She ran up the stairs and collapsed on her bed. A couple minutes ago, he’d been so reasonable. Not that she didn’t want to be with Urias—she ached to be a real wife to him. But now she couldn’t imagine it. Perhaps it was a good thing they weren’t really husband and wife.
“Prudence?” Kate called. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” Prudence wiped her eyes. “Urias is eating. We’ll be leaving soon.”
“I’m all ready. I’m scared,” Kate confessed.
Me, too. “It’ll be all right. He loves you.” Unlike me. Prudence knew self-pity would get her nowhere. She would settle up with Urias just how much she owed and how long it would take for her to work off her bondage. She would not allow him to treat her like others had treated his sister. Did he forget that I gave up my life for Kate, too, Lord?
Prudence followed Kate down the hall and down the stairway to the kitchen. It struck her odd knowing that Kate was once her servant, following orders, and now she would be Kate’s servant. Father, give me strength. Help me to not displease Urias, Prudence silently prayed.
The eggs and sausage sat in the pit of Urias’s stomach. He’d gone too far with Prudence. He never should have insisted that she be his bond servant. Her working off her father’s debt would have been far more than enough of a sacrifice. But he’d been angry, and when he was angry, he could get himself into a heap of trouble.
Scouting ahead, he checked the trail before the women passed. Being alert would take all of his concentration. Sleep had eluded him last night, and after the two days of hard travel, he should not have insisted they be on the road so early this morning.
Hiram Greene had fumbled over his words of thanks when Urias and the ladies departed. Urias even thought he saw a tear in the man’s eye when he gave his daughter a hug and a kiss good-bye, confirming Urias’s darkest thoughts of the plot the parents and Prudence must have put together. It was Prudence who sought him out and suggested they run the hogs to the Cumberland Gap. It was Prudence whose bold presence in the barn caused Hiram to be angry and force a marriage upon them.
It took effort to lift his feet off the ground and place them in front of him. If walking was this difficult, how was he ever going to get these women to Jamestown? He glanced back at the women. They seemed to be talking about him. The way Katherine kept looking at him, the way Prudence kept avoiding looking at him … She must have told Katherine he’d made her his bond servant. Urias groaned. This would be the longest trip he’d ever been on.
He scanned the area in front of him and pushed himself to keep walking. Running might be better. Even his parents would not be happy to hear what he’d done to Prudence. Admittedly, he wasn’t too proud of himself either. On the other hand, everything seemed to add up that Hiram and Prudence had conspired against him. He was an easy mark. Hiram held Katherine’s bond and realized Urias would have done anything to gain his sister’s freedom, including paying higher than normal fees and taking those hogs to the Cumberland Gap. A smile swept across his face.
He had enjoyed that trip with Prudence. She’d been more than just a good traveling companion. The memory of the kiss they shared stabbed his conscience. She felt so wonderful in his arms. The kiss, so warm and inviting.
Urias shook off the memory. The devil comes in all forms, he reminded himself.
The only real question was: How soon could he have this marriage annulled?
“I’m scared, Pru. If he can do to you what others did to me … I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t treat me like a servant, too.”
“Something happened when he went to pay Father’s debt.” Prudence gnawed her lower lip. “I could have had the marriage annulled immediately, and he was free to leave with you.”
“Why is he making you work for your father’s debt?” Kate tossed her head from side to side.
“I don’t know.” Why did Father make Urias pay for Kate’s debt? Maybe she truly didn’t understand business matters. As her father suggested time and time again, it’s a man’s world.
Prudence was afraid to speak her fears. How was it that the man she started to understand on the trail was not the same man on this new trail? It didn’t make sense. But then again, nothing had made sense since Urias O’Leary came into her world. And sharing her fears with Kate, who seemed to live in constant fear, didn’t seem fair to her.
“Kate, we’ll have to trust the Lord for our protection.”
