Riverbreeze: Part 3 (27 page)

“Yes, that’s extremely generous of you, Roger.” Robert said from the doorway. Elizabeth spun around, surprised to see him. He had been perfectly silent, coming down the stairs. “I thought you were asleep.” She exclaimed, standing up. “Sit here.” She added when she saw how haggard and disheveled he looked.

Roger also immediately stood up. “No, sit here, Rob. This chair is more comfortable.”

“Thanks, Rog.” He said with a half-smile. He slowly walked to the chair and collapsed into it. “You didn’t have to do this, bring your servants.”

“I feel responsible for bringing Wesley to the house where he could find you.”

“That’s nonsense! You didn’t know.”

“Still, I feel responsible.”

“Pah.” Robert scoffed, shaking his head.

“John told me he and Joseph are keeping watch this afternoon.”

“Yes, Jamie and I have decided that it’s not enough to just have me and him and our two servants trying to keep watch all day and all night.”

“Well, I brought my servants with the intention of leaving them here until next Sunday anyway.” Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open at this. So did Robert’s. Roger continued, “I thought they could help you look for Wesley, but now you can use them either for that or to keep watch. They’re good men, honest and loyal. I trust them and you can too. They’ve brought their bedding and enough food to feed them for the week. A joint of beef, half of a deer carcass, a sack of cornmeal, a sack of flour, a sack of oatmeal, a sack of dried peas, some apples and nuts and sweetmeats. If you need more, let me know now.”

“Roger, I know not what to say.” Robert was stunned. He got up and went to stand in front of his best friend. He clasped his hand. “Thank you; thank you.”

Elizabeth was speechless. She went over to Nicole and embraced her, then turned to Roger after Robert had moved out of her way. She offered Roger her hands. He took them into his and smiled down at her. “Thank you.” She said. “How can we ever thank you enough?”

“There is no need.” He said gently. “And Robert,” He added, turning to him. “If you ever feel the need to bring Elizabeth and Evelyn and Robin to the house, do so. They are welcome any time.”

“Thank you, Roger.” Robert said with heartfelt emotion. “I may do that, but not yet. Between John and Joseph and your two men, I feel like we’ll be safe now.”

And they were, for the rest of the week.

Chapter Forty-three: Broken

Next Sunday the weather was clear and beautiful and not too cold for the middle of January. Elizabeth insisted they take advantage of it and go to church. She felt restless and trapped having been confined to the house and immediate yard. She argued that nothing untoward had happened all week and that their system of rotating watches had worked beautifully. Robert and Jamie had even had the opportunity to leave the plantation individually to attend to their separate errands, Jamie to procure feed for the animals and Robert to go see the sheriff and report the crime against them. Sheriff Huett said he would put out a hue and a cry, but if nobody knew where Wesley and Burnett were, he couldn’t arrest them. Robert stated that he understood that. He also understood that he would have to search on his own and he did, taking a day to visit plantations up and down the river and even across the river to ask everyone to watch out for his half-brother and Peter Burnett. And another day, close to the end of the week, the brothers had the opportunity to go hunting, bringing home a dozen canvas-back ducks which made a delicious feast for everyone.

Elizabeth knew that Robert was not happy with her. While he had put up a valiant fight, in the end he couldn’t deny her. He couldn’t look into her pleading eyes and argue any longer. She had won; she was ecstatic! Robert, however, was still wary and against his better judgment, they all went to church except for Roger’s servants who they left guarding the house.

Elizabeth had a wonderful time at church. She wasn’t going to let this nasty business with Wesley ruin her day out. Evelyn shared her sentiments, and the two of them felt reborn.

Abigail, on the other hand, was so nervous about leaving the safety of the house that she stuck close to the twins as if she were attached with strings. However, that didn’t stop Elizabeth from happily greeting every friend and neighbor in the county: Charles and Emily Crockett, George and Hetta Turner, Alison and William Barber, Roger and Nicole Wentworth, Nick Bannister, Adam Cooke, the Paulette’s and even Timothy and Annabelle Matthews, again expressing her sympathies for the death of their son. The Matthews related they were doing well now that volunteers came every day to see to their more laborious chores. They once again thanked the twins for Jamie’s and Robert’s help in that matter.

Of course word had spread about the Bassetts’ misfortunes and everyone was sympathetic and offered some kind of help. The men promised Robert and Jamie that they would keep their ears and eyes open to any news about Wesley and Burnett. It was heartwarming, the support they received from the community.

During church services, she listened to every word Reverend Gowan spoke; she joyously led the congregation in several hymns. She felt completely safe and protected within the church building and surrounded by the people she loved. And most of all she felt God’s love and his promise to keep her and her family out of harm’s way. For those few hours she could finally relax and forget, but once on their way home, the worry set in again.

What would they find when they arrived back home? Would Roger’s servants be able to guard the house? Could they be trusted not to leave? Not to run away? Robert voiced his concerns all the way back, keeping a keen watch on the shoreline and two hands on his pistol in his lap. Elizabeth sat trembling, praying that she hadn’t been wrong to insist they go to church. How different she felt now, sitting in this open boat, exposed to anyone who could shoot them from the woods.

Thankfully they made it back to their wharf without any mishap. Staying close together they walked quickly to the house, Dolnick and Nathan at the rear, the women in the middle with Robin, and Robert and Jamie leading the way with their pistols at the ready. Nathan and Dolnick carried the muskets and this was something new that Robert had insisted upon. How fortunate the servants didn’t abuse this privilege. They could have shot them all, but they didn’t. They were good, honest men.

