Riverbreeze: Part 2 (39 page)

Bailey repeated the confession and then the pastor led everyone in a prayer of forgiveness. At the end, the couple was directed to sit down on the benches in spaces saved for them.

The door opened again and now Clement Miller was escorted up the aisle by another church warden. He shuffled along, painfully bent over, his back rounded. He was mumbling curses and complaints even as the warden was scolding him. But when Clement saw Robert, he winked and let out a cackle.

Robert was so embarrassed he wanted to crawl away. He quickly looked down and stared at his hands in his lap, but he could sense the pastor’s eyes on him. What could Gowan be thinking? Robert thought. Especially since this was his first day back to church in a month!

Clement cackled some more, suddenly stumbling over his own two feet. The warden pulled him up, hissing at him to behave. The little boys let out a giggle, but their father quickly shushed them.

The pastor imperceptibly shook his head at Clement. “Clement Miller, you have been found guilty of drunkenness, uttering wicked oaths, and profaning the name of God. You will repent your sins in front of all these good people. You will repeat after me…”

It took some time, because Clement couldn’t handle too many words at once, but finally he did acknowledge and confess to his sins. There was an audible, collective sigh of relief from the congregation when he finished.

Finally the benediction was read, and everyone rose and began to talk.

Reverend Gowan and Roy Wright left the church first, walking down the aisle and out the front door where they stood waiting to exchange greetings with the congregation. The women and girls filed out next. Jamie started to say something to Robert about the couple, but Robert was barely listening. He was too focused on watching Burnett at the back of the church. Burnett was talking to the men on either side of him, but when Abigail passed by him, he immediately reached out to touch her arm and said a few urgent words to her. She shied back and Robert wished he could have leapt over everyone to grab Burnett and punch him in the face. But he had to contain himself, and wait like everyone else.

Finally most of the women had exited the church and the men followed. Robert shuffled along impatiently, craning his neck to keep an eye on Burnett and trying to get everyone in front of him to move a little more quickly. He didn’t cut in front of anyone because that would have been too rude and he didn’t want to antagonize anyone. Next week he would need all the friends he had.

“What is wrong with you?” Jamie hissed at him.

“You already know what is wrong with me.” Robert hissed back.

As soon as Robert had paid his respects to Reverend Gowan and the lay reader, and received words of admonishment from the Reverend for being absent from church too many Sundays in a row, he impatiently turned to search out his wife and Abigail among the scores of people. Children were running around again; the gentlemen had appeared off to the side after having left the church through the side door, and the remainder of the men behind Robert slowly crowded up against his back. He descended the two steps and moved a little off to the side out of everyone’s way while scanning the churchyard.

There they were, towards the middle of the yard, standing with Mistresses Turner and Crockett, Evelyn and several other ladies. Elizabeth appeared extremely happy, chatting animatedly with the women. She was showing them her collar, then Evelyn showed off hers and the women oohed and aahed, fingering the fine lace. No doubt Evelyn would get some work out of this display.

It surprised Robert that Burnett was not with them. After seeing him approach Abigail as she had passed him, Robert thought that Burnett would have sought her out immediately after the service. His eyes swept the yard and beyond, looking for him.

Ah, there he was, coming from the privy and heading towards the women. His determined stride carried him quickly across the distance.

Robert tensed, wanting to rush out and tackle him, but he didn’t. In order for his plan to work, he had to do this right. Taking out the small packet of ragweed, he discreetly rubbed it under his nose and took a good whiff of it. Immediately his eyes started to water and he sneezed violently. Good! Then he rubbed the stuff on his fingers, before looking right and left, making sure no one was paying too much attention to him. Then he returned the packet to its hiding place, tugged his doublet down and nonchalantly took off in the direction of the women. Sniffling and wiping his nose, he strolled confidently across the yard to arrive at the group of women at about the same time as Burnett would.