“Humph.” Kate snickered. “Ain’t been much good in the past. Don’t know why it be much good in the future.”
“Kate, I know things have happened to you, but I doubt those same things will happen with Urias. He seems to be a man of honor. Remember what I said to you about Mrs. Campbell and how he took care of her needs?”
Kate nodded.
“That same man is still in there. Whatever happened for him to lose Bullet has to be a deep wound. Those take time to heal.”
“You’re defending him?” Kate gasped.
“I suppose I am. I came to know Urias on the trail. He is not the same man we talked with last night or this morning. Whatever it is, we need to give him some time to work it all out.”
“I know he’s my kin, but I don’t know him and I don’t trust any man. I can’t.”
“Then let me do the trusting for the both of us. Things will work out.” Prudence fired another prayer toward heaven. Please, Lord, make everything work out. Don’t let Kate suffer too much longer. She needs to know people care about her and love her. I know Urias does, even if he has a funny way of showing it to folks. I can’t begin to understand why he wants me to be his bond servant, but if that is what I must do for Kate, then I’ll do it.
“You’re praying, ain’t ya?” Kate asked from behind her on the horse.
“Yes,” Prudence admitted.
They continued on in silence, three people bound together by love and family, yet separated by the very same things. Prudence wanted to cry. Her heart ached. She didn’t know what she’d done to bring about Urias’s wrath or why he would hold her to her father’s debts, but she’d done something to trigger his behavior. At least, it gave that appearance.
They traveled this way for days, barely talking one with the other. This time the journey was uneventful, unlike the last trip and the numerous events they’d endured while taking the hogs down to the Cumberland Gap. When they arrived on the tenth day at Jamestown, Prudence couldn’t believe her eyes. The house was large and well cared for. There was a smaller single-story house also set on the property, which she assumed was Urias’s adoptive grandparents’ home that he’d told her about building with his father.
“Urias,” cried a small, black-haired boy, who ran out to greet them.
Urias caught the child in his arms and swung him up in the air. “Good to see you, Nash.”
A small group of people gathered on the front porch.
Urias carried the youngster to the porch. “Mom, Dad, it’s good to see you.” Urias went up to the couple and gave them each a hug and a kiss.
Prudence looked over at Kate, who also appeared to feel out of place.
“You found her!” Mrs. MacKenneth stepped off the porch and went right over to Kate. “Welcome to our home, Katherine. We’ve been waiting and praying for you for a long time.”
“Where’s Bullet, son?” Mr. MacKenneth asked.
Urias glanced over at Prudence, then back to his father. “It’s a long story. I’ll tell ya later.”
“And who might you be?” Mrs. MacKenneth asked in a gentle voice.
Kate stood rigidly in place as their attention turned to Prudence.
“I’m—”
“She’s my wife,” Urias said, cutting her off. “In name only. It has to do with Bullet.”
Mrs. MacKenneth paused for a moment, then opened her arms and embraced Prudence. “Welcome to the family.”
Unable to respond, Prudence stood there just like Kate had done a few moments prior.
“Mom, the ladies would probably like t
o freshen up and get off their feet. They’ve been walking for miles. We pushed to get here before nightfall.”
“Oh, certainly, do come in. Where are my manners?” Mrs. MacKenneth asked no one in particular.
Mac, as Urias had referred to him on more than one occasion, cleared his throat. “You ladies go freshen up a bit. Urias and I can take care of the horse and baggage.”
Kate and Prudence glanced at each other, following Mrs. MacKenneth into the house. It was decorated with nice furnishings—nothing from a fancy cabinetmaker, but all looking extremely homey and functional.
“Come. Follow me. I’ll set you up a pitcher of warm water to clean with and some fresh towels. Would you like to change your dresses as well?”
“Thank you. That would be wonderful, Mrs. MacKenneth.” Prudence spoke up first.
“Please call me Pam. And my husband goes by Mac.”
