Spirit of the Revolution (15 page)

“That’s true enough,” William said. “The original house the Weidmanns lived in hasn’t existed since the War Between the States. The new house the family built on the property is nowhere near the location of the original home or the cemetery.”

“Yes, but you forget. Jolena would need to climb those rickety fences in order to get there if we go in the back way. I don’t know how easy that would be for her to achieve in the dead of night,” Alexander reminded them. “Unlike us, she can’t simply walk through them.”

“I think I’d feel better about it if I asked permission, anyway,” Jo replied. “I’m sure when I tell them I’ve just discovered that some of my ancestors once owned the land and are buried in their cemetery they’d allow me to take pictures of the stones. I can get my camera, my camera bag, and some small tools in case we need to do a little excavation. What do you think of that idea?”

“Are you up for calling them today, so we can get this thing done?” asked Mathias as he recaptured her gaze.

In answer Jo walked into the family room and over to the phone table. She opened the drawer, retrieved the small card the Parkers left during their first visit, and picked up the receiver.

“Do you really think the article Jacob meant for us to find could still be there after all this time?” Samuel asked while she made her phone call. “Or is this naught but a fool’s errand?”

“I don’t know, Sam. And I don’t know what difference finding it could make to anyone now. It’s not as if it has any great importance anymore. We certainly can’t deliver it to Washington,” Mathias replied. “Still, for my own satisfaction, I would very much like to know what Jacob wanted us to retrieve and transport to the general.”

The boys all agreed with the sentiment. Then Jedediah added, “Whatever it may be, it is, in fact, what we died for.”

Jo finished her phone call just as Jed made his statement and the comment tugged at the strings of her heart. As she set the receiver back on the cradle, she said, “We’re all set. Gloria said I could come over whenever I feel like it. I told her I would arrive just about dusk so I could take infrared pictures of the stones and thus get the best possible photos. I figure going around that time gives us the best chance to keep a low profile.”

“What do you mean by ‘infrared’?” asked Alex.

“Infrared energy picks up the light we can’t see with our natural eyes. So, among other things, infrared technology is used to expose the detail on worn grave stones,” she answered. “And Gloria already told me how to get to the cemetery from the main road, so that part is taken care of too. I told her I might carry along some little gardening tools to cut away any grass or weeds hindering my project. However, from what she said, I really don’t expect anyone to intrude while we’re there. She said she has a touch of the flu and can’t make the long walk, but told me to come and help myself.”

Just about sunset, Mathias led her down the path toward the cemetery. Along the way, they passed a pasture filled with horses, and despite the urgency of their errand, she just had to stop for a moment to admire them. “Aren’t they just beautiful?” she murmured as a gorgeous Arabian sidled up to the fence. The chestnut mare with a bit of flax in her mane and tail demanded some affection and she willingly gave it.

He nodded as he propped an elbow atop the fence and said, “The Parkers do own some nice horseflesh. I have to give them that. Do you ride?”

“Yeah, me and horses go way back. I ride every chance I get.” She sighed, turned away from the fence, and continued toward the cemetery. “However, that isn’t very often these days, I’m sorry to say.”

“You should ask your admirers to lend you one every once in a while,” Mathias replied. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if the famous Jolena Leigh Michaelsson borrowed a horse. If nothing more, the favor would give them boasting rights.”

A breath of laughter followed the remark. “You know, maybe one day I might do just that.”

Minutes after she made the comment, they arrived at the gate of the Weidmann family cemetery. Even though large trees and thick shrubbery surrounded the entire burial ground, Mathias turned toward the boys and said, “Eyes all around, lads. Despite the seclusion, we need to make sure we protect Jolena while she does us this favor. Don’t allow anyone near this location until we’ve completed our task.”

Without need for further command the boys fanned out, each taking a direction. Mathias then approached and opened the heavy wooden gate. All the while, the thing creaked and groaned for lack of use. Jo shifted the camera bag onto her shoulder and stepped through the opening.

