Riverbreeze: Part 3 (22 page)

His eyes seemed to devour the necklace as he gently lifted the large ruby drop onto his fingertips. His lips pressed tightly together and his neck started to turn red. Breathing harshly through his nostrils, his whole body tensed. He acted like he would love to tear the necklace right off of her. What was wrong with him?

“Where did you get this?” He asked in a tightly controlled voice.

“My husband.” Elizabeth answered in a whisper, starting to tremble. Why wasn’t Roger or Nicole saying anything?

All of a sudden all hell broke loose. Robert charged into the room like an angry bull, shouting, “Get your filthy hands away from my wife!”

Elizabeth gasped at her husband. She knew he had a temper and he could lose control when he was provoked, but the expression on his face was frightening. He looked fierce and wild, eyes burning with pure hatred, like he wanted to kill this man. And the man laughed. Laughed! But it was an evil laugh.

“Ah, my brother.” Halcock, sneered, taunting Robert.

Elizabeth gasped again. Halcock was Robert’s brother? She quickly moved back to press herself up against the wall, away from this evil man. Now she understood that look of hatred on Robert’s face. And now
she
felt that same hatred.

“I almost didn’t recognize you. How lovely to see you again.” Halcock continued, laughing again, low and sinister. He held his hands out in a mock welcome. “And your wife looks lovely in
my
necklace.”

That did it. At the same time that Roger said, “Rob, I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Robert grabbed Wesley’s arm and turned him so he could punch him right in the mouth. It was a good, solid punch and afterwards Robert had to shake his hand a little.

Nicole let out a little shriek, then another cry as Wesley fell backwards and crashed into the small table and embroidery frame, turning them into splinters.

“That necklace is mine!” Robert growled, jabbing his finger at the creep on the floor. “It was my mother’s and you’ll never get it.”

Wesley had the nerve to laugh again, even from his position on the floor among the debris. “We’ll see.” He threatened. “We shall see.”

“Oh, we’ll see, all right. We’ve grown since you’ve seen us last. Jamie and I are grown men now, and strong. Not the children we once were. You can’t bully us anymore, Wesley. And what the hell are you doing here anyway?” Robert spit at him, but he didn’t bother waiting for an answer; he just turned that angry face towards Roger. “How could you? How could you invite this…this
swine
into your house?” He spat. He stood with his hands clenched into fists, glaring at Roger who looked genuinely abashed.

“I’m sorry, Rob. As I said, I didn’t know.”

Robert made some kind of growling noise deep in his throat. He held his hand out to Elizabeth. “We’re going home.” He said.

She didn’t argue. She willingly put her hand in his and grabbed her sister’s hand at the same time. Abigail hurried along with them, looking positively scared to death. Just before they left the room, Elizabeth took a last peek at Wesley who was slowly standing up and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He was staring after them, a demonic look of revenge in his eyes.
Oh God
….Elizabeth thought, holding her hand protectively over her stomach. This means trouble.

It didn’t take long for them to find Jamie and collect Robin and the servants. Thankfully, Wesley didn’t follow them or perhaps Roger kept him from following them. Robert made it a point to take the time to say goodbye to everyone he thought important, mainly the governor and Tradescant, and Nick Bannister who happened to be with them, giving the excuse that Elizabeth was feeling sick. And that was the truth; she was feeling sick. And from the look on everyone else’s faces, Jamie, Evelyn, Abigail, they were feeling sick too.

Only Robin and the servants were oblivious to the tension although they soon heard all about it.

Once in the shallop, Robert let go. “I can’t believe it!” He pounded his fist down on the seat again and again. “I can’t believe he found us, that filthy, dirty, mangy sheep-biter. God damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”

No other words were necessary as they made their way home.

