Read Thursday's Child (Out of Time #5) Online
Authors: Monique Martin
Simon's arm was cleaned and re-stitched. It was even more painful to watch than the first time and Elizabeth's stomach roiled at the sight, although, the shots of swamp juice she'd swallowed the night before might have had something to do with it.
The following morning, Simon and Elizabeth went back into town to give the Harpers a chance to recover. They were welcomed back to Cypress Hill and spent the day taking antibiotics and convalescing.
The next morning, it was time to say goodbye.
“I hope you'll come back to see us sometime,” Catherine said as they stood out front waiting for her carriage to be brought around.
“I'd like to,” Elizabeth said, very much meaning it, but knowing it wouldn't happen.
“Think of all the trouble we could get into,” Catherine said to her with a wink.
Simon looked to the heavens. “God help us.”
Catherine frowned as her carriage pulled up. “Are you sure you have to go? Where am I going to find a new cohort?”
“I'm afraid, I'll have to do,” the Colonel said as he came out of the house and instructed Abraham to put a box into the back of the carriage.
He shook Simon's hand. “God speed.” He turned to Elizabeth and narrowed his eyes before bowing, a slight smile cracking his stern face. “Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth stifled a laugh and curtsied. “Colonel.”
“Thank you, for everything,” Simon said to both of them, but his eyes lingered on Catherine. She nodded and smiled in return.
“We should be going, Cat,” the Colonel said as he opened the carriage door. “Those boys at the orphanage won't learn discipline if we set a bad example by being late.”
Catherine pulled Elizabeth into a hug before turning and climbing into the carriage. The Colonel followed her in and closed the door. Elizabeth waved as they drove away.
Abraham appeared beside them. “Your trunks are ready whenever you are, suh.”
“Thank you,” Simon said, and then held out his hand.
Abraham looked at it unsure for a moment and then took it.
“Thank you, Abraham,” Simon said as he gave it a firm shake. “For everything.”
Abraham nodded, clearly moved by the sentiment. “Thank you, suh.”
~~~
They made the drive up to River Run for the last time. Construction had already begun on the damaged portions of the house to bring it back to its Antebellum majesty.
Elizabeth tried to take everything in. She wanted to commit the scene to memory because she knew she and the world would never see the likes of it again.
Jacob led them through the house and out onto the back veranda. “Miss Rose is in the garden.”
They walked down the back steps and into the garden, but Rose was nowhere to be found. They ventured a little deeper into the yard. Simon nodded toward a figure off in the distance.
Rose was standing over a freshly dug grave in the family cemetery.
“We've come to say goodbye,” Elizabeth said.
Rose looked up sadly, but smiled. Her eyes fell back to the ground. “We had her brought home yesterday afternoon,” she said. “They're carving a stone for her. With her true name.”
Elizabeth slipped her hand into Simon's and looked down at the small grave. She felt a tightness in her throat and a melancholy only lifted by the knowledge that Mary was finally home.
She cleared her throat. “The flowers are beautiful.”
“I came to put these flowers here,” Rose said, holding out a bouquet of roses, “and found these already here.” A small patch of deep blue forget-me-nots blossomed in the dark soil.
Beside her, she heard Simon let out a soft breath. It was a sigh of release. Elizabeth nodded to herself. Mary was at peace.
Rose laid the flowers on the grave and gestured for them to follow her back to the house. As they did, Eli appeared leading Louisa around on her pony. The girl laughed and Elizabeth smiled.
“She seems to be doing well,” Simon said.
Rose looked out at her daughter and Eli and something in her eyes lightened. “She is. Children are inspiringly resilient, aren't they?”
They climbed the stairs to the veranda and looked out over the estate for a quiet moment before Elizabeth said, “I'm sorry it all came to this.”
Rose took a deep breath as she looked out at her daughter and Eli. “Life is a crucible. We are either broken by it or our bonds strengthened.” She turned to them. “James will be taking a long trip to facilitate his recovery. Elijah will see to things while he's gone.”
Rose watched them for a minute before turning back and resuming her role as the perfect Southern lady. “Where are my manners? Would you like some refreshments?”
“No, thank you,” Simon said. “We should be going.”
“It's time we moved on,” Elizabeth said.
Rose smiled and reached for her hand. She squeezed it once and her eyes filled with fresh tears. “Godspeed.”
She smiled one last time then walked over to join Eli and Louisa.
Elizabeth and Simon stood on the porch, arms around each other's waists, and watched the remnants of a family try to rebuild anew.
After a minute, Simon held out his hand. “Ready?”
She knew he meant ready to leave, but suddenly it felt like more than that. They weren't just leaving the past; they were stepping into their future, one that, until this trip, Elizabeth had never worried over. Old Nan's prophecy echoed in her mind.
It is your burden.
Elizabeth sighed. Rose was right. Life was a crucible, and it either broke you or made you stronger. And she and Simon were always stronger together.
She took his hand. “Ready.”
Whatever fate had in store for them, they would face it and overcome it. Together.
THE END
NOTE TO READERS
Thank you for reading Thursday’s Child; I truly hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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ALSO BY MONIQUE MARTIN
Out of Time: A Time Travel Mystery (Out of Time #1)
When the Walls Fell (Out of Time #2)
Fragments (Out of Time #3)
The Devil's Due (Out of Time #4)
Thursday's Child (Out of Time #5)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monique was born in Houston, Texas, but her family soon moved to Southern California. She grew up on both coasts, living in Connecticut and California. She currently resides in Southern California with her naughty Siamese cat, Monkey.
She's currently working on an adaptation of one of her screenplays, several short stories and novels and the next book in the Out of Time series.
For news and information about Monique and upcoming releases, please visit:
http://moniquemartin.weebly.com/
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