Antoine laughed. “If only you two could be put in charge of your own regime. I think that is a fine plan. As we leave at first light, I must make my goodbyes and go to bed.” He held out a hand to the priest. “Father François, I cannot thank you enough.”
The priest pushed aside Antoine’s hand and wrapped him in an embrace. “May Almighty God bless and keep you in His care, my son.”
“And you, Father. And you.”
* * *
Although the weather had cooled somewhat, Louise could feel the sweat on her forehead. Something was different.
Antoine could return at any time, but that was not what was strange.
A low backache seemed to come and go. Walking in her garden helped a little. She lugged an old basket to hold pears from her trees. As long as she kept walking, the pressure eased. She would miss her garden and the orchard. Why did she have to leave? Why must there be such cruelty against the Réformés? And those who love them.
Yet the change in Antoine this past year, his depth of faith, and his ability to release everything to remain true to his faith, only increased her respect of him.
It also frightened her.
And irritated her at times.
Like now.
This was her garden, her orchard. When she and Antoine leave, who knows what will happen. And what of Étoile? True she had not been able to ride for some time, but her horse still knew her and waited each morning for her carrot. It was impossible to search for a good home for the horse for fear someone might prematurely learn of their departure. Her mother’s china and crystal—much of her jewelry—all needed to be left as though the Crocketagné family planned to return.
“Why? Father, I have tried hard to be good—a good wife and hostess. I do not understand why all this is being taken away?”
Will you let me walk beside you in place of these things?
Things. Beloved things, but nonetheless things.
Will you let me care for you?
“Lord, I know You can. I’m just not sure that You will.”
I will, if you will let me. You are in the palm of my hand.
A plump pear dangled just within reach. She stretched up to pluck it when a new sensation grasped her.
“Aie!” Louise dropped her basket and grabbed for the tree trunk.
A belt wrapped around her middle, back to front—a belt that was being cinched too tight.
Just as she thought the tightness would not stop, it began to ease the way it had come.
She felt for the closest bench. She needed to catch her breath so she could return to the house. “Oui, Lord, I will let You. Please, help me to the house.”
“Madame Louise, let me help you.” Josephine rushed to her. “I saw from the window, you need help. Let me take you into the house.”
The tightness fled as quickly as it came. Louise looked up at the cloudless sky and breathed deep. “I am well. I do not know what happened, but I am fine.”
Josephine sat next to Louise. “Oui, you are well. However, your baby is telling you something.”
Louise glanced into Josephine eyes as understanding dawned. “Now? My baby is coming now? Antoine is not back. It is not time.”
“Babies come when they are ready, dear one. Shall I help you into the house?”
Louise nodded.
They walked together up the steps, and Josephine guided her to a chair in the parlor.
“Sit here while I bring you some pillows.”
Though Josephine tried to help, there was no becoming comfortable. Louise squirmed and adjusted cushions. Just as she found a good position, the belt started to tighten again.
The truth was plain. Her baby would be born this day. She had promised to let God take care of her, and now this. Couldn’t He have started with something smaller, easier? Her hands grew clammy and her knees shook. No longer must she only dream of becoming a mother. Her dream was about to come true.
Would her baby be well? Would she be a good mother? Would Antoine return to them?
Josephine helped her up the stairs.
Louise undressed to her chemise, and Josephine helped her into the bed, covered with clean sheets.
“Antoine has not returned. He needs to be here when the baby arrives.”
“God willing, he will be.” Josephine pulled a sheet up over her.
“How long do you think this will take?”
“Too long and not long enough.”
“What does that mean? Oh.” Another pain began.
“You will soon understand, ma petite chou. Soon.”
Five hours later, Louise understood. Her pains were coming at about three minutes apart. Just as she would get as comfortable as possible, the next would be upon her.
She’d stopped asking where Antoine was and put her faith in knowing God would get him there somehow. Another pain shot around her belly, and this time it began to push downward. She felt a pop before the bed under her legs grew moist.
“Your waters have broken, ma petite. Now the pains will increase. Tell yourself it means your baby is almost in your arms.”
The next pain did not even wait a full minute before starting. Louise tried to keep from crying out, but so great was the intensity, the sound escaped her lips.
* * *
A scream.
“That was Louise!” Antoine jumped from his horse, tossing his reins to Albert before flying up the steps to the house. He took the stairs two at a time and burst through the bedroom door.
“Antoine!” Louise reached for him. “Oh. Another comes.” She tipped her chin to her chest, straining.
“Push, dear one, push.” Josephine stood at the foot of the bed. “Keep pushing, ma petite chou. Your baby wants to be out and with his mother.”
Louise took hold of Antoine’s hand. Her grip nearly broke his fingers before it relaxed.
“Antoine, I must tell you something.”
“It is of no concern now, my love. I am here, and you can tell me after our baby is here.” He stroked the damp tendrils from her face.
“No, I must tell you now. I told God I would let Him care for me, that I would trust Him, and then the baby started to come.”
