Against All Odds

by Marian L. Jasper

  “Well, if you’re sure, Liza. I had heard that you had Laurie Cuzins working for you. Do you think that’s wise? It could put a lot of people off using your new press,” said the colonel.

  “I needed somebody who was well-educated and had some idea of how a press works and Laurie has both those qualities. Everybody needs to be given a chance to change their lives and I know that the people of Benson have always given people the benefit of the doubt. It may take a while but she will be accepted. She was originally a school teacher, you know,” said Liza.

  “What happened to her then, Liza?” asked the colonel.

  “It’s not my place to talk about anybody’s past. You wouldn’t like me to talk about you, would you?” said Liza.

  “That’s a fair point, Liza. How’s little Meg? Have you brought her with you today?” asked the colonel looking towards the outer office in case she was there.

  “No, Zelma’s keeping her calm today. I’ve heard that a storm was on its way so I didn’t want her to be out in that. She’s not too well, I’m afraid, but it’s only to be expected,” said Liza.

  The colonel nodded sadly and Liza left. Ben called her and told her the news that he was going to be a father again. Liza was delighted for him and Brigeta and said that she would call on Brigeta to tell her how pleased she was to hear her news.

  As she left the office, Corporal Shaw was drilling his men and he saluted her as she passed and she knew that he was making sure that he knew where she was. She went to see Ada who still had no idea when her granddaughter would be arriving but as they had discussed before, she felt that it would not be until well after Christmas.

  “I wondered whether you needed me to organise her passage or even somebody to travel with her. Whoever is with her can stay at my house in New York while transport to here can be arranged. The staff will enjoy looking after guests. They do sometimes have one or two of the Fullers staying on occasion when they are in New York on business but overall they just have to keep the house clean, neat and tidy,” said Liza.

  “That’s very good of you, Liza. It sounds as if your house is very large, is it?” said Ada.

  “Yes, it is a little on the large side, but so are most houses in New York. It’s nothing exceptional,” said Liza modestly, “it would be quite useful if you found out her name, or would you like me to make gentle enquiries for you?”

  “I suppose if you asked her name it would be better than her grandparents owning up to not knowing it,” said Ada.

  “Yes, I’ll write to Amelia; she normally knows most things about people. Not that she’s nosy, it’s just that people tell her things,” said Liza.

  “That’s what people do to you, Liza. Is she like you? Does she keep what she knows to herself?” asked Ada.

  “Yes, she does, Ada. She is somebody that you can tell anything to and it will go no further, unless, of course, you want it to,” smiled Liza.

  “Are you staying long today, Liza; there’s a storm coming and you wouldn’t want to get caught in it,” said Ada.

  “It’s a long way away at the moment. I don’t think it will be here until evening but I’ll make sure I’m home before it gets here. I suppose it will mean that this warm weather will change. It really should as it does seem strange not to have to wear overcoats at this time of year,” said Liza.

  “Are you going to visit Mark today? You do normally when you come here,” said Ada.

  “Yes, I am, Ada. I hope that I don’t upset you doing that. Mark was a friend before that terrible day and I don’t feel that he’s any less of a friend because of it. I do hope you understand that,” said Liza.

  “I’d expect nothing less of you Liza,” said Ada.

  “I’ve brought him a book to read. He has nothing to do but think whilst he’s in prison. I’m also going to call on Bea and then Brigeta,” said Liza.

  “Does Patrick visit him?” asked Ada.

  “He has once or twice, but he knows that he may well be the one who has to carry out the sentence on him, so he is keeping his distance to an extent,” said Liza.

  “I feel very sorry about young Mark. I know how much he thought he loved my Felicity and he believed she loved him. Sadly the only person Felicity loved was herself. She was my daughter and I loved her, but I have to admit that I didn’t like her. I feel that I failed her when she was young as I didn’t recognise that there was a problem with her and just felt that it was a growing up phase. There were times when I did wonder, but pushed it to the back of my mind. I know that young Mark did a terrible thing but feel that he was pushed beyond what somebody in love should endure. Unhappily, there is nothing that can be done to help him; the law has to take its course,” said Ada.

