Letters in the Grove

by Felicia Rogers

  She grabbed his arm. “What are you doing to do?”

  “I will be right there.”

  Gustav grabbed their gear. Next he escorted the horse deeper into the woods. Teresa waited until he joined her. When he did, they squatted behind a row of bushes and peeked through the thick leaves.

  A group of men riding at a clipped pace slowed their mounts, coming to a halt before them. The leaves quivered as she shivered against them. Gustav wrapped his arms around her and drew her against his chest.

  “Herr Raeder won’t be too happy we lost them.”

  “I tell you they came this way. The neighbor said they traded their wagon for a horse and that the beast wasn’t in the best of shape. They couldn’t have traveled that far.”

  Victor Wulf sat high atop a black stallion. His midnight black hair shone in the twilight. His large hands played with the reins. “You said you saw them not too far ahead of us?”

  “Aye, I did. And the owner of the horse told me a secret.”

  Gustav relaxed his grip and motioned for her to follow.

  Teresa hesitated. The stranger with Victor imitated a low whining noise. Their horse replied in kind. Teresa’s heart jumped into her throat as she heard Victor Wulf dismount and head into the woods toward their horse.

  Gustav jabbed her in the ribs and she moved. He made haste in the opposite direction of Victor. In the darkness of night, Teresa followed his every footstep. Their pursuers were only a few steps behind. If she made it out of this alive, she would happily live under Olga Schmidt’s roof.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Steep in places and twisty in others, the narrow wooded route was their only means of escape. Pursuit by Herr Wulf and his band of potential miscreants continued to push them forward.

  Gnarled roots rose from the ground and caused Teresa to lose her balance. Briars fell across the path and plucked at her gown. In some areas downed trees blocked the path entirely. Despite all the obstacles, in most places the grass had been beaten down as if the way had been traveled by others in the past.

  They didn’t speak as they traipsed through the woods. Spider webs caught in her hair and she tried to beat them away without making a sound.

  Why did Victor continue to pursue her? Nothing the man said had made any sense. At the Raeder manse they insinuated they knew of her involvement in the religious freedom movement in Augsburg. But how could they? She’d only been passing the letters for a brief time, not even long enough to see a change occur. She sighed. Even with the Settlement of ’55 that should have given her the freedom to spread her religion, prejudice held most of the people in the country back. Change was never easy.

  She should never have spoken to Victor at that celebration.

  Hidden in an alcove, the edges surrounded by green foliage, she watched with longing.

  A young woman with curly flowing hair sauntered forward. One curl was wrapped around her finger as she enacted a sultry pose. “Hullo, my name is Audra.”

  Victor Wulf, a well-known charmer, spun to face her. She leaned in and Victor closed his eyes and lifted his nose to the air.

  Audra ran her finger around Victor’s broad shoulders. “I haven’t seen you here before. What is your name?”

  “I’m Victor Wulf.” The man puffed out his chest with pride and Teresa fought a giggle at his obvious preening.

  Audra placed her hand upon his upper arm and squeezed. “You are strong. Muscular. Would you care to join me for a walk? The garden is lovely this time of night.”

  Victor hesitated for a moment before a smile lifted his lips. He held out his arm for Audra to accept and together they strolled to the gardens.

  Far enough behind so she wouldn’t be seen, Teresa followed. The act of their wooing brought a wave of tears to her eyes and she quickly swiped them away. Gustav was gone, and she was left behind. She would enjoy the sharing of affection any way she could, even if it was not for her.

  Audra batted her lashes. “Tell me of your homeland. Is Germany as relaxed about religion as they say?”

  “What they say is true. We have allowed our princes to decide each area’s religious preference.”

  “You don’t sound thrilled.”

  “I am not. I believe the Holy Roman Church should be in total charge of our country.”

  “Aye, so you agree with my own queen.”

  “I do.”

  “Have you met Mary?”

  “Nay.”