Josephine patted Louise’s shin. “Now wait, let me adjust. Bon, that is good. We will wait for the next pain and push again.”
Antoine kissed her forehead. “Then He will take good care of you.”
His hand became caught in the vise of her grip. “Oh— Antoine!”
“Oui, I am here, Louise. Aie!” Louise’s grip on his fingers tightened while she strained, her back arching from the pillows.
All at once she fell back with a sigh.
A wail pierced the moment.
“He is arrived.” Josephine held up the newest member of the Crocketagné family.
Antoine’s focus glued itself to the baby while Josephine deftly wiped him clean and wrapped him in a soft blanket.
“Here, Papa. Here is your son.” She placed the bundle in his arms.
Son. He had a son. With trembling hands, Antoine brought his child to his lips, kissing the scrunched forehead. He then held the baby for Louise to see. “Son, this is your mother. She has worked very hard to bring you into this world. Be kind to her.” With the greatest of care, he tucked the baby into the crook of Louise’s arm and kissed the top of her head. Watching them, the flood of emotion nearly knocked him to his knees.
Louise stared at the little face, her fingers caressing the flawless cheek. “Antoine, he is so perfect.” When she turned her face to him, tears dripped.
Antoine grasped her hand and leaned over to watch his son. His son. The most beautiful words in the world.
Something wet plopped onto the sheet. Antoine wiped his hand over his face and found tears of his own.
His son chose that moment to announce his displeasure.
“Save your strength, my boy. Your adventure is only just beginning.” At that moment, Antoine understood. He, too, stood on the brink of adventure. A new life for all
of them. He was a blessed man.
Antoine gently kissed his two favorite blessings.
Epilogue
Louise closed her eyes, letting the wind blow against her face. It let her relive the sensation of floating, like in her dream. With a smile of realization, she opened her eyes and looked up at the landscape as their ship drew closer to the English shore.
The white cliffs of Dover loomed large ahead, and at once Louise was reminded of that part of her dream. The bright, large object she had seen from the cloud looked very much like the cliffs ahead. Only now, fear no longer had a place. She knew her family was in the loving hands of Almighty God, her heart thrilled at the mercy He had shown.
So much had been left behind, but then it was only items. The best of God’s gifts were always with them. It had been hard to leave Étoile and her mother’s china and crystal, but God promised to provide for their needs. In reality, china and crystal and even her beloved Étoile were not needed.
Louise gazed at her small family. Whatever the future held, God would see them through.
Her wonderful Antoine stood by the railing holding their most perfect son, Gabriel Gustave Crockett, a tiny duplicate of his father.
Although they named the baby after his paternal grandfather, they would now be in a new country. Antoine decided they should all begin with a new name—Crockett. A name with enough of the French influence to help them remember their heritage, but different enough to help them let go of the past and embrace the leading of their Heavenly Father.
Antoine handed the little one to Josephine. She stood back and crooned to the infant.
God had indeed blessed them with this sweet-natured baby. He would carry on the new name.
Louise snuggled up to her husband. Their future stood wide. Louise Crockett had no clue where God would lead. He had led them to this point, though, and would be there the rest of the journey.
Antoine drew her hand to his lips. “We must remember to teach little Gabriel Gustave what the Lord shared in the Scriptures. We must teach all our children. Make sure you are right, then go ahead. Perhaps they will someday pass it on to their children.
“Do you believe we will have more babies?”
Antoine looked her in the eye. “I have no doubt, ma petite. You were born to be a mother.”
Somewhere deep inside, she believed him.
It was then the rays of the sun glinted off the cliffs. The brilliance nearly blinded. Louise remembered once more that she did not have to see the future. It was enough to trust the One who did. With a heart overflowing with gratitude, she squeezed Antoine’s hand.
Cast of Characters
Bold denotes a mentioned historical figure. Italics denotes fictional characters.
1.Antione Desaure Permonette de Crocketagné (Crockett)
2.Albert de Grillet
3.King Louis XIV of France
4.Louise de Saix
5.Jean Baptist Colbert
6.Moière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin)
7.Antoine Coysevox
8.Niccoló Machiavelli
9.Cardinal Jules Mazerin
10.The Marquis d’Heudecourt
11.Prince de Condé
12.Matthew Maury
13.La Grande Mademoiselle Anne Marie Louise d’Orleans
14.Queen Marie Therese
15.The Duchess Louise-Françoise la Valliere
16.The Marquise de Montespan
17.Jean Bapiste Lully
18.Philippe Quinault
19.Philippe Guillaume Henri de Saix
20.Monsieur Charles LeBrun
21.the Reverend Jacques Fontaine
22.Sir Edward Spencer
23.Jean Marteihle family
24.Michele (Mimi) Roché
25.(Tante) Marie du Sine
26.Danielle (Didi) Roché
27.Monique (Momo) Roché
28.Josephine LeSuere
29.Jean-Luc de Turenne
30.Pierre LeSuere
31.Simone
32.Robert Roché
33.Annentte Roché
34.Beatrix (Bibi) Roché
35.Cecile (Cici) Roché
36.Genevieve (Gigi) Roché
37.Violette (Vivi) Roché
38.Father François
39.Claude Balieu
40.Gisele
41.Adélaïde
42.Monsieur Frederick
43.Madam Aimee de Lefebvre
44.Alexandre de Lefebvre
45.Sébastien de Lefebvre
46.Richard de Lefebvre
47.Jeannot de Lefebvre
48.Élise de Lefebvre
49.Dominique Denis’ Bertrand
50.Jean-Paul
51.Yves
Afterword
Do you enjoy reading about this period of history? Would you like to know more about King Louis XIV, the Sun King? I have a short story (it developed from cut scenes from Patriarch). Click here to download it now.
