Never Look Back

JIM CARR

NEVER LOOK BACK JIM CARR

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NEVER LOOK BACK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS NEIL McKAY for his suggestions

COPYRIGHT: JamesWCarr 2022 ISBN:9781989425381

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CHAPTER ONE

T

he sudden loud squawking from the chicken coop stopped Elias Wright cold. He nodded to his son, Addison, who rose from the table and ran out of the back door.

He was breathing hard by the time he opened the door to the coop, where he was struck in the face by one of the chickens. He knocked the chicken away with a clenched hand and saw another chicken on fire. He heard the door swing shut in the smoke with a loud bang. He ran to the door in time to see a figure in the darkness running away.

He threw his jacket over the chicken to smother the flames, just in time to see another chicken flying in the air at him. He ran to the door, slammed it shut and ran for the house. He stuck his head inside the door.

“The coop’s on fire.”

Elias was chewing on a piece of meat and spit it out of his mouth, pushed back his chair and headed out the door in time to see his son close the coop door and could hear the whole coop squawking and the constant flutter of wings as the chickens tried to fly away from the fire.

He could barely see his son in the blue smoke that engulfed the coop.

He spotted the cause of the fire. A cloth soaked in tar on the floor amid the six roosts. He ran out of the coop and headed for the tool shed to grab a shovel and a tarpaulin, returning a few seconds later. Elias dropped the tarp, ducked among the roosts, and used his shovel to scoop up the burning rag. He had to crouch until he was free from the roosts and headed to the door as other chickens kept running in circles looking for a way out.

He opened the door, and some of the chickens followed him. He dumped the burning rag and used his spade to dig a hole to bury it. Elias returned to find his son, flailing his arms to protect his face from being scratched by flying chickens heading for the open door.

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Much of the smoke had disappeared out the door. So had many chickens running around the hen yard, with the smell of burning tar still lingering in the air.

Elias pushed his son out of the door. “Tar fumes can set your clothes on fire if you’re not careful.” They stood in the hen yard, breathing in the fresh air. “It was lucky we heard the hens. If we hadn’t, the tar fumes might have set the entire coop on fire along with all the chickens.”

“I heard the coop door slam behind me, and when I looked out the door, I could see someone running away. It was too dark to see who it was.”

Elias set his mouth. “Probably by one of those so-called Patriots.”

“It’s because you don’t believe in their cause.”

“I was brought up as one of the King’s subjects and a subject of the King I will remain. I do nothing to harm them or their cause. I don’t know why they feel they can burn us down just because I don’t like their cause. I live in peace and expect them to live in peace as well.”

“What about the chickens?”

“Let them run around their yard and once the smell of tar has left the coop, see that they get back in. But first, go back into the coop. Take this shovel. Kill any chickens not dead and still suffering from their burns and throw out all the dead ones. I’ll get your mother and Tabitha to bring them in for cooking.”

He walked back to find his wife standing in the doorway. “We were able to save the coop and most of our chickens.”

“How did it start?” said his wife, wiping her hands on her white apron.

Addison noticed the lines around her mouth for the first time.

He could see Tabitha’s face behind his wife. “You can thank one of our neighbours, who think liking the King is a crime.” He sucked in his breath.

“Addison is inside the coop now. He’ll be throwing out all the chickens that are dead. You and Tabitha will need a basket to go and take them to the kitchen.”

Except for their 10-year-old son, Jacob, no one talked much during the rest of the night. When his father explained what had happened, Jacob asked: “Why would anyone want to kill the chickens? They did nothing to them.”

Elias smiled and rubbed the top of Jacob’s head. “And we have done nothing to them as well. I don’t know why we can’t get along in peace. We have done nothing to harm them in any way. In fact, Addison is very sympathetic to their cause and attends their meetings.”

Later, when it was time to put out the lights, Elias decided to leave the 5

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candles in the kitchen burning. It was the largest room in the house with a long table where they ate and a long board where they placed their dishes, a gift from Elias’s father when they married. The table was covered with a patterned cotton cloth when not in use. The kitchen had a large window facing the fields and another smaller window set in the wall, and a bench with three pails – one for slops, another for washing dishes and a third, a water pail for drinking. The bench was near a smaller table, where Electa Wright mixed food before she cooked itin the large fireplace, made from stones found when they cleared their land. The fireplace had an iron swing with a hook on which they could boil vegetables and soups, a spit for roasting meat and chickens and a place where they could use a long-handled frying pan.

“Do you think they’ll return?” said Addison. Next to his father in height, Addison had chestnut-coloured hair, bright brown eyes, a strong chin, a high forehead and a thin face and took after his dead mother in many of his ways. Like his father, Addison was a farmer at heart and took great pride in knowing they had the county’s best farm.

“I think it’s more of a warning than anything else,” said his father.

“If they meant to do us real harm, they would have set the house on fire in the middle of the night and us in it.” Elias lay down his pipe and tapped it against the fireplace. “When is the next meeting of your Patriots group?”

“Saturday night.”

“Be sure to tell everyone that someone tried to burn down our coop.

And be sure to add, all we want to do is live in peace with all our neighbours, no matter whether they’re for the revolution or the Crown.”

Electa was 15 years younger than Elias and was brushing her hair when Elias opened their bedroom door. He had married her a year after his first wife died, giving birth to Addison. Electa was the complete opposite of his first wife. She carried herself in a refined manner and wore her brown hair in a bun at the back of her head. Electa’s small face twisted, and her bright blue eyes hardened as she saw him enter.

“I can’t stand this any longer.” She started crying. “No one visits us anymore, and your daughter will never find a husband at the rate things are going. The fire is just the start of something far worse,” she said in a shrill voice that irritated Elias and even Addison, who always went out of his way to please her.

“Three generations of Wrights have made this farm what it is today.

I do not intend to be scared off by a group of hoodlums trying to drive people off their farms in the name of patriotism. No, not by a long shot.”

Electa rose and walked with a limp to the door. She got the limp from 6

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an accident on her father’s farm. “I’ll sleep with Tabitha tonight. She’s the only one who knows what I go through day after day. You never want me to have the latest fashion from London. All you want is a slave.”

She slammed the door behind her. It echoed throughout the house.

Addison could hear it from the kitchen. He had decided to stay up past one o’clock to ensure their visitor did not return.

***

His father was in the kitchen making porridge when Addison rose at seven o’clock. He went outside to relieve himself and returned to wash his face in a small basin and comb his hair. Elias placed a large bowl of porridge in front of him, a glass of milk and a stack of toast.

Tabitha joined them a few minutes later and sat at the table. “Mother is distraught by the way you treat her. She needs a lot of understanding. You need to pay more attention to her.”

Tabitha looked at herself in the mirror over the wash basin. She was now 18 and the acknowledged beauty of the county. She looked at her oval face, her brown hair, the exact colour of her mother’s, and even copied her mother’s way of talking, using her hands to make a point. She also inherited her mother’s love of classical music.

Elias watched her preen herself in front of the mirror. “I can’t be responsible for what other people do. And I’m not about to change how I think just to please people who do not agree with me.”

Jacob joined them and chewed on the toast. Electa joined them just as Elias and Addison were getting ready to go to the coop and find out how bad the damage was.

They found four more chickens on the floor Addison had missed. He threw them out, then set about to chop down all the roosts and throw the burnt wood outside. Elias took a large broom and swept charred chicken remains outside.

“The smell of smoke will linger for months unless we paint it as well,” said Elias, leaving Addison to clean the rest of the coop. He returned with a pail of blue paint left over when they repainted the house two years earlier.

They were still painting when a familiar face popped his head inside the door. “What on earth?”

“Had a visit from one of those so-called Patriots who tried to burn down our coop. This is what they did. If you want to help, Addison will be heading for the shed to pick up some lumber and nails. I’m sure he could use the help.”

“Your father’s riled up. I hope he doesn’t think I was in on it.” Antho7

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ny Sherwood looked at Addison, winked and got one in return.

“I doubt it. My father is just upset, and rightly so.”

“What does Tabitha think?”

“She’s scared like her mother. I don’t blame them. My father does not harm anyone. He’s been more than generous to a lot of people whose crops have failed. No one should treat him this way, no matter how he thinks. I don’t agree with him, but I keep that to myself.”

They reached the shed, and Addison selected some boards to take back to the coop along with a pocket full of nails and a hammer. He gave Anthony some of the boards and carried the rest to the coop.

At the coop, Anthony put down the boards. “Do you think it would be a good time to see Tabitha?”

Addison smiled. He knew Anthony was in love with Tabitha. “Believe me. You would be a gift.”

Anthony knocked at the door. Electa opened it with a smile. “How wonderful to see you again, Anthony. Tabitha will be making lunch today.

We would be pleased to have you join us.”

“Not if it too much trouble. I know you’ve had a disaster on your hands, and I would not want to impose.”

At six-foot, three inches, Anthony was one of the county’s tallest and most handsome young men. His father wanted him to study law and become a magistrate, but his heart was not in it. His dark brown eyes always had a special twinkle and a deep voice that suited a play-actor. He is handsome in every sense of the word, with a face bronzed from working on his father’s farm.

He brushed off some wood splinters from his breeches and his black, shiny Jack Boots before sitting on a sofa where the Wrights entertained guests. The three narrow windows had lace curtains that were part of the dowry Electa brought to the marriage.

Elias and Addison entered the kitchen just before lunch. Tabitha was playing the piano. Her mother favoured European classical music and made Tabitha learn her favourites, which she played at community gatherings. Music from the London music halls was discouraged in recent months.

“Tabitha has a wonderful gift at the piano,” said Anthony with a watchful eye on her father.

Tabitha left to bring in lunch. It was her mother’s favourite recipe, which she pronounced as “receipt.” It also happened to be her father’s as well. It took longer than just roasting it in the fireplace and came with a special cucumber salad and freshly baked dinner rolls.

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“Tabitha loves cooking. It’s her greatest accomplishment,” said Electa.

“She knows all my recipes I inherited from my mother, who got them from her mother.

Tabitha looked embarrassed and fanned herself. She wanted to look at Anthony but didn’t dare.

He looked at his watch. “I’d like to have a few words with you, Mr. Wright, before I leave today.”

Electa smiled and caught the smile in Tabitha’s eyes. She set her mouth.

If Elias gets into one of his moods and lectures him about the importance of the Crown, she would make sure he never forgot it.

CHAPTER TWO

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ilvanus Sherwood had long grey hair and small, dark brown beady eyes. He didn’t talk much, and when he did, it was short and to the point. He had a strong mind, and once he made it up, no power on earth could change it. His reedy voice made everyone feel uncomfortable. He was a foot shorter than his son, but his voice and how he presented himself intimated others somehow.

“What did Elias say exactly?”

“That I was welcome to court his daughter, and then he asked me about you.”

Silvanus smiled. A union between Elias’s daughter and his son would create the largest farm in the area and bring riches to them all. ”Has he changed his mind about his allegiance to the Crown?”

“WE didn’t get into it, but I sense he has not. When I went to see him about Tabitha, he and Addison were cleaning up from a fire in their chicken coop. He blames it on a misguided Patriot.”

“In life, you must always be prepared to change with the times, no matter what you believe. You and I will drop by his home tomorrow and talk with him. I must do so for your sake and Tabitha’s sake as well. What about his son? I understand, he is a member of one of the Patriot groups.”

“That never came up.”

***

Silvanus flicked the reins, and his cart headed for the dirt road to the 9

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Wright farm. His wife, Hannah, had dressed in her church meeting petticoat and a steeple hat.

“Do they know we’re coming?”

“I mentioned it to Tabitha yesterday,” said Anthony, who sat on a small wooden box behind his father. “I just didn’t tell them when.”

“It won’t matter. Elias doesn’t worry about things like that. His door is always open to us and anyone he knows.”

“How does Electa feel about that?” said Hannah, sniffing the air as Silvanus snapped the reins again to get his old horse moving a bit faster.

Ten minutes later, they reached the Wright home and bought their horse to a halt a short distance from the back door. Silvanus helped his wife off the cart and took her arm as they walked towards the door, which opened with Electa standing in the doorway in a white apron and a blue petticoat.

The sun had turned warmer, and Hannah took her hat off and laid it on the cart. Their cart had seen more than 11 summers, and the wood had turned a dirty grey. She mentioned it on and off to her husband, who ignored her suggestion.

Electa gave Hannah a long hug and escorted her into the kitchen. “If I had known you were coming, I would have baked something special.”

Hannah looked at Anthony, who turned away to see Tabitha coming into the kitchen. “I thought I heard voices,” she said in her sweetest voice.

“I wish I had known, and I would have dressed in more appropriately.”

She looked at Anthony with question marks in her eyes.

Hannah set her mouth and looked at Anthony again. She didn’t know how to handle him anymore. He would never have dared to lie to her when he was young.

“Why are we all standing? Please come into our parlour,” she said, leading them into the next room just as Elias opened the back door. “When I saw your cart, I knew you had come to visit, Silvanus and Hannah. Is there news?”

To be honest, we believed it was time for us to have a chat about our children,” she said, giving Anthony a backward glance.

“Now we’re getting some place,” said Elias. “If that’s your news, then let me get a bottle of Brandy I’ve been saving for it special occasions. I think this is one of them.”

“Then, you approve,” said Silvanus.

Tabitha looked at her father, not knowing what he was likely to say.

Elias stuck out his hand. “I’m glad you also approve, old friend.”

“Then it’s all set,” said Tabitha, who sat down next to Anthony. “All but the date.”

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“What about the first Saturday after the harvest,” said Anthony.

Elias poured a small glass of Brandy for everyone and raised his glass.

“To Tabitha and Anthony.”

“May their marriage last until they die,” said Silvanus.

Hannah choked on the Brandy. “Just sip it,” said Silvanus, rubbing her back.

Electa headed for the kitchen and returned with a platter of fruit pudding she had saved from Christmas.

Tabitha rose, took the plater from her mother and passed it around.

“If I had known you were coming, I would have had something special for you,” Electa said again.

Hannah shook her head. “Don’t say that, Electa. Your pudding is simply beyond compare.”

“You’re a born cook, Electa,” said Silvanus Tabitha sat down beside Anthony again. “Then it’s settled. The first Saturday after the harvest.”

“That’s only three months from now,” said Electa, counting out the weeks on her fingers.

Tabitha rose and sat down at the piano and played one of her mother’s favourite melodies.

Hannah sat back with her eyes closed. “Please play some more,” she said, closing her eyes again. About 30 minutes later, Hannah rose and hugged her. “Anthony, you will be marrying an angel.”

Tabitha offered her sweetest smile.

“Could we retreat to the kitchen for a quiet smoke?” said Silvanus.

Elias nodded and followed him into the kitchen, where they sat next to the fireplace and puffed on their pipes.

“Both you and I favour the Crown, Elias. And we’re too old to change.

But new winds are sweeping across the country, and there is rising sentiment for a country of our own. If we are seen to be on the wrong side, who knows what will happen to our children or us.”

“I agree, Silvanus. But throwing my lot in with these rabble-rousers sticks in my throat.”

“I’m with you, Elias. But I do think we should consider taking a different approach.”

“Such as?”

“First, not telling anyone where we stand. No matter what the outcome, we can always say we followed their cause in our hearts.”

“I hear you, Silvanus, but what happens if the red coats decide to send one of their regiments to our corner and they want to know who supports 11

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the King or the Patriots?”

“That is a chance we have to take. And if the red coats take over our farms and expect us to billet their men, we can do and always say they made us do it at the point of their bayonets.”

“You’re a wiser man than I am, Silvanus. I hear you and will give it some thought.”

“And don’t forget both our sons lean towards the Patriots.”

Later, when the Sherwoods took their leave, Tabitha turned to her mother. “Wait until I tell everyone. Lizbeth Bates will have a fit. She’s set her cap for Anthony two years ago and told everyone in town she was destined to marry him.”

***

Addison waited for his mother to come out of the shop and wave to him. He jumped off their cart and followed her inside. He picked up the white bag of flour, put it on his shoulder and walked out to the cart, followed by the grocer, who wore his spectacles down his nose. Addison took the large wooden box from him, filled with sugar, salt, red and blue gums, cocoa, raisins and prunes and set it close to the big flour bag. His mother emerged with yellow and green and red buntings to decorate their parlour and the church.

“You seem dreadful quiet, Addison. What is bothering you?”

“The house won’t seem like home without Tabitha.”

“She won’t be far away.”

“Your father and Anthony’s father plan to build a home for them to move into. The front will face our home, and the back is facing the Sherwoods. All we’ll need to do is go out in front of the house and wave to her.

If she needs us, all she has to do is wave to us to come. But she also promises to visit us often.”

They didn’t talk much after that. Their horse headed for the barn as soon as it entered their yard. Addison had to back it close to the backdoor.

His father was standing in the doorway, looking at what they had brought.

“Looks like you bought the store out.”

Electa walked past him. Jacob, who had seen them from the window, was standing behind his father and raced out to see what was in the cart.

When he spotted the bunting, he started dancing around the wagon. Addison walked past his father with the flour bag and took it to the large barrel with a special top made from hardwood by his father. Elias followed him into the kitchen, removed the top, and helped him steady the bag until all the flour was in the barrel.

Jacob was still jumping around the cart as Addison lifted the box 12

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that held the salt and sugar and raisins and prunes, gums and cocoa and walked back into the kitchen while his father unhitched the horse and took it to the barn.

Elias lit his pipe from a straw from the fireplace and asked his daughter to play something for him. He hummed along with the music. When she finished, he kissed her. “I have such a wonderful daughter. I am sorry to lose you.”

She sat down beside him. “Is there something else you want to say to me?”

“No matter how charming Silvanus appears to be, be aware that he hates to spend money on anything. There are rumours that he is wealthy.

One other thing, he wants Anthony to become an attorney-at-law. If you’re not happy about either of those things, then do not make the mistake of marrying him.”

“I do not care what he does. I love him. I have always loved him.”

***

Three days later, three men from the village visited Silvanus. “We want to know where you stand,” said Alex McAlpine, the village’s wheelwright.

“Why are you asking me this?”

“You’re a friend of Elias Wright. And we know where he stands. What about you?”

“Well, you know more than I do. Elias and I never talk about anything except our children and how our crops are faring.”

“According to what our women folk tell us, your son plans to marry Elias’s daughter in the fall. They might be on our side. Or Tabitha might swing your son over to her father’s side,” said Abraham Hackett, the local teacher.

“Whatever the case, we can’t afford to have him make a lot of problems for many people in the village and the surrounding community. If the red coats find out who is on our side, a lot of us could die.” Hackett couldn’t wait to join the Continental Army but was held back by his father.

He practised shooting his father’s musket in their backyard. Hackett had thick lips and frequently bit them. After the war, he planned to enter a school of higher learning once the war was over.

Silvanus was nodding and smiling until they finished talking. “He, like me, wants grandchildren to carry on our farms that date back almost 100 years. We want what’s best for them. From what I know about Elias, the last thing he wants is for anyone to die, either on your side or the British.”

They rose, but Silvanus waved them down. “I don’t like leaving things 13

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like this. You would do me and my family honour if we all sat around the fireplace and smoked a pipe and have a bit of cheer before you go.”

They stayed for the next hour, laughing about the comings and goings in the community and left shaking Silvanus’s hand and a pat on the back.

He knew he should tell Elias about his meeting but decided it might be best if he didn’t until it was necessary.

***

Elias scanned the field behind his home. There was no sign of their prize cow. He caught Addison coming from the barn. “Is Maisy in the barn? Can’t see her anywhere.”

Addison shook his head. “Maybe she’s wandered into the pasture. I’ll look-see.” He said, heading towards the pasture. She’s probably at the saltlick, he thought. After a few minutes, he scanned the pasture, using his left hand, he shaded his eye. He couldn’t see her anywhere. Below the hill was a fence, and he walked down to find a part of it lying on the ground as though someone had chopped it down. He passed through the opening and headed for the brook, stopping from time to scan the banks of the stream. He was rounding the bend when he saw her, lying face down in the water. He ran the rest of the way. It was Maisy. He turned her face and saw that her throat had been slit. Part of her body had been cut open, and part of her stomach area was missing.

He began to cry for no reason and started running home through the opening in their fence and up the pasture. He was breathing hard when he reached home. Elias had seen him running and had opened the door.

“Maisy,” said his father.

“Someone chopped an opening in the fence at the bottom of the pasture and led her along the brook, where he slit her throat.”

Elias poured him a glass of water. “Sit down and drink this. We need to bring her back home, and I’ll need your strength and wits about you.

You needn’t mention this to your mother or your sister and brother. We’ll head out after supper. Just before dark.”

An hour later, they crossed the pasture and down to the opening in the fence. A wind from the north had sprung up and blew some of the leaves off a low-hanging branch as they passed under it.

“Where to now?”

“This way,” said Addison, turning right.

They walked the rest of the way in silence. After a few minutes, Elias stopped. “How much further?”

“Just around the bend ahead.”

They picked up their pace and rounded the corner a few minutes later.

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“We should see the carcass up ahead,” said Addison.

They kept on walking. “Are you sure it was in this direction?”

Addison suddenly stopped. This is where I found Maisy.”

Elias kicked up the dirt and found streaks of blood a short distance away, and bits of fur clung to the rocks. Elias pointed to the pieces of brown fur blowing in the wind. “Someone has come and taken the carcass away with them.”

He pointed to the footprints a bit further down the bank. “Two people, judging by the footprints, one with a hole in their left heel.”

“What do we tell, mother?

“Just that Maisy has wandered off, and we weren’t able to tell in which direction she went. Nothing more.”

“Who would do such a thing?”

“The same person who tried to burn down our chicken coop. Someone who wants to scare us off.”

They walked back slowly. The sun was at the rim of the sky, and they picked up their pace. “Not a word of this to anyone.”

“We just can’t let them get away with us.”

“They won’t.”

“What can we do?”

“Leave that to me.”

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CHAPTER THREE

T

hey met in Alex McAlpine’s shop. It was large enough to hold his wheel-making equipment and 50 people comfortably. A number of wheels hung on spikes from a large beam that ran across the building. The clean smell of glue floated in the air. More than one person raised their head to sniff the air and smile.

Alex was at the door and welcomed each person. Abraham Hackett had contacted 30 people, and they all showed up about the same time and sat down on three long benches in the room. Alex McAlpine rubbed his hands – small, blistered hands for a man and a wheelwright.

“We have a select group of us tonight,” said Abraham Hackett. “We’ve left out a few people whom we have reason to think might be British sympathizers.”

“Like Addison Wright,” said Abilah Babbit in a loud, ringing voice.

“I think he is a Patriot in his heart, regardless of what his father may think,” said Amasa Carver. “They had a fire in their chicken coop and were lucky to see it in time to save it.”

“Too bad it didn’t burn to the ground and their house with it,” said Babbit, who tossed his slicked-back black hair in defiance. There was anger on his black-stubbled face and in his loud voice. He had a beak for a nose that ruined his facial features.

“Whoever did this to them should be reported to the authorities and arrested.” Amasa Carver spat out the words.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was too bad they all were burned in the fire.”

“You’re new to these parts, Babbit. They have been here for 90 years when it was all wilderness and worked hard over three generations to create one of the best farms in the area. Nobody gave it to them, and they have been more than generous to those of us who were having a hard time. And 16

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how long have you been here?”

“It’s not my fault that my people did not come here a century ago. I may have only come here two years ago, and I have to work for a share of the crop. It’s not right for my family or me.”

McAlpine stood. “Quiet. Both of you. We’re not here to air your differences. Right now, the red coats are not far from here. We need a plan to know how to deal with them. We’re not regular soldiers, and we’re not equipped with firearms to fight them. We have to decide tonight on how we plan to deal with it. I move that we go about our business, as usual. All in favour?”

At least two-thirds raised their hands.

McAlpine, Hackett, Galloway, and Carver stayed behind as they took their leave. “We need to have a long talk with Addison Wright. Amasa, you’re on good terms with him, drop by his home and ask him to join us for a chat. It will be just the five of us. We need to know precisely where we stand. And if he’s with us all the way, I don’t want to see any other bad things happen to his family,” said McAlpine.

“It’s not him that I’m worried about. It’s his father. He doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut,” said Hackett.

Amasa Carver left first. He didn’t feel comfortable talking to Addison.

They had known each other since they were in school and were friends. He found Addison coming out of the chicken coop with a saw and a hammer and followed him with the remaining bits of lumber.

Addison waved to him. “I’ll be with you after I take this stuff to the shed.”

Amasa put his arm under Addison’s arm when he returned. “Let’s walk for a bit.”

They headed for the pasture, talking about the upcoming wedding.

“Your sister is a lovely lady.”

Addison smiled. “We will miss her.”

Amasa suddenly stopped. “Some members of our group want to know where you stand if the red coats take over the village.”

“I’m for freedom. My father is set in his ways. We’ve agreed to disagree. I don’t want anything to happen to him, and he doesn’t want anything to happen to me. But my mind is made up. I plan to join the Continental Army soon as things quiet down here. You heard about our fire?”

Amasa nodded and started talking again. “We don’t want things like that to happen to you and your family. McAlpine, Hackett and Galloway would like to meet with you at Alex’s shop tomorrow right after supper.

They’ll have questions about your loyalty to the Patriots. I want you to tell 17

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them what you just told me.”

***

Amasa joined Addison on his way to McAlpine’s shop. “If you join the Continental Army, I will, too. I talked to my father about it. He told me it was up to me and that he can’t wait until the war is over.”

They walked arm in arm in silence until they reached McAlpine’s shop. Addison loved the smell of glue, the large shop with its saws and chisels, and the wood sawdust on the floor. If he were not expected to take over the farm when his father died, he would ask Alex McAlpine to become his apprentice.

McAlpine, Hackett and Galloway were sitting around a wood table, drinking tea and eating scones when they entered. There were two empty chairs at the end of the table, and Amasa and Addison sat on them.

McAlpine’s wife saw them enter from a window at the back of his shop and joined them with fresh tea and more scones.

McAlpine raised his glass and saluted them. “To our army. May they make us free.” He watched as Addison raised his glass and shouted as loud as the others: “To our army.”

Addison and I plan to join the Continental Army,” said Amasa, raising his mug. “To the Continental Army. May they be victorious.”

McAlpine held his mug in his hands and raised it so that his eyes were just above the rim. “There is talk that we can’t trust you, that you’re secretly an agent of the British like your father.”

Hackett smiled and looked at him. “I am not sure how you came by this information, Mr. McAlpine, but it is wrong on both accounts. I am with you all. I want to live in a country where we decide how much taxes I will pay. And I am prepared to back up my words by joining the Continental Army.”

“Talk is cheap,” said McAlpine in his soft voice. He rubbed his thin hands.

“We both plan to join at the same time.”

“Tell you what. The day he joins the Continental Army, I’ll be there to send you off. And may even join you.”

“I’m not sure what else I can do to make you believe me.”

“It’s not so much about you, Wright,” said Hackett.

“It’s about your father and if he will give us all away should the red coats come to the village. We’re all fearful of that to a man,” added McAlpine.

“No need to fear that. Even if my father wanted to, he does not know 18

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who my Patriot friends are. He doesn’t ask. And I do not volunteer. My father knows I am for the cause but does not want to hear me talk about it.

Also, he is not the type of man who talks about his neighbours, let alone any of you, even if he knew who you were.

“But what will happen if he learns you’ve joined the Continental Army?”

“He will only pray that I am not killed for a foolish cause. But deep down, he will be proud of me. He makes no secret that he is on the side of the King. But he is, above all, a man of high principles, which is more than I can say for some of our members. ” Hackett raised his eyebrows. “That’s a high and pretty speech from someone whose loyalty has been called into question.”

“I have every reason to believe that the person who tried to burn down our chicken coop is one of our members. We suspect the same person lured away our prize cow, slit her throat, and then dragged her away. It has scared my mother out of her wits, and she sides with us. Just be advised that my father is hell-bent on finding out who it was and denouncing him to the authorities. And if he doesn’t, I will.”

“We agree,” said McAlpine. “We’ve already told all the others, if any one of them is involved, to desist.”

***

Electa was getting everything ready for the next day when Addison returned. The ashes in the fireplace were still red, and he went over and stirred them. “You look delighted with yourself. Or am I reading too much in your face?”

“Where’s father?”

“He didn’t say, other than he was going to find out who was behind the fire.”

Elias returned about an hour later, also looking pleased with himself.

“I went to see my old friend, Elnathan. You remember him, Electa. His wife had a party for us when we got married. I see him at fairs and in town from time to time. He always has his ear to the ground. He thinks it’s one of your Patriot friends.”

“So do I.” Elias sat down and sipped on the cup of tea Electa had just poured for him. “So you’re starting to see what your friends are like.”

“I also had a meeting tonight with a few members of the group, and I made it clear I thought it was by one of the group. They knew all about the fire but not about Maisy. When I told them, it was clear they had not 19

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known about it. They also told me they had a meeting, and when the subject of our chicken coop came up, a lot of members were shocked and made it clear to whoever did this to stop immediately or they would find out who did it and ban them from the group.”

Elias was taking off his boots and rubbing his feet. He looked at the clock sitting on the counter near the wash basin. “I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, I’ll put my trust in Elnathan.”

***

Tabitha’s best friend and her bridesmaid, Lydia, saw them to the door.

“I can’t wait for the wedding. In a couple of months from now, you’ll be an old married woman.”

Tabitha folded her arm in Anthony’s as they strolled down the road.

The sun was on the horizon, and it would soon be dark. Once they were out of sight of any houses, he stopped and kissed her. She smiled and held him close as they continued to walk. They had just walked past a clump of bushes at the bend in the road when two men jumped out and ran after them, yelling “traitor.” One had a knife and was waving it at them. Anthony turned and prevented him from slashing Tabitha. The blade bit into his shoulder and forearm just as Anthony kicked him into the groin while yelling to Tabitha to run.

Tabitha ignored him, bent to pick up a stone, and aimed at the other man’s head. He ducked, and she picked up another and hit him in the face.

He turned and ran as she bent for another stone. This time she aimed at the other man, groaning on the ground.

“See this stone,” she said, surprised at the hardness in her voice, “if you try to follow us, you get it in your face.”

She grabbed Anthony’s other arm and helped him move as quickly as he could. A few minutes later, Tabitha opened the door to his home. His mother turned from washing the dishes and saw the blood oozing from his shoulder and forearm. She wiped her eyes and took her kettle to the fireplace. She yelled out for Silvanus, who was dozing in the parlour. He jumped up and ran into the kitchen. “What in the name of Heaven,” he said, standing in the doorway.

“Never mind Heaven, go to the fireplace and get the kettle and pour some water into a basin and get some rags under the counter.” She took off Anthony’s jacket as Tabitha grabbed it and found a pail of cold water to douse the jacket into it.

“This is going to hurt, Anthony, but I need to take off your shirt. You’ll need to hold up both arms. I’ll be as quick as I can.” Hannah grabbed the 20

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cuffs of his shirt, raised his arms, pulled off Anthony’s shirt, and passed it to Tabitha.

She helped him to a chair as Silvanus knelt beside her. He held the wash basin as Hannah, doused the rags in the basin and squeezed them out before dabbing his shoulder and forearm with it. He bent closer. “You’ll need to have this stitched, Anthony, but if I don’t, it will leave a terrible scar. And hopefully, it will stop the bleeding, which is more important.”

Hannah waved to Tabitha to stand beside her. “Keep dabbing his wounds. I’ll be back as soon as I get a needle and some thread.”

His father went to get his bottle of Brandy. “Take a big, long swing. It will make you feel better. And another when your mother comes back.” He held up the bottle to see how much was left in it and put it in Anthony’s mouth. He took a couple of mouthfuls and coughed. And then another swing.

Hannah dried his shoulder and stuck the needle into Anthony’s arm just below his shoulder and then in the skin on the other side. He grimaced as she stuck it in again. His face had turned pale, and his father put the bottle to his mouth again. A couple of minutes later, his mother wiped the blood off his shoulder and looked at his forearm. “I can stitch it as well if you want,” she said, looking up at him. “It will leave a scar but not a noticeable one.”

“I’m fine,” he managed to say. His voice was beginning to slur, and he closed his eyes. His father helped him to the couch in the parlour. A minute later, he was sleeping. The blood was no longer oozing the way it did.

Tabitha continued to wipe his shoulder.

Hannah joined her and took over. “I think we can safely assume he will sleep the night through.” She left and went upstairs to get two blankets which she put over him.

“I can watch over him,” said Tabitha, “in case he wakes up and is in pain.”

“You’ll make a good wife,” said Hannah. “But there’s no need. I’ve seen all this before. You should go home. Your parents will be getting worried about you. Silvanus will take you home.”

Silvanus looked at the moon as they left the lane to his home. “Now that we’re out of ear shot of Hannah, it might be a good time to tell me what happened..”

“Anthony and I were visiting Lydia, who will be my bridesmaid, and on the way back to your home, two men jumped out of the bushes yelling ‘traitor” and ran towards us, one with a long knife. Anthony tried to protect me, and that’s when he was knifed. Anthony kicked him in the groin, and I picked up a rock and aimed it at the other man and hit him square in 21

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the face. I picked up another and told him if he came a step nearer, I would aim it at his face again. He turned and ran away. We weren’t far from your house, and we managed to reach you and your good wife.”

Silvanus squeezed her arm, showed her the long knife he had in his belt, and patted it. “They won’t attack us.”

A few minutes later, Tabitha opened the door to her home. Elias and Electa were sitting in the kitchen, lit by ten candles. Silvanus followed her in. “She and Anthony have had a horrific experience. Two men attacked them on their way back. Anthony had a deep cut on his shoulder and forearm, and your daughter saved the day by scaring them off after hitting one of them in the face with a stone. If you don’t mind my asking, how did she come by with such an aim.”

Electa, whose face had turned white, smiled for the first time. “When she was young, and even into her teens, she liked to knock things down by throwing rocks at them. She stopped only when we told her she would never attract a boyfriend or husband if she kept on.”

“Well, with an aim like that, she’ll always have Anthony. You know, she even volunteered to stay and look after him after he went to sleep with a few swings of Brandy. Speaking of Bandy…”

“I was just going to get it.”

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CHAPTER FOUR

L

izbeth Bates was the last one to come. Lydia, the host to the bridal shower, winked at Tabitha, who rose and welcomed Lizbeth. “I brought you this,” said Lizbeth, handing her a gift wrapped in white paper and a red ribbon.

“I am so glad to see you. You were always one of my favourite people.

Look who’s here, everyone.”

The others crowded around Lizbeth, who tossed back her blond hair, reached out, and put her arms around them. “You always look so beautiful, Lizbeth,” said Dawn Saunders, who took her by the hand and led her to the empty chair beside Lydia. “You and Lydia were always Tabitha’s best friends.”

Tabitha, who was sitting on the other side of Lydia, leaned forward and offered Lizbeth a big smile. They sat down and played cards together while the others went outside to play bowls. Some of the others were playing Small Sheep Knuckle Bones. You could hear their shrieks and laughter from the end of the room, mixed with groans from the card table.

Lydia roused everyone to sit for lunch at their long, dark-stained table.

Her mother brought in plates filled with salted cod, early small potatoes and fresh peas, followed by a salad of new lettuce, radishes, onions and slivers of baked chicken. Tea and dessert came last – a white cake with two large candles. Lydia’s mother entered, this time with a log-spouted silver teapot on a tray with cookies. She poured each of them tea in cups her grandmother had brought with them from England.

She then had Tabitha cut the cake with her. Everyone cried out at the same time. “Tell us our fortunes.” Lydia’s mother was known to them for her fortune-telling skills from previous visits.

She reached out for Tabitha’s cup. She scanned the tea leaves and sat back. “You will have a happy marriage, but there will be unhappiness in your life from another source that you cannot do anything about. But that 23

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will be softened by the birth of five children.”

Everyone laughed, but Tabitha felt a bit uneasy.

“If you look under your plates, I will tell the fortune of the person with a piece of paper with an X underneath it. They lifted their plates almost at the same time. They all pointed to Lizbeth, who returned her plate to the table. “I’d rather not.”

They all pointed at her and chanted: “You must, you must, you must.

If you do not, it will spoil Tabitha’s fortune.”

Lydia’s mother took Lizbeth’s teacup and studied it for almost three minutes. “There will be sadness in your life in the immediate future, but you will encounter someone who will sweep you off your feet.”

“When?” they all chorused.

“In a number of years, when you least expect it.”

Next came Tabitha’s turn to open her gifts. The first was a book: The Good Housekeeper. The next six packages had diapers that set everyone laughing. Then, a small package wrapped in light blue paper and a blue box – a silver spoon. Next came candles and a four-piece set of forks and knives.

They then toasted Tabitha with their refilled teacups. “Happy marriage.”

“Some of you might not know that two rowdies tried to kill Anthony and Tabitha a couple of weeks ago?” said Lydia. “They were visiting me, and we talked about the wedding and when it would happen.”

“What is the date?” said Donna, still tall and slim, the way she looked when they were at school. She had an oval face that dimpled when she smiled.

“The first Saturday after harvest,” said Lydia. “So make a note of it.

Speaking for Tabitha, we would like to see you come for the service and the dinner that follows.”

“What about being almost murdered?” said Lizbeth, who suddenly lost the colour in her cheeks. “What about Anthony?”

“He was stabbed in his shoulder and for arm trying to protect me. I was able to get him home, and you will all be glad to know that he has recovered wonderfully.” She paused. “There were two of them. I found a rock and threw it at the other man. It smashed in his face. When I threatened to hurl another rock at him, he took off as though the devil were tailing him.”

Everyone, except Lizbeth, clapped. Tabitha looked at her and tried to smile. It was as though she had seen a ghost. Maybe she did love Anthony, she thought.

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***

Two weeks later, Anthony and his father came to town to sell new beans and lettuce from their garden. The excitement in the air was palpable. Two men standing on stilts with long trousers walked among the crowd, and a Punch and Judy show drew a group of youngsters off to the right. Anthony could hear their laughter from their stall and remembered the joy he felt when he was young. And the smell of candies at his favourite booth when his mother took him around while she looked at the latest London styles and from shops in New York.

Anthony was idly watching townspeople pass their stall when he suddenly recognized him. The man with the knife. His heart started to pound loudly, and he jumped over their stall and ran after him, jumping on the man’s back a few minutes later and forcing his face into the ground before turning him over with his fist drawn and ready to strike.

The man squirmed and kept shaking his head back and forth and kept shouting for help from passersby.

“Let him up, or I swear I will kill you where you lie,” said a voice above him. Anthony turned to see him holding a knife and shouted. “Murder. He’s trying to murder me. Help me.”

“What’s going on?” said a familiar voice. It was Amasa Carver. The man with the knife took one look at him and ran away. Amasa helped Anthony up. “What’s this about, Anthony?”

“This man and his friend tried to murder Tabitha and me a few weeks back. He cut me badly on my shoulder and had to have stitches and my forearm. He and the other man came at Tabitha and me, shouting ‘Traitor’” “Roll him over, and let’s see what we have here.”

Anthony rose on one knee and rolled him over.

“You’re sure this was the man.”

“Dead sure.”

“He needs to be locked up and charged with attempted murder.”

The would-be killer rose on his elbows. “If I tell you who paid my partner and me to kill you and your woman, will you let me go?”

“I’ll think about it,” said Anthony. “But if you ever even come with 100 feet from my lady and me ever again, I’ll report you to the authorities.”

“Agreed.”

“But first,” said Amasa, “give us your name and where you live.”

“Tom Cain.”

Anthony lifted him. “Now, the name of the lady who hired you to kill us?”

“Don’t know her name. Just that she paid us handsomely to kill you 25

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and that she was great looking and had blond hair.”

Anthony released him. He looked at Anthony and took off amid the crowd.

“I gather you believe him.”

“In fact, I think I know who it is who hired him.”

***

“I suspect the person who hired the thugs was Lizbeth. And I’m worried that she might hire someone else who might succeed,” Anthony told his father as they made their way back home.

“I’ve thought about this and need your opinion. I’d like to go to your attorney-at-law and have him draw up and witness a document to the effect that Lizbeth Bates hired two thugs to murder Tabitha and me. If a successful attempt is made on either of our lives, the attorney is to take this document to the watchman and have her arrested. It will be my accusation from the grave.”

Silvanus, who liked to mull things over, just nodded. “Before we do anything, I feel we should drop in and have a chat with Elias and Tabitha, and I want you to tell them exactly what you just told me.”

He smiled and added: “Listening to you, I’d swear I was listening to an attorney-at-law. I want you to think about it and not dismiss it out of hand.

It is your calling.”

***

Anthony hitched up their horse and headed to see Elias. The grass was never greener, and the sun warmed them comfortably. Their horse took longer than usual. “He’s starting to get old. We’ll be needing a new one before Christmas,” said Elias.

Electa had just finished the dishes, and she and Tabitha were making candles in the kitchen. Jacob was pegging rocks in the yard at an old board stuck in the ground when they tethered their horse. Silvanus knocked and entered. Electa had just finished dishes, and she and Tabitha were making candles in the kitchen.

A pot was boiling in the fireplace, and Anthony could tell by the smell that it was chicken soup. “If Elias is not busy, we’d like to have a word with him.”

Tabitha straightened and exchanged glances with her mother. “He’s in the pasture but should be back soon. Nothing important, I hope.” Electa’s voice was strained.

“Nothing for you to worry about, just something I’d like his opinion on.”

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“If you’re not in a hurry,” said Tabitha, “we’re having soup for lunch.

We would be pleased if you would join us.”

“I’ll go and see Elias first. I’ll leave Anthony to chat with you.” Silvanus opened the door and headed to the pasture. He could see Elias bringing back two cows and walking towards him.

“What brings you to see us?”

“Something Anthony wants to do, and because it also involves Tabitha, I would like your opinion before taking action.”

Elias stopped, leaving the cows to continue walking towards the barn.

Silvanus looked at Elias’s lined face. He had grown old since the war began, and his heart went out to him. He raised his hand to shadow his face.

“It’s about the attack on Anthony and your daughter. It appears Anthony spotted the man who stabbed him when we were at the market. He chased the man, pinned him down, and learned that he and his associate were paid to murder our children. It would appear it’s a woman who knows Tabitha and Anthony.”

Elias shook his head. “Will it never come to an end? What in the name of mercy would a young woman want to do something like that. I hope Anthony plans to make his discovery known to the watchmen?”

“He does not want to put this woman under lock and key but confront her in private and tell her if she tries to murder him or Tabitha, he will report to the watchman. He also plans to sign an affidavit to our attorney about her attempt on their lives. Should they be attacked again, the attorney is instructed to inform the watchman.”

