Chameleon - By Cubit
PART 1
It was a hot sultry evening. Alan was due any minute and Jo was not ready. She couldn't decide what to wear or how to wear her hair. She never felt like she looked right. Finally she made a decision, finished up and went downstairs. Nick was in the kitchen eating his supper when she came in. He smiled at her and told her how great she looked. She felt herself blush. She liked it when he said that. It always made her feel good.
"Aunt Jo," Bess called from upstairs, "would you come help me with my dress?"
Just as Jo started up the stairs, they heard a knock at the front door. She looked at Nick and didn't need to say a word. "It's alright, Jo. I'll answer it." He really didn't want to see Alan, much less talk to him. Not just because Jo had been seeing him for several weeks now, but there was something about him that Nick just didn't like.
Nick went to the front of the house and opened the door. Nick's dog Captain Max was outside, growling at Alan. "Captain, quiet." Nick said, inwardly bothered by the reaction of the usually friendly dog.
He greeted Alan as cordially as he could, but it wasn't easy. "So what do you have planned for this evening, Nick? You must have many women waiting in line for you." Nick just clenched his jaw and smiled. There was only one woman he wanted and he was afraid he'd never have her.
"Jo will be down in a minute. Would you like to have a seat?" Nick offered.
"No thank you. I would like to stand here and watch her come down the stairs. Isn't she a beautiful woman?" Nick did not have time to respond before Jo appeared, looking as beautiful as ever to both men.
"Bess is nearly ready," Jo said to Alan as she came down the stairs. "She is very eager to meet your brother, Dennis, and nephew, Lyndon." Jo noticed the nice suit he was wearing and she liked the way he trimmed his brown beard so neatly. She moved right up to Alan and gazed into his brown eyes, making Nick extremely uncomfortable.
"Well, y'all have a good evening," he said and he turned and went back to the kitchen to eat another lonely supper.
Before breakfast the next morning, Bess and Nan were in the barn, talking about Lyndon. "He's nice enough," Bess said "but he's a little boring."
"Boring?" Nan replied, surprised.
"Yes. All he wants to do is sit and discuss painting and poetry."
"That's all you ever wanted to do, too, Bess."
Bess stopped a moment and thought about that. Suddenly, they saw something scamper across the barn floor. "Eeeeehh!" shrieked Bess as she jumped up on a stool to get away from the offending mouse. "Where is it? Where is it?" They both looked around.
"This what ya lookin' for?" Nick said as he walked out of Penny's stall holding the squirming little mouse in his hands. Captain Max was at his side panting at the little creature, causing Nick and Nan to laugh.
"Get it away from me!" shrieked Bess. Nick rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"It's kinda cute, " Nan said taking it by it's tail. Nick chuckled.
"It's so big!" exclaimed Bess, still shaking on the stool.
"Big?" Nick said. "I once lived with a whole family of mice where even the babies were bigger 'an that."
"Nick, stop." Bess cried "You're awful!"
Nick shook his head and said "Sorry Bess". Then he took the mouse back from Nan and walked out the door with Captain Max bounding out behind him.
Bess and Nan followed shortly after. Outside they saw Nick talking to Nat and looking at his hand.
"So, what do you think, Nick? Will it need stitches?" asked Nat.
"The cut's not too bad, Nat. Don't think it'll need any stitches. Just have Asia clean it and wrap it real good is all." The girls went over to see what was happening.
Nan looked at the cut and agreed with Nick's analysis as Bess screamed and nearly fainted at the sight of the blood. Nick caught her before she could fall. "You alright?" he asked.
"I feel a little woozy," she replied. "I can't stand the sight of blood. And that's bleeding so profusely."
"You think that's bleedin' bad? You should have seen… ." He stopped. He knew this was a hopeless case. She would just get angry with him again. He never seemed to say the right thing around her. He thought it was impossible for two people to be more different than he and Bess.
Bess was glad he stopped. She didn't want to hear another thing from Nick. She didn't even want to see him. She thought it was impossible for two people to be more different than she and Nick.
They both looked up and saw Nan walking to the house with Nat.
"She's somethin' else," Nick said about Nan, to no one in particular.
"Yes, she is," Bess agreed, a little jealous.
After breakfast, Dan and Bess talked as they carried plates into the kitchen. "Mother said Aunt. Jo really likes Alan. She's so happy he's a pacifist and not a brute like Nick." They didn't see Jo walk into the room behind them.
"Yeah," replied Dan laughing, "I guess you can't go callin' Nick a pacifist."
They heard Jo clear her throat and turned to see not only Mrs. Jo at the door but Nick seated at the table behind them. They hadn't even noticed him there. He stood, picked up his plate and cup and brought them to the counter without a word or a glance.
Dan spoke first. "I'm sorry Nick, I…". Nick turned to look at them.
"Nothin' to be sorry for, Dan. You were only speakin' the truth. No one can accuse me of being a pacifist." He glanced at Jo but they couldn't look each other in the eye. There was an awkward silence. "Well, y'all have a nice day," he said, and he turned and walked out the door.
PART 2
Jo was in town running some errands later that morning. Suddenly, she heard her name being called from behind her. She turned to see Alan, looking as dashing and well dressed as ever. He looked at Jo with a smile. His gaze made Jo blush. "Would you care to join me for some, tea?" he asked. Jo agreed and accepted his extended arm as they walked down the street.
When tea was finished, Alan escorted Jo back to her carriage. "I had a wonderful time, today," he said.
"I enjoyed it as well," said Jo. "It's rare to find someone who loves Charles Dickens as much as I do. It seemed lately I had no one to discuss literature with at all until I met you."
"I am delighted to assist you on that account, Jo."
"That would be wonderful, Alan."
"Would you have dinner with me again tonight?" Alan offered. "I'll pick you up around six."
"I'd be delighted."
"So, Bess," Emil said politely, "I was planning to take a walk today. Would you like to join me? We'll be back before lunch."
"Well Emil, I…" Bess couldn't finish before she was interrupted by Dan who was running over to them.
