Love’s Betrayal (11 page)

Delight laughed. Her mother had a way with words that she envied.

Aunt Anne poured another kettle of hot molten liquid into a musket ball mold, and while it cooled, Mama and Delight formed cartridges from the ones made the day before. Delight much preferred making the cartridges. She could see a finished product, ready to transport to the Continental army.

“Daughter, are you lining these up like soldiers in battle?”

“Precisely. I want to see how many of our men we are aiding.” She pulled her sewing scissors from her apron pocket and cut several sections of paper to extend beyond a six-inch metal tube. Once they exhausted the paper, they would use fabric. “Every one of these I cut makes me feel as if I've increased our chances to win the war. It makes me proud—but in a satisfied way.” The feeling was different than that which she'd had while running messages in Boston, but the work was a worthwhile endeavor, nonetheless.

Delight rolled the tube one inch beyond the paper's edge, then dropped in a musket ball on the end where the paper overlapped and tied it tightly with twine. Holding the paper and tube securely, she poured in an explosive powder, pulled out the tube, and tied that end.

“I wonder what the British soldiers would do if they found us melting metal into musket balls and assembling cartridges?” Aunt Anne studied what they had completed.

Mama chuckled while tying the powder charge on a cartridge. “They'd take them all for themselves and probably order us to make more.”

“I would rather be shot by my own handiwork,” Aunt Anne said. Hearing baby Elijah cry out in his sleep, she stepped over to the cradle once used by her children and nudged it into motion. “How soon must Elijah leave?”

Mama's mood instantly changed. and her facial expressions revealed the weight of her concern. “One more week to get the butchering completed. I cannot convince him otherwise, and sometimes I am not certain I should.”

“Matthew is talking the same.” Aunt Anne glanced up. “Joining the others in the fighting means so much to him. Like you, Elizabeth, I understand his longing, but I am still afraid. If only we didn't have to worry about their safety.”

“Henry is anxious for his leg to heal so he can enlist in the Continental forces.” Delight instantly regretted her words. They were talking about husbands. She and Henry were friends.

“And how do you feel about his decision?” Aunt Anne rejoined them as little Elijah drifted back to sleep.

Delight hesitated and took a deep breath. “I am proud for him. He is a good man, and I'm sure he will fight bravely.”

“Is that all?” A half smile tweaked at Aunt Anne's mouth.

Delight ignored the implication and tended to the task of cartridge making. “We have begun a comradeship, and naturally I'm concerned about his welfare.”

“Is that all?” Mama repeated Aunt Anne's question. When Delight's gaze flew to her face, no measure of teasing greeted her.

“What … what do you mean?”

Mama opened the musket ball mold and studied the metal to see if it had cooled sufficiently. She closed it abruptly, an obvious indication the contents needed to set awhile longer. “I see the way Henry looks at you, my dear. And although you may not be fully aware of your own sentiments, I see a spark of something more than admiration in your face.”

Papa said nearly the same thing.

“Mama, I have nursed the man back to health, and we've come to know each other very well.”

“Precisely.”

“Friendship doesn't indicate anything more significant,” Delight said.

“But it is a beginning. Need I remind you to whom he sought to reveal his decision to desert the British? While you were gone with Papa, he was like Bear without Mercy and Hope.”

“I've noted the same behavior in the times I have visited,” Aunt Anne added. “Matthew's remarked about you and Henry, too.”

Warmth flew to Delight's face, and she shook her head. “You are sadly mistaken. Look at all the quarrels we've had—”

“Before he chose the side of the patriots,” Mama said.

“In addition, I have my mind somewhat occupied with another.”

Mama lifted a brow. “Daughter, it is not wrong to care for Henry.”

But I don't know how I feel. If I did, this discussion would not be so difficult.
She lowered her head and stuffed a musket ball into the paper form. “I understand.” She paused, then added, “While with Papa, I did meet a pleasant man who said he planned to visit here soon.”

Mama shrugged. “He captured your heart in one meeting?”

The conversation made her uncomfortable. “No, not at all. He's simply been in my thoughts.”

“You are as stubborn as your father,” Mama muttered. “Before we married, he told my sister his feelings for me were merely friendship and he could never imagine anything more. Three days later he spoke with my father about a possible marriage.”

Aunt Anne laughed. “How well I remember. Although Matthew and I were young, we enjoyed the story.”

But Henry and I are not you and Papa. We have said too many cruel things to each other to contemplate … consider … a mutual attraction.

But she'd seen the tenderness in Henry's eyes.

Mama hugged Delight's shoulders. “Forgive me for upsetting you. Affairs of the heart are never easy.”

Henry conversed with James for almost an hour while they waited for Elijah. He continued to weave as they spoke about the war, the ongoing battle in Saratoga, the Continental Congress, and whatever other subjects the man fancied. James laughed easily—a good-natured lad in Henry's opinion. They commented about the pleasant weather and the fate of the troops in the winter months ahead.

“Under whom did you serve?” James finally said.

A nearly ill sensation inched around Henry's stomach. “Me references are not of the utmost.”

James peered at him in obvious question. “In what manner?”

Henry ceased working and eyed the man squarely. “I was a member of the British forces—a redcoat, a lobsterback—until recently.”

Not a trace of emotion crept across James's face. Neither did he utter a sound.

“The truth is, I got me self wounded at Stillwater, and soldiers brought me to the Butlers to mend. While here, I made some profound observations.” He released a heavy sigh. “Me sympathies now belong to the American side. In short, I am a turncoat, and from what you said earlier, I have a price on me head.”