Abruptly, the women stopped talking, watching both men approach. Elizabeth started to smile at her husband but seeing his unusually red eyes and red nose transformed the smile to a look of bewilderment and concern. He threw her a meaningful look, hoping she would just remain quiet. He hadn’t discussed this plan with her; now he wasn’t sure if that had been the right thing to do.

Abigail did know what he was doing and it was difficult for her to keep a straight face. Her mouth twitched in a smile of gratitude so she bowed her head, avoiding his gaze and slowly inched her way between Elizabeth and Evelyn. They didn’t even seem to notice; they were watching Robert so intensely.

Burnett looked enormously surprised to see him. He stopped short, clearly discomfited. He stood rigidly, one hand clasped over the other. “Oh, you.” He stammered. He was so flustered, he didn’t even greet the women.

Yes, me
. Robert thought, irritated.
Didn’t he think I would be here with my family
? Nevertheless, he managed to smile pleasantly at the other man, although it was one of the most difficult things he’d ever done. “Good day, Master Burnett.” He said courteously, bowing his head and sniffling. He deliberately wiped his nose with the back of his fingers.

Burnett was taken aback, and disgusted by Robert’s gesture. Nevertheless he responded in kind, not wanting to show his uncivilized side in front of Abigail and the ladies. Still his expression was suspicious.

“And how are you this fine day?” Robert asked smoothly despite his discomfort. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Elizabeth staring at him with her mouth slightly agape.

“I am fine, sir.” Burnett said stiffly, straightening his spine. “And you?”

“Well…” Robert chuckled a little, sniffling again. “As you can see, I seem to have caught a cold.” He ran his fingertips over his upper lip again, breathing in the irritant, feeling the tickle in his nose. He started to huff and snuff…

“How unfortunate.” Burnett said, easing his way away from Robert, but not in time. Robert let out a huge sneeze right in front of Burnett, spraying Burnett with spit and mucous, and catching the attention of several around him.

Several things happened at once. The ladies let out little cries of distress and jumped back. Elizabeth immediately started to pull out her handkerchief, but Abigail put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm, stopping her. Elizabeth stared at her perplexedly; Abigail just shook her head imperceptibly.

Burnett did pull out his handkerchief and started mopping at his coat, his upper lip lifted in disgust. Robert deftly plucked it from Burnett’s hand, uttered, “thank you, Peter.” And immediately blew his nose in it for a long time.

Burnett was so shocked he just stood there with his mouth hanging open for a few minutes, then finally came to his senses when Robert made a show of offering to give the handkerchief back. He spit on Robert’s boot, saying, “Keep it.” And he turned with a sniff and strode away.

Robert beamed. He had done it! He looked at the disgusting handkerchief and there was the monogram in one corner perfectly stitched in royal blue thread. He looked at Abigail to share a moment of triumph with her but she was staring at Burnett’s retreating form, white as a ghost.

“What is it?” He asked, his elation turning to alarm. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not feeling well.” She said in a dazed whisper. “I want to go home.”

Robert acted immediately. “Ladies…” He addressed the other women, his voice deceptively calm. “If you will excuse us, please.”

A few minutes later after the women had expressed their wishes of good health to Abigail, Robert asked her again what had happened?

“His hand. I saw a long scratch on it.” Abigail said in a very small voice. Her eyes filled with tears. “I slashed at the man who had attacked me and cut his hand…”

“I knew it!” Robert exclaimed, clenching his fist. “Didn’t I tell you?” He felt his blood begin to boil. He turned to look at the place where Burnett had been walking away. He wasn’t there anymore!

Abigail just nodded her head, her hands covering her mouth in distress.

Elizabeth and Evelyn had both put an arm around Abigail, wanting to comfort her, but each had looks of confusion on their faces. Robert didn’t have time to explain things though. “Take care of her.” He said to Elizabeth, then he took off, his expression murderous.

