by C.P. Murphy
Chapter Twenty-One
The Van Martins sat in their dining room on Saturday morning. Catherine bowed her head and prayed for Amelia’s return but Daniel and Thomas had sipped on their coffee as if there was nothing wrong. Seeing the pained look on his mother’s face and not caring at all, Thomas said to his father, “Do you suppose this is all just a hoax? Think they are just trying to get out of the marriage?”
Catherine had enough of her son’s selfishness but wouldn’t dare say anything to him. She gathered up the dishes and took them into the kitchen to wash. As she left, Daniel swallowed his coffee and answered his son. “No, I don’t this time.”
Thomas wasn’t happy to hear that his father disagreed with him. To him, there was no other explanation why she was gone. Searchers have looked everywhere for her and the one thing they found was a hair ribbon. “Oh come on,” he shouted. “We’ve looked everywhere. She’s probably half way back to Connecticut by now and Henry is the one who has made all the arrangements for her.”
Daniel knew that his son was thinking of himself but he didn’t think that the boy could be so blunt as to blame an innocent girl’s disappearance as a hoax. He slammed his fist onto the table and shouted back, “I’ve seen the faces of that family and don’t believe that anyone can pretend that well. They don’t know where she is either.”
Thomas growled, “Then fine, she’s gone and she won’t be my wife like you promised me she would be. So what are we going to do about the information we have on Henry?”
“Nothing.”
Thomas was more than a little disgusted with his father. “What do you mean? We have something big on him and you think we will not use it.”
Daniel was getting angry with his son and angry at himself for allowing his child to grow up to be so self-centered. If he didn’t spoil Thomas as much as he did, he might’ve grown to be respectable. “Henry has bigger problems right now than worrying about whether we report him or not. And as far as you’re concerned, I refuse to use that information to get anything else for you.”
Feeling betrayed by his father, Thomas growled, “Then just sit and do nothing. I don’t need you to turn him in, I’ll do it myself.”
Daniel jumped up and grabbed Thomas by the collar of his shirt. He had been a harsh man in the past and admitted that he would still be one but for now he at least had a heart. Never in his plan to blackmail Henry did he want Amelia to be hurt and now with the thought of something horrible happening to her, he wasn’t about to let his good-for-nothing son make things worse. “I said we will do nothing right now. The man is searching for his daughter who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday night. Have a heart, you damned boy. Besides, you don’t have proof. They won’t believe you without evidence and I’ll be darned if I will testify for you. Keep your mouth shut, do I make myself clear?”
Thomas pulled himself backward to free himself from his father’s grip and straightened his shirt to be prim and proper. For once he did as he was told and kept quiet. Henry had nothing else that he wanted, not now at least. He decided that he would hold onto the information just in case he needed to use it soon. He took one last sip from his cup and left to play the concerned fiancé once again.
Patrick’s heart broke as searchers tore through his property. Henry had insisted that they do a thorough look closer to Patrick’s house. Henry stated that because Patrick had the hair ribbon and because there wasn’t a trace of Amelia anywhere else, she had to be somewhere close to his home. The thought of her being hurt somewhere had pained him but it was three days later, the thought of losing her completely reeled him close to insanity. He had spent two nights locked up, the first in the ice house and the second in the jail after the constable returned. He had nothing but a wool blanket to keep him warm and a mere piece of bread to fill his stomach. Being on his own property warmed him. When someone opened the door to his house, the dog ran out and relieved himself. Poor animal, he thought to himself. Right after the dog ran up to him and just about jumped into his arms. “I missed you too,” he said to the hound. Then the dog ran off to find something to eat, leaving Patrick alone still wondering where Amelia was.
Phillip had walked up to Patrick in hopes to end the nightmare. “Why don’t you tell us where she is?”
Angered by how the villagers assumed that he had something to do with her disappearance, Patrick stated, “We’ve been through this. Your family has had me locked up when I could have been helping and even when we’re on my land, you still hold me down as if I had no rights. I have no idea where she is but I damn well wish I knew where I could find her.”
Phillip frowned. It was apparent that the stranger would not talk. “You’re not locked up now, so then search.” It was a pleasant voice but in no way did Phillip mean it to be nice. He was certain they would hang Buchanan for his wrong doing but they all knew that they had to find her first.
Anna looked out the window and noticed the puddles in the wet street. She wondered if her sister was some place shielded from the rain or was she huddled somewhere just trying to keep warm. Anna wrapped her arms around herself as if to warm up from a sudden chill in the air. The thought of her sister being cold somewhere bothered her a great deal.