  “You know Amelia’s great quotation, which has proved so very true on many occasions and that is that love and hate are very strange bedfellows. I’ve had personal experience of that,” said Liza.

  “Have you, you must tell me about it,” said Ada.

  “One day I will, but I have other people to visit today and I want to get finished before dark,” said Liza.

  Her next call was on Bea who was anxious for Liza to see how well young Judith was progressing and was singing the praises of how clever Rachel was and how well she was doing at school.

  “I notice that she has become one of the ‘boys’ dare I say,” said Liza.

  “She has become a bit of a tomboy, but she also helps me in the kitchen and she loves her little sister. She often visits the grave of her brother, but never goes to her parents’ graves and I don’t insist that she does. She has found her own level of mourning. Your boys and Si have really helped her become a normal child,” said Bea.

  Liza stayed another half an hour saying that she yet had to visit Brigeta and she wanted to get home before the storm arrived and before dark.

  Whilst she was on her way to Brigeta’s quarters Corporal Shaw called out a cheery greeting and asked how Laurie was getting on at the printers.

  Liza stopped and the corporal moved towards her. She put her hand in her bag and drew out Zelma’s potion. The corporal moved even closer and with his back to where there were others standing, he took the bottle from Liza who quietly said, “Zelma says that three drops in a glass should be enough to knock anybody out for a whole night.”

  The corporal touched his hat and said, “Well, I’m glad she’s working out well for you. I’m sure she’s enjoying it.”

  “She and young Greg took all night to print twenty announcements, but I’m sure they’ll speed up in time,” said Liza.

  He nodded and left her to go on her way to Brigeta’s.

  The talk at Brigeta’s was all about the new baby and when it was due and the fact that neither she nor Ben cared whether it was a boy or girl just as long as it was healthy. Suddenly Brigeta realised what she had said and kept apologising to Liza.

  “Don’t be silly Brigeta that’s what we all wish for; there’s no need to apologise for being quite normal,” said Liza.

  “How is little Meg? Is she feeding well now?” asked Brigeta.

  “Yes, she’s eating quite well, but she’s not getting any better. We expected that though,” said Liza.

  “The storm’s getting nearer Liza, you had better think about getting back home. You want to be there before it gets too near,” said Brigeta. “It’s getting very dark.”

  “Yes, I want to say hello to Mark before I leave. I’ve got a book for him. He has nothing to do all day and I hope it takes his mind off what is going to happen to him, although I suppose nothing will do that,” said Liza.

  “It’s such a shame that he’s got into that situation. Everyone could see that Felicity had no feelings for him whatsoever. Still I suppose it’s difficult to see that when you think you’re in love. It’s very awkward that it was the colonel’s daughter that he killed,” said Brigeta.

  “Do you know that nobody ever mentions Lieutenant Crown at all? It’s as if he never existed, that is very sad,” said Liza. “Anyway, I’d better go
to the prison now and then make my way home.”

  Liza left as there was a flash of lightning but the thunder was still not overhead and she went to visit Mark at the prison. As she entered she could see that Mark was quite agitated. The guard was sitting with his feet up on the desk and he had a glass of whisky on the desk. He got up to open the cell for Liza and staggered as he did so.

  Mark whispered to her that until he’d had a visit from Corporal Shaw he was going to tell her that he wasn’t going to take advantage of all that had been arranged to gain his freedom.

  “You knew that Felicity had a child, didn’t you Liza?” whispered Mark.

  “Yes, I did, but what has that got to do with your decision. Many people have illegitimate children,” said Liza.

  “No wonder your friend Edward was divorcing her. Do you know whose child it is?” he asked.

