Riverbreeze: Part 3 (28 page)

At least the animals in the stables had been left alone and the dogs which had been left in the house were found cowering upstairs under Robert’s and Elizabeth’s bed. The servants hadn’t been injured either, other than some scratches and bruises from being manhandled. When Roger and Nicole came later that afternoon with replacements and food, the first two were quite happy to leave.

Nobody could blame them. Once again Roger offered to shelter the twins, Abigail and Robin, but Elizabeth wouldn’t hear of it. She would not abandon Robert and her home. She would not let Wesley drive her away. Robert greatly appreciated her dedication and commitment to him.

Now he asked her, stroking her hair. “Are you feeling all right? You’re not sick, are you?”

“No, not in that way, but I feel guilty, Robert. I’m sorry I insisted on everyone going to church. If we hadn’t gone—“

He stopped her with a fingertip to her lips. “Stop. I’m the one feeling guilty. This is my brother doing this to us, my flesh and blood!”

He sounded so anguished she wished she could take away his pain. “We can’t control what our relatives do or who they are.” She said, cupping his face.

“That’s the truth.” He said, sounding disgusted. “But don’t you see why I believe we should stay close to home. Jamie and I can go out individually once in a while, but we can’t leave as a family until this is over.”

As much as Elizabeth hated the idea of being stuck here until this crisis was over, she had to agree. “I understand. And I promise I’ll be good. I’ll either stay in the house or close to it. We’ll have our own church services in the parlor with Jamie leading the service and me playing the virginal. I’ve learned my lesson, Robert. I’m sorry about the windows.”

“We won’t be able to replace them until fall when the next tobacco crop comes in. I’ll have to order them from London and hopefully when they arrive, they won’t be broken.”

“I’m sorry.” Was all she could say.

He shook his head and caressed her face. “Luckily we had some boards in the stables to board them up. It’s going to be mighty dark in those two rooms now.”

“We’ll manage.” She said quietly, running her hands over his shoulders and over the back of his neck. She massaged the tense muscles, feeling him relax under her ministrations. It had been over a week since they had had some quiet time to share and it was much appreciated.

“Mmm.” He hummed. He rotated his head, enjoying her touch. He rubbed her back in return as he pressed himself closer to her body.

“Why do you suppose Owasewas came today? He seems different. He even came into the house without protest and ate dinner with us.” She said, letting herself relax against him. His body was warm now and she wished he would take off his shirt so she could feel his skin all over, but she wouldn’t make the first move.

“I don’t know.” Robert said with a sigh. “He is different, leaner, more serious. I think something has changed with his people.”

“Like what?” Elizabeth asked. She moved back so she could look at him.

Robert shook his head. “Again, I don’t know. I tried talking to him about it, but he was strangely silent. He asked if he could stay the night which truly surprised me. He’s never stayed, even when he first started hanging around here, years ago, he never spent the night. Something is changing, but I know not what.”

“I’m glad he came today.”

“Oh, I am too.” Robert said quickly. “He probably kept them from breaking all the windows and breaking into the house. I am extremely grateful he came today. Lily, are you tired?” He asked suddenly.

She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn’t know what to say. “Um, why?”

“I should like very much to make love to you tonight.” He said quite seriously, tenderly cupping her face with both hands.

“Oh.” She whispered, suddenly feeling quite warm and tingly. She reached up and caressed his face, feeling the unfamiliar whiskers of his beard. He hadn’t shaved in a week, the longest he’d ever gone without shaving. “I should like very much for you to make love to me.” She said softly, and then there were no more words between them, just sweet, passionate kisses and fervent carnal activity.

* * *

Early the next morning, Elizabeth woke up, gasping for breath. She shook Robert awake; she didn’t care that he hadn’t had much sleep.

“What is it?” He growled, rubbing his eyes.

“I had a dream!” She cried in a hoarse whisper. She didn’t want to wake up Robin yet.

He sat up, terrified. “What about?” Robert asked, also keeping his voice down.

“A storm is coming. A tree is going to crash down on the Matthew’s house.”

“Sam Mathews or Timothy?”

“Timothy and Annabelle.” Elizabeth answered, starting to get out of bed. “We must warn them!”

He grabbed her arm, stopping her. “No, we mustn’t leave. You know that.”

“But they could be hurt or killed.” She cried, pulling against his hold.

“You don’t know for certain?”

“No.” She admitted in a small voice.

“Then, we do not go. You promised you would be good and not demand to go anywhere. Are you breaking your promise?”

She punched her fist down on the bed. “I didn’t know I was going to have a dream!” She cried out in frustration.

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth.” He said, trying to comfort her. He reached to take her into his arms and console her, but she turned her back on him and threw herself back down on the bed. She yanked the comforter up to her chin.

Crying into her pillow, she said, “I hate this! I hate your brother. I hate you!”

Chapter Forty-Four: Weathering the Storm

Yes, yes, he hated himself too.

“Elizabeth, please…stop crying.” He pleaded, softly and gently so as not to anger her further. But she wouldn’t stop. She continued to ignore him and sob into her pillow.

Robin started crying and so did the dogs, whining and scrambling around on the trundle bed. Robert heard a yelp which meant that Robin had hit one of the beagles, probably because they had jumped on him and tried to lick his face.

