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Authors: Melanie Dobson
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over her face. “There is something else I must tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I fear it will be very poor tidings for you.”
He took a deep breath. Only a woman would torment him so. A man would simply deliver the news and be done with it. “You do not have to cushion it, Miss Caswell.”
She looked a bit startled at the use of her name, but he knew it well. Elisha and Prudence reminded him regularly as to why they cared for him.
“My father has done something—” She swallowed. “He has invited a British officer to be a guest in our home.”
“Major Reed?”
At her nod, he groaned again. Dalton Reed was the man who’d questioned Nathan’s loyalty on the ship. If he was discovered, he would never be able to convince the man that his loyalty rested with the king.
“I fear for my family’s safety,” she said.
“I will not let them harm you or your family.”
“I know you mean well—”
He put his feet on the floor again. “The moment I can walk away, I will leave.”
“Thank you.”
He shook his head. “I would not have survived without your care.”
She stood. “I am glad you lived.”
“Even if I am a rebel?”
“I see you only as a brother, not as a rebel.”
He smiled as she left the room. At least she hadn’t said “puppy.”
Chapter Eight
Sarah yanked open the swinging door and rushed inside the stable. Thomas was supposed to have checked the door last night to make sure it was secure, but when she looked out her window at first light, the white door was banging in the wind. Either Thomas had forgotten, or someone had paid them a visit during the night.
The stable was eerily quiet inside, void of the stomping of hooves and nickering that usually greeted her entrance. Their stalls were empty, the horses gone.
She kicked a bale of hay, and dried grass scattered in the air and across the muddy floor. There had been rumors of thieves roaming the countryside, stealing horses, but she thought their house was too far from the main road to be disturbed. This was exactly why she shouldn’t manage the plantation.
Father and Seth probably would have guarded the stable alongside several of their Negroes, but it hadn’t even occurred to her to have several of their Negroes stand guard. She had allowed herself to become distracted.
Leaning back against the wall, she wrapped her arms over her chest. She’d already sold all but six of their best horses to purchase needed supplies. Now those horses were gone too.
How was she supposed to deliver messages to Mrs. Pendell now? And how could she till their land this spring? Between the thieves and the soldiers and her own ineptness, it would be nigh impossible to keep this plantation in order until her father returned.
Even if she had the money to buy new horses, there were none to be had. The King’s Men bought—or stole—any available livestock.
“We’ll track them down.”
Sarah turned to see Thomas, his musket in hand. He looked brave enough to take on an entire band of outlaws, but with his arthritic knees, she knew it pained him to walk even the perimeter of the property. There was no way he could track down the horse thieves on foot. It wasn’t like the thieves would stop along the road for tea.
“Thank you, Thomas, but they are probably halfway to South Carolina by now.”
“I will gather up some men in town—”
She shook her head. “It is too far, and I need you here.”
“But—”
“Please check the rest of our property to see if anything else is amiss.” Father had left her in charge of the plantation, but he’d told Thomas to watch over her. Still, she must protect Thomas as well. He had no choice but to respect her decision.
He nodded, backing toward the door. “I will check right now.” Turning, she pressed her fingers against her temples as she hurried toward the house.
She glanced at the railing like she always did, but there was still no ribbon. It didn’t matter much now. Without her horses,
“What is it?”
“I fear it will be very poor tidings for you.”
He took a deep breath. Only a woman would torment him so. A man would simply deliver the news and be done with it. “You do not have to cushion it, Miss Caswell.”
She looked a bit startled at the use of her name, but he knew it well. Elisha and Prudence reminded him regularly as to why they cared for him.
“My father has done something—” She swallowed. “He has invited a British officer to be a guest in our home.”
“Major Reed?”
At her nod, he groaned again. Dalton Reed was the man who’d questioned Nathan’s loyalty on the ship. If he was discovered, he would never be able to convince the man that his loyalty rested with the king.
“I fear for my family’s safety,” she said.
“I will not let them harm you or your family.”
“I know you mean well—”
He put his feet on the floor again. “The moment I can walk away, I will leave.”
“Thank you.”
He shook his head. “I would not have survived without your care.”
She stood. “I am glad you lived.”
“Even if I am a rebel?”
“I see you only as a brother, not as a rebel.”
He smiled as she left the room. At least she hadn’t said “puppy.”
Chapter Eight
Sarah yanked open the swinging door and rushed inside the stable. Thomas was supposed to have checked the door last night to make sure it was secure, but when she looked out her window at first light, the white door was banging in the wind. Either Thomas had forgotten, or someone had paid them a visit during the night.
The stable was eerily quiet inside, void of the stomping of hooves and nickering that usually greeted her entrance. Their stalls were empty, the horses gone.
She kicked a bale of hay, and dried grass scattered in the air and across the muddy floor. There had been rumors of thieves roaming the countryside, stealing horses, but she thought their house was too far from the main road to be disturbed. This was exactly why she shouldn’t manage the plantation.
Father and Seth probably would have guarded the stable alongside several of their Negroes, but it hadn’t even occurred to her to have several of their Negroes stand guard. She had allowed herself to become distracted.
Leaning back against the wall, she wrapped her arms over her chest. She’d already sold all but six of their best horses to purchase needed supplies. Now those horses were gone too.
How was she supposed to deliver messages to Mrs. Pendell now? And how could she till their land this spring? Between the thieves and the soldiers and her own ineptness, it would be nigh impossible to keep this plantation in order until her father returned.
Even if she had the money to buy new horses, there were none to be had. The King’s Men bought—or stole—any available livestock.
“We’ll track them down.”
Sarah turned to see Thomas, his musket in hand. He looked brave enough to take on an entire band of outlaws, but with his arthritic knees, she knew it pained him to walk even the perimeter of the property. There was no way he could track down the horse thieves on foot. It wasn’t like the thieves would stop along the road for tea.
“Thank you, Thomas, but they are probably halfway to South Carolina by now.”
“I will gather up some men in town—”
She shook her head. “It is too far, and I need you here.”
“But—”
“Please check the rest of our property to see if anything else is amiss.” Father had left her in charge of the plantation, but he’d told Thomas to watch over her. Still, she must protect Thomas as well. He had no choice but to respect her decision.
He nodded, backing toward the door. “I will check right now.” Turning, she pressed her fingers against her temples as she hurried toward the house.
She glanced at the railing like she always did, but there was still no ribbon. It didn’t matter much now. Without her horses,
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