“Who?” The young man looked confused.
“Someone was following me down the path.”
She saw him raise his eyes and scan the direction she had come. “There’s no one there. It’s just the four of us on the beach.”
Katie rolled over and realised that he spoke the truth. “Where could he have gone?” She knew that there was nowhere to hide except to return to the cliff top.
“Did you see who it was?”
Katie shook her head. She hadn’t seen anyone. She didn’t even know for sure if someone had been there. She had panicked because a few stones had rolled down the path. Why, it could have been a seagull that had set them off. How foolish she had been.
“I’m terribly sorry. I must be mistaken,” Katie felt her already flushed face warm even further.
The young man held his hand out and she took it as he helped her to her feet. His companion now joined them and added her concern to that of the young man.
“I’m fine. Really. I’m sorry to trouble ye.” Katie’s cheeks felt as if they were on fire.
“Where do you live?” It was the young woman who asked the question.
“At the top of the path. The Sanford home.”
“Come, we’ll see you home,” the man’s voice was kind and compassionate.
“Ye don’t need to trouble yerselves. I’ll be all right.”
“You can’t manage that young man alone,” and the man nodded in Seamus’s direction. Unceremoniously dumped on the sand by the fall, he was now happily filling his pockets with shells and washed-up seaweed. Sand clung to his hair, his face and his clothes but he seemed blissfully unaware.
Katie had to admit that the young man was right. Seamus was too heavy for her to carry up the hill, especially after having already descended with him in her arms. She suspected it would likely take a week before her muscles stopped aching. She looked up at her benevolent rescuers. “Thank ye, kindly, I could do with yer assistance.”
“What has you beens and done now?” Lola demanded when Katie entered the house with Seamus. The young couple had seen them to the gate, and then said their farewells. Katie had waited until they disappeared from sight before trying to sneak in the back entrance without being seen. But she hadn’t allowed for Lola’s nose that had become quite adept at sniffing out trouble ever since the incident in town when the two girls had been attacked.
Katie sighed. “Just a little accident on the beach.”
“Accident? What you talkings about?” Lola demanded suspiciously.
“What has happened?” Esther entered the room and stared in dismay at the sand-encrusted two that stood there. Katie had tried to brush all the sand off, but the attempt had largely been unsuccessful.
“It was nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing. Did you roll about in the sand or something?”
“No. I tripped over. That’s all.”
“Both of you?”
Katie blinked her eyes and tried to dislodge the grit she could feel there. “I was running with Seamus and fell. We’re all right. We’re not hurt.”
“You’ve got sand in your eyes!” Esther exclaimed. She picked up a towel and held it out to Katie. “And Seamus has it in his ears and his mouth and up his nose. Katie, it isn’t like you to act irresponsibly. Tell me now what happened.”
Katie wiped her face gently with the towel. It was going to take more than a wipe-over with a towel to get rid of all the sand, but it was a start. She didn’t even want to think of what sand was hiding in her hair and clothes. Out of the corner of her eye, Katie saw Lola move to stir a pot, but she could see that the woman was still paying attention to the conversation.
“We went for a walk along the cliff and Seamus wanted to see the beach so we used the track down the cliff. At the bottom I picked Seamus up and started running up the beach with him, but I fell over.”
Esther crinkled her brow, obviously perplexed. “Why didn’t you let him walk? He’s getting so heavy now that I would have thought that you would be glad to put him down once you got to the beach. Why would you run with him?”
Katie took a deep breath and glanced at Lola who was staring at her with her mouth open. It did make sense not to carry Seamus for longer than necessary. They all avoided carrying him around these days if they could help it. No wonder Esther was confused.
“I – I thought someone was following me down the path. I panicked and ran. I was wrong. I was stupid. I’m sorry.”
“Why did you think someone was following you?” Esther wasn’t going to let this go until she knew the whole story.
“A shower of stones came down after me. But it could have been a seagull.”
Lola snorted and Esther turned. “Lola, take Seamus and give him a bath. And then draw additional water for Katie. She’s going to need it.”
“Yes, Missus.” Lola lifted the pot and set it at the back of the fire. “Come Master Seamus. Oh but yous are heavy.”
Esther waited until Lola had taken Seamus out before pulling a chair out and sitting down. She indicated to Katie to do the same.
“Do you think it could have been the man claiming to be Seamus’s father?”
“I didn’t see anyone. I panicked. There may not have been anyone there at all.”
“But there may have been. We can’t dismiss it. If it was that man we need to know.”
Esther dropped her head into her hands. Katie sat miserably watching her, blaming herself for bringing trouble to this family that she loved.
Suddenly Esther raised her head and looked steadily at Katie. “If you were frightened then I think it’s because you had reason to be. No,” she held up her hand as Katie was about to reply. “You’re not given to impetuous acts or fanciful thoughts. If you thought you were being followed then you quite possibly were.”
“But I didn’t see anyone,” Katie stated miserably.
Esther glanced down at her hands clasped together on the table, then back at Katie. “Where does the path go?”