Elizabeth called out to him, but he didn’t respond. He was determined to find Burnett again and beat him bloody. He might even kill him or on second thought, threaten to kill him.

* * *

It only took a minute to search through the crowd and locate Burnett. He was outside the gate on the way down to the dock.
Perfect
, Robert thought,
I can bring him into the woods.

Robert hurried through the yard, catching up with him halfway to the edge of the woods. Burnett was caught completely off guard. Robert grabbed his upper arm, close to his armpit and started to firmly escort him down the path towards the trees.

“What are you doing?” Burnett demanded, struggling against Robert’s hold. He tried to yank his arm from Robert’s grasp. “What is this about?”

Robert didn’t let go. His hand was like a vise. “Keep walking.” He ordered through his teeth. He looked around, off to the side, back over his shoulder, to make sure no one was following them. He hoped it appeared to everyone that all they were doing was going off to have a smoke or something like that. “I want a word with you.”

“You’ve already stolen my handkerchief! What else could you want? Where are we going?” Burnett asked, desperately looking around for some help from somebody; anybody! They were walking pretty fast now; Burnett had to concentrate on keeping up with Robert.

By this time they were at the edge of the woods and they moved into the shadows. Dry, brittle leaves crackled under their feet and a blue heron lifted off from a high branch overhead. “We’re going where no one will see us.” Robert said, his voice tight with anger. “And you better not call out for help because I know what you’ve done.”

“I have done nothing.” Burnett declared firmly, but he was breathing heavily and a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.

Robert drew them further into the woods, jerking Burnett past brambles and vines. Twigs snapped under their footsteps and Burnett stumbled a time or two over protruding rocks and roots. The air was cooler in the woods, but beads of sweat had popped out on Burnett’s forehead and upper lip. Robert took in a deep breath of the pine-scented air, glad that his allergic reaction to the ragweed had cleared up.

When Robert was satisfied that they were completely hidden from view, surrounded by large and small trees, hickories, mulberries, oaks and Loblolly pines, he stopped. The sun was completely blocked by the thick branches and Robert could barely hear the laughter and happy screams of playing children.

“What do you want?” Burnett asked again, jerking his arm out of Robert’s grasp and reaching up to straighten his hat. This time Robert let him go, only to punch him hard in the stomach. Burnett’s eyes bulged; he let out a grunt and doubled over. His hat fell to the ground, but he left it, his attention focused on the pain in his stomach. He stayed doubled over for a moment, gasping for breath.

“You bastard!” Robert growled. “You murdered Beatrice Warren.” He stepped forward again and reached down to grab Burnett’s coat and jerk him upright.

“I did no such thing!” Burnett gasped, his voice strangled.

“You goddamned liar!” Robert smashed his fist into Burnett’s jaw this time. Burnett’s head snapped back, his eyes wide with shock.

Robert shook his hand at his side, then he pointed his finger at the other man. “You set that fire that killed Beatrice Warren. You murdered her.” His whole body was shaking, he was so furious.

Burnett shifted his feet, finding a solid footing, taking time to recover. He worked his jaw back and forth, rubbing the sore spot. A sly look came into his eyes. “You can’t prove a thing.” He said, almost gloating.

Robert pulled the nasty handkerchief out of his doublet and waved it triumphantly. With a mocking smile said, “I found a piece of your handkerchief among the ashes and now this proves that you were there.”

“I could have been there visiting before the fire and accidentally left my handkerchief there. No court will believe you.” He sniffed haughtily and bent to pick up his hat.

Robert stuffed the handkerchief back into his doublet. Burnett was right, damn it! Abigail had said the exact same thing. There really wasn’t enough evidence. But it was enough evidence for him.

Burnett was brushing dirt and leaves from his hat and was about to put it back on his head when Robert noticed the scratch across the back of Burnett’s hand. He grabbed it so he could get a good look at it. It hadn’t been a deep cut, but ran from wrist to the first knuckle.