Elias stroked the beard on his chin and started walking again. “I’d rather she was denounced for what she is and everyone in the village to hear what she did.”

“Things are not the best for people like us, Elias. I agree that is exactly what we should do. But it might be better not to cause an even rift in the community. It’s already at the boiling pot. This is something we can do later. But for now, I think this might be the best approach.”

When they reached the back door, Elias opened the door and followed him inside. “It’s near lunchtime, and break bread with us, Silvanus,” said Elias as he went to the counter and washed his hands. The sun lit the kitchen, streaming in through the back and side windows. “Has Anthony told you about Lizbeth Bates?”

Electa nodded and set the table while Tabitha ladled out the soup.

Jacob didn’t wait for others but started eating as soon as Tabitha put it in front of him. Tabitha waved her finger at him. “Manners, Jacob. What will Anthony and Mr. Sherwood think.” Jacob made a face and put down his 27

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spoon.”

Electa cut more bread and added more soup to Anthony’s bowl. She smiled and sat down beside Silvanus.

“I assume Anthony has told you who was behind your narrow escape?”

“We were shocked when he told us. She even came to my bridal shower and was very nice to everyone. She even gave me a very nice gift.” She paused. “Come to think of it, she lost all the colour in her cheeks when Lydia told everyone about our narrow escape. I’m sorry for her, but she should know that we know what she did.”

Silvanus put down his spoon and looked at her and Anthony. “Elias and I talked about the best way for you two to handle it. Elias and I think you two should confront her and tell her you know what she did and that you plan to tell your attorney and sign an affidavit what she tried to do and to make sure the watchman sees it, should she try something like that again.”

“I think others should know about it,” said Anthony.

“Ordinarily, we would agree, but there are a lot of bad things happening these days, and we don’t want to make things worse than they are.”

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CHAPTER FIVE

L

izbeth was in her garden, pruning the hedge in front of her home and paused to wipe her forehead. She looked stunning in her new London skirt and a blouse with roses embroidered on the collar. Anthony and Tabitha paused at the gate until Lizbeth became aware of their presence.

She stopped immediately, came to the gate, and swung it open for them.

She kissed both of them on the cheek. “What a wonderful surprise. I have a pitcher of a cold drink that is waiting for us. She led the way inside her house. The hardwood floors gleamed in the sunlight from the windows in the entranceway. “Sit in the parlour while I get us three tall glasses of refreshment.”

An Oriental carpet covered the parlour floor with designs of trees overhanging a bower in light green and brown colours. There was also a long dark wood serving cabinet and a long table in dark timber that gleamed in the sunlight dominated the centre of the room. It had six ornately carved chairs set back a few inches from the table.

Lizbeth returned with a green glass pitcher with slices of cake on a silver tray, which she put down on the table. She sat at the head, with Tabitha on her left and Anthony on the right, poured a greenish liquid in all of their glasses and passed the cake to Tabitha.

She raised her glass. “To my good friends. May we be friends forever.”

“That’s the reason why we decided to see you today.” Anthony paused for almost a minute. “We know that you hired two men to attack Tabitha and me. Before we do anything, we want you to tell us why. What did we ever do to deserve that?”

Lizbeth put her hands over her face and started to cry. Her shoulders shook as she began to sob loudly. Tabitha took out her handkerchief and removed her hands to wipe her eyes. She looked at them and began to cry again. The tears ran down her face. Tabitha wiped and stood to put her arm around her.

“I don’t know what possessed me.

29 It was as though someone else had

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taken control of my body. You must believe me. And when Lydia described how you were attacked and that Anthony had been injured, I wanted to die on the spot. I felt so ashamed. Can you possibly ever forgive me?”

Lizbeth’s father came into the parlour. He took one look at Lizbeth.

“What have you done to my daughter?”

There was anger in Magnus Bates’s dark grey eyes. He was in his early 60s and looked it. Deep lines on his face were made even more noticeable by his pasty complexion. He was cleanly shaven and had a tic in the corner of his right eye.

Lizbeth looked up at him. “Not what they did, but I did to them.”

“Would someone tell me what this is all about?” He looked at Anthony, who looked away.

“My friends do not want to tell you out of love for me. And they have forgiven me. Their goodness made me cry in shame.”

“I gather I’m not going to find out.”

“It’s not something we would like to talk about,” said Anthony, looking him in the face.

Magnus shrugged. “Then I’ll leave you to it,” he picked up his cane and hobbled out of the room.

“How can I possibly thank you. My father would have never forgiven me for shaming our family.”

“Well, I, for one,” said Tabitha, “want to put it behind us. I want to be friends. Your best friend.”

Lizbeth reached out, held Tabitha’s hand and squeezed it. She turned to Anthony. “I know you were badly injured. I am sorry about that most of all. What can I do to make up for it?”

“I want you never to lose control of your nature ever again. If you ever get feeling like this ever again, come and see us, and we’ll help you to get back to your old self.”

“What could you wish for your wedding?”

“We’d like you to join Lydia as another bridesmaid.” Said Tabitha.

Lizbeth kissed her and started to cry again. Tabitha helped Lizbeth to her feet. They hugged each other for a full minute. “Let me know what colour I should wear.”

“I haven’t decided yet, but when I decide, I’ll let you and Lydia know.”

Anthony stood and smiled at them. “Take care of yourself, Lizbeth.”

They left a minute later, with Lizbeth hugging Tabitha again at the door.

They didn’t speak until they were on the road again. “Do you think 30

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she really means it?” said Anthony.

They were on the road back when they were nearing the growth where the men had jumped them. A shiver went up her back. She had to get over this, she thought because they would be passing this spot a thousand times or more. She left with good feelings about Lizbeth. And she warmed to the idea that she would have Lizbeth as another bridesmaid.

“Are you undecided?”

“I felt her tears were genuine. So were her kiss and hugs. I think we’ve made a friend for life. Not after looking at her face at my shower. I had a feeling then she had felt she had made the biggest mistake of her life.”

“I still have a few doubts, but only time will tell. Lizbeth probably knows our families and knows what she did was wrong and will go out of her way to make it up for what she did to us.”

Silvanus was in the yard when they arrived at Anthony’s home and smiled when he saw their faces. He had a feeling that everything had gone well.

“Before you say anything, let’s go inside so that Hannah can hear as well.” He led them into the kitchen and called out for Hannah, who was just coming down the stairs.

“Anthony and Tabitha are back from seeing Lizbeth Bates.”

“Wait until I get the tea,” she said, getting the teapot and bringing it to the table. “Tell me what happened, and don’t leave out anything,” she added, pouring Tabitha’s cup.

“I think she was dreading to see us and knew exactly why we were there before we uttered a word,” said Tabitha.

Anthony described how Lizbeth acted when they confronted her and her wish to be her best friend from now on.

“What do you think?” said Anthony.

“I think she knew you had found out and was ready for you. I’ve seen it all before. Right about now, she probably thinks she’s outwitted both of you.”

“She will be one of my bridesmaids. I guess I shouldn’t have.”

Later, when Tabitha recounted what happened with Lizbeth’s meeting and asked her mother if she thought about Lizbeth also becoming a bridesmaid, Electa looked at Elias.

“I think she believes she’s fooled you, but when the dust settles, maybe a year or more from now, she’ll try again.”

Elias took his pipe from his mouth and nodded. “She can’t afford to have two people walking and knowing what she did. I think you would be wise to tell the watchman or go to an attorney-at-law and swear an affida31

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vit, charging her with trying to kill you both.”

“I think you should not make a point of never being alone with her or any of her associates,” said her mother.

***

“What was that about?” said Moses Bates.

“I’d rather not say.” Elizbeth looked him in the face. “Just say that I’ve saved our precious family of a scandal and leave it at that.”

After supper, they were relaxing in the parlour while her mother finished cleaning up. They had a maid come in twice a week to scrub and wash their clothes, but Magnus insisted on his wife doing all the cooking.

Her mother, Hester, was now in her early 50s and took special pride in their wealth. She looked old for her age and suffered from arthritis in her left hip.

“What were you two whispering about?” she said, settling down next to Lizbeth.

“Lizbeth has done something and is loath to share it with us.”

“As long as she’s not pregnant, we can live with it,” said Hester and took her knitting from her side of the sofa.

“I think I’ll go off to bed. I have a busy day tomorrow.”

Magnus looked at his watch. “You haven’t gone to bed this early since you were a child,” said her mother. “I guess that something’s eating away at you.”

“I have a new book to read. That’s all.”

About an hour later, she rose and walked up the stairs to her room.

Her mother suspected she was in some trouble and wanted to think about how she could get out of it. She supposed it was deep, dark and evil and was trying to figure out how she could get out of the mess she had created.

She put on her nightdress. People were beginning to talk about her.

She was in her late 20s and still unwed. She would take action the night before Tabitha’s wedding. She would find a way to abduct her and take her to Boston and have her bound and thrown on an English merchant ship bound for the Indies. She smiled at the thought.

*** Lizbeth talked to her father about taking her to Boston two days later. “I want to be the best-dressed woman at Tabitha’s wedding. You don’t have to go around the stores with me unless you want to. I want to see what they’re wearing in London.”

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“You’ll put me in the poor house if you keep on. Can’t you find something in that closet of yours? The last time I looked, it was crammed.”

“You don’t understand. I want to be a stand-out. I can do that by wearing the latest fashion. I checked the Boston coach. There’s one leaving at eight tomorrow morning.”

Magnus Bates bowed his head. If it wasn’t one thing or another, his daughter was going to be the ruin of him yet. He went to bed early. He knew if he weren’t ready to take her to the coach, he would hear about it for weeks. He sighed as he climbed the stairs.

*** The coach reached Boston at supper time. Magnus was hungry, but Lizbeth was ready to go shopping when they got off the coach. Magnus found a city coach to take them to the Parker House Hotel. The driver took their bags into the hotel for them.

The lobby glowed with at least 200 candles. Lizbeth led the way and waited for her father to catch up with her at the desk.

Their room had two large beds, a large window that opened to the cobbled street below, and the harbour. The plastered walls were painted olive green with white baseboards and white-framed sketches of historic Boston areas and buildings. Beside their beds, there was a large closet where she unpacked her clothes before they went down to the restaurant’s large restaurant. The man at the entrance, dressed in black breeches, a white shirt and a black doublet, recognized them from the times they had visited before and led them to their favourite table, close to the string quartet that played there nightly. Magnus had always complained about not hearing the quartet properly until then.

After supper, Lizbeth and her father took a coach to the waterfront.

Looking for a new petticoat would have to wait until morning.

“Go slow,” she said to the driver, “I want to see the people and how they live.”

They drove until the sunlight made things harder to see. Lizbeth ordered the driver to go back to the tavern they had just passed. She got out with her father and told the coachman to wait until they came out of a tavern.

“If I have to wait, it’ll cost you more. And I want to be paid for what you owe me now.”

Lizbeth paid him and threw back her head as she headed into the tavern. “Just make sure you wait.”

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“Why are we stopping here, Lizbeth?”

“We have old friends from Boston and often mentioned this tavern.

I thought you might enjoy seeing old friends.” She could hear her father muttering to himself under his breath.

He took her arm and entered. The noise level was far more than she imagined. A young woman around 18 years old and dressed in a revealing short skirt took them to a table. Lizbeth looked around and saw she was the only woman customer in the tavern.

She motioned to the young woman. “Lend me your ear.” She rose as the young woman bent to hear Lizbeth’s whispers. “I am looking for two men who are not squeamish to do a job for me.”

The young woman moved away from her with fear in her eyes. “I don’t do bad things, miss.”

“Neither do I,” said Lizbeth in a strong, even voice. “I should have explained myself. We have some pigs we plan to slaughter.”

“She looked around the room. “Isaac and his friend, Denbo, often do odd jobs.”

“Ask them to join us at our table,” she said, passing the young woman a coin.

A minute later, the two men stood in front of their table. “I understand you need help with something.”

She looked at her father, who talked to a young man at the next table.

She could hear that they were talking about her. She smiled. “I need someone I can trust to abduct a woman and bind her up and make sure she’s on an English boat heading for the Indies.”

“How much does it pay?” said Denbo?

“One English pound for each of you.”

“Where and when?” said Isaac, sitting down next to her.

Lizbeth told them they would have to travel to her village, where they would abduct the young woman. “You will need to hire two horses to come to my village. We will meet in front of the Puritan Prayer House at 6 p.m. on Oct. 16. Please be on time. I will tell you at that time where you can abduct her, tie her up, put her on one of your horses and ride out of town.”

She reached into her pocket and found a pound note. That’s for the horse and the trouble getting her to Boston and aboard the ship.

You will get your two pounds after I see that she is on your horseback and that you’re ready to leave town.”

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CHAPTER SIX

O

n October 16, the day before their marriage, their two families planned to meet at Silvanus’s home for a memorable pre-wedding supper.

Tabitha put her wedding chest together and talked incessantly to her mother, who was getting their wedding day clothes pressed and ready.

Lizbeth sent one of their servants to Tabitha with a message.

“I have something very special that is meant just for you. It has a special meaning for you and me. I want you to have it before you are married and showered with other gifts. Please meet me at seven o’clock. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Is there a reply?” said Tabitha’s servant.

“Just tell Lizbeth I’ll be there at seven sharp.”

Tabitha pressed the note to her breast and closed her eyes. With Lizbeth, there was no telling what it might be. It’s her way of making up, she felt and felt warm and excited about what it might be. She decided to keep it to herself until both families met for their pre-wedding meal.

Jacob was excited about going to eat at the. Sherwoods. He kept dancing around the house as his mother spent much of the day preparing a cake, four roasted chickens and a special pudding that she learned from her mother.

Elias harnessed the horse to his cart at five o’clock, and Addison and Tabitha placed the chicken and cake and pudding on the coach. They delegated Addison to stay behind to keep watch in case someone tried to burn their house down.

Tabitha and her father brought in the food when they reached the Sherwood home. The cart creaked, and the air was full of the smell of sweet hay. Tabitha was dressed in a bright yellow petticoat, a hand down from her mother, who wore it before marriage.

Silvanus was at the door to help with the food and usher them into his parlour. Phoebe, their daughter, now 16, smiled as she brushed back her 35

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blond hair with her right hand. Her blue eyes seemed to dance as she took their jackets. “I don’t see Addison.”

“He had to skip the meal to keep watch at our home. We’ve had bad things happen to us recently. But he’ll be at the wedding tomorrow,” said Elias with a knowing smile.

There were a lot of jokes about marriage from Elias and Silvanus.

Tabitha could feel her cheeks burn over some of them. Were men always this way, she wondered and looked at Anthony, who found her hand underneath the tablecloth.

Tabitha looked at the clock in the corner. It was getting close to six. “I will have to leave shortly. Lizbeth sent a messenger and asked me to meet her at seven o’clock. She has a special gift for us. I told her I would pick it up at that time.”

“Why does she want to meet you at seven o’clock? She knows the sun will be setting around that time,” said Anthony.

“You’re not going,” said her father. “And I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

“But I promised.”

“Then I’ll go and tell her you’re indisposed,” said Anthony. “Either that, or I’ll keep you company.”

They left a few minutes later. “We’ll take my cart,” said Elias, who took the reins when Anthony sat down beside him. “I have a feeling that Lizbeth has something else in mind.”

“I have that feeling as well,” said Anthony as they reached the road.

“It was the preciseness of seven o’clock that made me feel suspicious about it all.”

“Well, whatever she has in mind will change once she sees us at her door.”

There were other farmers’ carts on the road, and they had to stop several times to chat with each of them. They had all heard about the wedding and wished Anthony good luck.

“One piece of advice, Anthony,” said Duncan Bissett, who knew Anthony since he was a boy. “The woman you court is not the woman you marry.”

Both Elias and Duncan laughed as Elias snapped the reins, and they started moving again. Other carts shouted “good luck, Anthony” as they passed them. It was after seven by the time they reached the outskirts of the village.

“Let me take over,” said Anthony. “I know the way.” He steered left at the second corner and headed north. It was getting dark now, but it didn’t 36

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stop Elias from marvelling at the mansions along the street. They stopped halfway down.

“We’ve arrived,” said Anthony, helping Elias down from the cart before knocking at the door.

Lizbeth opened the door. “Anthony. We were expecting Tabitha.” She didn’t try to hide the anger in her face as she opened the door wider and stood back so that they could enter and followed them into the parlour. “I’ll call father. He’ll be pleased to see you, Mr. Wright.”

Elias looked at Anthony and smiled as she re-entered, holding her father’s arm. “Magnus,” said Elias. “It’s been years since we’ve seen each other. I hope you’re well.” They shook hands. “This is Anthony Sherwood.

He’ll be marrying my daughter, Tabitha, in the morning.”

“We met a few weeks ago,” he said as they sat on the sofa in front of the window.

“My daughter was supposed to come but is indisposed and asked me to apologize to your daughter. I suspect she’s got jitters about the wedding in the morning.”

“Yes, I wanted to give her a special gift that I have been saving for my wedding one day.”

She went upstairs and returned a few minutes with a wood box and placed it on Anthony’s lap. “It’s pretty heavy.”

“Yes. But please do not open it until you and Tabitha are married and can open it together.” She glanced at the clock that chimed the half-hour.

“I see I’m late for another appointment. I hope you will not think it rude of me.” She rose and headed for the door.

“We can take you there,” said Elias.

“It’s in the next street, and I need the walk after being cooped up in the house all day.”

The door closed behind her, and the room suddenly went silent. “I have a whirlwind of a daughter. But stay and join me with a dram or two of good Scotch whisky.”

Elias looked at Anthony, who smiled. “We would be delighted.”

***

“You’re late,” said Isaac. “We don’t like to be treated this way, especially for something like this.”

“I was held up by the young lady’s father, who showed up in place of his daughter. When I contacted her earlier today, she said she would meet me tonight. Her father came instead. Says she was indisposed.”

“We’ve kept our part of the bargain. Came from Boston to carry it out.”

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“Well, it will have to be another time.”

“No, lady. We want our money now.”

“You’ll get it when you do the job.”

“No. We want it now.”

Lizbeth could hear her heart jumping hoops. She knew any sign of weakness, and they would carve her up instead.

“Let me repeat,” said Isaac, reaching for his dagger, “we want our money, and we want it now.”

Lizbeth didn’t trust herself to reply.

Isaac withdrew his dagger.” If you don’t want that pretty face of yours carved up, you’ll produce the two pounds you promised us. He held it close to her eyes.

She reached into her pocket and put the money in his hand. Isaac pocketed the money and nodded to Denbo, who mounted his horse. Lizbeth was shaking now, not sure what was going to happen next.

Isaac suddenly swiped her cheek with his dagger. Her bright red blood dripped on the road, and she started to cry as she placed her handkerchief against the wound. Isaac and Denbo were riding as fast as they could out of town. She sat down on the road and cried.

By the time she reached home, her mother started to cry as soon as she saw the blood oozing from the handkerchief. Her father removed the handkerchief and replaced it with his. “That cut will scar her forever if we don’t get it stitched in a hurry,” he said, looking at her carriage at the front gate.

Her father led her to the door, installed her in the carriage and made sure she was seated firmly before whipping the horse and heading down the street and onto the main road towards the doctor’s home. He helped her down, led her to the front door and rapped loudly and repeatedly until Dr. Boone opened the door.

“What on earth are you –“ He stopped as he saw Lizbeth holding a handkerchief red with blood. “Come in,” he added, opening the door. Dr. Boone led them to his office. He sat down on a stool and removed the handkerchief. He saw at a glance that someone had cut her with a knife.

“Get a fresh basin of hot water and my sewing needle and some threat.” His wife disappeared and returned with the basin of steaming water. Lizbeth didn’t think much of his office. It was small in her mind, just big enough for his desk, a skeleton in the corner, dark olive green curtains for the one window and a cot on the other side of the room. He sat her down on one of the chairs near his desk, dipped a white cloth into the basin, and gently bathed the wound.

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“You’re lucky it’s not a deep wound. His wife had threaded the needle.

“Magnus, I’d like you to hold her head. I’ll be sewing up her face, and it’s going to hurt.” He looked at Lizbeth. “It won’t last long, and a month from now, you’ll thank me for it.”

“Will it leave a scar?”

“Just a small thin line that will be hardly noticeable. And with a bit of powder, you can make it disappear.”

Lizbeth wanted to scream when the needle into her skin. She knew she had to stick it out and not move. She gripped the sides of her chair and closed her eyes. Six minutes later, it was over. “You can open your eyes now.”

Lizbeth looked at the doctor’s wife. “Do you have a small mirror so I can see how I look?

“I knew you’d be asking,” she said, handing Lizbeth a small round mirror.

“I look ghastly,” said Lizbeth, moving the mirror over her face. “I have to attend a wedding tomorrow. Can you bandage my face so that it doesn’t look so bad?”

Dr. Boone, now in his 60s, had grey hair and a white mustache and piercing dark brown eyes and a smile that had become his trademark.

“That’s your department,” he said to his wife.”

They didn’t speak all the way home. Magnus put the carriage away and came in the back door. “Before you go upstairs, I want you to tell me how you got this cut on your face.”

“I was late for a meeting at our church when two men grabbed me.

They demanded money from me, and when I resisted, they knocked me to the ground, searched my pockets and found some money. One of them tried to tear off my clothes if I did not lie on the ground with him. When I resisted, he took out his knife and threatened me with it. I still resisted, and he cut my face in anger before he and his friend mounted their horses and headed out of town in a whirlwind.”

“Do you know who they were?”

“I think they were strangers.”

Her mother lay her head on her shoulder and sang a lullaby she used to sing when Lizbeth was young. It wasn’t long before Lizbeth was asleep.

Magnus was about to say something, but she shook her head. “She’s just gone through a terrible experience. Something she needs to forget. A good long sleep will help her forget it.”

*** 39

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Tabitha held the wood box that Lizbeth had given them for their wedding. “It’s heavy, whatever it is.”

“I understand we must handle it with care. So put it down, and we can open it tomorrow when all the festivities are over,” said Anthony.

“What did she say when you showed up instead of me?

“I could see in her face that she wasn’t happy about it but just said she would be with us when we exchange vows.”

Electa looked at the clock. “It’s getting late, you two. Time to say good night. I’ve got a lot to do before you meet her at the altar.”

Electa went upstairs and brought Tabitha’s wedding dress down to the kitchen. It was the wedding dress her parents had made for her. Addison went to the tailor earlier to update it. The dress had a hint of blue that shimmered in the light of the candles. It had puffed sleeves and a puffed collar and a belt of a deeper blue just below her breast and reached the floor.

“Hold still,” said Electa. “It needs to be taken in a bit. And the hem is a bit higher in keeping with today’s styles. It took about a half-hour for Electa to mark where all the changes had to be made. She then pulled the dress over Tabitha’s head, noted a couple more changes she had to make before sending her to sleep. “You don’t want puffy eyes on your wedding day,” she shouted after her.

“You look as pretty as your mother when I first saw her in her wedding dress,” said Elias as she moved past him in a whirl. “I miss her already,” he said to Addison. Jacob was rubbing his eyes and complaining about having to go to bed.

“You had best layout what you plan to wear tomorrow, Addison,” said his mother when he went into the kitchen for a mug of water. Electa, who had been crying, wiped her eyes. “I dread the day when you get married.”

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CHAPTER SEVEN

L

ydia arrived just as they were finishing breakfast with another surprise.

“Look out the window.”

They all went into the parlour to see what it was. “You came in your carriage,” said Tabitha.

“I talked my father into it after pestering him for a week but only on the basis that my brother come with me and drive me here and to the church and back home again. I wanted to drive myself, but in the end, I wanted to have someone drive us to the church in style.”

Elias went out to look the carriage over and bring her brother in for breakfast.

“Electa, this is my brother, Duncan. He just had his 17th birthday two months ago, and he’s still a bit shy about meeting people for the first time.”

“Sit down, both of you,” said Electa. “I’ll have breakfast ready before you finish your tea.” She looked at Lydia. If that’s your petticoat you’re wearing for the wedding, it might be wise to take it to Tabitha’s room before you eat.”

Lydia left and saw Tabitha waiting for her at the head of the stairs.

Tabitha took Lydia’s petticoat and lay it on her bed, next to her dress.

Tabitha’s room was spare compared to her own. Lydia sat down next to a stained closet and a small table with a mirror. The walls were painted yellow, and a sketch of her grandmother seemed to smile down at her.

“Your dress is exquisite. Such a beautiful blue tint with a gossamer air about it that makes my petticoat look heavy. Every woman at the church will be envious. And it’s cut in the latest style.”

“My mother was up all night making alterations.”

Lydia helped Tabitha into her dress, using her hands to smooth out the dress and tied the belt behind her. Lydia led Tabitha to a stool in front of the mirror and brushed her hair until Electa yelled for them to come down for breakfast.

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“You had best stay here. We can’t afford to get your dress soiled in any way.”

Duncan had already finished his eggs and tea when Lydia sat beside him. She looked at him as he cut into the bacon and took a mouthful of toast. He was also growing up, she thought.

“He’ll make good company for Addison, who be sitting by himself.

Jacob, our youngest, has a bit of a fever and is sick to his stomach. We think it best for him to stay at home in bed,” said Electa. “Besides, the wedding won’t last that long and Addison can come back and make sure he is all right.”

After breakfast, Lydia returned to Tabitha’s room to dress. They both came down the stairs together, with Tabitha leading the way. Addison looked at them with his mouth open. Electa glanced at him and smiled.

Elias clapped his hands. “You both look like grand ladies off to a tea in honour of the Prince of Wales.” Addison wore black breeches and a black doublet with a white shirt. Elias’s face was clean shaved, and his white hair was brushed back on his head.

He glanced at the clock. “It’s getting on. We had best get ready to leave in time to enter the church at 11 sharp.”

Silvanus and Hannah Sherwood were waiting for them outside when their carriage pulled up in front of the church door. Addison jumped off first and helped Tabitha off the carriage. Lydia whispered a thank you to him with a smile.

Elias stood at the church door with his daughter. When the music started, they walked into the church, followed by Lydia, carrying a bouquet of roses, and Electa, Silvanus, and Hannah.

The minister stood at the front of the church with Anthony and his boyhood friend, Edmund. They turned to see Tabitha on her father’s arm walk slowly up the church. They looked across the aisle at Silvanus and his wife and waved at each other with broad smiles.

Tabitha never saw Anthony look so handsome. He wore a light brown jacket that reached below his hips with matching breeches, small black shoes and white stockings that reached his knees.

The pews on both sides were filled with neighbours and old school friends. Tabitha caught a glimpse of Dawn Saunders, sitting next to Lizbeth on the way out.

Tabitha, Anthony, Lydia, and Edmund boarded the carriage and headed out to Sherwood’s home for the wedding feast. They were followed by their neighbours, Lizbeth and Dawn, and other school friends.

They unloaded at Sherwood’s front door, where their daughter was 42

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waiting for them with an open door. She led them to their barn, which Silvanus, Elias and Addison had prepared the day before. Anthony led Tabitha, Lydia and Edmund to the front table and seated them.

Duncan and Addison took off to check on Jacob. Addison unlocked the door of their home and entered, climbing up the stairs two at a time.

Jacob had been sleeping and opened his eyes when he saw Addison.

Addison felt Jacob’s forehead. It was still burning. “How do you feel?”

“Not good,” he managed to say. He closed his eyes and went to sleep again.

Addison took the cloth from the bucket of water beside the bed and ran it across his head, face, and neck. He waited before rubbing Jacob’s forehead. He did this until the burning felt only warm. He tiptoed out, joined Duncan in the carriage, and headed back to the celebration.

Electa spotted them as soon as they entered. Addison took the empty chair beside her. “He was still burning. I used the cloth and doused it in the bucket of water and kept applying it until he felt better.”

Electa smiled and whispered to Elias.

The festivities ended late in the afternoon when the minister left.

Tabitha and Lydia spotted Lizbeth near the end of the long table, and her face a covering over it. They rose and went to see her. Lizbeth was sharing a joke with Dawn Saunders.

“Why are you wearing that covering over the side of your face?” said Tabitha.

“I was on my way to a church meeting when two men attacked me.

They demanded money, and when I refused and tried to escape, they robbed me, and one of them threw me on the ground and took a knife to my face. My father took me to the doctor immediately, and he could sew the cut.

“What a horrible experience. You shouldn’t have come.”

“I did not want to disappoint you.”

“I would have understood. But thank you for your kindness. I’m sorry you had to go through this horrible ordeal.”

“The one who cut my face threw me on the ground. He was about to rape me when his partner warned him someone was coming, and they rode off.”

“Did you see who they were?” said Lydia.

Lizbeth shook her head and looked away.

***

It was just past five o’clock when Silvanus drove them home. Addi43

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son pointed at the hen coop. “The door’s open. Someone has been here,” he said, breaking into a run. Elias followed him through the door. All the chickens were gone, and Jacob lay on the ground with his head under the first stoop. Addison bent and pulled him slowly out where they could look at him.

Elias turned Jacob’s head. There was a large gash, with blood congealing on the side of his face. Elias’s face hardened, and there was anger building up inside him. Addison had never seen him look this way ever before.

“It’s one thing to fight with a grown man and another to knock a 10-year-old to the edge of death.”

Addison bent down and picked Jacob up. “We need to get him inside.

Mother will go crazy when she sees him. But she’s the only one who knows how to treat just about anything.”

Elias followed him inside. Electa turned to see Addison carrying Jacob. “What is the name of heaven has happened? You said he was sleeping peacefully when you saw him only a few hours ago.”

“Someone has gone into our chicken coop and stole all the chickens.

How Jacob got there, I don’t know, but I will find out who did this to him if it’s the last thing I do,” said Elias. “It was such a glorious day to end like this. I should have stayed behind.”

Electa moved to the kitchen table. “Lay Jacob down on the table and bring a couple more candles to help me see what I can do for him.”

Addison laid him down gently as Electa turned Jacob around and examined the congealed blood on the side of his head. “Someone had hit him with a big stick.” She went to the bucket, poured water into a pot, and put it inside the fireplace to boil. A few minutes later, when she saw the steam rising from the pot, she went and poured some water into a basin and used her apron to dab into the water and brush away the blood. She didn’t speak until she cleansed his face, neck, arms and hands.

She took him in her lap and began to rock him, crooning to him the way she did when he was an infant.

“Will he recover?” said Elias.

“I don’t know. It’s too early to tell,” said Electa, continuing to rock him. “You, two, get off to bed. I will stay with him until he either wakes or until morning.

He stayed unconscious until well past midnight when he started moving his head back and forth. It was a good sign, and Electa smiled for the first time and held him closer.

Just before dawn, he opened his eyes and started crying. Electa wiped his eyes and kept on rocking and crooning to him until he closed his eyes 44

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and drifted off to a deep sleep. She could feel herself closing her eyes and waking with a start before sleeping the rest of the night.

Elias was up just before sunrise and went downstairs to see if there was any change. He saw Electa still holding Jacob and asleep. Elias went to the fireplace and boiled some water for tea. She’ll need a good cup of tea when she wakes, he thought and reached for the jar that held the tea leaves from the cabinet just below the cupboard.

When he turned, he saw Jacob’s head moving back and forth before his eyes opened. Jacob looked up at his mother and slowly got down from her lap. He took a step and fell. “My head,” he cried out. “It’s so sore when I touch it.”

Elias put him on his lap. ”Someone hit you with a big stick on the side of your head and left you in the chicken coop. Did you see who struck you?”

“I woke up and heard the chickens squawking. I felt a lot better and got on my trousers and shoes and headed for the chicken coop to see what was happening. I opened the door and walked in. I saw a man’s face. That’s everything.”

Elias smiled. Whoever it was will pay for it in every way Elias knew how. Jacob had seen his face. “You will spend the rest of the day on the sofa downstairs.”

“It’s not very comfortable,” said Jacob. “But I’ll find a way. I don’t want to be in my room or by myself. And I miss Tabitha. Do you think she could visit me?”

“She’s away for a few days but will be back and will be sure to see you as soon as she does.”

***

A week later, Elias and Addison took Jacob to town. It was market day, and if the thief has any plans for his chickens, he’s bound to turn up there, thought Elias. Addison drove the cart with Jacob and Elias beside him and talked about marketing day and what Jacob might see. Their first stop at the confectionary stall and then to the farm area to replace the stolen fowl. Jacob pointed to the man on stilts amid the crowd and wanted to leave the cart and talk to him. Before Elias could shake his head, Jacob was off in the direction of the man on stilts, who was walking away from him with giant strides.

Jacob bumped into a woman and was about to run off when her husband tried to grab him. He ran back to the cart as fast as he could. “The man,” he said, out of breath, and pointing at a man with his wife and two children. Addison jumped down and ran towards the man, who recog45

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nized the child and ran off in the opposite direction. He jumped over one of the stalls and hid behind a woman cooking pies. But too late. Addison recognized his face. It was someone from their militia group.

Addison walked back slowly, his head down. Jacob sat on his father’s knees and ate sugar-coated nuts and toffee. “He got away,” said Addison, “But I recognized his face. The man belongs to our Patriot group. I can easily find out where he lives from McAlpine and a few others. His day of reckoning will come soon enough.” He patted Jacob on the head and took one of his toffees.

When they returned home, Addison recognized Silvanus’s cart.

“Guess who’s come to visit?”

“I know.” Jacob began to fidget and jumped off the cart. He ran to the back door and opened it, and as soon as he saw Tabitha, he ran to her with outstretched arms. She put her arms around him, and he started to cry. She kissed him on the forehead. “Did you think I could forget you? Not in a million years.”

Anthony brought him a gift, which he hid behind his back. “You got to guess what I have behind my back. If you are right, it is yours.”

“A toy cart.”

“You got two guesses left.”

Addison saw the sailing boat behind Anthony’s back and made motions of a boat sailing the sea.

“A boat.”

“You’re close.”

“A sailing boat.”

Anthony showed him the boat. It had real masts and even a steering wheel. Jacob couldn’t wait to run outside and use the pump to put some water in his mother’s washing tub. He thanked Anthony and ran out of the house.

Elias watched him pumping water into the tub. There was a look of sadness in his eyes.

Tabitha saw the look. “What’s bothering you, papa?”

“We’re all together this day. I just hope we can all be always together.”

“We won’t be that far away.”

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CHAPTER EIGHT

T

he new chickens, Rhode Island hens, strutted around the hen pen, picking up seeds in the earth as they wandered. Jacob leaned on the fence and watched them go around the pen and into the hen house when it got dark. He walked in after them and saw them sitting on the stoop.

“Why are they smaller, and their feathers are a different colour?” he asked Addison, who joined him inside. “They’re just a different breed, that’s all, and they’re still young. In a month or two, they’ll be just like the ones that got away.”

The mornings were getting cold now. There was frost on the grass most days, and a couple of times, there was ice in the ponds.

Tabitha had come to get help from her mother on how to cook Christmas cake. Elias was becoming more withdrawn by the day. “He broods a lot these days. I worry about him,” said her mother sifting some flour into a large baking bowl. “He’s worried about something. I just don’t know what.”

***

Addison went to four meetings before the man who had hurt Jacob appeared. He should have guessed. It was Abijah Babbit. Addison took McAlpine to one side and told him about Jacob and the theft of their chickens.

“I can’t believe it. He has a young family and is a cropper. But I warned everyone not to set fires to your home and treat you and your family with respect. You’ve missed a couple of drills,” said McAlpine.

“My sister got married on one occasion, and I’ve been busy trying to repair the damage Babbit did to our farm and getting new chickens to replace them.” Then, after a pause. “How do you plan to handle Babbit?”

“I’ll have a word with him. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you folks, ever again.”

“I want to call him out for whatever he is and let the rest of us know 47

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about using a heavy piece of lumber to knock out my 10-year-old brother when he was stealing our chickens.”

“That’s up to you,” said McAlpine, but it’s tough to recruit good people for our cause. “And there’s all that talk about your father being a supporter of the Crown. Do you think it’s wise?”

“I do. If I don’t call him out, he’ll just keep on doing this to my family until we’re all dead.”

Addison stood beside him as McAlpine called everyone to order. “Our first order of business is to report that Addison’s family was robbed, despite being warned to stay away from them. Our fellow member, Addison Wright, would like to say a few words.” He backed away, and Addison stood in front of them.

“On the day of my sister’s wedding, someone from our group entered our farm and was caught in the act of stealing our chickens by my younger brother, who is ten years old. That man took a piece of lumber and knocked him unconscious. Before he lost consciousness, he saw the person who did this to him. He could have died, but that person didn’t care.

“So what have you got to say for yourself, Abijah Babbit?” said Addison.

Babbit didn’t move and sunk in his chair.

“Stand up and take a bow, Babbit, for almost killing a child.”

Babbit just sat there, with his head bent. The silence in the room held everyone in its grasp.

“If you ever come to my home again with the intent to hurt my family, I will seek you out and kill you.”

Addison walked out and closed the door softly behind him. Everyone looked at Babbit, who finally found his tongue. “He lies. The truth is he stole my hens, scaring my wife so that she hid. She got a good look at the person and identified him at the market a few weeks back.”

The others chatted among themselves until McAlpine raised his voice.

“We have just lost an outstanding member for our cause. I feared this was when I told you all to desist from any further happenings at the Wrights.

I will now consider the matter closed. If there are any other incidents. The offending person will no longer be a recruit for our cause.”

***

News from the war front was not hopeful for Elias. Silvanus had come to cheer him up and talk about Anthony and Tabitha.

“Things do not bode well for the British. At some point, they will surrender, and that will end the fighting and, hopefully, the hatred and bit48

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terness that pervades every town and village.”

Electa brought them some Easter cake and tea and sat down with them.

“It’s time you thought about changing sides,” said Silvanus. “Things will get worse for you and your family unless you announce your allegiance to the new country and celebrate it along with the rest of us. We have our son and daughter to worry about, Elias, along with their future.

I would shudder at the thought that the new government might see fit to take over your farm.”

Elias shook his head. “I hear what you’re saying, and thank you for caring about our welfare. But some things are more important than wealth and importance. Loyalty to your king and family is not something I take lightly.”

Addison came in from the barn. “The cow is giving birth to a calf,” he said, sitting down and taking a piece of Easter cake.

“New life. That is something to shout about,” said Elias with a smile.

Electa, who had been knitting, shook her head.

Silvanus wasn’t giving up. “What do you say about the birth of a new country, Addison?”

“They both come at the same time. I wish them both well.”

Tabitha and Antony arrived an hour later with the news that changed everything. “The British have surrendered, and our new country had been born.”

Elias ignored the announcement and asked when she planned to have a grandson for him.

“That’s the other news. I’m pregnant,” Tabitha added, hugging her mother.

Silvanus was smiling, too. “The birth of a new country and the birth of a grandson. How can you say no to that, Elias?”

Tabitha looked at him. The sadness in his eyes had returned, and he seemed on the verge of tears.

***

The following week, a group of young men and women gathered on the road just opposite their home. They were setting off skyrockets and firecrackers into the air. They aimed some of the rockets at their home.

Elias put on his jacket to go out and tell them to move on, but Anthony stopped him. “They know you favour the King, and they’ll aim their rockets at you. Let me go.” He left immediately and joined the crowd.

“My father is old and sickly. He joins the rest of us in celebrating the surrender of the British. Please go on and leave him in peace.”

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A few people of the crowd who had heard him speak drifted off. But the others were in high spirits and determined to carry on. “Death to the British,” they all shouted and aimed more rockets at their home.

One of the rockets set the roof on fire, and Addison rushed inside.

“The roof has caught fire. Everyone out in a hurry. Silvanus kept muttering, “this is insane. The whole world has gone crazy.”

He went to the crowd. “My name is Silvanus Sherwood, and I live close to here. Elias is a good man at heart. Leave him be. His roof is on fire.

Either help to extinguish the fire or leave. But no more rockets.”

Someone in the crowd, listening to him, aimed a rocket that hit Silvanus in the chest. Elias laid him on the ground and smothered the fire with his jacket. He held Silvanus in his arms. “Hold on, Silvanus, we will not leave you. Electa, who had witnessed the attack, rushed inside the house and grabbed her basin, a cloth, and balms. She returned seconds later, pushing Elias away. She ripped a hole in his shirt to see how much of his skin had burned before dabbing it with cold water and applying her balm.

By this time, some of their neighbours who saw the fire in the night sky arrived in their carts and formed a line to the ladder. Addison had started to mount it. Anthony came almost at once and helped Electa move his father further away.

Elias entered the house and found his Brandy on the kitchen counter.

The smoke was already inside. In the excitement, they had forgotten about Jacob. He rushed upstairs to see Jacob standing at the top, rubbing his eyes.

He swept him up in his arms and carried him into the kitchen. “Here, hold this.” He said, putting his bottle of Brandy Jacob’s hands and heading out the door with Jacob still in his arms.

He put Jacob down next to Electa and looked up at the fire, which had grown even larger, and shivered in the chilly wind that fanned the flames.

Elias opened the bottle and put it on Silvanius’s lips. He took a mouthful and began to cough.

Addison was on the roof with Anthony just below him, passing him a fresh bucket of water and throwing the empty pails on the ground. Addison coughed as the smoke entered his lungs. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked down at the crowd on the road. They were no longer shooting rockets at the house, but he recognized the voice of a tall man who was urging them on. It was Babbit. He filed it away in his mind for future reference. The only thing that mattered now was putting out the fire.

By the time the last spark was extinguished, he was so tired he wondered if he had the strength to climb down. Anthony was still below him and helped guide his feet to each rung as they descended. When he reached 50

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the ground, they both just sat there exhausted, drinking mouthfuls of Brandy to help them get their strength back.

Tabitha and Hannah arrived during the fire. Tabitha was beginning to show now, and Hannah warned her not to lift anything heavy. She spotted Anthony and Addison sitting at the end of the wall and called to them.

Many of the neighbours, who had been there throughout the night, returned with food. Elias was feeding Silvanus, sitting up now and giving him Brandy between mouthfuls.

Electa and Tabitha entered the kitchen. The smell of smoke clung to everything, even the walls. The sofa cushions also reeked of it, and so did the chairs. Upstairs, the fire had burned through the roof over Tabitha’s bedroom. She cried when she saw it and began to touch all her favourite things. Electa pulled her away. “This is not something you should see in your condition.”

Elias and Addison went to work on the roof the next day. Electa wiped down the kitchen and parlour, their tables and the cushions, including Electa’s prized chair with its ornate wood back. Some of her best dishes were in pieces on the kitchen floor. She sat down and felt helpless. They were a special gift from her mother when Tabitha was born.

Her limp was bothering her, and she tried to put it out of her mind.