  “Oh. I thought I overheard you say that you had—“

  “Traveled to England and met the queen? Nay, I have not. But I have heard many things about her.”

  They stopped and Teresa hid in the foliage which created the perfect blind.

  “I see.” Audra pulled away, and tapped her finger upon his chest.

  “That doesn’t mean that with the right persuasion I wouldn’t be willing to travel to England.”

  Audra’s mouth formed an O and she closed the distance between them. “And why would you do such a thing?” Her tone became sultry and Teresa wished she could melt into her hiding spot.

  “My country could benefit from Queen Mary’s leadership.” Victor moved a strand of hair from Audra’s face. “Since you are from England, perhaps we can help one another.”

  “Perhaps,” she said, smiling sweetly.

  “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

  They held hands. “I think I would like that.”

  “Very well, I will send someone to meet you tomorrow. Where shall I send the carriage?”

  “Here. I will be waiting.”

  “What of a dance?” Victor leaned forward and blew against her neck.

  Audra blushed and pushed him back. “I prefer that we keep our association a bit more secret.”

  He nodded and they reentered the party and parted ways. Teresa followed, slightly ashamed by her intrusion into their private affair. Gustav would be appalled to know that she followed people that used to employ him for their clothing, but she was so lonely.

  The evening progressed and Audra flashed secret glances at Victor. He winked when others weren’t watching, all the while sauntering around the room inquiring of young ladies to dance. No doubt he tried to confuse others in attendance about his obvious affinity for Audra. He strolled close to Teresa but she avoided his gaze. She would not be used as a pawn.

  “My lady, may I have this dance?”

  “I think not.” She turned away and sipped at a glass of port.

  “Oh, are you with someone?” he peered over the crowd.

  “Nay.”

  He gasped. “A woman of your grace and beauty is left alone? Tell me it isn’t so.”

  “Not that it is any of your business, but yes, I’m alone.”

  He bowed at the waist. “Then please allow me a moment of your company.”

  With his continued persistence she gave in and danced with him. When the dance ended, he escorted her to his table. Around the table sat some of the most influential men in all of Augsburg. They spoke of the religious changes, but Teresa paid little heed. As a Protestant, the Settlement of ’55 had gone her way, so she saw little reason to concern herself with further details.

  The celebration ended, and Victor escorted her home amidst her verbal protests. Rumors throughout court of his various conquests and her own marriage warranted that she keep her distance. “A young woman should not be out alone. Allow me the pleasure.” He insisted and loneliness had her giving in.

  Comfortable in the carriage, she smiled. “This reminds me of the time my husband and I attended our first celebration.”

  Victor stiffened. “How so?”

  “Oh, the owners of the manse in which we stayed offered us a lovely carriage to travel in.”

  “So you are married?”

  “Aye, I am.”

  “And where is your husband now?” he asked with an irritated tone.

  Teresa waved a dismissive hand through the air, refusing to acknowledge his ire. “He is off in France trying to gai
n religious freedom for the Protestants.”

  Victor went eerily silent.

  A bird cawed overhead and broke her reverie. That afternoon had been the beginning of the end. Teresa didn’t see Victor again. Invitations to celebrations disappeared. Friends stopped calling upon her home. With the admission of her husband’s cause, everything changed. Finding work amongst Gustav’s former friends ended and the saved funds dried up. With her broken heart from her childlessness combined with her lack of funds, she was led to find other employment. She then offered her laundry services at the orphanage, which spiraled into her delivering the coded letters.

  Thinking about Gustav, Teresa glanced over her shoulder. Gustav kept pace behind her. His gaze directed downward, probably to watch his feet since roots protruded from the uneven ground.

  With her hand stretched forward, Teresa knocked away sagging limbs. Several sprang back and hit Gustav, causing her to stifle a laugh.

  She cleared her throat and whispered, “Sorry.”

  Gustav grunted but didn’t speak.