* * *

The journey up the river was filled with tension. Even though Robert didn’t believe Wesley would follow them, he still insisted that Evelyn and Abigail keep his and Jamie’s pistols on their laps in readiness. He hated to burden the women with the guns but he was needed to help Nathan, Dolnick and Jamie row on this windless night. At least Elizabeth didn’t have to keep a gun because she had to hold Robin, who thankfully and quickly fell asleep. The four men slowly rowed the boat home, peering into the darkness and listening to every noise that came out of the woods. They had two torches on the boat, one fixed at the bow and the other fixed at the stern. The torches illuminated their way somewhat, but they still couldn’t see deep into the woods.

The night was black and silent, the half moon covered by clouds, yet it was completely calm and windless. It was cold too and the women huddled in their cloaks while the men kept warm by rowing. Robert wished he could sit by Elizabeth and enfold her and Robin in his strong arms. He wished he could take all her worries away; he wished he could stop her shivering. She was wrapped up tight in her fox-fur-lined cloak, with Robin in her lap, yet he knew it wasn’t the cold that was making her shiver. This is what he had feared ever since he had left Brentwood Manor. In the back of his mind, he had always wondered if one day Wesley would find him and Jamie. And now it had happened. What would he do? How would he keep Elizabeth and Robin safe? How would he keep Jamie safe? And Evelyn? Because he was the one who felt responsible. He was the one who had had the idea to run away; he was the one who had stolen the jewelry; he was the one Wesley was after.

Should he leave? Should he seek out Wesley and confront him, battle it out? Yes, that was the answer, Robert thought. But not tonight. Tomorrow he would go find the bastard and….

No, he could not kill Wesley no matter how much he wanted to. He couldn’t murder his own brother regardless of how cruel Wesley had been to him and Jamie. If he was arrested for murder, he would be taken from his family and then Wesley would win. Elizabeth needed him right now, being pregnant and vulnerable. No, murder was not the answer.

He looked over at Jamie who had been so silent, it was frightening. Was he having the same thoughts? Was he scared for himself and Evelyn? Robert had seen the dread in Jamie’s eyes and the hatred boiling up and threatening to overwhelm him, but the need to protect Evelyn had tempered his emotions.

Good, Jamie would survive; so would Robert; so would they all, he vowed. He swore he would not let Wesley ruin his life again!

It took an hour, a long, long hour to finally reach their wharf. They recognized it by the pattern of polished steel discs that Robert and Jamie had nailed to each corner of it. They flashed in the torchlight and Robert let out a huge sigh of relief. Home at last.

He jumped out first, catching the rope Dolnick threw to him. He secured it quickly to a post, then caught the second rope from the stern and secured that. Nathan and Dolnick climbed out of the boat next and then Jamie. He and Robert each took their pistols from the women and then helped them out, the whole time keeping a watch.

Without being told, Nathan and Dolnick each took a torch and took their positions in front and back of the family. Nathan was in the lead, illuminating their way along the path to the house. Robert was next, carrying Robin, who had woken up for only a minute then fallen back asleep; Elizabeth and Abigail were behind him, walking with their arms around each other’s waists. Elizabeth had seen how frightened Abigail was and felt a need to comfort her. At the moment she didn’t believe anyone was out there to attack them so she had no need for Robert to be at her side. Evelyn and Jamie were behind them, and Dolnick took up the rear.

Exhausted from all the evening’s ‘excitement’, they doggedly trod up the path to the house, focused and alert.

But all was quiet and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Robert approached the front door first, adjusting Robin to one arm so he could extract the big key from his purse around his waist with his other hand. Nathan brought the torch over and that’s when Robert saw it.

“Shit!” He swore.

“What is it?” Jamie immediately asked, coming forward.

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked, looking around in fear.

“Practical joke.” Robert said, trying to ease everyone’s mind. He gingerly nudged the dead crow on the doorstep with the toe of his boot. The unfortunate thing had been strangled by a thin wire and its eyes plucked out.

“You call this a practical joke?” Jamie asked in disbelief. “Someone put this here on purpose!”