Then come back for a sneak peek of The Sojourners: The Crockett Chronicles: book 2.
If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review. Reviews can be as simple as “I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait for the next one” and help raise the author’s visibility and lets other readers find her.
Acknowledgments
First, thank You, Lord, for the inspiration, the words, the desire as well as the genetic material. Without You there wouldn’t have been a story—You are faithful to a thousand generations.
Though The Patriarch is not the exact same book as The Huguenot, you would not have the former without the latter. So, my thanks goes to everyone who helped from the inception:
To my friend and mentor, Esther Bailey—thank you for believing in me, encouraging me and editing me. You are the true meaning of a Godsend.
To Terri Barraco—thanks for your encouragement!
To Debbie Atkinson, Wanda Chiles, and Lois Rogers Lamb who edited the original story—thank you!
To Beth Bowen—I can’t imagine what I would have done without your careful help of my Google Translate French. Thank you!
To Diana Brandmeyer—thank you for your friendship and wonderful editing of this new and improved story. Sure wish you lived closer!
To “my friend Jen,” Jennifer Crosswhite—your talents amaze me. Your know-how blows me away. Thank you for your generosity, guidance, and help.
To Jacques de Fountaine—your memoirs are not only fascinating, they answered my questions and help me to understand. So good, in fact, they helped with two stories! Thank you for your forethought, and for passing the torch.
To my family, that has grown quite a bit since I first tried my hand at this writing thing, thank you for your love, encouragement and patience. I love each one of you!
To my sweet husband who believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. You are the best, a true gift from God. I love you.
And to my EB—I still miss you.
Reader’s Guide
Davy Crockett is a familiar figure, especially due to over 150 years of media press. Knowing now about his ancestry, did that change how you view him? What surprised you?
What previous knowledge do you have about the Protestant Reformation, John Calvin, or the Huguenot movement? Has this had an effect on the story as you read? How? In what way?
What previous knowledge do you have of seventeenth century France under King Louis XIV and Versailles? How has this effected the story for you as you read?
Antoine seemed to change his mind about his assignment quickly after meeting Louise. Does this speak to a flaw in his character? Would you call him brash? Or flexible? Or typically male?
Louise is characterized by the king and others as “pious.” Have you known someone who seemed to do all the right things and looked “pious” or “religious” but didn’t have a relationship with Jesus? What was the one thing that you noticed about them that stood out to you?
Much has been written about King Louis XIV, the mos
t popular and longest reigning king of France. The direct quotes from his memoirs used in the book show him to be a man with knowledge of God as his source of knowledge and power. Yet he openly kept mistresses and sire illegitimate children. What does this say about his character? How might this have had a direct bearing on present day France?
The Catholic Church was going though some major turmoil during the era of the Great Protestant Reformation. How believable is it to you to read of a priest who could reach across the denominational lines of that time?
The persecutions of the Huguenots drove off most of the merchant and artisan class in France and sent them to other countries. What might have been the shape of world powers today if France had chosen to embrace the movement rather than wipe it out? What effect might it have had on the history of the United States?
What is the one thing you hope to find out about in the coming sequels to The Patriarch?
What part of the story would you have changed? What was your favorite part?
Author’s Note
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking this journey with me. This is a story that has been on my heart for decades. It took me at least one just to get in onto paper. Then I produced it as The Huguenot. That was a learning experience. I didn’t know more than I realized I didn’t know.
Now, another ten plus years later, I did my best to honor these people whose DNA I share. I’ve learned a lot since that first version. Think of this as the six million dollar man/book; it is bigger, bolder, better. At least, I think so. Hope you agree.
Most of the characters in this book really lived and are set in the correct time and place. The rest is my imagination run amuck. I gave them memories and passions, thoughts and words. When possible, I culled from their own quotes.
Josephine LeSuere was elaborated from an incident mentioned where Louis XIV had a woman beaten—a onetime occurrence and a bit of a political nightmare for him. And, though I put the words in her mouth, the Sun King did outlive his son and grandson. He was succeeded by his great-grandson.
The Crockett Chronicles- The Complete Collection Page 28