“Thank you … Pam. I can prepare the water,” Kate offered.
“Nonsense. Tonight you’re guests. Tomorrow you’ll be family and given your own lot of chores to be done. Urias’s room is at the top of the stairs, second door on the right. Make yourselves at home, and I’ll bring up some warm water.”
Prudence took the lead. Kate seemed too unsure of herself. Prudence took Kate by the hand and led her up the stairs. “Come on. I can’t wait to get this dress off.”
Kate giggled.
They found the second room on the right and opened the door. Inside they found a room filled with books and hand drawings of horses. Prudence could smell Urias’s compelling scent in the air. “This is his room,” she blurted out.
“How do you know?”
Prudence pointed to a framed sketch on top of the dresser. “That’s a picture of Bullet. Can’t you tell?”
“If you say so. A horse is a horse, and they all look the same to me.”
Pam came into the room carrying a pitcher of water and a kettle. “I brought up a second pitcher. I figured with two of you, you’ll be needing more. I know when I come off the road, one pitcher is barely enough to hold me over before I can take a bath. I’ll have Mac and Urias set up the tub for a hot bath tonight.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Prudence hoped Pam wouldn’t take back her offer. A hot bath would be perfect.
“Nonsense. It’s no trouble. Besides, Urias will need one as well. He’ll get the tub after you two.” Pam winked.
Kate giggled again.
Prudence smiled. Pam was everything Urias said she would be and more.
“Now, which one of you is going to tell me how it is that you married my son?”
Chapter 15
All right, son, out with it. What happened?” Mac asked.
“It’s a long story. Our mother sold Katherine as a bond servant. Her latest owner was Hiram Greene, Prudence’s father. Hiram wanted me to pay her bond before he’d release Katherine. Prudence told me of a way to earn the money without having to come home and ask you for it. While she was explaining her idea to me in the barn, her father came out. He insisted that we marry after we were caught speaking to one another again later that night. He said I had dishonored his daughter.”
Mac leaned back against the rail of the horse’s pen. “And you agreed to this?”
“I was forced. He said he wouldn’t sell Katherine’s bond to me unless I married his daughter.”
“You should have come home and talked with us. I would have paid Hiram Greene a visit.”
Urias chuckled. His father was larger than life in most men’s eyes. There was little doubt Mac would have put some fear into Hiram Greene.
“Prudence said we could get the marriage annulled since we haven’t been as man and wife.”
His father crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“So, you sold Bullet to pay for your sister’s bond?”
“Not exactly. Prudence and I bought some hogs and ran them down to the Cumberland Gap. Oh, by the way, you should know that Mr. Campbell passed away. I helped Mrs. Campbell for a couple days, but her daughter came and fetched her by the time I returned from selling the hogs.”
“I’m sorry to hear of Mrs. Campbell’s loss, but you can tell me more on that matter later. Tell me how it is that you had to sell Bullet.”
Urias pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Hiram Greene has a gambling problem. While we were at Mrs. Campbell’s farm, a rider came up and delivered a message to me from Mr. Greene saying I now owed him the price of a dowry for Prudence. Truthfully, the money I made from selling the hogs covered both Katherine’s bond and Prudence’s dowry, but when we arrived back at Hazel Green, we found Mr. and Mrs. Greene tied and bound to a chair and unconscious. Their servants were scattered throughout the house in the same state.”
Mac combed his hands through his long hair.
“Mr. Greene confessed that he owed a man the money I was to pay him, plus a bit more for a gambling debt. Since I’m married to his daughter, even though in name only, I felt an obligation to pay the man’s debt. When I got to the house of the person to whom Mr. Greene owed the debt, I discovered the debt was much higher and that he would not take a partial payment. He wanted it paid in full or not at all. We came to an understanding, and I gave him Bullet. Since the debt came from gambling on horse racing, I figured Bullet would be an acceptable bartering tool. He was.”
