LONG WAY HOME by Caroline Clemmons

Author:Caroline Clemmons [Clemmons, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Caroline Clemmons
Published: 2011-08-16T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

When Darrick had gone, Parmelia rushed upstairs to see Sarah. She knocked on the bedroom door before entering. Sarah lay on the bed reading while Katie curled up as if she’d been taking a nap.

“What is it?” Sarah put down her book and slid to her feet. “You’re so pale. Are you ill?”

“What’s wrong?” Katie sat up.

“Darrick McDonald was sent to town because Jeff Lawson has turned desperado. Jeff has a group of ruffian deserters riding with him.” Parmelia looked at Sarah. “They’re headed this way.”

Sarah rushed to Parmelia. “Oh, Parmelia, no. Thank goodness we’re in the middle of town. For once I’m glad there are Yankees all around.”

Parmelia sank to a chair. “Sarah, I’m really frightened. We have to take precautions. Make a plan.”

“But the town’s surrounded by soldiers. Surely they’ll capture Jeff if he’s crazy enough to come here.”

“Think, Sarah. If Rob and I could leave town without being stopped by the Yankees, then Jeff Lawson can surely come here whenever he wishes.”

****

Darrick walked briskly back to camp. He shouldn’t have revealed his mission to a Reb family. But he couldn’t leave Parmelia and her household unaware. The thought of Lawson desiring Parmelia as his own struck dread in Darrick’s heart. More than ever, Darrick was certain Lawson would head here. Ruthless as he was clever, Lawson was certain to seek revenge against Parmelia for spurning him.

Darrick abhorred Lawson’s brand of revenge. He had to protect Parmelia and the others.

Darrick went straight to the colonel’s quarters in the town hall.

Colonel Dixon looked up from what formerly was the mayor’s desk. “Come in.”

“Sir, there’re new developments regarding Lawson’s Raiders. He fancied one of the young women in town before the war, but she turned him down. He told her she’d be sorry. He’ll be sure to seek revenge against her and her family.”

“From what I’ve heard about the man, it sounds likely.”

Darrick braced himself. “This is the same young woman who eluded your sentries, sir. Went through the woods to help a friend. Her information gave me the location of the man whose body we found yesterday. She’s lucky she escaped.”

The colonel glared at him. “I suppose this has something to do with the two missing horses that suddenly reappeared?”

Darrick cleared his throat and kept his eyes focused on the wall above the colonel’s head. “Yes, sir.”

“Do I need to know more about that?”

“No, sir. It’s resolved. The lone man may have been a scout or lookout, or he may just have been a deserter trying to get away.” Darrick looked at the colonel. “However, if a lone woman and a ten-year-old boy could slip out of town, Lawson can slip in.”

“I’ve doubled the guards around the perimeter.” He tapped the map on his desk. “Show me again where this mysterious young woman and boy encountered this man.”

“Yes, sir.” Darrick bent over the map. “Here’s where we found the body.”

“She didn’t know him?”

“I doubt it. She was frightened, and it was dark. She has no recollection of his face, just of the event.

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