Ruth looked over to the troubled girl by the window then glanced at the other two who couldn’t resist rest any longer. Nobody slept much since Amelia had been gone. Whenever the opportunity arose, they would get caught up in thoughts of her possible whereabouts and would again be wide awake. Now Minnie and Beth slept practically sitting up on the sofa. Ruth wished that she could take them to a bed and let them get comfortable but she knew that would just wake them and their sleepless cycle would start all over again. Returning her direction to Anna, she spoke, “You should get rest too.”
Anna turned, “How do I do that? I’m worried sick as we all are.”
“I know,” Ruth answered. She wished that she could give everyone more encouraging words but yet couldn’t think of any. “Then why don’t you at least eat something to keep your strength?”
“I’m not hungry or thirsty.”
Ruth could hear the boys upstairs; they had been behaving well over the past few days. They seemed to be more content because they didn’t know too much about what was going on and Ruth wondered if Anna could be more content herself if she tried to go on as if nothing happened. It was worth a shot, she thought to herself. “Anna, what would you be doing now if things were normal? What would you be doing on a rainy day such as this?”
Anna was confused for a moment and didn’t understand what her aunt was asking. She decided to just go with the conversation, anyway. “Well, when the weather gets this way during the summer it brings out the frogs. I suppose I would be out to catch them but,” she wanted to continue but got choked up.
“But what?”
Tears rolled down the young girl’s face as she finished her sentence. “But Amelia doesn’t like it when I catch frogs. She doesn’t think its lady like.”
Ruth too shed tears. It was then she realized that there were so many simple things in life that would be a constant reminder of Amelia. Still she knew that coming face to face with certain reminders would be the best way for the family to heal. “Then why don’t you? Go ahead, if there is any news we promise to come find you.”
Anna straightened herself up. Catching frogs, though it was the perfect day for the activity, was the last thing on her mind. “No,” she answered, “I need to be here for Amelia.”
Ruth frowned but knew she must convince her niece to occupy her mind. “Nonsense, I said we would find you if we hear anything. Now go, it’s all right Anna, go.”
Anna was quiet for a while but then agreed. She opened the door saying she wouldn’t be long but before she left, Ruth told her. “Please don’t go too far. Your father wouldn’t approve.”
Anna turned towards her aunt and glanced over at the sleeping girls and then back at her aunt. She knew that if something happened to her too, they could never rest. “Okay,”
she answered. “I’ll go to the creek up the road and nowhere else. You can find me there if you hear anything but I won’t be long.” Then she turned and for the first time since Thursday, she set foot outdoors.
A few minutes later Anna had arrived at the murky creek. Along her walk there she was on high alert. She was convinced that she could see her sister somewhere and that the men had just overlooked her. She also knew that there could be danger out there too and for that she made sure she stayed in plain sight. When she reached the creek, the first thing she noticed was the missing link from the bridge. She had heard her father speak of it and how it didn’t seem to have anything to do with Amelia. Still as Anna looked at the bridge, she wondered. It gave her uneasy thoughts, and she decided not to stand on the bridge when she looked for the green amphibians. She glanced out to the water and noticed how high it flowed. The creek wasn’t one of her favorite places and she recalled the conversation she had with Amelia about it. “I don’t blame you for not coming here,” she said out loud as if her sister could hear her. “I shouldn’t even be here myself.”
She wiped her eyes that tore up again and then decided that the sooner she caught a frog, the sooner she could go back home where she knew she was safe. Anna pulled her dress up and slowly walked closer the shoreline. Weeds grew taller as she neared to the water and she used one hand to push them out of the way. Frogs would be down in that area, she knew it, and she wanted to be as quiet as possible. Her eyes scanned the area, and she was caught off guard when she saw something in the distance. Anna couldn’t tell, from where she stood, what it was for sure with all the weeds surrounding the object so she edged closer to get a better look. That was when she realized that it was her sister mangled in the weeds, face down in the water. For a brief second she was silent as if she was imaging the body but reality set in and Anna let out a horrific scream.
No longer caring about the frogs, she wanted to rush over to her sister but was too shocked to move. Amelia’s body was brushing up against the creek’s bank and then out into the deeper water, back and forth like an old log that fell in. Anna stood there for what seemed an eternity; traumatized and scared. Then she let out the scream of all screams; a scream of fear, a scream of pain, and a scream for help.