Electa didn’t mind putting their house back the way it was before, but somehow she felt it would never be the same. She shook her head and wiped away the tears welling in her eyes.

Elias decided to paint the upstairs rooms to give them a new smell and look. Addison could hear his father humming as he mixed paints and moved the box they had built for him to stand on. When he came down for supper, he spent at least an hour removing the paint from his hands, using the soap they made from lye and fat every month. Electa added a few drops of perfume Tabitha received for her birthday, giving her soap a unique scent.

The chickens they had bought a month earlier were growing and were laying eggs. Addison took charge of the farm, doing many of his father’s things no longer seemed interesting in doing.

Now that the smoke had been cleaned from the house, Tabitha became a frequent visitor and helped her mother with the cooking. She was quite big now. “Any idea when your child will be born?”

Agnes Collins, a midwife who lived nearby, saw Tabitha enter her home from her window and nodded her head in that quiet way of hers. Anthony dropped Tabitha off and went on to see if Agnes could see Tabitha.

“When I saw you help Tabitha off your cart, I decided it was time for 51

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me to see her again. She’s become larger since we last met.”

Anthony helped her mount his cart, and they drove back to Tabitha’s home. “Look who I found,” said Anthony as he entered the kitchen. He helped Agnes inside.

Electa smiled. “We were just wondering if Tabitha should see you soon. I think she is near her time.”

Agnes sat down next to Tabitha and felt her stomach, sensing the movements of the life inside. She looked up at Electa. “She would like me to stay with her, Electa. I think she will give birth any time this week.” She turned to Addison. “Go to my home. Tell my daughter that I will be staying at your home for a few days and ask her to pack my bag and the things I use in delivering.”

Electa took a pan of biscuits off the fireplace and added butter to the top of each one. She took her kettle off as well and added tea leaves to their mugs. Agnes poured her own and Tabitha’s and added cream to both while Electa poured Anthony’s tea and her own.

Elias came downstairs in his old painting clothes with traces of paint on his hands and left cheek. He went to the sink and rubbed his hands in cooking fat on the counter next to his wash basin.

“Your mother will want to be here, Anthony. “Tell her that Tabitha’s time has come, and she could give birth today or tomorrow or Thursday and to stay with us until she does.”

Tabitha wiped her mouth and took another biscuit. “I’m scared.”

“We all were, dear,” said Agnes. “Just ask your mother and Anthony’s mother. But we all lived through it. Just remember that. The three of us will be with you every step of the way.”

Addison returned with Agnes’s bag and her delivery tools in a separate black bag and sat next to his father for tea and biscuits.

***

Tabitha was sleeping in her old bedroom. The smell of fresh paint made her feel like a young girl the first time it was painted. Her mother put a cot in her room to be beside her.

Tabitha awoke. It was pitch black, and she called out for her mother.

Electa woke immediately and went into the hall to light two candles and returned with them seconds later.

“It’s the middle of the night, Tabitha. How are you feeling?”

“I could feel my child moving, and I got scared.” She held her body still. The pain got worse, and she cried out. Electa left to wake up Hannah, and Agnes followed her, still in their nightdresses. Agnes sat on the edge 52

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of her bed. “I need my instrument bag and some boiling water, and I need them as soon as possible.”

Electa ran down the stairs and added a kindle and larger wood to the embers in the fireplace. She then went to the counter and poured water into a pot positioned over the fire. She paced back and forth from the parlour until she saw white steam rising from the pot. She lifted the pot off the fireplace with a cloth in her hand, took it to the counter, and poured the water into the basin. She then added more water into a pot and returned it to the fireplace.

She carried the hot water in a bucket with as many cloths she could find on short notice and headed up the stairs to find Tabitha groaning and crying.

She gave birth about two hours later. Anthony, who decided to stay overnight with Addison, could hear her screaming. He and Addison rose, put on their breeches and went to Tabitha’s room. The door was closed, and they were both warned to stay outside the room until they were invited inside. Elias, who had spent a hard night sleeping, joined them.

“It was the same when you were born, Addison,” said Elias, still dressed in his nightclothes.

The door suddenly opened when they least expected it. Electa stood in the doorway smiling. “You’ve got a beautiful baby girl, Anthony. She looks just like your mother.”

He could see Tabitha lying in bed with the quilts up to her chin, with only her left arm outside the covers, framed around a white blanket and his daughter inside. He went to her bedside and kissed her. “What would you like to call her,” said Tabitha.

“You did all the suffering. You name her.”

“I would like to name her after my grandmother, Charlotte.”

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CHAPTER NINE

T

he following winter and spring came without incident. Addison rejoined the Patriots along with Anthony. Silvanus was pleased. “You need to do this. And you need to do it now. Washington has sent a mission to Europe to ratify our new country’s founding and pass it by the British Parliament. If there was ever a time to be on the winning side, it’s now.

There are British troops in New York. Once Parliament acknowledges us as an independent country, British ships will be there to carry away those who want to live under the Crown.”

When Addison told his father, Elias set his mouth and walked away in silence.

Addison and Anthony met McAlpine a few days later and asked to join the militia.

“Our mission is in London now to secure our independence from Britain. We don’t need you now.”

“And what if Parliament will not accommodate our mission?”

“Then the war will continue.” He paused. “You have a point. The English can be pretty bloody-minded at times.” He rubbed his chin. “Even if they do decide to grant us independence, we will still need to keep order.

“There could be groups who believe in the King and who might attack villages like ours. It will take some time before this thing is finally over.”

“Is Babbit still a member?”

“He is, and a lot of us wish he weren’t. We heard he tried to burn down your house. We told him if anything, and I mean anything, happens again at your farm, we will take him to the watchman and let him deal with him.”

“When is the next drill?” said Anthony.

“Tomorrow. In the village square. Be there at seven sharp. We will be training with muskets and bayonets.”

*** 54

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Since the surrender of the British troops, Elias became more sullen and sat by himself on a bench at the front of their home, leaving Addison to look after the farm. The word “surrender” made him grit his teeth and forbade it at the table.

“Something you should know,” Addison said. “Anthony and I are joining the militia.”

“So I hear. I can’t say I like the idea, but we’re living in a new world now, and you will need as many friends as you can get.” He barely ate and went to bed to rise very early at supper time.

Everything changed a week later when Elias decided to meet with his old friend, Osiah Hadden, who lived on a farm near his son and grandchildren. Osiah was now in his 70s with bright blue eyes, balding at the top and his light brown hair, now white. He had a full round face and a white beard.

Osiah had a throaty voice and a white beard covering most of his face.

His arms were long and usually folded. Like Elias, he favoured the Crown but had the good sense to keep his opinions to himself. He lived on the other side of Elias and was said to have amassed a considerable fortune. Even so, he lived humbly with his wife, who was bed-ridden with arthritis. His daughter also had a thin face and was as tall as her father. He never missed going to church every Sunday and believed in obeying God and the law.

Over the years, he had become the go-to person when there was a dispute in the community. People abided by his judgement, and he prided himself for being known throughout the area for his wisdom, understanding and fairness.

“My son goes decided to join the militia again along with my son-inlaw,” Elias began.

“A wise and cautionary step if he hopes to retain your farm. But what about you and your good wife, Elias?”

“That is why I am here today. What would you suggest?”

“The English have made it known that they are willing to take all persons who want to remain subjects of the King to another place. England’s northern colony appears to be the favourite at the moment. They will move you, your family and some of your possessions, where you can live under the Crown.”

Elias knew that Osiah felt about the King as he did. “How about you, Osiah?”

“You know how I feel, Elias. I have a daughter and a farm to worry about with no suitor for her hand. Until that happens, I will pretend how much I am in favour of this newly independent country. If you can live un55

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der the laws of this new country, my advice is to pretend you do likewise and offer help to the army, as I do, to fight for this new country. You and your family can do this, too, or consider boarding a boat to take you to this new land.” His tongue licked his lips, and his face lost its colour.

A week later, his mind was made up for him when Electa went out of the back door with some feed for the chickens and ran into a noose hanging in the middle of their doorway. She dropped the pan and shrieked. Elias ran to see what had happened. When he saw the noose, he started to swear.

Addison heard them and shook his head when he saw his father holding his mother and the noose swaying in the draft.

“You may have a lot of friends in that group of cowards who call themselves Patriots. If they have a beef with me, they know where I live and can come and let me know in no uncertain terms. It’s plainly a warning that will only get bolder. I was considering changing my tune, but there’s nothing in God’s green earth that will change my mind now.”

“I’ll take it to McAlpine.” Addison set up their horse and set out to see McAlpine at his shop, stopping on the way to show it to Anthony and Silvanus.

“Oh, dear,” Silvanus kept repeating over and over and walked away.

Anthony put on his doublet and climbed aboard the cart. “I’m going with you.”

Alpheus Beattie waved to them on the side of the road. “Off to town?”

“I’m on my way to see Alexander McAlpine. We want to show him this,” said Addison, holding up the noose. “My mother found it dangling from our back door, and it scared her out of her wits.”

Beattie shook his head. “Things are getting out of hand. You might show this to the watchman while you’re at it.”

Addison flicked the reins, and they started off again, passing a woman on her way to town. They stopped, and Anthony shouted to her. “If you’re on the way into town, hop aboard.”

She ran to the cart, and Anthony helped her up. She spotted the noose but looked away. “If you’re wondering about the noose, Addison found it hanging from his back door this morning. We’re going into town to see the watchman.”

As they passed the third house leading into the village, she tapped Addison’s back. “Let me out here. My sister has just had a baby, and I wanted to bring her a special cake she likes.”

Anthony helped her down and watched her knock and the door open before they headed towards McAlpine’s wheel shop. They weren’t the only ones there. Several other Patriots were going in. Addison grabbed the rope 56

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and jumped off his cart with Anthony behind him.

McAlpine was talking to the other Patriots. When he spotted Addison and Anthony and the rope, he turned away from them with his head bowed. “I heard rumblings about this earlier. I was just talking to the others if they knew who did this. If anyone knows, they’re not talking,” he said, wiping away a few shavings on his work table.

“It scared the wits out of my mother. She’s locked herself inside the house, and she won’t see anyone whose voice she doesn’t recognize.”

Amasa wandered to him, shaking his head. “I can imagine how my mother or wife would feel if anyone did that to them.”

“We’re getting the word out and hope to find out who’s behind this. If I were you, I would see the watchman about this,” said McAlpine.

“We’re on our way there now.”

“I hope this won’t end your association with us.”

“Something like this may frighten my mother to pieces, but I’m with the cause to the end, no matter what.”

McAlpine nodded. “I hope the watchman gets to the bottom of this before we do. One thing, your fellow Patriots, are pulling for you. You can count on them. They’ll also be getting the word out.”

Leaving McAlpine’s workshop, Anthony sniffed the air. “You can smell Spring in the air.” He smiled and patted Addison on the back. “Charlotte is sitting up now and trying to make sounds. A few more months from now, she’ll be walking.”

The watchman wasn’t in when they entered his office on Main Street.

“Can we wait for him?” said Anthony.

A young man sitting at an oversized desk got up and went to the counter to see them. “Not sure when Seth will be back but come around the desk and sit down in one of the chairs.” He glanced at the rope and its hangman’s knot. “I gather someone left this keepsake at your door.”

Addison nodded. “It scared my mother almost to death. All she does now is cry.”

“It’s also upset my father and my wife,” added Anthony.

“If it’s any consolation to you, you aren’t the only person who received this token.”

The office was small, with a wide window at the front and a counter separating people from the watchman’s desk. There was a smaller desk where his assistant usually sat. There were no coverings on its dusty board floor, and a musty smell floated in the air.

There was an old copy of the Boston newspaper on the table next to them. Addison took one sheet and passed the sheet to Anthony. It was just 57

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news from the war and the words of the men on their way to London to speak to Parliament. Anthony spotted an item and passed it to Addison. It reported that England was sending ships to New York to carry all Loyalists to another British colony. He handed it to Addison, who lifted the paper to the young man at the desk. “I’d like to cut an item out of the Boston paper.”

“Go ahead. We don’t have scissors but use this,” said the watchman, passing Addison a ruler. “You can rip it out with this.”

Addison took the ruler and was in the process of ripping the item when the watchman arrived. Seth Compton was tall and big-boned. He had a dark face, dark eyes and long hair tied back by a string and with hands, the biggest Addison had ever seen. Compton walked by them without acknowledging their presence. He and his assistant whispered for a few minutes before he came to the counter.

“I understand you found a hangman’s rope at your home today. There were three others. All were at the homes of Tories. I gather you are as well.”

Addison stood up. “I am a member of the militia. And what has that got to do with the rope?” said Addison in his loudest voice.

“Plenty. The four others were at homes of Tories.”

“We are investigating each one. And I suspect if we find out who did it at one of the homes, it will likely turn out to be the person who left it at your home. If not, I think that person will know who else was involved.”

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CHAPTER TEN

T

he hangman’s rope appeared once a week for three weeks more and then disappeared.

Elias slept through the entire night and spent much of the afternoon with Tabitha, who visited with Charlotte for the first time in weeks. Electa was busy cooking vegetables and putting the finishing touches on a cake to take with them later.

Elias went into the yard. Signs of spring were everywhere as new grass appeared in the pasture. The buds in the trees were unfolding leaves and the breeze hinted at lilacs somewhere close. Devil winds swirled dust in the hen yard. Elias took out the clipping from the newspaper and read it again. He had to make sure he was right in everything when he announced he and Electa and Jacob would go to New York and sail to another British colony, probably to the North.

He waited until everyone finished eating. He stood and looked at all their faces. “I have an announcement to make that affects us all. The British are sending ships to New York to take anyone who wants to remain loyal to the Crown to another British colony. I intend to travel to New York with my wife and my son, Jacob, and leave here for good.”

Elias sat down and lowered his head. No one spoke for almost five minutes, and Electa started crying. “I can’t leave my friends. And not my children and grandchildren. Have you no heart?”

“You can stay if you wish. But we belong together.” He looked at Jacob, who had tears in his eyes.

“Will you go with me? I need you to see to me when I get too old to look after myself.”

Addison looked at his mother. He couldn’t blame her for how she felt.

“Addison will stay to look after the farm, and should he die from some mishap, I bequeath our farm to Tabitha.”

“When will you leave?” said Silvanus, who had dropped by just as 59

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they were finishing their meal.

“I will go to New York with my horse and cart. I will spend the next few weeks creating a roof for the cart, where I can sleep at night during my journey to New York.”

“I will see you to New York, father, and bring back the horse and cart to the farm.”

Their supper broke up shortly after that. Silvanus had tears in his eyes.

“Promise me you will not leave before spending an evening with me.”

“I’ll write to you and let you know what my new life is like.”

Addison looked around at his barn and hen coop, the pastures now green and growing and the forest beyond. His heart ached at leaving it all behind, but Elias knew, and so did Addison, that his family would have no peace if he remained. Elias consoled himself, knowing the farm he and his grandfather and father had carved out of the wilderness would be taken over by Addison and his children when he marries, and if not him, by Tabitha and her children. He felt like dying, but he knew that this was not the answer either. And who knows what the future holds. Maybe he will see Tabitha and Charlotte and perhaps more children. He will write them when he gets another farm.

When Elias came back to the kitchen, Electa was waiting for him. She had made him tea, added a shot of Brandy and warmed the moring biscuits for him. He ate in silence, not daring to look at her. He understood how she felt and could not blame her.

That night Electa cried herself to sleep. Elias joined her after midnight.

He woke her when he pushed back the covers. She rolled over to kiss him and held him close. “I will go wherever you go. And so will Jacob.” She shut her eyes and tossed and turned the rest of the night.

Electa finally got to sleep somewhere around four o’clock. Elias got out of bed carefully and put on his clothes before tiptoeing out of their bedroom. He looked at the clock at the bottom of the stairs to see that it was past nine. He had never slept that late in years. He shuffled into the kitchen to find Tabitha feeding Charlotte at the table. Anthony and Addison were outside chopping wood for the fireplace. It was still chilly, and Tabitha still wore her jacket.

They entered and dumped the wood in the box next to the fireplace.

Addison knelt and took some straw to set the kindling on fire. Within minutes, they added more wood to the fire, and the kitchen became a warm haven again. Charlotte was crying, and Tabitha rocked her to sleep. She put her on the parlour floor and tiptoed into the kitchen.

Electa appeared a few minutes later, still in her nightdress. “I heard 60

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voices and came down to see who was here. Where’s Charlotte?”

“In the parlour. And don’t wake her up. She’s cranky, so let her sleep.”

Electa refilled their tea mugs and sat down to pour cream in hers. “I also have an announcement to make. “I will be going to farm new land with your father. Jacob and I can’t leave him alone in a strange land by himself.”

***

The following week, mobs gathered outside their home and shouted death threats at them. Addison slipped out and headed for the mob. “Why are you here? My mother is sick with worry about why you people are here. I am a member of the militia, and I go for drills. I am one of you.”

“But your father isn’t. We are coming in to get him. We’re going to tar and feather him and ride out of the county. We don’t want him or anyone who sides with him to threaten us ever again,” said a tall man with a deep hoarse voice who advanced towards him.

Addison, who had brought his militia musket with him, aimed it at the man. “This is my militia musket. I do not want to use it on any of you.

So go away peacefully and don’t come back.”

He lowered his musket, and so did the man who had done all the talking. They took away his musket and tied his hands behind his back.

“I’m going inside and bring the old man out. We came here to tar and feather him, so let’s do it,” he said, leading the mob to the back door. They smashed the lock and opened the door.

Elias was standing in the kitchen with his sabre drawn. “You are trespassing on my private property. I am within my rights to kill as many of you as I can to protect myself and my family. I have not done anything to you. Leave us in peace.”

The tall man, who had a dark beard and flashing eyes, just shook his head and ran at him, knocking Elias on the floor. The others grabbed him and took him out into the yard, where they began ripping off his clothes.

“Someone get ready and go into the coop and get some feathers. Three other men carried a long wide board and laid it on the ground next to him.

Addison suddenly appeared in front of the crowd with Asama and McAlpine and two other militia members with their muskets. They had untied his hands and helped him stand.

“This is my millita musket. I do not want to use it on any of you. Go away peacefully, and don’t come back.”

“Wight’s son is a member of our militia, who plans to join the Continental Army. What about the rest of you? How many of you want to join 61

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our militia or the Continental Army? You,” he said, pointing to the man who had led the mob, “can we count on you?”

A few people disappeared into the darkness, followed a few minutes later by several others, including the mob leader. The others helped Elias to his feet, dressed him in his torn clothes, and apologized before leaving.

McAlpine turned to Addison. “You’re friend, Asama, got wind of this and came to me to ask my help in stopping them from killing your father.

We look after our own, Addison. Don’t forget that it works both ways.” He turned to go and then came back. “Your father might be well advised to denounce the Tories and join the rest of us or leave here. He may not be so lucky the next time.”

Addison helped his father inside. His mother, who witnessed it all from the window, was ready for them. She helped Elias to a chair in the kitchen, where he took off his torn shirt that was now in strings and washed his chest, face and hair. She had another sweater ready for him and moved him closer to the fire. He looked so old to Addison, who was still shaking from it all. If it hadn’t been for McAlpine and Asama, he knew his father would not have lived through the tar and feathering. His father’s face looked white, and his mother rubbed his back and kissed him on the cheek. He knew then they had to go. He hated the idea, but he also knew they would not be so lucky again.

***

His mother and father were in the kitchen when Addison came down for breakfast. Jacob joined him, dancing down the stairs. Elias looked at him eating his oatmeal and smiled. “We’re going to have a busy day, and we want you to help, Jacob.”

Jacob could hardly control the excitement rising inside him. His father had never asked for his help before, other than feeding the chickens and opening the door to the coop.

Elias smiled at him. “We’re going on a long trip to a place you’ve never been, Jacob, but don’t tell anyone.”

“Just you and me?”

“No, your mother will be coming as well.”

When they finished breakfast, Elias and Jacob went outside, where Addison had brought out their cart from the barn and carried some lumber from their shed. Elias helped him lay the lumber on the cart.

“We need a few beams to build up the sides and the roof,” he said, sending Addison to the shed again.

“There’s not much lumber left,” said Addison. “We used a lot of the 62

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wood on the roof.”

They measured the beams, each cut eight 50 inches tall, and nailed them to the floor on each side of the cart. Then four more beams were sawed, also six feet in length. Jacob whisked away the sawdust from the bottom of the cart and Addison and his father’s nails.

By lunchtime, it was starting to take shape. Jacob couldn’t stop talking about the structure on the cart. “Father told me it was to protect us from the rain when we sleep on the cart.”

Electa smiled, even though she dreaded the thought of tedious long travel to New York. But Elias was right. They needed a place to protect themselves from what they might face to live out their lives in peace. Addison had agreed to help his father with the driving. She knew Addison would be taking his musket. In her heart of hearts, Electa knew it was a wise precaution. She didn’t like muskets around her. To Electa, they meant sudden death.

The next afternoon, Addison and Anthony headed to the village. It was for another drill. Addison felt quite sure of himself as a soldier when they finished their afternoon of training. Especially the tactics he learned.

They would not fight the way the British did but from hidden forested areas where they had a better chance of surviving. After the others had left, Anthony and Anthony met with Alex McAlpine, who was in good spirits.

“We’ll be as good as the Continental Army before long,” he said as he invited them for a glass of beer.

“I need you to do something, commander,” said Addison, pulling out a piece of paper from his doublet. “My father wants me to take him and my mother to New York so that they can board a boat to another British colony. I’d like you to write that I am a member of your group, in case other militias confront us.”

McAlpine spread the sheet of paper on his desk, stuck a quill into an ink holder, and began writing. “Was this was you had in mind?” he said, passing the paper to Addison.

Addison glanced over it and nodded.

“It’s a five-day drive if everything goes well. I’m sorry you’ll be losing your parents in all this. If it’s any comfort, they won’t be the only ones. And not the only family has been split in this war.”

They stood and were about to leave when McAlpine stopped them with a raised hand. “Have you given any thought to what you’ll do if you face a British group along the way? There are a few British groups still around that could cause trouble for you if they ever see what’s I’ve written.”

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“We plan to hide it inside the cart and let my father do the talking.”

They left a few minutes later, stopping at a store to buy a tarpaulin.

Addison bought two of the biggest ones they had in store. “I need one that will repel a day’s rain,” Addison told the shopkeeper as they left with the tarps that they would use to nail into the frame on the cart and to cover the end.

***

Electa cried all day before they were to set out. Silvanus and his wife, Hannah, their daughter, Tabitha, Charlotte, and Anthony came home just after lunch.

“We want to spend as much time with you and your family as possible before you leave in the morning.” Silvanus sounded as though as was ready to burst out crying. He and Anthony carried two large baskets of food with them. Hannah opened them, and she and Tabitha placed a platter of turtle meat, vegetables, chicken breasts and legs and thick slices of ham, as well as Hannah’s famous blueberry and apple pies and a large frosted buttercream cake. Silvanus produced a new bottle of Brandy.

“I’ve been saving this against this day.”

Jacob broke in. “Did my father say we’re going on a sea voyage?”

Hannah and Electa broke into tears. Hannah hugged him. Silvanus started singing a song from the old days when he and Elias first knew each other. Elias joined in, and before, the rest of them were either singing or humming the tune.

Elias invited Silvanus to take one last walk with him around the farm.

“I know every glade of grass and where every salt lick is here,” said Elias.

“I will miss it with all my heart. I think I will see them in my mind forever, Silvanus.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“One thing, if you are of a mind. I would like you to have Tabitha and Anthony come and live with Addison. I have a feeling that Addison will not get married or remain here. He will need people around him, especially during important times like Christmas. Should he leave the farm, I would like it bequeathed to my daughter. I will have Tabitha draw up the papers when we return and witness it with Addison and Anthony. Imagine what a farm it would be if that happens with two large farms together for all time. I will also feel good about leaving here and knowing it is still being tilled and improved in loving hands.”

Silvanus hugged him. “Don’t worry, my dear friend. I will make sure your farm is never allowed to fall into ruin.”

A wind from the north made them shiver as they headed back.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

A

ddison and his father fitted a large mattress inside the cart and returned for Electa’s tableware and her mother’s dishes. Next, cooked chicken and two dozen eggs and carrots, peas and potatoes stored at the back, and the dresser her mother had given to her after they were married.

Tabitha. Anthony and Charlotte kept waving to them as their cart pulled out onto the road. They were standing in the kitchen doorway.

Tabitha broke into tears when they disappeared out of sight. She shivered.

“What’s wrong?” said Anthony.”

“Something cold passed over my heart, and for a second, I could not breathe. I feel I will never see them again.”

Anthony put his arms around her and guided her inside. “The kitchen is yours, and you have a starving husband.” Charlotte started to cry, and Anthony bent down and held her close.

It was six o’clock when their cart left the driveway and headed for the hill, where Silvanus’s house was situated. Elias looked at it as they passed it, and he bit his lip. Addison flicked the reins to pick-up speed. He wanted to be past the village and on the road to Boston before the village woke up.

It was just seven when they passed the village. A few people were outside and waved at them. Addison didn’t wave back and focused on the road ahead.

Electa had made a basket of sandwiches the night before and laid out breakfast for them around eight o’clock. They were well on their way now, and Elias yelled to Addison to stop the cart so that he could climb aboard the driver’s seat. They were at least 12 or 15 miles away from the village by nine o’clock, plodding along a road none of them had been on before.

Electa yelled for them to stop soon as they could find a vacant field.

When Addison reined into the side of the road, he jumped down and opened the back flap. “Time for tea.”

Elias scoured the grass and found a few pieces of wood from nearby 65

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trees that cast a shadow over them and made a fire to boil water from one of the buckets into a pot for boiling. When the water was steaming, Electa dipped their mugs into the boiling water and added some tea leaves to each. She passed one to Jacob, who had been asking to drink tea for months. He ate his sandwich and sipped on the tea. He made a face, and Electa added some honey to his mug. He drank it down without stopping and offered his mug for another. When it was time to go, Electa washed their mugs in the water left in the bucket.

When they were getting back on the cart, Jacob pleaded with his mother to sit up front with Addison while Elias returned to the cart and fell asleep within minutes.

Two hours later, they came into a bend of the road, where a bridge crossed a stream. Two men were guarding it with muskets and held up their arms for them to stop.

Both men were tall, and Addison could see that their muskets were like his. He whispered to his mother to slip him the piece of paper he hid in her Bible. She passed it to him quickly.

“How are you and where are you going,” said the first one, who came to their cart. He hadn’t shaved in days and had a mean-looking face and eyes that seemed to take in everything. He had a deep, mean-sounding voice.

“My name is Addison Wright, and I am taking my father and mother and young brother to see his brother near New York.” Addison passed him the piece of paper signed by McAlpine. He read it with some difficulty.

When he finished reading, he passed the paper back to Addison.”

“If I read correctly, you are a member of the militia. So are we. God speed. Be careful who you show your credentials to. We hear there’s a group of armed Tories down the road, and if they ever see that paper, they’ll murder you and your family on the spot.”

Elias sat up in front with his son to answer any questions should American Tories stop them. “I think they must be guarding the road further down the road. By supper time, they stopped to eat. Elias built a fire where Electa warmed the chicken and fried potatoes. When the food was cooked, Electa cut bread for them and buttered the slices. Jacob danced around them. Elias had to haul him down to get him to eat. Electa boiled water from the cart in a pan over the fire, filling their mugs with hot water and sprinkling tea leaves inside them.

The sun was still high on the horizon when Elias put the fire out with earth, and they boarded the cart and headed off again, going through a large town. Electa wanted to stop to get more ham and cooked chicken at 66

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a store on the outskirts.

At a nearby well, they replenished the water buckets.

Elias wheeled the cart into a field a mile or two down the road and halted their cart next to a line of dark trees. Addison jumped down and unhooked their horse so that he could eat grass in the field. It was nearing dusk when he returned with the horse and armful of grass he had pulled out of the field.

Addison sat on the cart’s bench to keep watch throughout the night.

They were not likely to be spotted among the dark trees, even though there was a moon that night in the cloudy sky. He descended and leaned his back against one of the cart’s wheels, putting his musket next to him and kept watch well past midnight without seeing a single horse, cart or person on the road. When it grew cloudy, and he could no longer see the road, he closed his eyes.

He was awakened by the sun and the sound of a wagon or cart in the distance. He decided to let the others sleep and crept behind the wagon when it appeared on the road. It was driven by a single person with an empty cart. Probably someone farming land close to town.

They set out after breakfast. Addison went to sleep in the cart, with Elias at the reins. They didn’t travel more than three miles, where they were stopped by six men, who had placed a barricade on the road. One of the men with a barrel chest and long russet-coloured hair, and a thick red beard raised his hand. “Stop and tell us how you stand – for the King or not.”

Elias dropped the reins. “I was born a subject of His Majesty, and I will remain so until I die.”

The others dropped their muskets. “Then you will have no problem if we look inside your cart,” said red beard.

“I don’t, but my good wife and my son, Addison, who stayed guard all night over us and has just gone to sleep. They might have objections.

The others laughed. Red beard used his musket to push back the tarpaulin that led inside. He looked at the figure of a young man with his head partly covered by a blanket and Electa, with Addison’s forefinger in his mouth. “He’s been up all night.”

“And you, young fella,” what’s your name?

“Jacob, sir. Do not hurt us, sir. We are on our way to New York to go on a voyage.”

Red beard laughed and returned the flap and waved to others to let them pass. Elias snapped the reins, and they were moving again. They skipped lunch to add as many miles as possible. Electa gave him a ham 67

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sandwich through a hole in the covering and smiled at him. Addison awoke late in the afternoon, ate a sandwich, and shouted to his father to stop the cart. He helped his father down and climbed the cart to sit in the driver’s seat. Before long, they were going at quite a clip, passing one large farm after another until he came into a fork in the road. He wanted to bypass Boston and decided to take the dirt road to the right in hopes it would take him to Shewsbury.

Near supper time, they came against a block in the road. The four men guarding the road each had long swords. Two of them came and held the reins of their horse. “We’re going to take over your cart. You,” he said, pointing to Elias, “come down. And the rest of you outside.”

Electa and Elias left Jacob inside and stood confronting them. “If your militia –“ Red beard laughed at them. So did the others. He flipped back the flap and saw Jacob pointing a musket with its bayonet touching red beard’s chest. “If you move, I will stab you and then shoot one of the others who tries to take your place.”

Red beard laughed and grabbed musket. Jacob pushed the bayonet as hard as he could into him. Red beard made a stab at grabbing the musket and fell to the ground, trying to grab the flap. Blood oozed from his chest.

Jacob made his way carefully out of the cart and passed the musket to Addison, who smiled at him. “If anyone else would like to try your luck, go right ahead. But before you do, know that the militia has trained me to not only to shoot you where you stand and use the bayonet on you other two.”

Elias unbuckled his sword and stood beside him. “Now, either run as fast as you can away from us or stand and fight us.”

Electa gripped her lower neck, stood there staring them down, and then went inside herself.

“What is it to be, gentlemen?” said Elias, waving his sword. “I haven’t had a fight like this for years.”

“We’ll go,” said red beard’s companion, “but we’d like leave to fetch his body.”

Addison looked down at red beard, who was still oozing blood. “Two of you can come and get him. Be forewarned. If either of you makes a move to attack us, we will kill you where you stand.”

The fourth man took off and ran down a muddy pathway. The other two picked up their friend with surprising reverence and followed the other man down the muddy path. Addison followed them down the path for a short distance and saw a house and a barn not far away. He returned to 68

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the cart, and he and his father sat in the driver’s seat and headed down the road quickly. Addison slowed their horse down after they had travelled five or so miles. He parked just off the road for supper.

Several other carts passed by them as they sat down on a grassy area.

Carriages, with four horses on their way to Sturbridge, sped by them. Four passengers sitting atop the carriage waved to them and shouted, “good luck.”

Elias took Addison to one side. “We’re likely to travel more safely if we carry on throughout the night. “ “I agree. That was a bad scare back there. I would not like to repeat it.”

Elias told Electa and Jacob. “I’m a bit concerned about our horse. Poor old Rob has had a long day. I suggest we wait here until nightfall and give our horse some rest. I think he needs it more than we do. We’ll stop at daybreak and find a safe place off the road to rest him again as well as ourselves and set out in the afternoon.”

Addison pulled a large armful of grass for their horse, sat down in front of the wheel, and closed his eyes. “I’ll start when the moon comes out.”

He wasn’t sure what time it was when he awoke. He hitched up their horse and snapped the reins to start him moving. He could see for some distance in the moonlight and passed many farmhouses with their lights still on. An hour or two later, he reached for the sandwich his mother had prepared for his night journey, ate it and took a mouthful of water from the bucket just below him. He passed two or three villages and into the countryside again, noticing that the farms no longer had lit windows. Addison was feeling tired now. The clouds that hid them the night before made the going harder for Old Rob. He slowed down and stopped when the night became pitch black. He alit and grabbed Old Rob’s harness and guided him along the road. Two or three hours later, the moon came out again, and he returned to the driver’s seat and snapped the reins.

They passed another village just as dawn was breaking. Dark clouds formed on the horizon, and he snapped the reins again to get Old Rob moving faster. About breakfast time, his mother passed him up another sandwich. “It’s time to look for a place to stop. You must be very tired.”

Electa shook Elias and Jacob. They sat up and saw that the cart had stopped. “It’s breakfast time. Go out and help Addison, who had found a great place to park, right next to a large farm with a well, where they could replenish their water and rest without fear of being robbed.

Elias found some twigs to start a fire, where Electa cooked some oatmeal and washed all her pots. Elias hauled out grass from the field and fed their horse. Addison went to sleep without washing or changing his 69

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clothes. At two o’clock, his mother woke him and helped him get ready for the trek ahead. He ate lunch, sitting with his back to the cartwheel and closed his eyes again. Electa woke him around four o’clock. He rubbed his eyes and slept again inside the cart. Elias sat in the driver’s seat, and soon they were heading down the road. Electa let Addison sleep on.

Elias stopped and jumped from the driver’s seat. Addison was sitting up and eating a chicken leg and a thick slice of bread. He took the food with him and returned to the driver’s seat. The sun was just above the horizon, and an hour later, the sky turned black. He could feel the raindrops on his head and then more and more rain until he could barely see the road in front of him. He grabbed a piece of tarpaulin beside him in the driver’s seat and covered his head with it. He stopped near a side road, covered the horse and let it rain.

About two hours later, the rain had stopped and he was on his way again. The air was fresh, and he breathed in the scent of wildflowers and the memories of being a young man and walking in the fields with Tabitha.

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CHAPTER TWELVE

B

y the time they reached Bridgeport, Old Rob lay on the straw in the stall, gasping and shivering. Electa used one of their blankets to cover him, but it was of no use and the horse doctor who examined him just shook his head. He was a man in his 60s with a clean-shaven face and tired blue eyes. “I would be lying to you if I told you he would recover.”

That afternoon when Elias entered the stable to look on him, Old Rob was having a hard time wheezing. Addison blamed himself for driving him in the rain. “It wouldn’t have mattered. His horse was on his last legs before we headed out. I didn’t want to tell you. I had hoped he would make it to New York, but he did his best for us. All we can do now and wait for him to die and find a new horse to take us the rest of the way and to take you back to our farm.”

Old Rob died before the end of the day, and Elias hid himself to cry.

He would wait a day to look for a new horse out of respect for the years of service Old Rob had given the family. “I think it best if you go and find a replacement for Old Rob,” he said to Addison. “I don’t think I can handle it.”

Two days later, Addison brought a young black horse with mischief in its eyes for his father to see. Electa went around rubbing the horse’s back and kissing his forehead. “Do we have a nickname for him?”

Addison nodded. “I think we should call him Young Rob. This way, we’ll never forget Old Rob.” The sun was shining, the air was warm, and there were no clouds in the sky. They stopped at a general store and added to their provisions.

Electa wandered into a clothing store, and the latest London fashions took her breath away. She knew she shouldn’t want things like this now, but decided to let her husband decide.

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yourself. You’ve been an absolute blessing to the rest of us throughout our journey that has not been anything but difficult.”

Electa returned to the store. She bought a new, bright yellow petticoat that was much less than a pound and a pair of the latest shoes to go with it.

She decided to wear it that night for supper. Elias had arranged for them to dine in the hotel where they had stayed for the past three days.

Elias led them into the dining room and seated them before sitting himself. The menu offered different kinds of fish and crab, vegetables, and a special salad containing fruit, nuts, and new lettuce. A string orchestra was tuning up at the other end of the restaurant and started playing. Addison looked around and saw several couples rise and begin to dance. It was followed by a popular Patriot melody that had everyone clapping.

By the time tea and dessert arrived, Jacob was rubbing his eyes. An hour later, they were asleep on two beds in their room. Addison was the first to wake up. He could see the clock on the mantle above the closet that it was already past six o’clock.

They all got dressed quickly and were on the road again in high spirits. The rest had done them a lot of good and they were eager to see how Young Rob would behave on the miles ahead of them. Elias snapped the reins and set Young Rob at a much faster pace than Old Rob. They travelled a lot of miles when they retired for the night. Addison stayed outside, with his back against the cart and nodding off. By the time it was dark again, he had hitched Young Rob to the cart, and they were on the road again.

There was no moon, but Young Rob seemed to know where to go instinctively. Addison couldn’t help patting himself on the back for deciding to buy him. They drove along the flattened dirt road, which was covered.

It was more comfortable travelling now, and he made the most of it. By morning, they had reached the outskirts of Stamford. He passed through the town without stopping. He knew Young Rob must be tired, and he pulled off the road on the outskirts into a field of daffodils. He jumped down and woke up everyone. Elias still looked sleepy as he washed and shaved in hot water Electa had boiled for him. Addison used his father’s razor as well and, after breakfast, laid down in the cart and closed his eyes.

Jacob played in the field, and Elias checked on Young Rob, feeding him fresh grass. The horse’s eyes looked bright and daring. His son had picked well, he thought, suddenly seeing Jacob crying and running towards them.

“My leg, my leg,” he kept saying.

“Where does it hurt?” said Electa.

“Here and here,” he said, pointing to what looked like stings from a bee.

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She sat him down on the grass and tried to squeeze the poison out of his leg. Jacob cried louder and louder.

“You’ve been bitten by the bees. Hold still while I get the poison out of your leg.” Electa looked among her spices and potions and applied them to a cloth she wound over the stings. She rocked him to sleep.

Elias uncovered his leg and shook his head. “That isn’t a bee sting.

Looks to me more like a snake bite. He took out his knife.

“What are you going to do, Elias?”

“I’m going to cut into the bite and suck out the venom. I saw my father do that to me one time, and I never forgot it.”

“But what if it isn’t a snake bite.”

“What if it is. Now, hold Jacob’s leg. And don’t let him move it no matter how much he cries.” He drew the blade of his knife and stuck it into the wound. Jacob woke with a loud shriek. He tried to move his leg, but his mother held it tight. Elias moved the blade inside the wound and made it bigger. He then put his head down and sucked out what looked like blood and something white. Elias spat it out of his mouth and sucked Jacob’s leg again. He did this three more times before stopping.

“Get a cloth and bandage and wrap up his leg and give him something to help him sleep. When he wakes up, we’ll know for sure.”

***

The doctor at the next town removed the bandage carefully and looked at the wound. It had begun to fester. He nodded his head. “It’s a snake bite, alright. Probably by a Copper Head. He washed the wound and added a special powder over the wound before bandaging him again.

Elias and Addison made a seat with their hands and carried him out of the doctor’s office and into the cart. He went to sleep and never woke up until they were on the road again. They stopped when it grew dark.

The road was more travelled now and less chance of someone trying to rob them. Addison still sat outside against the cart and watched the road until his eyes grew heavy. There was no moon that night and little chance they would be spotted from the road.

After breakfast, they were on the road again. Addison snapped the reins, and Young Rob led them onto the road. Elias, who was in the driver’s seat with Addison, spread out a map Osiah had given him when they met for the last time. “We turn North at Melville. It will take us to Huntington, where we will board a boat that will take us away from this place forever.”

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called up to Elias, who stopped the cart and jumped down. Addison followed him. Elias carried him out of the cart and laid him on the grass beside the road. He rubbed his face and felt his hands, which also felt hot. He sat down, cradled him in his arms and rocked him. Dear Lord, what have I done to my son?

Addison found some twigs and lit a fire. Electa took a pan and filled it with water in one of the buckets. Addison took off his doublet so that Jacob could lie on it. His mother dipped one of her cloths in the water and wrung it out before placing it over his face. She then took another cloth from the pan and wrapped it around his hands.

When she replaced the cloth on his face, she saw his eyes open, and she smiled. He will live, she thought, and replaced the cloth in the pan and wrung out a new cloth, which she placed on his face. A minute later, Jacob reached up, took the cloth off his face, and looked up at her. Addison reheated the soup from the night before, brought in a full mug, and had him sip on it. He started to choke on it and coughed hard.

Elias looked at his arm. It had swollen over the night, and he unwrapped it. His arm had turned purple. There was still venom in his wound, he felt. He got his knife ready. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I have to cut you again. Cry all you want. If I don’t, it will only get worse. A lot worse.”

He dipped his knife in the boiling water and sat down next to him. ”Hold his arm real tight. This will hurt even more than I did this the first time.” He guided Electa’s hand to guide Jacob’s arm over his legs. He bent down and slit the wound again. A dark liquid spilled from Jacob’s arm. He moved his knife around the wound, releasing an even darker liquid. Jacob screeched so strong you could hear it a mile away. Elias nodded to Electa, who rose and went to the pan with the boiled water and dipped another rag into it. She brought it back and gently washed his wound.

Jacob fell asleep after that. Elias and Addison lifted Jacob onto the cart and returned to the driver’s seat. They were on the road again, travelling at a good speed. It was as though Young Rob knew something was wrong and was running for help.

They didn’t stop for tea but kept going, eating sandwiches and washing them down with water. Addison opened the flap. “Is he still sleeping?”

Electa nodded and smiled again. Her boy would not die. And that was all that mattered now.

About an hour later, they reached Melville and turned north. They were on the way. Huntington was in reach. About five miles up the road, there was a sharp turn with four British soldiers in red uniforms aiming their muskets at them. Elias waved to them.

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“Declare yourself,” said one of the soldiers who had stepped towards them.

“We are on our way to Huntington,” said Elias with a wide smile.” I have a sick boy who was bitten by a snake yesterday and who needs attention.”

“You’ll find an encampment about two miles from here with others heading for Huntington. There’s a doctor with them. He’ll see to your boy.

There’s also a troop of soldiers guarding your way to Huntington.”

