Too Far to Whisper (27 page)

Abigail immediately appeared fully awake. “They are all ill? Think you that they shall be well in time for the wedding?”

“Aye,” Ben said. “I believe Nellie and Elizabeth shall be fine by morning. And Faith’s illness is due to the effects of being with child.”

Abigail smiled. “Oh, how wonderful, Ben!  You are going to be a father!”

He smiled proudly in return. “’Tis why it is so important that Faith eats, for she must now eat for two.”

Abigail looked at Rosalind, whose expression was hopeful.

“Everything is in order for the wedding,” Abigail said. “There is naught more for you to do, Rosalind, other than to don your beautiful gown and speak your vows. So yes, you may go take care of Faith. But be certain to return as early as possible tomorrow, for the guests who are traveling from Boston shall be arriving here by evening, and a special supper is being planned to welcome them.”

Rosalind nodded, then turned to smile at Ben. “I shall gather some of my belongings and return with you posthaste.”

“You are certain you feel up to it?” Ben asked. “I do not wish to cause you to fall ill for your wedding.”

“I am fine,” she assured him.

* * * * *

By the time Ben and Rosalind had covered a quarter of the distance to Ben’s house, the soaking rains had dwindled to a fine mist. The mud and slippery rocks along the path slowed their progress, much to Rosalind’s frustration.

“I wish we could walk faster,” Ben said, as if reading her thoughts. “Jacob shall be over to get me in less than an hour for our journey to his uncle’s.” He looked at Rosalind, hesitating before he spoke again. “So,” he said, “it appears this wedding is going to take place.”

“I fear so,” she said, not wishing to divulge her secret plan to him. To speak of it aloud, she feared, may curse it and prevent it from succeeding. “Nathaniel knows he can make me do his bidding simply by reminding me of what he will do to Mother…and you. How can I possibly fight that?”

Ben frowned. “The man seems obsessed with wedding you. Do you think ‘tis possible he does love you?”

Rosalind’s laugh was bitter. “Hardly. His words and actions tell me he is fond only of my appearance and innocence, nothing more. I could be as intelligent as a tadpole and it would matter not to him.” She stole a sidelong glance at her brother. “You will not believe what I witnessed Nathaniel doing the day Mother, Nellie and Elizabeth were here to meet with the dressmaker.”

“I can only imagine, knowing Nathaniel,” he said.

“I spied the captain and some red-haired wench…fornicating near the Corwins’ pond!”

Ben halted abruptly, paying no mind to the fact he was standing in the middle of a muddy puddle. “You jest!” When Rosalind shook her head emphatically, he asked, “Did you…watch them?”

“Aye,” she replied, wrinkling her nose. “And it did naught but fill me with disgust! Nathaniel pounded into the woman with such force, the leaves on the nearby trees were shaken from their branches! And the foul words that spewed from his lips were enough to instantly strike me deaf!”

Ben could not help but laugh at his sister’s exaggerations. “And how long, pray tell, did you watch?”

“Too long!” She and Ben resumed their walking. “I finally became so angry, I walked right up to them and gave Nathaniel a kick right on his bare buttocks!”

“You did not!”

“I most certainly did!” Rosalind could not help but giggle at the recollection. “The trollop screamed and gave Nathaniel such a mighty shove, he fell backwards. There he sat, his naked bottom deep in the mud!”

“No!” Ben laughed. “The almighty captain’s pride must have been sorely wounded!”

“Among other things!” Rosalind’s giggling increased. “He came stumbling after me with his soggy breeches about his ankles! I was so angry, had I a knife at the time, I would have been tempted to geld him!”

Ben’s smile suddenly faded. “Your tale is amusing, dear sister, but I cannot help but pity you for being forced to become the wife of such a man.”

Rosalind sighed. “I try not to dwell on it, otherwise I shall surely go mad. But ever since that day at the pond, Nathaniel has changed and become…tolerable.”

“Tolerable is no way to begin a marriage. Even when there is deep love between and husband and wife, such as the love Faith and I share, marriage is difficult at best.”

“Speaking of Faith,” Rosalind said, “I hope she is feeling better when I arrive. I am just so pleased for both of you, having a child!”

Ben smiled. “I must confess I am nervous. Already I am fretting about everything that could go wrong.”

“Everything shall be just fine,” Rosalind assured him. “The birth of this babe will be so easy, you will instantly want a dozen more.”

“Poor Faith!” Ben chuckled. He turned to look at Rosalind, his curiosity forcing him to ask. “And what of you and the captain? Surely he will be eager to produce a Corwin heir in all possible haste.”

