by Jerri Hines
“You miserable creature!” Sumner cut him off. “What could you have offered her? Nothing! You forget you were married?”
“Oh, how could I forget that? I know well I’m married to a deceiving whore! How dare you cry moral outrage of wanting another in that matter!”
Sumner laughed in his face. “I haven’t wanted Randa since the day she married you!”
William squirmed to try to release the hold that Sumner held. Sumner propelled him once more against the wall, hard, banging his head.
“Go ahead! Do me in! All you have ever been and will ever be is a low class bastard! No more! You give yourself airs. But you will never be as your father was. He thought so also. Didn’t he leave everything to Cathryn? He couldn’t have anyone know of the bastard son he left behind!”
Sumner suddenly released his grip. William fell against the floor. Sumner’s nostrils flared, his chest heaved.
“Son of a bitch! You don’t know everything. You don’t know what he gave to me.” Sumner shook his head. “It is funny, but now I can see what grew your jealousy. I had thought it was love for Cathryn, but no, it was greed and envy.
“You wanted what Cathryn could have given you, position within English society. It ate within you when you went to school over in England. They looked down their noses upon you! Yes, that is it!”
“Don’t tell me what I feel…half-breed!” William taunted, crawling back to his feet.
“Call me what you want. I fight to become the man I desire to be. Not to be dictated by convention, but by my deeds. Deeds that will honor not only my father, but my family. You…what can we make of your actions?”
“What actions do you want me to take credit for? The death of an Indian whore or the wanton daughter of a family so desperate to find her a home they consented to your marriage?”
Swiftly, Sumner’s hand went to his back, feeling the hilt of his knife; he pulled it forth. He pressed his foe hard against the wall with the blade’s edge touching William’s neck. One swift stroke. That was all it would take. William’s eyes bulged.
“Put the knife away, Meador,” Durham said calmly behind him.
Sumner didn’t turn, but pressed the knife harder against William’s flesh, cutting it slightly. Blood seeped out. William’s face went white with fear. Sumner breathed heavily against him.
“Tell me why to let go, General. So you can saunter in to offer him a pardon to give you the information you want so desperately? Do you not know I realized quickly that you have used me for your own gain? But now I will take my revenge!”
“Think before your action…what you will lose!” General Durham cautioned him.
“I can’t sit back. You will pardon him! He is responsible—”
“You have another family to think of. Release him.” Durham had his hand upon Sumner’s shoulder. “If he doesn’t give the answers I desire, I promise I will walk from the room.”
Sumner leaned his forearm upon William’s chest. He relaxed his hold slightly. William caught his breath and tried to move, but Sumner held him tight. “You remember what I did to my father’s murderer. Why would you think I would do different for my mother?”
“Stop him, General,” William cried. “I’ll do it. I will tell you everything for a pardon! I know, General, information that you will find relevant.”
“I don’t need any information,” Sumner uttered under his breath, the knife tight in his hand.
William pressed his arms up in a defensive mood. “General Durham, tell him to release me. I know the one you have interest in. I was waiting for the right time and it is now.”
Sumner fiercely knocked him with his elbow in his throat. William doubled over, gasping for breath.
“Leave now, Meador,” Durham commanded.
Sumner didn’t move. He clenched the knife tightly. Durham opened the door and two guards entered.
William rambled furiously, “You want Georgie Boy, General. I know where he is at. All I want is a full pardon and the information is yours. I need your word as a gentleman!”
“You slimy worm! You won’t get off that easy,” Sumner cried.
“General!” William screamed in fright. Sumner had his knife readied to plunge into William.
The guards grabbed hold of Sumner. Durham stared at William with might and main. “You have one chance at redemption, Mr. Peyton. You had better be quick and accurate with the information before I send your friend out of the room.”
Sumner struggled mightily, but the guards didn’t let go of him. His knife dropped. William jumped.
“I will tell everything,” William muttered. “Give me pad and pen and I’ll write all for you.”
“No!” Sumner roared as the guards dragged him out of the door. Durham caught Sumner’s eyes before he left the room. He had what he wanted.
* * * *
Sumner fumed while he waited. The guards had thrown him into the adjoining room. His chance had passed. He had his moment…his one opportunity to avenge his mother and wife, but much had played upon him.
He had seen Jane’s loving face and Caleb looking up at him in admiration…but more so the words Joseph spoke before he’d died. Revenge cost me what was most precious. With those words echoing within him, Sumner had let pass his moment for revenge.
If this Georgie Boy was as Durham said, he, like Bloody Benny, could only be stopped by his death. Durham needed the information for such a chance. Suddenly it wasn’t about revenge, but protecting other innocents from this Georgie Boy…whether it be American or British.
Sumner’s hand still shook from holding his knife so tightly. He looked at it in front of him. How close he had come; he wanted it so badly! What Durham was doing Sumner did not know, but he had laid it out for Durham. He sat back. It would take a while for him to discover if the plan had worked.
Sumner lost track of time, but the sun was rising. The weather had turned cooler and he found himself shivering. He hadn’t slept. The handle rattled and the door opened. General Durham walked in with papers in hand.
