by DiAnn Mills
Mama shrugged. “He captured your heart in one meeting?”
The conversation made her uncomfortable. “No, not at all. He’s simply been in my thoughts.”
“You are as stubborn as your father,” Mama muttered. “Before we married, he told my sister his feelings for me were merely friendship and he could never imagine anything more. Three days later he spoke with my father about a possible marriage.”
Aunt Anne laughed. “How well I remember. Although Matthew and I were young, we enjoyed the story.”
But Henry and I are not you and Papa. We have said too many cruel things to each other to contemplate … consider … a mutual attraction.
But she’d seen the tenderness in Henry’s eyes.
Mama hugged Delight’s shoulders. “Forgive me for upsetting you. Affairs of the heart are never easy.”
Henry conversed with James for almost an hour while they waited for Elijah. He continued to weave as they spoke about the war, the ongoing battle in Saratoga, the Continental Congress, and whatever other subjects the man fancied. James laughed easily—a good-natured lad in Henry’s opinion. They commented about the pleasant weather and the fate of the troops in the winter months ahead.
“Under whom did you serve?” James finally said.
A nearly ill sensation inched around Henry’s stomach. “Me references are not of the utmost.”
James peered at him in obvious question. “In what manner?”
Henry ceased working and eyed the man squarely. “I was a member of the British forces—a redcoat, a lobsterback—until recently.”
Not a trace of emotion crept across James’s face. Neither did he utter a sound.
“The truth is, I got me self wounded at Stillwater, and soldiers brought me to the Butlers to mend. While here, I made some profound observations.” He released a heavy sigh. “Me sympathies now belong to the American side. In short, I am a turncoat, and from what you said earlier, I have a price on me head.”
James studied him for several long moments, as though searching for some mark of deceit— or so Henry surmised. “The British are combing the countryside, looking for their soldiers.”
“I will be wary.”
“May I ask what your plans might be once your leg is healed?” The words were simple, the implication deadly.
Henry stiffened. “Me allegiance is to the Continental army. I will join and fight alongside the likes of ye.”
“The likes of me?” James’s voice rose. He clenched his fists and stood from the hard ground.
I am no match for a well man. If he desires a fight, I shan’t be in worse condition than the day I arrived here.
A slow smile spread over James’s face, and he stuck out his hand to grasp Henry’s. “I would be proud to stand against the British with you. You have courage, Henry. It takes a brave man to admit he’s wrong and do something about it.”
“Then sit down, James. I am a bit uneasy with ye towering over me with your fists drawn.”
James’s laughter echoed around them, and once again he seated himself and talked on as before.
“Tell me, Henry, what do you know about Elijah’s daughter? I met her two weeks ago and haven’t been able to rid her face from my mind.”
Not me Delight! Henry sought to resume his work, but his fingers refused to work together. Could it be James and I are destined to be foes clamoring for Delight’s affections instead of friends? “The Butlers have seven daughters.”
James shook his head. “I did not hear her name. She has light brown hair, large eyes—most likely brown, for it was dusk and some things I could not tell.”
“Your description fits them all, and they are all quite comely.”
From the two-story house came Mercy and Hope racing toward them. “There are the two youngest now.” Henry beckoned to the girls and a moment later introduced them to James. The girls curtsied and politely greeted the man.
“My sisters, Charity, Remember, Faith, and Patience, have prepared a noonday meal,” Mercy said. “Would you care to join us?”
“Thank you, I will indeed,” James responded. “I’d like to meet all of your family.”
But not me Delight if I can help it.
Hope offered a grin, displaying two missing teeth. “Papa will be home later, and Mama and Delight are at Aunt Anne’s.” She nodded, punctuating her words. “The baby is with Mama.”
Henry awkwardly pulled himself up from the loom, his leg stiff from sitting all morning. If he had any luck at all, Elijah would return shortly, and James would venture on his way before Mistress Butler and Delight found their way home. Even better, perhaps James would find himself enamored with one of the other young women of the Butler household.
