The Bastard Son (Winds of Change Book 2) (21 page)

Sumner rubbed the back of his neck. He cast a look over his shoulder behind Joseph. The tall woods loomed black in silhouette, shielding the river’s view. The shadows slowly dissipated, but a chill hung in the November air.

“Is he whistling the most annoying of tunes?” Sumner asked, walking down the few steps to the ground.

Joseph eyed him in the emerging morning light. “I believe Seth mentioned the fact. I imagine now it is your sign of his arrival?”

Sumner nodded briefly. His eyes fixed on the dark thick oaks. A few minutes passed before his ears heard the noise his friend called music. Elijah emerged shortly from the shelter of the woods, his face alight with a wide smile at sighting Sumner.

Lather streaked the flanks of his horse. Discounting Elijah’s gingerly approach, Sumner realized he had pushed the horse hard during the night.

“All is well?” Elijah asked with a sheepish grin toward Sumner, barely containing his excitement. He reined in beside Sumner, dismounting quickly.

“She is safe within the cabin. Molly is looking after her at the moment.” Sumner tried to keep his voice low. He didn’t want his voice to carry. “She needs to regain her strength.”

“But you saved her!” Elijah exclaimed in an undertone. “By jove! Sumner. I never believed it could be pulled off. The colonel is going to be jubilant. He thought for sure you would be the next news spreading rapidly around us. Hanged for sure. It would have been a blow for all of us.” He slapped Sumner on the back.

Elijah turned to Joseph. “And you must be, Major Williamson. I have a letter from Colonel Shelby for you and your men which he is forwarding on to headquarters. He didn’t know if it would be for naught, but if you pulled off such a perilous venture, we are indeed fortunate to welcome you.”

Sumner suppressed a smile. It wasn’t the words Elijah used only a few days before. Ranting, raving about how one couldn’t trust Joseph.

You are walking into a trap, my friend. Do you know the blow that will be felled? They will use your capture to deflate the cause
, Elijah had pleaded.
Wait. They dare not do as you suppose
.

It is either try or turn myself in,
Sumner acknowledged.
I can’t leave her as it is now.

Elijah couldn’t argue the terrible logic of Sumner’s proclamation.
What am I fighting for if I lose the one that is most dear to me, Elijah?

With reluctance, Elijah had taken Rebekah back by himself. Sumner had seen in Elijah’s eyes that his friend thought he would never lay eyes on Sumner again, but knew Sumner well enough to realize he would never change his mind. He was going to attempt to save his wife.

So Elijah had done the unthinkable in his own mind—he left Sumner…alone…with the enemy. But Jane’s plight was a cause that drew them all together, one in which all could rally around, trying desperately to revive a semblance of humanity.

Breathing in deeply, Elijah said, “I smell someone cooking.”

“Come, Molly must have known you were descending upon us.” Sumner clasped his friend’s back. “We will discuss everything after you eat.”

* * * *

“Ain’t nobody’s cooking like yours, Miss Molly,” Elijah uttered between bites. “Wish someone could come teach Bud how to. He’s upped and taken the notion he can and it ain’t good.”

“Not much of a compliment, Elijah,” Molly bantered back with him. “Comparing me to Bud!”

Elijah opened his mouth to pile in another ungodly amount. He bit his biscuit afterwards. “Well, in truth, even his food would have tasted good after the ride I’ve been on!”

“We don’t have much time before we need to head out once more,” Joseph offered. “We have been here too long as it is.”

Sumner eyed the food upon Joseph’s plate. The man had not eaten. Sumner caught Elijah’s eye as he glanced up from the plate. Elijah grabbed hold of the glass in front of him and drank it down in one gulp.

“It is why I’m here, my friend,” he said, swallowing once more.

“I don’t believe anyone is in disagreement, Joseph, upon the fact that we need to move out,” Sumner said.

He glanced over to the closed door. He could hear Jane coughing. Molly moved toward the door without a word. She must be throwing up again. He pushed back his chair. Molly’s hand came down upon his shoulder.

“Sit. Decide upon your next move,” she said firmly. “I’ll see to her.”

“She is sick?” Elijah asked.

Sumner hesitated. “It is what the concern is at the moment. It may be better if Joseph goes with you. I will stay until she recovers sufficiently. I know the way.”

Elijah studied Sumner. “Colonel Shelby will take the Tory unit under his wing,” Elijah said, gone was any wittiness in his tone. “I am to take them forthwith, but Sumner, how sick is she?”