“Congratulations, Sumner Meador,” Durham said solemnly. “I believe I have all I need. Mr. Peyton has written it out in quite extensive detail. He wrote of his meetings with Renton and after his death, with Georgie Boy. He acknowledged his directions were what drove Renton to Elm Bluff and his intent was your sister, but in true form he holds none of the deaths to his conscious even though he had given the order for the raid.
“He feels he didn’t do so directly and in some reason beyond my comprehension he feels that exonerates him. As you read you will see that he had wanted you to be included in the deaths as well as at that time your infant son.”
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Sumner said. “He gave you the information you needed?”
Durham nodded. “It should be sufficient. The man hates you intensely which I believe led him to try to taint your name in this way, the worst way he could think of…he unleashed the devil.”
“Tell me, General, you know where to find this devil?”
A wide smile emerged. “I believe I have several places to begin to look, names he uses, connections he has. I will find him.”
Durham placed a hand upon his shoulder. “I would never have agreed to a pardon which was what William wanted before he gave the information. As badly as I wanted the information, I couldn’t in good conscience allow a fiend such as he to again walk free. He is as guilty as Georgie Boy.”
“He doesn’t know?”
“Know that it was only you to put forward the notion of a pardon. I never gave my word nor suggested such.” Durham shook his head. “I didn’t tell him this night. He signed a full confession thinking he will be pardoned. There will be no trial. It would be my understanding that he will be hanged in short order.”
Sumner drew a deep breath in. It wouldn’t be by his hands, but justice would be served.
“Sumner Meador,” General Durham said with sudden unease. “You need to ride quickly back to Elm Bluff. The sun is rising
. I want none to see you. I hope you understand, unless….” He hesitated. “Unless you accept a pardon from me. It would be without question you could serve—”
Sumner cut in. “No, General. I will keep to the reprieve only. My loyalty lies with the cause. That hasn’t changed.”
“I didn’t think you would take the offer, but what if I offered you the opportunity to take your wife and child across the ocean to your sister’s?”
Sumner eyed him straight away. He thought for a moment before he spoke. Then slowly shook his head. “In as much as I want nothing more for all of this to be over and retire once more to farming the land, I couldn’t accept—”
“Hold,” Durham interrupted. “Don’t give me an answer now. Think upon it. Take time with your wife and son. I will give you an extension to the reprieve. Stay until after the execution.”
Sumner nodded. He would take the offer to stay a few days longer with his family. Durham walked him to the back door where Sumner’s horse was waiting. Durham let him ride back to Elm Bluff alone. It was clear Durham understood well that Sumner had only one thought upon his mind this morning.
In the cool autumn breeze, Sumner rode. He rode hard, expunging the demons he had held within him. The hate he cleaved to had been replaced with pity and sorrow.
Joseph had been right. Nothing would bring back the dead. Memories were to be cherished, but hope sprang forth with the living, Jane and Caleb.
He looked upon the horizon. Sunlight broke through clouds and streaked down upon Elm Bluff. As in the past, Sumner urged his mount on and over the pasture fence. He was home.
Chapter 23
Tension ran high at Elm Bluff and had only escalated when Sumner disappeared with General Durham. Katy watched Jane closely. She found herself envying Jane and pondered why.
Without question, Jane was a beautiful woman, her manner pleasant and engaging. The poor dear had gone through so much, but it was the way Sumner looked at her and she him. To be loved in that manner!
The doctor had finally appeared in the afternoon. He promptly ordered Jane to bed.
“Precaution only,” he said. “Time will tell all. Rest. I wish I could tell you more, Mrs. Meador. But I have found that nature deals with matters such as these.”
Caleb had become a little demon within the house as the day drew on. Jane attempted to rise and deal with him, but Katy directed her back to bed.
“Lie down, Jane,” Katy said. “If I’m to go with you to England, I need to learn to deal with his antics.”
The response brought a small, nervous smile upon Jane’s lips. Katy added, “Sumner will be back before he leaves.”
But he hadn’t come. There had been no word as the night dragged on. Katy stood by the window in the room she had moved herself into upon Jane’s appearance. Caleb seemed to have gone down for the night. She hoped Jane rested, but she doubted she would until she saw Sumner.
Moreover, Bruce’s presence disturbed her greatly. He tried to talk with her at every turn. She had done all within her power to avoid him. Katy knew without any doubt she couldn’t be alone with him. Above all, she needed desperately to make a break. She had to put her life in some semblance of order.
Her parents refused to see her and the hurt ran deep. Katy hadn’t wanted to cause them any more pain. She decided it would be best for everyone if she left. Being a companion to Jane seemed the best option.
She needed time to decipher her next move and it had to be away from here. Suddenly, her head turned to her door knob rattling. Then, to her amazement, the door opened. Bruce stood with a key in hand. He placed it back within his pocket.
Looking up, his eyes met hers. She looked at him, dumbfounded.
Shutting the door, he leaned back against it. “Do not be upset. You have left me no other option.”
Blood rushed to her face as her anger built. “Leave! Immediately. How dare you!”
Before she could get another word out, he had her in his arms. Katy tried to jerk back, but he was stronger. She looked up defiantly.
