Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

April 15, 1778

E dmond’s chest still ached though it had been almost a month since Julian had shot him. He could still envision Tabitha’s panicked face when Dulcie had been unable to fish out the shot. “He needs a doctor, and fast,” she’d said.

Tabitha had called for Cyrus to saddle Maximus. While he did, she and Dulcie packed the wound with herbs and bandaged it. With Cyrus’s help, they had somehow gotten Edmond on his stallion—his memories remained a blur of pain and snatches of conversation—before she mounted behind him and set out for Darien. How she had forded the river without drawing the attention of the Loyalists besieging the fort, he could only imagine. He recalled flashes of slumping over the horse’s neck, Tabitha’s arm around him, her voice going from pleading to ordering, ordering him to live.

Even now, he chuckled as he rubbed the raised, puckered flesh beneath his shirt and waistcoat, sitting in the sunshine while watching Uncle Ian pounding out a crowbar at his forge.

“What are you laughing at?” Tabitha’s chiding murmur raised his head even as her hand slid over his shoulder to take the one that had been massaging the wound.

“I was thinking of you.” He squinted up at her in the morning light. “The way you hauled my sorry carcass all the way to Darien.”

“Well, there was hardly a choice in the matter.” She stiffened and handed him the pewter cup she held in her other hand. When he took it, she touched the tiny swell of her abdomen. “I am not raising his child alone.”

She had been right to bring him, of course. The shot had lodged so deep, Edmond had passed out again while the doctor probed for it. And he had lost so much blood that it had taken him far longer than he’d have liked to recover. He had spent two weeks under the physician’s care before being released to recuperate at his uncle’s, where he and Tabitha now slept in the parlor.

Edmond sniffed the contents of the cup. “Ugh.” As suspected, ’twas not coffee, but another of Aunt Margaret’s ostensibly healing herbal teas.

“Drink up.” Tabitha patted his shoulder. “The sooner you regain your strength, the sooner we can go home. But not too quickly.” A frown pulled down the edges of her mouth. “I have no desire to see you join another expedition to Florida.”

Edmond’s good spirits deflated. “I should have gone with Colonel Elbert’s men.”

“You were not ready.” Tabitha’s jaw tightened.

He sipped his bitter potion and mumbled, “They are probably at Fort Howe by now.”

“What remains of it.” Tabitha grimaced. “I am only thankful our home and store were spared.”

About a week after the attack, she had received a missive from Mr. Long telling them what had happened after they fled. The Loyalists had taken the fort with the loss of only one man, though the Patriots had seen two killed, four wounded, and twenty-three taken prisoner. The Floridians had set fire to the structure but remained in the area several days while planning their next move.

Upon discovering that Julian had been killed and Tabitha and Edmond had fled, Brown had remanded the order to also burn the cabin and store, instead deciding the structures would house the officers. Mr. Long had relayed that not only were Dulcie and Cyrus safe—albeit feeding the occupying enemy while nursing the wounded Patriots—but he’d shared that one of the Patriot wounded was Edmond’s good friend, Dougal. With Dulcie’s expert ministrations, he was expected to make a full recovery.

Apparently, the Loyalists’ scheming had broken down in internal bickering, and they had finally withdrawn.

The loss of Fort Howe and fears the British would mount an invasion north of the Altamaha had finally led General Howe to agree to a third expedition. Earlier this month, five hundred Continentals under Colonel Samuel Elbert had begun to move south. Edmond had received orders to do likewise as soon as he was able and instruct the handful of men they would leave behind to rebuild the fort.

Edmond slumped on his stool. “And yet, thanks to me, a second fort was lost. If I hadn’t allowed Julian to take me off guard, I would have had time to warn them.”

“No.” She knelt before him, taking his hand, pinning his gaze with hers. “Edmond Lassiter, this is not your fault. This was the fault of twisted men bent on revenge…and the outcome of a war. You’ve done more than your part in this conflict. And you saved me into the bargain.”

His frown faded as he looked into her face, and love washed over him. “You’re right. But I cannot help wishing I could have done more to help those men in the fort.”