The area, larger than what she first imagined, showed signs of neglect. Tall weeds and an overgrowth of foliage threatened to overtake some of the smaller stones. Some lay broken and scattered. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t take long to read each inscription if such should become necessary in their quest to find Johan Andries stone. She dug inside the bag, retrieved her camera, and turned it to the infrared setting.

“Mathias, I’ll start over here on this side. Call me if you find it first.” Row by row, she studied each stone, some which could only be read after squirting them with her water bottle. As she approached the end of the second row, she knelt down and took a picture of a weathered stone memorializing an infant child of Jacob and Elisabeth Weidmann.

“Jolena, it’s over here.” From the back of the cemetery, Mathias pointed to a crumbling stone about two feet in height and width.

Jo stood up and made her way to his side. “Do you see anything out of the ordinary on the stone itself?” she asked.

“No, it looks as common as any other in this cemetery. I think it might make more sense for Jacob to place the item in the back or on the sides, rather than in front of the grave. That way no one would need an explanation if he got caught digging,” he said.

Jo stooped down and traced every inch of the base with her fingertips. Her grandfather set the stone deep into the earth. She extracted the spade and garden sheers from out of her bag, and then clipped away the overgrowth. She took a few pictures before she began poking into the dirt along the back of the stone, using her spade. Nothing hindered the tool. She then traversed the left side in a tight zigzag pattern and again, found nothing.

“I don’t know, Mathias. Maybe what we’re looking for is buried deeper than what this spade can go.” She brushed a wayward lock of hair from off her face as she held up the tool for his inspection.

“No, I don’t think so. He would want easy access so he could come and go quickly. I would think you shouldn’t have to dig any deeper than the blade. Come over here, and try the right side.”

Jo crawled to the other side of the stone and thrust the spade into the ground using her previous pattern. Finally, the tip of the spade made contact with something hard. She jabbed the blade in a circular pattern in an effort to estimate the size and outline of the barrier.

“Mathias. I think something
is
here and I don’t think it’s a rock. The object feels smooth and—a little too symmetrical.”

The earth surrounding the item soon gave way beneath her fingers. Finally, she unburied the tip of a large iron ring, now rusty and corroded with age. Within minutes, she had uncovered the top of the thing in its entirety. She wiped the back of her hand against her chin and surveyed their discovery.

“I think it’s some kind of pot—maybe ceramic or earthenware?” She glanced upward to get his opinion.

“So it seems. Due to the shape and weight of the container, I don’t think we can lift it out or take it with us without a great deal of effort and tools we don’t have with us.” He pointed toward the ring. “See if you can pry the lid open.”

She grabbed hold of the ring with both hands and yanked. Her hands shook with the effort, yet the lid didn’t budge from its seat. “The pot doesn’t want to give us its secrets easily,” she muttered. “And I’m not so sure we can wedge the spade into the tiny seam.”

He stooped down beside her. “Let me see if I can help. Are you ready?” Mathias used what ability he possessed to aid the effort. With their combined force, the lid lifted free from the wax that had protected the contents from the elements.

She leaned forward to get a better look inside. “The pot is nearly full. I wonder what the thing on top is.”

“I’m not sure,” he replied. “Go ahead and take it out.”

Jo stuck her hand inside the jar and withdrew an old folded piece of cloth, knowing that one of her ancestral grandfathers placed it there over two hundred years earlier. Other items soon followed. She had an overwhelming need to take a picture of the find.

“Let’s make quick work of this, Jolena,” he urged as he rose to his feet. “Make sure you take everything out of the container, and we’ll assess the contents when we get home.”

“All right.” She tucked the camera away and then piece by precious piece she removed each item from the container. Once she completed the task, she placed each article inside her camera bag, taking great care as she did so. She didn’t want anything damaged or destroyed, least of all the item meant for the boys. “That’s everything.”

The moment the words left her mouth, the sound of the most horrific, terrifying, ear-piercing scream she ever had the misfortune to hear, shattered the silence. The wail sounded like the cries of a thousand suffering demons. Thunderous footsteps followed, pounding in all directions at once. She couldn’t tell the precise direction in which it originated. The precious bag almost hit the ground as she gasped and rose unsteadily to her feet. Instinctively, she tossed the bag over her shoulder and extended a trembling hand toward Mathias. Yet, even as her hand slipped right through him, he somehow righted her steps.

