Riverbreeze: Part 3 (25 page)

“You didn’t say that last night.” He grumbled.

Heaven help me! Robert groaned to himself.

He forced himself to smile. “Pardon me.” He said, clearing his throat. Everyone settled down. “As I was saying, this man is my brother.” The woman leaned further forward, this time seriously interested. “His real name is Wesley Bassett and he came here from Mary land.”

“Mary land!” One of the sailors exclaimed, the one with a patch over one eye. Robert looked at him, feeling a surge of hope. “Yes, St. Mary’s City. Have you seen him?”

“Well…” The sailor hesitated.

“I’d be forever grateful if you could tell me if you’ve seen him.” Robert said, implying monetary compensation.

That caught the woman’s attention however she slumped suddenly and let out a sigh. “I’m sorry.” Her voice came out flat and unemotional. “He isn’t staying here. He was here three days ago, but he left.”

“Did he say where he was going?” Robert asked quickly.

She narrowed her eyes, peering at him in a questioning way. “If what you tell us is true, that he is your brother, wouldn’t he have gone to your place? Wouldn’t you have already met him three days ago?”

The sailors chuckled knowingly. The one with a bushy beard said, “Obviously there’s some strife between the two of them.” He looked directly at Robert. “How grateful would you be?”

Robert had come prepared for this. You didn’t go searching for information about someone without bringing money. He pulled four coins out of his purse and laid them on the table, one shilling for each of them. He hoped that was enough.

It was. Bushy beard came over to Robert’s table and picked up the coin. He examined it, decided it was real and slipped it into his purse. Looking directly at Robert he said, “Your brother was a passenger on our ship and he had a traveling companion with him named Burnett—“

“Burnett!” Robert gasped. He stood up so abruptly he knocked his stool over.

Oh God! All of sudden, he had a horrible feeling. What a fool he had been! How stupid could he be? He shouldn’t have come here; he shouldn’t have left his house and his family unprotected. It was Burnett who left the crow. Oh God! He had to go back and quickly.

“Ah, you know him.” Bushy beard said, his lip curled. “Arrogant bastard, he was. Both of them, as a matter of fact. I wish you luck with them.”

Robert barely heard him. “Thank you.” He said in a rush. “What do I owe you?” He asked Susan.

“Twelve pence. This covers it.” She said, picking up one of the shillings.

“Here.” He said, digging around in his purse again. He pulled out two more shillings, one for Susan and one for Bushy beard. “For your hospitality.” He threw them on the table, grabbed his hat and gloves and ran out, his heart racing, dreading what he would find at home.

Chapter Forty-Two: “I fear this is only the beginning.”

The twins were startled awake by pounding footsteps coming up the stairs and someone shouting, “Mistress, wake up! Wake up!”

Elizabeth and Evelyn sat straight up in bed, clutching Robin in between them.
Dear God,
now what has happened?
Elizabeth thought, her heart pounding. “Nathan, we’re in here.” She called out when she realized he was heading for the other bedchamber. The dogs, however, knew where their mistresses were and ran into the room, barking their little heads off.

“What is going on?” She asked, pulling the curtains aside and moving to get out of bed. The dogs were scrambling around and trying to jump up on the bed. “Hush.” She ordered them and they quieted down somewhat.

“Do you suppose ‘tis another dead crow?” Evelyn asked, pulling her side of the curtains aside.

Elizabeth didn’t have the opportunity to answer because Nathan arrived then, gasping for breath. “Emergency, Mistress!” He panted. “The barn is on fire!”

Elizabeth felt a jolt of fear go through her. “On fire! Did you get all the animals out? Are you all right? Is Robert all right?” She asked in quick succession.

“Is Jamie all right?” Evelyn asked, clutching the counterpane to her chest.

“Where daddy?” Robin cried.

“Everyone is fine.” Nathan said. “I meant to say the tobacco barn is on fire.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth said, relief flooding through her. She hugged Robin closer and murmured, “’Tis all right, Robin. Daddy’s fine.” She looked back up at Nathan. “Where is Robert?”

Nathan looked like he didn’t want to tell her where Robert was, but finally he did. “He went to Jamestown to look for his brother.”

“Where is Jamie?” Evelyn asked.

“He went too.”

“What is being done about the fire?” Elizabeth asked.

“Dolnick is keeping an eye on it, but we can’t do much but let it burn itself out. What do you suggest we do, Mistress?”

Me? Elizabeth thought. What could she do? She didn’t know how to deal with a fire; there were no fire brigades here, no one to haul buckets of water or tear buildings down to create firebreaks like they did in London. But that did get her thinking. What could she do? She couldn’t do anything about the dead crow, but the fire…Oh! What would he do next? A burning fury started in her, anger, hatred, and an overwhelming need to protect her family and her home. She made a decision right then and there. She wasn’t going to allow this awful man to ruin her life. She wasn’t going to cower before this emergency; she wasn’t going to run and hide like a frightened little girl. No, she was going to stand up to him and fight; not in the literal sense, but the only way she was capable of. She was going to take care of her family and home; she was going to make sure that Robert was taken care of and supported in whatever action he deemed necessary, and she was going to stay strong. That was what she could do!

She reached for her sister’s hand and looked at her with determination in her eyes. There was no need for words; they could always read each other’s expressions and feel each other’s emotions. “Let’s get dressed and take care of this.”

Evelyn gave a definite nod of her head.