Joseph stared at Sumner. Sumner hadn’t even told Joseph what they suspected. He wasn’t going to.

“She hasn’t a fever, but is unable to keep food down. Her nerves are played upon greatly. But Molly is hoping in a few days…”

“We haven’t a few days!” Joseph pushed aside his food and said brusquely, “It isn’t only General Durham, Sumner! Don’t you believe Benny will not be upon the trail? It is his opportunity. I know of no other who can track as well, especially with the connection you hold here. People don’t hold back on him when he asks! Do you not foresee he will find out? It will be safer also to take the woman and the lad with us.”

“Do you not believe I don’t know that?” Sumner asked. “I know it well. I ask for no one else to stay. I will keep to her. Take Molly and Hugh. It is pointless to argue with me about the matter. She can’t be pushed at the moment, in a day at the most.”

Joseph caught Sumner’s eyes. “I’m not going to leave her unguarded.”

Elijah sighed heavily. “You are telling me to ride back once more. Then, my friends, if we anticipate the fact you will be discovered, we need to make plans. Colonel Shelby is a day’s ride from here.”

Sumner nodded.

Elijah shook his head. “Oh, my friend, a ride once more! I need no sleep for I can sleep when I am dead.”

Sumner insisted that Elijah take a short nap before he departed. Sumner gave him a fresh horse, ready to ride. He had tried to talk Molly into leaving with Elijah, but she steadfastly refused.

“I would only slow him down,” she answered. “Hugh and I…this is our home. We will stay.”

Sumner watched while Elijah rode away. Glancing over his shoulder at the cabin, he couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that chilled his bones. Joseph was right. They were sitting ducks.

“Wretched deceiving miscreant!”

The words echoed out the open French doors onto the veranda. Katy cringed. She had thought she would escape the gloom that had descended upon Charles Town by coming to Elm Bluff, but it seemed there was no escape.

She longed for a simpler time. There had been such a time, hadn’t there, before this calamitous war? Thank goodness Rebekah had found haven…she hoped. She worried so about her friend. Today, though, it was Jane Meador whom she couldn’t get out of her mind.

The poor woman! She seemed so angelic and shy. To endure the wrath of the British! Accusing her of treason?

It made no sense, except General Durham wanted her husband, badly. So badly, he was willing to sacrifice an innocent to accomplish his objective. Katy had tried to help, having gone to Henry Peterson, who was beside himself.

“I have objected in the strongest way I know how, Katy,” he said. “I have requested a delay so that I can represent her. It takes time to communicate with London and Philadelphia. Durham told me to do what I wanted, but the trial would go on without deferment. He has refused for me to see her.”

“There is nothing you can do?” Katy cried. “William is set to testify against her. Lies! Mr. Peterson.”

“You are young, Katy,” he answered, tears in his eyes. “It is evident that this is only a mock trial, my dear. Only to give show that it was legal later when questioned.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because the verdict isn’t in question. It wasn’t from the moment they arrested her. The British are frustrated over their defeat at King’s Mountain. They are beginning to feel the South slipping away from them. They had been confident that the South would be their saving grace. Now, they are clamping down.”

“But this will only serve to alienate everyone further.”

“They see it as discipline. That we are disobedient children who need only to be taken behind the shed and whipped soundly.”

Katy left Charles Town immediately after and rode to Elm Bluff. She didn’t care what anyone thought. What was with this world? Where was God? How could He allow such an atrocity to happen?

She rode to find Bruce. She wasn’t certain how she felt about him, but she had the need to see him…she hadn’t since the morning after they made love. There had been no promises or words of love, but she set in motion for Bruce to meet with Sumner. At least, she believed she had.

When she rode up the path to Elm Bluff, Bruce had been there. She hadn’t even dismounted when he was by her side. She cried and he gave her comfort. With her appearance at Elm Bluff, Bruce hadn’t even attempted to hide they were lovers. He had announced to the house servant that another would be there for dinner and would be staying.

“Colonel, don’t know where to put her.”

Leckie eyed Katy. “Then place her in mine.”

She knew she should have objected. At least fended outrage for the insinuation, but she said nothing. She was grasping for a semblance of protection from the outside world, which was crumbling around her.

Another curse resonated from within the house. Katy wanted nothing more than to run from the blaring voice, but she couldn’t. She recognized it too well. General Marcus Durham was at Elm Bluff.