“That was an honorable thing to do, son. And a hard sacrifice. But what are you going to do about your wife?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want her to live in that house with Mr. Greene. They’ve not appreciated her. And to force their daughter to marry a stranger … well, it just seemed wrong to me. But I’ve done something foolish. At least, I hope it was foolish.”
His father let out a half chuckle. “You mean more than what you’ve told me so far?”
“Guilty. I should have come home and sought your counsel, but Prudence’s idea made so much sense. And I wanted to be a man and take care of my sister.”
“I understand, son. Go on. Tell me what else is wrong.”
“After I came back from paying off Mr. Greene’s debt, Prudence offered to get an annulment right away. I suspected, and still do, that she and her father conspired together. Was this their plan all along?”
Mac rubbed the back of his neck. “You know, son, I couldn’t say. I don’t know these people. I’m afraid this is something you’re going to have to come to terms with.” He studied Urias a moment, then added, “There’s more, isn’t there?”
“Yes.” Urias felt heat rush to his cheeks. “I told Prudence she was to be my bond servant to pay for her father’s debt.”
“You’re going to have to work harder on tempering your impulsiveness, son. I don’t want you owning anyone, slave or bond servant. You can tell the woman she’s not in debt to you and take it from there.”
“Yes sir. I’ve been trying to tell her for the past ten days on the trail home. But there’s never been the right moment. We’ve talked little since we left Hazel Green. Even my own sister doesn’t talk with me. Prudence says Katherine wasn’t treated well by some of her previous bond owners.”
Mac laid his hand upon Urias’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, son. I’ll fill your mother in after we’re down for the night. I expect she’ll want to move Sarah into Molly’s room tonight to make room for Katherine until you build your new home next spring.”
“You can put Katherine and Prudence in my room. I’ll bunk in the barn or on the sofa on really cold nights.”
Mac gazed into Urias’s eyes. “That will be fine. I’ll want to hear more about this, but for now, what you’ve said is sufficient. We can chop down some trees for your house, and we’ll spend more time on this matter, alone and away from everyone. I’m sure you have your reasons for suspecting Prudence, and you may be right. But if that were the case, why would she come here willingly?”
Prudence tried not to toss and turn too much in the bed. Everywhere she placed her head, she could smell Urias. She could see him in his artwork, in
the items scattered throughout his room, and the books on the shelves. The titles alone were enough to tell about him.
The worst thing of all was that he had asked her to speak with him privately in the morning, to join him in the barn where he’d be milking the cows.
Pam had tried to break the tension in the air when Urias and Mac came in from the barn. It seemed hopeless. The children were the only cure. They talked and talked, asking question after question. Thankfully, they were mostly aimed at Urias.
There was little doubt in her mind that Urias had told Mac about the circumstances that led to her becoming Urias’s wife. Prudence felt certain her version to Pam was far shorter than Urias’s to his father. Neither parent seemed happy about her presence in the house, and Kate was no help. She was so afraid these people would treat her as a servant, she hardly said a word.
Urias answered all of his younger siblings’ questions and even entertained them with a tale of swimming the hogs across the Cumberland River. Prudence could picture it clearly. She hadn’t been with him at that point of the trip, but every time he mentioned it, she wished she had been. Staying with Mrs. Campbell had been a blessing, yet it had begun the separation between Urias and herself. Prior to that, they had begun to trust one another.
The memory of their kiss bored a hole in the pit of her stomach. The friendliness, or even a mild effort of being communicative, vanished after Urias sold Bullet. More than anything, Prudence wished she could have gone with Urias to meet with Sawyer Bishop. Had he taken advantage of Urias? Or was there more to her father’s debt than a simple gambling wager? No one would leave people tied to chairs for a simple debt, would they? Wouldn’t it be easier to have taken Father to court and sued him for the monies owed? Did money owed in a gambling debt constitute no debt at all in a court of law?
Brides of Kentucky Page 26