Elias snapped the reins a couple of times, and Young Rob could sense he needed to pick up speed. Within 20 minutes, they saw an encampment of carriages and carts like their own on the left side of the road, with two British soldiers guarding the entrance.”

“We are bound for Huntington with a sick lad aboard,” Elias shouted.

There was a road through the middle of the encampment, and Elias guided Young Rob to a vacant spot near the centre. Addison jumped off the driver’s seat and unhooked Young Rob from the cart.

That night, Electa thought, they would sleep out in the open. The sun was warm, and there would be no moon. Elias alit as well and walked over to the carriage next to them. He stuck out his hand to a well-dressed man.

“My name is Elias Wright.”

“I’m Fyler Dibblee from Stanford. I’m an attorney-at-law. I am accompanied by my wife, three children and two servants. Where have you come from?”

“Massachusetts. I’m with my wife and my young son, Jacob. We are farmers. My older son is returning to look after our farm, which has been in our family for three generations. I was sorry to leave it.”

“I think most of us are,” said Dibblee.

“My young son, Jacob, is very ill with a snake bite. The guards told me there was a doctor among our group.”

“There is. The doctor is old now and does not practise, I understand.

You’ll find his carriage three rows directly behind us.”

Elias waved to Electa to join him. “This is my wife, Electa,” he said.

Dibble’s wife stuck her head out of the carriage.

“This is my good wife,” said Dibblee. “Our children are off playing with some of the other youngsters. If you ever need my help, count on me.

In the meantime, please join me in my evening libation.”

“If I may join you tomorrow, I would be greatly obliged, Mr. Dibblee.

I must see to my son before I do anything.”

They returned, and Addison and Elias made a seat of their hands and carried Jacob to a green-coloured carriage three rows directly behind Dib75

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blee. Electa led the way. She opened the flap of the tent and stuck her head in.

“I understand you’re a doctor, and my boy needs your help desperately.”

“I’m retired and not sure I can help him.” The doctor, who introduced himself as Amos Bardsley, looked through the flap to see Elias and Addison carrying a child. “What is wrong with him?”

“He was bitten by a snake.”

Dr. Bardsley cleared his table and had them lay Jacob on the table.

“We saw a doctor on the way, and I tried to remove a black fluid from his leg earlier.”

Dr. Bardsley examined Jacob’s leg. “What exactly did you do?” He had a thin, wrinkled face, faded grey eyes and stooped when he walked.

His hands shook as he talked to them.

“I used my knife to let out the black fluid and moved my knife around the wound to make sure I got all of it.”

“You just saved his leg.”

“It is infected. Badly and inflamed. I will mix a special salve and apply it to Jacob’s wound to reduce the swelling and the inflammation. I will make enough to give you repeated treatments until the inflammation subsides.

He left them, took down several bottles, searched for one in particular and mixed the contents with the contents of two others. It took him 20 minutes before applying it to Jacob’s leg and wound a cloth around it.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“M

y name is David Picket. I’m just two carts away from you. Hear you had a problem with your boy. Is there anything we can do to

help?”

“Hopefully, he’s on the mend. We took him to Dr. Bardsley, who mixed a salve and applied it to his leg, where a snake had bitten him.”

Electa stuck her head out of the cart. Elias introduced her to Picket, a young man in his late 20s with a fashionable brownish mustache and bright blue eyes. “Would you care to join us for some chicken? I’m just preparing to get supper ready. Please ask your wife and children to join us.”

He left and returned with his wife, who looked five years younger than him. “Dave told me about you and your son’s misfortune and your invitation to supper. My name is Emma. Don’t know if Dave told you I’m his sister and neither of us is married. I mention that because we’ve also brought along a few of things I’ve cooked, and I’m not good at it.”

Emma passed her a big bowl of salad of lettuce and radishes mixed with bits of fish. “You may not like the salad, but you’ll love the fish. The first time we ate it was in Boston on our way here. It isn’t Cod but a fish, like Cod, except it tastes better. We went to the market there and brought back a dozen, which we cured.”

Electa wasn’t used to someone talking without stopping to get her breath. Addison was making a fire for their tea and sat down next to his mother. “Emma, this is my older son, Addison.”

Addison blushed and got up to put another piece of wood on the fire and stopped to look in on Jacob.

“You know we’re all a bit early for the ship that will take us North,” said David. “To reach Huntington and to where the ship is moored, we understand it will take eight days or more.”

Addison returned and took a plate of Emma’s salad. Emma passed him a piece of the fish they had cured before starting their journey. He took 77

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a large forkful and smiled at her. For a brief second, he could feel her hand on his, and he blushed.

“You know he will not be going with us on the ship,” said her brother later. “So don’t get too attracted to him.”

They met purely by accident at a makeshift store that had sprung up at the encampment. She had just turned with her arms full of vegetables and newly baked bread when Addison nodded his head to her as she passed him in the lineup. “I’ll wait for you. We can chat together on the way back.”

Addison smiled and nodded again. He ordered a ham, three loaves of bread, and some fresh vegetables when his turn came. The price was double as it was at Melville. He packed everything in the basket his mother had given him. He looked up and saw her waiting just beyond the lineup.

“Thanks for waiting,” he said. “It’ll make the walk back all the quicker.” He smiled at her and took her basket from her arm as they started walking.”

“I understand that you are not going on the ship with us. We will miss your company.”

“And I will miss yours,” he blurted. The words came out before he knew it. “I have to go back. My father wants me to take over our farm so that they do not confiscate it. My sister and her husband are there now.”

“You’re going to miss a great adventure. First, there is being on a large ship in the company of like-minded people starting fresh. I understand families receive a large land grant, probably larger than your farm.”

“Our farm is quite large.”

Emma smiled. “I wish your father would change his mind.”

Addison shook his head. “When my father makes up his mind, right or wrong, he never changes it.”

“I change my mind all the time.”

“So does my sister, Tabitha.”

They both laughed. They walked along in silence when she slipped on the wet grass. Addison dropped their baskets, lifted her with both hands, and steadied her until she dropped her hands. Addison took up their baskets. There was something exchanged between them, something unspoken, something understood.

When they reached their carts, she took her basket from his hand.

They smiled at each other in a way they had not done so before.

***

A few days later, the encampment broke up. Jacob’s leg looked clear of any infection, and he was walking around the camp a day earlier, getting 78

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to know some of the boys his age. He came back excited and anxious to get moving again.

Their cart moved behind Dibblees and the Pickets. It was slow going until they reached the road and headed North.

Emma jumped off her carriage and ran back to them. “David would like male company.”

Elias looked at Addison and passed the reins over to him. Addison stopped the cart to let his father jump off and reach out and help Emma to the seat beside him.

“I hope you don’t mind female company,” she said, offering him a bite of her sandwich.

“I miss my sister, Tabitha.” Addison looked ahead to see David reach down and help his father onto the driver’s seat. Electa opened the flap and looked up at Emma. “I thought I heard your voice. If you get tired talking to him, tell him to stop and join me for tea.”

“Count on it,” said Emma with a giggle. Then, turning to Addison, “you men are all alike. When you have the reins in your hand, you ignore everything else. Talk to me about yourself. If you don’t, you’ll get an earful from me before my brother decides to tell you how terrible I am.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think you’re like Tabitha, and she is the best sister anyone could ever have.”

“Then, let me start. When I was 12, my parents sent me to a private school for young ladies. They had never succeeded, I am sorry to say. I like to play the flute. I have it with me. When you’re tired, I’ll play it for you. I know a number of pieces, like Greensleeves. “ “Are your parents living?”

Emma’s face saddened. “They’re in prison. A couple of American Whigs accused them of being British spies. They confiscated our property, and Dave and I were given a week to move out. My father is a doctor. I worked with him, helping patients who came to him and seeing how he cured them.

“No one should be treated this way. Is there any hope they will be released when this horrible war is over? I wish it were over and done with, one way or the other.”

He could see she was getting ready to cry and reached out for her hand. She rubbed her hand against his and tried to smile at him.

At lunchtime, all the carts stopped on the side of the road and made fires from twigs to make tea and have a sandwich. Electa sent Emma off to get her brother and Elias for lunch. They sat in a semi-circle on a grass patch. David had brought some bread and a small bottle of Brandy. Jacob 79

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got tired of hearing them gossip about the others and stood to look for playmates from other carts and carriages.

Emma took out her flute and started playing on it. All talking stopped at the same time. A minute later, they spotted a young man, carrying a violin, approach and sit down with them, joining Emma with the melody.

They could hear clapping from other carts in front and behind them when they finished.

Addison watched her walk away with her brother and the violin player. A few minutes later, they were on the road again. Jacob was sitting with another boy on a cart behind them, playing some game they had made up.

His father returned and took over the reins. The hills seemed to grow higher as they approached a new terrain. Addison felt tired and jumped down and entered the cart with his mother.

The carts and carriages stopped around six o’clock. The first thing Elias noticed was that families were getting together in groups. The noise level was also higher. Emma and her brother came to sit with Dibblees, the violin player, and his family. They put their food in the centre so that everyone could sample a bit from each family. Mrs. Dibblee sat next to Electa, a woman in her mid-40s with an oval face and blond hair with a few grey streaks and a smiling face. Elias and Addison entertained David while Emma and the violin player, named Andrew, were locked in a deep conversation. Addison could hear Emma laugh loudly at one of Andrew’s jokes. Addison looked away.

The next morning, the trek began an hour earlier. Dawn had broken as they followed the carts and carriages ahead of them. He could see a muddy bottom ahead from one of the heights and dreaded the thought their cart would become mired in it. When the first coach reached it, everything stopped. He could see four men trying to pull the carriage out of the mud.

Fyler Dibblee ordered his family and servants out of their carriage and had them walk around the mire and onto the other side of the road. When they saw David and Emma pull away from the muck, he could see them moving quickly away from the mud and disappearing up another hill. The Dibblees were next.

Elias slowed Young Rob down as they entered the mire. Addison, his mother and Jacob jumped off the cart and walked around the mud until they reached the other side. With a lighter cart, Young Rob ploughed his way through the mire and onto the road in a matter of minutes.

There were more hills to conquer. David and Emma arrived first, followed by the young man with the violin. They caught up with Dibblee about an hour later and could see a long line of carriages and carts ahead of 80

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them. No one stopped until supper time. They gathered around Dibblee’s carriage and shared their supper again. While they were eating, Addison stood up and left to see Young Rob, his black skin shining in the light of 60 or more campfires. Addison rubbed him down and went to pull grass from the meadow, where they had stopped for the night. He returned and fed Young Rob slowly, poured some water in one of the buckets, and let him drink until the bucket was empty.

It had grown dark, and he could see the others laughing and still eating from their fire. His mother had just set a new pan on the fire to make more hot water for their tea. He felt the presence of someone and turned. It was Emma, dressed in a skirt and a white blouse. She drew his face to hers and kissed him. They stood just looking at each other before heading back with the others.

Emma sat down next to him and wiggled her toes. He looked at her and smiled. Fyler Dibblee stood and excused himself and his family. “It’s getting late. I hear we’ll be starting at daybreak and not stopping until nightfall. I understand it will be the roughest part of the journey and smooth going thereafter. He nodded and climbed aboard his carriage. Emma and her brother left, along with the young man and his family. Addison noticed neither Emma nor her violin friend had brought their instruments for the first time.

***

Elias was up first. He built a fire and heated some water, taking the mirror from the back of the cart and began shaving. Addison could feel the black stubble on his face and decided to shave as well. It was still dark, and he moved the mirror close to the fire and used some soap his mother had made before gliding his razor over his cheeks and neck. He noticed that other campfires were burning when he returned to the cart, where he hitched Young Rob to the cart and fed him again.

His mother woke Jacob and made some sandwiches for them to eat on the way. A half-hour later, they were following Dibblee’s carriage down the road where they entered a heavy gravel road that slowed them down, passing a cart that had lost its wheel. The air was sweet with the smell of lilacs, and the sun even warmer than the day before.

Elias was humming a tune from his youth and guiding Young Rob over the worst parts of the road, keeping in the tracks of other wheels as much as he could. When he missed, their cart would lurch from one side to the other. Addison, who had to hold onto his seat to stop himself from falling off, could hear his mother sliding across the floor of the cart and back again.

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Just past noon, they passed five other carts on the side of the road, trying to repair their wheels. Addison took over, and found it increasingly hard to keep their cart in the tracks. His father could sense that the front right wheel was coming loose and told Addison to go to the side of the road. Elias jumped down and went into the cart, where he found his tools – a steel hammer and some wrenches – and taking them to the wheel. It took about an hour before they were on the road again, only now well behind the Dibblees.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

T

hey emerged from the thick gravel road just as the sun was setting.

They couldn’t spot the Dibblees or the Pickets and took the first spot they found. Elias and Addison found enough twigs and branches to light a good fire as Electa fried the last chicken and boiled carrots and small new potatoes for their supper.

They were parked alongside a green field and decided to sleep outside that night in the warm air. Elias found a large broken branch, cut it into pieces, and carefully placed it on fire.

“I miss our friends,” said Electa. “Such kind and good people. Mrs. Dibblee is very kind to Jacob. I see her sneak a piece of cake to him when she thinks no one is looking.”

They slept until the sun woke them. Elias looked at the sky. Not a cloud, just as beautiful light blue and a soft wind to warm their bones.

They ate a leisurely breakfast and got their cart ready, and Young Rob fed and harnessed. Elias took the reins and moved onto the road behind another small cart. Two young boys were dangling their legs over the edge of cart. Jacob, who sat with Addison and his father upfront, waved to them.

About four miles out, he spotted Dibblee’s carriage and pointed it to his father, who stopped their cart to let Dibblee’s carriage get in line as well as the carriage in front of them.

One of Dibblee’s sons was driving their horses. Dibblee, who was seated next to him, waved to them. “The Pickets and my wife and I missed your wife’s cooking. Tell her we’re expecting a feast tonight,” he yelled 82

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back to them.

Elias smiled, and he and Jacob waved at them. Addison told his father to stop their cart. He jumped down and climbed aboard the Dibblee’s carriage next to Dibblee. Addison took over the reins and caught up with them a few seconds later.

In the afternoon, Addison stopped his cart when he saw Emma, holding her skirt and running towards them. He reached down and pulled her up to sit beside him.

“Dave is all by himself,” she said to Jacob, who jumped down and ran past the Dibblee’s carriage. Dave could hear him running and stopped his carriage. He reached down and sat Jacob beside him.

“Emma said you wanted someone to talk to,” said Jacob. “I think she didn’t want me there.”

Dave laughed. “You’re a very observant young man, Jacob. Do you think I wanted you to leave as well?”

Jacob shook his head Dave smiled again. He would be a great companion, after all. “How is your leg now?”

“Getting better and better. I could get off the carriage and run faster than your two horses are going.”

“They could, too,” said Dave, patting him on the back. “But we’re in a line of carts and can go only as fast as they go.”

Jacob cocked his head. “Are you married, Dave?”

Dave shook his head. “Haven’t found the right woman yet.”

“What about Emma?”

“She’s not married either. She’s been courted by a few young men, but she didn’t fancy any of them.”

“I think she likes Addison.”

“Does he like her?”

“If he is, he would not tell me, but his face is not happy when he sees your sister with the violin player.”

Dave laughed. “You’re a wonder, Jacob, and a great companion.” He offered Jacob a sandwich with a smile. “I have another one if you’re still hungry.”

They talked the rest of the day about their boat ride and their new home. “I hope we’re neighbours,” said Jacob.

“Somehow, I think that may be the case,” said Dave.

Jacob turned when he heard someone running towards them. It was Emma. He nudged Dave to stop the carriage, who opened the carriage door and disappeared. “Jacob’s mother wants him back.”

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Jacob climbed down slowly and disappeared behind Dibblee’s carriage. Addison could see him running to them and stopped the carriage.

Jacob climbed aboard the cart, where his mother was peeling potatoes and cutting thick slices of ham.

“Did you enjoy your visit with Dave?”

Jacob nodded. “They have a grand carriage. You hardly felt the bumps in the road. We talked about Emma and Addison. I think they like each other. Dave didn’t say, but I think he does, too, especially I told him they seemed happy he wanted me to drive with him.”

Electa reached out and rubbed his hair. “You’re a wonderful boy, Jacob. But keep what you just told me to yourself and me. It might ruin everything for them.”

At supper time, they got together again. The violin player and his mother had gone ahead and didn’t wait for them. Addison and Emma sat together for the first time. Dibblee’s wife nudged her husband, who smiled back at her. Emma had brought her flute and placed it beside Addison. She had cooked the fish she liked. It was very big and would feed 20 people and her salad and some sweets.

Dibblee’s wife had a large platter of chicken, two pans of potatoes and fresh, raw carrots. They sampled every dish laid out on a tablecloth provided by Mrs. Dibblee.

Electa boiled more water for their tea. In a sidelong glance, Electa saw Addison add a piece of ham to Emma’s plate and smiled knowingly at Elias, who wasn’t sure what she was smiling about.

“What’s the road ahead, Mr. Dibblee?” said Dave.

“We should be on the outskirts of Huntington if my calculations are correct.”

“I hope it is not the end of our suppers,” said Mrs. Dibblee.

“Neither do I.” “And when we do reach Huntington, I hope you all will be our guests at a hotel dining room,” said Fyler Dibblee. “In the meantime, I see that you have brought your flute, Emma. Would you favour us with one of your melodies?”

Emma put the flute to her mouth and played two haunting melodies.

Mrs. Dibblee dabbed her eyes. Her husband whispered to Emma. “It’s her favourite song.”

She played a couple more songs after that before putting her flute in her food basket.

Dave got up. “When do we leave in the morrow, Mr. Dibblee?”

“Around nine, so I hear,” he said, grabbing the wheel of his carriage 84

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and rising to his feet.

Electa packed the rest of the ham and helped Elias to his feet. She then led him back to their cart. Elias tired quickly now, and E;ecta worried what would happen to them if he lost his strength.

Addison looked at Emma and smiled at her. “I hope you will sleep well this night.” He grabbed Jacob and led him to their cart. The night was warm, and they decided to sleep out on the grass again. Electa laid two blankets on the grass, and they wrapped themselves in them and said good night.

***

Electa rose first and added two new branches to the fire to boil water for their tea. She waved to Dibblee’s wife and returned to cook oatmeal for their breakfast. Addison took some water, lathered his face, set up the mirror, and sharpened his razor before shaving. He rinsed his face with cold water and put on his shirt and doublet. Addison was already warm, and he unbuttoned his doublet’s first two top buttons. He hitched Young Rob to the cart and found him an armful of grass to munch on, wondering if he would like apples the way Old Rob did.

His father and Jacob woke a short time later and emerged from their blankets, ready for the day. Elias rubbed his eyes and took a mug of tea from Electa’s outstretched hand. Elias told her that she had already brushed her hair and looked five years younger as he sipped on the tea. Jacob finished one bowl of oatmeal and was ready for another helping.

“Today’s the big day when we enter Huntington and search out our ship,” he said, munching on the toast Electa had made for him, using a wire container with its long wire handle. It could toast two slices of bread over the ashes of the fire. It was one of the things she insisted on taking from their home. It would remind her of the old farm. Her mother gave it to her when she was married. She could still see her mother’s hands on it when she touched the handle. She laid it down as a wave of loneliness swept over her. She wanted to cry but knew it would only upset everyone.

She wanted to be back on the farm and look out the window at their cows in the pasture.

Elias sensed she was troubled and put his arms around her. “Our lives will soon change for the better. Perhaps Addison will find a way to bring some more things from the farm to us when we’ve settled down.”

They drove into Huntington late that afternoon. People on the street waved to them and cheered them as they turned into a large field, just beyond the outskirts, where they could park their carts and coaches. Elias followed Dibblee, who seemed to know the way. So did the Pickets. Emma 85

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waved to them as they parked next to them, with the Dibblees on the other side.

Fyler Dibblee jumped down from his coach and waited for Elias and David to join him as he entered the hotel’s lobby across the street. “My friends and I and our families are looking for four rooms. We are on our way to board a ship at Huntington Bay. Do you know if it has arrived?”

The older man behind the desk wore a green peak on his cap. He had a white toothbrush mustache and had deep blue eyes that searched you up and down. A large picture of the King hung against the wall behind him.“The ship arrived yesterday. They’re expecting you. Some of the others have arrived. I have only two rooms left. We can add a couple more cots to each room. I’m sorry, that’s all we have left.”

“We’ll take them,” said Dibblee in an authoritative voice. He looked at Dave and Elias. “I’ll pay for you both. After you’ve had time to wash and dress, meet my family and me in the dining room.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mr. Dibblee,” said Elias.

“London has put me in a position to look after good people making the journey to the North with me. Let us meet in an hour. He looked at the clock behind the clerk. It was just after five o’clock.

Two young men took their bags and their clothes to their rooms. “I guess we’ll be sleeping with you and your family,” said Dave, turning to smile at Emma.

Electa surveyed the room. It was the largest she had ever seen. She sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the two young men who finished placing their bags in the middle of the room. “We will need three cots.” She looked at Elias. Emma will sleep with me. The rest of you will sleep on the cots. Emma and Electa shared the toilet and took along with their bags to wash and get ready for supper. Electa also chose her dark blue petticoat and a white blouse, and Emma, a grey tartan skirt with a white shirt with a grey jacket with short sleeves.

The men went in one at a time to wash and comb their hair. Addison accompanied Jacob, sat on the flush, and pulled the cord from the tank above. He then made him wash his legs and face and comb his hair.

Elias led the way out, followed by Electa and Emma, with Dave and Addison holding Jacob’s arm. The Dibblees were waiting for them outside the dining room and led the way in with a man dressed in dark breeches and a black doublet with a white shirt, who seated them one by one. A waitress approached them with a tray of butter. Electa had never seen so many forks at the edge of her plate. She elbowed Elias, who just shrugged.

The waiter, also dressed in a black doublet and white shirt, placed a large 86

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tray on the empty table next to them and began placing a bowl brimming with clams on the table. It was followed by a silver tray with bread.

Electa wasn’t sure how to eat the clams and watched Mrs. Dibblee use her fork to open the shell and extract the clam. Emma smiled at her and slowly showed her how to open the shell.

Next came a roast of beef, which their waiter cut them slices and added them to their plates, followed by baked potatoes and yellow string beans.

Emma slowly raised her fork and knife and proceeded to cut the roast beef.

A waitress came by and sour cream and chives to their potatoes. Their waiter added the finishing touch with horseradish.

A small string orchestra set up and started playing a waltz. Several couples rose and started dancing, while Electa watched with fascination and looked at Elias longingly. She knew he did not know who to waltz and did not want to embarrass him. Addison pushed back his chair and asked his mother to dance. She stumbled a bit at first but got the swing of it quickly enough. She and Addison clapped at the end and retired to their table.

This was followed by another popular waltz. Emma looked at him, and he rose and asked her to join him. He led her to the dance floor. He could feel the electricity in her hands as they swept around the room.

“They make a great couple,” said Electa.

David smiled and watched his sister lay her head on Addison’s shoulder. They seemed to dance as though they were made for each other. He thought that that was a new twist and had to agree with Addison’s mother.

They remained on the dance floor for the next waltz. Addison rubbed her back and seemed to hold her closer. Both their faces were flushed as they retired to their table. Emma took out her handkerchief and dabbed her forehead.

Not a word passed between them, yet they both knew they were closer now than before. Addison glanced at her once or twice, and she smiled back. Dibblee and his wife also rose when the orchestra started playing again. David sat back and kept nodding at Jacob, who sat next to him.

By nine o’clock, Tyler Dibblee confessed he was tired and raised his hands for his children to rise with his wife and say good night. “We leave for Huntington Bay at 10 in the morning.”

“What should we do about our carts and coaches overnight?” said David.

“British soldiers are guarding our coaches and carts. All your belongings will be safe.”

Addison excused himself and went to check on their cart. It was dark and took him longer than he thought to find their wagon. He climbed 87

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aboard and felt around in the darkness for McAlpine’s letter in his mother’s Bible. Everything seemed turned around somehow. A British soldier stopped him before he found it. He found the Bible, took off his shoe, and inserted McAlpine’s document in it.

When he pushed away the flap, another soldier was pointing a musket at his chest. “What are you here for?”

The soldier held up his lantern to his face. “What for exactly?”

“My mother’s Bible.”

“Then let me help you.” The soldier held his lantern inside their cart.

Go ahead. Look for it.”

Addison looked in all the places first and sat back. He then searched among the apples they bought along the way. He passed to the soldier, who opened it, and l looked at almost every page.

“My mother likes to read the Bible before going to sleep.”

Addison picked up the Bible from the soldier, who had examined it, even reading her mother’s dedication. He passed the Bible back to him, “Can you find your way back?”

“I think so,”

***

Young Rob stamped the ground with his right hoof and snorted as Elias snapped the reins. He followed Dibblee’s coach out to the road and headed on the last lap of their journey. The road was busy, and the progress, maddening slow. Dibblee’s coach came to a stop. Young Rob reared his head and snorted again. One of Dibblee’s sons jumped off his father’s coach.

“A group of American Whigs attacked the vanguard of British soldiers and killed several people in their coaches before disappearing into the forest. Our soldiers killed a number of them. My father thinks they’ll be on their way again soon,” said Dibblee.

“Stay a bit and chat with Jacob a bit before you go back,” said Addison, jumping Down and disappearing into his coach. He returned with a game for them to play and Addison could hear them rolling the dice and laughing.

Dibblee’s coach started, and they were on their way again. A few minutes later, they slowed down. Several carts and coaches were on the side of the road, with a British soldier standing beside them and waving the others on.

Addison looked down and saw both the boys’ faces looking at the coaches as they passed slowly by. “Stay inside,” Addison shouted down to them, “and stay inside until we reach Huntington Bay.” They reached Huntington Bay about an hour later. It was small com88

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pared with Huntington but quiet with a lot more British soldiers, who guided them through town and to the port.

“We’re in Huntington Bay, boys. We should see our ship pretty soon,” said Addison as they turned a corner. Up ahead, he could see carts and coaches unloading their possessions in a large net, which lifted them to the hold for packing. It was stop and go the rest of the way. About an hour later, the ship was in plain view. It was longer than Addison had ever imagined, with a series of portholes on the side and people being greeted by an officer in a navy blue uniform with a long light brown mustache that curled around his nose.

Electa and Jacob got out of the cart when it was their turn as Addison brought Young Rob to a standstill. He and his father jumped down and started to put their belongings beside them.

“Be careful of my dishes,” said Electa, who took them out herself. Jacob was dancing around their cart and waving to the officer at the end of the gangplank. The officer smiled and waved back before saluting Dibblee and his wife, followed by their children and their two servants. The Dibblees waved to them before disappearing to their cabin.

The net for their belongings dropped in front of them. Elias and Addison put their bags, pots and pans, buckets and Electa’s cabinet in it. She decided to carry her dishes aboard herself.

They shook hands with the officer as they boarded the boat. He smiled at Jacob and rubbed Jacob’s hair. Jacob squirmed and moved away, which set the officer laughing. They followed a sailor to their cabin, which looked out onto the water.

“Dinner is served in the dining room, starting at five o’clock. We have over 200 passengers aboard, so there are two settings. One at five and the other at seven. Which would you prefer?”

“When are the Pickets and Dibblees be having their meal?” said Electa.

“At seven.”

“Mark us down for seven as well,” said Addison.

“One thing before you go, my older son, Addison, will be leaving the ship in the morning.”

“I need to check on Young Rob and find a stable where he can stay overnight.” Addison left them and headed for the gangway. “I need to see to our horse,” he said to the officer who greeted them. I’ll be back as soon as I find a place for him.”

The officer stroked his mustache. “If you do not have a stable now, there is one just one block away. They’re good people there, and they love horses.”

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Addison headed down the gangway and onto the pier, where Young Rob was waiting for him. He snorted as soon as he saw Addison. He boarded their cart and drove him to the stable.

It was as though the owner was waiting for him. “How long will your horse be with us?”

“I’ll be coming back for him before the ship leaves port.”

“It’ll cost two shillings,” said the owner, an older man, who liked to spit from time to time, rubbing his mouth with a stained white handkerchief. He held out his hand. “That includes feed tonight and in the morning.”

He dreaded leaving his family. And then there was Emma. That would be harder than he imagined. Addison knew he would talk with her before the boat left that he had to appear hapy, especially with his mother, who dreaded their parting more than he did. Leaving Tabitha was hard enough.

He shook his head and walked up the gangplank.

His mother opened the door and hugged him as though she didn’t want to let go. His father rubbed his back. There were tears welling in Elias’s eyes, and he wiped them with his sleeve. Only Jacob appeared normal.

Emma sat on the edge of the bed, breathing hard and holding out her hand to him. She looked away and started to cry. She turned to Elias.

“Can’t he go with us?”

“He has to stay at our farm. I have great fears that if he is not there, the American Whigs will confiscate it, and it will end up in one of their pockets. Once they know he’s there and has no intention of leaving, the farm can legally be passed to my daughter. He can come to see us and stay if he has a mind to. I’m sorry, too, Emma. But I must think about the future as well.”

“Then I do not want to leave,” she blurted.

Her brother held her close. “If we don’t go, we could very well end up in prison or executed. I’d rather not go either, but we must create a place for our parents should they be released. The Bartons know where we’re going and will let them know.” He dried her eyes and helped her rise from the bed. Someone with a gong passed their door.

Elias looked out and saw others passing their door. “I guess it’s how they call us for supper.”

The Dibblees passed their door, and they fell in behind them. The dining room was on the upper floor. They climbed the stairs slowly and followed the others into the room. A steward met them at the door and asked for their cabin number. “Table 24. It’s to the left,” he said, pointing in the 90

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direction of the Dibblees.

Fyler ordered wine for them and filled each of their glasses. He raised his glass. “I should like to toast our well-being and that we all find happiness in our new homeland. Electa took a sip of the wine and poured the rest into Elias’s glass. Addison rolled the wine around in his mouth and raised his glass. “I would like to raise my glass to all the dear people I will miss dreadfully. I do not look forward to leaving here tomorrow. I have every hope we shall all meet again under happier circumstances.”

They drank four bottles by the end of their dinner and returned to their cabins in a happier mood. Electa slept in the bottom bunk and Emma in the top bunk. Elias slept on the bottom bunk on the other side of the room and Addison on the bottom. Jacob and David slept on bunks on the floor. Both his mother and Emma were wearing heavy white bed dresses, with their hair tied in a knot at the back of their heads. Addison blew out the candle and closed his eyes. Sleep did not come easily.

He raised his head to find Emma looking at him in the darkness. “I can’t sleep,” she whispered.

“Neither can I.” “But you must. You have a long road ahead of you tomorrow and many days later. I will think of you every day and pray that no evil befalls you.”

“Thank you.”

“Wait for me, Addison. I will wait for you. Give me your promise you’ll wait for me no matter what.”

“I will wait for you. My mother thinks it’s our destiny.”

***

Addison woke with a start. He wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but he felt wide awake. He rose from bed and looked at himself in the mirror. He needed a shave. His hand was unsteady, and he cut himself in two places and used his father’s aluminum stick to stop the bleeding. The others were sleeping, and his father turned over and started snoring. He went into the toilet, took off his shirt, washed all over, and then shaved. He combed his hair and smiled at himself.

When he emerged, he found his mother waiting to enter. He looked at her bed. Emma was still sleeping. So was his father. David stirred and opened his eyes. “Is it morning already? I feel that I just closed my eyes a few minutes ago.” He turned and threw off the covers and sat on the edge of his bed. He looked somehow taller in his bed shirt. He stretched out his arms and yawned. “I see you’re ready to leave us.”

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“Your ship will leave port around 11 o’clock, according to Mr. Dibblee. I plan to leave just before then.”

Their talking woke up his father. “Did I hear that we are leaving port?“ “I hear they will also be taking on more passengers,” said David.

Dawn was breaking, and he looked out the porthole to see a scarlet sky and the black images of buildings along the shoreline. ”We must have close to 200 people already.”

Addison and his father went upstairs to see more carts and coaches lined up at the pier. “I wish you were going with us. Give our love to Tabitha and Charlotte, and don’t let your guard down at any time on your way back. It would kill your mother if she learned you had died.” He put his arm around Addison and held him close.

They returned to their cabin to see Electa brush Emma’s hair and Jacob chatting up David. “Those two seem to have a special bond,” said Elias.

They heard someone walking past their door, beating on a saucepan and the sound of doors opening and closing. Jacob opened the door and disappeared into the lineup. Elias and Electa led Emma and Addison out the door. They caught up with Jacob, talking non-stop to David, who never lost his smile.

Electa gave their names at the entrance, asked for Mr. Dibblee’s table, and were taken to the table they had before. Their waiter spotted the Dibblees and went to escort them to the table. Dibblee smiled and rubbed his hands and joined them a minute later.

“I don’t know about you,” he said to Elias, “but I’m starving. Sea air always makes me hungry.” He looked up at the waiter. What’s on the menu?”

“Pancakes, baked beans, eggs and ham.”

Fyler Dibblee rubbed his hands again. “I’ll have everything on the menu. What about the rest of you?”

Jacob also ordered everything, and so did David, who elbowed Jacob and laughed. Electa and Electa settled for eggs and bacon. So did Emma and Addison. “He’ll also have pancakes,” she said to the waiter nodding at Addison. “You’ve got a lot of riding ahead of you.”

They stayed in the dining room until well past ten o’clock when Addison stood. “I see the time has come for me to take my leave.”

Electa hugged him for almost five minutes.

“Where’s Addison going?” said Jacob.

“Back to the farm and look after the chickens and cows,” said Electa, who was starting to cry. She hugged Addison again.

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had already picked it up and passed it to him. “I’ve taken a pair of your socks to keep me warm on cold nights,” she said, trying to laugh. She rose and stood beside him. “I’ll accompany you to the deck.”

Dibblee also stood. “So should we all.” He lifted his arm as a signal for his wife and children and servants. Addison led the way to the deck, where he helped his mother and father out the door. They all gathered around him and hugged him. Mr. Dibblee shook his hand and patted him on the back. His father embraced him tightly, and Emma motioned him to join her at the gangplank entrance. She passed him a small paper bag. “It’s a lock of my hair. Every time you miss me, take it out and rub it to your face.”

They hugged, and he kissed her for a full minute before breaking away.

He kissed her again, picked up his bag, walked down the gangplank, and walked among the crowd until he found an opening and stood on the dock and waved to them. They could see the lineup of people lining up and getting ready to come aboard.

He stayed there until the gangplank was lifted. The ropes tying the ship to the pier were hauled aboard a few minutes later. Smoke rose from the chimney of the ship’s lone funnel. The ship moved away slowly from the dock, and a few minutes they were in the bay and heading to sea.

They stayed on deck until they could no longer see him and returned to their cabin, except for Jacob and David, along with Dibblees’ sons, who decided they wanted to see check out the ship from stem to stern.

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A

ddison walked to the stable. He looked at the ground all the way, feeling sorry for himself. When the man at the stable saw him coming, he went inside and brought out Young Rob. Addison could see that his horse had been brushed down and smiled at the stable keeper, who passed him the reins.

“Thank you for looking after my horse. I can see Young Rob likes you.”

He shook his hand and turned to lead Young Rob away. The stable keeper spat on the ground and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “Do you plan to hitch him to your cart?”

Addison turned. “Why do you ask?”

“If you plan to ride him back, I’ve got a saddle here you might be interested in. If you have a mind, I’d be prepared to trade my saddle for your cart.”

“Tell you what. Your saddle and 12 shillings for my cart, which is worth more than that.”

The stable keeper went to have another look inside at the cart and walked around it a couple of times. When he returned to Addison, he looked him in the eye. “Six shillings and the saddle, and it’s a deal.”

Addison nodded, and the stable keeper walked inside and returned, carrying the saddle. He laid it on Young Rob’s back and tied it tight. He turned and started back to the stable.

“I’m not leaving without the money. Either that, I hitch up Young Rob, and I’m out of your hair.”

The stable keeper returned. He held out three shillings.

Addison took the money and put it in his pocket. “Now, the other three.”

“I’ve only got one more shilling.” He reached in his other pocket.

“That’s all I have.”

Addison smiled and shook his hand. The stable keeper looked at the 94

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cart with a smile and headed back to the stable. Addison put his foot in the stirrup and mounted Young Rob. The stable keeper turned at his door and waved to him, shouting, “Good luck and a safe journey.”

Addison waved back and headed back to Huntington. Without the cart, he reached Huntington before supper time and stopped at the outskirts at a store to buy bread and some chicken legs. Addison ate one of the chicken legs, took a mouthful of bread and headed back onto the road. The saddle included a canteen, which he filled at a nearby fountain.

By nightfall, he was a good 20 miles from Huntington. He led Young Rob under a large tree and sat on the ground with his back against the tree, where he slept a good part of the night. When he opened his eyes, he slowly got to his feet, led Young Rob into the meadow, and let him chew the grass for an hour. There was a small spring nearby where he got his feet wet and let Young Rob drink his fill. Dawn was breaking with a yellow streak first and then the bright red of the sun on the horizon.

He returned to his sleeping spot and munched on some bread and another chicken leg. He returned to the stream, filled his canteen again, and washed his face. He could feel the hard stubble on his face and dried his face with the arm of his doublet. He then returned and led Young Rob to the road and climbed aboard him. His horse snorted, and with the flick of his reins, he was galloping down the road, slowing down only when he was breathing hard. There was no one on the road until mid-morning.

Addison travelled twice the speed than when Young Rob was attached to the cart. He rode through Willington and stopped at the outskirts to rest Young Rob and let him graze on the new grass. He took a short nap and fed himself with the rest of the chicken and bread. He then rode at a leisurely pace for an hour or so. He reached the top of one of the hills they faced on their way and saw at a distance some men with an abandoned cart and some logs blocking the way.

As he grew closer, he could see that two men had muskets. He suddenly realized he had left his musket in the cart. He looked for a detour off the road but saw it was forested on both sides. He had only one option. Young Rob had to jump over the logs and race with the devil behind him up the road. He started to pick up speed, and about 50 yards from the roadblock, he snapped the reins. Young Rob snorted and ran at a pace he had never run before. The men at the blockage moved away and aimed their muskets at him. Addison was unsure how to get his horse to jump over the logs.

Young Rob raised his hoofs as they reached the logs and easily jumped over them, landing on all his feet. He seemed to sense the danger and ran at an incredible speed up the next hill. Addison could hear the sounds of 95

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their muskets and bent his head and body as much as he could and kept riding. He could hear his horse breathing hard and frothing at his mouth as he ran at breakneck speed up the hill. At the top, he stopped and looked back at the men. He was too far away for their muskets to reach him now.

He got off his horse and held his head, feeding him water from his hands and rubbing his head until Young Rob closed his eyes.

They stayed there about 30 minutes before riding down the hill and onto a level area, where the going was easy again. They picked up their speed, reaching Sturbridge, where he found a stable for Young Rob and a hotel nearby. When he woke in the morning, he ate breakfast in the hotel’s dining room. He could see the front desk from where he was sitting and noted that the desk clerk talked to two men and pointed in his direction.

The two men came directly to his table and sat down on both sides of him.

“May I be of any assistance, gentlemen?”

“There’s talk about a British spy coming our way. You look like one.

You needn’t finish your breakfast. And don’t try to deny it. You look exactly how they described you.”

“If you wait a minute, I can prove to you I am a member of the Patriots.”Addison took off his shoe and produced the document McAlpine had written. The second one crunched it up and threw it on the floor. “Now, get on your feet.”

Addison rose. They grabbed his arms, one on each side of him and marched him out of the hotel. “I assume,” said the gruff one, “you came here on a horse. We will get on our mounts and lead you out of the stable.

I’ll go first, and you will follow me, and Dan will follow you. If you try to escape, you’ll be a dead man before you get 50 feet from us.”

Addison bent down and whispered in Young Rob’s ear. He snorted and reared his head. Addison rubbed his head and coaxed him to a slower pace until they came in a bend of the road. Then, without warning, Young Rob came alongside the man in front and lifted his legs. Young Rob’s hooves threatened to hit his head, and he fell off his horse. Young Rob started to run at whirlwind speed away, as though he were conscious of the danger behind them.

Addison glanced back to see the second man getting off his horse and aiming his musket at him. He turned Young Rob to the left as the bullet whizzed past him and then to the right and ran at top speed along the road.

Addison looked back just in time to see the second man riding back to his friend. Addison bent down and kissed Young Rob’s cheek.

They stopped some distance away, and he got off Young Rob and fed 96

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him water from his canteen. They walked for a mile or two before Addison got on his horse again and could see in the distance Worcester’s spires.

They went through the town slowly, stopping at a fountain where he let Young Rob drink and fill his canteen. They stopped at a store, where he bought some cheese and bread.

He spotted a barrel of apples. He looked up at the owner. “Where did these come from?”

“From the South. Their season is ahead of ours. They’re mighty expensive but fresh off the tree.”

I’ll take a bag of them and that cooked chicken I see behind you.”

“That’ll be six shillings.”

“Six shillings. I’m not asking to buy your store.”

“I told you the apples were expensive,” said the clerk, a young man, barely 20 years old. His brown eyes did not move when Addison stared at his face.

“What about five shillings?”

“My father was quite definite.”

“My horse is tired after a long ride and has nothing to eat.”

“Five and six. That’s the best I can do.”

Addison nodded. “I need you to pack everything in a bag I can attach to my saddle.”

Addison left the store smiling. It’ll be a special treat for Young Rob. That horse is one in a million, and he wouldn’t part with him for all the money in the colonies, he thought. He picked two apples and fed them to Young Rob before mounting Young Rob and trotting away slowly. As they passed the outskirts, he decided to sleep out again. If he stayed at a hotel, his pursuers would check every hotel along the way and would find him.

He decided not to stay at a hotel for the next two days. After that, they would likely give up, and at the rate he was going, he would reach his farm the next day, probably late the night.

They went on for a few more miles until the night set in. There was no moon. He stopped an hour after dark and spotted a path in a forest.

He rode down the path until he spotted a small clearing where Young Rob could munch on the grass.

Addison sat on the ground. It had rained earlier in the day, and the ground was wet. He cut some branches with his knife, laid them on the ground, and found some dry moss underneath the trees to make a bed for himself. A warm breeze from the South relaxed him as he laid out the cheese and chicken and bread in his lap. He ate a chicken leg first, then some cheese and ended up with an apple, which tasted sweeter than he 97

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remembered. He lay back against a trunk and slept the night through.