Something in his voice made her afraid. Not for herself, but he called for Bruce. She dared not leave. She eased toward the open door.

Not daring to call attention to herself, Katy watched in silence the lone general in his misery. She saw Durham standing by the desk. Suddenly, he pounded his fist so hard against it that the lamp rattled and tumbled off onto the floor, shattering it in a million pieces.

Muttering private curses, the aggrieved man covered his eyes with both hands. He whipped around when Leckie entered.

“Shut the door, Colonel!”

“As you wish.” In a calm manner, Leckie closed the door and turned slowly back to Durham.

Livid, Durham snapped, “Do you have any idea of what went down this afternoon, Colonel?”

“I heard that Mrs. Meador has escaped with her husband. Is there more that I need to know?”

Katy’s heart sang! Jane escaped.
Thank God!

Durham’s face contorted; his voice rose. “More? You ask if there’s more? What would you think when Sumner Meador saunters into the courtroom without detection and simply picks up his wife in the middle of the trial…walks out the front door…gets on his damn horse, and rides out of town! What do you think?”

“I wasn’t there. I wouldn’t know,” Leckie returned in a cool, effortless voice.

Silence ensued for a moment.

“I find it of interest that it was your men protecting the trial. Why was that, Colonel? Why were they not here?”

Leckie replied promptly, “I thought you might have need of them, General. You expected Sumner to appear, did you not?”

General Durham colored before he exploded. “The men did nothing but act as if they were protecting him! As if they were helping in the escape! By God! Joseph Williamson’s whole unit defected to the Americans! They stood in the damn courtroom holding the whole of our unit at bay! Not one movement from my men…not one shot fired!”

Leckie took his time before he resumed. “Is there a point to this, General? Are you accusing the men…accusing me of something? Pray, don’t mince words!”

General Durham moved up in Leckie’s face. He sneered. “You are God damn right I am. You consorted with the enemy, Colonel!”

“Pray, remove yourself from my person. I have done nothing to betray my country. I can assure you, General! Are you placing me under arrest? You really do want the gallows used this day!”

General Durham stood to full height. His commanding voice shook. “Don’t be insubordinate with me, Colonel! You know as well as I do if I had any proof, you would have already been hanging outside! Do you have any idea what has happened? A wanton criminal has just been allowed to walk out from our hands. Why? Because of misplaced sympathy!”

“Misplaced sympathy, General? Or perhaps you pick and choose whom we punish?”

“For Christ’s sake, what do you mean?”

“Rebekah Corbett! You ordered me to make sure she was allowed to leave. Does one have to sleep with you to inflect sympathy into your heart?” Leckie thundered.

Katy’s eyes widened. Rebekah with General Durham! Never! Oh, no, Bruce was wrong. Rebekah loved Jonathan more than her own life.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“No? Back in Charles Town, I saw her leave your room early one morning, General. What was I to think?”

From the veranda, Katy couldn’t take her eyes off the two. Both were so full of fury. She was afraid one would hit the other. Durham forced a smile and backed away slowly.

“You are mistaken, Colonel, very mistaken.”

“I know that Jane Meador has done nothing. I was asked to keep her safe. Do you think Sumner would have openly sent her here to spy? Are you mad? The girl survived a massacre. Joseph said she saw her family cut into ribbons.

“To spy, would she not have wanted to be within Charles Town? She was shy and wanted only to be here, taking care of the little boy. The men knew her. Now, Rebekah, what do you think…”

Red faced, Durham declared, “It is enough! You don’t know what Sumner Meador has done. He has betrayed everyone around him for profit. He has sold—”

“Sold what? General, aren’t you aware who Sumner is? His father…his sister. I know him! I have no choice in fighting against him for we stand on opposite sides, but I have only respect for him. He saved my life, General.

“He knew well what I had been assigned to do. I was out of uniform and had papers upon my person. He didn’t search me. I remember well Captain Pennington lying bleeding on the ground. He cared for him…saved him. He allowed me to leave, for I had been with Jake when a raid occurred here. He holds to honor, General. There is little of that now!”

“I know his story! And he has used it for his own gain. What do you think I have been assigned to do? You call him honorable—I think of him as a cad…scoundrel the worst of magnitude.”

Leckie shook his head. “You have me confused, General.”