  “Yes, I do, he’s a Greek and he’s also in shipping. He says he didn’t know who she was at the time and was shocked when he realised that her husband was part of the company he wanted to do business with,” said Liza.

  “How could she ignore her own child? How could she not love it? How could she just forget that it had ever been born? She used to say such terrible things about Edward, and I believed her,” said Mark.

  “I’ll ask again; what has that got to do with your decision?” asked Liza.

  “She also said some terrible things about you, Liza and about Patrick. Some of them I believed, but when I wasn’t with her and I was with you and Patrick, I really knew that they couldn’t be true, but I still thought that I loved her,” said Mark.

  Liza still looked puzzled and Mark continued, “Corporal Shaw came to tell me that if I gave up this opportunity not only would he be in trouble but you would also and that the end would be my execution which would have to be carried out by either Patrick or Sean. He also told me that it was necessary that my life be spared.”

  “I didn’t know that Corporal Shaw could be so persuasive, but I’m pleased and the time is just about now that we have to spirit you away,” said Liza.

  “Your first husband came to me Liza, and this time I knew it wasn’t a dream. Corporal Shaw was here and although he was shocked, he watched and listened and later told me that he now understood why you were so adamant that I gain my freedom,” said Mark.

  There was a flash of lightning but the crash of thunder was some while later. Corporal Shaw came in and said that it was time for me to get the buggy.

  “I’ll say goodbye then Mark as I won’t have another opportunity to say it properly,” said Liza and Mark came to her and put his arms around her and kissed her. The guard on duty was fast asleep and Liza had a feeling that more than three drops had been put into his drink. “Good luck Mark and that is the last time that you will use that name. Goodbye Mike. I will see you again one day and I know it will take time but you will be happy.”

  “Thank you for everything Liza, and I do hope you have no trouble doing this for me,” said Mark.

  Liza left for the stable and got into her buggy, she noticed that her bridle had been tampered with and a burr had been placed under one of the straps. She found the book and exclaimed as if to herself that she had forgotten to give it to him, so she drove her buggy towards the prison and stopped outside, getting down and running in waving the book. Inside the corporal took it and put it inside the cell which Liza noticed looked as if somebody was asleep on the bed, he locked it and Liza went outside and climbed into her buggy again. Where she had parked shielded the prison door from the guard at the gate. Mark and the corporal were hidden as they came out of the door and Liza drove slowly in a circle and when she looked down nobody was there.

  She drove towards the gate and as she approached her pony showed signs of being uncomfortable. It was now quite dark and the lightning was increasing and the thunder was getting closer. At the gate Liza pulled on the rein that she knew would make the burr irritate the pony, she was sorry for this but it was necessary. There was another flash of lightning and the thunder was nearer and she made her pony rear up just as she was attempting to drive through the gate. The guard on duty rushed over to help her as the pony reared again. Liza jumped down but pretended to slip out of the buggy but the guard caught her. She stood up and pulled the pony’s head down and quickly removed the burr. She and the guard calmed the pony as Corporal Shaw came up to ask if he could help, so Liza knew that Mark was now on his way to freedom.

  “I thought I could make it home before the storm came, but I seem to have misjudged it,” said Liza.

  “Have you got a lantern with you, Mrs Kelly?” asked Corporal Shaw.

  “No, I didn’t think that I would need it. They’ll be worrying about me at home, I must get going now,” said Liza.

  The corporal said to the guard, “Can you get Mrs Kelly a lantern so that she can see her way home?”

  When the guard went into the stable the corporal said that Mark was now with the scout and the rain was about to start so any signs will be washed away shortly, although the scout had already organised that they were brushed away.

  “I could see you into town Liza, but I think that it would be thought unusual for me to do that. I hope you get home safely. You’ve taken the burr from the strap I see, that’s good. I feel that you and I should just acknowledge one another as we always have from now on, unless, of course, I’m in Laurie’s company. Did the lieutenant tell you that I saw what he saw?” asked the corporal.