  The trek was arduous. Labored in her breathing, stars floated before her eyes and she grabbed a tree trunk to keep from collapsing. Gustav seemed to hold no sympathy as he grabbed her from behind and pushed her forward. Words of protest formed on her lips but she stopped them.

  Noises of people hacking at the foliage behind them reached her hearing. Lifting her skirts, she hurried forward. Her calf muscles burned as they ascended. How were they to get out of this situation? They needed a place to hide.

  After her first encounter with Victor, Teresa became concerned she was being followed. On her weekly trips to the grove to post letters to Gustav, and for her secret employer, she would hear footsteps or voices. Afraid of the letters’ hiding places being discovered, she often left the path and hid. Past scenarios ran through her mind. She had hid in hedge rows, caves, and even behind a waterfall. Nothing like that resided nearby.

  Squinting, Teresa spotted a cottage. Weather had caused the front of the roof to sag. If they headed there it would be the first place Herr Wulf would search. No, they needed something completely inconspicuous. A place that would blend with its surroundings and hold both of them. Perhaps a cave?

  Scraggly bushes dotted the landscape but wouldn’t provide enough cover. Previous storms had downed trees. Dead trees with hollow insides covered the ground. The idea of getting inside a dead log filled with crawling bugs lacked appeal.

  Ancient oaks dotted the area. Green leaves made them full. If the limbs were lower then they could climb within their thickness and hide. Where else? There had to be something obvious to her but not to Victor.

  On their left was the craggy face of a mountain. Massive boulders lined the edges. No path led to the rocks. She started to cut across through the high weeds, but Gustav grabbed her arm.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to hide behind those boulders over there. We can’t just keep running. They are catching up.”

  In a forced whisper, he said, “We can’t hide behind those rocks. Look what you’re doing. Every time you move you depress the grass. They will know we went this way.”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “So what is your plan? Let’s have it. Because I don’t intend to be caught by Victor Wulf again.”

  Yanking her arm from his grasp, Teresa stomped away. Muttered words followed behind her.

  Teresa hadn’t given up hope on a better place to hide. Scanning the area, she searched for an alternate path to the rock face, some way they could reach it without drawing attention to their final destination. Then she saw it. An impression in the grass that led in the general direction she wanted to go.

  Not waiting to see if Gustav agreed, she moved along the path. A dark cloud shifted overhead. Light stopped filtering through the trees. When her foot hit the ground it felt mushy and less firm. Moving the other foot, she placed it beside the first.

  Her hands flew up as her feet flew out from under her. The impact of her bottom smacking the earth caused pain to radiate along her spine. A gasp of surprise escaped her throat as she slid along a dirt slide. Coming to a halt in an unceremonious heap, she was unable to move before Gustav crashed atop her.

  “Sorry, love.” He rolled over and lay on his back, his breathing heavy. “What just happened?”

  “I think we found a hiding spot.”

  ****

  Buried beneath the earth the sounds above were muffled. Afraid to give away their hiding place, they huddled together and kept silent.

  If Wulf and his men strolled too close to the hole, would they slide down on top of them? Gustav hoped they gave up before then.

  The depression in the grass they had followed went much farther than the hole Teresa had slipped into. As far as the eye could see the path had continued winding along the mountainside.

  When the muffled sounds above ended, Gustav stood. Inside the hole, light was at a minimum. It drifted down the earthen slide and through a few holes above. It was just bright enough to make out his hand in front of his face.

  “What do we do now? How are we going to get out of here?” Teresa asked, her voice trembling.

  Gustav rubbed his hand along her back. There had to be a way out. There was always a way.

  He patted her shoulder and left her standing while he roamed around. The area wasn’t much bigger than Max’s solar. Dirt flaked away in his hand when he touched the wall. He stomped the floor. It had the consistency of compact mud. Running water reached his hearing.

