“Your father didn’t tell you?”
“No, doctor. I haven’t seen my father since my mother’s funeral. He never arrived back to his unit, according to General Beauregard, and he never returned home.”
“Oh, dear! I had no idea. Your father came here right after your mother’s funeral to see me and we had a meeting with the undertaker. Your father had planned to pay for the casket and the cemetery plot, but your grandparents’ attorney had already taken care of those fees. Everything appeared all right when he left.”
“Did you happen to see what kind of horse my father rode?”
Puzzled, he closed his eyes for a second and then said, “Your father had a friend with him and the man, a general, I believe, remained outside and if my recollection serves me right, your father’s horse was a black stallion.”
“That answers a lot. What about my grandmother?”
He groaned and tilted his head. “I think your grandmother was murdered…”
Laurel heaved a gasp. “Murdered? How?”
“That’s the mystery. I wanted to alert the authorities, but we couldn’t prove anything. I thought she had been struck on the head, but her body was found at the foot of the stairs and the coroner agreed that the wound on the head killed her, but that could have happened when she fell down the stairs. There was no way to prove she might have been injured or dead when she tumbled down the steps, or whether or not she had been pushed.”
“Was any investigation done?”
The doctor coughed and nodded at the same time. “Yes and no. I even went with the deputy to the Winston’s. They’re the only other family on that street. They said they hadn’t seen or heard anything and there were no witnesses.”
“I suppose the Winston’s stayed at home a lot, what with the war and Robert in London…”
“No, no. Robert was there.”
Surprised, she asked, “Robert was home from London?”
“Yes, dear. He’d been home for a bit. Heard he had gotten into a tad of trouble gambling while in London and his father made him come back home. But hear he’s getting married soon.”
“Thank you, Doctor Brandon. I have to hurry—I want to get to the bank before they close.”
****
“What happened in there? You look like ya’ saw a ghost.”
“Not quite, Junie, but I’m anxious to see Holt.”
Inside the bank, Laurel went up to the teller window and asked to withdraw some extra cash to pay Elmore and also to take with her on the trip to Philadelphia.
“Ah, Miss Bray. You must be the granddaughter I’ve heard so much about over the years, from your grandparents.”
“I’m afraid so,” Laurel said, concentrating on signing her name.
“I was sorry to hear about your grandmother. The last time I saw her was shortly after your grandfather passed on; she was in here withdrawing most of her money…”
Surprised, Laurel raised her eyes and looked up at the teller. “How much money?”
“I can’t recall exactly. I remember that my friend’s son, Robert Winston, came in here right after, and I knew he lived on the same street and I hinted that he might escort your grandmother home. I worried about her carrying that much cash.”
At the mention of Robert’s name and the fact that he had returned from Europe before the end of the war, caused a chill to run up her spine. “Did my grandmother say why she was withdrawing all her money?”
“No,” he answered, shaking his head, “and I didn’t ask.”
Confused after these revelations, she paused for a moment, then thought better of asking any more questions. She didn’t want him to tell the Winston’s that she was curious about her grandmother’s death when they returned from Robert’s wedding. She handed the man the withdrawal paper and when he handed her the cash, Laurel grabbed Junie’s hand and hurried out of the bank.
“What happened, chile?”
“Not right now, Junie. I feel sick. Let’s go find Holt…” she said, holding her stomach that recoiled over the thoughts running through her mind.
When she and Junie reached the general store, Holt and Elmore were loading up the wagon. Holt looked up and said, “Great timing. We’re about finished here.”
Looking into the wagon, Laurel asked, “What’s with all the picket fencing?”
“This afternoon, Elmore and I are going to fence the front yard and while we’re gone, Elmore is going to paint it white.”
“I can’t wait to see it when we return. What a grand idea. Thank you, Elmore.”
He lifted his hat and lowered his chin, “No, thank you, miss. Having this job is good and I have a boy who can use some work, too.”
“Keep track of the hours, and I’ll pay you both when we get back. Do you have any questions before we leave?”
“No, miss. The major here went over everything. Got me a set of keys and we have all the supplies we needs and some cash in case we need something we might’ve forgot.”
“All right then, let’s get back to the inn and maybe Junie will cook us up another great meal.”
“Sounds good to me,” Elmore said, as he hopped on the back of the wagon.
Chapter Seventeen
When Holt and Elmore finished unloading the wagon and laying the fencing around the yard, they came in to wash up for lunch. Laurel followed Holt upstairs, while Elmore headed into the kitchen.
“Holt,” she whispered, before he turned down the hallway.
“Laurel, what’s wrong?”
“I need to tell you something important that I found out today at the doctor’s and at the bank.”
“What happened?”
Laurel sat on the bed while Holt washed his face and hands in the basin, and when she spouted out that the doctor suspected her grandmother may have been murdered, he grabbed a towel and sat down next to her.
“This is horrible news, especially now that we now know your father had been here. I wonder what he may have discovered, if anything? Do you think he was robbed and beaten by the same person who may have killed your grandmother?”