  “Yes, he did. Did it worry you?” asked Liza.

  “Of course it did. But it proved to me why the Cherokees say that you are special. Drive carefully Liza, that storm is getting very near now.” The guard came back with the lantern and fixed it onto the side of the buggy and Liza drove off towards town. It only took ten minutes for her to reach home, and she unhooked the buggy and brushed the pony down and made sure it had enough food and water. It would be happier when Patrick got home and stabled his horse which would keep it company.

  Liza rushed into the house through the back door as the rain became quite heavy and Zelma was relieved to see her.

  “I’m sorry Zelma, has all been all right whilst I’ve been away?” asked Liza.

  “Meg has been a little fretful but she has been breathing well. The boys are upstairs playing, but with this storm getting worse I think they may be down in a minute. I think they’d like to see you as they seemed a little worried that you were out so late. Is all well at the fort?” asked Zelma pointedly.

  “Yes, all is well, thank you Zelma. I’ll go and see the boys. Is Si still with them?” said Liza.

  “No, Gabriel came home early, he wanted to avoid the storm so he came and took Si just after they’d had their supper,” said Zelma.

  Liza went up to the boys who were pleased to see her.

  “You were late home,” said Matthew.

  “Yes, I got caught up and forgot the time, and then I had a problem with the pony who was worried by the storm and the guard and a corporal had to calm him down for me. By that time it was dark, well it was dusk but the storm clouds suddenly made it dark. Anyway, I’m here now. Do you want to come down and we can sit together while the storm is going on. I’m going to have my supper now, so you can tell me about your day while I eat. I bet your father will be very wet and tired when he gets home. He’s on late patrol again,” said Liza and the boys came down the stairs with Liza and sat with her whilst she ate her supper with Zelma.

  The storm was now raging overhead and although Liza always thought that a storm was quite exciting, this one felt as if it was the fiercest she had known and the boys were now quite concerned. Little Meg started crying as the noise had woken her and Liza picked her up and held her close. The boys were also on either side of her trying not to appear as frightened as they obviously were.

  Liza thought of Mark and the scout making their way to safety on a night like this, but really it was a blessing in disguise.

  There was a lull in the storm and Liza told the boys to go
up and get themselves ready for bed and then come back downstairs when they were ready, and they rushed up and once again didn’t wish to show that they were quite frightened of the lightning and the noise of the thunder. Liza was surprised at how quickly they were ready and Zelma warmed some milk for them.

  Liza sat in her rocking chair cradling Meg to her and the boys sat on the floor at her feet on either side of her and that was how Patrick found them when he came home from his patrol. He had put his horse in the stable also making sure it was rubbed down, fed and watered. Liza started to get up to help him off with his coat, but Zelma stopped her, telling her that her daughter and sons needed her and she would sort Patrick out.

  Patrick came over and kissed Liza on the head and greeted the boys at the same time looking closely at Meg. “That’s a nice family sight, Liza. It’s been quite fierce out there and I’m pleased to be home. I managed to get back in a lull in the storm, I wondered whether I would have to stay at the fort for a while it was so fierce, but I think it’s going to come back again. The lightning is non-stop, but the rain has eased a little.”

  Zelma took Patrick’s coat and his uniform was also wet, so he went up and changed into his robe, bringing his uniform down to dry by the fire. “I’ll get you your supper, Patrick,” said Zelma. “The boys and Meg need Liza at the moment,” and Patrick nodded and sat at the table.

  “Everyone’s bedded down for the night at the fort. I was the only one out and about tonight. They’ve even closed the gates and put the duty guard under cover for the night. He can see anyone coming from the sentry box on the wall. There would be no point in having him standing in the rain; he wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway. So everyone’s warm and cosy, as I am now thank heavens,” said Patrick.

  There was a flash and a sudden crash of thunder heralding the return of the storm. The boys jumped as did everyone else. “Are you going to stay here tonight Zelma?” asked Liza.