The moment Henry and James entered the kitchen, Charity began to blush, and James could only stare at the young woman.
James leaned over to whisper, “You were right, uh, about their pleasing appearance.” He removed his hat, and Patience invited him to sit at the table while Faith set an extra plate, Remember added a mug, and Charity sliced a generous hunk of fresh-baked bread. Viewing all that transpired, the guest wore a constant smile.
An inward chuckle threatened to surface in Henry. With a stroke of God’s mercy, his Delight would not move James in the slightest.
Elijah arrived shortly after Henry pronounced grace and took over the duties of entertaining the guest. Between Elijah and James, Henry heard quite a bit of news about the successes at Saratoga.
“General Arnold did an outstanding job,” James said. “But there is a rift there with General Gage. Undoubtedly, if Arnold had received the reinforcements he needed, we would not have had to withdraw and instead would have given the British a good whipping.”
“The battle is not over,” Elijah said, “and with a taste of victory, we will run those redcoats back across the Atlantic.”
“A good many of them are homesick and disillusioned,” Henry said. “The situation here is not what we expected.”
James looked at him with an air of appreciation. “You, Henry, know better than most the morale of the troops.”
“Many of us thought we’d get here and the rebellion would be put down in a few months. We also believed there were very few patriots, and the loyalists were eager to join our forces.”
“I fear it will be a long while before America finds its freedom.” Elijah set his mug on the table. “Fine meal, my daughters. The cottage cheese and bread were quite tasty.”
“I agree,” Henry said.
James echoed his praises, and once more Charity blushed scarlet.
“James, will you be staying with us this night?” Elijah said.
“No sir. I need to ride on to Rutland before the afternoon is done.”
“I would like for you to meet my wife. Are you of the mind to take a walk to my brother’s home?”
Henry held his breath, wishing most intently that James would refuse Elijah’s offer. Albeit good manners prevailed and the guest agreed. “And your other daughter is there also? The young woman I met two weeks past?”
“Most assuredly.” Elijah winked at Henry. “Would you care to join us, Henry?”
He knows precisely what is happening here. Elijah Butler enjoys the game of matchmaking—too much. I fear James and I will be a source of amusement for him.
“Indeed, sir. This leg needs a bit of stretching out, and the walk will be refreshing.”
Chapter 10
Delight counted the number of musket balls remaining and proceeded to cut fabric to form the cartridges. She had used all of their paper earlier and now resorted to the scraps before her. Holding up a strip of cloth, she turned to Aunt Anne. “I remember the dress you made from this.”
Her aunt smiled and reached out to touch the pale green fabric. “The remnant still serves a good purpose, although I never fashioned it as a covering for a cartridge.” She stared at the other pieces spread out on the ground. “Neither did I consider the cloth used for Matthew’s shirts or my childre
n’s nightshirts.”
Mama planted her hands on her hips. “I daresay, we never thought we’d be melting down our pewter and iron for musket balls either.” She reached down to stroke baby Elijah’s cheek with her finger. “But freedom requires a large toll.”
Delight sensed her mother’s sadness in Papa’s approaching departure. For Mama, that knowledge must stand foremost in her thoughts. Delight wondered how she would feel if the man she loved intended to leave for war. Understanding Papa’s not-so-distant journey to the Continental army saddened her enough.
The sound of men’s voices alerted her. She quickly glanced at what they’d been doing and deemed it impossible to hide their workings.
It cannot be loyalists or British soldiers!
“I believe it’s Elijah’s voice I hear, but I cannot distinguish the other man.” Mama released a ragged breath. Her face had turned a ghastly shade of white. “We should have devised a way to conceal what we have been doing.”