“It was called to my attention that a supplement of our supplies, guns and ammunition among them, were stolen…several shipments. Careful examination of the books presented an awkward accounting. It seems we had bought back those same supplies…the ones that had been stolen. From what has been learned, the fiend played both sides for profit. Someone had to have access by using his name and connection to the Duke of Leominster…by pretending to be a Loyalist. Who would you think that would be? We discovered also he was selling information to the French. The French have leaned toward the Patriot cause, but don’t want to stand behind it if it hasn’t a chance of succeeding. Our information holds that Sumner Meador has sold out his own people. I hold to no one that hasn’t loyalty and has used it in that manner.

“You talk of innocent lives! You remember
The Prolusion
. More than a hundred lives lost at sea! The privateers took the ship after. Thirty-five passengers were women and children. They all died horrible deaths. So don’t tell me about sympathy. Who cries for them?”

“That doesn’t sound like Sumner. What I’ve known of his movements…he has been with the Swamp Fox or in the backwoods.”

“I have the report, Colonel. His name is clearly written on the records with many witnesses to vouch for the fact. The profits went to him. Furthermore, in his arrogance, he has done little to cover his involvement. I have had direct orders from the General Clinton himself to hang the man. General Lorne was lost upon
The Prolusion
.” Durham’s lips twisted. “My brother and niece were also on board.”

“General, I feel for those lost and feel anger toward any that would harm the innocent, but it is not Sumner. It would have been impossible for him to have done so. He has been fighting in the war. Moreover, why would he do so?”

“Greed, Colonel. Your friend, the one you believe is so honorable and admirable is nothing more than a voracious murderer! Believe me, Colonel, if I wasn’t one hundred percent sure of my facts, I wouldn’t have done what I have! There is no way that anyone could have had the information needed to pretend to be Sumner. His connection to Leominster, his father, his sister…his accounts. Impossible. It leaves the only logical conclusion. Sumner Meador is a murderer.”

“I know of one,” Katy stated without thinking. Both men turned and stared at her as she emerged into the open doorway. She met their stares and said simply, “William Peyton.”

* * * *

Thunderstruck, Durham gaped at her. Under his breath, he said as if to himself, “To go unnoticed as a woman or a drunken fool.” Then, he eyed her intently while shaking his head in dogmatic denial. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come in and explain yourself. Quickly!”

Katy nervously edged into the room. She looked toward Bruce who stood in as much awe as Durham. “The whole of the story?”

“All of it!” Durham commanded.

Scarlet, Katy stuttered. “I know some only because Randa is my sister.”

“Randa? What has she….” Durham interrupted, but paused. “Go ahead.”

Suddenly it didn’t seem as good an idea to have interrupted their meeting as it had minutes before. She went on. “When they were young, Sumner and Randa were in love, madly or so it seemed to a romantic younger sister. Sumner wanted to marry her, but Father refused. Although Sumner was Colonel Blankenship’s son, he was a bastard. Unbeknownst to any, Randa was with child.

“It was long known that William was enamored with Sumner’s sister, Cathryn, but word came she was married. William at that time was handsome, wealthy—quite the catch. Randa set her eyes upon him. She didn’t tell him that she was with child…Sumner’s. It gets worse. She lost the child, but Cathryn returned widowed. I don’t know what happened, but I know that William spent his time working on Cathryn’s financial affairs with Henry Peterson, fighting against a force in England.

“It seemed strange, but at that time, Sumner and William forged a tight friendship, but when someone from Cathryn’s past came to claim her, Sumner didn’t stand in her way. Why would he? William was married. William became angry, extremely so. Frustrated with a wife that didn’t want him and a woman he couldn’t have. He felt used.

“I know I heard Randa complain long enough about a situation she caused herself.” She paused for a moment. “It was rumored that the raid upon Elm Bluff was orchestrated by William. It was said he wanted to have Cathryn kidnapped before she could find her way back to England, but all went astray. Sumner was furious beyond measure. He has been out for William’s blood since that time, but William escaped his wrath, coming back only when Sumner was out of Charles Town. He came back a shadow of his former self, a drunk.”

“Until this day in court,” Durham said. His manner frightened Katy. He raised an eyebrow. “How would he know all about Sumner’s business? His affiliation with the Duke?”

“Wouldn’t Cathryn’s business have been the same as for Sumner?”

Stillness fell on the room. Durham’s eyes flamed. “Is there any proof of what you have said?”

“I know where he keeps his papers—ones he doesn’t want others to see.”