“How about some breakfast?” Amos Clark offered. “I’m sure you men have worked up an appetite after your travels. Abby, do you think you could rustle up something? We can’t let Caleb leave on an empty stomach, nor these other young men.”
Looking at Abby at that moment, Caleb saw a strange look on her face.
When the girl left, the men stood outside discussing the end of the war and what it would mean to the country.
Seth spoke more of the war. “You’ve no doubt heard of General Washington’s great victory at Yorktown recently?” When Caleb and Amos nodded, Seth continued. “This sent most of the king’s army running. We’re still on duty, and have only heard of a few skirmishes, but that brings me to the reason we’re here today. I did not want to speak in front of your daughter, Mr. Clark, but a band of Red Coat renegades have been roaming the area. They deserted their regiments and camped not far from here. We captured all but one. He was wounded but got away, so do keep an eye out.”
“Could they be the ones who set fire to my barn?” Amos exclaimed.
“Yes, it’s possible. The rest of our group took the prisoners into custody, but I’ll question them on my return. Maybe we’ll get a confession.”
“Thank you, Corporal Larkin. With the help of my neighbors, my barn stands again. We’ve had little food and goods because of the war, but we’ve shared what we had and were always glad to share the labor. But this does not compare to what our brave men have been through and we are all indebted to you and your men, as well as the militia, ably represented by Private Fields here.”
Caleb blushed. This was the longest speech he’d ever heard from Abby’s father.
“Father, breakfast is ready. Please bring the gentlemen in.” Abby stood in the doorway wiping her hands on her apron.
The men crowded into the small room and made short work of Abby’s Johnny cakes, swimming in molasses. Amos had recently traded some of his farm equipment for food staples. He hoped, when things improved, he could buy back the traded items.
Breakfast finished, the men gathered their knapsacks and prepared to leave. Caleb had already packed his saddlebags before the men arrived.
Thanking the Clarks for their hospitality, the riders started out. Suddenly, Caleb dismounted and ran back to Abby. The others looked on curiously as he leaned close to her. “Abby, do you care for Edward Craft? If you answer yes, I’ll ride on. If not, will you wait for me?”
The early morning sun cast a golden glow on Abby’s face. Her eyes filled with tears. “No, Caleb, it isn’t Edward I care for. Now, go safely, and come back when you can.”
His heart pounding, Caleb once more swung up into this saddle and waved goodbye. His last glimpse of Abby, bathed in sunlight, with tears staining her cheeks, went straight to his heart.
He made a silent promise to return as soon as he could.
EIGHTEEN
A two-day ride brought Caleb and Seth to the Larkin plantation. They rode alone when Seth’s companions decided not to rejoin and said their goodbyes. The trip proved uneventful and the two young men rode side by side deep in conversation.
Although Caleb felt well, the ride caused his leg to ache. The magnolia tree that marked the Larkin’s property came as a welcome sight.
No sooner had they started down the long drive than they saw a horse coming from the opposite direction. The mare ran swiftly. Its rider leaned into the wind and caused a tangle of blonde curls to escape her cap and bounce behind her. Bossy Bess! Caleb’s breath caught in his chest. “She’s all grown up,” he murmured. Images flashed through his mind of their escapades almost two years ago.
Stopping short of the waiting pair, the girl looked from one to the other. Nodding to her brother, she turned her smile on Caleb. As if just remembering her manners, she said formally, “It’s good to see you again, Caleb.”
“And you, Elizabeth. You look well. Do you still slide down banisters?”
A blush colored her cheeks and she ignored the question. “You’re just in time for supper. Charity has outdone herself. Mother and Father have looked forward to seeing you again. They counted on Seth to find you.” Looking at the dust-covered travelers, Elizabeth said, “Though I do suggest you both wash before coming into the house.”
“We’ll do that. Meanwhile, go ahead like a good little girl and tell them we’ll be along when we’re presentable.”
“I’ll deliver your message, Seth, but I’m hardly a little girl any longer.” With that, Elizabeth turned Dancer, her mare, and rode toward the house.
“She’s right,” Seth said, looking after his sister. “She’s a young lady now, and she doesn’t want us to forget it. I think she’s looked forward to seeing you, Caleb. She speaks of you often.”