His hand went to the back of her neck. Staring at her for a moment, he kissed her. She wanted to cry out, but the kiss deepened, ushering out all her defenses against him. She was so mad, at him, at herself. He broke from their embrace.
“I will let you go if you let me talk with you.”
Katy nodded slowly, but he stood too near for her to have a rational thought. He loosened his grip, abruptly released her.
“Why? Why, Katy, are you acting like this? What have I done?”
Her eyes watered. She turned from him, he pulled her back.
“I’m not leaving until you tell what I have done to offend you. I love you, Katy.”
“I can’t do this, Bruce,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t blame you. I did this to myself, but don’t make this worse on me.”
“Can’t do what? What can’t you do, Katy? I love you and I know you love me, too, even if you won’t admit such.” He swallowed his frustration. “Tell me. Are you mad I left you? Time was of the essence, Katy. Lieutenant Owen was supposed to look after you. I didn’t have time to explain the situation, but with the knowledge that Peyton was arrested, I knew your sister would be tainting your name instead of taking responsibility. She would lay it upon you, especially with our association. I couldn’t leave you as it stood. We were afraid of retaliation upon you.”
“Why, Bruce?”
“There have been more arrests, Katy.”
Katy searched Bruce’s eyes, afraid to ask. “You told Randa she would not be arrested.”
“It’s not Randa, Katy,” he said with reluctance. “It is your father. The papers…the papers show without question that your father had business dealings with Peyton in all of this mess.”
“Oh, no!” she cried and collapsed on the floor. Her eyes widened in disbelief. “What have I done?” She turned to Bruce, who had knelt down beside her. She grasped his lapel. “They won’t hang him!”
“If it is as we looked upon the papers, it would seem he had only business dealings that supported Peyton’s actions. I do not believe they will hang him, but I can’t promise.”
Her hand went over her mouth. “I have to go to them. Make them understand—”
“Not tonight, Katy. It will not change by the morning,” he said. “Tonight I want to talk about us.” He pushed her hair back from her face. “Why have you pushed me back?”
She hesitated. “I have contemplated our relationship, Bruce. I didn’t know about my father because my family isn’t talking to me. I have been shunned and have hurt so. I have never been so alone and have fallen into a sea of self-pity. It is why I asked Sumner if I could go with Jane and Caleb.”
“You have me, Katy.”
Her eyes searched his. “I can’t accept what you are offering, Bruce.” She paused. “I wish I could.” Her voice faded.
“What do you think I have to offer to you?” he pressed.
Katy turned her head from him. She wiped her eyes. She pushed her hand against the floor to stand. “I need to write my parents again. Maybe….”
Bruce grabbed her hands, keeping her in his reach. “No, tell me. I don’t believe I have uttered a word about what I want for us.”
Fury surfaced within her. “No, you haven’t. It was my assumption. Pray forgive me. Let go of me. I won’t be a bother to you ever again.”
“Bother to me. Have I not just told you that I love you! What do you believe I want? That I want you to be my mistress! Is that what you believe? No, Katy. I want you as my lover, yes! But I want you to be my wife. It is what I have wanted for such a long time, but I held off because I could not give to you the life you are used to.
“I have not the money of your parents, nor will I ever. I am the third son, Katy. My grandfather left me enough money to buy my commission in the army. I haven’t much else.”
Katy stared upon his utterance with her mouth open. “You said nothing.”
He gave a short laugh. “I fell in love wit
h you almost the moment I saw you. Your laugh, your eyes. You had to have wondered why I showed up at every dance or supper where I knew you would be in attendance. Stolen kisses…”
He gave her no time to say anything. “That night when Rebekah left, I was at wit’s end. I questioned everything I had believed in. My country, my army, loyalty. What do you think I felt? To know the General was willing to hang an innocent to achieve his goal? To what end? Was he God to make such decisions? He let Rebekah go. He wanted her to leave, yet to get to Sumner…I needed you that night. It was me that pressed upon you.”
Bruce took a deep breath in. He sat back. “You need to understand, Katy, to be a soldier you have to willingly obey every command, whether or not you question it. I have failed, Katy. I found I could not do so and live with my conscience. I don’t regret helping Sumner and saving Jane, but it all comes with a price. I gave my resignation to the general.”
“You resigned?”
“I tried. The general refused my resignation. He has chosen to overlook…of what one would call such…my lapse. He told me he holds himself responsible for all that has happened. The general is himself stepping down. He is returning on the Fairweather when it departs in a few weeks time. I will be in charge until his replacement arrives. I have accepted.”
Her eyes widened upon the utterance. “You aren’t making sense, Bruce. I don’t understand.”
“First, I want you to know that I love you.” He swallowed. “I want us to marry as quickly as possible and for you to go also to England.”
Katy backed away slightly. All happened too fast. She had thought he only wanted her for his mistress. To marry and leave Charles Town? She shook her head slightly. “I don’t know, Bruce…”
He pulled her to him. “There is more you need to know about your family, Katy. Your father’s possessions are to be confiscated…all of them. The general has knowledge of my intentions toward you. He has informed me that because of your actions, a wrong was rectified—”