The sun was already up as he fed another two apples to Young Rob. Addison fastened the saddle to him, and they emerged from the path and onto the road and headed homeward. They set out at a leisurely pace. It was nearing noon when the landscape seemed to become familiar.

The sun was below the horizon when he passed through a small village and headed North. It started to rain, just drops for a mile or two and then a blinding rain from out of nowhere. His clothes were soaked. His shirt and doublet stuck to his back and the sides of his breeches.

When the rain stopped, he tried to light a fire to dry his shirt and doublet, but the grass and twigs were too wet. He led Young Rob down the road to a thick clump of trees and felt beneath the Evergreens for any dry grass. He pulled out a few handfuls, put them in a small pile, and then looked for twigs under the shade of other trees. He lit the grass, and when it flamed, piled the twigs on top. He looked for some fallen branches and broke them into small pieces before stacking them on the burning twigs.

They quickly dried out, and he found two thicker branches. He took off his doublet and shirt and stuck them to the branches, lifting them over the fire to dry his shirt.

He led Young Rob, shaking the rain off his body, near the fire to help him get warm. He searched into his bag, fed him two apples, and donned his shirt and doublet.

The sun emerged from the clouds and warmed them both. Young Rob snorted and lifted his shoulders to gather in the warmth. Addison removed the saddle wiped off Young Rob’s back and his saddle dry as he turned it over and over until it felt warm and dry. He then put it on Young Rob, fastened it tight, and led him to the side of the road where the grass was fresh and green.

He felt warm all over and touched his head without thinking. It also felt warm.

When Young Rob raised his head, Addison mounted him and started down the road. They travelled at a quick pace until they reached the outskirts of his village. He stopped to let his horse drink water at the fountain and long enough for him to eat some cheese and give his horse another apple.

Amasa Currie spotted him and walked to him. “So you’re back with us again.”

“And glad to be back.”

“We’ve missed you at our drills. McAlpine will be happy to hear the news.” He reached out and felt Addison’s forehead. You’re burning up. I’d 98

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say you’d better get to your home as fast as your horse can carry you.”

He helped Addison up and handed him the reins. “Good luck, Addison.” He slapped Young Rob’s flanks and sent him running down the road at a quick pace. Addison felt dizzy and tied the reins to his saddle and right hand to help him stay aboard. He bent and laid his head on Young Rob’s neck and closed his eyes.

He passed Sherwoods’ home and looked up. A few minutes later, Young Rob quietly stopped.

Tabitha was playing with Charlotte and looked up. “Did I hear the sound of a horse entering our yard?”

Anthony looked out the window. “I heard something, but it’s too dark to see if anyone is there.”

“It may be none of those Whigs attacking our hen coop or something worse.

He lit a lantern and stepped out into the yard. “Who’s there?”

He shone his light closer to see a horse and a man fall to the ground.

He put the lantern beside the man’s face. It was Addison. He moved him away from the horse. Addison opened his eyes, saw Anthony’s face and smiled. “Look after Young Rob first. I owe my life to him.”

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T

abitha helped Anthony carry him upstairs to his old bedroom. Anthony undressed him, and they laid him on his bed. Addison coughed and coughed and had trouble breathing. Tabitha got a basin of cold water and put a cold-soaked cloth over her forehead.

“He’s having a hard time catching his breath. “I am going to get my father. He knows what to do in situations like this.” Anthony raced downstairs and rode his horse without a saddle to his father’s home. He attached his horse to the knob of the door and entered.

Silvanus was reading a newspaper and shaking his head. He looked up and saw the fear in Anthony’s eyes. “It’s Addison. He’s come back and fainted and having trouble breathing. We don’t know what to do.”

“You get back on your horse. I’ll get the cart out, and your mother and I will be there as fast as we can. Tell Tabitha help is on the way.”

When Anthony returned, he found Tabitha sitting on the edge of Addison’s bed and crying. “I think he’s died. He’s not breathing.”

Anthony put his ear to Addison’s mouth and nose. He rose after a minute. “He’s breathing but just barely. My father and mother will be here in a few minutes.” He touched Addison’s forehead. It felt less hot. “Keep your cold cloths coming. I think it helps.”

A few minutes later, Anthony could hear his father knocking at the door. It wasn’t his father but Alex McAlpine. “I hear Addison is in a bad way. I came to help.”

“Follow me,” said Anthony.

They went up the stairs two at a time. Anthony went in first. “He’s heard that Addison is sick and came to help. McAlpine came to the bed, felt 100

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Addison’s forehead and put his ear to his heart. “His lungs are full. They’re infected somehow. We need to find a way to stop the infection.”

Anthony could hear his father and mother come in and go downstairs. His father placed a box with bottles in it on the kitchen table. “Mr. McAlpine heard he was in a bad way and has come to help. He thinks the problem is with Addison’s lungs. He’s hardly breathing.”

Anthony introduced them and stood back with Tabitha. “I understand he has a problem with his lungs.”

“Put your ear to his chest and tell me what you think.”

Silvanus loosened his collar and put her ear to Addison’s mouth and nose and then to his chest for almost a minute. He stood and nodded.

“I think it’s an infection of some kind. What brought it on? I have no idea. Perhaps he was out in that horrific rainstorm we had a night or two ago.”

Silvanus nodded and went downstairs and selected one of his bottles of herbs. He looked at it carefully and then chose another. He went to the stairs and called up for Tabitha.

“I need you to heat some water for me.”

Tabitha came down the stairs with Charlotte in her arms. She sat Charlotte on a kitchen chair. “Sit on the chair and watch grandpa make some medicine for your uncle Addison.” She took one of the water buckets, carried it to the hearth, and poured some water into a large pot. She swung the pot into the fireplace and watched it until she saw steam rising from the pot. “It will be ready in a minute or two.”

Silvanus nodded and kept making a paste from the contents of both bottles. “I’ll need a dipper of boiling water.”

Tabitha took down a dipper from the rack over the counter and poured it full before handing it to Silvanus, who poured an ounce into the bottle and mixed it into a thick paste. He then waited a minute before adding two more ounces into the bottle and mixed it carefully before holding it up to one of the candles. Silvanus nodded to himself, added another ounce to the liquid, and mixed it again. He raised it to the candle and smiled. “We’re done.” He looked at Tabitha. “I need a small cup that he can drink from.”

He led the way upstairs with Tabitha carrying Charlotte in tow and sat beside Addison. “I would like you two to help Addison sit up. Addison seemed a dead weight, but they put a pillow behind him and helped him sit against it.

“I want you on each side of his bed and help him if he chokes on what I am about to feed him.” Silvanus took a teaspoon and filled it with his liquid. Addison began to cough until there seemed no end to it. Silvanus 101

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took another spoonful and tried to help him swallow it. There was less coughing with each spoonful.

Addison opened his eyes and looked at them all. “Am I dreaming this?”

Tabitha sat down beside him with Charlotte. “You’re home, Addison.”

He closed his eyes as Silvanus continued to help Addison drink the contents of his bottle. He had fallen asleep. McAlpine and Anthony pulled him down to lie flat on his bed.

“Now what?” said McAlpine.

“We wait for 30 minutes before checking on his breathing.”

Hannah appeared in the doorway with a tray of tea mugs, thick slices of bread, and new wild strawberry jam. They sat on the bed while Silvanus and McAlpine ensconced themselves on two chairs and sipped their tea.

“By the looks of him, I’d say he’s been riding almost non-stop for days,” said McAlpine. “Addison’s friend, Asama, alerted me about Addison. Damn glad he did.”

“He needs a shave. The black hair on his face makes him look terrible,” said Tabitha. “I think it scares Charlotte.”

“What did you give him?” said McAlpine. “It’s an old herb recipe my grandfather taught me when I was a boy and again before he died. He learned it from an Indian friend of his.” Hannah left to heat more water, add more tea leaves for the teapot and returned to refill everyone’s tea mug.

Silvanus stood and bent his head to Addison’s chest. “He’s breathing better, but it still has a grip on him. But he will survive this night, and I’ll be back tomorrow to give him some more of my mixture.”

“Is there a name for it?” said McAlpine, who finished his tea and stood to take another look at Addison’s face.

“Not that I know of. My grandfather called it Breath,” said Silvanus, who stood to shake McAlpine’s hand. “Thank you for coming to his aid.

He might have died had you not been here.”

They all left together. Anthony and Tabitha stood at the door with Charlotte and waved goodbye.

***

Three days later, Addison was sitting up and eating breakfast. Charlotte sat beside him, fed him bits of toast, and giggled when she pulled on his beard. Tabitha brought him a mirror so that he could see how he looked.

He studied the black log hairs on his face. “I think I need a razor and 102

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some of the mother’s soap.

“I think Charlotte likes the way you look.”

“It’s itchy.”

“Anthony’s father does not want you to do anything strenuous for at least another week, and even then,” she added, “he’s not sure. But cheer up, after a few more days on his brew, you’ll be the catch of all the girls in town.”

Charlotte fed him at almost every meal. On the 10th day, Silvanus announced that he could walk around the house after listening to his lungs.

“You’re not completely better, but you will be – and that’s all that matters.”

Addison began to get bored. He didn’t think doing small chores around the farm would harm him, but Tabitha put her foot down. “If you want to come down and help me peel potatoes or light the fire or entertain Charlotte, that’s fine. Anthony’s father saved your life. You owe him everything. The least you can do is listen to him.”

The nights were the longest for him. He thought of Emma and his father and mother. He talked about it to Tabitha, but it only made her sad.

Then, in the following week, Silvanus dropped by to listen to his lungs and heart. He stood and smiled. “You’re free to go – the world’s your oyster from this day forward. Promise me one thing – that you’ll stay out of the rain. That’s what probably caused your brush with death.”

Addison went into the yard and checked on the chicken coop. He entered the barn to see Anthony pitching hay into Young Rob’s stall. The horse sensed his presence and snorted and stamped his right foot. He kissed the side of Young Rob’s head and rubbed his neck. He returned to the house and told Tabitha he decided to go into town and see McAlpine.

She wasn’t happy to hear it and brought it up at lunch.

“The town’s changed in the time you’ve been away. You might be accosted by rowdies masquerading as Patriots. McAlpine has stopped drills for the time being. I’d think twice about going if I were you,” said Anthony.

“I do not want anyone to scare me ever again. I’ve had enough to last a lifetime. Besides, I’m on their side. I don’t see what I need to worry about.”

“When you see McAlpine, who helped to save your life, by the way, he’ll fill you in. If you’d like me to go with you --” “Thanks, but I’ll have Young Rob with me, and he can outrun any nags these people might have.”

Anthony shrugged. “Don’t say you weren’t warned.”

“I have to prove something to myself, Anthony.”

Addison led Young Rob out of the barn. He stamped his right hoof on the barn floor and led him into the yard. Anthony helped him put on the 103

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saddle and mount Young Rob. He marched out of the yard and took off as fast as his legs could move him, passing Sherwood’s home in a hurry and up the hill beyond, and past the place Anthony had been threatened by two men, and into the town a few minutes later. He went to see Alex McAlpine first, who was explaining to a man and his son why their cartwheel would not work the way they wanted.

He glanced at the door to see Addison enter. The man and his son thanked him and left. “It’s wonderful to see you up and about. You’ve been missed.”

“I hear I owe my life to you.”

“That wasn’t the case. I merely discovered you had a big lung problem and would die if nothing was done about it. You owe everything to Silvanus Sherwood. That man can work miracles.” He paused. “What brings you here?”

“I wanted to buy a few things in town, but most of all, to thank you.”

“Did Anthony warn you about the gangs stopping and robbing people they accuse of being Tories? Good Patriots among them. They’ve hanged a few and knifed to death a few others.”

“What about the watchman?” “ They caught him on his way home and lynched him on the grounds he was a disguised Tory. Everyone knows your father was an ardent Tory and not prepared to be a Patriot. If I were you, I’d get up on that horse of yours and ride like fury back to your farm. And the next time you come, come in a group.”

Addison left McAlpine’s wheel shop with his head down and mounted Young Rob, stopping at the store where he bought oatmeal and a pound of raisins as a treat for Charlotte. Addison returned to his horse, fed him a handful of raisins, and was on his way. He had gone at a leisurely pace for about five miles when Young Rob snorted. He tightened the reins and glanced behind him to see two riders behind him. He snapped the reins, and Young Rob was off in a flash. He looked back after a few minutes to find that they had disappeared. He smiled and fed Young Rob some more raisins.

He entered to see Charlotte toddle out to him when he turned into the yard. He dismounted, grabbed her, put her on his saddle, and held her there until he reached the back door. He lifted her down, took her hand and sat her down on a chair.

Tabitha was in the midst of making bread, She touched her cheek, and some of the dough stuck to her cheek as she walked over to see what he had put on the table. She opened the bag of oatmeal and kissed him on the 104

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cheek.

“What’s in the other bag?”

“Put your hand in and find out.”

Tabitha looked inside first and shrieked. “Raisins. I can’t believe such extravagance.”

Anthony opened the door. “I thought I heard someone –“ Tabitha stopped him with a handful of raisins. He smiled as he chewed a mouthful. Addison took a few in his hand and fed them to Charlotte when Tabitha stopped him. “She’s not on solid food yet.”

Addison took a small handful and put them in some water. “She can at least drink what they taste like.”

“How was your trip? Uneventful, I hope,” said Anthony.

“I went to see Alex McAlpine. He issued me the same warning as you.

He even told me a group of rowdies murdered the watchman, so there’s no law left in town.”

“I hope that will end your visit to town for a while,” said Tabitha

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

W

hen he went to take Young Rob to the barn, he noted that his left front leg limped. He bent down and looked at it. His shoe was loose and hurting him when he walked. He mentioned it to Anthony, who told him the only near blacksmith they had left was on the outskirts of town.

“He other one left around the same time your parents did.”

“What do you think?” he said to Anthony.

“I’d walk him to the blacksmith and get him to replace the shoe. But be on the lookout. There’s a chance that the gang might be prowling around.

I’d go with you, but I’m concerned about what would happen to Tabitha and Charlotte if they hunt us down. The only thing I can think of is going in yourself. I will give you four hours and strike out in your direction and meet you halfway.”

Addison took another look at his horse’s hoof. He cleaned it with warm water and tied some rags and a piece of tarp around it. He went in and had breakfast with Tabitha and Anthony. The sun had just peeped above the horizon, and when he and Young Rob set out on the road. He seemed to walk with less pain, and Addison stopped him after an hour to rest. The sun warmed them as they headed out again. Another hour or so, and he would pass the farms not far from the village.

One of the farmers waved to him. “How is your father?”

“He’s on a ship headed North. Haven’t heard how he’s made out yet but hope to soon.”

“Give him my regards if you hear from him.”

An hour later, he tied Young Rob outside the blacksmiths and walked inside. Jesse Bliss had been shoeing horses for as long as he could remember. His father swore by him.

“My horse needs shoeing, Mr. Bliss.”

Bliss had a full beard greying in streaks and brown eyes that glittered when he talked. He had large muscular arms and a hearty laugh. “Hear 106

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your father left us for parts unknown.”

“He’s headed North. We haven’t heard how he’s made out.”

Bliss nodded. “Bring in that nag of yours.”

Young Rob limped a bit as he brought him inside. The shoeing area was hot from the bright yellow forge a short distance away. Bliss unfastened the shoe, took it to his forge and bent it to match Young Rob’s hoof.

He did this twice more to perfect the fit before nailing it into his foot.

“That’ll be two shillings, Addison.”

Addison led Young Rob outside where he was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. A black cloth bag was put over his head. He struggled to pull it off, but other hands kept pulling it back down while the first man tied his hands behind his back. They put him on his horse and led him away. He could barely hear them talking. All he could make out was something about a marsh: it had to be the marsh on the west side of the town. A few minutes later, he could hear many people talking all at once.

Someone removed the cloth bag from his head. He could see them all.

There were a couple of farmers he knew from school days. All of them were shaking their fists at him and shouting “burn in hell” over and over, led by Babbit, who had fire in his eyes. They stopped his horse just below a tree with a thick branch from its left side, threw a noose around the branch, and slid the noose around Addison’s neck. Babbit picked up a heavy branch and swung it at Addison’s head. It knocked him off his horse. Two others lifted him atop his horse and fitted the noose tight around his neck.

“That’s for all the times you made me out a fool.”

Someone struck Young Rob, but he refused to move.

“I’ll make him move,” said Babbit with a knife, walking walked towards him. The man felt Young Rob’s leg and was prepared to stick his knife into it when Young Rob turned his head and thrust his hind legs behind him, setting Babbit flying into the crowd.

He got up and headed for him again.

“I want this stopped now,” said a deep, authoritative voice. It was no mistaking the voice. It belonged to Osiah Hadden. They all knew him and had sought his help for many things over the years. They backed off. Babbit melted into the crowd.

Osiah took his riding crop and lifted the noose from Addison’s head.

They rode away, leaving them shouting at Babbit.

“I know your father well. If you are smart, you will leave here with me and not come to town until this madness ends,” he said as they reached the road.

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out of town. “You had a narrow escape. I warned your father about leaving here while he had the chance. You should as well.”

“He asked me to return to the farm to prevent it from being confiscated and given to one of them. I told him I would return and make sure that no one else gets their hands on it.”

They paused at the entrance to Osiah’s home. “If I can ever help you, Addison, do not hesitate to seek my counsel.”

Addison brooded for a few days. He knew he would meet these people again. He was tainted by his father and would be prey to any group of American Whigs who wanted his property. He also knew enough people in that group were fired up and threatening to drag his body through the streets. He had to think this out carefully and do what he promised his father.

Anthony tried to talk to him, but he would have none of it. It was Charlotte who tottled over and reached her arms up for him to lift her to his lap, who broke the ice. He kissed her cheeks and sat back.

“You have to think about the rest of us as well, Addison,” said Anthony. “If they try to burn us in our beds, they won’t care as long as they kill you. They tried that when a mob set the house on fire when your father was here.”

There was a knock at the door. It was Silvanus. “I saw Addison come back and thought it would be a good time to settle things.”

Addison didn’t respond immediately. He took a long sip of tea and fed a bit to Charlotte, who spit it out.

“Tabitha and I know your father would lose his farm should you find it necessary to leave as well. And it would appear that is now a real possibility. Tabitha and I have come up with what we think is a solution.

“In that case, we feel if we should go to Osiah Hadden and have him draw up an agreement in which you deed the property over to Tabita and me – so that we could legally transfer ownership of the property.”

Addison was about to speak but was stopped by Silvanus’s upheld hand. “Let Anthony finish.”

“There would be a separate document drawn up at the same time, stating that the deed would revert to you should you decide to return.”

“I would be a witness, and so would Osiah to the undertaking,” said Silvanus. “And Tabitha and Anthony would also affix their signatures. You will be given this document. What say you, Addison?”

Addison nodded. “We all go and see Osiah tomorrow.”

“I’ll pick you all up at ten in our coach, and we‘ll do it all at one time.

Hannah will also come as a witness to everything.” Silvanus turned to 108

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Tabitha. “Is this any way to treat your father-in-law? I see something sweet on the shelf. Let’s all take one of your cookies and toast our cups to a new beginning for us all.”

***

Osiah put on his glasses, scanned what he had just written, and passed it to Addison to read. When he finished, he gave it to Tabitha. She and Anthony read it carefully and returned it to Osiah, who witnessed it with Silvanus and Hannah.

Osiah then drew up the second document and made a separate copy for Addison. He passed it to both Tabitha and Addison. Osiah, Silvanus and Hannah witnessed both copies.

Addison felt an enormous weight lifted from him mentally and physically. He sat back and let Young Rob rest in the barn for a few days. He decided to light out on Sunday just before sunrise. This way, he would be beyond the reach of the rowdies. He looked at the map and decided to head for Boston first and then north into New Hampshire and then to Portland and Augusta. At Augusta, he would head south and make his way along to coast to the mouth of the St. John River.

Tabitha spent Saturday making bread and cooking chicken and ham to take with him. She filled two canteens with water and stuffed the bread in two sacks, tied together with a rope he could place over his saddle.

Silvanus arrived just after supper with a letter from him to his father and a bottle of Brandy. Addison played with Charlotte until it was her bedtime and told her a story until she went to sleep.

Tabitha finished a letter to her mother. And folded it up and put it in a special leather pouch with Silvanus’s letter. “There’s a surprise in it. I’ll tell you, but you must let her read it for herself. “I am pregnant again. But don’t tell her. Let her read it for herself.”

She held him close as they went to bed an hour later. Addison decided to wash and shave to save him time in the morning. He slid into the sheets that smelled fresh and thought about Tabitha, who made things happen the way their mother did. He pulled the cover over his head and went to sleep feeling happy.

When he woke, he could see a silver streak in the sky and dressed hurriedly. He went down to the kitchen to find Tabitha and Anthony waiting.

She had made oatmeal and toast for him. He ate it and finished his tea.

Anthony hugged him hard. “Remember where your home is.”

Tabitha hugged him for at least five minutes and broke into tears as he mounted Young Rob and headed into the darkness. Young Rob could feel 109

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the urgency in his reins and galloped for the next 10 miles before dropping to a more leisurely pace. He passed through the village, thinking it might well be the last time he would ever see it again. Addison looked ahead.

The morning sky beckoned him on, and he picked up his speed. His spirits soared. He knew he had made the best decision for everyone, and new adventures lay ahead.

The wind had picked up and refreshed his face. Young Rob felt it, too, and picked up his pace. There was no one on the road for the first couple of hours until he passed a cart with a family sitting on the driver’s seat who waved to him. He stopped and let them catch up.

“Where are you headed?” said a man about his age with his wife sitting beside him.

“Boston?” said Addison.

“Are you a Whig or a Tory?”

“I prefer not to say.”

“We’re Tories. We’re on our way to Huntington. Any idea how far it is?”

“It’s a long way. Took my parents there for a ship going North. Once I reach Boston, I’ll head North for New Hampshire and from there into the wilds before heading south and go the rest of the way along the coast.”

Addison was ready to move on but was stopped by another question.

“Are there any dangers along the way?”

“Plenty. Just keep your wits about you and unless you see red coats, be careful who you talk to.”

A few minutes later, he lost them from view. Near supper time, he encountered another roadblock with the same four he met on the way back.

He spurred Young Rob as he neared the block and jumped over it and was on his way before they could aim their muskets and get a good shot at him.

They didn’t try to follow him this time, he noted in a backward glance.

Near dark, he stopped at a small village with a hotel. He found a stable for Young Rob and ate a late supper in the hotel’s dining room.

When he went to bed, he asked the young man at the lobby desk how many miles to Boston.

“About 50 but my pa, who travelled it a few times, says it’s more like 52.”

“I’d like to pay now for my room and my meal. I may want to leave early.”

The young man had sandy hair and brown eyes that smiled at you and a soft voice as though he didn’t want to wake anyone. “You don’t need to.

All my guests leave early. There’s a couple heading to Boston that might 110

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keep you company – a lady and her daughter.”

“I’ll pay anyway,” said Addison, putting three shillings on the counter and waving him good night as he mounted the stairs.

In the morning, the older woman and her daughter were leaving to get their coach when he left the hotel. They were heading in the same place he was. The stable owner brought out their two horses and attached them to their carriage.

“That’ll be four shillings,” he said with an open hand. The older woman fished inside her purse and found the shillings, and snapped it shut. She turned to Addison. “Are you heading to Boston, by chance?”

“As soon as I can mount my horse.”

The stable owner appeared with his horse and asked for two shillings.

Addison paid him, mounted his horse, and edged onto the road behind the carriage.

“Could you ride along with us.? We’re not used to travelling without our driver and his musket.”

“I’m in a hurry, and I want to be beyond Boston before nightfall.”

“We have two wonderful horses. Arabian thoroughbreds. And they’re fast,” she added, looking at Young Rob. “Why not drive us and tie your horse behind us. It will give him a rest.”

Addison nodded. “All right. But my horse does not need to be tied.”

He jumped on the driver’s seat and snapped the reins. The old lady was right. These two horses were capable of even greater speed than Young Rob. They stopped for lunch at a small inn. The older woman, who introduced herself as Madame LaFleur, and her daughter, Odelle, led them to the inn. She ordered a bottle of Champagne and roast beef for lunch. Odelle kept looking at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled if she saw him looking at her.

“We are only 20 miles from Boston, thanks to my two wonderful Arabians,” said Madame LaFleur.

“This is where we will say goodbye, Madame LaFleur,” said Addison, mounting Young Rob. “I think not,” said Madame LaFleur, holding a pistol to his chest. “You will dismount and tie your horse to my carriage.” She aimed her pistol at him until she saw him tie Young Rob to her carriage. “You look like a prosperous young man, and if I am any judge, most of your money and belongings are on that horse, which should produce a profitable afternoon for Odelle and me. Now, be off with you.”

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could hear the carriage behind him before it passed him with a whiff of air. He waited until Young Rob would come for him. A few minutes later, he could hear young rob’s hoofs before he rounded the bend in the road ahead.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

E

lias grabbed Electa and helped her to a door where they could enter and find their cabin. Electa leaned over the rail and vomited. Elias, also queasy, looked at a huge wave headed in their direction while Jacob danced around the deck. Elias yelled at him to go inside. The big wave hit the ship with a shudder and washed over them two minutes later.

Emma had gone up the stairs to look for them and saw them open the door. She held Electa and guided her down the stairs. She helped Electa lie on her bunk, and she found a bucket in the washroom and put them beside her cot. Elias also laid on his side and closed his eyes. If only the ship didn’t roll from one side to another, it wouldn’t seem so bad.

David had gone on deck and held the railing tightly as another big wave headed in his direction. He loved the feeling of the saltwater washing over his face and body. It was an experience of a lifetime. He could live on the sea, he thought, as he got ready for another big wave.

***

Electa looked for the Dibblees in the dining room. It was packed after the Atlantic had become peaceful again. She spotted them at a table near the front and led the rest of them to their table. She sat down and looked at Mrs. Dibblee. “If anyone ever asks me to go on a sea voyage ever again, I will shoot them where they stand.”

Everyone, including the Dibblee children, was talking at once as David reached out and snagged a passing waiter. They placed their orders, and Dibblee took out one of his cigars and lit it. His wife shook her hand.

“Not everyone may be able to handle the smoke.”

He looked at the others, who ignored him, and puffed on the cigar until their supper came. Atlantic Cod, right out of the ocean. Can’t get it 112

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fresher than that,” he laughed and dug into it with gusto.

“There’s also entertainment after supper,” said Mr. Dibblee, who seemed to know everything before it happened. “So if you’re of a mind for some fancy singing and dancing, we’re in for a great night.”

Two of the British officers who accompanied them on the trip brought greetings from the King and outlined what they could expect when they landed at the mouth of the St. John River.

Lieut. Christian Compton introduced himself as a member of the 84 Regiment of Foot, which had been stationed at the mouth of the St. John River. “You’ll be arriving a few days from now. Don’t expect to find a large town with many people. The town, called Parrtown, in honour of the governor of Nova Scotia, is small and primitive still, and you are exactly what they need to make it into a thriving metropolis.”

He paused to look at their faces. “But be of good cheer. His Majesty, in his great goodness, has ordered tents for you to sleep on landing. Seeds and farming implements will also be made available to you. There is also a land grant for you to grow crops. Winter comes early to this part of North America, so make a point of planting a large enough crop that will see you through the winter. For those who wish to live in town, lots can also be applied for, in which case you should consider starting to build dwellings to suit your taste and pocketbook.”

Capt. Miles Boone took his place. “You’ll be pleased to know that we have a fort there, commanding the bay, manned by 50 experienced British soldiers, with cannons large enough to sink any American Whig ship that might attempt to attack us. It’s called Fort Howe. It sits atop a very high rocky hill and has a full view of the town and harbour.”

They left shortly afterwards and toasted the success of their voyage with the captain in his quarters.

There was dismay on many faces and a shaking of heads after they left. “If we land in a few days, how can we possibly plant crops to see us through the winter and build a house fit enough to live in.”

“What about those of us who want to farm?” said Elias. Other farmers surrounded him. “Let us go as a group and ask them.”

That opportunity came the next morning at breakfast when the two officers sat down to eat.

“If I were you, I’d go as a group and ask them. I can tell you that large acreages are available to farmers outside the town. These are land grants and must be sought from the governor. I can help you with that. Be sure to seek me out after we land.”

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gentlemen. We are farmers. Others are as interested as we are. We do not wish to live in town. Will we have land to feed our cows and produce crops the way we did from the farms we left to live under the Crown?”

Lieut. Crompton stood. “That’s my fault for assuming that our Loyalist passengers were mainly city folk.”

“We understand that acreage will be afforded to those who wish to farm,” said Elias.

“You heard rightly. You will be given full particulars a few days after you land,” said Lieut. Compton, “as to acreage you will be allotted and where you can choose land. That’s all we can tell you at the moment, other than we should be landing in a couple of days.”

“He told us we should be landing in a couple of days,” said Elias as he sat down and finished eating. “He also informed us that we would learn how much acreage each of us would be entitled a few days after we land.”

Fyler Dibblee looked pleased with himself. “That doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. I was given to understand that there is an American Whig aboard one of the ships in our fleet that will be disembarking at Saint John.”

“But why?” said David.

“They don’t want us there if that’s in their mind,” said Elias.

“Something far more sinister, I’m afraid. Perhaps to make us feel discouraged, foment a rebellion, stir up the Indians. Perhaps something more devilish than I can think offhand.”

“That spy could be on our ship?” said Emma with a shiver.

“I hope not. There are a lot of other ships in the fleet. My hunch is not on a ship where there is British military aboard.”

***

“We’re passing land ahead,” said someone, who ducked their head inside the dining room. There was a rush for the stairs and outside. Elias and the Dibblees waited until the lineup had thinned before getting in line.

Emma, Jacob and David were the first ones in line and among the first to get a rail-side view of a small island and a couple of other islands in the distance. By the time Elias and Electa reached outside, there were three-heads deep from the rail. Elias led her down the railing to where the lifeboats were stored just in time to see them pass the island.

“It’s not Partridge Island,” said Flyler. “It’s an island not marked on our map. Otherwise, we’d be seeing land beyond the island.”

“Are we near,” said Jacob?”

“Very near, in my reckoning, Jacob,” he said, rubbing Jacob’s head.

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Fyler lit one of his cigars, sat back, closed his eyes, and smiled with each puff. The crowd began to thin out, and they decided to spend the rest of the trip outside. They found an ideal spot on the other side of the ship, where there were chairs.

About 30 minutes later, they hit a fog belt, and the ship lit lanterns and attached them to their sails. Electa shivered, and Elias gave her his doublet. He wrapped it around her, and she hid her hands in the fold. He made Jacob sit between him and his mother. Dibblee did the same with his children, and took out another cigar.

And then, just as mysteriously, the fog lifted and blew out to sea. Jacob and David walked up to the prow to first look at Partridge Island. They looked up at the lone smoke stack trailing black smoke behind them and at the sails that creaked as they shifted. The wind was brisk and blew their hair over their foreheads.

They spotted the island as the ship turned in its direction and ran down the deck to tell the others. They all moved to the rail, with Emma holding the hand of one of the Dibblee children. Jacob and David stood next to her.

Electa’s hair blew in the breeze, and she tried to hold it down with one of her hands. The breeze abated as they sailed alongside the island. Their ship slowly rounded the island and headed for the port ahead.

They looked at the port and decided to head back for their cabins along with some other people. Their bags were packed and ready. Electa put on a sweater under Elias’s doublet and followed them into the corridor towards the step. There was already a lineup.

A ship officer appeared and announced that the ship would be vacated by name in alphabetical order.

“We’re last,” said Elias, who turned and led his family back to their cabin. Emma and David followed them. “We’ll wait until you leave,” said Emma. David smiled and picked up her bag.

An hour later, they were on the deck and watching other passengers walk down the gangplank to the pier. Jacob was fascinated by a seagull that stood on one of the poles on the dock. Other Seagulls wheeled and screeched above.

The ship had docked in a small cove at the foot of a road leading up to the city’s centre. Elias pointed to the row of shops on both sides of the road.

In the distance, they could make out trees where the road seemed to end.

Some of the other passengers were lined up on the pier, where two soldiers were interviewing them and handing them papers and a large bag. Others were boarding a coach with two horses to take them up the hill.

Electa led the way down the gangplank, followed by Emma, Jacob, 115

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David and Elias. Going down the gangplank was tricky. It seemed to move with each step. Elias could see David hold Jacob’s hand as they descended to the pier, where Electa and Emma waited for them. Elias was one of the last to join them. At the end of the gangplank, a soldier pointed to a table where other passengers were waiting to be interviewed by the two other soldiers.

Electa waved for Elias to come to the head of their group. The first soldier looked him up and down. “Your name?”

“Elias Wright. After me, Electa Wright, my wife, and our son, Jacob Wright. “ “Where did you come from?”

“Massachusetts.”

“Next.”

A soldier next to him wrote their names down in his book. “Next.”

“My name is David Picket, and the lady behind me is my sister, Emma Picket.”

“Where did you come from?”

“New Hampshire.”

“You were asked to disembark alphabetically.” He flipped his book back a few pages and wrote their names down in it.

“Sorry. We were distracted packing.”

“Next.”

The next soldier asked his name, made a checkmark, passed them a bag, and pointed to a coach behind him. “It will take you up the hill, where you can pitch your tent.”

Elias asked the driver to wait until Emma and David sat beside Jacob.

The driver snapped the reins, and the coach’s two horses made their slow progress up the hill and onto a park where several tents had already been pitched.

The carriage stopped beside two vacant spots. “All out, and be sure to take your bags,” said the driver with a French accent.

Fyler Dibblee emerged from the tent beside them. “I saved these two spots for you. If you need help pitching your tents, call on me. And before I forget, they will be serving supper, where we entered around five. When you’ve finished pitching your tents, visit us, and we’ll all go down together.”

David and Elias opened their bags and laid out their tents on the ground. “I’ve never pitched a tent before,” said David.

“Then watch me and do exactly what I do,” said Elias, who spread out the tarp. This will be the inside space your tent will cover. Now, match the 116

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poles to the grommets on the tent,” he said, pointing to them, and watched David do it. “Next, attach the tent body to the poles.”

Elias pointed to the stakes that came in the bag along with a small wooden mallet. Once the stakes were firmly in the ground, he attached the ropes dangling from the tent to the stakes. Emma walked inside and stuck her head out to see Electa looking at her. They nodded to each other before disappearing inside.

Electa laid out a blanket on the ground and another blanket to cover them. There was room for a table. She made a mental note to get Elias to make one, depending on how long they would be stuck there.

Emma stuck her head inside. “There’s no table.”

“I think they mean for us to eat off the floor until we build our homes.”

They both laughed. “In the meantime, we’ll have to see how we’ll eat at supper. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished,” said Emma with a laugh.

Electa shivered. “It’s cold here.”

“It’s close to five,” said David.

Emma and Electa left the tent. “I hoped no one steals whatever we have while we’re at supper,” said Electa.

“They’ll be at supper as well,” said Fyler, who stuck his head out of his tent to hear Electa. “They’re probably saying the same thing.” He laughed and led the way along the walkway.

There was already a long lineup, waiting to be served supper by the time they arrived. Children were dancing around their parents and the two soldiers who stood beside the place where they would be given a large wooden bowl and a large wooden spoon and receive a bowl full of fish chowder that included fish and potatoes in thick milk and a loaf of bread.

They sat down on one of the benches and ate the chowder. The bread seemed to have a lot of salt, but it was just fine for the time being. David went up for another bowl and more bread. He ate it slowly, savouring every mouthful. “Fresh fish,” he said as he rose to return their bowls to the two women at the front.

David, Jacob and Emma decided to walk around the nearby streets and down to the harbour, where David talked to two fishermen, who had boiled some periwinkles. They offered a few to David and Emma, along with pins to remove their insides.

“Where do you get these?” said David to a young man his age, who looked at Emma in admiration.

“On the beach. The beach is Crown property, and anyone can walk there and get what they find there. A lot of people go there to get firewood, 117

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which burns wonderfully great during the winter months. “We like periwinkles, but most days, we fish. The harbour is full of fish. On the other side of the bay, they fish for small mackerel and lobsters in traps.”

“I’d like to go out with you one day,” said David.

The young man waved to his father. “He’d like to go fishing with us.”

“Where are you from, son?”

“New Hampshire. Just arrived here today and have fallen in love with the sea and everything about it.”

The young man’s father strolled towards him and struck him in the chest. He had a grey grizzly beard and big fists. David rose, and he hit him again, only this time harder.

“That’s what fishing is like some days. Before I say yes, I want you to understand that it is hard work, that if you get seasick easily, don’t even think about it. It’s cold out there on the water, and some days you think your hands will freeze off. One thing more. If you’re out there and decide after two hours that it’s not what you thought it is, we won’t take your back until we’re done for the day. And if you are still of a mind, you’ll need some old clothes. One thing more, we leave at 6 a.m., with you or without you.”

David walked back, whistling and happier than he had been in months.

It was getting dark, and Elias was standing in front of his tent with Jacob.

David could hear Electa crying inside the tent, put his arm around Elias, and nodded understandingly.

“It was not what she expected. I think Emma feels the same way.”

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CHAPTER NINETEEN

A

ddison entered New Hampshire late in the afternoon. He was tired.

He had started before daybreak, and he could tell Young Rob was tired as well. He planned to stop at a small village, but sunset coming on, he decided to find a quiet place where he and Young Rob could sleep and relax. They came to an old road that appeared unused for some time. They followed the road into a heavily forested area. Trees were starting to grow in the dirt and grass. He dismounted and led Young Rob through the trees to find an open space with grass, where Young Rob could graze and be close enough to a thick growth where they could seek shelter themselves if it rained.

He took down his tinder box and used his flint steel to ignite the tinder.

He blew on it and set fire to some dead grass and twigs. He then sought some branches to add to it and had a glowing fire in a matter of minutes.

The air was cool, and he stretched out in front of it. It warmed his back when he rolled over and helped him sleep the night through.

He rose and rinsed his mouth, washed his face in warmed water, and fed Young Rob. He could hear the sounds of water from a small brook nearby and led his horse through the thick growth to find it running down towards the road. He let Young Rob drink his fill while he filled both his canteens. He reached into his left sack and found a block of cheese and a heel of bread in the other sack.

Young Rob snorted and ran as though a fire were at his back. He followed the brook towards the road and came out into a clearing with the road bending towards them. Addison mounted Young Rob and headed onto the street. He reached a small village by noon, where he stopped and ate lunch at a small inn. Clouds were beginning to form in the sky, and Addison decided to stay there for the rest of the day. He led Young Rob to the stable behind the inn and asked the stable hand to rub him down and look after him. He reached into his pocket and placed a shilling in his hand.

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He returned to the inn, where he rented a room for the night.

The young woman at the desk looked him over and asked him to pay her in advance. “It is two shillings a night. If you stay longer, it is cheaper.”

She flashed him a smile and tightened the button of her shirt.

Addison reached into his pocket and passed her two shillings. She took a key from the wall behind her and led him the way. Addison carried his two travel bags as he walked upstairs behind her. She stopped at the first door, opened it and stood back as he went inside.

“If you would like to have supper in your room, I would be pleased to oblige you. We’re having roast pork and roasted potatoes with butter tonight.” She turned to go and paused at the door.

Addison nodded and tried to smile.

“It comes with a mug of beer. I hope that’s fine with you.”

She gave him the key and left as quietly as she had come. He took off his shoes and lay flat on the bed. He thought about Emma and his parents and wondered if they had landed at their new home. He missed them all terribly. He closed his eyes and slept when the lady at reception awakened him. She carried a large circular wooden tray above her shoulders as she entered. She laid down the tray and deposited his plate of roasted pork and potatoes plate with a wedge of butter beside them. She then added a large mug of beer beside his dish and sat down opposite him with a beer in her hand.

“A lot of travellers, who are too tired to eat in our dining room, find it lonely to eat by themselves. Perhaps you might enjoy supper better with someone to talk to.” She sipped on her beer and looked at him over the rim of her glass.

She had brushed her hair and added some colour to her cheeks and lips before coming to see him. She had light blue eyes that many men found hypnotic.

Addison munched on his pork and took a mouthful of beer without responding.

“You don’t talk much. Most people like to unload after being alone for a few days. Have you travelled far?”

“Not that far. From Boston. I’m on my way back there,” he said.

They didn’t talk much after that. When Addison finished his supper, she cleaned up his table and stopped at the door. “If you change your mind, I’m just downstairs.”

She walked down to the lobby and whistled for the stable boy. “That man who arrived around noon. Did he say where he was going?”

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down his horse and look after him.”

“I want you to go to Chubb and tell him that one of our guests has money and will be heading to Boston in the morning and that he will be riding a black horse.”

She smiled. If her guest thinks he’s too important to talk to me, he’ll learn what it costs him in the morning.

Addison had a fitful sleep. That woman’s face had somehow become Madame LaFleur’s face. It was the smile. They were the same. It was already eight o’clock when he woke and got dressed. He went down to the dining room and had breakfast.

He finished his tea when the young woman from the lobby sign-in desk sat down beside him. “I came to wish you good luck going back to Boston. The day looks fine and warm with not a cloud in the sky. Don’t know if you heard it, but I was awake from the sound of rain beating on the roof.”

He rose and wished her good luck and headed for the stable. Young Rob was snorting when the stable boy led him into the yard. Addison mounted him and rode off, heading North. The stable boy left to tell the young woman at the desk. “Just to let you know, he’s left and heading North.”

“North? Go and tell Chubb he’s fooled us. He’s not going to Boston but on the road going North.”

Addison hadn’t gone more than three miles when he slowed down Rob to a slow canter. Something was bothering him. It was the face of the woman from the inn and Madame LaFleur’s clothes. He stopped at another village an hour later and asked the man in a clothing store how far was he from Portland.

“Quite a distance. You won’t get there until sometime tomorrow.”

Addison mounted his horse again and looked at the dust rising from a bend in the road some distance away. Someone or some people were riding hard. He snapped the reins, and young Rob was flying over the road and kept that pace for an hour. When he stopped, he looked down the road. It was empty. Hopefully, he thought, he had lost them forever, whoever they were.

He stopped at another inn and had Young Rob fed and given water at supper time. He ate supper and decided to head out and reach Portland before sunrise. Someone had told him it was close to the border. He and Young Rob would rest there until the next day and then head out for Augusta.

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spotted two men with muskets and sabres a few yards from him. He turned Young Rob around to find two other men aiming their muskets at him.

The two men in front rode beside him. “We want you to dismount and empty your pockets to the man beside me. We will take your horse and leave you with your life.” Th man led Young Rob around and tied him to his. “We were told you had money,” said the lead man, with a dark face and a black beard, laughing as they rode away.