As they neared the front of the house, Robert and Jamie immediately became alert. Roger’s servants were nowhere to be seen and it was too quiet. Jamie had instructed them earlier to put the horses out in the paddock so they could have some fresh air and exercise, but the paddock was empty.

“Damn! Where are they?” Robert exclaimed, scanning the yard. He held his pistol out in front of him, pointing it in whichever direction he was looking.

Oh no! Elizabeth thought. Did the servants run away? Had they just been biding their time? They should have never left; she was wrong to insist they all go to church. She was so weary of living like this.

“Where are the horses?” Jamie cried out, looking frantic. “I’ll be right back.” He said and took off at a run towards the stables.

He stopped short, however, when suddenly someone called out his name. “Jamie!” It was Owasewas! What a complete and utter surprise!

Owasewas jogged towards Jamie, his face fierce. He was dressed in his buckskin leggings, apron and wolfskin mantle; and he had his bow slung over one shoulder and his quiver at his back. He was thinner since his last visit, the hollows under his cheekbones more pronounced. There was something different about him, but Elizabeth couldn’t perceive what.

“Owasewas!” Jamie exclaimed and they grabbed each other’s forearms in greeting. Then they immediately returned to the group.

“’Tis wonderful to see you again, Owasewas!” Robert exclaimed, tucking his pistol away. “But what are you doing here?”

“Wasee!” Robin cried, waving enthusiastically. He wanted to go to the Indian, but Elizabeth held tight to his hand, realizing that this was not the time for frivolity.

However, Owasewas was good enough to greet Robin which mollified him. Then he turned back to the brothers, his face gravely serious.

“I come to visit.” Owasewas said. “Two bad men here.”

“What!” Robert started. “You mean the servants or two gentlemen?” His mouth twisted when he said that, but he needed to differentiate between the two.

Owasewas shook his head. “I believe gentlemen.” His mouth also twisted as if he had tasted something sour. “I chase them away. Come. Look.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come.” He repeated, waving his hand to get them to follow him. They did, dreading what they would see. Elizabeth felt sick to her stomach, but she made the effort to appear cheerful in front of Robin lest she frighten him.

When they reached the front of the house, they didn’t understand what Owasewas was talking about. There was no damage to the house or unpleasant ‘gifts’ left on the doorstep.

Owasewas didn’t stop at the front of the house though. He continued to gesture with his hand for them to follow around to the back and that’s when they saw the damage. The three windows on the first floor had been smashed.

“Shit!” Robert exclaimed, throwing his hat down. “What happened? Did you see what happened?”

Elizabeth really felt sick now. If they had stayed home, this would not have happened. She swayed and nearly fell over, however, she would not bother Robert with her feelings. Instead she reached for her sister and they held each other close as Owasewas explained what he had seen.

“I come to visit.” He repeated. “I see two men. Have clubs. Hit glass. Break glass. I hide and shoot arrow at one. I miss. They shoot guns. I move. Then break next glass. I shoot again and move fast. They shoot. I shoot again and hit one in arm. They scared now and run away.”

“Damn it!” Robert swore again, pacing around, angry and hopeless. He looked at Jamie and they exchanged a look of despair. Jamie looked as sick as Elizabeth felt. Robin started to cry and Abigail, bless her heart, gathered him close to her legs and let him cry into her skirts.

That seemed to galvanize Robert. He stopped his pacing, picked up his hat and said, “Let’s go inside and clean up the mess. Dolnick, Nathan, check the animals—“

“No.” Jamie said, touching Robert’s arm. “I’ll check the animals. Dolnick and Nathan can clean up. The women should go upstairs with Robin and rest until the glass has been swept up.”

Robert looked at him as if to argue, but then he looked at the twins clutching each other and Abigail comforting his son. “You’re right, Jamie.” His face softened as he approached Abigail and picked up his son, then extended his free arm to guide the women to the back door. It was locked tight, just as they had left it. He unlocked it and let them in.

Even Owasewas went into the house. He didn’t need any persuading this time. There was definitely something different about him. Elizabeth didn’t care what it was, she was only grateful that he had been here to chase Wesley and Burnett away. Now with one of them with an arrow wound in his arm, maybe they would stay away for awhile. Maybe the wound might become inflamed and maybe the man would die. Wouldn’t that be grand? Elizabeth usually tried not to have unkind thoughts towards people, but in this case, she felt it was justified. Yes, wouldn’t that be grand if that one died?

* * *

It was two in the morning when Robert joined Elizabeth in bed. She hadn’t been sleeping very well so she sat up when he climbed in next to her.

“I’m sorry I woke you.” He said softly, scooting over to gather her in his arms.

“I was already awake.” She said, wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder. His skin was cold underneath his shirt and he smelled of the night air.

The men were back to rotating shifts. Thankfully the Wentworth’s servants had been found tied up in the stables with blindfolds over their eyes and gags in their mouths. As a calling card, Burnett had stuffed one of his fancy embroidered handkerchiefs in one of the servants’ mouths. Robert kept it for evidence, although if he ever met up with Burnett again, he wouldn’t wait for the law. He had plans.

The servants related how they had been taken by surprise, each one of them attacked swiftly from behind. They were embarrassed to admit that the silent attacks had come so quickly and so unexpectedly, they had been too shocked to offer much resistance. Indians, Owasewas had said, recognizing their tactics. Of course, Wesley and Burnett needed help to survive in the wilderness. Every Englishman in the territory was looking for them. It only made sense for them to befriend a disgruntled Indian or two.