“It’s worse than that. I believe that man was Robert. The man at the bank said that when my grandmother came in to withdraw her money, Robert Winston was also in the bank. Said he was a friend of the Winston’s and that he asked Robert to escort my grandmother home because he trusted him and was concerned that she’d be walking home alone with all that money on her person.”
“Then this Winston character lied about being in England all that time.”
“Apparently. I have a feeling he was overly sweet and kind to my grandmother, then came back another day and tried to rob her. She was feisty enough to struggle with him and unfortunately, was murdered.” Laurel sniffed and wiped her face with the towel Holt held. “How sad her life came to such a horrible and abrupt ending.”
“These occurrences may be difficult to prove, but we need to have them investigated.”
Laurel nodded. “Maybe when my father came to the house, Robert and some friends followed him and General Sullivan, thinking that my father might have taken all the cash Robert didn’t find with him. We can surmise how the cameo ended up in the barn; my father probably never realized he had even dropped the necklace. And if we’re right about Robert, we can solve the mystery as to how he came to possess my father’s horse.”
Holt turned his face toward Laurel, “Sounds as though something of that nature occurred. We’ll have to see what transpires after we get to Philadelphia. Maybe if this patient is your father, he might be able to answer some questions and can identify Robert as one of the men who beat and robbed him and General Sullivan, I think you and I should go to the sheriff’s office and file a report. We’re talking about two counts of attempted murder and Robert Winston needs to be brought to justice, even if we can’t prove he killed you grandmother. If we wait until we get back from Philadelphia, we might forget a small detail that could be important.”
“Let’s do that right after lunch.”
She thought a moment, and then grinned. “You know, I didn’t tell him much, other than to say I had searched for him and that I had learned he had been in a hospital in Delaware.” She paused while she tried to recall her exact words, “But I think I told him that I thought my father probably died in prison since no one has heard from him.”
Holt took her hand and they headed back downstairs. “That’s a good thing. I have a feeling he was still looking for that money when he came here the other day. Probably needed extra cash for gambling while he’s in London.”
****
As soon as lunch was finished, Laurel told Junie that she and Holt had an errand to run, but would be back as soon as possible. They spent an hour with Sheriff Walsh while he took notes and asked questions.
“We now know for certain that my father was here and find the fact that Robert Winston possessed his horse, rather suspicious, especially since he attacked me,” Laurel concluded.
The sheriff rubbed his forehead and said, “This is very serious. My deputy did some investigation with the doc, but nothing ever came of that—we never had any reason to suspect Robert Winston. Contact me as soon as you return from Pennsylvania and let me know if your father has any information regarding this situation.”
They thanked the sheriff and hurried back to the inn to finish getting ready for the trip the next morning. After Laurel and Holt left his office, Sheriff Walsh nodded to his deputy. “Follow me.”
After a quick conversation with the doctor and the coroner, Sheriff Walsh and his deputy wired ahead to Baltimore and ordered the one ship that was to set sail for England held in port until he arrived with the proper papers he needed to take Robert into custody.
When the sheriff and his deputy finally arrived at the pier, they boarded the ship and were escorted to Robert’s stateroom. Robert answered the door immediately, “What’s the hold up here…” he questioned, then his face turned ashen the moment he recognized the sheriff.
Trying in vain to act surprised, he continued, “Sheriff Walsh! What are you doing here? Has something happened to my parents? Was there an accident at sea?”
“No, Robert. We’re here to place you under arrest for the attempted murder of General Sullivan. He has survived the beating and robbery you and your accomplices committed and will come to testify against you,” he lied.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sheriff. I’m on my way to England for my wedding that will be held in February.”
“You can wire your family. There will be no wedding. Laurel Bray is on her way to Philadelphia to bring her father to Chesapeake City and you will probably be charged with another count of attempted murder as well as the murder of his mother, Mrs. Bray.”
Robert lunged passed the sheriff and headed for the upper deck, in an apparent attempt to jump overboard, but was grabbed by the deputy and custom officers as he climbed the stairs…
****
From the moment they arrived home, Laurel worked feverishly trying to quell the butterflies and the excitement she felt when she considered that they might have found her father and she would see him tomorrow.
She couldn’t believe that they would be ready to head for Philadelphia right after breakfast the next day. She and Junie stayed busy, putting the house in order. They had given all the perishable foods to Elmore, did the laundry and then packed, while the men set up the hay and oats in the barn and cleaned out the stalls and worked until dinner time putting up the fence, with the exception of the gate that Elmore promised to finish while they were gone.
Elmore left right before dark and was given use of the horses and wagon so he wouldn’t have to walk back and forth every day. After dinner and dishes were done, Laurel, Holt and Junie went to bed early and were up before dawn. The great smell of breakfast and coffee brewing wafted up the stairs and Holt and Laurel hurried down to eat and the three of them were waiting when the driver and hired coach came to pick them up for their trip to Philadelphia.