Aunt Anne nodded, and she trembled. Delight’s aunt seldom raised her voice or spoke openly in a crowd. Delight searched for something soothing to say, but with her ears strained to listen and a myriad of fears sweeping through her mind, she could only place an arm around Aunt Anne’s thin shoulders. Suddenly Delight remembered the night she’d delivered information to Cavin Sullivan when the British soldiers pounded on the door of his tavern. She’d had nightmares for weeks following that frightful evening. Glancing about, she saw this fear now filled Mama and Aunt Anne.
“Elizabeth!” Papa called out.
Unaware of holding her breath, Delight let out a sigh of relief. Thank Thee, merciful Father.
“We are back here,” Mama called.
Delight saw Papa move alongside the house with Henry behind him. He maneuvered fairly well without his crutch, his limp gradually becoming less profound. Then she saw him: James Daniels. Her knees grew weak, and she felt her face grow warm. The man indeed struck a fine pose.
“My dear Elizabeth.” Papa waved at the fire heating the kettle full of metal and the other signs of what they were doing. “In the future, please use some discretion. We could have been the British.” He shook his head, then offered her a light kiss to her cheek.
“The thought occurred to us too late,” Mama replied. “Forgive me for alarming you.”
Silent concern passed from Papa to Mama. He turned to greet Aunt Anne. “Good afternoon. You three have done well this day.” He lifted Delight’s chin and for a terrifying moment, she thought he might comment on her reddened face. “You above all should have used caution.”
Why me? Sometimes Papa confused her.
“Elizabeth, I would like for you to meet a fine man here, James Daniels.”
Mama curtsied and offered a welcome.
“Thank you, ma’am. Your daughters prepared an admirable noonday meal, and I am beholden to their kindness.”
Was it her imagination, or did he cast a sideways glance at her? If anyone could paint the portrait of the most handsome man in America, surely James would be the subject.
“I’ll be certain to tell them so.” Mama looked obviously pleased. Had she been smitten by James’s charms as well?
“This is my sister-in-law, Anne Butler.”
Aunt Anne appeared to be calmer than Mama, but shy nevertheless. She curtsied and offered a faint smile.
“And this little one is my son,” Papa continued, “another Elijah.”
James peered into the cradle at the sleeping baby. “A fine young man, sir.”
“And do you remember my daughter, Delight?” Papa grinned broadly, and again she felt her color mount.
“I remember the lovely woman I met two weeks ago, but I did not know her name. It is indeed a pleasure to see you again, Miss Butler.”
She curtsied, feeling extremely awkward. “Thank you, sir.” Sensing someone staring at her, she stole a look at Henry. He did not look pleased. We are simply friends. He should be happy for me. But the voice in her heart revealed Henry’s true feelings.
“James must be leaving soon, but I wanted him to meet you.” Papa wrapped his arm around Mama’s waist and laughed. “Thankfully, all of my daughters resemble their beautiful mother.”
“Indeed they do,” James said. “How fortunate for them.”
Papa and James shared a hearty laugh, but Delight cringed and Henry gave a tight smile. She caught James’s gaze, hoping she did not faint away with him before her.
“It has been an honor spending these hours with you and your family,” James said, “but I must be getting along. I have a lengthy ride ahead of me and business to attend.”
“Do come back,” Mama invited.
“I shall, and I will look forward to visiting with all of you soon.” He made pleasantries to Aunt Anne and then to Delight. “Seeing you again has been most delightful.” He suddenly reddened, no doubt embarrassed at his choice of words, given her name.
She nodded and bid him good day.
“Are you ready, Henry?” Papa said. “Can you manage another walk?”
“I believe I’ll stay and help the ladies finish their work.” Henry leaned against an oak tree. “I would like to see this completed and the evidence removed.”
“Excellent idea.”
Henry shook James’s hand. “Thank you for the lively conversation. I look forward to many more.”
Henry and James are friends?
James grasped his shoulder. “You are a fine fellow. I enjoyed your story, especially the ending. I’m glad you are on our side.”
The guest walked away with Papa, then whirled around to Henry. “Do not forget what I warned you about. Ten to twelve dollars is a great deal of money.”
