Another Night Falls by Jerri Hines

Author:Jerri Hines
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Published: 2015-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Sumner wasn’t mad...he was furious. From his vantage point he witnessed his wife in the arms of another! He saw plainly the officer who pulled her down from the wagon. Even from the distance, he recognized the look the officer gave her.

He wanted nothing more than to call out the offender. How dare he insult Jane in that manner or was it that he was mad with himself for not being with her? He needed to calm down.

He felt Israel place a hand on his shoulder and motion him forward to a raised mound of earth. Bending down, Israel opened a buried door.

Long ago when the house was built, the threat of Indian attacks had led to creating an alternate route of escape. Tonight, though, it led to his wife. He looked around.

Luck was with him, all the soldier seemed to be outside waiting. Good! He leaned down and followed his friend.

Quietly, Sumner made his way through the tunnel into the basement of the old house. Walking up the stairs, he waited until Israel signaled him and then entered the kitchen, keeping low from the window.

The door to the adjoining room remained open. Israel had arranged with Donia, the housekeeper, access to the main house for the night. Crawling across the floor to the vacant room, Sumner stood back up to his full height.

Adrenaline ran through his blood, for only feet outside the house soldiers searched for him. If they came inside the house, there would be no escape, but he was willing to take the chance to see Jane.

The quaint room sat in darkness. Impatience played on his nerves. Why did he not go upstairs and tell her himself? No...it was too dangerous. Then a sudden fear developed within him. What if she wanted him no more? What if she couldn’t take the mess he had thrown her into?

A light patter upon the wooden floor made him turn. Standing in the doorway was the one he had dreamed of since he had left her weeks earlier. Her face flushed, but glowed with a smile that brightened the dark room. Before her next breath, he had her in his arms.

Neither said a word, but responded to each other’s touch. With reluctance, he broke from her, but held tight to her hand.

“Come. Let us go where we can talk without fear of being found,” he whispered, pointing to the hall floor. “Under the rug is a hatch. I will go and lift it.”

Israel stood guard at the door and gestured to Sumner it was safe. Easing over carefully, Sumner held the hatch up while Jane tentatively descended into the hidden cellar. He followed. Firmly, he shut the hatch and listened for Israel to cover it with the rug and table. A slight boot kick from above signaled all clear.

Sumner straightened himself to full height at the bottom of the steps. He found Jane staring at him in disbelief. Her eyes sparkled, giving light to the dark, dank cellar. The small

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