Tabitha lifted his knuckles to her lips. “You are a good man, but you must stop taking the weight of the world onto your shoulders.”

The sound of horse hooves drumming the dirt road followed by a shaggy-haired youth trotting a winded mount to Uncle Ian’s shed brought both of them to their feet.

As the boy led his horse close, Ian stepped away from his forge. “How can I help you, young sir?”

“Name’s Charlie Fraser. My horse threw a shoe up the road. Left front side. I’m needin’ it replaced but dunno if I can wait.” The boy’s voice cracked with anxiety and adolescence as Ian removed his gloves and ambled over to lift the blowing horse’s leg. “I’m to Fort Howe posthaste.”

Edmond stiffened. “Fort Howe? Why?”

Charlie jerked his head Edmond’s direction. “We live south of the river from Broughton Island. Father is with the men who went to Fort Howe. Mama sent me to tell the officers there that British ships have been sighted in St. Simons Sound.”

Edmond took a step closer. “How many, son?”

When the horse shied, Uncle Ian held his bridle.

“Three. Maybe four. They sailed up the Frederica River.”

The Continental force could not leave the coast undefended while they marched into Florida. This could change the focus, the outcome, of the expedition. Edmond shot a glance at Tabitha, who held herself erect, her mouth pressed tight. He was not asking her permission this time. This was his chance to rectify his failures with the army. “I will go.”

The boy blinked at him, faltering a step back. “But sir, Mama said…”

“I am Lieutenant Lassiter, assigned to Fort Howe.” Edmond touched the boy’s shoulder. “You have done well to bring this message, but your horse is tired, and ’tis a long ride yet.”

“Yes, sir.” Charlie relaxed, letting out a soft breath. With his thin frame and dusting of tawny freckles, he could not be more than eleven or twelve.

Edmond gave Charlie’s shoulder a brief squeeze. “There is still a contingent at Fort Darien. While my uncle shoes your horse, you should warn them. Assure them I am alerting Colonel Elbert at Howe.”

The young man stood straighter. “With pleasure, sir.” He snapped off a salute that drew Edmond’s smile.

It faded as he turned to Tabitha.

Her brow furrowed. “’Tis too soon.”

“’Tis aught but a lark on Maximus.”

“Do you promise you will not go off to fight?”

Edmond reached for her hands. “I have my orders. I will deliver the message and stay at the fort.”

“Orders can be changed.”

“Colonel Elbert knows of my recuperation. He has plenty of fit soldiers.” His grip tightened on hers. “I need to do this, Tabitha.”

Her mouth trembled. “I know.” She brushed a tear attempting to escape the corner of one eye. “Oh, blast it. I did not used to be such a lily-livered female.”

A grin broke out on his face. “Then you fell in love.”

She pulled her hands back and swatted his arm. “That will be enough from you, sir.”

“Very well.” He chuckled. “Your strength will be needed for packing and making Mother ready to travel. With these ships on the coast, you, too, must haste inland. You should leave tomorrow morning, at the latest.”

She nodded, her jaw firm. “I will meet you at home.”

“Meet you at home.” Edmond repeated the phrase before he turned toward the stable. God willing, he would deliver this intelligence in time to keep the home they both loved safe.

April 20, 1778

W here was her husband? Uncle Ian’s wagon had transported Tabitha and her mother-in-law safely to the Altamaha ferry four days before. They had passed troops on the road, bound south for Darien. While she had not seen Edmond among them, she had no way of knowing if he had been sent to the coast with another company of rangers after their arrival.

In light of the military activity in the area, Tabitha and Freya slept in her old room at the cabin, now emptied of Patriot wounded. As wonderful as it had been to catch up with Dulcie and Cyrus, Tabitha’s impatience mounted by the hour. If only Edmond would arrive with the news that it was safe for them to return to their own home and at last open the store. Even though their British visitors had made off with most of the stock, the remaining income from the timber had enabled Tabitha to place another order with their supplier while she had been in Darien.