James studied him for several long moments, as though searching for some mark of deceit— or so Henry surmised. “The British are combing the countryside, looking for their soldiers.”

“I will be wary.”

“May I ask what your plans might be once your leg is healed?” The words were simple, the implication deadly.

Henry stiffened. “Me allegiance is to the Continental army. I will join and fight alongside the likes of ye.”

“The likes of me?” James's voice rose. He clenched his fists and stood from the hard ground.

I am no match for a well man. If he desires a fight, I shan't be in worse condition than the day I arrived here.

A slow smile spread over James's face, and he stuck out his hand to grasp Henry's. “I would be proud to stand against the British with you. You have courage, Henry. It takes a brave man to admit he's wrong and do something about it.”

“Then sit down, James. I am a bit uneasy with ye towering over me with your fists drawn.”

James's laughter echoed around them, and once again he seated himself and talked on as before.

“Tell me, Henry, what do you know about Elijah's daughter? I met her two weeks ago and haven't been able to rid her face from my mind.”

Not me Delight!
Henry sought to resume his work, but his fingers refused to work together.
Could it be James and I are destined to be foes clamoring for Delight's affections instead of friends?
“The Butlers have seven daughters.”

James shook his head. “I did not hear her name. She has light brown hair, large eyes—most likely brown, for it was dusk and some things I could not tell.”

“Your description fits them all, and they are all quite comely.”

From the two-story house came Mercy and Hope racing toward them. “There are the two youngest now.” Henry beckoned to the girls and a moment later introduced them to James. The girls curtsied and politely greeted the man.

“My sisters, Charity, Remember, Faith, and Patience, have prepared a noonday meal,” Mercy said. “Would you care to join us?”

“Thank you, I will indeed,” James responded. “I'd like to meet all of your family.”

But not me Delight if I can help it.

Hope offered a grin, displaying two missing teeth. “Papa will be home later, and Mama and Delight are at Aunt Anne's.” She nodded, punctuating her words. “The baby is with Mama.”

Henry awkwardly pulled himself up from the loom, his leg stiff from sitting all morning. If he had any luck at all, Elijah would return shortly, and James would venture on his way before Mistress Butler and Delight found their way home. Even better, perhaps James would find himself enamored with one of the other young women of the Butler household.

The moment Henry and James entered the kitchen, Charity began to blush, and James could only stare at the young woman.

James leaned over to whisper, “You were right, uh, about their pleasing appearance.” He removed his hat, and Patience invited him to sit at the table while Faith set an extra plate, Remember added a mug, and Charity sliced a generous hunk of fresh-baked bread. Viewing all that transpired, the guest wore a constant smile.

An inward chuckle threatened to surface in Henry. With a stroke of God's mercy, his Delight would not move James in the slightest.

Elijah arrived shortly after Henry pronounced grace and took over the duties of entertaining the guest. Between Elijah and James, Henry heard quite a bit of news about the successes at Saratoga.

“General Arnold did an outstanding job,” James said. “But there is a rift there with General Gage. Undoubtedly, if Arnold had received the reinforcements he needed, we would not have had to withdraw and instead would have given the British a good whipping.”

“The battle is not over,” Elijah said, “and with a taste of victory, we will run those redcoats back across the Atlantic.”

“A good many of them are homesick and disillusioned,” Henry said. “The situation here is not what we expected.”

James looked at him with an air of appreciation. “You, Henry, know better than most the morale of the troops.”

“Many of us thought we'd get here and the rebellion would be put down in a few months. We also believed there were very few patriots, and the loyalists were eager to join our forces.”

“I fear it will be a long while before America finds its freedom.” Elijah set his mug on the table. “Fine meal, my daughters. The cottage cheese and bread were quite tasty.”

“I agree,” Henry said.

James echoed his praises, and once more Charity blushed scarlet.

“James, will you be staying with us this night?” Elijah said.

“No sir. I need to ride on to Rutland before the afternoon is done.”

“I would like for you to meet my wife. Are you of the mind to take a walk to my brother's home?”

Henry held his breath, wishing most intently that James would refuse Elijah's offer. Albeit good manners prevailed and the guest agreed. “And your other daughter is there also? The young woman I met two weeks past?”

“Most assuredly.” Elijah winked at Henry. “Would you care to join us, Henry?”

He knows precisely what is happening here. Elijah Butler enjoys the game of matchmaking—too much. I fear James and I will be a source of amusement for him.

“Indeed, sir. This leg needs a bit of stretching out, and the walk will be refreshing.”

D
elight counted the number of musket balls remaining and proceeded to cut fabric to form the cartridges. She had used all of their paper earlier and now resorted to the scraps before her. Holding up a strip of cloth, she turned to Aunt Anne. “I remember the dress you made from this.”

Her aunt smiled and reached out to touch the pale green fabric. “The remnant still serves a good purpose, although I never fashioned it as a covering for a cartridge.” She stared at the other pieces spread out on the ground. “Neither did I consider the cloth used for Matthew's shirts or my children's nightshirts.”

Mama planted her hands on her hips. “I daresay, we never thought we'd be melting down our pewter and iron for musket balls either.” She reached down to stroke baby Elijah's cheek with her finger. “But freedom requires a large toll.”

Delight sensed her mother's sadness in Papa's approaching departure. For Mama, that knowledge must stand foremost in her thoughts. Delight wondered how she would feel if the man she loved intended to leave for war. Understanding Papa's not-so-distant journey to the Continental army saddened her enough.