Rosalind’s temples throbbed at the mere thought of bearing Nathaniel’s child. “Although I am very fond of children, the thought of Nathaniel having to bed me to conceive them is reason enough to make me not want any!”

* * * * *

As Ben’s house, a sturdy, newly built two-story structure with clapboards on the outside, came into view, Rosalind breathed a sigh of relief. She hated to admit it, but the journey had exhausted her. She prayed that her waning energy would not interfere with her ability to help care for Faith.

To her dismay, her brother noticed her weariness. “I do not know if bringing you here was such a good idea, Rosalind,” he said, hesitating at the foot of the path that led to his door. “Perhaps I acted too hastily, rushing to fetch you the way I did.”

“Do not be foolish,” Rosalind said, taking a deep breath and smiling. “I am pleased to help out in any way I can. And, truth be told, being away from the Corwins’ house feels wonderful, as if I have been freed from prison.”

“But you are wet from the rain and risk catching a chill,” he said. “I would never forgive myself if you became ill because of me, especially so near to your wedding.”

Rosalind chuckled. “If that were the case, and I were too ill to go through with the marriage, I would be grateful to you…although, the Corwins seem so determined to see me wed, I suspect they even would prop up my corpse and still pronounce Nathaniel and I as husband and wife!”

Ben shook his head and sighed. “I have enough to worry about with Faith being ill. I do not wish to be away and worry about you also.”

“Will you please stop fretting? I have been caring for Abigail with no problem, have I not? Now come, let us go inside. You will be leaving for North Ammon soon and should be spending this time with your wife!” She strode toward the house, leaving Ben where he stood.

Rosalind entered the house and looked about. The house was larger than her mother’s, tidy and uncluttered. Ben had built most of the furniture himself. It was simple but sturdy, and Faith had decorated the chairs and benches with needlepoint pillows. Bowls of fresh spring flowers sat on the tables. Rosalind doffed her damp cloak and warmed her hands in front of the fire.

“Is Faith asleep upstairs?” she asked Ben as he entered. “I do not wish to disturb her if she is.”

Ben removed his cloak and tossed it onto the thick oaken table. His eyes did not meet his sister’s. “Faith is not upstairs.”

Rosalind scanned the sitting room, wondering if she had missed Faith there when she entered. “Then where, pray tell, is she?”

He looked at her, and in his eyes Rosalind clearly saw anxiety.

“Faith is visiting her sister, who gave birth to a daughter yesterday. She will be staying with her for two days to help out.”

“Help out?” Rosalind clearly was bewildered. “While she is ill herself? I do not understand.”

“Faith is fine,” he said. And so are Nellie and Elizabeth.”

Rosalind moved closer to her brother. “You confuse me, Ben. For what purpose would you ask me to come here by telling me false tales and worrying me so?”

Ben lowered his gaze and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “I-I…”

“You
what
?” she demanded, wondering if her brother might be losing his mind.

“He did it for me,” a voice calmly interrupted from the kitchen doorway.

Startled, Rosalind snapped her head in the direction of the voice…and gasped.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“
Rosalind.” The voice now was directly in front of her. She felt two strong arms pull her against a familiar broad chest.

“Dear Lord,” she choked through her tears. “Is it really you, Shadow?” She buried her face in the soft leather of his shirt and sobbed out her relief. “I-I thought you were dead!”

“Do not weep,” he whispered, his own voice uncharacteristically heavy with emotion. “I am fine.” He pulled her more tightly against him and kissed the top of her head. For the first time in weeks, Rosalind felt she was where she truly belonged.

After several long moments, Rosalind pulled far enough away from Shadow to gaze up at him. In a trembling voice she whispered, “You cannot begin to imagine how desperately I have missed you or how many tears I have shed for you.”

“Oh?” A hint of a smile curved his lips. “I thought you hated me.” He reached to wipe a tear from her cheek. “You were so angry when you left.”

Fresh tears filled her eyes. “I was so wrong, Shadow. I never should have said the terrible things I said to you.” Swallowing a sob, she gathered the courage to add in a breathless whisper, “ I do not hate you…I love you.”

“And I, you,” he murmured, leaning to kiss her. The moment their lips touched, Rosalind melted against him, her knees suddenly weak, her heart hammering in her chest.

Ben cleared his throat purposefully. “Remember me?”

Rosalind reluctantly broke away from Shadow and directed her attention to her brother, who offered her a sheepish grin. “Happy?” he asked.

Too overwhelmed to speak, Rosalind smiled through her tears and nodded, then looked up at Shadow. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back against him.