Five days had passed since Edmond rode for Fort Howe. Why had he not been allowed to come see her? Had Colonel Elbert sent him on another mission, after all? Worry gnawed at her insides as Tabitha mounded dirt for planting the garden she and Dulcie shared. Or maybe that was actual nausea. She sat back on her heels and raised a gloved hand to her mouth.

“My dear, ye shouldna be workin’ so hard on yer hands and knees like that.” Her mother-in-law’s gentle brogue cajoled her from the front porch, where Freya was mending one of Edmond’s shirts. “Come sit with me a spell.”

“A cup of cool cider might be nice.” Already, ’twas growing warm. Tabitha rose, removing her gloves and brushing off her petticoats. She had just started for the porch when approaching horse hooves had her whirling toward the path. As the figure she had longed to see rode into view, she gave a cry and ran to greet him. “Edmond!”

He swung off Maximus and scooped her into his arms, pressing a firm kiss to her lips.

She drew back far enough to check him for signs of injury, then laid her hand over his chest. “Are you well?”

“Yes, I am fine. Are you?”

“We are well.” Tabitha smiled and rested her hand on her abdomen. Then she stepped out of the way as Freya scurried up to embrace her son.

“Wherever have ye been?” Her chiding preceded the one Tabitha had been about to give. Freya patted Edmond’s cheek. “Here ye drag me off to what is supposed to be me new home, an’ then ye dinna show up.”

“I know. I am sorry…but glad you are here safely.” His chest heaving as he inhaled a deep breath, Edmond broke into a broad smile and reached for Tabitha’s hand. “And as it turns out, we are safe. I had to stay on site at the fort until we received the all clear. And it came today.”

“It did?” Tabitha’s eyes rounded. “What does that mean? The British are repelled?”

He nodded. “Colonel Elbert put his men on three row galleys, with artillery in another vessel, and at dawn on the nineteenth, he fired on three British ships anchored off the ruins of Fort Frederica. They attempted to retaliate, but they were outmaneuvered and outgunned. Then they tried to gain an advantage downriver, but their ships were grounded, abandoned, and captured. The waterways are cleared, the British invasion foiled.”

“So you warned them in time.” Tabitha drew his hand up to her heart, clasping it between hers. Could he see the pride glowing in her eyes?

“Aye.” He shrugged, lapsing into a touch of brogue she found adorable in the presence of his mother. “With a wee bit of help from Charlie.”

“Well, we all have to play our part.” She smirked, then her smile faded. “What of Brown?”

“Retreated to Florida.” Edmond swung her hand between them.

“So ’tis truly over? We can go to our new home?” Hope abounded in Freya’s query as she took a step closer.

Edmond reached for her hand as well. “We can, as yes, it is over for now. They are saying more troops will muster at Fort Howe, so ’twill be more important than ever that I help with the rebuilding. And that you open the store. Colonel Elbert awaits the arrival of General Howe with his South Carolina Continentals and artillery, as well as General Andrew Williamson with South Carolina militia. ’Twill take time to muster and supply. I daresay they will make another attempt on Florida before full summer is upon us.”

Tabitha could not keep her face from crumpling.

Edmond tipped his head toward her. “But I will request the command of whatever contingent is left to guard the fort. I promised you, did I not?”

“That you would be here for the birth of our child? Yes, you did. But do not take on that weight when it is not something you can truly promise.” She could not put that on him either. In a time of war, a soldier could be sent wherever his superiors chose. “We must remember that ultimately, there is a greater commander whose will usurps even the most powerful general’s.”

“You are right.” Edmond squeezed her hand. “Before we go home, perhaps we should pray over this new chapter of our lives. For God’s protection and blessing.”

Tabitha’s chest swelled with pride. “That is a fine idea.”

Before they could bow their heads, a cry drew their attention.

Dulcie and Cyrus hurried across the yard. Greetings aside, Edmond drew them close and explained their intentions. Dulcie’s face lit with approval, and she and Cyrus moved into their circle. Brown and white hands joined, they came together in prayer.

Tabitha’s heart could burst from gratitude and love. Her husband was home. A babe grew in her womb.

This family and this freedom were priceless gifts from God. Their futures were safe in His hands.