"Hey, Bess! Ya want to go for a walk?" Dan said.
"I'm taking her, Dan" snapped Emil.
"But I bet ya she wants to go with me, Emil."
"I asked her first, Dan"
As they argued Lyndon rode up in a carriage. "Hi Bess. I was in the area and thought you might want to go for a walk. We'll have some lunch and then come back."
"I'd be delighted, Lyndon." She looked at Dan and Emil still arguing. "Goodbye boys. I'll be back after lunch." So, Lyndon jumped down from the carriage and hitched up the horse. They were gone before Dan or Emil could mount a protest.
Tea had turned into lunch for Jo and Alan. When they finally parted Alan had left Jo to finish her shopping. She was just climbing into the carriage for the ride home when she heard Amy screaming and saw her running up the street in a very undignified manner. "Amy! What on earth is it?"
I just heard that somebody has been asking questions about Bess, like what she likes to do, where she lives, who else lives there and all kinds of other questions. It's very strange and it's making me nervous. I wish Laurie was here. Oh, Jo, what should I do?"
"First of all Amy, you have to calm down. That's good. Now, there are any number of explanations for someone asking questions. Maybe she has an admirer. Why don't you go home now and I'll get Meg to come and sit with you. Then I'll go back to Plumfield and check on Bess. I'm sure she's fine. Nick is there and he would never let anything happen."
"Yes, I suppose you are right."
"Everything is going to be all right," Jo said confidently.
Jo noticed Nick as she drove the carriage up to the house. With his shirt sleeves rolled up in the heat she could see the muscles rippling through his arms as he exercised Penny. "He always takes such special care of Penny," she thought. She saw the sweat glistening on his handsome face and thought of all the years of hard work that he had been through, but that he never complained about. She stopped the carriage and took in the scene.
Captain Max was sitting under the fence as the kids sat on the rail chatting easily with Nick. Even Dan was there, this morning's comments having been readily forgiven. She noticed how Nick's eyes sparkled as he played a numbers game with Nat, the other children having long ago given up trying to compete with either of them.
Nick saw her there watching them. He winked and flashed a big smile at her. She smiled back readily.
"What different lives we've led," she thought. "My life so full of promise and love. His life so full of pain and loss. She didn't know why she thought of that and then suddenly she realized that Bess was not with them. She climbed down from the carriage and was greeted enthusiastically by Captain Max, as she called frantically for Nick.
Jo excitedly told Nick and the others about the things Amy had heard and asked about Bess' whereabouts. Dan and Emil told her that she had gone for a walk with Lyndon and would be back after lunch. Jo was relieved by the news. Nick was not so happy about it. "I best go lookin' for 'em," he said.
"Bess will be so embarrassed if you follow them, Nick," Jo said.
"I'll just check on 'em, Jo. Make sure everythin' is alright. She won't even know I'm there."
"Can we go with you?" Dan and Emil offered.
"I'm not so sure 'bout that," Nick replied.
"Oh Nick, you worry too much. Six eyes are better than two. Let them go with you." Nick didn't want to show Jo how worried he really was, so he agreed.
"As long as you've finished your lunch. Don't want nobody complainin' they're hungry. And be ready to go in ten minutes," he said. He bent down and hugged Captain Max and commanded, "Stay with Jo." Captain Max went quickly to her side and brushed his head up against her leg. Jo bent down instinctively and gave him a hug. Nick smiled. "Take care of her," he told the dog. He glanced at Jo. Then he headed off to the house.
Inside he explained what was going on to Franz as he checked the rifles. "I want to go with you, too Nick," said Franz.
"Thanks Franz, but I need ya to stay here," Nick said as he handed him a rifle. Franz noticed that Nick was sweating and his hands were shaking. "I don't want your Aunt Jo to worry so keep this in a safe place nearby, but ready to use if ya need to."
"What do you think might happen?
"I dunno, but let's be ready. I'm countin' on ya here, Franz."
Nick picked up the other rifle and checked it again thinking "I haven't raised a gun against a man since…". He shook the memory out of his head. "There's no time for that," he told himself. He turned to leave and Franz grabbed him by the arm.
"Are you all right, Nick?" he asked, worried.
Nick quickly collected himself. "Yeah, I'm alright. We'll be back soon with Bess."
PART 3
"It's so beautiful, Lyndon," Bess said. I could paint for days here." The two sat side by side, each painting their own version of the beautiful valley below.
"Yes, it is. I love it here. I'm always inspired to paint or write poetry when I am here."
"Oh Lyndon, would you recite one of your poems for me?"
"Not now, Bess. You were telling me about all of the interesting people at Plumfield. You told me about the kids and Asia, what about the caretaker, Riley? What's he like?"
Bess would have preferred to hear the poem, but she didn't want to protest. So, she answered his question. "He used to be a Merchant Marine. He's been all around the world. I don't really know why he decided to stay after his sentence was up, though."
"His sentence?" Lyndon inquired.
"Yes. He was arrested for assault, for the fourth time. Can you believe that? He's nothing like you and your family. Nick is so uncivilized compared to you. He likes to hit first and ask questions later. Definitely not a pacifist."
"You have to be real careful around him, then?" Lyndon asked.
"Oh, he's really tough but he would never hurt any of the kids," Bess said in his defense. "But if somebody else tried to hurt one of us, Nick would make him rue the day." Lyndon nodded his head, finding it all very interesting.
They finished their paintings and began to clean up. Lyndon spotted Alan and called him aside. They spoke for a few minutes. Lyndon returned to Bess and said, "It's so hot out here. We should go inside and have a lemonade before I walk you back to Plumfield." The offer sounded good to Bess.
Dan and Emil walked quietly behind Nick as he followed the trail left by Bess and Lyndon. The boys weren't quite sure how Nick knew where to go but he seemed to know what he was doing. Nick noticed a change in the woods and stopped them with a finger to his lips for silence.
"There's a cabin up ahead," he said.
