Caleb smiled as he remembered the night and his part in delaying the enemy.
“The Larkin plantation stands nearby. I’d like you to take this message to Mr. Larkin.” As the general spoke, he drew a sealed letter from his jacket and handed it to Caleb.
“I’ll see that he gets it, sir.” Caleb tucked the message into his saddlebag.
“Thank you, private. I know you want to rejoin Major Hunt’s unit, and I pray his freedom comes about soon. To that end, I release you from my command. You have served your country well. I hope we meet again.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll look forward to seeing you in the future.”
“Please give my regards to the family.”
“I will, sir. Goodbye.”
Caleb watched as the Swamp Fox and his ragged group rode on. When he could no longer see them, he continued his own journey, to the magnolia tree that stood like a sentry at the plantation’s entrance.
He turned into the long drive. The dogwood trees had flowered in the weeks he had been away. The white blossoms reminded him of the trees near his own home. His mother often said the dogwood signaled the beginning of spring. He recalled how she loved to work in her flower garden, her fingers trailing in the rich loam as she gently patted seeds into the waiting earth.
“Your mother starts looking for blooms the very next day,” his father had said fondly.
Looking toward the house, Caleb noticed how still the day seemed. A bustle of activity usually surrounded a large home of this kind, but now the only sound was the whisper of the wind in the trees.
No one appeared when he reached the door. He lifted the knocker, let it drop and still had no response. He waited a moment then gave the door a push. It swung open slowly. Caleb walked into the large hallway. Everything seemed eerily quiet. No sounds to tell of a busy household. Taking a few more steps, he glanced into the parlor just off the hallway, and froze at the sight of the human tableau.
Time stood still with only the sound of birds chirping as a backdrop to the unbelievable scene indoors. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin sat next to each other while Seth stood behind their chairs. His shirt looked hastily thrown about his shoulders, the white bandage still in place. Charity stood to the side with two younger women who clung to her. He turned his head slightly, and his mouth dropped open at the scene. In another chair sat Elizabeth, her wrists and ankles bound. Her green eyes blazed above the dingy handkerchief that covered her mouth.
He stared until he saw her eyes shift to the left. Following her look, he caught sight of a roughly clad man standing in the shadows. In his hand he held a pistol pointed at Elizabeth.
“Come in, boy. We didn’t expect visitors but you might as well join us.”
Caleb looked at the Larkins. Mrs. Larkin’s lips trembled and James Larkin’s mouth formed a stern line. Seth’s eyes looked somber and unreadable when they met Caleb’s.
“Sit down and tell us your name, boy.”
“I’m Caleb Fields.” He sank into the nearest chair. Reason told him not to identify himself as militia even thought the man was not a Red Coat. Something nagged at Caleb’s memory. The man seemed familiar.
“What do you want? Are you alone?”
“I’m Seth’s friend,” he said, as he indicated the young man whose freckles stood out starkly on his pale face. He didn’t reveal Seth’s rank either. “I’ve just stopped by for a visit.”
“He says he broke his shoulder when he fell from his horse. Is he telling the truth?”
The man waited for an answer, his eyes never leaving Caleb’s face.
Not knowing if that had been the story Seth really told the man, Caleb took a chance and nodded his head.
“Then you’ve got a clumsy friend, boy.”
Good for him, thought Caleb. Seth hadn’t revealed the bandages covered a gunshot wound. This would have let the man know he was probably a soldier. Until they knew what the fellow intended, it seemed best not to say too much.
“Let’s get down to business then.” The man walked around the room. His boots left little clumps of dirt trailing behind him.
“If you’re a friend, maybe you know where the squire hides his money.” He wagged the gun at Caleb. “He’s decided not to tell us himself.”
“How would I know?” Caleb shrugged, trying to look more confident than he felt.
“I told you, I do not have any money. Let my family and the servants go and I will give you two of my horses,” James Larkin said, his eyes like gray steel.
“I don’t think you understand.” The man shook his head as he spoke. “A fancy place like this must have cost plenty. I’m sure you wouldn’t care to see it go up in flames, now would you?”
Mary Larkin gasped and Seth clutched the back of her chair.
