Embrace of the Enemy (Winds of Betrayal) (27 page)

The Beckett’s children ran in and out, laughing and carrying on. The fire blazed, songs sung. Drinks toasted to a new nation.

“To the New Year and the hope we run the God Damn Redcoats off our land!” Judge Beckett toasted.

“Seilah, watch your tongue. You don’t know whose listening. I live in fear they’ll come and arrest you,” Alice reprimanded her husband.

“It’s just the Cooper’s,
Alice. Relax,” Judge Beckett chuckled. “You worry too much, Alice.”

And Christmas passed pleasantly.

Giles studied Hannah, who seemed determined to work through all before her. If she still had dreams that woke her, she hadn’t awakened him or Martha. He had hopes that it was a good sign. She hadn’t much longer with her confinement, which in itself was a source of worry for Giles.

When he returned from his last trip, he brought the first letter from her brother.
He hadn’t gotten much reaction from her except it was good to have heard from him. He wondered though what had been said.

At the moment, though, all he could think about was his bed. He was tired.
His first horse, then himself. He unsaddled his mount and tended to him. A light from the fireplace in the drawing room could be seen as he exited the barn. It would be good to be in front of a warm fire.

Martha must have been expecting him, or a guest had stayed up late. He unsaddled his horse and trudged in from the barn in the snow. He would check in on Hannah.   He stomped off the snow and took off his boots. Eager to be in front of the fire, but as he set foot in the room, he caught sight of Hannah, asleep upon on the sofa. 

A letter clutched tightly within her hand. The quilt tucked up to her chin. As he advanced, he saw clearly the tear stains upon the paper she held dearly. He bent down to her.

“Hannah. Hannah,” he spoke gently, placing his hand upon her shoulder.

She jumped. A look of fright for a moment was upon her face, then realization. “Oh, Giles, I wasn’t aware you were back.”

“It’s all right. Can I sit?”

Hannah as if still half asleep sat up. Giles placed his hand upon her shoulders, moving her into his arms. He hadn’t done so since they had come to Setauket. He missed holding her, touching her, but had no desire to cause unfounded rumors to swirl around the small community. She had enough upon her. The fire had burned down, but Giles  didn’t care. Hannah sat silently, but laid her head against his shoulder.

Stillness descended upon the house. No sound could be heard. “Marry me.”

Taken by surprise, she sat straight up.

Giles changed positions and put his hand upon the couch to stand. She shook her head and reached for his hand.

“No, no. Please, don’t go. I wasn’t expecting you to ask that question. That’s all. Please, don’t leave me.”

Uncomfortable, he eased downward again.

Her eyes met his. “Why did you ask?”

“It was just the moment, I suppose. Watching you, holding you such. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t.…”

Searching his eyes, she said softly, “Giles, I’m so flattered. I don’t know a better man, but you deserve better. You’ve already done so much for me, given me so much. I have nothing to give you. I have nothing and carry another’s child.”

“I’m not good with words, Hannah,” Giles said simply. “I have thought about it. You seem content here. If you want a new life and don’t want to go backwards, I would raise the child as mine, but I don’t share what is mine.
Your past would be the past.”

He took a deep breath in. He said honestly for he knew no other way, “Hannah, I would try to make you happy.”

“Giles, you don’t know me. The things I have done,” her voice faltered. “I couldn’t do that to you.”

“Why, Hannah, are choosing to blame yourself? To accomplish the things you have done, you had to be a brave and strong woman. Why now are you choosing to pity yourself when another one is going to depend upon you soon?”

She tried to stand, but couldn’t pull herself up. A grin formed upon Giles’  face. Hannah’s temper flared, “You think this is funny?”

He nodded as his arms went around her. She fought back unsuccessfully. He turned her face to his. “Hannah, I’m comfortable, but far from rich. I could never keep you in the manner your grandfather did. You act as if I’m a bargain. I assure you I’m not. I’m quite stubborn, overbearing and quick tempered. But I do know what I feel. I look forward to coming home because you are here. There’s a purpose. It feels right. Life is too short to question.”

Her face softened. He continued. “What do you want, Hannah? What do you feel?”

She paused. Her eyes stared straight into his. “Giles, I want to be happy again. I seemed to have forgotten how to be. But I know I don’t want to leave you. I don’t know how I would have survived these last months without you. I wouldn’t be here if not for you.”

Giles placed his finger to her mouth. Shaking his head to quieted her. “Hannah, please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”

“Yes, Giles, I would be honored,” she answered and laid her head back upon his shoulder.

* * * *

A constant battle ensued within Hannah. Her conscience gnawed within her. Before receiving Jonathan’s letter, she survived only day to day, not thinking upon the next. But the letter in its form forced
the reality of her situation upon her. She turned her attention to the now worn page in her hand.

I received a brief leave after being victorious in the North and now I’m at home. How different it now sits. The truth of all that has occurred never seemed real until my return. Lydia accepted Lanson as her husband and now watches my son, William, who loves her well. I’m certain that she, too, will send her own letter. My heart overflowed with the news of your recovery. We had feared the worst, although understand you have endured much; I can’t express my joy upon your recovery. I know well the price this war has cost our family.

The fight renewed once more with my visit home, seeing it well within my child and why we fight. We have endured much, Hannah, but we’ll survive. I wish upon all else to bring you home, but Lanson explained that the situation won’t allow such at this time. I won’t be able to come and retrieve you like I would like, at least until after my enlistment.

I will be returning to the winter encampment, which I understand Valley Forge has become a place of great suffering. But I have a need to return to my unit. I have no intention of slowing down and will work constantly to establish morale among the men. I’m committed to the end of this conflict.