“It’s good to see her too,” Caleb managed. He knew full well the meaning of Seth’s words, but could not admit his newly realized feelings for Abby yet.
The family greeted Caleb warmly. Charity nudged him in the ribs and whispered, “I’ll fatten you up, boy, if you stay around long enough.”
They peppered Caleb with questions as Charity served a meal of beef and vegetables from the garden. Appreciative sighs greeted her when she came in later bearing an apple pie with thick cream. The pie disappeared in record time, a testament to the cook’s skill.
Elizabeth helped her mother and Charity while the men walked outside to discuss what the latest developments meant to the nation.
James Larkin puffed on his pipe, its smoke curling upward in the gentle breeze. “I have news. The Congress has asked me to serve in whatever capacity I see fit.”
“That’s wonderful, Father. Will you accept?”
“I only found out yesterday. I must discuss it with your mother. It will call for me to be away for some time.”
“Then this helps me make a decision whether to stay in the army or muster out. I can run things here while you’re gone, Father. Maybe we could persuade Caleb to stay. What do you say, private?”
“A tempting offer, Seth, but I really must find out if my farm still stands. If so, it will need much attention. It has lain fallow for almost three years now. So, after Charleston, I’ll head back to the Barnwell District. I think my father would have approved of that.”
“He’s right. We mustn’t try to sway him, although we want him to always feel a part of our family,” chimed in James Larkin.
“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”
“Father’s right, of course, but you must promise to come back when you can, and I’ll visit you when I can get away.”
“I’ll look forward to that.”
Later that afternoon, Caleb found himself in the parlor with only Elizabeth to keep him company.
“You must tell me about your injury, and how you found a way to walk again.”
Caleb obliged and recounted his part of the battle, his wounding and rescue, and the help he received from Abby and her father.
“Is she pretty?”
“Who?” His thoughts were so intent on his story, Elizabeth’s question confused him.
“Abby. You said Abby helped you and I asked if she’s pretty.”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Prettier than me?”
The question left Caleb almost speechless. “Why…uh, you’re both pretty.”
Elizabeth suddenly changed tactics. “Would you care to take a walk?”
“Yes, I’d like that.” Caleb readily agreed, hoping to drop the subject of looks.
The two walked outside where a late afternoon breeze lifted the curls around Elizabeth’s face. Caleb realized the path they traveled would take them to the river. The spot brought back memories of the firefly miracle that happened the last time he was here. It seemed so long ago. Today, the scene looked very ordinary.
The two stood without speaking. Caleb soon noticed the silence, only broken by the buzz of bees that circled the water’s edge. The light began to fade, and the smell of a late summer flowering vine filled the air.
“What a peaceful place,” Caleb remarked.
“It’s my favorite place to come when I want to think.”
“And just what do you think about, Elizabeth?” Caleb spoke absent-mindedly, as he chewed a blade of grass pulled from the riverside. His gaze focused on the still, sluggish water.
The silence stretched out so long, Caleb looked around to see if Elizabeth had heard him. Her face looked a shade paler than it had a few moments ago. Her lips parted, but no sound came forth. Caleb had never seen her at a loss for words.
“What’s the matter, Elizabeth?”
“I, uh, I...” Caleb saw the muscles in her throat working. Then, they heard a shout.
“Caleb, Bess, where are you?”
“Here, Seth,” Caleb answered, still looking at the girl, whose face had gone from white to a rosy glow.
Without a glance, or another word, Elizabeth hurried away, passing Seth who came to meet them.
“Where’s Bess off to?”
“I don’t know,” Caleb replied slowly, as he stared after the retreating figure.
Early the following morning, Caleb and Seth prepared to leave. Seth’s parents came to see them off. Seth intended to join Major Hunt, while Caleb would turn toward home. Charity had stuffed their saddlebags with food. “You never know when you’ll get hungry,” she admonished, although they had just consumed a huge breakfast. Only Elizabeth was missing.
Before the turn in the drive, Caleb looked back. In an upstairs window stood a solitary figure, barely visible in the breaking dawn. He lifted his arm to wave goodbye, and then let it drop when his gesture of farewell went unreturned.
Once more, their trip proved uneventful. Seth and Caleb rode slowly, chatting about the past and speculating on the future. In the midst of discussing what Caleb might do with the farm if all proved well, Seth broke off and turned to his friend. “Caleb, what do you think of my sister?”