Their eyes locked, silent thoughts were made clear between them. “Check the animals.” Robert said.

Jamie didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed Nathan’s torch and took off running in the direction of the barn, terror on his face.

“Nathan, get rid of this, burn it, bury it, I don’t care. Dolnick, take the women and Robin inside and build up the fire in the kitchen. I’m going to have a look around.” He handed Robin over to Dolnick while he took the torch.

Nathan didn’t look happy about having to dispose of the crow, but he obeyed, kicking it away from the doorstep and into the yard. He wasn’t going to touch it, even with gloves on. Dolnick did what he was told, herding the frightened women into the house. Robert had to tell them everything would be all right, but now he didn’t even know if that was the truth.
Damn
!

Robert realized then that Wesley had someone working with him.
The bastard
! Feeling as if someone were watching him, chills running up and down his spine, he carefully made his way around the entire perimeter of the house, checking each window for breakage and checking the back door which was still solidly locked, thank God. There were no more dead animals, no more signs of mischief, vandalism or trespassing.

He ended up back at the front door when Jamie returned from the barn.

“The animals are fine, thank God.” Jamie panted, out of breath.

“And everything looks fine around the house.” Robert reported.

“Who could have done it?”

“Who do you think?”

“But he was at the party.”

“Obviously he has a…friend.” Robert sneered.

Jamie made a noise of contempt in his throat. “I’m going to sleep in the barn tonight.” He announced.

“You’ll freeze!” Robert protested.

“No, I won’t. I’ll change into my buckskins; I’ll bring a blanket and Evelyn’s cloak and the animals give off heat. I have to do this.”

Robert put his hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “I know you do, and actually, I agree. We need to keep watch tonight. Take Dolnick with you too and the muskets. I’ll keep Nathan with me in the house. The women can sleep upstairs with Robin and the dogs.”

“Good idea. Let’s go inside and tell the girls our plans.” At that point each of them stuck their torches into wrought iron holders on either side of the door. When Nathan came back, Robert would have him extinguish them.

Jamie took a step and reached for the doorknob, but Robert stood still, as if he weren’t going to follow. Jamie looked at him. “What’s wrong?” He asked gently.

“I’m scared, Jamie.” Robert admitted in a hushed voice.

“I am too.” Jamie said.

They hugged then. “I won’t let him hurt you.” Robert said in Jamie’s ear, his voice choked with emotion. “I promise.

“I know.” Was all Jamie said.

Once in the house, everyone gathered in the kitchen. Dolnick had built up the fire and had water heating up in the brass kettle. Abigail had fetched some milk that had been kept cold in the root cellar and was now busy heating it up in a separate pot and putting cups on the table. The twins were sitting close to each other on one bench, holding on tight to their precious dogs. They had already put Robin to bed; he didn’t need to know any of this. Nathan came in and reported that he had buried the crow in the woods and then Robert and Jamie told them their plans.

Evelyn was not happy at all about Jamie sleeping in the barn. That was no surprise. She protested loudly, but Jamie would not back down. Finally she had to give up, tears filling her eyes. Robert hated seeing her like this; he hated seeing the fear in her eyes, and the fear in his wife’s eyes, but what else could he do? And then despite Elizabeth’s fears, she put her arms around her sister and said, “Jamie, take my cloak too.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth.” Jamie said, truly touched. Then he went upstairs to change.

Robert spoke to Abigail next. “You can sleep in Jamie and Evelyn’s bed. The twins can share Elizabeth’s and my bed. I hope you do not mind if Nathan and I use your cot. We’ll try not to get your sheets dirty.”

She nodded willingly, her arms hugging herself. Robert felt awful for involving her in this mess, but she stood strong. “I’ll just flip the sheets over until wash day.”

“Thank you, Abby. Go ahead and get what you need for the night.”

“Will you watch the milk?” She asked the twins. They nodded and she left.