Decision at Fletcher's Mill by David Caringer

Author:David Caringer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction/Christian/General/Historical/Romance
Publisher: Elm Hill
Published: 2018-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Crispin lay in miserable dejected silence. The storeroom was pitch-black save the sliver of light leaking in through the tiny gap along the top edge of the partition wall separating this room from the next. The other room must have a high window up at ground level which allowed daylight to enter. There was no heat in this dank empty place, but he hardly noticed the cold in his frustrated fury. He did his best earlier to write an acceptable report on paper supplied to him by the impudent young lieutenant who served as Willoughby’s adjutant.

The lieutenant actually opened and read the document in Crispin’s presence. He handed the paper back to the captain and asked, “Are you quite certain this is what you want to say, sir? You do realize this document will be used as evidence in your trial?” Crispin nearly screamed his response as he demanded the man take the report and get out. He stepped forward threateningly only to be brought up short by the lowered bayonets of the two armed guards standing in the store room at either side of the lieutenant. The smile that briefly flickered across the lieutenant’s face was clear in its malevolence.

The adjutant clicked his heels together in an absurd show of mock respect and said, “As you wish, sir!” He picked up the oil lantern and stepped briskly out of the room. The door slammed shut behind the three armed men. Crispin heard the bolt shoot home and the padlock click into place. He had been in this damp, cold darkness ever since. He was given a single horse blanket, a jar of water, and a wooden bucket for his personal use. The storeroom had been cleared of other supplies to fulfill its current purpose. There was nothing else in the room but empty dark space.

Crispin wrapped himself in the blanket and slept fitfully before pride, anger, and fear brought him back to miserable consciousness. Of course, his mission was a failure. He refused to accept the idea that this was somehow his fault at first. He didn’t care what Willoughby thought of him. How could the major possibly know what happened that day at Fletcher’s Mill, or in the days since? He wasn’t there. What did he mean when he said he didn’t like officers like Crispin? Crispin was from a fine family. He was connected in parliament. Sir Thomas Willoughby … who was he? How did he earn a knighthood? What had he ever done? Crispin had never heard of him. He would see the man broken for this!

Crispin lay coiled in the old horse blanket for hour after hour seething and scheming as he rationalized his involvement in all that occurred since he left Charlotte over a week ago. The passage of time began to seem almost meaningless. He feigned sleep when the bolt slid back and the door opened to emit the amazingly bright glare of another oil lantern. Two armed guards entered the room with another man who brought in a battered metal pot and fresh jar of water.

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