Henry, David, Phillip, and the rest of the men were in their group were headed towards the village. After their search had ended on Patrick’s property unsuccessful, they went on but Henry couldn’t stand to have Buchanan in his sights any longer. Every time he looked at the man he wanted to wring his neck and demand answers but the stranger still denied having anything to do with Amelia’s disappearance. He figured he’d give a little punishment to Buchanan by forcing him to search with Thomas and his group. It started a pit in Henry’s stomach and as the hours passed away without a word from his daughter, the pit grew. They were just north of his house where he thought they would stop by to see if anyone had returned there with news. Then out of the blue he heard a terrifying scream with a constant holler. The voice was screeching, “Oh my God,” as they ran toward the voice. He knew that voice, it was his voice in a female’s body, and it was his flesh and blood, it sounded like Anna. The pit he had in his stomach enlarged and he knew that the search for his daughter was coming to an unexpected end.
Moments later they arrived at the bank of the creek they had searched before. Henry saw Anna standing knee deep in the water, her body was shaking uncontrollable and her screams haven’t led up. He was too afraid to look but knew that he must. He first looked at Anna who didn’t seem to realize that there was a crowd of people around and then he turned his head to see his lifeless daughter floating in the water. Henry too let out a scream. “No,” he yelled as he ran into the water. He kept repeating the word he screamed as he made his way through the murky water to Amelia’s body, “No, no, no.” Without hesitation, the instant he reached her, he turned her body over and then scooped her up into his arms and held her close to him. “Please God, bring her back to us. Don’t let this happen to my precious girl. Oh please help her, make her breath again.” He continued to plead as he headed back towards land with Amelia in his arms.
David was stunned and broken hearted but he knew that he had to remain strong for his family since it was apparent that his father wouldn’t be. He ran into the water to help Anna out. His youngest sister looked as though she froze. She didn’t move at all and the only reason he knew that she was alive was by the petrified scream being released from deep inside of her. He ran to the shore and wrapped his arms around her but it did no good. She showed no awareness he was there with her. David leaned over and with one scoop, lifted her up and brought her up the bank where Phillip stood with a blanket to place over her shoulders. The screaming still had not stopped, but she managed to lay her head in David’s shoulder and cried.
Men had rushed to Henry’s side as he emerged from the creek but he wouldn’t allow them to touch Amelia. She would be all right; she took in a little too much water but God would make her breath again, he thought to himself. He inspected her body. Her face was bruised and her arms. As he placed his hand on the back of her head, he could feel a swollen bump and was sure that at one point it must have been bleeding hard. Her dress was torn in several spots and her stockings had many tears in them. It tore Henry up to see her in such condition, so bad he couldn’t face reality. She would need care when she came through, he thought to himself, and he demanded that someone get his apothecary bag but nobody moved. He yelled at the stunned crowd, “For goodness sake, she is all bruised up, something bad has happened. Now I beg of you, someone, get my bag and employee. She will need help.” Still nobody moved and Henry knew that they would not attempt to save his daughter. He lowered his head onto her chest and sobbed as hard as he could, not caring who was watching him.
Word was sent to the constable and to the other searchers. It didn’t take long for the crowd to grow, not only from men who searched but also women who had heard the news or the scream. Knowing that the sight was an ugly one, the searchers formed a barricade so that the women couldn’t see the terrifying scene. This wasn’t something that had ever happened in Millersport before and almost everyone wanted to say they witnessed what had happened.
The searchers could still hear the screams from Anna and they glanced over their shoulders and could see Henry hovering over Amelia as if some miracle would bring her back. It saddened the hearts of everyone and they all knew that there was nothing left they could do except to be there for the Samuels family. Soon the constable barged his way through the crowd to examine the situation and everyone knew that it was time to heal.
Word of Amelia’s recovery had spread to Thomas, Patrick, and their group and they charged down to the creek where the commotion was taking place. Until their arrival, they had no idea that the girl was deceased, and they hoped for the best. Whispers of death were overheard and Thomas demanded that their one suspect be locked away right away. Patrick objected, saying he wanted to be there with Amelia but the crowd wouldn’t have it. Hearing of his presence, the constable followed his instincts and with the help of several other respectable men, grabbed a hold of Patrick. He instructed them to lock Buchanan up again, and the men carried him away yelling, “No, let me go. Let me see her.” But his request went ignored. He struggled to break free but could not. He felt the pain of losing another woman he loved with all of his heart and the insanity he had been fighting off had temporarily set in. As they dragged his uncooperative body towards the jail, he repeatedly said, “Oh God, this is my fault.” The men considered that a confession and because of it, Patrick wouldn’t be allowed to say his goodbyes to Amelia down by the creek or could attend the funeral. This was by far, worse than losing his wife because he wouldn’t get that chance to see for himself that she was gone. Within a few minutes he was locked away and told that he would be brought up on trial as soon as the family could bury their loved one.