“Nathan.” Elizabeth said, standing up and picking up Robin in her arms. “Go outside with Dolnick and made sure the fire doesn’t spread. We can’t save the barn but we can keep the other outbuildings safe. Go.”

He inclined his head once. “Yes, mistress.” He said and fled back downstairs and outside.

Evelyn had gotten out of bed and come over to Elizabeth by then. She hugged her and Robin.

“I fear this is only the beginning.” Evelyn whispered.

“But we remain strong.” Elizabeth said. “We will not let this man defeat us.”

“Elizabeth? Evelyn?”

Much to Elizabeth’s embarrassment she let out a little shriek, then laughed to herself when she saw it was only Abigail who had come silently into the room.

Abigail looked as frightened as a lost child. Elizabeth held out an arm and Abigail moved closer to share their embrace. The twins held her and comforted her; Elizabeth thought that Abby didn’t have anything to worry about, but then she remembered that Abigail had been attacked and raped in this very house and her dear friend had been killed in a fire so naturally she would be afraid of any strange males, and fires. That only fueled Elizabeth’s determination more. She swore she would not allow this man to ruin her life and the lives of the people she loved. Besides, if she kept sight of the dream of her future, she knew she would have one, a future with Robert, Robin, and her five children. And they would be happy. That dream kept her moving forward.

* * *

Jamie was so angry at himself he could spit. How could he have fallen asleep like that? How could Robert have left him? Why hadn’t he woken him up? Why hadn’t Roger woken him up?

And then to be told like a little boy to go back home! He did spit…and he cursed and he yelled, but he did as Roger said. He went home, riding his horse hard as if he wanted to trample someone and that someone had the name of Wesley Bassett.

As he approached Riverbreeze he saw smoke, a great thick column of black, swirling smoke. Fear gripped him and he urged Pisador even faster. “Come on, boy, come on.” He gasped, kicking his horse, driving him to his fastest speed ever. “Please God. Please God. Please let them be all right.”

He saw it was the tobacco barn and for a split second he let out a sigh of relief. It wasn’t the main house or the stables or the chicken coop or the small cottage. The roof had collapsed in, but the walls of the barn were still burning. He saw Dolnick, Nathan and his neighbors, the Bolton brothers and Hugh and Harry Wyatt—that was a surprise, but welcome—each standing around the fire holding rakes, shovels, pitchforks and axes. There were also several buckets of water at their feet. They weren’t trying to put the fire out, just keeping it from spreading. Smart, he thought.

Then he thought of all that was in that barn. Grain and hay for the horses and cows, the remainder of their garden tools, leftover lumber from the original house not used for the new stable and several barrels for storage. Now they would have to buy more, but another item in that barn was a full hogshead of cured tobacco, one thousand pounds. That was their currency, equal to seventy five pounds sterling based on what the Dutch paid per pound! Goddamn that brother of his! Because who else could have done this? And then another thought. Wesley wasn’t in Jamestown! He had been here, all night long, along with his
friend
! And he and Robert had been stupid enough to think Wesley had gone back to Jamestown after the party! They wouldn’t be so blind the next time.

Once close enough, he came to a skidding halt and jumped off the horse. “When did this happen?” He shouted over the crackling roar of the fire.

“Shortly after you and Robert left.” Dolnick answered. He was soaked with sweat from standing so close to the fire and his face and clothes was blackened with soot. The others didn’t look any better.

“We’re so sorry, Jamie.” John Bolton said, clasping Jamie’s shoulder. “We were on our way to church when we saw the smoke. We decided we had better stop and offer any help we could.”

“Thank you, John, Joseph. I really appreciate that.” He turned to Joseph and clasped his hand.

“Our grandfather sent us.” Hugh said. “We could see the smoke all the way from Westover. We came as quickly as we could.”

Jamie thanked them, feeling humbled by their generosity towards him. Then, distress in his voice, he added, “I should have been here. We watched all night for him…God, what a sneaky whoreson he is.”

“I hope you do not mind, but Nathan and Dolnick told us about the dead crow and who you believe left it. Do you honestly believe your older half-brother did that?” John said.

“Yes!” Jamie declared. “I
know
he did that!” He spat.

“All right. We’re ready to help in any way we can.”

Jamie calmed down. “Thank you again, John. Rob and I are going to need help, I fear.”

“Jamie! Jamie! Thank God you’re back home and safe.” Evelyn cried as she ran towards him. He met her before she came too close to the fire and caught her in his arms. He kissed her deeply.

When they parted he asked. “Are you all right?” His voice was full of concern. He looked her all over, searching for signs of injury or ill health. She did look fine, although a little tired. Weren’t they all?

“Yes, both Elizabeth and I are fine; and Robin and Abigail too. Where is Robert? Nathan said both you and Robert went to Jamestown.”

Jamie suddenly looked embarrassed. “Only Robert went.” He admitted in a low voice.

“But…where were you?”

“At Roger’s. I fell asleep.” He mumbled, totally humiliated.

She smiled in amusement but with affection. “Oh Jamie!” She hugged him. “I love you. Do not blame yourself.”

He shook his head. “I should have been here, but Robert and I thought—“

“Shh.” She said, touching his lips with her fingertips. “You did what you thought best. We have food prepared for anyone who wants any and warm water for washing.”

“That’s wonderful. Thank you.” He gave her another short kiss. Then he turned to the men and raised his voice as he asked. “Do any of you need a break? There’s food and water in the house.”