James is a pleasing man to look upon, but I don’t know his nature. Could he possess Henry’s wit and compassion? Delight wrestled with her thoughts. She had been drawn to James since their first meeting two weeks earlier, or was she drawn to his handsome appearance and the adventurous and dangerous life he led for the patriots? Surely all the women who were blessed by his presence felt the lure of his charm.
But what happens when the glow of adoration wears thin? She had no answers, for Henry held so many admirable traits that she found it difficult not to compare the two.
Delight wanted to understand what James had referred to in his closing words with Henry. Impatience wrapped its cloak around her while James and Papa slowly ambled toward the road. A leaf floating from the highest branches of a tree could not have moved more slowly. Finally they moved far enough away so that they could not overhear her question.
“What did James mean?” She picked up several pieces of fabric to show Henry how to form a cartridge. No point in exhibiting any more concern than she already felt.
Henry shrugged. “Nothing of importance.”
She knew by the way he avoided her that a matter of great importance plagued him. “Henry!”
“Delight,” Mama scolded, “remember your manners.”
“But he is concealing information from me.” Irritation settled on her shoulders like a heavy yoke.
Mama cleared her throat. “In defense of him, I believe you are interfering with his private affairs.”
Stunned, Delight could only stare at her mother. She had been disrespectful. Taking in a deep breath, she forced herself to face Henry. “I … apologize.”
Instead of seeing condemnation in his blue eyes, she saw compassion and the clear distinction of something else. She shivered, captured by the tenderness in his gaze.
“I am not offended,” he said. “I will tell ye what James referred to, and we can talk further about it on our walk home.”
She nodded and blinked back an inkling of tears, of which she knew not the origin—nor was she certain she wanted to know.
“General Burgoyne is offering ten to twelve dollars for each British soldier brought in. Desertion has become a significant problem, and the general seeks to increase his troops.”
Delight gasped, and her hand instinctively
covered her mouth. “But they placed you here in Chesterfield until you healed.”
Henry patted his leg. “This is healing much faster than I originally imagined. Very shortly, I will be able to do all the things I did before. The problem is …” His voice trailed off, and he picked up a few musket balls, toying with them as if they belonged to a child. He dropped one of the balls into the cloth form and picked up the gunpowder. “Of course ye already know my convictions on that matter. I need to enlist in the Continental army before the British lay claim to me.”
“But—”
Henry raised his hand in protest. “We will continue this discussion later.”
At times she wondered if Henry could be more stubborn than she. And she truthfully didn’t mind when he took the upper hand—not of late, in any event.
Papa prepared to leave for the war on October 24, 1777, seven days after Burgoyne surrendered to Gates at Saratoga. Delight’s father was determined to serve under the general who had forced the British to drop their arms. They heard the news from James Daniels, who happened to pass by Chesterfield late one evening.
His handsome face and proud carriage still took Delight’s breath away. Sitting in front of the fireplace, he struck an overwhelming pose with the light from the rising flames framing his head. When she turned so he wouldn’t see her face, she caught a glimpse of Charity, whose cheeks blushed brighter than a shiny apple. My sister is taken with James, too? She stole a glance at James. For a moment she thought he held Charity’s gaze in his sights. How dare you, Charity, turn this man’s head when I had not decided whether to set my cap for him? Frustrated, she attempted to listen to Papa’s and James’s conversation.
“I’d like to think we are going to end this war soon,” James said. “The redcoats got a taste of real fighting in Saratoga and now know what it feels like to surrender.”
Papa laughed heartily. “I might not get to fire Brown Bess before all of Britain leaves American soil.”
I hope so, Papa, for then none of us would have cause to worry.
James left soon after Mama insisted he eat a heaping plate of ham and beans. As usual, he thanked Mama and Papa for their hospitality. He neither spoke to Delight nor looked her way, which angered her immensely. But did she see something pass between James and Charity?
