Riverbreeze: Part 3 (34 page)

Burcher’s mouth was hanging open in shock.

He was lied to, Elizabeth saw, and because of his generous heart, he had taken in Wesley and Burnett and had given them shelter and food. He wasn’t a traitor after all.

Wesley laughed out loud again at the look on Burcher’s face. But then in a frightening moment, Wesley’s face abruptly changed and he ordered. “My friend is dead. Take him outside and bury him.”

When Burcher didn’t move fast enough for Wesley, Wesley waved his pistol at the man. “Do it. Now.”

Still Burcher hesitated, glancing at Elizabeth, regret in his eyes.

“Now.” Wesley growled again. “Or I shoot and the Indians will gladly dispose of your body along with Burnett’s.”

This time Burcher did move, throwing Wesley a look full of hatred. He walked to the bed, his boots scraping on the bare wooden floor. He wrapped up Burnett’s dead body in the quilt, picked him up and carried him outside.

As soon as Burcher was gone, Wesley put his pistol down on the table. He looked down at Elizabeth, sick lust in his eyes. “Well, well.” He said, licking his lips. “You’re lovely in the firelight, you know that?”

Elizabeth panicked. Her heart pounded. She knew what was on Wesley’s mind. She tried to scoot away from him, but with her hands and ankles tied all she could do was try to wiggle away. “No.” She pleaded. “Please. I’m not well.”

Wesley stepped on the hem of her cloak, smiling malevolently. “Do you think that matters to me? No, because all you have to do is open your legs. I’ll do the rest.”

Elizabeth let out a whimper. She twisted and struggled to scoot away from him again, but her efforts were futile. He dropped down so quickly to straddle her she shrieked. She brought up her hands to ward him off, but he grabbed her wrists and easily wrestled them down over her head. She twisted her body back and forth; she bucked and fought him, but he was too strong for her when he ground his hips down on hers.

He lowered his head to kiss her and again she tried to turn her head away. He grabbed her face, pressing his fingers and thumb into her cheeks and holding her still. When she opened her mouth to scream, he put his mouth on her lips and thrust his tongue into her mouth.

She bit down and he roared in pain. He slapped her hard and she flinched back. He grabbed the neck of her bodice then, and jerked down. The fabric easily tore apart. He did the same to her chemise until her breasts were completely exposed. They rose and fell with her harsh breathing and he squeezed and kissed and fondled them; and she had never felt so ashamed in her life.

When he had gotten his fill of that he lifted himself slightly so he could raise her skirts. She screamed as loud as she could. She knew she couldn’t fight him; she knew it was hopeless. Looking away, she prayed silently for detachment and also apologized to her husband.

It took some time but finally he pushed her skirts all the way up to her waist. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting him to next rip her drawers from her.

But nothing happened.

She heard him grunt in disgust. “Dirty bitch!” He snarled.

She turned to look, totally bewildered. He had jumped back up and was reaching for his gun.

But then she saw. Blood. Her drawers were soaked with it.

“I should kill you right now.” He said, aiming the pistol at her. His hand shook as he looked at her with disgust and pure hatred in his eyes. “That would hurt him more than anything I believe. But I think I’ll wait for him to come, and then he can watch as I slash your lovely face and body as I did to the portrait of his mother.”

“He’ll kill you first.” Elizabeth hissed, with the last ounce of bravery she had left.

He laughed, gleefully and wildly. “Oh we shall see, my dear. We shall see.” And he walked out, leaving her alone to grieve for the loss of her baby.

Chapter Forty-Eight: Related by Blood, A Sister’s Bond

Jamie was really worried. He had never known Evelyn to nap during the day, but as soon as they returned home, she had gone straight to bed and had immediately fallen asleep. He realized she had been tired and feeling ill, but it was still worrisome to see her so deeply asleep during the day.

However, it was only an hour since they had come home. He had been afraid to leave her alone, so during that time he had alternated between pacing around the bedroom and standing still and watching over her for endless minutes. He had also used the time to pray for Elizabeth’s safe return.

Then he started having horribly selfish thoughts. He thanked God that Evelyn hadn’t been snatched. He felt terrible that Elizabeth had been and he wholeheartedly sympathized with his brother, but he was so glad that it hadn’t been Evelyn. He would never say that to Robert or to anyone else, but he couldn’t help but be relieved.

He thanked God and he thanked Evelyn for obeying his pleas to stay in the house. Why hadn’t Elizabeth obeyed Robert? Why did she have to go outside? She knew the risks, and she went anyway, and now they were all suffering.

Of course he shouldn’t blame her. It was Wesley he should blame. And he did. A person should be able to go outside on their own property and feel safe. And if it wasn’t for their vicious brother, it would be safe to go outside.

How could this have happened again? How could their brother have such control over them? It was like this when he and Robert were children after their father had died. They had been so afraid to do anything wrong; they had been so afraid to defy Wesley, especially him, but he recalled how he would go to the stables anyway because he loved the horses so much and couldn’t bear to be away from them. He had defied Wesley time and time again no matter the consequences and dear God, how he had suffered when he was caught.

And perhaps that was why Elizabeth had had to do it and maybe that short amount of time outside and free from all the restrictions had been worth the risk. He just prayed that she wasn’t being tortured by Wesley because he knew personally how mean and heartless that brute could be.

