Because of Rebecca(26)

“On the contrary. I know you too well,” Jared spat as Rory sauntered toward the front verandah and the open arms of Mary.

“Heaven’s above. I can’t believe my eyes,” the woman exclaimed.

“Don’t let your eyes get too accustomed to seeing him, Mary. He won’t be staying.”

“And what side of the bed did you get up on? Obviously not the right one,” Mary harrumphed, turning away from him to fuss over Rory like a mother hen.

Jared shook his head. Mary had always taken a fancy to his cousin in a special way. He turned to his driver. “Don’t put the carriage away. I’m going back to town.”

“Yes, sir,” Higgins replied.

Jared walked to the house where Mary still fussed over Rory. “Send up my bath water…even if it’s cold, Mary.”

“Certainly,” she said. “I’ll have breakfast on the table for you both soon enough.”

“None for me. I’ve already eaten,” Rory said.

Jared went upstairs to his study and pulled out the daily ledgers to begin going over the weekly figures while he waited for his bath water. But he couldn’t concentrate. His mind kept returning to Rebecca and where she had gone. Why had she been in such a hurry to leave last night? She’d said she had to go take care of some business. Did that mean she’d returned to Memphis? If so, then why did she go to Madame Monique’s? And why did she have to see Rory first? None of this made sense, but he would get to the bottom of what was going on even if he had to catch the next train to Memphis.

Slamming the ledger closed, he placed it in the desk drawer and locked it before he stalked into his bedroom and performed his ablutions. Going back downstairs, he searched for Mary and found her in the kitchen.

“Well now, that’s more like it,” she remarked handing him a plate of food when he came into the kitchen. “It’s not like you to be out all night and come dragging in here looking like you’ve been in a fight.”

“I didn’t just look like it. Rory and I did brawl. Though I don’t recall much of it.”

“You boys shouldn’t be fighting with one another. Rory’s your blood kin. The only living relative you have left.”

“No lectures. As far as I’m concerned what Rory gets, he deserves.” Jared leaned back against the worktable and ate, washing the food down with hot coffee, while Mary cleaned the kitchen.

“I’ll be gone for a few days. Rory has some business to take care of and can stay here until it’s completed. Then he will leave. Can you see that he does this?”

Mary eyed him warily. “Your leaving doesn’t have anything to do with him being here, does it?”

“No, it doesn’t.” He set his empty plate on the counter. “Will you make sure Rory doesn’t stay beyond his welcome?”

She nodded slowly. “If that is what you want.”

“It is, Mary. Rory can’t treat his family’s heritage like it’s nothing and expect to come home freely. He needs to earn that right.”

She nodded again, but her eyes were sad with understanding. “I know you are hurt. Rory has a way of getting all over a body that makes you want to throttle him, but he is your family, your only blood family.”

“Sometimes blood family can be the worst parasites of all. I consider you and Higgins my family as much as I want to forget that Rory is mine,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few days.”

“You be safe.”

“I will.” Jared left the house with the one bag he’d hastily thrown together. His mind flashed an image of Rebecca wearing the cloak waving good-bye to him and a chill ran over him. Was she in danger? He feared she was.

“Where did you really go, Rebecca?” he mumbled going down the walk.

“Pardon me, sir. Did you say something?” Higgins asked, opening the carriage door for him.

“No.” He climbed into the carriage. He had to stop Rebecca from doing something foolish.





Chapter Fourteen

Drizzling rain welcomed the train as it pulled into the station in Memphis. Despite the damp and muggy summer morning air, Rebecca wrapped the cloak around her and Ruth as much for warmth as protection from the wet.

They dashed across the street to the covered boardwalk.

Ruth’s steady hand on Rebecca’s arm kept her from falling into the mud when her booted foot slipped. The two giggled nervously as Rebecca removed the cloak and shook the rain from it, before wrapping it again around her shoulders. She noticed a well-dressed man in a white suit and plaid vest leaning against a post watching them.

“Goodness, are you all right?” Ruth asked.

“Yes. Just startled and out of breath.” Rebecca turned her back to the man to shield Ruth from seeing him. “I know it is mid-morning, but do you feel like breakfast?”

Ruth nodded.

“Follow me. I know a place where we can get something to eat.”

As they walked, Rebecca thought she heard footsteps following them. She stole a peek over her shoulder. It was the same man from the store not ten feet behind them. He smoked a cheroot and tipped his hat to her. She gasped and looked straight ahead.

“What’s wrong?” Ruth asked.

“Don’t be alarmed, but I think we’re being followed. Keep close to my side and don’t look back,” she whispered, feeling the girl tense and clutch her arm tighter.

The rain had let up by the time the boardwalk ended, and they turned down another side street toward a church. The man passed them by, but Rebecca wasn’t so certain it wasn’t a move to give them false security. She quickened her pace and urged Ruth toward the small parish house to the left. Rebecca knocked on the door, and a few moments later it swung open.

“Lord love ya,” an elderly woman greeted, hugging Rebecca quickly. “Come in. Come in.”

“Thank you, Mawsy.” Rebecca removed her cloak, took Ruth’s from her, and hung them on a peg by the door. “This is my friend Delia. We were hoping to have breakfast with you.”

“I’ve been expecting ya for nearly a week now. Was gettin’ awful worried, but Ben put me at ease. Said we’d have heard if somethin’ went wrong,” Mawsy rattled, putting a meager meal on the small table.

“Go ahead and sit down, Delia” Rebecca urged. “Where’s Ben this morning?”

“Funeral over in Wakefield for a dear friend of his. He should be back tonight. He’ll be sorry he missed ya. He always likes to pray with the travelers before they go.” Mawsy sat at the table, said a short prayer and helped herself to the food. “Eat up. We gotta get going soon.”

Rebecca watched Ruth for a short time as she timidly ate a dry biscuit. She wanted to put her at ease and smiled at her. “You’ll be traveling with Mawsy as her companion to the meeting point.”

Ruth slowly nodded. She picked up another biscuit.

“How many do you think they’ll be today?” Rebecca asked, turning her attention to Mawsy.

“Hard to tell. We had a dozen last week.” Mawsy finished her coffee and poured another cup.

“You do this for more ’n just me?” Ruth asked.

“Sure do.” Mawsy took her dishes to the sink. “I’ll go change into my spiffier traveling clothes. Be back shortly.”

“I’m worried,” Ruth said when Mawsy was safely out of the room.

“Try not to,” Rebecca urged.

“But what about that man that followed us?”

“He passed on by when we turned down the side street. You’ll be safe traveling with Mawsy.”

“Aren’t ya going with us?”

“No. My part of the journey is over. It’s safer that Mawsy is the one who takes you to the meeting point. The less people who know about its location the better.” She cleared the table.

Ruth nodded and slowly rose to help put the kitchen in order.

Once they were finished Rebecca said, “We have a plainer dress to fit the style a companion would wear for you to change into. Did they send the make-up?”

“It’s in my bag,” Ruth said. “Are ya sure it’s safe?”

Rebecca touched her arm in reassurance. “As safe as the rest of this journey has been. There are no guarantees. We try to do what we can to ensure you reach your destination without being caught. There’s danger to all involved.”

She nodded and bit her lower lip. “Am I closer now?”

“Yes.”

“Then why do I feel so scared?”

Rebecca hugged her. “Sometimes we can’t help but fear the unknown. I’m still scared too, but I have faith we’ll see victory. I’ve been praying for it.”

The girl wiped moisture from her eyes with the back of her hands.

“Come. Let’s get you changed.” She led the way to the small room off from the kitchen. Touching up the make-up Madame Monique had applied the night before, she made sure it looked natural.