Oh Jesus
, he thought. He gave up on Elizabeth and focused on his son. Grumbling to himself, he moved back to his side of the bed, fumbled to light a candle and got up.

“’Tis all right, Robin, ‘tis all right.” Kneeling on the floor, he soothed his son by hugging him to his chest and rubbing his small back. Robin was warm and moist from sleeping under so many quilts; thankfully not from wetting the bed.

The dogs scampered back and jumped up on Robert’s legs, scratching the skin through his night shirt. He roughly shoved them away, hissing, “Go away, you little devils.” Then in his anger, he yelled at his wife—which he realized too late he shouldn’t have done—but he was fed up with those dogs. “Elizabeth, shut your damn dogs up!”

Surprisingly, she did something about them. She wasn’t completely ignoring him after all…or on second thought, perhaps she did it for Robin’s sake. “Fleurette, Papillon,
venez ici
!” She called them in French, her voice high and breathy from crying.

Thankfully the beagles obeyed and without acknowledging Robert, Elizabeth got out of bed, picked up the dogs and brought them back into bed with her where they all settled down into a big cozy pile, again her back to him.

Hmph
! He huffed, turning his attention back to Robin. “Do you need to use the pot?” He asked him.

Robin nodded and Robert helped him with the chamber pot. When he was finished and Robert was helping him pull his nightshirt back down, Robin asked, “Why is Mama crying?”

“She’s just sad. She misses her mummy and daddy.”

That seemed to satisfy him and Robert sighed in relief. He couldn’t have explained it to Robin, the real reason she was crying. “Are you still sleepy? Do you want to go back to bed with mama?”

Robin nodded his head, popping his thumb in his mouth.

“All right.” Robert picked him up and settled him in the bed on his side. He tucked Robin in and kissed his cheek. By the time Robert straightened up, Robin was already fast sleep.

Ah, to be so innocent and carefree
. Robert thought enviously as he stood by the side of the bed, contemplating his family. What should he do about Elizabeth? He could still hear her sniffling and hitching breaths.

He moved around to her side. Somehow she managed to turn her back on him again, even with the dogs tangling up her legs. He let out a big sigh. His voice in an earnest whisper, he spoke to her anyway, “Elizabeth, I’m sorry for yelling at you. I’m sorry about not being able to warn the Matthews. I’m sorry about this whole mess. What can I do? Tell me! Talk to me.”

She was silent. All he could hear was her sniffling.

He let out another sigh. “All right. I’m going out today. Take care of Robin.”

“I always do.” She said harshly.

Well, at least she spoke to him.

“I know and I thank you for that.
My a’th kar
.” He whispered in Cornish. “I love you.” He repeated in English. He thought he saw her go still after he said that, but then she started breathing again. He let out another sigh, bent over her and kissed the top of her head. Still no response.

Fine
! He thought. He dressed quickly in his buckskins, grabbed the candle and left her to her little snit.

Out in the hall, he saw Evelyn and Jamie hovering in the doorway of their bedchamber. Evelyn, dressed merely in her nightgown, gave Robert the meanest look he had ever seen her give him, even the time he had almost bedded her. “Evelyn…” He entreated, but she swept by him to join her sister in bed, no doubt, to comfort her.

Oh Christ
, he thought.

“What happened?” Jamie asked as he came to Robert’s side. Jamie had pulled on his buckskin leggings over his shirt. He was also wearing a leather jerkin and his moccasins, giving Robert the impression that Jamie was up for the day, just as he was.

“Elizabeth had a dream and she wants to warn the Matthews about a tree or something. I told her we couldn’t go.”

“Surely she understands under the circumstances.”

“Apparently not. She told me she hates me.”

“Oh, Rob. I’m sorry.”

“What was I supposed to do? She had just promised to be good and not demand to go anyway. And then two hours later, everything changed!” He threw up the hand that was not holding the candle in complete frustration.

“If you like I could try to get Evelyn to talk some sense into her.”

“Do you really think she would?” Robert asked skeptically. He didn’t think so.

Jamie smiled, let out a short laugh. Obviously he didn’t think so either. Nevertheless he said, “I could try.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Never mind.” He let out a sigh. “This situation is getting worse, Jamie. If you do not mind, I think I’ll ask Owasewas to help me search in the forest for more signs of Wesley and Burnett and these renegade Indians and possibly to go so far as his village to ask his people for help.”

“Go ahead.” Jamie said. “I’ll stay here and keep watch today.”

“Good. I’m at a loss at what else to do.”

Jamie put a hand on his shoulder. “She really doesn’t hate you. She’s just frustrated, like we all are. She’ll come around. You’ll see.”

“I hope so.”

“She will.” Jamie said, giving his shoulder a squeeze.

Together they went downstairs to face another difficult day.

* * *

God, it was cold! And the wind was picking up. Robert guessed that the storm Elizabeth had dreamt about was heading right for them. How did she do it? He was still baffled by her ‘gift’.

Should he feel guilty for not warning the Matthews? Would a tree fall on their house and possibly kill one of them or all of them? He pictured their house, a small, one room log cabin with a smaller addition at the back. He didn’t know how a family of four managed to live in it. Well, a family of three now, he thought sadly.