He started to walk. The moon shone on the road as he walked. He had nothing to his name, just the clothes he was wearing and no money to buy more clothes. All his money went in the saddle bay with Young Rob. They would not let him out of their sight. They knew how fast he could run and would take no chances.

He walked on. No one else was on the road, just a few animals he saw with their eyes shining in the moonlight. The wind had picked up, and he quickened his pace. He felt uncomfortable sleeping on the side of the road without his tinder box so that he could light a fire. Young Rob would be expecting it.

He walked most of the night and stopped to sit along on the side of the road. His legs were tired. He closed his eyes and went to sleep, using a log as a pillow. The morning sun woke him up. He began to stagger as he headed out again. He was hungry and thirsty and felt he would die if he didn’t get help soon.

He staggered on. He shut out everything from his mind and failed to hear someone riding his way. When the sounds echoed in his ears, he turned to see young Rob ruining at top speed towards him. He stopped in front of Addison, who saw how his horse escaped by chewing the rope they tied him. Addison could see bits of the robe they used still stuck in Young Rob’s mouth and kissed him before mounting. Without a word, Young Rob struck out at breakneck speed. Addison felt inside the bag on his left and found a chicken leg Tabitha had cooked for him and chewed it and for bread in the other saddlebag, where he hid his tinder box and his money. Addison smiled and stopped at the first brook he saw to let Young Rob graze and drink. He let him rest for another couple of hours before heading on the road again.

Early in the afternoon, he stopped at a sign: Portland 10 Miles.

He rode into Portland two hours later and checked into the first hotel he saw. He led Young Rob into the hotel’s stable, removed the bags and carried them inside. The arrival clerk had a pencil-thin black mustache and a painted smile His black hair was slicked back, making his thin face look even thinner. He was dressed in the latest fashion.

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He rang a bell for a bell boy. “How long will you be staying,” he looked at Addison’s signature, “Mr. Wright?”

“Two nights. My horse is in your stable. I want him to be treated carefully. He means a great deal to my family and me.”

“I’ll see to it personally, Mr. Wright.”

The lobby was large and covered with vases of flowers. The stairways in the middle of the lobby led to a landing on the back wall. Addison walked up the stairs and entered his room on the third floor. The first thing he did was look out the window at the street. He had never been at this height before and was fascinated seeing how much smaller people from on high. He could see a church steeple in the distance and a park down the street, and a man riding a black horse made him think about Young Rob. He decided to see how they were looking after him. He entered his stall and couldn’t find him anywhere. He spotted the stable boy talking to a man at the entrance and asked where his horse was.

“A man who I thought was you told me he wanted to ride around town and would be coming back in an hour or so.”

“How long ago was that?”

“Just after lunch.”

“Would you recognize him if you see him again?”

“I’m not sure.” The stable boy began to shake. “I will lose my position if the hotel finds out what I did.”

Addison left and ran down the street until he reached the park. He looked on both sides of the street. Then down another street and then another and circled back to see what Addison thought was Young Rob. When he approached the man, he could see it wasn’t.

He headed back to the hotel, not sure what to do next. Would there never be an end to one problem after another, he thought. When he looked up, he was sure he saw Young Rob walking slowly on the other side of the street.

Addison ran across the street and grabbed his saddle. “You’re riding my horse.”

“You’re mistaken. I bought this horse a short time ago from a stable boy.”

“You’ve been swindled. Now get off, or I call the watchman.”

The man, dressed in riding clothes and a top hat, snapped the reins.

Young Rob didn’t move. He hit him with his riding crop, and Young Rob snorted and lifted his front legs. The man fell to the ground.

Addison yelled out at the top of his voice: “horse thief.”

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mounted his horse and turned right to track him down. The man had disappeared, and Addison turned Young Rob around and headed back to the hotel. He tied his horse to the railing in front and walked into the hotel.

The doorman was dressed in a dark red suit and a peaked cap and opened the door for him. He went straight to the lobby desk. The young man, who had signed him in, was no longer there.

“I was signed in by another man. I asked him to make sure my horse would be looked after, and I was given assurances that he would see to it.

When I went out to check on him, I found someone had stolen my horse.”

“What is your name, sir?”

“Wright. Addison Wright.”

“I see a Mr. Wright but no Addison Wright.”

Addison put his hand in his pocket and produced his key.

The clerk looked at it and shrugged his shoulders.

“Ask the clerk who signed me in.”

“I’m afraid I can’t. It was his last day here.”

“I’d like to see the manager.”

“He’s busy at the moment, I’m afraid.”

“I don’t care how busy he is. If I don’t see him now, I’m off to see the authorities and make sure everyone in Portland knows about this.”

“Give me a moment, and I’ll do what I can.” He walked down the hall and entered a door near the front. Addison kept looking and was about to walk down himself and enter if he had to when the clerk returned with the manager, an older man, wearing a pince-nez. He was dressed in a white shirt with a frilly collar and a black jacket.

“I’m very sorry to hear what has happened to you, Mr. Wright. That clerk you were dealing with had been dismissed. You are not the only person who he has hoodwinked. What about your horse?”

“I found him on my own. He’s tied up out front.”

“Thank Heavens for that, at least. We found he and the stable boy were brothers and had done similar things elsewhere.” He paused. “By way of apology, you will be staying at the Capitol as our guest, including all the hospitality we can offer. If there is anything else you need, just let me know. My office is just down the hall.”

Addison thanked him and turned as he started to walk away. “What about the stable. Is it safe to leave my horse there?”

The manager nodded. “We’ve replaced the stable boy with someone else this afternoon.”

Addison nodded and went out the door. The doorman stopped him as he was about to untie his horse. “That’s quite a beast you’ve got there. He 124

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snorts at anyone who tries to get near him.”

Addison smiled and led Young Rob to the stable. An older man with a grey mustache greeted him. “You’re the fella whose horse was stolen. I can tell by the way you look at me. Well, he’s safe with me. And I’ve been told to make sure he gets all the comforts of home, starting with a good rub down.”

The doorman winked at him as he held the door open for him. Addison headed into the dining room that was beginning to fill with other guests. The waiter at the door also seemed to know who he was and brought him to a table near the front, where the hotel’s band was getting ready to start playing.

His waiter placed a lobster salad on his plate a few minutes later.

“Compliments of the manager, Mr. Wright.”

It was followed by creamed potatoes and yellow beans along with a steak. The band started playing How Stands the Glass Around, followed by Fare Thee Well Ye’ Sweet, his mother’s favourite.

There was port wine along with cheese slices to end the meal. Addison looked around at the men and women singing along with the band. The singing made him feel lonely. He missed his mother and father and Jacob and wondered if they had landed. He stayed for a few more songs and left for his room. When Addison entered, he saw that the quilts on his bed had been turned down. He walked to the window and looked at the street. A man was lighting the lamps, even though the road was almost empty.

He slept deeply that night and dreamed of his mother. In their kitchen, she turned the spit as she cooked a chicken for supper. His father came in along with the hotel manager. They seemed to share a joke of some kind.

Just before he awoke, he could hear his mother sobbing. He tried to go back to sleep, but the sun was already in the sky, and suddenly, Addison felt hungry. He washed, shaved and went downstairs and into the dining room. The waiter recognized him and seated him at a table near the kitchen, where he could see cooks putting pancakes, bacon and eggs on plates and waiters leaving with large circular trays, which he placed on the table next to them.

“And your order, sir?”

“I’ll have what these people are having,”he said, nodding to the next table. The table left and came back a few minutes later with a cup of coffee.

Addison sipped on it slowly. He preferred tea and felt a strange taste he did not particularly like when he was served coffee. Addison ordered tea to wash out the taste. That’s when he remembered when he thought he heard Emma telling her brother she much preferred coffee.

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He went into the lobby and asked the desk clerk if he had a map that would show him the shortest way to get to the coastline. The clerk folded the only map on his desk and used his finger to point the way. “First, head for Augusta. It’s about a day from here. And from there, turn south. That road will take you to the coastline.”

Addison made a mental note and went to his room to write it down on a small piece of paper the desk clerk had given him. He went into the stable and met the older man he had met the previous afternoon. The stable hand took Addison to Young Rob and left. His horse snorted as soon as he saw him. Addison felt his flanks and his neck. The older man had looked after him well. The rope was still there, and Young Rob seemed restless. Addison patted him and walked out of the stable. “Please saddle him for me.”

He walked into the lobby and went to the lobby desk. “I’ve decided to leave a day early. My horse is getting restless.”

“We hope your stay met your expectations, despite the injury you suffered at the hands of that previous desk clerk.”

“You and your manager certainly made up for everything. I’d like to thank him personally.”

“The third door on the left down the corridor.”

Addison knocked on the door and opened it. The manager stood as soon as he saw who it was.

“I came to tell you I’m on my way and to thank you again for your generous hospitality. There are good angels after all,” added Addison.

“As well as with a few bad ones,” said the manager with a smile.

They shook hands, and Addison returned to his room, packed his things and returned downstairs. He shook the lobby clerk’s hand and headed out the door.

The stableman stood at the entrance with Young Rob. Addison mounted him, reached for a shilling in his pocket, and tossed it to him. “Thank you for looking after him.”

He entered the road and headed for Augusta. He snapped the reins, and Young Dan raced down the road as though he were chasing the wind.

They passed through several small villages along the way and stopped only around supper time to rest and feed Young Rob and finish the cheese and bread Tabitha had given him. He thought about her and Charlotte and wished they all could be together again.

An hour later, on the road again, he could see the spires of Augusta in the distance and snapped the reins to signal Young Rob to trot faster. They reached the outskirts just as the sun was setting and found an inn where he could stable his horse and find a bed for himself. It looked like someone’s 126

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home. He knocked on the door, and an elderly woman opened it.

“Do you have a room for tonight?”

“The older lady opened the door wider. We have a shed out back where you can tie your horse. It’s a shilling for the night, but it includes breakfast. We eat early,” she said, opening the door wider.

“Amity,” said a young woman standing in the doorway in a loud voice, looking Addison all over. “We don’t give lodging to drifters. If you’re one of them, get back on our horse and leave us in peace.”

“The young woman, in her early 30s, was wiping her hands on her apron when she entered the room. “Can I help you?”

“I need lodging for one night only. I’m on my way to see my mother.”

“We’re plain folk. Nothing fancy.” A young child came in and tugged on her mother’s apron.

“I just came from a fancy place. I grew up with plain folk like yourselves.”

“Did my mother tell you how much?”

“A shilling.” He opened her palm and placed the shilling on it.

“Let me show you to your room,” she said, starting to walk when he stopped her. “I need to see to my horse before I do anything. I need to feed him and give him water.”

Her mother had disappeared. She smiled at him. “I’ll wait for you here.”

He returned a few minutes later to find her opening the door for him.

“As I said, it’s nothing special.”

The room was at the back of the house, next to the room where she and her daughter and mother slept. She walked inside with him and lit a candle in his room. “If you haven’t eaten yet, I could cook you two or three eggs if you have a mind.”

He looked at her shabby dress and her unruly dark hair. She wore no face colouring and walked with a limp like his mother. She led him into a small kitchen and sat him at a counter while she cracked three eggs into a pan and cut him a slice of bread.

“Are you three living alone?”

Fear flared for an instant in her eyes. “My man left the day I told him I was with child. Never seen him since.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She placed a thick slice of buttered bread on his plate and sat down with a tea while eating. He took the fork she gave him and played with the eggs on his plate.

“You’re a marvellous cook,” he said, looking up.

She smiled for really the first time.

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“I’m amazed someone else has not snatched you up by now.”

“No one wants a lame woman with a child.”

“My mother walks with a limp.”

Her face lit up. “You’re a good man.”

When he finished tea, she led him again to his room. She stood looking at him for a few seconds before she shut the door and went to her bedroom.

He could hear her and her mother talking before he closed his eyes and went to sleep almost immediately.

He woke in the middle of the night, feeling someone lie down beside him. Addison stiffened, not sure what to do and turned his body to the wall. He woke in the darkness in time to see her leave and the door shut behind her.

He wnt back to sleep and was awakened by a knock on his door. He looked out the window at the foot of his bed to see that dawn was breaking and threw the covers off himself and stood. He dressed, opened the door and walked to the kitchen. She was dressed in a clean dress and a fresh apron and smiled at him when she put his mug of tea on the table. He smiled back. She showed no signs of anything happening during the night.

She cracked three more eggs and sliced more bread. Her mother entered and sat down on the opposite side, holding out her mug for tea. “I hope you slept well last night. Amity was up half the night.” She shook her head. “I could hear her walking. I hope it didn’t disturb you.”

Addison shook his head and glanced at Amity. She smiled back and went on frying the eggs. When she was finished, she placed three plates of eggs on the table and a plate of buttered bread. They ate and talked about the revolution.

“I hope it ends soon. England has no place in our country,” said her mother.

Addison smiled. “I used to do rifle drills at my village.”

“Do you think it will be over soon?”

“Washington has sent envoys to Europe to secure a peace treaty.”

“We hadn’t heard that,” said Amity.

Amity and her mother saw him outside as he slung his two sacks over Young Rob’s flank and mounted him. ”We’ll miss you,” said Amity. “Be sure to spend the night with us again.”

He reached into his pocket and threw a shilling into her apron.

She looked up. There were tears in her eyes. “Don’t forget us.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY

E

mma looked at David and asked him for the 50th time where they planned to seek acreage for their home and farm. “I don’t want to live in the city. It smells. And I want to live close to the Wrights.” ”I may have an answer for you tonight. My fishing partners promise to take me to a place across the harbour that would be ideal for a farm.”

“You’ve been doing that for a while now. Electa is very depressed.

I think she’s willing to drop everything and head back for her farm and embrace the republic. We need to give her hope. If Addison is to find me, it will be here.”

David left with all this buzzing in his head. “I see you’re bothered about something. I can see it in the way you walk,” said Josiah Cain, stroking his greying beard. His son, Boris, patted him on the back. “We had some doubts about you, but you’ve taken to the sea. I hope there’s nothing wrong.”

“My sister. She’s hounding me to find a suitable place for a farm.”

“Today, you’ll be able to grant her wish. It’s across the harbour and just beyond where the land juts out,” said Josiah. “I wanted it as a place to live, but my wife doesn’t want to live in the country. She likes town life.

And with the Loyalists landing just about every day, she loves town life more and more.”

They climbed aboard their small boat and set the sail to take them back to the harbour, where Boris unloaded the catch into a large wicker basket. It took both of them to carry their catch up the hill to the market.

David spelled Josiah halfway up the hill that had been named King Street and entered an open-air market at the top, where carpenters were erecting a wall at its end. Josiah paid for his booth and sat down while Boris did the selling. “It’s our best day ever,” said Boris, who passed four shillings to his father.

“You won’t do that farming,” said Josiah with a wink.

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***

David entered their tent with a bag of fish and laid it down on the floor. “There’s enough fish to feed the Wrights and us for a couple of days.

I’m going to look in on Elias and invite them for supper. “ Electa came with six potatoes she had baked outside their tent earlier.

Elias came with the teapot and Jacob with a loaf of new bread. “I’ll never get used to eating bread with no butter,” said Electa as she showed Emma how to prepare the fish for frying. She took one of Emma’s dishes, sprinkled some of the flour she brought on it, and then rolled the fish in the flour before putting it in the frying pan. Emma could hear the fish sizzling while Electa placed a potato and some new lettuce on their plates and filled their tea mugs.

Emma added a piece of fish on each plate. Jacob didn’t wait for the signal to start eating. He cut into his piece of fish and smiled as he tasted it.

“I gather it was a good day in the bay today,” said Elias.

“In more ways than one.”

Emma stopped eating and looked at Electa.

“Josiah and his son took me sailing around the land that juts out into the bay and to a beach. We tied the boat to the shore, and they took me up a hill to a long plateau area that had all the look of incredible farming land for as far as you can see to the edge of a forest with a marvellous view of the bay. It’s larger than our old farms, and with a view, we never had there either.”

No one spoke. David dug into his fish and potato and sipped his tea with a broad smile. “May I suggest that we pay a visit to Fyler after supper with some fish for his advice on how we should proceed before someone else finds it. It has one big drawback, though. You can’t get there by horse or by walking. Where we’ve landed is separated by a gorge from where our farms would be. There is no bridge to cross there.”

Electa washed the dishes while Emma prepared and cooked more fish for the Dibblees. They stood outside Dibilees’s big tent and clapped their hands. “We come bearing gifts,” said David.

Fyler opened the flap and saw Emma with a dish stacked with pieces of fish and stood to one side as they walked inside. Emma placed the plate on the make-shift table at the end of the tent.

“What kind of fish is it?” said Dibblee’s wife.

“Not sure,” said David. “It’s not Cod but tastes even better than Cod. She sampled a piece, licked her lips, and nodded at Fyler, who used a fork to put a large piece in his mouth. He kept nodding as he swallowed it.

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a cup of tea.

Elias sat down next to Fyler. “You told us to see you when we’ve made up our minds about where we would like to do our farming.”

David added: “It’s situated on a long plateau and goes back a long way. We thought we’d like to claim it before someone else hears about it.”

Fyler Dibblee smiled. “Count on me. I am learned in drafting petitions.

First,” he said, looking at Elias, “you are entitled 200 acres and 200 acres for your son.”

Elias whistled. “That’s greater than our old farm.”

“What about my sister and me?” said David.

“200 acres.”

He took a big bite of the cake and sipped another mouthful of tea. “I suggest we go there with a surveyor and stake it and have your claims recorded.”

“What about tomorrow?”

“You should be aware that the coach cannot reach it. A large gorge separates the land with no bridge available for us to cross over to the town.”

Fyler had risen and was about to lead them out when he stopped. He looked at David.

“We go by boat. I’m partnering with a man and his son in a venture with them. They took me to this place today. It’s marvellous and even overlooks the bay.”

“Then we had better have a chat with Duncan Bedell,” said Fyler. “His tent is not far from here.”

They found Bedell standing outside his tent, smoking a pipe. “These gentlemen would like to talk to you about a property they would like to petition.”

Bedell waved them to join him on a wooden bench on the left side of his tent. “Where is this property?” He was middle-aged with thinning light bornw hair and blue eyes that twinkled with he smiled. He carried an air of auithority in the soundof his voice.

“It’s on a plateau beyond the gorge,” said Fyler.

He took his pipe from his mouth. “I know of this property from the Indians, who called it Mooneguash. I should also tell you that someone else has seen me about that area two days ago. He told me he would be back to me once he arranged for a boat to take us there.”

“Does that mean you can’t help us?” said David. “I was on the property this morning, and there were no signs that anyone else had staked it.”

“How did you get there, if you don’t mind my asking?” Bedell tapped his pipe on the side of his bench.

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“I work with a fisherman and his son. He’ll take us there.”

“How soon would you like me to go?”

“What about tomorrow morning?” said David.

“My fee is two pounds for each petition. If you’re still interested, it’s money before I start.”

David looked at Elias, who nodded. “We’ll pay you at the boat. We’ll be leaving around six in the morning. We’ll be waiting for you at the main pier. Just look for us.”

“I want to go, too,” said Emma. “I’m sure Electa will want to go as well.” She looked at Electa, who smiled back at her. “After all, we’re the ones who’ll be doing most of the work.”

***

Josiah looked at the crowd standing on the pier with David. “We want you to sail us to the beach where we were yesterday. He looked at the people who came with David. “It’ll cost four shillings.”

“That’s fine,” said Elias.

“Also, if any of you get seasick, and we have to come back, it will cost you extra.” Josiah looked at David and nodded. “Hop aboard.”

It was low tide, and Boris went down a ladder to their boat first, followed by Elias, who stood and waited for Electa to climb down. She paused at almost every rung as Elias kept encouraging her to take the next step.

At the bottom rung, he reached out and held her until her feet landed on the boat. He steadied her as the boat moved in the water. David, Emma and Jacob came down next, followed by Dibblee and Bedell, who had to be steadied when they landed on the boat. Josiah lowered Bedell’s equipment to the boat and came down the ladder a few seconds later.

The boat entered the harbour without a sign of a wave. Boris was already unfurling the sail while his father sat at the rear, guiding the rudder. Elias was worried about Electa. Her face had turned white when they rounded the land that jutted out into choppy water before they turned inland where they could see the beach.

The boat sailed along without incident. With a sudden shift in the wind, the sea splashed onto them from time to time. David stood with Boris with a big smile. He was in his element and loved every second of it.

Bedell and Fyler held onto their seats as Bedell’s equipment slid from one side to another. Jacob dipped his hand into the water and tried to touch bubbles from the prow. A white foam whirled in their wake. The wind grew stronger as they headed for shore. David and Boris had to duck as their sail suddenly shifted.

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the boat to the shore. David followed him and helped him pull the boat onto the beach. “Take off your boots and shoes because you’ll be wading through water,” David shouted. Too late for Jacob, who was the first to jump off and stand beside David.

Once on shore, Elias helped Bedell shoulder his equipment as they made their way slowly up the rise to the plateau. It took almost an hour before the land levelled off, and they walked quickly along a path with rich soil on either side. The fields were green, and the forest, some distance from them, showed a thick growth of evergreens.

Electa looked at the field beyond the path and the bay on the other side. Elias watched her closely as she looked at the grassy areas on the right side of the path and the bay’s blue water with a growing smile. She looked at Elias and nodded.

They walked along for a mile further when they came to a small pine growth when Emma stopped. “This is where I would like to call home.”

David nodded at Bedell, who hammered a stake into the ground a short distance from the pines.

“How wide would you like your frontage?”

David stood and tried to envision where their house would be and how much room he would need for the lane into his home and enough space for a garden. He walked along the path to where he thought his frontage would end. He knew all too well Emma’s passion for flowers.

Bedell pounded another stake at the spot, tied a red ribbon on it, and looked at Elias, who pointed to David’s spike. “We want to be close to David.”

Bedell then unrolled his tape, measured the width, sat and took out his pad, and wrote down the length before calculating how far the property would extend back to complete 200 acres.

“When I raise my hands, unhook the tape for me,” said Bedell. He hooked his tape and began walking towards the forest, stopping to drive another stake some distance away and raising his arms. Bedell rewound his tape and walked until he reached the woods, where he raised his arms again. He emerged almost an hour later, driving another stake when he stopped.

He paused to take a long drink of water from his canteen. “You’ll be pleased to know there’s a brook on your property,” he said to Emma and David.” He turned to Elias. “How wide do you want your frontage?”

“About three times the width of David’s. We have to think where Jacob will build when he settles down.”

Bedell went through his calculations and wrote them down on his pad.

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He put the pad in his pocket, grabbed a couple of spikes and ribbons and measured the distance by his tape before hammering an iron spike into the ground and attaching another red ribbon around it.

He then hooked up his tape and asked them to unhook it again when he raised his arms. He disappeared shortly. Josiah and Boris sat down to eat lunch. The others decided to wait for Bedell, who appeared running towards them. The skunk that had been following him turned and disappeared into the forest. He was out of breath when he sat down next to them.

Emma and Electa opened the baskets they brought and offered him a sandwich first. Fyler was smiling. “Were you able to complete everything?”

“Every stake is where it should be, and each with a red ribbon. In the fall, take a walk back there, and you’ll see for ourselves.”

They packed and gathered up their things and started back down the pathway to the beach and their boat floating knee-deep in the water. They drank water from one of the canteens. Emma stuck her foot in the water and out again. She shivered.

“It’s the only way you can get aboard. I’ll go first, get aboard and haul you up as soon as you reach me. Boris offered to carry her to the boat and kept smiling at her. He loaded her feet into the boat first and returned for Electa. Josiah freed the rope from the boat and helped the others get to it before shoving it into deeper water and boarding himself.

“It’s perfect,” Emma kept repeating as she and Electa cooked the rest of the fish and made tea for supper. Electa warmed the burnt potatoes in the fire again and placed one on each plate. Emma added the fish.

They ate quickly and went to see Dibblee and his family to find Fyler snoring on his cot and the family finishing supper. “How did it go?” said Fyler’s wife, wiping the hair to the side of her face.

“Both of the properties we plan to petition have been staked. Bedell will register it with us tomorrow.”

“Poor Fyler,” said his wife, “he’s not used to walking these distances.

It will do him a world of good a couple of days from now,” she added with a sly smile. “I keep telling him he needs to go for a walk every day, but he ignores me.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A

ddison passed through Augusta before it was awake and headed south. A cool south wind brushed his face, and he felt alive again.

They were good people. Probably many more just like them. He felt sorry for Amity and hoped she would find the love she was looking for.

They passed through a village about an hour later, and Addison stopped at a store to see if they had any apples. Young Rob raised his head, sniffed the air, and snorted. The older man at the counter sized him up.

“You’re new to these parts.”

“Just passing through to see my parents. They live quite a distance from here, and I haven’t seen them in years. I’d like to bring them some apples.”

The older man, wearing a neatly trimmed white beard, rubbed his balding head. “You’re the second person who’s asked me for apples. Old Mrs. Collins down the road said her husband had a hankering for some baked apples. Guess your parents would like some as well.”

He walked over to a small barrel with a paper bag. “How many?”

“Fill the bag.”

The older man pushed his glasses up his nose and began filling the bag. “Seen many Tories on your way?”

Addison shook his head. “How much?”

“A shilling. They’re still a bit on the pricey side, but they’ll be coming down any day now when the local crop is ripe.”

Addison passed him a shilling and left with the bag. He mounted Young Rob and had him race down the road. Five miles later, he stopped him and put an apple in his mouth. Young Rob snorted again and glanced back at him. The road was long and tedious, but they reached the coastline around noon. He paused on an embankment and looked out to sea. The air was fresh and had a clean smell, and he drew it in. The wind blew his hair over his face as they turned and headed down the dirt road.

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Just after supper time, he spotted a cove ahead and led Young Rob down the path to the beach. He took out his tinder box and used the sparks from the firesteel to light the tinder. He gathered the dried-out twigs and small driftwood pieces to get a fire under a tree overhung the beach.

He took some bread and ham from his saddlebag and his canteen and used a small dipper he always carried to heat some water. A trickle from a small brook nearby zigzagged its way to the sea. He ate the ham and bread and added some tea leaves to the dipper. Young Rob ate for almost an hour. When he finished, he took Young Rob for a walk along the beach and had him lap up the water from the small brook before leading him closer to shore, where long green grass shivered in the breeze.

Addison walked along the beach and found sudden movements in the sand. Reaching down to remove the sand, he unearthed something in a shell. He scooped it out and threw it on the beach. He scooped out at least a dozen and put them in his pocket, and waved to Young Rob to follow him back to his fire.

He emptied his pocket on the ground and looked closely at the biggest one. It looked like meat to Addison. He put them into a pot and went to the beach, where he used his small scoop to add water to the pot. He stuck his hand in and poured beach water over them. It looked like food to him, and he walked back to his fire and boiled them in seawater. After an hour, he emptied the pot on the ground, slowly opening the largest one, threw away the shell, took the meat inside, and popped it into his mouth. It had a wonderful taste and he ate them all at once. He then decided to scoop up a few more in the morning to take with him.

The fire was dying. Addison added larger lumber pieces and gathered a few more heavy pieces to keep the fire alive throughout the night. He felt safe, put his back against the overhanging tree, and went to sleep almost immediately. Addison woke in the middle of the night when he felt cold and saw that the fire was dying. He added more wood and closed his eyes again.

He was awakened by the sun shining on the water and saw immediately that Young Rob was running through the waves. He went down to the edge of the water and undressed. He shivered. The water was ice cold.

He waded in slowly until he was over his hips and then closed his eyes and slipped under the water. He stuck his head up. The rest of his body felt warm. He rubbed the water from his eyes and waved to Young Rob to join him. His horse splashed water in his eyes as he passed him. Addison grabbed his tail as Young Rob headed for the shore. Addison lay on the beach to dry himself. He walked up to his fire and added two more pieces 136

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of driftwood to it. It flared and snapped suddenly, and he stood back. He rubbed the sand off his body and changed his clothes for the day ahead.

They ate breakfast quickly and headed up the dirt road before mounting him. The road was becoming wider as they headed North, and people were riding in both directions. They were off in a flash again and didn’t stop to eat until late afternoon.

Two riders passed him, going in the opposite direction. He heard one of them say, “we must be at least 20 miles from the border.”

Addison looked back at them and smiled. Twenty or so miles to go, he said to himself. They rode to see the setting sun, stopping once to rest and feed Young Rob. It was getting dark when he heard hoofbeats behind him.

He quickened his pace automatically and heard them shouting to him.

There were shouts of “horse thief” as he nudged Young Rob into top speed. He heard musket fire and the whistle of bullets passing to the side of him. More musket fire as two other shots whizzed by him.

He kept up the pace until he could see a barrier that marked the border and three soldiers guarding it. “It’s now or never, Young Rob,” he whispered as he galloped towards the barricade. The soldiers had their muskets aimed at him as Young Rob scattered them with his hooves as he flew over the barricade and landed running on the other side. Addison spotted two men dressed in red, aiming their muskets at him. He pulled on the reins, and Young Rob slowed to a slow pace.

A young British soldier with a bayonet stuck to the barrel pointed his musket at him. “Declare yourself.”

“I am fleeing the colonies for good. My name is Addison Wright from Massachusetts. My father, Elias Wright and my mother, Electa and my younger brother, Jacob, boarded a ship bound for the mouth of the St. John River and are waiting for me there.”

“Get off your horse,” said the soldier on the other side of him.

Addison dismounted slowly, still holding the reins of his horse.

The first soldier lowered his musket. “Follow me,” he said, leading him to a small hut a short distance down the road. Addison noticed as he led Young Rob that his leg was bleeding.

He bent down and pointed to his horse’s leg. The soldier waited and looked down himself. “We’ll tend to that later. Right now, you will be the guest of our sergeant.”

The soldier rapped on the door and entered. His sergeant sat behind a desk with a window on the left wall that let in light from outside. The sergeant wore a sandy-coloured mustache that curled up the side of his nose, and he had a deep, barking voice and dark, piercing eyes that went with it.

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Two candles on each side of his desk burned brightly.”

He looked at the soldier. “And who might this be?”

“He jumped the barrier with a mob after him. We could hear someone shouting ‘horse thief’ faintly. He claims his people are already in Parrtown.”

The sergeant stood. A tall man, well over six feet. “Is what he tells me true?”

Addison raised his head. “A group of men held me up on my here.

They took all I had and my horse and left me with the clothes on my back.

It was nightfall, and I walked the night through. Young Rob – my horse’s name -- managed to escape by chewing through the rope they tied him to.

The rope is still around his mouth. He’s very smart and runs like the wind.

But I fear that one of the balls from the muskets they fired has hit his left front.”

Sgt. Porter looked at the soldier, who nodded. “Who were these people?” he said, turning to Addison.

“I’m not sure. I met other gangs like that all the way here. What they’re really after is Young Rob.” Sgt. Porter moved from behind his desk. “I must see this wonder.” He led them out of the hut looked Young Rob all over, rubbing his flanks as he went and held Young Rob’s head. He then untied the rope and saw the strings where Young Rob had chewed. He bent down on one knee and inspected the wound on his leg. He looked up at Addison. “Help me lie him down. I think he’ll give me a problem if you’re not there to help him.” He looked up at the soldier. “Go into my hut and get my knife and my Brandy bottle. “ He poured some Brandy over his knife and Young Rob’s wound before sticking the point of his knife into the wound. Young Rob whinnied, and his body shook as Porter flipped out the musket ball. “I saw our regimental doctor do that to someone once,” he said to Addison. “If you have something to wrap his leg in, it would help him heal faster. And you might think about bunking with us for the night. We’ll check him again in the morning.”

They walked back in silence and sat at his desk. “I don’t do things like this very often, as my group will tell you. But that horse of yours is a oncein-a-lifetime mount.”

“I know. He’s saved me too many times to count. And even if we’re separated for some reason, he always knows where to find me.”

“I believe your story. It’s plain to see that you’ve been through a lot.

When did your folks leave for the St. John River?”

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“On April 27 on a ship called Union. “ “I was there when it arrived. So you can put your mind at ease.” He looked at the soldier. ”George, here, will take you to our sleeping quarters, introduce you to the others and find you a bunk.”

There were four others in the hut. They had been up since supper and were sitting around a table lit by a single lamp. They listened to Addison talk about his journey, how the gang tried to steal his horse, and how Young Rob found him after he had walked all night.

After a solid night’s sleep, he woke by someone banging on a pan.

The others were rubbing their eyes and taking their time washing at buckets in front of the hut. They all shaved in front of a small mirror on the wall. George lent him his soap and razor after he had finished. While this was going on, the cook had just finished making porridge and filling their bowls. There was also a mug of tea at an empty place beside George.

He unwound the bandage, inspected it carefully, poured more Brandy on it, and rebandaged it. He left the hut to see Sgt. Porter looking at Young Rob’s leg.

Porter rose from his knee as Addison approached him. “By rights, he should be resting for at least another day but I understand you want to get to your family. To be on the safe side, I’d walk him today. And recheck him in the morning and decide what to do.”

Porter shot out his hand, and Addison shook it for a full minute.

“Speaking for Young Rob, thank you for what you did for him. I’ll mention this to my parents and their friends. He has a friend named Dibblee, who appears to be important. I’ll mention it to him as well.”

“That name is important somehow.” Sgt. Porter shook his head and shook his hand again.

They headed down the dirt road, trying to stay along the coastline.

Shortly before noon, Addison spotted a small fishing village that fronted the road. He stopped to let Young Rob feast on the green grass on the other side of the dirt road. Addison looked down towards the beach, where he saw a small group of men getting their nets together. He ran down and asked them how many miles was it to the St. John River.

“A good 100 miles,” said the oldest man.”Only been there once. Had to hire a boat to get me to the town. That was enough for me.” He returned to laying out his nets aboard his boat.

“Heard they had a lot of people land there a few weeks ago. People from the Boston states. Is that where you’re heading?” said a young fisherman with a thin dark brown beard and laughing eyes.

“There’s a place about 20 miles from here, where you can spend the night.”

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“Are you walking or riding?”

“Walking for the moment. My horse is laid up with a bad left front leg.”

The older man nodded. “It’s a pretty lonely journey. You won’t find many people on the road. If you do, they’ll want to talk your head off.” He spit on the pebbles and went back loading his boat.

The road narrowed into a path as they headed along the coast with no signs of another village. They stopped just before it got dark. Addison looked for a place to spend the night. His concern was not about robbers or killers but animals. Ahead he saw a deer jump across a narrow brook that flowed down to the bay.

It was only a short distance away, and he ran down the slope to the beach to have a look. The tide came in and flowed across the rocks a few feet away. It was too close to take a chance, and he decided to find another spot.

Back on the path, he spied what looked like a small hut of some kind ahead. It had a slanted roof covered with thick branches and on both sides It was built under a tree and showed signs of an earlier fire in front, and he looked around to see no signs of life and gathered twigs and moss and some old fallen branches and lit a fire.

Addison stuck his hand into his food bag. The only thing he had left to eat was some hard bread. Addison used his knife to cut it into pieces and gave some to Young Rob. That’s when he remembered the apples. He bit into one and fed two to his horse.

The fire was blazing and cast its light throughout his shelter. He sat with his back against the tree trunk and went to sleep, waking when he felt cold to add wood to the fire.

Morning came early, and he checked Young Rob’s leg before heading out. The path began to widen again, and the sun warmed his bones. Young Rob picked up his speed, and Addison had to run to keep up with him. If he still showed improvement, he would chance mounting him again.

They met two young boys walking along the embankment. “Is there a store handy here?”

“Just up the road apiece.” They looked very young. And both had red hair.

“Hop aboard my horse and lead us there.”

They ran to him, and he lifted them both on the saddle. “Hold tight. I don’t want either of you to fall.”

Five minutes later, they pointed ahead. “There it is, mister.”

He tied Young Rob to the post and took them off. They followed him 140

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inside. A young woman sat on a stool behind the desk and smiled at him when he entered.

“I see you’ve brought along my two sons. I hope they didn’t bother you.”

“Not at all. I was looking for a store, and they helped me find you.

They’re very bright.” Addison paused and looked around. “Would you have any cooked chicken or ham?”

The young woman opened a stand-alone oven to the right of her. “I have both.”

“I’ll take both. Along with some fresh bread and raw carrots.”

He went out to get his saddlebags and stuffed everything in them.

“You sound like a hungry man,” she said. She was dressed in a long woollen dress and a blue jacket. Her oval face and hazel eyes smiled at him.

“I’ve come a long way. My father and mother and younger brother landed at the mouth of the St. John River a while ago, and I’m on my way to be with them. I can’t wait to see them.”

I’d like to buy some sweets for my navigators.”

“There’s no need –“ “I think my horse and I would like some, too. He deserves it.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

F

yler Dibblee was all smiles. He unfolded the letter from the Governor about their petitions and put his pince-nez on his nose to read the contents to them.

“Does that mean that our petitions have been granted?” said Elias, taking a sidelong glance at David.

“It most certainly does. And here is the Governor’s seal,” Fyler rolled up the parchment and deposited it in a wood box and locked it. “It will be safe with me.”

“We owe you everything. We are prepared to pay our fee now if you wish.”

“You have lost everything, including family,” he said to Elias. “If you insist on paying me for my services, provide me with enough potatoes and carrots for my family to see us through the coming winter, which, they tell me, is long and very cold. Certainly not what we’ve been used to.”

“Will you be residing in the city?” said David.

“I have a lot behind the the park, and work has already been started on it. You can see what they’ve done so far if you go outside. I want you and your families to join my family and me when we take possession of it.

We’ve been through a lot together. My wife and I do not want to lose you as friends.”

They left to see Josiah and Boris. Josiah told them where to find the lumber they would need for their homes. “Alpheus Chapman runs a lumber yard just up from the harbour. Tell him I sent you and that you need lumber for your houses. He’ll get it for you. And if you need help with the building, Boris and I are available. We’re now in June, and you and Elias need to plough the ground and get it ready for seeding. Otherwise, you 142

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won’t have much to eat come winter.”

They went up to see Chapman before seeing their families. He was busy talking to another Loyalist and approached them when the man left.

“Sorry to keep you waiting but I’ve been up to my neck with orders. I suppose you’re looking for lumber, too.”

“Josiah Cain told us you’re the man to go to,” said David.

“How do you know Josiah?” said Chapman.

“I work with him and his son, Boris. He’s been a wonderful friend as well,” said David.

“I’m married to his sister,” said Chapman. “He’s a great man once you get used to his ways.” He had a ready smile, blue eyes and fine blond hair, which was receding. His shop smelled of sawdust, which he kept rubbing off his vest.

“Tell you what. Before you place an order for anything, I want you to go back to your tents, draw the floor plan for your homes, and note the size of each room. That goes double if you want a second story. Then come back to see me. Even so, you might be wise to build a log cabin to see you through the winter before starting a proper house. *** Elias already knew the size before he talked to Electa. “I intend to copy the same house we had before, with the same kitchen and same parlour downstairs and the same bedrooms we occupied before,” he said.

“I think we should have a big window at the front where we can sit in the parlour to look at the bay and watch the ships sail by,” said Electa with the sound of hope in her voice.

“The owner of the lumberyard recommends we build a log cabin to see us through the winter before starting on our home.”

Elias placed the only candle next to him and used their counter to write on. He drew an outline of the bottom floor. Then drew the kitchen and parlour and the sizes for each room. Upstairs was a bit more complicated. He had to provide the stairs and where they ended on the second floor. Then the rooms for them and two, in case Tabitha comes to visit us.

“It’s times like this that I miss Tabitha and Charlotte. Do you think Addison will ever come and live with us?”

“You never know,” said Elias. “But come and see what I’ve drawn.

Now’s your chance to make any changes you want.”

Electa stopped crying and studied his outline. “What will we do for furniture? I’d like the kitchen and parlour a bit bigger. Especially the kitchen so I can include a place to store things.” He paused.

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my biggest concern is putting in a crop. It’s June, and I haven’t put a seed in the ground. We depended on our horse for ploughing at our old farm, but there’s no way in the world we’re ever going to get a horse on Josiah’s boat or across that gorge. Maybe David and I can help each other.”

In the morning, he and David went to see Chapman. Elias unfolded the drawing he made and placed it on Chapman’s desk.

He studied Elias’s drawing carefully.“Where do you plan to build your fireplace?”

Elias pointed his finger at the South wall of the kitchen.

“Will you be building the chimney? I need to know how much space for it.”

Chapman then studied David’s drawing. It was not as large. Elias glanced at it and suggested he make both the downstairs and upstairs larger. “You never know what the coming years may hold. Two years from now, you may be married with a child on the way.”

Chapman looked up and nodded. “Tell Josiah I will unload some of the lumber you need for the house on his wharf first thing in the spring.”

Josiah was getting ready to leave when they arrived at his boat. “A message from your brother-in-law,” said David. “He asked me to tell you that he’ll have a load of lumber for you to take to us in the spring.”

“You might also want to hire us to take the lumber up to your site.”

David looked at Elias, who nodded.

“Then leave everything to us.”

***

Josiah and Boris used a raft to tie down a plough, four shovels, seed, axes and a saw.

“Before you do anything, I suggested you dig a trench to mark the walls of your cabin,” said Josiah. “Once you’ve done that, you will need to go into the woods and cut down enough logs to build your walls.”

“I think we should build it long enough to include two large rooms – a large bedroom for all of us and a big kitchen, where you’ll be spending a lot of time in the winter. This way,” added Josiah, “you’ll have a real roof over your heads and enough food to see you through the Winter.”

Josiah and Boris helped them turn the first sod for their garden and helped them bring other instruments up the hill. Electa and Emma also used shovels to turn the sod in the field for their garden, next to where they planned to build their home.

The sun was getting hot now, and they worked without stopping, wiping the sweat off their foreheads as they turned the sod in the large 144

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patch of ground. The earth below was dark and rich, and Emma felt it in her hands and smelled it. Electa looked at her and smiled. “This is very rich soil, and it will yield great crops. It’s certainly better than what we had at our old home.”

“If we only had a horse,” said Emma. “It would be so much easier.”

They worked until past supper time. Emma’s hands were becoming blistered, and she poured water over them. She showed Electa her hands.

Electa passed her a dirty rag she used for things like this. “Wrap it around your hands.”

The rag helped a lot. A breeze from the bay cooled her, and she went back turning up the sod. She looked up suddenly. She rubbed her eyes and dried her cheeks. A man sitting on a black horse was watching them.

He started his horse. It was Addison, his clothes, torn and dirty, looking at them and trying to smile.

