Freedom's Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli

Author:Heidi Chiavaroli [Chiavaroli, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Historical, FICTION / Contemporary Women
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2017-07-12T04:00:00+00:00

DECEMBER 1770

“There.” Mr. Gregory pointed to a large two-story home that shared a common with a meetinghouse, a tavern, a belfry, and another grand home. The sun set behind the house, giving it the image of a safe haven. A new beginning. Perhaps even a resting place.

He directed the horses toward the barn, where he dismounted. A boy of about twelve walked out. “Uncle!” He dropped his pitchfork and launched himself into Mr. Gregory’s arms, then, as if remembering his age and that he was nearly a man, pulled back and adjusted his hat. “’Tis good to see you. I can take your horse in.”

Mr. Gregory tousled the boy’s hair. I watched the tender exchange from where I perched on the wagon seat.

When Mr. Gregory had helped me down, he introduced me to his nephew, Michael, and grabbed my valise.

The door of the house opened, and a gaggle of children piled out, followed by a man whose solid build resembled Mr. Gregory’s. “Brother. You are here at last. The children have not stopped hounding me since we told them of your impending arrival.” The glint in the man’s eye told me he did not mind the hounding all too much. He turned to me. “And you must be Miss Liberty. I’m Graham Gregory. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My wife is much obliged for your help.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Gregory.” I said, pulling out my etiquette lessons from Grandmother. If I wanted this new beginning to work for James and me, I would have to make a decent impression.

“And who is this?” he asked, gesturing to James.

I’d practiced a number of answers to this question a thousand times over the last couple of days and with each turn of the carriage wheel on the way here. There would be no getting around the fact that James was my child. I could only hope the Gregory family would presume me a widow from the simple words I would give, or perhaps that I’d been abandoned by my husband. Either conclusion would be more flattering than the truth.

“This is James. My—my son. His father is . . . no longer with us.”

Graham smacked his hands together and rubbed them, not questioning me further, for which I was grateful. “Let’s get you two warmed up inside. Cora’s busy with supper. Prepared a feast for you two, she has.”

We entered the house, the scent of roast mutton teasing my nostrils and the pleasant undulating sound of a spinet relaxing my senses further. A slender woman turned from sliding a pot of beans into the oven. She wiped her soot-blackened hands on her apron before hugging her brother-in-law. “At last! And you have brought my salvation!”

Graham Gregory shook his head, put his hands up in the air. “There’s no taming her, I tell you. Miss Liberty, this is my wife, Cora.”

Around a pack of children who begged for Mr. Gregory’s attention, I offered Mrs. Gregory a small curtsy, but she swatted it away and gave me a hug, her mobcap falling off her glistening forehead.

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