The boys couldn't see anything. Nick smiled. "Ya have ta listen. The sounds of the birds and animals will tell ya a lot. And listen to the echoes. Everythin' is different when you come on a clearin'. And you smell that? Someone was cookin' lunch. Smells good. Wish I had eaten. Anyway, there must be a cabin up ahead. You stay here and I'll go see." He started to move and turned around. "I mean it. Stay here!" The boys nodded their heads and Nick left.
He moved to the edge of the clearing and looked at the cabin. It seemed quiet. A noise behind him made him turn quickly. "I told you two to stay put!" he whispered to Emil and Dan. "Get down."
"Is Bess in there Nick?" asked Dan.
"Is she with Lyndon?" asked Emil.
"I dunno. I ain't seen nothin' happenin' yet," was his reply. "Let's sit still a spell and see what happens."
After Nick and the boys left, the folks back at Plumfield went about their daily chores. Nan and Nat came upon Jo and Franz as they were discussing the situation.
"They've been gone a while now. I suspect they caught up with Bess and Lyndon, saw everything was fine and will be back very soon," Jo was saying to Franz.
"You may be right," Franz replied.
"I just hope Nick doesn't do anything to embarrass her," said Jo.
"You have to give Nick more credit than that, Mrs. Jo. He didn't follow her to embarrass her," Nat interjected.
"I'm not quite sure why he insisted on going at all. She's with Lyndon, not a stranger. She's in good hands," Jo said, perplexed.
"He just did not want to take any chances," Franz said, trying to hide his own concern, but failing miserably.
"What did he say to you, Franz?" Jo asked, becoming concerned by Franz's demeanor. Franz did not reply and fidgeted nervously. "What did Nick say?" Jo demanded.
"He just said that I should be ready in case something happens," Franz said, trying to make it sound simple.
"Ready?" Jo asked sharply. She paused for a moment, suddenly realizing that the rifle had not been above the fireplace in the parlor when she left the room just a few minutes ago. "Did he bring a rifle?" she asked Franz pointedly.
Franz hesitated, looking at Nan and Nat, and then replied, "Yes."
"Oh no. Is Bess really in danger, Mrs. Jo?" asked Nan.
"No Nan, she's not. She just went for a walk. Why did I let him go after her?"
"I don't think you could have stopped him, Aunt Jo," replied Franz.
"That's exactly what bothers me. He tries to handle things his own way and now I'm afraid he'll start something. He is so impulsive."
"He has good instincts Mrs. Jo," Nat said calmly. "He won't start anything but he wanted to be ready if something did happen. It's that simple. Don't worry."
But Jo was worried now. As the children and Franz walked away she felt a chill run up her spine. She feared what harm might come to Bess, Lyndon, Dan or Emil because of Nick's meddling. She imagined how Alan would have handled the situation, peacefully, with poise and dignity. Then she pictured Nick with the rifle and shuddered. "What a brute," she thought.
They had been sitting there a while when Nick heard voices in the forest. He was already feeling very uneasy. "It's gettin' late and you boys must be hungry," he said. "There's a road not far from here that will take you back to Plumfield. It'll take longer but you won't get lost. Can you two find your way back?"
"We're fine Nick. We want to stay with you," said Emil.
"I want ya to go back and tell Mrs Jo what we found. I don't want her to worry about you boys, too. But keep low and quiet and be careful," he warned. "And keep goin' no matter what. I'm countin' on ya."
The boys started to move when Dan tripped over a rock and bumped into Emil. They began shouting at each other. "Hush!" Nick shouted in a whisper. He heard another noise in the woods in front of them. He had to get the boys out of there. "Go on. Git!"
The boys disappeared into the woods behind him as Nick saw a movement in the woods ahead of him. It was a man with a rifle, too well dressed to be a hunter. Nick stood and moved out from behind the trees. He raised his rifle to his shoulder and took aim, calling to the man to stop. The man began to aim his rifle at Nick, but Nick stood there sweating and shaking, but frozen.
"At one time this would have been easy, during the war, fighting pirates, but then … ." He shook the memory out of his head again. "This is different," he thought, "you'll bring Bess home safe."
Nick sensed movement behind him and turned to the left just in time to see a rifle butt slam into the side of his head. His rifle clattered to the ground. He staggered, trying to stay conscious. He had to let the boys get away.
And then Nick felt another blow. He fell to the ground hard. His head smashed against a rock. Everything was blurry. He tried to get up and then everything went black.
"Nick!" Bess cried. She couldn't believe what she just saw.
"What is she doing out here?" Alan yelled, blood splattered on his shirt. "Lyndon, get her back inside, now!" Lyndon was already leading her back into the cabin.
Dennis lowered his rifle and came over to where Alan was standing over Nick's motionless body. Alan picked up Nick's rifle that had fallen to the ground. "See if he's breathing," he ordered Dennis.
PART 4
Bess sat in the cabin scared and confused when the door opened. She was terrified to see Alan and Dennis dragging Nick, unconscious, through the door. His face was bleeding badly and blood soaked his shirt. His hands were tied behind his back. "You hit him good, Alan," Dennis laughed.
"Why didn't you just shoot him?" asked Lyndon.
"I didn't want the noise attracting too much attention," came Alan's casual response.
They sat Nick down leaning against the wall and Alan checked the rope around his wrists. The two brothers moved away and Bess tried to go to Nick. Alan shouted "Stay away from him!" Bess was so scared that she sat back down. Nick wasn't moving and she was unsure of what to do.
"So he's going to make me rue the day, right?" Alan said to Bess, laughing. "He didn't get to hit first this time, did he?" A wave of guilt washed over her as she realized the harm her comment may have caused.
She was very confused. "Lyndon, what's going on? We just came for a walk. Why are you doing this to him?"
"He tried to shoot Lyndon, dear. You saw that. I had to stop him. We'll bring him to the Sheriff when I get back," Alan answered for his nephew.
Bess didn't believe the story, but she didn't know what was going on. It was all too strange.
Alan disappeared into another room and came out with a clean shirt and a suit jacket on. He whispered a few words with Dennis and then left.