She ran towards him just as Addison jumped off his horse and ran towards her.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“S

o, the prodical son has returned,’ said Fyler Dibblee, calling his wife out of their tent, who looked at Addison’s torn and dirty clothes and hugged him. “You have no idea how welcome you are.”

Fyler looked him over. “I can see that you’ve gone through hell and back to get here.” He looked at his wife. “It’s time for a celebration. He who was lost to us has come back to us.”

That night they sat out on the grass beside their tents. Addison sat between Jacob and Emma, who grabbed his hand and winced. He looked at the blisters on her hands and took her hands in his. Electa smiled and hugged him for the tenth time.

“Tell us about Tabitha and Charlotte,” said his mother.

“When I left, Charlotte was walking and even more beautiful than you and Tabitha. But I must get something from my saddlebags. He found the pouch containing Tabitha’s letter and brought it to his mother, who opened the bag and withdrew it. She unfolded it carefully. She started to read it out loud.

“She‘s pregnant again. You couldn’t bring me anything better than this.”

He also showed his father, a copy of the undertaking between him and Tabitha. Elias passed it to Fyler, who returned to Addison. ”I’m also pleased to tell you, Addison, that you can also petition the governor for 200 acres. It will come in handy if you ever decide to get married,” he said with a sly smile.

Emma squeezed Addison’s hand and looked him in the face. “Yes, or No before all these people. Will you marry me?”

“But first, I need to rest and get my strength back.”

“You’ll also need to register yourself as a Loyalist in the morning. I’ll take you there myself and vouch for you. We also need to see Bedell again and get him to come and stake your claim, right beside your father’s.”

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“I’m worried about Young Rob. It’s the first time we’ve not been together for weeks. He saved my life more than once. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today.” He had tied him inside a clump of trees that reminded him of an Indian teepee. “I’d also like to see him tomorrow if that’s possible.”

“We’ll be on-site first thing in the morning. It would be best if you rested tomorrow, and I’ll see to Young Rob,” said Elias. He knows me, and I’ll bring him something special.”

“Let him rest for a couple of days. He’s been through a lot as well.”

“Tell us what happened when you returned and why you decided to come to us,” said Elias.

“It got far worse,” said Addison. “A mob tried to burn down our house, and your friend, Haddon, saved me from being lynched by a lawless group. I signed your property over to Tabitha, and she signed another, deeding it back to me should we return. That’s when I decided to leave and join you all here.”

He paused, debating whether to tell them about the hardships he faced coming to them by land. “I was lucky when I finally found you. I wasn’t sure I could go much further.”

His mother put her arms around him. “You’re safe now. Your journey is over, and you’ll never have to face this ever again. We’ve met a lot of wonderful people here.”

“When you’re rested, you can join us,” said Elias. David and I are building a log cabin, similar to the one my grandfather built at the old farm. Your mother and Emma have been digging up the land near the cabin and getting it ready for seeding. Young Rob will make all the difference.

We’ve been told the growing season is not as long here, and if we don’t get it seeded in time, we won’t have enough food to last the winter.”

***

Elias smiled at Bedell and told him to drive the first stake for Addison’s 200 acres next to his own. A week later, a dense grey fog had drifted in from the bay. Addison shivered and followed Bedell around his land grant.

“Tomorrow, we’ll get it registered in your name, and Fyler can send your petition to the Governor in Halifax,” said Bedell. “What do you think of your holding?”

“I never dreamed it would be so large.”

Elias and David returned, using Young Rob to drag some large logs they had cut down to the place where they planned to build the cabin. Elias 147

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had bought two curved steel blades with wooden handles to debark and smooth out both sides of each log. It was a long and tedious process that gave them plenty of blisters until they learned to wear gloves.

Addison left them went into the forest to bring back more logs. This process went on for almost a month when he and Young Rob alternated between hauling logs and turning enough soil for an extensive garden, including ten long rows of potatos. It was certainly large enough to keep them all in food until next summer.

Based on Elias’s drawing, Elias created two sawhorses to lay the logs on and saw them to specific lengths. They concentrated on the back wall first, using 42-foot logs.

They chopped niches at the ends of each log, placed them on top of each other, and then sawed the same number of 15-foot logs, which were also niched and fitted into the niches of the back logs.

Next came the front, where the logs were sawed in 19.5-inch lengths, the sides debarked, smoothed out and niched to fit the width logs.

Emma watched them from the garden. “But there are holes between each of the logs,” said Emma. “it will let in the cold air.”

“That’s the next step,” said Elias. “We’ll use mortar to fill in all the slits in the walls. That will keep out the cold and snow. Before we’re done, it will have a strong door with a handle on it. He founded a place at the back for a chimney for our fireplace and use more mortar and build it with all the stones you unearth from your garden.

Inside they built three rooms, a room for David and Emma, a communial kitchen -- the largest room in their cabin – and a bedroom for Elias, Electa, Jacob and Addison.

***

‘When are you two getting married?” said Fyler Dibblee off-handly at their farewell supper with him at the park.

Emma looked at Addison, who knelt and asked Emma to marry him.

Emma kissed him and hugged him close. Jacob danced around them, yelling, “Emma and Addison are getting married.”

Some of their neighbours heard and stuck their heads inside Fyler’s tent. “Come on in, everyone,” he said, digging out two bottles of Whiskey as his wife counted out everyone and placed 16 glasses on their makeshift table. Fyler poured them all a Whiskey and passed the glasses around. He raised his glass. “To Emma and Addison.” And then, as an afterthought, “when is the wedding?”

“In October. After harvest.”

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“You’ll be so tired, you won’t be able to make the most of it,” said a voice from the back. Everyone laughed.

Emma blushed and bowed her head. Addison put his arm around her and held her close. She left and returned a few minutes later with her flute and began to play. Everyone went silent as Emma put her lips to the mouthpiece. She started with Greensleeves, Addison’s favourite.

Emma put down her flute and inserted it into its case three hours later. More people had gathered outside when they heard the music, learned what it was about, and joined in the shouts for several different songs.

Many of them were from a bygone era and their lives in New England.

***

Over the next few weeks, they met with other young people their age and went to dances where the army band played music they could dance to. They were also invited to many of their homes, some of which had already been built close to the park. They chummed mostly with Deborah Craig and Miles Seeley. They were the same age and were also planning to get married. Emma had asked Deborah to be her bridesmaid, and they saw a lot of each other after that. Emma and Addison became frequent guests at Deborah’s home for supper during August. Addison brought fresh new lettuce and Emma, her flute, which she played at the end of the evening.

In early September, Stuart Craig held a special dinner for Emma and her brother and Addison’s mother and father. Tyler, whom Craig knew, was also invited along with his wife. They were golden moments, and everyone knew they would remember this time for many years.

The Craig’s dining room had a long mahogany table that gleamed in the light of the chandelier. The table had a white linen cloth and silver that shone in the light. Craig went around and filled everyone’s glass with wine before standing to toast Emma and Addison. Everyone stood, Emma’s face flushed, and she was unsure what to do. Deborah patted her on her arm and smiled at her.

“I have another announcement,” said Craig, a handsome man in his late 40s, with shining black hair tied behind with red ribbons. He had beautiful dark eyes that always seemed to smile at you.

He glanced at a portrait of the King and nodded. “To His Majesty,” he said, raising his glass again. He then paused. “I am very proud to announce the engagement of my daughter to Miles Seeley, an up-and-coming young lawyer with his eye on high government office one day. He raised his glass again and nodded to Miles’s parents. “To Deborah and Miles.”

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smiled at her. She touched her toe with hers. “When is the big date?” she whispered in the noise that followed.

“Not sure. After yours but before Christmas. He wants to honeymoon in Jamaica.”

Miles sat down next to Addison and ate with him. “When’s the big day for you two?”

“Right after the first week in October. We will be married in town and will hold our wedding dinner at the Fort Howe Hotel.”

“Who will be your best man?”

“I was thinking about asking you,” said Addison.

“I would be honoured.” Then after a pause: “It’s very fitting.”

Craig stood. “I have hired two violin players to entertain us.

Two young men, dressed in black breeches and doublets, entered from the kitchen and started playing as they walked in. Craig nodded to Emma.

She rose and began playing her flute along with them. Everyone started clapping and singing.

Craig and his wife rose and started dancing. Emma dropped her flute and danced with Addison. They made a square with Deborah and Miles during the next dance and suddenly found themselves the only ones dancing. The others had seated themselves and were clapping in tune with the violins. The night seemed to go on forever.

There were stars in Emma’s eyes as they took their leave and headed back to their tents. “Such wonderful people,” she said kissing him good night. “I wish we could be friends with Deborah and Miles forever. It won’t be so easy once we move into the cabin. Maybe we should have got a plot closer to the park.”

Addison didn’t reply. He was not a city person and did not want to be. Maybe she would change her mind once they settled in. And there was no reason why they could not go into town and visit them. But for the moment, he would let things lie.

Emma and Deborah spent their days together, talking about their wedding dresses and visiting the only wedding dress shop owner in town, whose shop was just off the left side of the square. They went through his latest book of popular wedding dresses in London for an hour before deciding on one they liked. All the ones they looked at were expensive.

Emma seemed restless for the next few days but made no further reference about living in the city.

Isaac Albright, the shop owner, took them into his fitting area and had his assistant take their measurements and then into his backroom, where they could see all the popular cloths. Deborah held up each one against 150

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Emma’s shoulders before finding one she liked. Deborah then got her to look at her choice in a long mirror. Emma had to agree.

Mr. Albright nodded when he saw the bolt of lace under her neck. “It’s expensive. Eleven pounds.”

Emma could feel herself blush. It was far more than she expected. She would have to talk to her brother about it. “ David and Addison had just come back to the square. David looked tired out, more than Emma had ever seen him before. “You don’t look good.” She felt David’s forehead. It burned to the touch.

“Get out of your clothes and get into bed. I’ll get supper for you. He started coughing and was in a cold sweat. She tried to remember what her father told her when she helped him with his patients. When David began coughing up yellowish-green mucus, she knew it was pneumonia.

When she returned with Electa, he was experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains.

“It’s pneumonia,” said Emma. “That’s what my father called it. You should leave. It’s very contagious.”

Electa shook her head. “You go to his other side, and we’ll get him to sit up. This will help him breathe better. Forget about supper for him. He will have no appetite for food.”

“You sound like my father,” said Emma, trying to smile. “He used to get us to wear masks over our faces with patients like this.

“I’ll get Addison. He had a terrible infection in his lungs before we came here. My daughter’s father-in-law mixed a potion of herbs he learned from the Indians, which cured him. Maybe someone in the park might know.”

Electa left and returned with Addison, wearing masks. “We’ll look after him while you get something to eat.”

Emma shook her head. “My place is with David.”

Addison ignored her and led her outside. “You’re not doing much good for him sitting beside his bed. Let’s go around all the tents and see if we can find someone who may know how to treat it.”

They stood outside each tent and asked if they knew how to treat pneumonia. Near the front, they encountered a soldier and asked him. “There’s a doctor, only a few tents from here on the right side. He might know.”

There was no response from the first seven tents they visited. At the eighth, a head emerged from the tent. “Did I hear you say pneumonia?”

“Yes,” said Emma in a clear voice. “My brother. He’s breathing hard and coughing up a greenish-yellow mucus.”

He nodded before disappearing, opened his tent, and approached 151

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them with a small bag in his right hand. “Lead on,” he said as he followed them down the pathway. “How do you know it was pneumonia?”

“My father was a doctor, and I helped him when he treated patients.

“I know it’s very contagious.”

Has anyone else been in contact with him?”

“Just my mother,” said Addison. “And she is wearing a mask.”

Addison opened the flap to David’s tent a few minutes later and followed the doctor inside. He put on a mask and looked at David closely.

He could hear him wheeze with almost every breath. “It’s pneumonia, all right.” He opened his bag and felt around the bottles inside, producing a bottle. “I think this is the one. I will need a bit of water and a glass to mix this in.”

“What is it?” said Emma.

“Something I created to help people breathe more easily. I want you to know that I have used it only once, which was on someone here. It seemed to help her. If you are willing to take the chance, I’m prepared to give this to him. But let me say again, I cannot guarantee that it will cure his pneumonia.”

Emma looked at Addison, who was nodding.

“Go ahead,” said Emma.

He took a spoon and fed him the liquid slowly between coughs. When he was finished, he stood and looked at Emma. “Are you his wife?”

Emma shook her head. “His sister. He is all that I have left in the world.”

“I’ll look in on him again in the morning.”

“What is your fee for this,” said Addison.

“More than you can pay. Just let me know if it works.”

***

Electa was already up and was talking to Emma outside their tent. After a difficult and uncertain night in the morning, Addison got dressed in a hurry and went outside. The fog had rolled in from the harbour and with it a dampness that coated the benches and the outside their tents. Seagulls were flying above the trees, looking for food from the tents. The voices of people walking down the pathway ushered in a new day.

“How is David?”

Emma smiled. “He’s breathing a lot easier, and he’s not coughing the way he was, although he’s still bringing up mucus. His fever has also come down.”

“Is he able to receive visitors?”

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“Perhaps tomorrow. But I’d like to see if he continues to progress first.”

“Let’s tell the doctor how he looks now and what he thinks.”

They found his tent a few minutes later. A building was being erected on the other side of the road, and the sound of hammering crowded the air.

Addison approached his tent flap. “Doctor?”

They turned and walked slowly back to their tents. There was no sound from inside. Emma grabbed Addison’s arm. “I see him coming towards us.”

They met him halfway. He was walking with a bright brown cane with a silver top and dressed like her father. He had a soothing voice and had light brown hair with blue eyes. He looked at Emma and smiled. “Your brother is coming back to life. It all depends on today. If he gets worse, make sure you come for me.”

“You look worried, doctor.”

“I just lost the other person I was treating for pneumonia. She died while I was feeding her my potion. I hope your brother fares better.”

He reached into his pocket, produced his card, and gave it to her. “It’s my old card. I don’t have an office yet but hope to occupy an office before the month is out.” He doffed his hat and went on his way.

When they reached Emma’s tent, they entered to see Electa feeding David some broth. David kept rubbing his hands. “They’re cold. So are my feet.”

“The doctor was so nice,” said Electa. He checked David all over and listened to his heart. And he’s so gentlemanly in every way. Maybe it won’t be so bad here after all. Addison, should I get sick, I want him as my doctor.”

Emma and Addison laughed. David tried but failed.

“We’ll do the cooking, Emma. You just look after your brother.” Then, after a pause: “I almost forgot. He mixed another potion for you to give his potion to David just after supper. He said it would help him sleep as well as improve.”

When they returned to their tent, Elias peeled potatoes and talked to himself. “How about David?”

“He’s coming along,” said Electa. “The doctor has high hopes that he will recover.”

“I’ve also got news. A friend popped by to give it to me. General Benedict Arnold has come to town and has opened a tavern further down King Street.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

M

iles Seeley appeared at their tent first thing in the morning, asking for Emma.

She’s in the next tent, Miles. Anything wrong?” said Addison.

Miles broke into tears. “It’s Deborah. She came down with pneumonia and died yesterday.”

Addison put his arm around him and walked to Emma’s tent. He opened the flap and asked her to come out. When she appeared, Emma knew something was wrong as soon as she saw Miles’s face.

“It’s Deborah, Emma. She came down with pneumonia and died yesterday morning. The doctor came and gave her a potion, but it didn’t seem to work.” He started crying again.

Emma put her arms around him until he recovered and wiped his eyes. “My brother also came down with it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Her doctor also gave him a potion also, and it seems to be helping him.”

“Where did the pneumonia come from?” said Addison.

“One of the violinists, a newcomer, had pneumonia but did not know it until the next day. The doctor suggested that your brother and Deborah got it from him somehow at our dinner.”

“Will they be having a funeral service for her?” said Emma. “We would like to go.”

“Two days from now. Her mother and father are having a difficult time dealing with this. The minister at Trinity suggested they wait a day or two longer to help them in their hour of grief.”

“We will be coming as well as my mother and father.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.”

Emma was ready to cry and entered her tent. Addison followed her in and told his mother about Deborah. A cool breeze from the harbour swept 154

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through the tent. Her mother ladled her a bowl of soup and made her sit at the table and eat it. David moved in his cot and began to cough again.

Emma finished her soup and felt David’s head. She looked carefully at his face and lifted one of his eyelids. His eyes also looked better. But in her heart, she knew the body was a mysterious place with a grammar all its own. “Tomorrow will tell the tale,” as her father often said to her.

Electa had left them to talk to Elias, who returned with Jacob. “We want you to know that we will be going with you to the funeral service and where they bury her. You are our family now, and you can always depend on us to be there for you every step of the way.

That night Emma gave him another dose of the doctor’s medicine. She checked him in the middle of the night. David was breathing easier now and was in a deep sleep and woke when she heard him move again. David had pushed down the covers and smiled at her. She went to him and kissed his forehead.

“I’m hungry.” He stroked his beard and asked for a mirror. He looked at himself and shook his head. “I think I also need a razor. How long have I been out?”

“Two days. You’ve been recovering from a bad case of pneumonia and were saved by a doctor in our group with one of his potions. He plans to stop by this morning and look in on you. He’ll be happy to see you. One of the other persons who came down with it died the day after.” Emma paused before beginning: “It was Deborah.”

She rose and found a pair of scissors and began trimming his beard.

“I’ll take it from here. I need a basin of hot water, some soap and my razor.

Fifteen minutes later, he was cleanly shaven and spooning down the soup Electa had made the day before.

The doctor opened their tent flap and peered in about an hour later. “I see our patient has recovered.”

David slid off his cot to shake his hand and thank him but was ordered back in bed and ordered to stay there for two more days. “You will know when you can get up and walk a few steps. If it makes you hard to breathe, get back to bed at once and stay there for at least another day before trying again.” He turned to Emma before leaving. “If there is any change, let me know.”

The day before the funeral, Emma received a letter from Deborah’s parents, asking her to have lunch with them. It was delivered by a messenger, who waited for a reply. “Please tell Mr. and Mrs. Craig that Addison and I would be delighted to dine with them at that time.”

“The invitation is for you only,” said the messenger.

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“I would prefer to have Addison with me. But if that is what they wish, I am happy to oblige them.”

“Can you think of any reason why they want to see me,” said Emma when Electa came to see how David was progressing.

“I think they feel you are the closest person to her daughter and would feel comforted by your presence.” *** “I don’t think they particularly want to see me,” said Addison, “but I’ll always go wherever you wish. It means I will need to change my clothes.

I’ll be back at 11.30, so be ready.”

Emma kissed him and returned to her tent in time to see the doctor heading in her direction. She waved to him, and he waved back. She waited for him outside before going in. “David looks and acts like his old self.”

She led him inside. The doctor went to David, checked his pulse, felt his forehead, and smiled as he turned to Emma. “I’d say he’s ready for just about anything. But ask him to stay one more day in bed and then get up and face the world again. Should he relapse, notify me immediately. You have my card.”

Shortly after 11 o’clock, Emma dressed and made up her face before going into Addison’s tent. She looked stunning in her petticoat and knew it. Addison was just putting on his doublet when she popped her head inside. She put her arm in his as she walked down the pathway. She glanced at Addison, who had fixed his gaze on the man ahead of them. Several women glanced and smiled at her, and Emma felt good about herself and her future.

He turned to her. “He walks like someone I know. Just can’t remember exactly.”

The man turned at the end of the park and turned right. In that brief minute, he knew who it was. Abijah Babbit. His heart began to race. He quickened his pace.

“Slow down, Addison. I casn’t keep up with you.”

Addison slowed down and caught Babbit glance at him before he broke into a run.

“You’re a saint to walk me here and wait for me,” said Emma when they reached Craig’s home, a large, three-storey house with stain-glass windows and two large chimneys. She rapped on the door and was admitted by a servant, who led her upstairs to the dining room.

Emma looked around the room; its dark green plastered walls with paintings of the English countryside and a large portrait of the King on the wall behind the end of the table, where Deborah’s father sat. The Craigs 156

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came in together. Deborah’s mother smiled at her and invited her to sit next to her. “It’s where Deborah always sat,” she smiled.

A servant poured French wine into special wine glasses, and Deborah’s father raised his glass to her. “It’s almost like having our daughter with us again,” he said with a slight bow.

They talked about her family and where she lived in the Boston states.

“My father was a doctor, and I often helped him with his patients.

They were both charged with being British spies and imprisoned. David and I were given one week to leave our estate, and confiscating them. We decided to come here and hope to build a new life for ourselves here and our parents, should they ever be freed. This was at the behest of my father.

Let me quote his exact words: Leave this troubled land and never look back.”

“What are your plans?” said Deborah’s father, who wore a grey wig and a brilliant yellow vest coat. He was almost bald and was clean shaven.

His grey eyes had a coldness about them that made you feel careful about what you said in his presence.

“David and I will build our own farm home on a lot grant from the Crown across the gorge. We plan to build next to the Wrights and stay with them until our houses are built. Addison Wright and I will be married after the harvest.”

Neither of them said anything for almost a minute. Mr. Craig glanced at his wife before turning to her. “We would like to offer you an alternative,” he began slowly.

“We would like to adopt you as our daughter. You remind us of Deborah in so many ways,” Mrs. Craig cut in.

“You would live with us, have your own room and have more money and clothes you would ever have if you marry Mr. Wright.”

“But I am deeply in love with Addison. And the more I am with him, the more I love him. He is a rare human being.”

“Would you, at least, do this for us? Would you not give us our answer today. Think about it for a week or two and then visit us with your answer,” said Mr. Craig.

“We plan to leave for England at the end of September. We would like you to go with us.”

The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour. Emma rose and looked at them fondly. “I will think it over and give you my answer in two weeks.

They both saw her out. Mrs. Craig hugged her and closed the door behind her.

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he saw her come out of Craig’s porch. “You’re face is red. What happened?”

“They want to adopt me and live with them. And to marry someone else. I was about to refuse when Mr. Craig asked me to think about it for a couple of weeks and let them know then.“ “I told them that I have every intention of marrying you and that l loved you deeply. They even offered me a trip to London in the fall.”

Addison wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close. They were too busy to notice a man dressed in a black doublet being ushered into Craig’s house.

They sang the rest of the way to the park, stopping at Elias’s tent to tell Addison’s mother. Electa just shook her head and returned to darning Jacob’s socks. “What did you tell them?” said Elias.

“What do you think? They asked me to think it over for a couple of weeks and give my answer then. “They wanted me to become a substitute for their daughter. It meant giving up David and Addison, and I am not prepared to do either.” Emma was getting red in the face, and her voice grew louder at the thought of it. She looked at Electa. “You have been more of a mother to me than my own mother, who left David and me to look after ourselves.” She stopped. “I need to calm down before I tell David.”

Electa poured her a tea and a plate of scones before Emma returned.

Elias rose from his cot. Electa looked at him. “I think someone should tell Fyler and get a record of what Emma has just told us.”

“What for?” said Electa.

“With people like this who like to get their own way, no one knows what they have in store for Emma.”

David just shook his head. “I hope you’re not still planning to go to the funeral. What do these people think they are and, just as importantly, the regard they have for you and your friends.”

“Deborah was a dear friend. I owe her that, at least. But we shall all go, Elias and Electa, Addison and even Jacob as well the Fibblees. “Then I never want to see them ever again.”

A dense wet fog rolled in from harbour the day of the funeral. They all left together, down to head of King Street and then along Charlotte Street to the church. They were directed to the street below, where they were ushered to a pew.

Mr. and Mrs. Craig sat in the front pew along with their close friends and relatives. Emma and the others sat near the back. The service and eulogy were shorter than Addison thought. When the service was over, the casket was wheeled down the aisle and carried out the door and the steps to a waiting hearse, where Deborah’s body was slid inside. Elias and David 158

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and the others out and walked behind the hearse as it slowly made its way up King Street, through the parkway and to the graveyard on the left. The casket hole had already been dug, and the minister offered final prayers as her coffin was dropped into the hole.

They left soon after and made their way down the walkway to their tents. The fog had lifted, and the sun had come out. At their tents, they could see children stomping in puddles and giggling.

***

They returned to the cabin the following day. It helped Emma and Electa, in particular, to spend the morning gossiping as they harvested the lettuce and spinach, packing them in boxes and taking them to the cabin. The peas, string beans and squash were stored inside next, giving the kitchen a fresh, marvellous scent.

Addison and Jacob took Young Rob out apple picking the next day.

They found an apple orchard on their property. It began to rain just as Addison and Jacob were finishing lunch. They huddled in a thick growth of pines and spruce to keep out of the rain while they fed Young Rob the largest apples. They returned with two large bags and promised to go out again on the following day for more.

They all slept that night in the kitchen and awoke to the sounds of birds flapping their wings and singing from somewhere deep in the forest.

David went into town to buy potato bags and returned with treats for everyone and 150 loose-knitted brown bags, made especially for potatoes.

After supper, they made beds for themselves on the kitchen floor and went to sleep.

It tooktwo weeks to dig up and pack the potatoes. They had a feast and invited Fyler and his family to join them at their cabin. They had chickens now and were at work constructing a small hen house. Eggs were plentiful again, and so was roast chicken. It brought back memories for Addison as he hammered the stoops for them.

Fyler and his wife and children had to be brought up to the plateau by Young Rob and Addison, who had made a cart for hauling things up and down the plateau. Fyler’s children sat between him and his wife. Emma started to play her flute as they came in sight, and Fyler and his wife started dancing as soon as they lit from the cart. They sat in a circle around a fire that Elias had started just before they came while David and Addison went inside and each brought back two sacks of potatoes for him.

“You remembered,” said Fyler. “A lot of people do, you know.”

“We also have some new lettuce and string beans as well,” said Elias.

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Emma played her flute during most of the evening, and Jacob and Fyler’s boys had a great time dancing and humming in tune around them.

During a quiet moment, Dibblee’s wife leaned to Emma. “your harvest is in. So when’s the big day.”

“Next Tuesday and you and your family are invited. The ceremony will be conducted by the minister who officiated at Deborah’s funeral.

There’s also a wedding dinner later, and we would very much hope you will join us.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

T

he dinner at Fort Howe House, a stone’s throw away from the fort, had a wonderful view of the harbour. Night was falling, and everyone looked at the moving lights on ships coming to and leaving the harbour.

Elias had booked a room for David and another for his family, and a suite for Emma and Addison. Emma was changing from her wedding dress into her yellow petticoat and hummed a forgotten melody. She looked at her ring and smiled.

Candles were lit along the corridor. Addison was waiting for her outside and passed Electa two bouquets, one for Emma and the other for herself. They walked along the corridor, down a flight of stairs, and into the hotel’s dining room, arm-in-arm. Everyone stood and began clapping as they entered. Addison felt a bit sheepish but realized it was part of the ritual and tried to smile at his friends who were waving to him. He and Emma sat at the head table along with David, his father and mother and Fyler and his wife.

Waiters marched in to the sound of bagpipes, carrying platters of roast beef and potatoes. After tea was served, everyone stood and raised their glasses of wine in a toast to the King. Pipes were lit while they waited to be served. The noise level of people laughing and talking in loud, excited voices made it almost impossible to hear.

David, who found himself as best man at the last minute, looked nervous. His hands shook as he used his fork to beat against his water glass.

“I’ve just been told that I must make a speech about my sister and Addison.

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I’m sorry to lose my sister, who’s been a God-send to me since our parents were accused by American Whigs and thrown into prison and our land confiscated.”

Everyone used their forks to beat on their water glasses. When the clapping and the tinkling of water glasses ended, David looked as though he were ready to cry. He closed his eyes before beginning. “I’m sorry to lose her, but if it had to be to someone else, I’m glad it’s Addison. If there was ever a match that was destined to be, it was theirs from the first time they laid eyes on each other.”

Everyone stood and clapped for a full minute, except Jacob sitting with Flyers sons and dancing around their table, stopping only when Electa shook her hand at him.

“They are both beautiful people, solid as the earth, and will be happy with each other. I know Emma will shoot me for this, but I must remind her how she behaved when she entered her teens and the trouble she caused for my father when the watchman caught her stealing apples from a neighbour’s orchid. Thankfully, our neighbour was forgiving, and the matter ended there.”

Once the laughter subsided, he added: “After that, she became an incredible help to my mother and father, doing most of the cooking when my mother became ill and helping out my father in his medical practice. Not to mention fibbing for me when I came home past my curfew. I will miss her.”

In the silence that followed, Elias, who had led her up to the aisle in place of her father at the church, suddenly rose and started clapping until the others joined him. Fyler rose to talk about Addison. The candles flickered as someone at the back of the room opened the door and let in a blast of air.

Fyler gripped each side of his jacket and smiled at Addison. “To say that he is a remarkable gift to all of us who are lucky to know him does not give him the respect and honour he deserves. Addison not only escorted his parents to New Huntingham but returned to take over his father’s farm so that it would not fall into the hands of American Whigs. But then, after a group tried to hang him, he also knew it was time to come under the protection of our gracious sovereign. And rather leaving his horse to them, he rode Young Rob all the way here, undergoing one great danger after another. He is a man of great loyalties, loyal to his family, devoted to his bride and loyal to the rest of us, the kind of person that will make this town a thriving metropolis one day.”

Fyler raised his wine glass. “Please join me in toasting Addison and 161

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Emma and wish them all the best in their new venture together.”

Addison and Emma stood and cut their wedding cake, a large three-tier, blue-frosted confection that ended their meal. One of the waiters stepped up and helped Emma cut the cake.

***

Near the end of their week, Emma left to meet Electa at the head of King Street to go shopping together. As she walked past a new building being erected at the corner, she heard someone cry out and walked inside to see if she could help. She stepped inside. Someone placed a black hood over her head and tied it around her neck. She felt her hands tied and carried to a coach, where she was thrown inside. She struggled to sit upright, but the space was too small and cried out for help, but no one was there to hear her.

The carriage suddenly stopped, and Emma was thrown over someone’s shoulder and then on the floor, which seemed to move. It had to be a boat. They were taking her somewhere on a boat. She could barely hear the voices of men arguing. It was getting hard to breathe, and she cried out that she was smothering. A few minutes later, she felt someone making a slit in her hood.

When the boat had reached its destination, someone picked her up and left the boat. She could hear excited voices outside and the sensation of being transferred to some kind of stretcher. There were voices she could not understand. She had lost her sense of time, and when they reached their destination, someone cut the bonds on her wrists and lifted her to her feet. Someone led her to some kind of shelter, where her head and body had been pushed to the ground.

***

Electa came to the hotel and went to their room. Addison opened the door, and his mother rushed in. “I’ve been waiting for Emma for almost two hours. We were supposed to go shopping together. What’s happened?”

“She left here two hours ago. I thought she was with you.”

“Do you think she got lost?” Electa was breathing hard.

Addison sat his mother down. “I doubt it somehow. Emma has a great sense of direction. No, something’s happened, and I don’t have a good feeling about it.”

Electa was wringing her hands. “I shouldn’t have asked her to go shopping with me.”

Addison shook his head. “Something far more sinister.” He pulled 162

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his mother up. “We’re going to find her.” They left Fort Howe House and headed for the army barracks. “I need to see the officer on duty,” said Addison to the soldier at the entrance, who led them into the lieutenant’s office, a young man in his early 20s, with blond hair and dark blue eyes and haughty air.

“What’s this about, private?”

“They didn’t say, sir. They just demanded to see you.”

Edmund Waddington stood and fastened the top of his red jacket.

“What is so urgent.”

“My wife has disappeared.”

“We were supposed to meet at the head of King Street to go shopping together at ten o’clock,” said Electa. “She’s usually a punctual person,” added his mother.

“I suspect your wife has got lost. It’s a bit of a walk from Fort Howe House.”

“Not Emma. If anyone were to get lost, it would be me. She has better instincts than a hound dog. And she knows her way around the King Steet area.” Then, after a pause: “We were married last weekend.”

“Ask Sgt. Harrison to join me, private.”

Harrison arrived and saluted the lieutenant.

“I’d like you to take a squad to check every store and building from here to King Street and around the square for a missing young lady.”He turned to Addison. “What is your wife’s name?”

“Emma. Emma Wright.”

“Got that, sergeant?”

“We’ll find her. So put your mind to rest. Sgt. Harrison is a bit of a hound dog himself and has a nose for sniffing people and things out. In the meantime, I’d advise you to go back to the hotel and stay there until we bring her back to you.”

“Will do,” said Addison, “but first, I need to get my mother back to the park so that she can alert my father and our friends.”

Waddington nodded. “Be back within the hour. In the meantime, I’ll have a coach take you to King Square. There’s a lot of building going on around here, so watch your step when you board the coach. We don’t allow them inside the fort area. Where is your land grant located?”

“On the other side of the gorge. We reach there by boat,” said Addison.

“Do you have firearms?”

Addison shook his head.

“I can’t afford to have two or three of my men guard you, at least for the moment. I will lend you two muskets and shot you can use to protect 163

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yourself. Do you know how to use a musket?”

Addison nodded. “I have a brother-in-law who owns a grant next to us. I will make sure he has the other one.”

Electa cried all the way back to the park to find Elias standing outside, waiting for her.

“I’ve been worried about you. You don’t usually take this long shopping. Where is Emma?”

“She was supposed to meet me at the head of King Street, but she had never showed up. So I went to their hotel to find out from Addison that she had left two hours earlier to meet me.”

“There’s a squad of soldiers looking for her now,” said Addison.

“You had best tell David and Fyler. They might have some ideas.”

***

Emma saw four men in what looked like an Indian tent. A man dressed in a black suit made her think of the man Addison had pointed out as the person who tried to hang him.

He was talking to an older man and two other younger Indians. “This is the woman of the white man, who has come here to rob you of your land and rape your women. I have friends on the other side of the border, where the English had robbed your brothers of their land. These good men are fighting the English now and will create a new country, where Indians will never be robbed again.”

The Indians talked among themselves for a few minutes. The older man raised his hands for silence. “I hear you. What do you want from us?”

“I want you to keep this woman here. Make her your slave until I come and get her. And then we shall plan an uprising the English will remember for a lifetime, and you will have all the land they stole from you.”

He left about an hour later. The older man, who looked like the chief, and the other two talked in their own language for about an hour. The older man waved to an older woman who stuck her head inside and spoke to her briefly. The older woman helped Emma to her feet and took her to her tent, where she fed her.

Night was beginning to fall, and she felt exhausted. She lay down next to the older woman, who shared her blanket with Emma.

Morning came with a sudden rush. The fire in the middle of the tent had died, and the older woman opened the flap on the tent to let in the sunlight. She gave Emma some nuts and slices of apple for breakfast. An hour later, a young woman, the older woman’s daughter, entered and ordered Emma outside and motioned for Emma to follow her. Everyone in 164

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the camp stood and looked at her as she passed them. She led her to a small stream and showed Emma what she wanted her to do. Another woman from the village came with armloads of clothes to wash. The younger woman took a branch from a nearby tree and switched Emma whenever she slowed down.

At noon, all the women gathered together to eat their noon lunch.

Emma looked at them. Surely they would give her something. She picked up all the remaining food when they finished and walked away. Emma felt like crying, but she was not about to show them any weakness.

The older woman’s daughter took away her clothes and left her clothes in exchange. The older woman had her lie down while she rubbed her back and arms with a salve she had created, and draped a deerskin jacket over Emma’s shoulders. She fed her meat from birds her son had shot down earlier that day. Emma ate it all and looked at the older woman with tears in her eyes.

She dreamed about her father lecturing Addison and pounding Addison’s chest and arms. When morning broke, and the older woman opened the flap on her tent, she hated to move from her bed. Her hips and arms ached, and her body felt tired. She ate her breakfast as the older woman rubbed more salve on her bruises.

Emma dreaded seeing the older woman’s daughter. An hour passed, and then another. Still no sign of the daughter but the older man. He talked to the older woman and motioned Emma to follow them. The older man’s grandson was lying inside his tent, his face white and vomiting. He motioned for Emma to look at him. She looked at his vomit to see what he had eaten. She spotted it immediately. Black spots in a piece of meat. Food poisoning of some kind.

Emma tried to show them that he needed to vomit more. She showed him a handful of grass for the boy to eat. They shook their heads, but she kept nodding. The older woman ignored the older man, found some new grass, and helped her grandson swallow it. It made him vomit more. The older woman fed him more grass until he stopped vomiting.

The boy slept after that, and when he woke up, he talked to the older woman. He was hungry and wanted to eat. The older woman was about to give it to him, but Emma shook he head. She pointed to the water, a pot, and the ingredients to make a soup for him. When it was ready, Emma fed it to him slowly, and by supper time, she pointed to vegetables for him to eat.

The following day, the older woman’s daughter did not appear. The older man appeared instead with five fish for their breakfast.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“W

e have to reconcile ourselves to the fact that we may never see Emma again,” said Elias.

“I’m not prepared to accept that. Emma is a survivor, and she’s no quitter,” said Addison. One thing we do know is that if she is alive, she will find a way to find us if we do not find her first.”

“We’ve searched everywhere. So has the army. What do you propose?” said Elias.

“I think we should leave my mother here while the rest of us go back to the cabin in case she might turn up there.”

“Makes sense,” said David. “And I’m with Addison. I think someone has abducted her and that she’ll find her way back to us.”

They talked to Fyler, who would brief the military and suggest that they expand their search area and examine every place in case she had been abducted.

The spray from the boat seemed colder than usual when they headed out in the morning. The wind had picked up and splashed water into the boat as they headed around the land that jutted out and turned right towards the shore.

When they arrived at the cabin, Young Rob could sense their presence, and Addison could hear his hooves beating the boards of his stall.

Elias and David put the finishing touches inside the cabin and layout the walls on Elias’s home. It would be larger than their old home in New England and have five upstairs bedrooms.

But first, the cellar had to be dug. Addison put a collar around Young Rob, and they had him haul out the dirt and dump him place it around the house perimeter. A week later, Elias dispatched Addison to find rocks for the basement and the fireplace. He thought of Emma. She was always in his mind and led him off the track through the woods. A bear came crash166

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ing through the brush. He headed for Young Rob, who galloped in the opposite direction. After that, he confined his rock-hunting activities to open fields. Seven trips later, he brought back enough rocks for the front wall.

It took him the next two weeks to get enough for all four walls. David and Elias mixed cement to encase them in the wall. Elias stopped after each one was cemented in place to ensure a uniform height throughout.

The next day, Josiah’s brother shipped them enough lumber to start building the floor. Two days later, Electa came with them to see their progress when they finished the floor. She didn’t say much. Her only comment was, “It’s too bad Emma isn’t here to see to see this.”

The wall frames were measured, cut, and hammered together. David and Addison lifted the front frame and held it in place while Elias pounded spikes into the floor. They also erected the structure for the sidewall, pounded it to the floor, and drove nails into the outside front frame to connect the two. They had enough and went back with Josiah and his son to the town at five o’clock and see Josiah’s brother-in-law about getting enough flat boards to cover the frame.

***

Emma walked through the village after that. No one bothered her, except when they saw her edge into the woods. She created games for the children, gradually learned some of their words, and played with them every morning. In the afternoon, she helped the older woman cook the evening meal, gut fish, and find honey. The older woman was very quick and a good teacher and showed her how to catch fish in her hands in the stream next to their encampment. She tried to ask the older woman how long she would be with them but got no answer.

Everything went smoothly until the man in black returned to meet with the older man. They were closeted inside his tent for an hour. The man in the black suit gave the older man a bottle of Brandy, and two young members of the tribe took him down to the beach and paddled him back to Parrtown.

The older man appeared in their tent and told the older woman to bring Emma to his tent. She escorted Emma to his tent and left her standing outside. One of the young braves grabbed her arm and pushed her inside the tent. Two other braves were arguing. Emma knew enough words to know they were talking about her and had a good idea of what they wanted. The older man’s eyes were glazed, and he did not seem to understand what was happening in his tent.

Knives were thrown, landing at the feet of each of the braves. They began to wrestle, trying to grab the knives that stood upright in the ground.

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They got up slowly and dusted off the dirt on their arms and legs. The tent flap opened and one of the elders shouted at them. The elder ordered them out of the tent and took a mouthful of Brandy from the older man’s bottle.

He looked at Emma and pointed her outside. She left the tent and ran to the older woman’s tent.

From what Emma was able to translate, the two braves would fight to the death over her the next day.

The older woman held Emma until she went to sleep while crooning over her. When Emma woke, it was early morning. She ate some berries and went to play with the children. She edged the activities close to the forest and kept throwing the deerskin bag they were catching into the woods. Each time, Emma went in and found it and brought it back to them.

Then, near the end, she went into the forest and did not return. A group of braves, wise in the ways of the woods, found where she entered the forest and traced her steps from there. They called out for her, and when she did not answer, they went back to their tents for lunch. Only then was one of the mothers realize the fair-haired one had escaped and raised the alarm immediately.

They came to a sudden halt when they saw her footprints end at the stream. They broke into two groups – one to go upstream and the other downstream. They returned when the sun dipped below the horizon. They would camp out and resume their search in the morning.

***

Emma could see a rocky ledge that would not show where she left the stream and headed back into the forest. She walked the rest of the night in the darkness. She could see red eyes follow her as she continued along the dirt path. At dawn, she was tired and decided to enter the stream and left deliberate footprints where she left it again before retracing her steps back into the stream again. Her feet were getting sore from the sharp rocks on the steam floor. Emma was hungry and thirsty and drank handfuls of water from the stream as she continued. She prayed she was heading in the right direction that would take her to the bay. Emma caught a fish in her hands and bit into it, chewing it slowly. She left the remains of the fish under a rock to erase her presence. This would keep her going. It had to.

She spotted another rocky ledge up ahead, and she decided to lie down to renew her energy. Emma did not know how long she slept, but the sun was low in the sky. She looked around to see three braves making their way in the distance. Emma followed them just inside the trees, taking care not to be seen if one of them happened to look her way. She ran into the 168

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bushes and held her breath when they paused on the ledge and ate something that looked like strings of meat from their pouches. A half-hour later, they drank handfuls of water from the stream and continued their search.

They stopped at nightfall and built a fire, using a flint stone and using brushes to make beds for themselves. Emma decided to walk through the night. It meant walking by them and going into the stream. The moon had come out as she headed back to the stream. It was slow going, even in the moonlight. Emma stepped into a deep pool and suddenly found herself thrashing the water to gain balance. She gained shallow water slowly and took pains to look for any dark patches as she made her way around the rocks. She could make out en embankment ahead and decided to take a chance and walk along it for as far as it lasted.