  Grabbing Teresa’s hand, he pulled her along as he searched for the source. Cool liquid rushed into Gustav’s shoes and froze his toes. Gritting his teeth, he stepped into the flow. The farther he walked the more intense the pressure.

  “It can’t be much farther now. I see light up ahead.”

  “As do I.”

  They held hands. The size of the light grew until it encompassed an entire wall. When they reached the end, Gustav pulled Teresa behind him. The hole opened onto a sheer drop. Water rushed over the gap in a raging waterfall.

  Gustav lay on his stomach and leaned his head over the rock shelf’s ledge. The roar of the water blocked out every sound. Far beneath them was a pool, reflecting crystal clear depths.

  Rolling onto his back, Gustav sighed. How were they to get down?

  “Look at this.”

  Teresa pointed. Embedded along the side of the opening was a series of rock shelves. The length and breadth of each mimicked a set of stone steps. He edged closer. The way was steep and the rock was slick with moisture. He huffed and proceeded first.

  Balance was the key to remaining upright. With his hands out to his sides, he stepped sideways. Teresa followed behind him with surprising agility.

  The stairs ended in a small valley. Lush green foliage surrounded the tiny pool of water he’d seen from above. Around the ring of foliage was a narrow, well-defined dirt path. Gustav followed it. Worry beset him when they ended on the other side of the waterfall like they’d only made a circle.

  Dense pine trees rimmed the path’s edge. Gustav lifted branches and peered through the needles only to see more branches filled with more needles. His heavy sigh punctuated the air. They were trapped.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Teresa stayed behind as Gustav worked to find a way out of their pine prison. He sat on the path and crossed his legs. His head fell into his hands and he closed his eyes.

  “Have you given up then?” she asked.

  “Aye, I believe I have.”

  Teresa gazed at the sky and shook her head in annoyance. She maneuvered around her husband, and skirted the perimeter. Indeed the multiple branches on the pine trees were daunting. At first glance it appeared every avenue of escape was closed. She tapped her head.

  Inspiration struck and Teresa dropped to the ground on her belly. Moving in a slithering motion she approached the tree line. At this level she was afforded a clear line of sight.

  The circle of trees in this one ar
ea went on for as far as the eye could see but as she continued around she noticed the depth of the trees changed. One spot in particular caught her attention and she wiggled forward.

  Teresa made it under the first and second row of trees. Her elbows burned. Limbs poked her ankles and arms. Still she kept moving. Hastening a glance over her shoulder, she noted Gustav. He pulled their belongings in one hand and used the other to scoot himself forward.

  The pine needles thickened. Prickly ends stuck in her hair and ripped holes in her gown. Warmth from the sun warmed her as the foliage thinned.

  Then they were out. She stood to her feet, and dusted debris from her gown. Gustav stood beside her a slanted grin rested on his handsome face.

  “Where did you learn to do that?”

  “Oh, here and there. Now come on. We need to find out where we are.”

  The fear that they were lost in the woods and would never find another path haunted Teresa. It was one reason she had refused to leave Augsburg. No matter the dangers to her person, at least she was never lost.

  They searched for hours, yet a marked path remained elusive. The only good news was they had lost those that pursued them.

  Teresa almost hoped Victor and his gang would find the hole and slide into the earthen cave. Perhaps they would never think to crawl under the trees and would be stuck beside the beautiful pool for eternity.

  “Why are you smiling, engel?”

  “Just thinking about Herr Wulf.”

  Gustav arched his brow. “And this made you smile?”

  “The idea that they might follow us and be trapped, yes, that made me smile.”

  “Aye, I see.” He looked away.

  “Gustav?” He faced her. “Do you have any idea where we are? I hate to admit it but I’m starting to get a tad worried. We haven’t seen a cabin, a structure, or another living soul in a long time.”

  “I know.”

  The cryptic words made Teresa even more concerned. Gustav was the one she depended on to be strong. He was supposed to encourage her and tell her they would be safe, not agree with her fears.