Know, dearest sister, I’ll find a place for you after your confinement if you are still unable to return to
Virginia. I have a friend from Massachusetts whose family would welcome you until you can make your way back to Virginia. Know even though your inheritance was lost, I’ll compensate until we’re able to finally able to untangle this web that has been thrown around us.  Don’t have any worries, I have made clear that any need you have I will finance. 

When they told me they had found you, I felt as though I found hope once more, which is something I haven’t had for a long time. Know my thoughts and prayers are with you.

You have always been my most beloved sister.  Jonathan

Emptiness encompassed Hannah as she read the letter over and over again. The realization of her situation sank deep into her; she was unmarried, penniless and with child. But as he had when he extricated her from Gannon, Giles again set to rescue her. He had made no big proclamation of love and Hannah wasn’t certain if she even believed in that concept anymore.

Their wedding was a quiet one. She pushed all issues aside, concentrating solely upon her unborn child and her great need for Giles. She stood beside the man who steadfastly refused for her to be swallowed by her past. She recited her vows staring into his eyes and he took her hands in his.

Giles placed a simple gold band around her finger as they were declared husband and wife. Hope she had thought lost, resurged within her, along with a peace she had so desperately been searching for since the raid that destroyed her family.

All she knew she had a strong need for Giles. She leaned upon him as she had never leaned upon anyone. She told herself it was her decisions, her choices that she had to live with. She could mourn a love that should have never been, or fight for the life she had always wanted. And when her dreams came and they often did, she turned and Giles was there.

* * * *

Upon receiving the news that it was Hannah’s time, Giles ran from the stables the moment he returned from
New York. The sun had lowered in the sky as he had ridden back on his route. Long, quick steps he took up the back stairs of the cream colored, broad two story building with wood siding and a high pitched shingled roof. The sign in front proudly beheld “Cooper’s Tavern.”

Inside, Giles entered into a central hallway and a steep flight of stairs, which he took in no more than three strides. He caught his breath as he met Martha outside the door. “Elijah sent word it’s time.”

Martha nodded her head. “It’ll be soon.”

“Can I see her? Is she okay? Just for a moment?” Giles asked, winded.

Martha shrugged. “I don’t know, Giles. Mrs. Simpson…”

Giles sidestepped his sister and sneaked through the open crack in the door. Hannah caught sight of Giles and a weak smile crept upon her face, even though the pain. Mrs. Simpson worked
feverishly around Hannah. A stout homely looking woman she was, serving as midwife for the community, and there wasn’t a better midwife around. But she gasped upon the sight of Giles.

“Ain’t no place for a man, Mr. Cooper. Hafta go!” she demanded.

He waved her off and turned to Hannah. “I want but a moment. I promise, Mrs. Simpson. I just wanted Hannah to know I had returned.”

“We can see that, Mr. Cooper,” she said steadfastly. Hannah looked up at Giles and squeezed his hand. He reluctantly withdrew. He read in her eyes how she wanted him to stay beside her, but neither was brave enough to face the wrath of Mrs. Simpson.

“I’ll let you know immediately, Giles,” Martha assured him as she closed the door leaving him alone.

He paced the hallway, having long since lost track of time, before he decided he didn’t want to be alone. His mind raced with all the possibilities. He had refused to think of anything other than a positive outcome, but now what would he do if something happened to the baby, or Hannah herself? She had endured so much.

He walked downstairs to the tavern. He found Elijah handling the crowd that they had that night along with Kenny, a young lad Giles had hired a few years back.

“Any word, yet, Giles?” Elijah asked as Giles walked slowly down the stairs over viewing a flock of British soldiers.

“None,” Giles spoke plainly, shaking his head.

“These things take time, Giles. Something we can’t rush,” Elijah said. He handed over ale to a British officer and poured one for Giles, as Giles joined him behind the counter.

Giles sighed. “A unit coming through tonight?”

“Transferring out and the new transferring in,” Elijah acknowledged. The crowd sat about the tables. Their faces glistened off the
firelight as they drank and talked.

Giles stared at all around the room, but his thoughts were up the stairs. Interrupting Giles’  thoughts, a British officer walked up to the bar, “Is this your first?”

Giles smiled and nodded. “That obvious?”

“Never been there to know the feeling,” the officer said. “Travel too much to settle down.”

“Being transferred into Setauket?” Giles asked politely.

The officer shook his head. “Only a few days. Then I’m off to another assignment. Never around one place too long.”

“Hard road, I’m sure,” Giles kept glancing up toward the stairs.

“Nothing as bad as being
bedridden, I can assure you. I’ll take moving around and being back in action,” he said simply. He studied Giles. A hand clamped down upon the Brit’s back.

“Captain Elliott, the boys and I would enjoy your company. Even buy you a round.”

“I couldn’t refuse that, can I? Good luck, old man,” Captain Elliott said and readied to step away from the bar when Martha emerged upon the landing.

“Giles, Hannah’s asking for you.” Giles bounded up the stairs. He heard Martha behind him announce, “It’s a boy! A healthy boy!”

Straightway, a loud cheer erupted with Elijah bellowing a round on the house.

Giles stopped momentarily outside the door. It opened suddenly as Mrs. Simpson made her way out. She carried a bundled up pile of bloodied cloth. “Now, you can go in. I’m going to have me some supper. Great job by all. She’s fine and the babe’s a strong, healthy boy. Strong pair of lungs on him.”

“A boy? Healthy?” he asked as he couldn’t believe the words.

Mrs. Simpson smiled. “Believe it’s what I said.” She slipped through the door and grabbed the
doorknob to shut it behind her. “I’ll be back to check on everyone.”

He stared at Hannah, who lay, pale and tired, but beaming. He knelt down beside the bed, but she gestured for him to sit beside her. Her eyes fell upon the newborn infant as if she couldn’t believe what she held.