Alan arrived at Plumfield promptly at six to take Jo to dinner. Jo went outside to meet him with Captain Max at her side. He snarled at Alan as he approached. "Captain, quiet!" Jo commanded and the dog settled down immediately. Alan pushed the dog aside with his foot as he walked towards the house. Then, Captain Max sniffed at Alan's leg and began to whimper. Jo had never seen Captain Max behave like that but she was too upset to think about what it might mean.
"Alan. I'm so glad to see you," Jo said hurriedly as they walked into the house. "I'm so scared. Amy heard that somebody was asking a lot of questions around town about Bess and she went for a walk and Nick went to find her and they haven't come back…"
"Calm down Jo. Tell me everything, but calm down." She was so glad to have him there. She felt relieved to have someone she could rely on, someone she could trust.
So Jo collected herself and told Alan the whole story. When she was finished, Alan responded calmly. "Don't worry, Jo. Lyndon knows how to take care of himself. I bet Riley found them and they're on their way back right now."
"Yes, of course. I'm sure you're right. Oh Alan, thank you for being here when I need you," Jo said. "Would you join us for some supper here while we wait for them to return?"
"That's an excellent idea, Jo. I'd be delighted."
Bess looked up as Nick began to groan softly, moving his head slightly. Her heart was pounding with fear. She could see he was in terrible pain and she wanted to help him. She gathered her courage and stood up.
"What are you doing?" Dennis said gruffly, approaching Bess. Nick wanted to stop him, keep him away, but he couldn't move. His head was pounding and his hands were tied tight.
"I'm going to help Nick," she said in a commanding tone. Nick smiled slightly at her audacity. She went to him and brushed his hair back from his face. He leaned his head back against the wall with a moan. She could see the left side of his face was swollen and bruised. Two large cuts on his face, one above and one below the eye were still bleeding. He was breathing heavy.
"Theresa?" Nick asked quietly, trying to focus his eyes.
"No, it's Bess," she replied, wondering whom it was he was asking for.
"Are you alright Bess?" he asked. His voice just a rasp.
"Yes, but you have been unconscious for hours. You need a doctor," she said as she examined the welt on the back of his head. He winced.
"Hours? What's goin' on?" he said, stretching his neck, trying to alleviate the pain.
"Yes, a couple hours, but I don't know what's going on. I went for a walk with Lyndon. We had lunch and painted and then we were going to walk back to Plumfield. But then you came and I don't know why they did this to you. Or why they won't let us leave."
"That's Lyndon?" Nick asked looking at the teenager and trying to undo the ropes without being seen. "Alan's nephew?"
"Yes. And that's Alan's brother Dennis."
"That's the one I saw outside. Do you know who hit me?" Nick asked, trying to put all the pieces back together.
"Well, yes," Bess said, afraid of Nick's reaction if she told him. But he was looking at her, waiting.
"It was Alan," she said finally.
"Are you sure?" he said, struggling against the rope in anger. "If he hurts Jo I'll…".
"Yes, I'm sure. I saw it all," Bess said, apologetically, placing her hand on his shoulder to calm him.
"S'pose I spoiled their plan, then," Nick said, collecting himself. "When your Aunt Jo came back from town she said your Ma had heard that somebody in town was askin' lots of questions about ya. Must have been them. Looks like you've been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?"
"Looks like it, anyway. When we found out how scared your Ma was, we came lookin' for ya.," he said, still making a futile attempt to work his way out of the rope.
"We?" Bess asked hopefully.
"Yeah. I sent Dan and Emil back right before I ran into these fellas." He leaned forward and pulled at the rope with all of his strength, but it was hopeless. The rope was too tight. Alan had made real sure of that.
He groaned as the room began to spin around him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"I need some water," Bess demanded, "and a clean cloth. I need to clean these cuts." She was furious that she had been used like that; furious that they had hurt Nick like that. "Some pacifist" she said.
To Nick's amazement, they brought her the water and a cloth. She dipped a cup into the basin and held it to his lips so he could drink. His bruised, swollen lip made it difficult. She gently wiped the water from his chin.
Then she looked at the cloth but it wasn't clean enough for her liking. She threw it aside with disdain. Without a second thought, she pulled her dress up a little and tore a piece right off of her new petticoat. She then dipped that piece into the basin, wrung it out and gently began to clean the blood from his face. He winced in pain.
"I know it hurts," she said as she continued her work, "but if I don't clean it well it could get infected. So sit still and be a good patient."
Nick chuckled. "I must be dreamin'. You look like Bess but sound like Nan." He sat, unflinching, as she cleaned the cuts.
Bess managed a smile as she thought about his words, realizing as well as he did, that just that morning she nearly fainted at the sight of much less blood.
PART 5
Jo, Alan and the children were all seated at the dining room table finishing dessert. Jo was enjoying Alan's company at supper so much that she had almost completely forgotten about the events of the day. Suddenly, the door opened abruptly and Amy rushed in. "Jo, this is awful. Where's Nick? I need Nick!"
"Amy, calm down. What happened?"
"This!" she said, showing them a piece of paper. "It's a ransom note for Bess."
"Christopher Columbus!" exclaimed Jo.
"I have the money and now it needs to be delivered. Laurie is still out of town and I thought Nick could do it. Is he eating in the kitchen?" Without waiting for an answer, she started for the door.
"He's not here Amy. He went with Dan and Emil to look for Bess. They haven't returned yet." Jo was suddenly very afraid for all of them. Alan put his arm around Jo's shoulder to comfort her.
"I'll go," he offered.
"I couldn't ask you to do that, " Amy said.
"You didn't ask. I offered. Actually, I insist. What do I need to do?" Amy showed him the note and gave him the money. Then Jo walked him to the door.
"It is so kind of you to do this for us. Please be careful Alan," Jo said with tears in her eyes.
"It's all going to be fine, Jo. Trust me. Besides, they are probably on their way back now. But, we'll follow these instructions just to be safe."
He leaned over and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. Then she watched him longingly as he mounted his horse and rode off into the darkness. She was full of fear for him and Bess and the boys.