“All right. You win. There’s no need to destroy our home. I do have some money upstairs, but I’ll have to show you where it’s hidden.”
“That’s more like it.” A look of greed transformed his face.
They all looked around when they heard a noise. Another man came from the back of the house. “Look what I found.” He held up a box, its lid open, displaying the family silver.
Elizabeth strained at her bonds and shook her head.
“Probably part of her dowry,” the man laughed. “Just you calm down, miss.” Turning to Caleb, he explained, “The young lady tried to raise an alarm when she saw you come down the drive. Guess we fixed her though. She can’t warn anybody now.”
His remarks made Elizabeth struggle harder against the ropes holding her.
“Stay here, Colby,” commanded the man who held the gun. “Keep an eye on ’em. The women probably won’t give you any trouble and the one with the broken shoulder looks like a proper wind would blow him over.” Frowning, he waved the gun at Elizabeth. “She’s the one you’ll want to watch.”
The one called Colby nodded and let his eyes roam around the parlor.
Probably deciding what else to steal
thought Caleb, who noted that the man also held a pistol.
“Come along then, Larkin. Let’s see what you’re hiding. You too, ‘friend.’ I think you need to come with us.”
Caleb followed Mr. Larkin and the man up the stairs and into a large sunny bedroom. The man gazed around, unable to contain his envy.
James Larkin walked over to a chest and drew out a cherry wood box. Reaching into this pocket, he took out a key. Before he opened the box, he looked at the man. “How do I know you won’t harm my family or burn our home when I give you the contents of this box?”
Caleb saw the man’s evil smile as his eyes fixed on the box. “You
don’t
know. But since I have a gun, you’ll have to give me the money anyway, won’t you?” He rocked back on his boot heels and with a satisfied expression, held out his hand.
James Larkin lifted the polished wood lid of the box. Caleb then saw his friend’s father look into the eyes of the man who stood before him.
“No, I do not have to give you anything.”
With that, the older man pulled out a gun and threw the empty box at the surprised intruder, knocking the man’s pistol from his hand.
Caleb quickly scooped up the weapon and leveled it at the man. Looking directly into his face, he realized why the man seemed familiar. He was the same ruffian who held Major Hunt at bay on the road to Charleston. So, he hadn’t killed him, only wounded him.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs and the one called Colby appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
The words barely left his tongue when James Larkin fired. The gun flew from Colby’s hand and he yelped in pain. He turned, ran down the stairs and out of the door.
Caleb dashed over and retrieved the second gun. He trained both on the man whose face registered surprise at the unplanned change of events.
“Well, seems we’ve turned the tables, lad. You’re a handy one to have around. Now, if you’ll go down to the east corner and get the constable, we’ll take care of this one. Better use the back stairs in case his friend might be hiding close by. I’ll keep this gentleman occupied.”
Keeping his eyes and the gun trained on the hooligan, James called down to his family. “Is everyone all right?” Seth’s voice assured him they were.
Caleb gave a last glance at the thief. By the look on James Larkin’s face, Caleb knew the fellow best not make a move.
He soon returned with the constable who listened to the story. “Good work, James, I’ll take this one and lock him up. We’ll keep an eye out for his companion. This war brings out the worst in men sometimes, but here’s one who won’t harm anybody for a long time.”
When the constable left with his prisoner, James Larkin turned to Caleb. “We’re a good team, Fields. Now, let’s see what’s happening to the rest of the family.”
Halfway down the stairs, they met Mary Larkin, who threw herself into her husband’s arms.
“There, there, Mary. We’re all right. Private Fields and I took care of things. How about the children?”
“They’re fine, James,” she said shakily. “Seth thought we should remain where we were in case any more ruffians were about. Elizabeth is voicing her displeasure.”
“I’m quite certain you’re right, my dear. Our daughter does not hide her feelings. Now, why don’t you see how Charity and the girls fared? Perhaps they could fix a little something to eat since we missed our breakfast and it’s now past noon. We’ll all feel better then.”
Mary Larkin left to supervise the meal while Caleb and James Larkin checked on Seth and Elizabeth. Seth fumbled with the ropes that held Elizabeth. His injury made it difficult to use his arm. Even at that, he didn’t look too anxious to release his sister.