In the first streaks of light in the sky, the stream branched off into two directions. Emma made a quick guess and took the left side. It was more shallow than the other side, and she could walk far more quickly. Up ahead, the stream became very shallow and petered out gradually. There was a mossy growth on the floor beneath some trees on the left, and she walked for at least a mile until the moss ended, and the forest growth grew thicker. It was hard going. She scratched her arms from low-lying branches as she ran through the growth, stumbling over bare roots. She stopped when she thought she heard a noise somewhere close to her. It was the braves. She could hear them talking as they made their way through the growth as it got thicker. In one way, it protected her from being seen by them. She tried to find a spot where she could sit until their voices grew fainter and fainter. She decided to push ahead and came in sight of a grassy field ahead through the branches.

Emma wondered if she should take a chance and enter the field. If they happened to see her from the forest, they would outrun her. She decided to wait for a while. The mosquitos found her, and she tried to brush them off her arms and neck until she thought she would go crazy if she did leave her hideaway.

She made her way through the growth and ran out into the field, running as fast as she could. She could hear loud voices behind her and ran until she couldn’t breathe, stopping for a few seconds to get her breath.

David shouted to Addison and Elias. “Look ahead.”

Addison ran for their muskets and his father’s sword. The braves were only a short distance from her now as she continued to run until she fell.

“Fire over their heads,” said Addison.

David’s musket discharged in a loud noise and a recoil that almost dropped him to his knees. The braves stopped. Addison started walking 169

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and aimed his musket at them, followed by his father, waving his sword with David trailing them as he tried to reload.

The braves argued for a few seconds and took a step towards Emma, who had raised herself and started to run again.

When they were only a few feet from her, Addison fired, injuring the right leg of the leading brave.

The braves stopped, looked at the injured one’s bloody leg, and helped him limp away back to the forest.

“Do you think they’ll be back?” said David.

“Somehow, I don’t think so,” said Elias. “They’re not used to guns, and they saw what they could do even before they reach us.”

Addison had left and ran to Emma. He helped her up and hugged her for a long time before David arrived. They saw that her feet were bleeding, made a seat with their hands and carried her to the cabin. She cried all the way there, grabbing Addison’s arm. Addison warmed some water in the fireplace at the cabin and moved her to a chair close to the warmth. He took one of his mother’s kitchen rags, dipped it into the warm water, and bathed her feet. Seeing the blisters, cuts and bruises, he tore his shirt into strips and wrapped her feet with them.

David and Elias stood guard outside to ensure the braves did not return. Elias fried some pork at dusk and sliced some of Electa’s bread.

Emma, who had tried to eat some bread earlier, could not stomach it.

She needs to eat slowly,” said David, who remembered what his father used to tell them about feeding starving people. Elias mixed the pork fat into a thick paste before applying it to Emma’s arms and feet.

“In the morning, I want you to return to the park with Addison and have Electa look after you. And to stay off your feet until you’re healed.

Electa will know what to do better than the rest of us.”

Emma nodded. She was feeling better now and would drift off to sleep without warning. Before they said good night, Emma opened her eyes. “I have something to tell Addison. Something you must know.”

“Whatever it is, it can wait until the morning.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

J

osiah and Boris unloaded the lumber on Elias’s cart and helped Addison carry Emma to their boat. They sat near on the boat floor with their backs against rudder housing. Emma missed most of the trip as she drifted in and out of sleep. “You had something critical to tell me,” said Addison, cradling her in his arms.

“It’s about the man in black you warned me about.” She closed her eyes again, and when she opened them a few minutes later, she added: “He is the one who kidnapped me and left with me with the Indians.”

“When you feel better, we’ll go and see Lieut. Waddington. He needs to hear this. He will find him and make sure he never harms us again.”

He let her sleep until they reached the pier. Boris helped him carry her to a coach Josiah had flagged down. At the head of King Street, the coach left them off to find their tent. Addison carried her the rest of the way and called for his mother to open their tent flap and help him enter and lay her on her bed. “She does not look well, Addison. What happened to her?”

“Do you remember what I told you about the man who tried to hang me? He’s here in Parrtown. He abducted Emma and left her with a tribe of Indians. She hurt her feet very badly, trying to escape. But she did, and she’s here with us now, and that’s all that matters.”

When her feet had healed and she could dine with others, Addison invited Fyler to chat with her three days later. “Start from the very beginning.”

She told him how someone put a black hood over her face and put it around her neck. I couldn’t talk or hear if my abductors were talking. I recall being dumped on the floor of a boat and being drenched with spray from time to time. When they took my hood off, I found myself in an In171

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dian tent and the man in black talking to an older Indian. He told him and three other older men that the English would take away their land as they did in New England and elsewhere and that the English would make war on them once their numbers increased.

“He also told them that the New Englanders were successful in driving the British out of New England and would help them retain their lands forever if they were to join the New Englanders.”

“Do we have the name of this fellow?”

“He is an evil man, Fyler. I recall being nearly hanged, and my home burned down. It is this man. His name is Abijah Babbit. Ask my father about him.”

Fyler flipped open his writing pad and wrote down what Emma had told him about being kidnapped and how he told the Indians the New Englanders planned to attack the area and that they should rise and drive the English from their land.

“That does not tell me why you were kidnapped? Did he mention that?” said Fyler.

Emma shook her head. “Unless to get back at Addison, but how would he know I was Addison’s wife?”

“When we were on the ship coming here, the military warned us that an American Whig spy was among us and to be on the lookout for this person,” said Electa.

Fyler closed his writing pad. “I will look into this and see the proper authorities. In the meantime, Emma, I want you not to leave our tents and always have one or two people with you at all times.”

“I plan to go to see Lieut. Waddington in the morning and let him know that we found Emma and that she had been kidnapped by Abijah Babbit,” said Addison.

***

“I see you have found your good wife,” said Lieut. Waddington, and why you were anxious about finding her. She is a very lovely lady.”

“Rather, she found us,” said Addison. “She was kidnapped by someone who tried his best to hang me and burn our home down in New England. He is an evil man. I spotted him a week or so ago while we were on our way to a private dinner. I’m sure he spotted me as well because he disappeared quickly.”

Do you know the name of this gentleman?”

“Abijah Babbit.”

“Do you know where he resides?”

“Not sure other than in town.”

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“I should also tell you he took me to an Indian village and had them keep there, for how long, I do not know,” said Emma. “But you will be interested that he encouraged an older member of the tribe to rise against the British, telling them that the British would steal their land from them, that New Englanders would come and drive the British out the way they did in New England.”

Waddington wrote down Babbit’s name and smiled at them. “Before you leave, I’d like you to meet our commanding officer, Major Gilford Studhome.”

“He will be very interested in what you have to say, believe me,” he said before calling in the private outside his door. The private entered and saluted. “Find out if the major is free. Tell him I have two people he needs to see.”

The private returned a few minutes later. “Major Studhome is free to see you, sir.”

“Then follow me,” said Waddington as he rose and opened the door for them. `The major’s office was at the far end of the fort. “He has a forbidding countenance at times, but don’t let that disturb you. He’s like that with everyone. But he gets things done.”

Waddington rapped on his door and opened it.

“Are these the people you think I should see, Waddington?”

Waddington nodded. “Let me introduce you to Addison and Emma Wright. Emma was the young woman we were looking for a few days ago.

She has a remarkable story to tell.” He turned to Emma. “Tell Major Studhome what you told me.”

Emma related in detail how she was abducted and found herself in an Indian tent and a man who tried to hang my husband and burn our home down in New England and leaving her in the care of an older Indian. “I managed to escape after a few days and found my way back to my husband and my brother. We have land grants next to each other.”

“This man told the older Indian that his tribe should rise against the British when his friends from New England come to free them from Britain,” said Waddington.

“Do you know this man?”

“I do not, but my husband does.”

Studhome looked at Addison. “Well, speak up, lad.”

“His name is Abijah Babbit. A few days before, Emma and I were on our way to a diner at one of her friend’s family, and I spotted him walking along King Square. I got a good look at him when he turned right at the end of the path. It was him, all right. I pointed him out to Emma.”

“How did you come to know this blackguard?”

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“My father, who let it be known he would always be a subject of the King, recommended I join the militia after Babbit tried to burn down our chicken coop and stole and murdered our prize cow in the hopes it would put an end to these things.”

“Did it?”

Addison shook his head. “In fact, I found him as a member of the militia and told the commander of the unit what Babbit had done to us. The commander gave Babbit a dressing down and ordered him to leave our farm alone. But that didn’t stop him from shooting rockets at our home and setting fire to the roof, trying to tar and feather my father and stirring up a mob that he led to our home. Later we found hanging nooses danging from our back door, scaring my mother out our wits.”

“Is that it?”

“After I took my parents to New Huntington, I returned at my father’s urging to keep the farm and save it from being confiscated by the American Whigs. I had peace for a few days, but I was hooded and taken to a place, and a noose placed over my head. Babbit was urging his group on with shouts to hang me. They were stopped in the nick of time by a friend of my father’s, a man they all looked up to and who helped them settle disputes.”

Studhome cleared his throat. “What made you come here then?”

He then led another group to burn our house down. I left my sister and her husband in charge of our farm. Two days later, I left on my horse and made my way here where I was under the protection of the King again and able to sleep without worrying if someone was trying to steal my horse, slit my throat or take me prisoner.”

“Do you know why he abducted your wife?”

Addison shook his head. So did Emma.

“Then how did he know she was your wife?”

Addison shrugged. “Perhaps he saw us or for some other reason.”

“While on the ship coming here, we were warned that an American spy was leaving with us on one of the other ships.”

Studhome looked at Waddington. “Have someone check the names of all arrivals since May 18th.”

“I doubt he used the name he went by in New England.”

“You’re sure you both could recognize him again?”

Addison and Emma smiled and nodded. “In two lifetimes,” said Emma.

Studhome sat back and cleared his throat. “Take a troop with you and search for him, and don’t give up until you find him. We can’t have anyone riling up our Indian friends. On the other hand, new England privateers 174

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seem to be fond of us. Six or seven years ago, they raided us before we beat them back, and again, a few months later, they came seeking plunder.”

Waddington ordered four soldiers to follow him and to bring muskets.

They boarded a waiting coach and headed into the city area. “If you were Babbit,” said Waddington, and found out that your wife had escaped and was back in the city, where would you go first?”

“I’d spend a few days walking around town, seeing if there were more soldiers than usual before I did anything. After that, I’d finish any business dealings. And then, when I thought I was free to make my escape, I’d hire a boat to sail me to Boston and jump ship there.”

Waddington smiled. “And that would be just about now.” He tapped the driver. “Drive us around town. I want us to be seen by everyone and take your time.”

Waddington leaned on his sword. “If either of you sees anyone who remotely reminds you of Mr. Babbit, let me know instanter.”

At supper time, Waddington dropped Addison and Emma off at the square. “Be at this spot tomorrow nine, and we’ll make the rounds again,” said Waddington before he headed back to the fort.

Electa was preparing supper when they walked back to their tent. “I saw you two driving around town with some soldiers. Is anything wrong?”

“They were taking us on a tour of the town. The British major wants him apprehended. He’s concerned about Babbit trying to fire up the Indians.”

“You won’t catch him that way,” said Elias, returning from working on their home. “People like that are like animals. They always have a hole where they can hide until the danger disappears. And there aren’t many holes in a small town like this where he can disappear in.”

“Lieut. Waddington has orders not to stop looking until he finds him.

Where do you think he’s gone?” said Addison.

“If he got wind that you had escaped from the Indians, you can bet your last shilling that he’s hiding out with them.”

“You may be right. I’ll mention this to Waddington in the morning.”

Fyler and his wife joined them a few minutes later. “You’re the talk of the town, riding all over with that British officer.”

“Because he was not able to find me, he took us on a tour of the town,” said Emma. “We saw a lot of houses that were not much more than hovels.

It made me feel blessed with the home we’ll be living in.”

“I’ve made a few inquiries around town about your fiend. Unfortunately, no one seems to know anything about him. A couple of them admit to seeing someone of his description but have no idea who he is or where 175

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we can find him. But I’ll keep looking.”

***

Morning came earlier than either of them expected. Emma rose and made porridge and toast for everyone. Elias and David dressed in their work clothes.

“Josiah’s brother-in-law will be loading some building supplies on the boat this morning,” said David. “We hope to board in the first storey today and plan to stay overnight at the cabin and get an early start on the top floor. We also expect to cut and nail in the roof studs before the end of the week.”

“Maybe you’ll be free to help us tomorrow,” Elias said to Addison as he and David left them.

Addison and Emma headed out at a quarter to eight and waited for Waddington’s coach. It arrived almost on the hour with six soldiers with him. Waddington made room for them beside him. He tapped the driver.

“Down to Market Slip and then along the harbour road.”

They passed Elias and David, waved to them, and headed further down the harbour road, where a boat was loading live lobsters. A figure in black clothes emerged from the cabin. Addison raised his hand. “It’s him.

Babbit.”

“You’re sure,” said Waddington.

“Scatter,” Waddington shouted to his men, who jumped off the coach.

A few seconds later, Babbit emerged with an Indian to see muskets levelled at them. Addison jumped off with Emma and hid her behind the coach.

The soldiers fired their muskets, wounding the Indian in the chest and Babbit in his arm. Babbit withdrew a pistol and aimed it at Waddington, and fired it. Waddington drew his sabre and led his soldiers onto the boat.

Babbit was holding his arm and seeing his blood drip on the floor of the boat. “I’ve been wounded by you people. You have no business bothering someone trying to earn an honest living.” He glared at Addison and Emma as soon as he saw them.

“Well,” said Waddington to Emma, “is the man who kidnapped you?”

“Yes. The is the man who kidnapped me and tried to get the Indians he left me with to rise up against you.”

Addison nodded. “This is Abijah Babbit. The man who tried to hang me and set my home on fire.”

“I’m bleeding,” Babbit kept repeating as the soldiers tied his hands behind his back and walked him to the coach. Waddington bent down to the Indian. The ball had hit him on the chest, and blood was oozing from 176

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his wound.

“Bound this man up and put some padding underneath his tunic to stop the bleeding. We’ll need him for the trial.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“I

hear that the soldiers have captured Babbit. Where did they find him?’ said Fyler, who joined them with his wife and children.

“I understand they found him boarding a boat at the harbour,” said Addison.

“Do you know where they took him?”

“Not sure,” said Addison.”But you might be able to find out. I’m only happy he’s behind bars and that we no longer have anything to worry about.”

They all ate supper together, and Jacob and Fyler’s boys went outside to play games until it started to rain.

“I hope your father and David are not getting soaked, said Electa. Unfortunately, the fog had rolled in with the rain, making it difficult to see anything.

Elias and David arrived back unexpectedly. “It started to rain earlier this afternoon, and we weren’t able to get much work done,” said Elias, “and Josiah wanted to get his boat back and tied to the pier before it got worse, but you’ll be happy to know that the front has been boarded in.”

“And all the studding for the roof rafters has been cut. Elias’s plan is working out to the inch,” said David.

Emma played her flute for an hour, and they all sang along with her.

Fyler’s boys were getting sleepy, and they left to put them to bed. *** The fort’s surgeon removed the ball from Babbit’s arm and bandaged it. Waddington fed the Indian some Brandy before the surgeon cut into his chest and removed the ball. Fortunately, the musket ball was near the skin.

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The brave did not make a sound and pointed to Waddington’s bottle of Brandy after he was bandaged. Waddington passed the bottle to him, and when he took a mouthful, Waddington nodded for him to take another.

He left the brave with the surgeon and had two soldiers march him to their lockup. They pushed him inside and pointed to a cot.

“I’m hungry,” said Babbit.

“You’ll have to wait until supper.”

As the soldiers walked to the door, Babbit’s confidence suddenly returned. “What happens next?”

One of the soldiers turned: “That’s up to Major Studhome.”

“What’s he like?”

The soldier smiled. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

Later that day, Babbit was marched before Major Studhome. He didn’t wait for Studhome to speak. “Why am I locked up and standing before you now?”

“You will face charges of kidnapping and attempting to lynch Addison Wright, not to mention trying to shoot and kill an officer of His Majesty’s army.”

That’s a lot of hogwash. Whoever told you this is a liar.”

“I would advise you to watch your tongue.”

“Will I have someone defend me at any proceeding?”

“You do. You can choose your own counsel.”

“Then I would like to send a note to one of my friends and ask him to retain a lawyer-at-law on my behalf.”

“You may advise your friend that your proceeding will start at 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

Major Studhome stood as two soldiers led him to the lockup. “I need a piece of paper and an envelope to write my friend,” said Babbit.

They locked him up and returned with the paper, ink, a quill, and an envelope a few minutes later. They waited until he finished. Fifteen minutes later, he blew over the paper to dry the ink and insert his note inside the envelope before addressing it.

They came with supper later.”I need a candle. I don’t want to sit here by myself in total darkness.”

“No candles permitted. Pray for a full moon.” *** Addison and Emma were ready at nine o’clock at the head of King Square. A faint breeze blew out the fog, and the sun peeped through the leaves that were turning colour. Emma looked at the light blue sky. Waddington’s carriage arrived on time with the lieutenant in high spirits. “Ev178

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erything is set for 10 a.m. He has retained an attorney-at-law for your information – so be ready for just about any trick his counsel might try.”

Major Studhome invited them to have breakfast with him. They had tea and some scones, and at 9.45, Major Studhome stood and brushed down his tunic, took Emma by the arm, and led her to the hall, where they held briefings and tried legal matters. Waddington sat them in the middle of the first row, behind the seats for Waddington, acting for the Crown and Babbit’s counsel.

Emma jabbed Addison’s ribs and pointed to Babbit and his counsel.

“My name is Amos Freeman, attorney-at-law.”

Addison looked back to see Fyler sitting two rows behind him and whispered to Waddington. “Fyler is a friend of our family. He knows what you know. He might be able to help us.”

Major Studhome, looking authoritative with all his medals, called the proceeding to order. “The accused will stand.”

“You are charged with kidnapping Emma Wright and placing her with an Indian tribe, and endeavouring to have her husband, Addison Wright, hanged and trying to burn down his home. How do you plead?”

Babbit, still standing, looked at the major and shouted, “not guilty.”

His lawyer, Freeman, pushed him down in his seat and whispered something to him.

“Then let us begin. “Lieut. Waddington, would you offer your first witness.”

Waddington turned and motioned for Emma to sit next to the major.

“What did this man do to you?”

“He kidnapped me and took me as a prisoner to an Indian tribe.”

“To what purpose?”

“I am not sure, but I was able to escape and find my way back to my husband before I learned what his motives were.”

Freeman rose, holding both sides of his robe, “I would like to put it to you that you made up the story for whatever reasons you had to absent yourself from your husband. You say he kidnapped you, but what proof do you have?”

Babbit looked pleased with himself.

The major looked at Waddington. “Do you have another witness, Lieut. Waddington?”

“I’d like to introduce Fyler Dibblee, attorney at law and Mr. and Mrs. Wright’s counsel. He would like to ask the witness a few questions as well.”

Studhome nodded, and Dibblee stood. “Mrs. Wright, where were you when you were abducted?”

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“I was walking past a building next to the park on my way to go shopping with my mother-in-law when I heard a cry for help. I entered the building, and someone put a black hood over my head almost immediately.”

“And then what?”

“The hood was taken off my head, and I found myself in an Indian village.”

Fyler sat, and Freeman stood. “I should like to redirect.”

He moved closer to Emma, his arm outstretched at Emma. “You’re making this all up. And how can you be so sure that the accused kidnapped you and brought you there.”

Emma’s face hardened. “You’ve tried to slander me. And now make me out as a liar. I am prepared to swear that I saw him talking to the Indians about me.”

“But you were hooded.”

“I was until one of the Indians removed it.”

“Perhaps, you were not seeing well.”

“I was seeing him as plainly as I can seeing you standing in front of me.”

Waddington stood as Freeman sat down. “I should like to call Addison Wright, her husband.”

He turned and led Addison to the chair Emma had just left. She was crying and shaking her head as she looked at Fyler.

“I can testify that I, Emma’s brother, David, and my father, rescued my wife from four Indians who were tracking her down and almost had her in their clutches when we fired upon them and drove them off. Her feet were bruised from walking through the forest for almost three days.

Hardly the action of someone wanting to be kidnapped.”

Studhome looked at Freeman, who rose. “No questions for this witness. But I would like Mr. Babbit to take the stand.”

Babbit had a smirk on his face. “What do you say to the testimony of this woman and her husband?”

“Wright’s wife met me in the park one day and fell instantly in love with me and begged me to take her away for a few days.”

Addison tapped Waddington on the shoulder and whispered to him.

Babbit shrugged and started to rise from the witness seat. “Not so fast, Mr. Babbit. You seem to be in a hurry. I have a few questions, if you don’t mind.”

Babbit shook his shoulders and tried to smile.

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love with you. Can you tell us the date that this wonder happened?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Was she with anyone?”

“I don’t remember. Maybe, I’m not sure.”

“So you want us to believe that this beautiful young lady fell in love with what many people might describe as a beast. I’m sure everyone with us today, including your counsel, would hardly describe us as handsome.”

Babbit opened his mouth, wrapped his hands together and looked the other way.

“I should have thought someone as clever as you think you are would have thought of a better story than this.”

Babbit just stared at him, with his lips shut tight.

“Come now, Mr. Babbit, surely you are capable of telling the truth.”

Babbit looked away.

“Tell us, Mr. Babbit. Tell us, tell us, tell us. You’re not going to leave your chair until you do.”

“I was hired to kidnap her,” he suddenly blurted.

“By whom?”

“I’d rather not say.”

“You’d rather not say. We’ll you’re going to before I’m finished.”

Babbit looked at Freeman, who shook his head.

“Never mind what your counsel thinks you should do. We can make things easier for you if you do.”

Babbit studied his hands for almost a minute. “It was Stuart Craig and his wife. They wanted me to kidnap her and keep them away from her husband for a few months. They then planned to coax her into taking a long trip to London and away from Parrtown forever.”

***

When Emma told Electa about Babbit, she started to cry. “His attorney made me out to be some kind of slut. And when the truth finally came out from Babbit, he avoided looking at me.”

Electa put her arms around her. “Those who know you also know how good you are in all things in your life.”

“I want to leave here and go to our cabin and never come back here again.”

“Then start packing things and get ready for us to leave on Josiah’s boat first thing in the morning.”

Elias and David listened open-mouthed as Emma and Addison recounted what happened at the fort and how Emma was treated.

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Elias got up. “I’m going to talk to Fyler.”

Electa pulled him back. “You’re not doing anything such thing. We are all to pack our things and go to live at our cabin.”

“He was with Emma all the way. When the other lawyer made her out to be a wayward woman, Fyler set that straight in a hurry.

Waddington found them an hour later. He opened the flap of their tent. “I wanted to thank you for standing up to them this morning and bringing you the latest tidings. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are now guests in our lock-up. Babbit owned that he was an American spy and pleaded to be set free. We did so, providing he goes back to the Indian village with two of our soldiers and tells them he was wrong about the British; and, above all, he was never to set foot into Canada again.”

He looked around their tent and saw they were packing.

“The cabin we built for the winter is now finished, and we’re ready to add the roof of the main house. Our harvest is over, and we’re ready for what might come,” said Addison.

“Should you experience problems with our Indian friends, let me know. In the meantime, I’ll post a couple of soldiers to guard you. This will keep the peace.”

***

Josiah scratched his head as Boris dumped their bags on the boat floor.

“That’s a lot of weight,” he said. “I’m not sure I can do this in one trip.”

“We understand,” said Electa. “Emma and I will go back with you when you return for the rest of our bags. We still need a few things we’ll need to see us through the winter. ” “I expect to be back here around 11.30 and return shortly after.” Josiah motioned to Boris to stay with them and make sure nothing happened to them. Instead, they watched the boat leave the harbour, head out to the headland, and disappear.

Addison saw Young Rob racing down the hill when they reached the shore. Addison caressed his head and produced an apple for him. Addison attached him to the cart, where they deposited their bags and climbed aboard. Young Rob made his way slowly up the hill. When Addison saw his home taking shape, he shook his head in disbelief. “You two have created miracles in so short of time. Wait until Emma sees it.”

“Today, we place the roof studs and nail them into place,” said David.

Young Rob can be a big help us when it comes time to nail them to the centre stud that runs along the roof.”

Addison attached the rope tied to the main stud to Young Rob, who 182

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effortlessly raised it to the roof. Elias and David were sitting on both ends of the house and guided the main stud to the centre of the roof, where it was hammered into place.

All the studs had been nailed onto a pointed arch by lunchtime, and David and Elias came down the ladder to the main floor. They ate the sandwiches Electa and Emma packed for them while Addison jumped in the cart, and he and Young Rob headed for the shore. He could see Josiah’s boat rounding the headland. A few minutes later, he and Young Rob were on the beach waiting for his mother and Emma to leave the boat. There was also more lumber, which Josiah and Boris piled on the cart and a keg of nails to take as well.”

Emma talked about all the things she saw in the market, close to King Square. “We also saw Fyler, who asked about you. The people I feel sorry for are the Craigs in getting mixed up with Babbit.”

When they came in sight of their home, Emma squeezed his arm. Electa put her hands together. “It will be bigger than our old home when it’s done,” she said, laughing like a schoolgirl.

They brought with them some purple seaweed. “The locals love it.

We tried it, and it tastes awful,” said Emma, passing it to David and Elias.

David licked his lips and held out his hand for more. Addison slid a piece between his mother’s bread and smiled. “It’s fabulous with bread.”

“They call it dulse,” said Emma, screwing up her face.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

A

ddison was given a pocket full of nails when he reached the roof. He fitted another board above the one already in place and hammered nails along the board where the studs were located. Addison’s hammer arm was sore, making going down the ladder slower. Emma used Young Rob to raise more boards to them, and by supper time, they had finished the first side of the roof.

Emma rubbed his arm over and over before they went to bed. In the morning, Elias looked at Addison and how he kept rubbing his arm. Elias decided to give him a day’s rest sent him into town to see Waddington to find out if they had sentenced the Craigs.

“Studhome had banned the Craigs from the colony for life and gave them two weeks to get their affairs in order and find passage on a ship leaving for England.”

Fyler, who was also present at their sentencing, had also come to see them.

Addison was about to climb the ladder when Waddington stopped him.“Fyler’s got some great news for you as well,” said Waddington.

“The Craigs must leave our colony in the next two weeks and want to give their home to Emma and you, including all their furniture and paintings. The house will be vacated two weeks from today. They have asked me to draw up the papers for the transfer.”

Waddington smiled when he saw Addison’s face.

“Please make your good wife aware of this and convey her response to Lieut. Waddington, who has agreed to act as an intermediary in the transaction.”

“My wife is a pretty strong lady, as you know. She has a lot of pride, 184

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and there’s no way of knowing how she’ll react. No one will blame her if she turns them down. Is there any stipulation that she must live in the home or cannot sell it?”

“I will stipulate in the agreement that she is free to sell the home at any time or that she must live in it.”

***

“That’s exactly what he told me,” said Addison when they gathered for supper. The roof was finished, and everyone was in a good mood.

“You’re sure there are no strings attached?” said Elias. “People like that rarely do anything this without wanting something in return, usually more than they’ve given.”

“I asked Fyler to stipulate in the agreement that Emma would not be required to live in the house and that he could sell it at any time she wished.

He agreed and will get both of them to sign the agreement and transfer.”

Everyone looked at Emma, who set her mouth. “There as to be a catch somehow. Maybe they wish to communicate with me or something like that. But, if not, we would be fools to accept it.”

“You can tell Mr. Dibblee that if I am not required ever to see or deal with the Craigs ever again, he can come here, and I will sign the transfer.”

Everyone clapped except Electa. “We are capable of looking after ourselves. We don’t need their guilt money.”

Elias raised his finger. “You forget that it can always be sold at any time, and in the meantime, we’ll have a great place to live out the winter.”

He turned to Addison. “Did he suggest a date when the papers would be signed? “ Addison shook his head. “Then go in again tomorrow and see Joaish’s brother-in-law and tell him we need some slate to cover our roof. We’ll order the windows later after we’ve shingled the outside.”

When Addison returned, he brought some slate shingles and met David with the cart. Boris helped them carry the shingles to the cart and offered them a taste of Whiskey before getting back on the boat. “Tell your father that the slate was too heavy to transport in one shipment and that we’ll be here around noon with the remainder.”

“What did Fyler say?” said David as they moved up the hill.

“That he will come to see us with his family on Friday with all the papers signed by the Craigs and for her to sign. There will also be a copy for Emna to review and keep.”

“What do you think she’ll say?”

“Knowing my sister, if they’re not contrite enough, she might send 185

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them packing.”

***

Addison met Fyler, his wife and his children at the beach. He helped them board the cart and asked Fyler’s wife to sit in front with him. They didn’t talk much. Only when they saw the cabin did she touch his arm.

Emma put her arms around him and started to cry. “It’s all right,” she whispered and dried her tears with the edge of her apron.”Electa and I have made something special for you and your family.”

Addison and his wife watched them and smiled at each other. Fyler’s wife ran up to Emma and hugged her tight. “I feared we would never see you again.”

Elias and David climbed down the ladder when they saw what was happening. Elias had enlarged the table the night before, and Electa used two tablecloths to cover it. She placed the china her mother had given her at each setting and stood at the door with Jacob to greet them. She hugged Fyler’s wife while Jacob danced toward their eldest son and had him dancing around the table with him.

Fyler sat with his wife at the far end of the table with Emma and Addison on the other side. Fyler’s boys sat with Jacob at the other end. Elias sat next to Fyler’s wife and hugged her as she sat down. Electa entered with a serving plate of deer meat while David followed her with string beans and potatoes.

“It’s like old times,” said Electa as she and David took their seats.

“Only better,” said Elias.

“It will be really better when Emma plays the flute for us,” said Fyler, who took Emma’s hand.

“We’ve never had deer meat before,” said Fyler.

“It can be quite gamey, but Electa has a special recipe her mother gave t her that removes that taste,” said Elias.

Fyler’s wife cut a piece and put it in her mouth. “It’s absolutely brilliant, Fyler. We must get some at the market.

The Dibblees stayed and had supper with them. Jacob and their boys entered the forest behind the cabin. “But not too far. We don’t want to try and find you if you get lost. Mind what I say, Jacob,” said Electa as she cleared the table.

“I’d like to show you the documents I’ve brought,” said Fyler, sitting down across from Emma. Addison, David and Elias sat next to her.

“Here is the deed to Craig’s house, which, you will note, is signed over to you and the official record of the transaction,” said Fyler, placing them in front of Emma, who scanned the deed and passed it along to Addison.

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“This is the undertaking to you from the Craigs,” he added, showing the stipulations with his forefinger. All the stipulations you specified are there. Please read the entire documents to make sure they meet your approval.”

Emma spent the next five minutes going over the document three times. She nodded and passed the document to Addison, who went over it before passing it to David and his father.

“The Craigs will vacate the property a week from today. I will hold the keys for you. Perhaps we can all visit the property a week from today and make sure everything is to your liking.”

“And while you’re at it, we want you to have supper with us in our new home. We moved into it a few days ago,” said Fyler’s wife. She looked at Electa, “I have a few recipes I’d like to introduce you to.”

Addison drove them down to the boat, where Josiah was waiting for them with another shipment of slate.

***

Fyler met them at the pier with a coach, and they drove to Fyler’s new home, just off King Square. It was a two-storey building with large front windows and a dining room to seat 12 people. The kitchen was just off the dining room and had a new iron stove that not only heated the downstairs but could be used to cook on.

“It’s grand,” said Electa.

“This is nothing. Wait until you see your new home.”

They arrived at Craig’s home an hour later. A servant was waiting for them at the front door and bowed to each of them as they entered. Emma ran through all the downstairs rooms first, including the library, just off the dining room. It also had one of the new iron stoves, with a black stovepipe attached to the house’s chimney.

“Where’s the fireplace?” said Elias as he entered the kitchen.

“There isn’t any,” said a voice behind them. It was Lieut. Waddington came by to make sure the Craigs had departed and that the deed had been transferred to Emma.

Addison and David checked out the upper storey while Fyler led them into the extensive cellar and its large wine rack filled with bottles. David withdrew a few of the bottles and returned to Elias. “They’re all French wine.”

Emma and Electa viewed the bedrooms on the second and third floors.

There was an observation tower on the roof to see the harbour and Partridge Island.

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Waddington joined them for supper. Fyler treated them to wine. “It’ll be another hour before supper will be ready.” “What do you think of our new stove?” He turned to Elias.

“Not sure it will ever replace the fireplace,” said Elias.

“It heats all the downstairs and burns less wood .”

“I still like the fireplace.”

“That’s what I thought, too. But it has other advantages the fireplace lacks. Like a place to keep your meals warm before they’re served.”

“If you spend any time in the Craig house, you will come to prefer it as well.”

Waddington sat down next to Fyler. “Did you have any problems with the Craigs?”

“None. The Craigs signed everything over the property to Emma along with her provisos. They’re now on a ship that left yesterday bound for England,” said Fyler.

When supper was served, Waddington occupied the end seat as an honoured guest. Emma and Addison sat on either side of him. “What do you think of your new home, Mrs. Wright?”

“It’s incredible. It is larger and grander than any other house I’ve ever seen. But somehow, I feel deep down I really don’t deserve it.”

“You’ll get used to it. And so will your family.”

“I’m all for moving in until Spring,” said Electa.

That night they all slept in the new house. Electa got lost trying to find the toilet. Emma heard her and slipped out of bed and helped Electa find it.

She slipped back into bed as Addison woke and rolled over to her.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered as Addison went back to sleep.

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E

1792

mma looked out the side window to see a stranger. She was alone.

Electa had gone shopping, and the men were back at the farm. Only her son, Adolphus, named after her father, was close by. Emma was a bit fearful about opening the door to strangers. She had to be careful. She was pregnant again and lost their second child to pneumonia.

The stranger wasn’t giving up, and his knocking grew louder. She opened the door a crack. “Yes.” “My name is Hugh Conklin. I carry letters between Boston and Parrtown. I have a letter for Electa Wright. Is it you?”

“I am her daughter-in-law. You can leave your letter with me, and I will make sure she sees it.”

Conklin, whose unkempt grey beard made him look like an angry old man, passed the letter to her. Would you like me to wait in case she would like to respond?”

“She is very busy at the moment. But she will be here tomorrow morning. So you can check back then.”

He tipped his cap and left, walking down the street towards the park.

Electa returned an hour later, and Emma passed her the letter. Electa was getting old, and her hands shook.”It’s from Tabitha. Her eyes looked tired, and her hands trembled as she opened the envelope. He read it slowly and began to cry as she passed the letter to Emma.

When the men came back from the farm, Emma had supper on their plates as soon as they sat down. Jacob was tired and was looking forward to going to bed. Emma had cooked baked apples for dessert. Electa nodded to Emma, who took out Tabitha’s letter and read it.

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I miss you all so much. I do not know if you were able to start another farm or if any of you are in harm’s way. Charlotte is quite a pretty young lady these days.

Anthony and I have two other children, a girl named after Anthony’s grandmother and a boy named Jacob. He’s so much like my younger brother I could cry at times.

The farm is doing well, and the war is finally over. Things are returning to normal.

Some sad news. Silvanus died two years ago. He missed you all so much. His only consolation were his grandchildren.

Did Addison finally reach you with Young Rob? He left under very trying circumstances, and I hope and pray that he would find you and start a new life.

They say that it is hard to farm where you are. I hope it is not.

I am sick to see you all. Anthony has agreed to take us to see you if we hear back from you. Please reply to this letter as soon as you get it.

No one spoke for almost five minutes. Electa was crying, and Elias was wiping his eyes. “I am sorry to hear about Silvanus. He was a good friend. I will go back to the farm tomorrow and spend a few days there by myself.”

“Well, I have some welcome news. I understand my good wife is pregnant again,” said Addison.

Electa smiled suddenly and rubbed Emma’s back, and kissed her cheek. “Tonight,” she whispered in Emma’s ear, we will sit down and write a letter to Tabitha. I hope she means that they will come to see us. I am so happy for you. It takes some of the sadness away.”

Before they retired, Emma found a piece of paper and a quill to write a letter to Tabitha and give it to the man who brought it. She copied down all that Electa dictated. It talked about how Addison had met the woman of his life and that they are married and have a son with another child on the way. They talked about their large land grant, built a large farm on it, and that things were going well. She even noted that they spend much of their time at a large home in town. A couple gave Addison’s wife the property.

“Your father misses you greatly and cries a lot as he gets older. When you see this letter, please let us know when you plan to come so that we can prepare for you and your family.”

The next morning, the messenger was at their door again. Electa passed him the letter and asked him when Tabitha would get the letter.

“I live in Boston. People seek me out and ask if I can take letters to them to Parrtown. I charge a pound for each letter. If you wish to send it will not cost you anything.”

“No,” said Emma, who reached into her apron pocket and handed a 190

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one-pound note to him. “When will this person see our letter?”

“Usually three weeks from now,” he said, looking at her pound note.”I will make sure she receives your letter shortly after I return.”

***

Winter had set in with a heavy snowfall, swirling in drifts over the roads and making them impassable. Emma looked out of the window. She couldn’t even see the house next door.

Christmas was just around the corner, and she still had not bought any presents for any of them. Emma was big now and had trouble walking.

Electa made her sit and talk to her as she did the chores. The men decided it was not a good day to go to the farm, and Elias fretted about it. He worried about feeding the cows and chickens, and Addison hoped that Young Rob would stay inside.

Jacob and Adolphus trimmed the tree Addison and David brought from the farm two days earlier on Christmas Eve. Elias felt the cold too much to go outside and created some ornaments for the tree instead. Jacob suggested adding candles to the branches, but Emma shook her head. “It’s too dangerous.”

On Christmas morning, Emma and Electa decorated the dining room with red and green streamers and polished the cutlery and the three candelabras on the table. The scent of pine and spruce trees gave the dining room an air of expectation.

The Dibblees arrived with presents wrapped up with red and green ribbons in the afternoon. They sat around five o’clock, and Electa and Emma entered with four chickens, followed by Jacob, who brought a surprise guest, a young lady dressed in festive colours.

“I’d like you all to meet my friend, Rosamund Bentley, whom I had met at Hugh Bradford’s birthday party a couple of months back.” The men stood and welcomed her and looked at her in quick glances. Her bright blue eyes shone like snow crystals. Her oval face seemed to smile all the time, especially when she pushed back her light blond hair from the side of her face.

Emma looked at Jacob and smiled. But Addison’s face had a tentative look.

After supper, Emma took out her flute and began to play: What child is this and other Christmas melodies.

Emma sat back and left the cleaning up to Jacob and his new friend.

She could hear them talk and giggle as they washed and dried the dishes and the silences between their chatter. She smiled and had Addison help 191

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her go to the kitchen and say Merry Christmas to Jacob and his friend. Jacob was dancing with his partner, leaving the dishes to be dried.

Emma smiled. “I think Jacob has met his match.”

***

Emma was getting close to giving birth by Easter. Electa wouldn’t let her do any more housework and made her sit or sleep most days.

Everything happened at once – a reply from Tabitha, stating that they had booked passage on a ship in late May and would arrive on May 24th; Electa felt Emma’s time was near and sent Addison to bring Mrs. Wheeler, the midwife to check on Emma.

Phila Wheeler came back with Addison a half-hour later. Her hair, now turning grey, was not combed and shot out in all directions. She breathed hard and talked in quick short sentences. She bent down to listen to the sounds of life in Emma’s stomach. She looked at Electa. “You know what to do,” she said, opening her birthing bag.

Electa left to boil some water on the iron stove. She added a few more sticks into the firebox and had a pot of water boiling in no time. She gathered all the cloths she could find and headed upstairs with a pan of water.

Emma gave birth in the middle of the night. Addison did not bother to go to sleep and paced the hallway outside until his legs got tired. Every time he passed their door, he would pause, hoping to hear the sound of a baby crying. This continued until his legs became tired, and Addison sat down on a chair outside their door. He was nodding and trying to stay awake when he heard the sound of a baby crying.

He jumped up and began pacing again, waiting for his mother to open the door. Finally, about 30 minutes later, she opened the door. “You can’t go in now. There’s been a complication. You’ll have to wait outside.”

“Is it the baby –“ Too late, the door was closed, and there were no more sounds from the baby. He worked himself into a nightmare in which Emma and the baby had died, or their lives were in danger when his mother opened the door. “You can go in now. You have a beautiful daughter who looks just like Emma.”

Emma’s face was sweating, and her eyes looked tired. He bent down and kissed her forehead. Emma tied to smile at him. “We shall call her Electa, after your mother.” Finally, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Addison met his father outside the room and told him the news. David opened his door. “You have a niece who looks like your sister.”

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NEVER LOOK BACK

***

Elias and Electa stood on the pier where Tabitha’s ship would dock.

Electa kept asking the time every five minutes until they saw a sail round Partridge Island. Twenty minutes later, the ship docked a short distance from them. Four crew members lowered a gangplank to the pier and tied it in place. Some of the passengers were already lined up to leave the ship.

Electa scanned the people that were lining up to leave the ship. She couldn’t see Tabitha or Anthony, and she began to fear they had missed the boat. She looked away and tried not to cry. Her heart sank.

Elias suddenly started waving his arms. “I see them,” he shouted, “and they’ve seen us, too. He pointed to a couple near the end of the lineup, and Electa began waving as well. She was breathing hard and felt her heart was ready to explode.

They reached the gangplank about ten minutes later and held their children by their hands. Charlotte led the way and ran to them as soon as she left the gangplank. Electa picked her up and kissed her cheeks and forehead before letting her down.

Tabitha was looking at her. She edged her way to her mother and held her for a long time. Their bodies shook as they cried.

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JIM CARR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T

his book was inspired by my ancestors. Every May the 18th at school, it was a school holiday to remember the date our ancestors landed in Saint John on May 18, 1783. I still celebrate it.

Jim Carr began his advenures with words as a teacher of Latin Grammar for the first five years. He studied Latin for seven years and has written a book on Latin Grammar for beginners, called Lungua Latina.

This was followed by a lengthy career in print journalism on two Daily newspapers as a reporter, financial editor and editor before helping several large corporations and associations as a communications specialist.

Now in retirement, he writes a blog anbout Thai resorts and their spa treatments while acting as an associate edior fo Spa Canada magazine. His ebooks include Spa Magic Collection, which features 55+ five-star Thai resorts and hotels which includes many pix and videos.

He had also written five mystery novels include Gravediggers, Rogues Retreat and The Door as well as a book of short stories, Betrayal, an hostorical romance, called Yesterdays, a war romance, There’s Always Tomororow, and two war books, Forget-Me-Nots and Femme Fatale.

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