It was dark now and they had been sitting in the cabin for hours. Bess was hot, hungry and tired as well as scared and angry. Dennis and Lyndon were talking in the corner and something seemed to be happening.
Nick shifted uncomfortably, trying to increase the circulation to his numb hands.
"Nick. What are we going to do?" Bess cried.
He opened his eyes and pulled his head forward from the wall. His voice was weak. "Come on now Bess. I've been in worse fixes than this. We'll get outa here. Just need the right moment is all."
"You've been in worse situations than this? You're lying, just to make me feel better. We're going to die, aren't we?" She started sobbing, her body shaking. He wanted to hold her, but he couldn't.
"No Bess. I ain't lyin'. There was this one time…" he stopped, changing his mind about telling the story. "You're gonna live a long time. I promise. But, ya gotta hold it together. You'll be no help if you lose your head. You're doin' great."
His encouraging words empowered her. "Everything is going to be all right," Bess replied with confidence, wiping the tears away.
"Now you sound like your Aunt Jo," Nick teased.
"Thank you. I take that as a compliment."
"It sure is," replied Nick softly. He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned back again. His head was pounding, the room was spinning, his arms ached, and the ropes were tearing at his wrists.
Bess was alarmed to see that his left eye was now completely swollen shut and he was in so much pain. She wanted to untie the ropes and let him lie down comfortably. "Lyndon," she said, "will you untie him?"
"Why should I? He tried to kill me."
"Don't lie to me," Bess snapped, "I saw everything. He can barely sit up anymore. Untie him now!"
Dennis walked over to them and Bess was relieved that they were going to listen to her once again. "Thank you," she said.
Dennis leaned down and shoved Nick, head first, to the floor. Bess gasped. Nick struggled hopelessly.
Dennis pushed his knee into Nick's back and pinned him chest down on the floor taunting him. "Come on sailor. Show the girl how tough you are." Bess felt even more guilt as she realized the pain being inflicted on Nick because of the way she spoke about him to Lyndon. Then Dennis grabbed the rope that was binding Nick's hands and pulled it tighter. Nick gritted his teeth. Dennis got up and walked away.
"You're going to regret this," Bess yelled at him, her voice cracking.
Dennis was angered by her forcefulness. He started to approach her.
"Bess?" Nick said, his voice barely audible. "I'm alright. Come on. Sit down with me." Bess hesitated but then did as he said. She helped him to sit back up.
"I have to go anyway," Dennis said. Then he spoke quietly to Lyndon and left.
Alan had been gone for a while when Dan and Emil returned to Plumfield, hungry and tired. They shared the story of tracking Bess' trail and how Nick had sent them back.
Then Franz spoke up. "You boys must be hungry. You get something to eat and I'll ride into town for the Sheriff and a posse."
"The note said that if we told the Sheriff they'd …". Amy stopped, sobbing bitterly.
"We won't go to the ransom site. We'll go to the cabin. It's the best way to make sure Bess is safe," said Franz authoritatively.
"I think he's right Amy. If we think we know where Bess might be we have to do everything we can to find her." Jo sat next to Amy holding her terrified sister.
Amy shook her head yes as she cried.
As Nan prepared plates of food for Dan and Emil, Franz left the room. When he was sure nobody was watching he picked up the rifle that Nick had given him, checked it, and then left for the Sheriff.
Dennis had not been gone long when Alan entered the cabin and pulled Lyndon aside. "Where's Dennis? Did he leave already?"
"Yes, a short while ago," Lyndon answered.
"Well, you should go get him." He started to laugh. "Look at this!" He opened the bag in his hand and showed it to Lyndon.
"Hah! It worked again," Lyndon said. "But what do we do about him?" He pointed at Nick. "We've never had a problem like that before."
"Go to the ransom sight and find your father. When you get back we'll take care of him. It's very dark out there. One wrong step and he could fall right off that cliff. Too bad for her he messed things up because now she'll have to go with him"
Lyndon laughed and left to find his father.
Bess watched and listened in horror at this disgusting spectacle. Her heart was pounding with fear. Her mind was racing. "Nick, did you hear that? We have to do something." She looked to Nick and was shocked to see his head slumping forward. "Nick!? I need you. Stay with me."
Nick opened his eye at her words and pulled his head up as he fought the urge to fall asleep.
"Nick, I want to apologize for what I said this morning," she said, suddenly afraid that she would never have the chance again.
"It's alright Bess."
"You are being very kind about it, but I shouldn't have spoken about you like that. I guess sometimes I forget that you have feelings, too."
"I said it's alright Bess. It's over now," he said softly.
"Still, I should have been more careful …" She stopped as his head slumped forward again. She reached to him and began stroking his head. "Nick!?"
He pulled his head up. He knew as well as Bess that it could be extremely dangerous if he lost consciousness again, but it was a struggle to stay awake.
"Tell me a story Nick. Any story. Just keep talking. I know, tell me about your first voyage. I'd love to hear about it. You were about my age, right?"
"That's right Bess," he said. And so he began to tell her the story of the wild storms and the dead calm. He told her about how the meat went bad. And then, swearing her to secrecy, he told her about what happened to him in the crow's nest.
Bess found herself laughing in spite of the situation, picturing Nick so young and trying to prove himself equal to the men around him. She was beginning to see him in a new light and she felt a strong sense of compassion for him as she realized that he had been forced to become a man when he was really still a boy like Dan or Emil.
PART 6
Nick, his voice almost gone, was just finishing his third story when they heard horses approaching.
Outside, Franz led the Sheriff and the posse directly to the place the boys had described to him. They spread out in a circle around the cabin. Then Jo, Amy Emil, Dan Nan and Captain Max pulled up behind them in the wagon, having taken the road that Nick had pointed out to the boys earlier. They all thought that Nick was somewhere in the group encircling the cabin.
Inside, Alan looked out the window at the sound of the horses. He knew immediately what had happened.
"We have the place surrounded," the Sheriff shouted, "come out with your hands up."
"I'm not going anywhere with my hands up," Alan shouted back, "and I have this little girl here to make sure of that." Amy began to cry into Jo's shoulder.