Rosalind closed her eyes and prayed she was not dreaming. Never had she expected to be in Shadow’s arms again, feeling the warmth of him, the strength of him. Her immediate desire was to lead him to some secluded spot and kiss him until her lips ached, but first, she had to satisfy her burning curiosity. Kissing Shadow would have to wait.

Reluctantly, Rosalind broke away from him, then took his hand and led him to a bench near the table. When they both were seated, she turned to him and said, “You must tell me everything!  How came you to be here? How is it that you are not dead…when Elias assured me your body had been returned to your people?”

Before Shadow could answer, Rosalind cast a panicky look at her brother. “Ben, perhaps you should go wait outside for Jacob Whitney. Heaven help us if he were to come walking in here and see me with Shadow!”

Ben took a seat on a chair facing her. “Um…I also made up the tale about buying a cow,” he said. “Did you really believe I could afford one?”

Rosalind shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You are going to have to spend the next month in constant prayer after all of the lies you have told.” She turned to Shadow. “Now please, tell me everything!”

Shadow inhaled deeply, his eyes instantly clouding with pain. “Nathaniel did not shoot me. I was not there. I did not follow you.”

His words confused Rosalind. They also filled her with a combination of relief – because he had not followed her – and disappointment…for the very same reason. “I do not understand,” she said.

“It was Little Bird in the forest that day,” Shadow explained. “Nathaniel shot Little Bird.”

Rosalind gasped. “Your cousin? The one who tried to steal the Corwins’ sheep?”

Shadow nodded.

A pang of remorse stabbed at her. Little Bird’s life had been filled with mistakes, according to Shadow…and now, ironically, even his death was the result of one. “I am so sorry,” she whispered, feeling Shadow’s pain as deeply as if it were her own. She reached to place her hand on his. “But why – how – could Nathaniel have made such a mistake?”

“Little Bird was shot in the back,” Ben interrupted. “Which means he likely fell face forward. I doubt that in Nathaniel’s haste to return you home safely, he bothered to roll the Indian over and examine him. And by the time Elias dispatched his men to fetch the bodies days later, they had been feasted on by the insects and animals.”

“Also, Little Bird and I were very similar in height and weight,” Shadow added.

Rosalind hesitated, contemplating whether or not she should ask the next question. “Forgive me,” she finally said, “but is there any possibility Nathaniel might have seen what he claims he did? Might Little Bird have been about to harm me?”

“Nay.” Shadow shook his head emphatically. “He must have come upon you while out hunting. Ben told me you swooned. If Little Bird saw you lying there, he would have come to you out of curiosity, not violent intent.”

“I screamed before I swooned,” Rosalind said, mostly to herself. “It may have drawn him to me.” Her eyes met Shadow’s. “I am so sorry, Shadow. I know how fond you were of your cousin.”

Shadow bowed his head. “It is a pity it took something as tragic as my cousin’s death to reunite me with my family.”

Rosalind’s hand tightened on his. “You returned to your village?”

“I had to,” he said. “Several days after you left me, I returned to Adam Stoddard’s. I wanted to know if you had indeed returned to Eastwell and by what means. He then told me about Little Bird’s death and how the body had been brought to him so he could see to its return to my people. He said he at first had thought he truly was returning my body – which, by the time it was delivered to him, had little left to recognize  – to my people. But when he arrived there, they informed him it was Little Bird. I could not stay away after that…not when my cousin had died in my stead. My guilt was so strong it mattered not to me if my family shunned me or rebuked me…I felt I had to be there during their time of mourning.”

“Did you settle your differences with your father…your people?” Rosalind asked, although in her heart, she already knew the answer. Shadow looked every bit the warrior now, from his long, deerskin shirt and fringed leggings, to his moccasins and wide, colorfully decorated belt. Gone were all traces of his English life with the Corwins. Back was the air of importance, of regality, Rosalind had sensed about him on the day Nathaniel first had introduced them.

“For the most part, we made amends,” Shadow said. “My father and I spent countless hours talking. I told him everything that had occurred since last I had seen him.” He paused to look into Rosalind’s eyes. “I told him about you…about us.”

Rosalind’s heart felt as if it were about to cease its beating. “What was his response?”

“At first, he advised me to forget you – to seek out a wife from among my own people…and raise a family. But as we continued to talk, my father came to realize the depth of my feelings for you. He finally advised me to return here and confront you ere you wed Nathaniel. He said he knew that if I did not, I never would be at peace.”

“I am pleased you took his advice,” Rosalind said softly.