“Why, Elizabeth, uh, she’s a…brave girl. Foolhardy at times, but admirable.” He knew this wasn’t what Seth wanted to hear.
The older boy shook his head impatiently. His forehead wrinkled and his light gray eyes pinned Caleb. “No, I mean how do you feel in your heart?”
Caleb looked away. He had hoped to keep his feelings for Abby to himself until he sorted them out. Speaking carefully, he said, “I think Elizabeth is a fine young woman, but my heart belongs to another.”
“What? Who? We’ve been a bit busy with a war. When did you find time to lose your heart?”
“It’s Abby Clark,” Caleb offered. He felt the blood rush to his face. “Abby saved my life, Seth, when the British captured me. I owe her everything.”
“Listen to what you’re saying. Do you owe Abby affection just because she helped you, or do you truly love her?”
Caleb suddenly felt confused. Being older, Seth probably knew more than he himself did. Their arrival at the crossroads put an end to the conversation, but Caleb knew he’d have to think about Seth’s question.
“Well, my friend, it’s time to say goodbye once more. No, I’ll just say farewell because we’ll meet again soon. I hope you find your home just as you left it.”
“Thank you, Seth. Yes, I’ll see you one day soon. My thanks to you and your family for your hospitality.
“Hurry on now and take care of yourself.”
Nodding, Caleb climbed astride his horse and tossed a salute to his friend. Turning west, he set Victory on the road home.
Caleb had time to think as he traveled. He turned Seth’s words over and over in his mind. Did he only feel affection for Abby because she helped him escape the Red Coats? Or were his feelings strong and true? As he rode alone, jumbled thoughts raced through his mind. When the last light faded, he brought Victory to a stop and led him into a grove of trees. His dug into his saddlebags for the food Charity had packed. He feasted on pork and cornbread, and licked his fingers when he tasted the cook’s sweet flummery with bits of apple.
He spread out his bedroll and settled down for the night with Victory close by. Caleb’s last thought centered around home. His new life lay before him and he murmured a promise to his father. “Pa, if I find things are well, I’ll do my best to care for the land just as you did. I hope you and Ma know I’ll do my best to carry on what you started and to make you proud of me.”
NINETEEN
The noon sun warmed Caleb as he rode onto his land. He tugged Victory’s reins and brought him to a halt when he came to the gentle slope that marked the beginning of the property. Three years. A long time to be away. Everything looked smaller. The farmhouse, surrounded by weeds, appeared shabby from neglect. The roof of the barn had gaping holes, and when he rode closer, a brown squirrel poked his head out and chattered frantically. Caleb smiled. He’s warning me not to disturb his home. He dismounted and stood looking over the empty fields.
“Victory, you’re going to have to help. Look at this land. Nothing’s growing now, but by next spring I’ll have crops in. Meanwhile, I’ll spend the winter repairing the house and clearing some of this brush. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
The horse nuzzled Caleb’s neck.
He understands,
Caleb thought.
The two of us will make this place productive again.
The inside of the small farmhouse looked just as he left it, with the exception of a layer of dust. He swallowed a lump in his throat when his eyes caught sight of his mother’s chair. A quilt she had made for his fifth birthday hung over the arm. He remembered her nimble fingers fashioning the log cabin pattern and tucking it around him on cold nights.
Across the room sat a sturdy chair where his father rested in the evenings as he smoked his pipe and stared into the fire. Often he spoke to his wife about the growing unrest in the country.
On most nights, Caleb sat quietly in the corner playing with his spinning top and listened to the sounds of his parent’s voices. He learned of his father’s great love of this country and his sadness over the harsh rules imposed on them by England.
Caleb brushed the dust from the pine table his father had built, and spent the afternoon making plans for getting the place back in order. He had helped his father enough to know what he must do to bring the land to life once more. He hoped the trading post still operated and that Mr. Drew would let him have credit until his pay came through. He found the book his father used to keep expenses. Caleb wrote a list of the supplies he needed. At last, he put the figures away and finished the food Charity had given him. The temperature had dropped at dusk. Shivering, he wrapped himself in the old quilt and immediately fell into a dreamless sleep.