I will not allow you to decline my invitation. We have become friends, and I want my friends to be at the festivities. I have a half-mourning gown I think would fit you perfectly. ’Tis lavender.”

Rachel hadn’t been to a ball in over a year. She loved to dance and had missed doing it. “If you are sure.”

“Most definitely. Then it is settled. Besides, I have an ulterior motive for asking you. If you come, I am counting on Nathan coming too.”

Rachel smiled. “I like how you think.”

Knee-deep in water, Nathan spied a flash of blue to his left and plunged deeper into the swamp. He was sure whoever was watching him was the thief. If he caught him, perhaps Rachel would give up the notion of learning to shoot.

He sloshed up onto higher ground where his boots only sank a few inches into the muddy bog. Cypress trees closed in around him with vegetation thickening, making progress slow. But broken twigs and smashed-down greenery indicated he was on the right trail. A faint murmur of voices drifted to him. He halted and listened. To the left. He changed his direction and went through the thicket that clawed at his clothing and skin.

The voices grew louder. There were two thieves. This was Rachel’s land, and no one would be here unless they were up to no good. What if it was the man who had attacked her in Charleston? Nathan’s fingers clutched his flintlock while he peered down at his sheath that bore his knife. Well-armed, he would see this through and perhaps finally have some peace concerning Rachel.

A stick snapped behind him. He pivoted toward the sound, but halfway around, something hard crushed into his skull. Blackness fell over him.

Ten

Her visit with Sarah had been what Rachel needed to see Nathan in a calmer light. The past few years had not been easy for him with the war, his difficulties with his grandfather, and his mother’s abandonment. Now that she was a mother, Rachel did not understand the woman’s change of heart. From what Sarah had said, both her parents had loved their children and they had been a close family. What happened to change that?

Perhaps his mother didn’t know what heartache her actions had cost her son. What if she wrote to her and let Nathan’s mother know what her silence had caused her children? Perhaps she could help mend this family she had come to care about. She and Nathan would be going into Charleston when the planting was finished at the end of the week. She could post it then.

The laundry spread out on the bushes near the house as well as the line that Nathan had put up was the first thing Rachel saw when she came into view of her place in the early afternoon, the sun indicating it was perhaps two o’clock. Her servant was becoming indispensable to her. The sight of what Maddy had accomplished spread a smile across Rachel’s face.

Until Maddy bolted from the house, running straight toward her, alarm on her pert face. Her mobcap sat on her head askew, and mud caked the hem of her dress.

Breathless, she met Rachel a hundred feet from the front door. “Dr. Stuart is missing. I saw him going into the swamp earlier. He has not come back. I started to go search for him. I got stuck in the mud, and I screamed and screamed for him to come help. He never did, ma’am. Something is terribly wrong.”

“How did you get out of the mud?” Rachel stopped the horse and twisted around to pick up Faith, who had fallen asleep.

The McNeal’s dog stood up in the cart, staring at Maddy and growling low in his throat.

“Jasper, it is all right.”

Maddy, wide-eyed, backed away. “What’s that thing?”

“A dog.”

“I never saw one like that. ’Tis huge.”

“All the better to catch our thief. He is an Irish wolfhound, according to Sarah.”

“Perhaps it has a horse somewhere in its lineage.”

“He is really quite lovable. And big.” Rachel motioned for Maddy to come closer and when she hesitantly did, Rachel passed Faith to her. After hopping down to the ground, she took her daughter again and started for the house, saying, “Jasper, come.”

“He is!” Maddy’s gaze grew even larger.

“You faced down Mr. Baker. Surely Jasper, who is smaller, is not a threat to you. Now who helped you out of the mud?”

“Mr. Baker. He heard me screaming and came and plucked me right out. You should have seen it. You would think I weighed no more than a feather.”

Entering her house, Rachel looked around. “Where is Mr. Baker?”

“Searching for Dr. Stuart. He has been gone almost since you drove away. He left the field only partially planted. I know he was determined to finish that one today, so I don’t know why he went into the swamp.” Maddy wrapped her arms about herself.

“Help me strap Faith on and then you and I can continue planting until Mr. Baker comes back. It is probably nothing.” She didn’t really believe her words, but Maddy’s agitation began to encompass Rachel with a sense of panic she dare not give into.

“Mr. Baker has been gone at least an hour. I turned the sandglass over and the top is empty.” Maddy pointed at the timekeeper, her hand trembling. “I am worried about…” She bit her teeth into her bottom lip.

I am worried too
. But she would not voice that to Maddy. Rachel found the scraps of cloth she used to bind her daughter against her when she needed to work with her hands free. She gave them to Maddy and held Faith clasped to her chest while her servant crisscrossed the pieces of material and tied them in back, securing her child safely.
Now if only Nathan is safe. Please, Lord, bring him back here
.

She and Maddy walked out to the field, the one nearest to the house, where Nathan’s sack of seed and a hoe lay on the plowed earth. She worked on one row while Maddy worked on another. Rachel’s gaze kept straying toward the swamp. Although the temperature was seasonably warm, a chill encased her in fear.

What if Nathan is gone? Never returns? Is dead—like Tom?

Her fear mushroomed until she fumbled the seeds and a handful ended up in a hole. She returned the excess corn to the bag. Why couldn’t she do it right? The way Nathan had shown her the other day. No wonder he was frustrated with her. No wonder he was worried about teaching her to shoot.

Finally, too upset with herself to continue, she knelt in the dirt and prayed for Nathan. If she had not wrecked on the road, he would right now be blissfully alone at his cabin, not feeling responsible for her.

Father, I need Your strength. I need Your guidance
. Perhaps she could work something out with Mr. Baker—if he returned—and accept Mrs. Bridges’ offer of a job at her dress shop.

“Ma’am, ’tis them. Mr. Baker is carrying Dr. Stuart.”

Rachel swiveled around toward the swamp and saw Mr. Baker carrying Nathan over his shoulder, struggling in the calf-high water at the edge of the raised field. She leaped to her feet and raced toward the men with Maddy right behind her. The sudden motion awakened Faith, who began to fuss at the jarring pace.

“Shh, honey. I need to help Nathan.” She circled her arms around her daughter as she ran.

Mr. Baker trudged to high ground as Rachel reached his side. “About halfway to my land, I found him wanderin’ around. We started back toward your place and he passed out. He has a lump on his head.”

Rachel positioned herself so she could see Nathan’s pale face, his hair matted with blood, the nasty wound. “Did he say anything?”

“ ’Twas only babblin’.” Mr. Baker continued his steady pace toward the house.

Inside, Rachel directed her neighbor to take Nathan into her bedchamber and lay him on her bed, wishing her straw mattress had his feather tick—soft, comfortable—on top. “Maddy, help me unwrap Faith and take care of her while I see to Nathan. I shall need you to bring me water and clean rags.”

Mr. Baker removed Nathan’s wet, muddy boots then stood back while Rachel examined the injury. “Is there anything ya want me to do?”

“Yes, please get a shirt and trousers. He stays in the barn. We need to get him out of these dirty clothes.”