Shadow afforded her a slight smile before his expression sobered. “Ben has informed me that your wedding is to take place at week’s end…and the reasons for it. I am greatly relieved I have arrived in time to put an end to all of this.”

Both Rosalind and Ben just stared at him.

“I intend to kill Nathaniel,” he stated evenly.

“
Kill?”
Rosalind’s face paled.

Shadow nodded. “Not only do I wish to avenge my cousin’s death, I am determined to make certain Nathaniel never will blackmail anyone again.” His dark eyes blazed as he added, “The man does not deserve to live. I shall be doing the town a great favor.”

“Please, Shadow,” Rosalind said, “No more violence. I have had more than my share of late and can bear no more. I believe there is another way to punish Nathaniel for his deeds.”

“And what, pray tell, do you suggest?” her brother asked. “That Shadow make him go stand in the corner?”

Rosalind scowled at him, then returned her attention to Shadow. “I know that people already believe you died a murderer and deserved your fate…but please do not turn that falsehood into a truth.”

“Then how do you plan to rid yourself of the man without causing harm to your family?” Shadow asked. He narrowed his eyes at her. “Do not tell me you still intend to go through with this wedding!”

“Dear Lord, no!” Rosalind’s response came without hesitation. “But I do have a plan – the details of which I do not wish to reveal.  Please…just trust me. Nathaniel shall receive the punishment he deserves.”

Shadow appeared unconvinced. “And why do you wish to keep the details of this plan to yourself?” he asked. “Do you think we will not approve?”

“’Tis something I wish to do all on my own…without help.” she said. “And I feel if I speak of it, I will curse it.”  She thought it best to change the subject. “Tell me the rest of your tale,” she said to Shadow. “How came you to be here at Ben’s?”

“Well, now,” Ben responded before Shadow could, “Shadow could not very well walk up to the Corwins’ door and ask to see you, could he?”

“But the two of you were not previously acquainted,” Rosalind said. “How did you come together to carry out this scheme?”

Again, Ben was the one to respond. “Several days past, I was hunting out back when I got the feeling someone was watching me. The feeling lingered, yet I spied no one about. Finally, when I sat down under a tree to rest for a spell and set down my musket, Shadow crept up behind me. The first thing he did was grab my musket!”

Shadow smiled. “I feared that when I explained who I was, and Ben realized I had not been killed, he would make my death a reality. After all, I thought he still believed me to be a murderer who had taken his sister hostage. I had no way of knowing you already had confessed the truth to him.”

“When Shadow told me who he was,” Ben said, “I did not believe him. Like everyone else, I thought him to be dead.”

“But I persuaded him to listen to me,” Shadow said.

“By pointing my own musket at me!” Ben said, chuckling.

“I explained the events surrounding Jonathan’s death,” Shadow said, “and how you and I came to run off together. I did not expect him to believe a word of it, but I felt he needed to know the truth…to enable him to understand why I so urgently wanted…needed to see you.”

“And his story was the same as the one you told me,” Ben said. “I knew then that he was speaking the truth…that he indeed was
your
Indian.”

Rosalind turned to Shadow. “But how did you know Ben was my brother? The two of you never had met before.”

“I happened to glimpse him once when he and his wife came to visit you at the Corwins’. The two of you look similar. Also, during the time you and I were together, you oft spoke of your family and of the house the neighbors helped Ben build for his new bride. It was not difficult to track him down. From what you had told me about him, I felt I could trust him to help me. I also needed someone who could enter the Corwins’ house and bring you to me without arousing suspicion.”

Rosalind smiled and leaned against Shadow. “Thank you so much, Ben, for all you have done. I cannot put into words how happy I am at this moment. I shall be forever grateful. You are indeed a wonderful brother.”

“But what will you do now?” Ben asked. “There is still Nathaniel to deal with. You cannot be meaning to run off with Shadow again and leave me here to deal with the captain’s wrath on my own?”

“I told you,” Rosalind said, “I have a plan to rid myself of Nathaniel and prevent him from carrying out his threats. And then I shall be free to be with the man I love.” She looked up at Shadow. His eyes immediately locked with hers. “Where my heart truly belongs.”

“And then we shall return to my village and be wed,” Shadow said.

Rosalind held her breath, wondering if she had heard him correctly. Or had she only imagined his words because she had dreamt of them so often?

“You wish to marry me?” she carefully repeated. Her voice was but a whisper.

Shadow took her hand into his. “More than I ever have wanted anything.”

Rosalind still dared not believe her ears. “But your family…will they accept me?”

Shadow smiled gently. “They accepted Adam’s daughter, Mary. I hold no doubt that my people will come to love you as much as I do.”