The Sheriff did not want to rush the cabin and risk hurting Bess so he decided to wait and see what would happen. As time passed, the tension became palpable, inside and outside the cabin.
Nick looked up at Alan, trying to focus. "Look, your plan is falling apart. Why don't you give up before it gets worse? At least let her go. You have me. Let her go."
"You're not worth anything, Riley. She is. Now shut up," he ordered as he approached Nick. Bess moved between them and blocked his path.
"Leave him alone!" she said emphatically.
"I'll finish with you later, Riley." He grabbed Bess by the arm. "Come here." He moved towards the door.
Nick struggled to his feet behind them and leaned against the wall as the room whirled around him.
Alan began to open the door and shout something to the Sheriff.
"Bess, look out!" Nick shouted.
She pulled away and dove to the floor as Nick, hands still tied behind his back and using every ounce of strength he had left, barreled into Alan, driving both men out the door. They went head first down the stairs amidst a hail of gunfire from a nervous and startled posse.
Then the Sheriff shouted for everyone to stop firing. Nobody knew exactly what had happened.
"Bess!" they all called. Dan was the first one into the cabin. He helped Bess to her feet and hugged her as she sobbed. He stepped aside when Amy came in and held her daughter tight, so relieved that she was unharmed.
"Alan!" Jo called as she saw him rise from the dirt and dust himself off. She did not yet understand his role in this and thought it was he who had saved Bess.
She was almost next to him when she saw him look down and say "I should have killed you when I had the chance, Riley." Captain Max stayed with Jo as Nick had told him to do. He came to Alan and growled loudly adopting a protective stance in front of Jo.
Jo looked down and gasped as she saw Nick laying face down in the dirt at the bottom of the stairs, not moving. She suddenly realized that she had been used by Alan and she was furious and hurt.
As the Sheriff took Alan away Jo looked at him with disgust. "Some pacifist," she said. "You're a brute."
Captain Max nudged Nick with his nose. Getting no response he rested his head on Nick's shoulder, whimpering sadly. Jo finally understood the dog's earlier reaction to Alan. She wished she had put more significance to it at the time.
Jo knelt down next to Nick and brushed the bloody hair from his face. "Nick, are you all right?" He didn't move. She grabbed his shoulder and started to shake him, panic filling her voice, afraid he had been hit by the gunfire. "Nick!? Nick!?"
Nat heard Jo's frantic cry and came running out of the cabin followed by the others. They had not realized that Nick had been in the cabin. Bess could not look. She sat down on the stairs between Dan and Emil. Amy went down and put a comforting hand on Jo's shoulder. She recoiled at the sight of Nick's battered body, thankful that her daughter was left unharmed. Nan knelt down and touched his neck. "He's still alive Mrs. Jo!"
A wave of relief rushed over Jo, Bess and all of the others. Then Nan saw the welt on the back of his head. "This looks bad," she said with a frown, touching it gingerly. Then Nick moaned softly and started to move. He could barely lift his head off the ground. Captain Max jumped up and watched eagerly, wagging his tail.
"Somebody got a knife?" Nan asked. "We gotta get this rope off." Emil jumped up and pulled out a pocketknife. He carefully cut the rope that had bound Nick's hands tightly for so many hours. Then they gently rolled him over and were relieved to see no bullet wounds. "Start massaging his arms," Nan ordered. "It'll get the blood flowing again." Jo and Amy started immediately.
"Theresa?" Nick murmured. "Theresa?" He was breathing heavy and becoming agitated. "Theresa?"
"No, Nick, it's Jo," replied Jo gently, wondering who Theresa was. He calmed at the sound of her voice and turned his head to find her. Their eyes met. Tears filled Jo's eyes.
"Bess!" he called out suddenly as he sat bolt upright.
"She's all right Nick," Jo said, taking him by the shoulders. Dizziness overtook him. He grabbed his head and dropped down hard with a groan. He closed his eyes, not moving.
"Nick!? Nick!?" Jo cried. He groaned. She continued speaking and stroking his face gently. "Stay awake. Come on. Don't fall asleep. Keep talking to me."
"I've heard that before," Nick chuckled, fighting to stay conscious.
"How about this one?" Jo said. She pointed to Nick's bloodied face and put on her best Nick voice, "Nasty bump ya got there!"
Nick laughed hard and then writhed in pain. Neither Jo nor Nick was sure of the significance of them both remembering the exact words spoken so many months ago.
The children thought they were both delirious. "We oughta get him to Dr. Pierce," Nan said. "Nick, can you walk?"
Jo and Nick exchanged a glance at the question. They helped Nick up and he reeled. Jo put her arm around his waist to steady him. "If you say 'Put your arm around me' I don't know what I'll do, Jo," Nick joked as he put his arm around her shoulders.
Jo laughed. "I won't." They brought him to the wagon with Captain Max barking happily behind them.
PART 7
The wagon ride back to Plumfield was quiet and difficult. Everyone was exhausted, physically and emotionally. Jo was trying valiantly to keep up with the Sheriff and the posse. She thought it was unwise to travel that far by themselves so late at night. Emil was riding up front with Jo. Nick was laying in the middle of the back of the wagon with Captain Max resting his head on Nick's chest. Amy and the children were sitting along the sides.
Bess would alternate between heavy sobbing and prolonged silence. Amy, having chosen to sit in the back with her daughter was finding it difficult to get comfortable. Dan was seated next to Bess and did not know what to say. Emil was in the front and was concentrating on watching the road in the dark.
Only Nan was talking, giving a medical narrative to Nat about Nick's condition that all could hear. "He got hit so hard that his brain shook inside his head and kept bouncing back and forth against his skull. Pretty interesting, huh?"
"Sure is, Nan," Nat replied.
"That's why he passed out for so long and why he was so confused when he woke up. Bet he has a nasty headache right now."
"I bet he does, Nan. Maybe we should let him rest," Nat suggested subtly.
"Gonna have one for a few days, too," Nan went on.
Nick really was not interested in hearing that.
