Saving Grace by H D Coulter

Author:H D Coulter [Coulter, H D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical fiction, Historical Romance, historical thriller, historical African American, The Underground Railroad, Abolitionist movement
Publisher: H D Coulter
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

“Beth, please could you take Grace upstairs whilst Bea and I talk?” Beth nodded her head and walked over to Bea, who was still holding tight to her sleeping child.

“Bea, dearest... may I take baby? Just for a little while, upstairs?” There was something void in Bea’s eyes; she wasn’t present in the room.

“I... I must protect her. He is out there. He can’t have my baby.” muttered Bea indistinctly.

“I promise to protect her,” Beth whispered in return. “Please?” Beth reached out and eased the sleeping baby out of her sister’s grasp.

Joshua was pacing the still-decorated sitting-room, and Sarah had made her way to the kitchen.

After the service, Hanley was nowhere to be seen, and Joshua had made excuses to their guests. Explaining that Bea wasn’t feeling herself, and they would have to defer their celebrations to another time.

“What is the devil doing back here? I should have killed him when I had the chance. How on earth did he find us?” He continued to pace the length of the room, his tight fists at his sides.

Bea stood in the centre staring at the pattern rug. “I... don’t know...”

“And what was he doing at the Church - that stance, that gesture? Does he... does he want Grace? My child?”

Bea backed away from Joshua’s increasing temper. The world around her was swirling, making her dizzy and disoriented. How? Why? Had she not suffered enough? Her legs gave way as she crumpled to the floor. She hadn’t seen him since the trial, and the moment they told her she would die. It was that smile, the same one that was smeared across his face today. A smile that rejoiced in her pain.

Joshua stopped pacing and watched the life evaporate out of his wife once more.

“Bea? Please...”

She shuddered at his touch and shuffled backwards between the armchair and the wall. She said nothing.

“Bea, come back to me? Bea, I need you... I’ve only just got you back, I can’t lose you again...” Her eyes were closed, battling between being back in her former cell and the person she was now.

“BEA!”

Running footsteps came from the kitchen. “Sir?” Sarah saw him standing in the middle of the room, his back arched, staring into the corner with his clench hands turning white. She took a step to the side and saw Bea hiding by the wall, and knew that image all too well. “Sir, may I?” Sarah took another step towards Joshua, who looked completely bereft.

“Bea it’s Sarah. Can you talk to me? Can you tell me how I might help?”

The wave of emotions built up inside Bea until she couldn’t cope. She opened her mouth and let out a sharp, piercing scream, followed by a wave of silent tears. An act she hadn’t done since the days in the dark, godforsaken cell. An act no one knew about.

Joshua said nothing, but stood there in shock and cried at his wife’s pain.

“Bea?” Sarah gave her no choice and threw her arms around the ball. Bea

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