The sun went down and Evelyn stirred in her sleep. He watched her anxiously as she made little whimpering noises and her face twitched along with her body. She must be dreaming. He hoped it was a good dream that connected her with Elizabeth. They could use all the clues they could get right now.

Suddenly though, Evelyn let out a loud moan and she snapped awake. Jamie jumped a little, startled. He watched helplessly as she doubled over and drew her knees to her chest. She let out another ragged cry and looked at Jamie with tears in her eyes.

“What is it?” He asked, his heart pounding.

“It hurts.” She whispered. “The baby. Oh God.” She cried. “Oh Gooooooood!” She wailed as another pain hit.

Jamie didn’t know what to do. Frantic, his harsh breathing filled the room. “What can I do?” He asked.

“Get Abigail.” She managed to say between pants.

He screamed for Abigail then. It was all he could do. He felt completely helpless and saddened. She was losing the baby, their first baby; and he was devastated.

“Oh Jamie.” She cried.

He was afraid to touch her, but he made himself gently stroke her hair away from her face. Wiping her tears with his handkerchief, he murmured, “You’ll be all right.”

Abigail quickly arrived, looking anxious. “What has happened?” She asked as she came through the doorway.

“Something’s wrong.” Jamie said. “She’s in pain.”

Abigail quickly approached the bed. “Evelyn, where is the pain?”

“My stomach.” Evelyn cried.

Abigail flipped the covers off of Evelyn and both she and Jamie gasped. Evelyn was lying in a pool of blood.

Jamie staggered back, feeling sick and faint. Was she going to die? There was so much blood! “Do something, Abigail.” He begged.

Abigail looked back at him with sympathy in her eyes. “There’s nothing to do now, but clean her up and leave her to rest. I’m sorry.”

He just nodded, numb with grief and worry. He stared at Evelyn, trembling with fear and sadness.

“I’ll get clean linen.” Abigail said, turning to leave.

However, she was stopped short by Evelyn suddenly letting out another sharp cry. She twisted in the bed as if she were wrestling something. She bucked back and forth, grunting and gasping as if she were fighting something off.

“Evelyn! What’s happening?” Jamie stared at her, openmouthed. It was the strangest and most frightening thing to see.

“She’s being assaulted.” Evelyn gasped. Her eyes were wild in her pale, stricken face, and there was terror in her voice. Her fingers clutched at the bed clothes and her face was contorted in pain.

“Oh God.” Jamie moaned. Then he burst out. “That bastard! That piece of shit! What can I do?”

“Hold me.” Evelyn panted.

“Now?” Jamie gasped. He glanced at Abigail who was just standing there, absolute fear in her eyes.

Evelyn didn’t answer as her head jerked to one side. Her body went still, but she let out another cry as her head was jerked back as if someone had done it for her. Then she screamed again and her head jerked again.

She looks like she possessed
, Jamie thought. He glanced at Abigail. “Do not mention this to anyone.” He hissed.

Abigail nodded, clutching her hands together, trembling.

Thereafter, Evelyn’s lower body was motionless, but then she moaned, her head turned to the side again. She was breathing hard, her face pinched with despair. She was unnaturally quiet compared to what had just happened.

“Evelyn, what is happening now?” Jamie asked, standing right next to the bed. He watched her anxiously, not knowing what to do. He didn’t know if he should touch her or not; she had asked him to hold her, but he was too afraid to do it.

Her breathing slowed. They waited. Nothing happened. She looked up at Jamie and lifted her hand to him. “He’s gone.” She said, going limp with exhaustion. Her eyes closed and her hand dropped to the bed.

Jamie picked it up and held on tight. He brought it to his mouth and kissed it all over. Thank God it was over, but then the realization of what really happened hit him. “Did you feel it?” He hesitated, not knowing how to say it delicately. “…him…violating her?”

“He didn’t do it.” Evelyn said. “I would have felt it.”

“What?!” Jamie sputtered. “But…but…what was all that?” He waved his hand helplessly.

Her eyes opened and she looked straight at him. There was a new light in her eyes and her voice was stronger as she said, “Jamie, I need you to hold me now. I need you to help me sit up.”

“All right.” He agreed, but he was skeptical. What did this mean? He glanced at Abigail who had inched her way closer to the doorway. “I’ll get those clean linens now.” She whispered and Jamie nodded. She left the room in a hurry.

“What do you want me to do?” He asked, sitting down gingerly on the edge of the bed.

She lifted her arms, saying, “Hold me. Lift me up and hold me against you.”

He could do that. He put his hands under her arms and lifted her. She was limp with fatigue. Then he pulled her close to his chest. Her entire gown was moist with perspiration and she started to shiver.

“Hold me tighter.” She whispered.

He didn’t know what this was about, but he did so, nearly crushing her to his chest. He felt her shaking; her hands clutched his shoulders with surprising strength and her nails dug into his shirt and his flesh underneath, making him flinch a little.

And then very softly, but with steel determination in her voice, she said, “I am brave.”

This shocked him; what did it mean? She dug her nails more deeply into his flesh, giving him a silent message. He hoped he got it right. “You are brave.” He responded, his deep, soothing voice close to her ear. “You are so brave, my angel.”

She gave a quick jerk of her head. “No, this is for Elizabeth.” She said.

What!!
Jamie thought. He didn’t have time to think about that, because Evelyn was digging her nails into his arms again.

All right,
he thought.
For Elizabeth.
“You are brave, so brave.” He said. “You are the bravest woman I know.” He added for good measure.