“From the cliff down to the beach.”
“And no where else?”
“No.”
“And who has access to it?”
“Anyone. But not many people use it. It’s too steep and ye have to start at the top of the cliff or come to it via the track from the Sergeant’s barracks. Most get to the beach by the shore track.”
Esther rose and pushed her chair in. “I think we must take this seriously. It could be another attempt to take Seamus from us.”
“Do ye really think so?”
“I don’t know. But we must be on our guard. And now, you must get cleaned up.”
“And then can I see Rhiannon?” The walk was meant to have taken her mind off Rhiannon and it had worked – but only for a time. Now her fears for Rhiannon crowded back in and she was anxious to see and talk to her friend.
“Perhaps another time. Rhiannon’s not up to seeing anyone at the moment.”
“When will she be ready?”
“I don’t know, Katie. Rhiannon’s going to need some time. And love and understanding.”
Katie nodded but inside her heart was breaking. If only she could carry this burden for her friend. But she couldn’t. There wasn’t anything that she could do – anything that anyone could do – that would make it right for Rhiannon. As Katie climbed the steps to prepare for her bath she reflected that life wasn’t fair – not fair at all.
Katie lay in bed and allowed her fingers to trace the outline of the sheet of paper she’d placed under her pillow. In the dark she couldn’t read it but the crinkle of the paper was reassuring and she recalled the words etched on its surface and on her mind.
She wished she could talk over the contents of the letter with Rhiannon but since Rhiannon’s illness, Katie had shared a room with Seamus just as Rhiannon had shared his room when Katie had been sick. As much as she loved Seamus, she missed her nightly talks with Rhiannon. With Seamus, Katie couldn’t share her secrets or talk over the happenings
of the day or try to make sense of puzzling adult behaviour. For that she needed Rhiannon but Rhiannon wasn’t here. Furthermore, sharing a room with Seamus also meant that she couldn’t read at night because her light would disturb the small boy sleeping opposite. But Katie didn’t need light to know what was in the letter. She’d read it so many times already that she had memorised every word and every pen stroke.
For Samuel had written. He had asked her forgiveness as if it had been all his fault. She knew that she was to blame too but she felt – she groped around looking for an appropriate word and finally settled on cherished – yes that was it, she felt cherished that he valued their friendship enough to take the blame on his own shoulders.
His letter had asked after Rhiannon and Katie had sensed the concern in his written words. Somehow knowing that he knew about Rhiannon, that he was praying, had the effect of lightening her load. A smile played around her mouth. Samuel was a friend – a good friend. She would reply to his letter tomorrow.
“Did you learn anything?” Esther whispered as she met her husband at the door and took his hat and coat and hung them on the coat rack.
“It seems our Katie has an admirer.”
Esther frowned and waited for him to explain. Instead, he climbed the stairs and entered their bedroom. Esther followed. It wasn’t until he had removed his boots that he was able to satisfy her curiosity.
“Apparently the man that followed her was a young soldier who would like to court Katie.”
“Court Katie? She’s just a child!”
“She’s growing up, Esther and is an extremely beautiful girl. I’m sure there will be many that will want to court her. Remember, you weren’t much older when I married you.”
“But what about the minister?” At her husband’s questioning look, she continued. “I thought he was in love with her.”
“But he’s not here and the soldier is.”
Esther felt dissatisfied by her husband’s answer but decided not to pursue it. There wasn’t anything they could do anyway. The young people would have to sort it out for themselves.
“How did you find out about the soldier?”
“The magistrate went to the garrison to question if anyone had seen or heard anything. When the soldier realised what had transpired and how it had been construed by Katie he admitted to following her. He had seen her go down the path and thought it would be an opportunity to talk with her but when he realised he’d frightened her he returned the way he had come.”
“So that’s it.”
“Yes, except he has asked permission to call.”
“And did you give it?”
“I told him he would have to talk with Katie.”
“Oh Renton, is this really happening? First Katie, next it will be Rhiannon …” She stopped and tears filled her eyes. “Except no one will want to marry Rhiannon now.”
“Come now, neither of them should be thinking of marrying for a few years yet. By then Rhiannon might be walking.”
“Do you really believe that?”
The doctor was quiet as he removed his shirt and slid his nightshirt over his head. “I want to believe it,” he finally replied quietly.
September 1830
Chapter Twelve
“It’s a gorgeous day. Just look at that sun,” Katie entered Rhiannon’s bedroom and threw open the curtains. “Ye should hear yer mother and Lola in the kitchen going on about the sprigs of wattle Lola collected and put in water. I don’t think yer mother considers them proper flowers at all.”
“Go away,” Rhiannon’s voice was barely audible from the bed. “And shut those curtains.”
“Ye can’t stay here in the dark all day. Ye need to look out and know what a beautiful day it is.”
“I don’t want to know. Just leave me alone.”
Katie tied the curtains back before turning. “Ye can’t go on like this.”
“Who are you to tell me how I can and cannot go on?”
“I’m ye friend. And I’m concerned. Ye need to get up.”