"And you see the way his face is all swelled up?"
"Of course we can, Nan. We're not blind," Nat said, getting irritated.
"That's gonna make it hard for him to see or eat for a while. And I bet his jaw is real sore. Alan really hurt him bad."
"Nan, I think we've all heard quite enough," Jo said abruptly from the front, shocking them all. So they continued on in silence, Nan sitting with her arms crossed in a huff."
The silence made it easier for Jo to think. "How could I have been so wrong?" she thought. "Alan seemed so kind and intelligent. He was the perfect, educated, peaceful man that I've been looking for since Fritz. But how could he do such things? Did he ever really care for me?"
The questions raced through her head. "Was he just using me? Was it all an act? Who is he, really? He is so completely different from who I thought he was just six hours ago. How could I have been so blind to who he really was? Nick and Captain Max seemed to know. Was I so interested in the appearance of being with such a refined man that I didn't see the truth?"
Jo was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't see the big rock in the road. "Mrs. Jo, look out!" Emil shouted.
But it was too late. The contact made the wagon lurch high on one side and almost tip over. It righted itself as the passengers in the back were bounced about.
Nick screamed out in pain as his head hit the floor of the wagon. Then he gritted his teeth, unwilling to show his pain to everyone.
"Didn't you see that rock, Mrs. Jo?" asked Nat, shaken.
"What on earth are you doing, Jo? You could have killed us all," Amy chided.
Emil, Dan and Nan all began speaking, too.
Only Bess noticed Nick holding his head, shaking, sweating and breathing heavily. She moved to him, lifted his head gently and let him rest in her lap. She stroked his head softly, trying to alleviate the pain. Nick was deeply touched by the gesture and happy to have his head off of the hard floor.
She began to sing a lullaby that her mother used to sing to her. She sang softly, but beautifully and soon everyone stopped talking and listened quietly. She sang as much to calm herself as to ease his pain.
Jo recognized the song as one their mother had sung to them when they were small and would still sing to Rob. It brought a smile to her lips and lifted her heart.
Nick recognized the song as well. He had not heard it since he was 12 years
old when his Ma would sing it to his baby brother, Luke. He wondered where
Luke was. He was filled with anger towards his uncle for throwing him out
and making him leave his little brother behind. Luke would be a man by now.
He didn’t know if he would recognize Luke if he saw him. He wondered if
Luke even remembered him. He wondered if he would ever tell Jo about him.
He wondered if he would ever see him again.
Tears welled up in his eyes in spite of himself. He wiped them away quickly.
Bess noticed. "Do you want me to stop?" she asked.
"Please don't," Nick replied, embarrassed by the cracking of his voice. And so she continued singing.
Soon they came upon a fork in the road. From here the Sheriff would ride into town and they would take the other road back to Plumfield. Franz rode over to them on his horse. "We just received word that Dennis and Lyndon were captured when they came back to the cabin. And, I asked Deputy Austin to send Dr. Pierce when they get into town. I can ride back to Plumfield with you."
Jo was relieved to have the escort. She had never been so nervous before, but she now doubted herself immensely.
When they arrived back at the house, Asia hustled the boys up to bed. Franz sat with Nick in the parlor awaiting the arrival of Dr. Pierce. Nan hurried about, preparing things the doctor would need.
Bess had eaten her supper and was in the kitchen almost finished telling Amy and Jo about all that had happened that day. "…When Alan started to open the door Nick called to me. I pulled my arm away and fell to the floor. I saw Nick go out the door and heard all that gunfire. I just stayed on the floor. I couldn't move."
"You did the right thing, Bess," her Mother assured her.
"I was so scared," said Bess.
"Of course you were, Bess," said Amy.
"But Nick said you handled yourself very well. He's very proud of you," added Jo.
"Really!?" responded Bess, enthusiastically. "I never thought he liked me very much."
Jo and Amy looked at each other.
"I'm so happy to have you back safe and sound. My sweet little Bess," said Amy.
"I'm not so little anymore," Bess responded.
"That's very true. You're becoming quite a fine young lady," Amy answered back.
Then Nan entered the room. "Dr. Pierce just left. Nick is all stitched up, but he has a really bad concussion. He was a brave little patient. Didn't even flinch," she said. "Now I'm going to bed. I'm exhausted." Jo escorted Nan upstairs.
"May I go see him, Mother?" Bess asked. "I haven't spoken to him since… ." She couldn't finish. "Anyway, may I?"
"Yes, of course Bess. I'll wait for you in your room."
PART 8
Bess saw Nick sitting in the parlor wearing the clean shirt that Nat had brought for him. She entered hesitantly, unsure if she should disturb him. His eyes were closed and his head was leaning back in the chair. His face was cleaned and the cuts were stitched but his face was still swollen and bruised. His wrists were bandaged where the ropes had torn at his skin. The sight caused her to shudder.
Nick sensed her presence and opened his eyes. "Oh, hi ya, Bess," he said, his voice still hoarse.
"Hey Nick," Bess said, dropping her usual formality. "Your head still hurts a lot, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does," he said, holding the back of his head.
"I made some soup while you were with Dr. Pierce. I knew you must be hungry and I figured you couldn't eat anything else," Bess said.
"That was mighty nice of you, Bess and I think you figured right. I won't be eatin' no steaks for a while, that's for sure." He got up shakily. Bess surprised him when she slipped her arm around his waist to steady him. They walked into the kitchen and he sat down as she ladled out a bowl of piping hot soup. She sat next to him and they spoke as he ate.
"It appears that Dr. Pierce did a fine job with the stitches. You'll be as good as new in no time," she said.
"I had a couple of good doctors," Nick said, smiling appreciatively at Bess. "I wanta thank ya for helpin' me out like that. Ya got a lot of courage. I'm real proud of ya."
"Really?" Bess asked excitedly.
"Yeah." He paused and then added, "Ya know, you remind me of someone I used to know. She was real pretty, too." Bess blushed as he went on. "Not so fancy, mind you but real pretty. And she had a lot of courage, like you."