“Untie me at once, Seth,” his sister demanded.
“I’m hurrying, Bess. You know I have a sore shoulder.”
Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth wiggled impatiently.
Caleb offered his aid. Bending down to loosen the ropes on her ankles, he felt her soft breath on his cheek as she whispered in his ear. “Don’t mention anything about the night I found you, please.”
A knock on the door startled them all after the recent events.
James Larkin opened the door to find the constable standing there holding the box of family silver that the thief must have grabbed on his way out. He also held Caleb’s saddlebags.
“We caught the second man not ten minutes ago. He didn’t get far. He stole these saddlebags, too. I figured they belonged to this young man.” He nodded at Caleb.
While the Larkins rejoiced over the return of the silver, Caleb grasped the saddlebags. He thanked the constable and turned to Mr. Larkin. “Sir, I’m sorry. In all the excitement, I forgot that I have a message for you.”
A shadow crossed James Larkin’s face as he read the message. He looked at his son. “Seth, Major Hunt’s been captured along with several of his men. He’s in jail in Charleston.”
“How terrible. Can we help?”
“The message comes from General Marion. He wanted to help the major, but our troops to the north needed the supplies he carried, so he had no choice but to go on. He felt I could do something. I must think. Meanwhile, I believe I hear Charity in the dining room. Let’s have some food, and then we can make plans.”
The midday meal was quiet. At last, Mary Larkin stood. “I am going to send Charity and the girls to rest. They’ve had an upsetting day too. Elizabeth, please help me take the dishes to the kitchen. The men need to talk.”
Caleb knew Elizabeth wanted more than anything to stay and listen. He could see she did not relish being banished to the kitchen. Even with the circumstances, he smiled when he heard her heave a great sigh as she followed her mother from the room.
Turning to the two young men, Larkin said, “I think I can enlist the aid of several men. The jail in Charleston seems well secured except for the night watch when some of the guards visit the tavern. The general’s message told me that much.”
“I want to help, Father. I consider Major Hunt my friend as well as my superior.”
“Count me in too, Mr. Larkin.”
“Thank you, both. Let’s sleep on this tonight. Perhaps a plan will come to us by tomorrow.”
Later, they decided a light supper and an early bedtime would help after the day’s nerve-wracking events.
“Seth will show you to your room, Caleb. Please consider this your home as long as you like. Now, do go quietly, boys,” Seth’s mother urged. “I imagine Elizabeth’s fallen asleep long ago.”
Seth took a candle and led the way up the dark staircase. The two young men fell silent when they reached the landing. Caleb jumped when a figure materialized from the shadowy hallway.
“What kept you two?” Hands on her hips, Elizabeth confronted the boys. “You know we have plans to make.”
“Not this time, Bess. This is man’s work.” Seth’s tone sounded stern as he warned his sister.
“Seth Larkin, if you leave me out I’ll never speak to you again!”
“Will you put that in writing? Caleb here will serve as my witness.”
Turning on her heel, Elizabeth stomped off to her room and slammed the door.
“Poor Bess.” Seth grinned. “In another life, she commanded a great army as she rode a white horse and led her troops into battle.”
Caleb returned the smile. “And I’ll wager she won.”
“I’m certain of that. Now, let’s plan to meet in the morning and see what we can do for Major Hunt. For now, I bid you good night.”
“Good night, Seth, and don’t worry. We’ll come up with something.”
It seemed to Caleb he had just closed his eyes when voices woke him. Going into the hallway, he saw Seth and his mother. The young man was dressed for outdoors, most unusual for the late hour.
“Has something happened?” Caleb looked from one to the other.
“My father has taken ill. I must get the doctor. Will you come with me, Caleb?”
“Of course. Give me a moment to dress.”
The boys hurried from the house while Seth explained how his father had awakened with a high fever and chills. Reaching the physician’s door, they knocked loudly. Waiting a few moments, they knocked again.
The doctor answered at last, rubbing his eyes and holding a lighted candle high to see who had need of him before dawn. “What do you want? A man can’t get a good night’s sleep anymore,” he grumbled.
“It’s Seth Larkin, doctor. My father has taken ill. Can you come?”