“Not to worry.” He chuckled as his hand rested against her back. “You finally got to hear Jedediah’s war cries. However, it also means someone is out there and getting close to our position. Hurry now, replace the lid, and cover it over again. We don’t want anyone to think you’re out here desecrating a grave.”

Jo’s heart pounded so loud, the sound filled her ears and she trembled from head to foot. Nevertheless, she quickly did as Mathias instructed, and within minutes, she had the vessel reburied.

“Now take some of those dried leaves and brush from under that tree over there and stamp them into the soil we disturbed.”

She gathered the thorny debris and tossed the pile onto the gravesite. All the while, Mathias shook his head in silent apology. “I’m sorry, Jolena, I wish I could do this part for you.”

Jo glanced up as she tromped the dried brush into the dirt with her booted foot. “I appreciate the fact you care, and that you would if you could. But as you know, this is not the most difficult thing I’ve ever undertaken.”

He muttered something indecipherable in reply. His tone of voice quashed a request for repetition. Once she finished her task, he moved back and blew a massive amount of dried leaves and brush against the stone bearing her grandfather’s name. Within minutes, he had erased all telltale signs of their presence.

“All right,” he said, “Let’s go.”

William and Alexander appeared just as they exited through the gate.

“Sorry for the uproar, but we needed to divert an unwelcome guest,” William said, explaining the commotion. “The boy that accompanied the Parkers to our door seemed pretty deep in his cups. We found him stumbling incoherently in this direction. Sam and Jed are now making sure he finds his way home.”

“I think we all better find our way home before we run into someone else,” Mathias said as he placed a hand underneath her elbow.

A short while later they entered the library. Jo made her way to the desk and placed the bag on top. As she did so, she glanced at Jedediah and wagged a playful finger. “I want you to know, you scared the tar out of me with those wicked war cries of yours, Jedediah. I can see now why Mathias elected you to play the fierce Indian warrior. I probably won’t be able to sleep for a week.”

Jedediah dipped his head slightly and grinned. “Just trying to be of service any way I can, Miss Jolena.”

Jo laughed as she turned her attention to the bag, opened it, and carefully retrieved each item. She first extracted several pieces of very lovely jewelry, which lay at the bottom of the vessel. No doubt, they once belonged to Elisabeth Weidmann, and her grandfather placed them in the pot for safekeeping. Next, she withdrew an old flintlock pistol. The gun looked almost new.

“Careful, Jolena,” Mathias warned. “If I know Jacob, the weapon is probably loaded.”

“I wonder why my grandfather would bury this pistol anyway. Wouldn’t he rather have it out where he could use it?” After taking just a brief moment to admire it, Jo placed it next to the jewelry.

“My guess is he wanted the pistol handy in the event someone discovered him in the act of hiding away his possessions,” Mathias replied. “The Redcoats took what they wanted, in the name of King George, of course. And it wouldn’t matter whether or not they considered Jacob a friend and ally.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Next, Jo retrieved an old leather-bound journal. She slipped her fingers underneath the leather flap and opened the weathered cover. The book contained names and dates of the patients her grandfather cared for, his diagnosis for each one, and the treatment he prescribed. “My grandfather’s medical diary. I don’t think it has anything to do with your assignment, though,” she said.

“No, it doesn’t,” Mathias replied as he peered over her shoulder. “But I see several names here the English would recognize as patriots. They probably wouldn’t have looked too kindly on Jacob for having tended to them, especially considering some of the dates. As you can see right here, these dates coincide with the time Jacob allowed the Tories to live in his house.”

Jo closed the ledger with extreme caution and slid it toward the corner of her desk. Next, she extracted her grandfather’s well-worn Bible. She used the silk ribbon to open it to the page he marked. “Look, this page lists all of the names and dates of various events for each of his children. And here is the same type of information for Jacob’s parents. You’re right, Mathias. They did die in Baden, Germany.”