“I don’t need to do anything, as you put it.”
Katie grasped the handles of a specially made chair designed to transport Rhiannon around the house and moved it closer to the bed. “Here, I’ll help ye up.”
“I said to go away. I am not going to sit in that chair like an invalid.”
“But ye can’t –” Katie stopped.
“Can’t what?”
“Stay inside on a beautiful day.”
“Just watch me.”
Katie sat down on the edge of the bed. “Can ye tell me what’s bothering ye?”
“Everything’s bothering me. How would you like to be stuck in bed all the time?”
“There’s the chair.”
“I told you: I’m not going to sit in that chair like an invalid. It’s – it’s demeaning.”
“It’s nothing of the sort. It’s a chance to live a normal life.”
Renton had sent to England for a wheelchair but until it arrived, a local man had managed to fashion a wheelchair of sorts for Rhiannon’s use. It was not a particularly attractive chair and Katie could understand why Rhiannon wouldn’t want to be seen out in public in it, but for private use it would give Rhiannon a small measure of independence that had hitherto been missing. However there was one problem: Rhiannon refused to use the chair. And there was no guarantee that she would use the proper wheelchair when it arrived either.
“What would you know? You’ve got the use of your legs, no one’s forcing you to do what you don’t want to do, and you’ve got that soldier who wants to court you.”
Katie scrutinized Rhiannon’s face. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“Nothing.”
“It must have otherwise ye wouldn’t have brought it up. Is it – could ye be jealous?”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Then why bring it up?”
“Look at me,” Rhiannon threw the covers back, revealing legs that were skinny from disuse. “I can’t walk. I can’t do anything. Who would want me now?”
Katie bit her lip.
“You’ve got one of the most eligible men in town – probably in the whole colony – wanting to court you – not to mention that Samuel is probably also in love with you. I haven’t got anyone. And I will never have anyone because of this paralytic illness that has left me unable to walk or do anything.” Rhiannon thumped her fists down hard on her thighs leaving red impressions where they landed and making Katie wince.
“Rhiannon –”
“Don’t ‘Rhiannon’ me. My family can trace it’s roots right back to the conquest of England. We’re important. We’re somebody. Who are you? Nothing but a convict girl and yet you’ve got people who want you.”
“So have ye.”
“It’s not the same. If we’d stayed in England I would’ve had coming-out balls and likely married some lord or something. But here I’m a nobody. I’m not even like you. I’m worse. ”
The tears spilled down Katie’s face as she rose.
“Katie, I shouldn’t have said that.”
Katie straightened the bedcovers where she’d been sitting.
“Ye’ve been thinking it.”
“No, Katie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. Don’t go,” but even as she said the words it was too late and the door had closed on Katie’s retreating figure.
Esther stood outside the door and listened in shock to the exchange between Katie and Rhiannon. When Katie came out, tears streaming down her face, she pulled the girl close and held her tightly. She felt Katie’s resistance but she refused to let go. Let Katie struggle – Esther wasn’t about to let her run away. Katie needed to know that she was loved. Within a few minutes she sensed the tension leaving Katie’s body and the tears gradually subside. Esther pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and held it out. Katie took it with a wane smile. “Ta.”
“Don’t let what Rhiannon said get to you. She’s hurting and when we’re hurting we often take it out
on the ones we love best. You go and wash your face now and I’ll talk to Rhiannon.”
Katie nodded and walked away. Saying a quick prayer under her breath, Esther entered her daughter’s room.
“If you’ve come to get me out of bed, forget about it.”
Esther raised her eyebrows at the insolence but chose to ignore it. Instead she stood at the foot of the bed where Rhiannon was forced to raise her head to look at her.
“This has gone on long enough. We’ve given you time to heal – to adjust – we’ve given you love and help and all you can do is feel pity for yourself.”
“Pity!” Rhiannon sounded as if she was about to explode. “How would you like to be flat on your back for the rest of your life? I have reason to feel pity.”
“Life is not easy for any of us, Rhiannon. We each have our burdens to bear. Heartaches that no one but our selves know about. You have people that love you but you’re driving them away. Your father has ordered you a chair but the temporary one that’s been provided you refuse to use. We told ourselves that you just needed some time but we were wrong. You’ve cut yourself off from the land of the living, and have wallowed in self-pity. Well, that’s all going to change. You are going to stop feeling sorry for yourself and making everyone else around you miserable. You are going to use that chair. You are going to become part of the family again. I will force you if I have to although I would prefer that you did it willingly.”
When Rhiannon said nothing, Esther continued. “Furthermore, you will never talk to Katie like that again. She is family and what you said was hurtful and hateful. I know you’re hurting – I know you’re angry – but that’s no excuse for hurting those that love you. There is never any excuse for sin.”
Esther was pleased to see the tears trickling down her daughter’s cheeks. Remorseful was a good place to start.
“Now. Shall I call Lola to help dress you, or will you allow me to do it?”
“I want Katie.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea at the moment. I will not have her hurt in this house. Not by you or anyone.”
To Rise Above Page 11