Bess blushed again at the compliments. She wondered if he was talking about Theresa but she didn't mention the name.
"Where is she now?" Bess asked simply.
Nick sat back in his chair and looked away.
"So, how is the soup?" Bess asked, quickly changing the subject.
Nick looked at her. There was an understanding between them, two complete opposites, that had never existed before.
"Best I ever had," Nick said, smiling at her. He leaned over and added in a whisper, "but don't go tellin' Asia I said that or she just might starve me to death."
Bess laughed. "Well, I better get to bed," she said, not so sure she wanted to leave.
"S'pose it is gettin' late," he replied, not so sure he wanted her to go.
She got up and Nick rose from his seat politely. "No one has ever risked their life for me before," Bess told him. "Thank you." She stretched up and kissed him on the right cheek.
"Aaaaww. I'm just glad I could help," Nick said rather bashfully.
Bess started to leave and he called her. She turned back, "Yes?"
"Friends?" he asked, tilting his head and smiling at her.
"No mice?" Bess asked teasingly, a smile across her face.
Nick looked at her tenderly. "No mice."
"Friends!" she confirmed, and they shook hands on it.
It took Bess a long time to fall asleep. Every time she closed her eyes she would see Lyndon or Dennis or Alan and she would become frightened. Her mother stayed with her, rubbing her back and singing the lullaby as she had done when Bess was a child. When sleep finally and mercifully came, Amy went downstairs. Nick and Jo were seated in the parlor.
"Nick, here's your reward for saving my sweet little Bess," Amy said as she showed Nick a stack of bills. "She means everything to us."
"I don't want your money," Nick replied sharply, angered and embarrassed by the offer. "I'm not some stranger off the street ya know. A simple thank you would suit me just fine." Amy and Jo were both taken aback by his tone.
The door opened and Franz came in. "The carriage is ready. I'll wait for you outside."
"Are you sure you won't stay the rest of the night, Amy?" Jo offered.
"No, Jo. Laurie will be back in the morning and I want to be home when he arrives." Amy said good-bye to Jo and started out the door.
Nick followed her out onto the porch, calling her. She stopped and he came over to her, steadying himself with the railing. "Look Amy. I know I'm real bad at showin' it but I care for Bess same as I care for all of you. Y'all are the closest thing to family since … ."
Amy felt tears welling up in her eyes. Nick stopped, suddenly realizing he was revealing a part of himself. He started to turn away but Amy reached out and stopped him. "Thank you," she said.
Amy looked at Nick. "You should put a steak on that eye. It will help the swelling go down. I'll go get one for you if you'd like."
"I've been too hungry too many times to waste a steak on my eye," Nick said, smiling. "But thank you anyway, Amy."
The smiled at him. Then she turned and walked down the porch stairs and over to where Franz was waiting with the carriage. She looked at Nick again before she climbed in and they rode off.
Nick was seated on the back porch in the darkness of the night when the door opened and out stepped Jo in her bathrobe and carrying a lantern. She smiled at the sight of Captain Max sleeping peacefully in his lap. Nick was stroking his fur gently as he stared into space.
"You couldn't sleep either, huh?" Nick said, tilting his head to see Jo with his one eye. "Ya got a headache, too?" he joked as he reached to the back of his head.
Jo smiled at his humor. "No. I had a feeling you'd be up," she said in a motherly tone. "I'm making some chamomile tea. I thought it might help."
"Thank you," he said quietly. She sat down in the chair next to him and they stayed in silence for a moment.
"You alright?" Nick asked.
"Of course," Jo answered quickly. They were both quiet again.
Jo finally spoke. "I'm sorry he hurt you. I feel so guilty."
"Wasn't your fault, Jo." He paused and looked at her. "'Sides, I think he hurt you more."
Jo looked away as a chill went down her spine and tears welled up in her eyes. She was angry, hurt and embarrassed by what Alan had done.
"I'm sorry," Nick said. He started to reach up to wipe away a tear but he stopped himself. He felt it wasn't his right to do that. He pulled his hand back but Jo wished he hadn't.
"I wish I could spot the bad in people like you can. You never did like Alan," she said.
"I don't know, Jo. I think your way's better."
"Why do you say that?"
"Folks shouldn't have to go through life with others always findin' fault with 'em. Take me for instance…"
"Nick I'm s…"
"No, Jo. Let me finish. Ya see, I had Bess figured all wrong. Sure she dresses fancy and talks real proper like and is 'fraid of a li'l mouse but she stood right up to those fellas just to help me. I never saw the caring, courageous side of her before. Never saw her true colors. Kinda reminds me of …" He paused for a moment. "She sure has spunk."
Jo smiled, too. "You know, it seems we may be able to accuse you of being a pacifist yet, Nick."
"Jo, if my hands weren't tied I would have…"
"Bess told us you wouldn't shoot," Jo said, interrupting.
Nick looked down and shifted in his chair, shaking the memory from his head once again.
"Nick?" Jo said hesitantly, curiosity getting the best of her. "Who's Theresa?"
"What?" Nick asked, surprised.
"Who's Theresa? You mentioned her name when I came to you outside the cabin. Bess said you mentioned her earlier, too."
As she spoke, he rose quickly from his chair, disturbing Captain Max, and moved to the top of the stairs. He reeled and steadied himself against the post, looking out into the world beyond Plumfield. The dog jumped into Jo's lap and settled down. It was several minutes before Nick spoke.
"She's just a memory, Jo."
"She's dead now?" Jo asked, stroking Captain Max gently.
"I can't save 'em all," was his cryptic reply, his voice cracking.
She rose from her chair, disturbing poor Captain Max again. She moved to Nick's side and he looked at her. The painful memory was evident in his eyes. She reached to him and took his hand. "Thank you for Bess," she said. He nodded and turned away. He let her hand linger in his a moment and then he let go.
Jo moved quietly into the kitchen, leaving him alone with the memory. She returned with two steaming cups of chamomile tea. They sat, sipping the tea in silence, one with the pain of the past and one with the pain of the present, as they watched the sun come up on a new day.
The End