Laurel chatted almost all the way, the anxiety of maybe locating her father foremost on her mind. She didn’t want to think how she’d react if she discovered he had passed away and that the man in the hospital was some stranger.
Junie nodded off to sleep most of the trip and Holt, she decided, was a champion listener. The entire time, she did not mention the war and the nightmare they lived through, but instead she talked about life on the plantation and all the happy memories that had come alive in her mind.
Holt insisted they stop for lunch that way when they entered the city, they could go straight to the hospital. When they finally reached their destination Laurel’s insides were all a jitter and her cheeks red from anxiety. This was the moment she had prayed and wished for, for months. They were directed to an annex of the hospital that was situated at the end of the property.
The redbrick building was old, and the exterior was void of any architectural design. The young man who escorted them to the annex mentioned the building was once the general hospital and construction of the new hospital had begun before the war began and when the new structure was complete, they decided not to tear down the old building.
“This is where we house patients who have suffered serious injuries both physical and mental—men who have nowhere else to go and have no families.”
Laurel was tempted to run ahead and rush into the building looking for her father, but she had to slow her pace because of Junie, even though she was aware her mammy did her best to hurry. She was as excited as Laurel.
Once inside the building, Junie sat on a bench and after a brief wait, Holt was greeted by the person he had made contact with by mail.
“I’d like you to look in the room before we enter. I think it would be best if you identified him first, rather than walking about the facility looking at the men’s faces. I hope that’s all right with you, Miss Bray.”
“Of course, Doctor. I also don’t want to frighten him. Perhaps if one of those men is my father, you could bring him out in the hallway.”
The doctor nodded. “Please take your time. It’s been a while and I’m sure he’s a lot thinner and a little older than when you last saw him. He’s been through an awful lot, but seems determined to get out of here.”
Holt kept his hand on the small of Laurel’s back for support and to let her know he was there if she needed him. She raised herself up on her tiptoes and peeked in the small rectangular window.
The men were all seated; most of them doing nothing, a couple played cards, and one man tinkered on the keys of an old piano. Laurel scanned the room a couple of times without making any identification.
Then, she turned toward the doctor standing behind her and said, “The man in the corner with his back turned, can you get him to face this way?”
The doctor blinked and gave her a slight nod and opened the door to the recreation room. Laurel watched him bend down and speak to the man and then he turned the wheelchair around and Laurel immediately drew in a deep breath.
Holt tightened his hold on her and saw her face beam as tears dripped down her cheeks at the same time. He reached down and opened the door as the doctor brought the man in the wheelchair into the hall.
Laurel bent over and smiled, and her father mumbled words, recognizing her immediately. “We’re going home, Dad.”
Her father began to sob and Holt handed him his handkerchief. The doctor shook his head and said, “All this time he’s been trying to say Laurel. I cannot tell you how many names we’ve read to him, hoping we might hit on the right one, but we’d never have thought of Laurel.”
“I’m not surprised. I was named after my mother’s favorite shrub, the mountain laurel.”
Holt went with the doctor, who continued to shake his head in amazement, to sign documents to have the Colonel released, listened to instructions for his care and medications, while Laurel told her father how they had finally come to find him. Junie sa
t next to him, held his hand, and cried, and he smiled all the while…
****
On the way back to Maryland, Holt rode above with the coachman so Laurel’s dad could lean across the seat with his legs up. He kept blinking his eyes and shaking his head back and forth. Laurel couldn’t believe they had found him and her father mumbled, “Home.”
Laurel related a little of the problems, without going into detail that Mossland had been sold, and explained that they weren’t returning to Beaufort, but rather to his parents place. He nodded angrily, and Laurel caught a certain glare in his eye and asked, “Did you know that grandmother’s doctor suspected she had been murdered?”
He nodded.
“Do you have an idea who might have done this?”
Another nod.
“We are going to take care of that, after Christmas. I don’t want you to fret right now. Junie and I are going to get you back on your feet and talking in no time.”
Francis Bray closed his eyes and simply smiled from ear to ear.
Chapter Eighteen
Once again Laurel kept asking herself what she would have done without Holt and now she added Elmore to the list along with Junie. Holt and Elmore took on the task to make her father comfortable in his new room, but not after a long soaking in the tub. A few days later he took a ride in the wagon into town to the barber for a professional haircut and shave.
Laurel had gone shopping the day before and Holt helped her pick out some new clothes for her father to wear. Even if she had been able to bring his things from Beaufort, they wouldn’t have fit him now because he was frail and had lost a lot of weight, something Junie decided she could mend in no time, with her cooking.
The household kept busy preparing for Christmas, and Laurel took the time to write to the Sullivan’s thanking the general for his help in locating her father. She also wrote to Reba and Paul sharing the great news and was able to send them some money because when she returned home from Philadelphia, a check from the government from the profit of the sale of the estates in South Carolina, had finally arrived.
Songs the Soldiers Sang Page 18
