| Subject: The New World - Part #83 - The Conclusion |
Author:
Wanda
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 07:57:43 07/24/03 Thu
PART #83
Bow rode into the yard at the plantation late at night. As he looked toward the house, he saw a light. Catherine must have suspected he would be home tonight. He had some news to share with her, and he hoped she would be pleased. He was bone weary, and dirty. He had worn these clothes much too long. He stepped inside the house, pulled off his boots, and left them at the foot of the stairs. He didn’t want to take a chance, and awaken anyone with the clicking sound they made on the stairs.
As he climbed the stairs, he saw a light appear in their bedroom. Soon, he saw Catherine coming out of the room. She stood at the top of the stairs waiting for him. She asked, “Are you all right?” He said, “I am all right, my love; but I’m very tired and dirty.” Catherine said, “I have a bath ready for you.” He walked into their bedroom where he saw a tub filled with water. She whispered, “I had Manobo fill it for you. I knew you would be hot and dirty from the trip.” He laughed, “What would you have done if I had not made it home?” She said, “I would have used the water myself.” She showed him the fresh clothes she had laid out for him, and instructed him to give her his soiled clothes. He removed his clothes, and eased himself into the tub. With a long sigh, he said, “I can’t believe how wonderful a tub of water feels when you are tired and dirty.” Catherine handed him a large sponge and a bar of Manobo’s lye soap. After a while, Catherine smiled; and said, “Now that looks like the man I love and married.”
There was a tap on their bedroom door, and Catherine walked over to the door. She opened the door, and found Manobo standing there with a tray of food and a pot of his chicory laced coffee. Catherine invited him into the room; and he set the tray on a table. He smiled at Bow, and said, “Welcome home Mr. Bow. It’s sure good to have you back with us.” Bow said, “Thanks for the welcome, and for that food and coffee. I could certainly use some of your coffee.” Manobo laughed, and walked out of the room closing the door softly behind him.
Catherine handed a large thick towel to Bow, and he crawled out of the tub, and wrapped himself in the towel. He sat down at the table; and Catherine poured him some coffee, then handed him a sandwich. He took a few sips of the coffee and ate half the sandwich in one bite. Catherine smiled, “You must be hungry.” Bow remarked, “I am hungry; I didn’t really want to waste time on the road so I just kept pushing on. I was anxious to get home before any trouble developed at the saw mill.”
Bow said, “I can’t believe you are still awake.” Catherine said, “I had gone to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I thought you would be home tonight, and I wanted to be awake when you got here. Tell me what happened at Jennings.” Bow said, “Catherine, if you are expecting me to tell you that Peter Dunkirk confessed to everything; and turned over the bank drafts to me, then I am sorry to inform you that did not happen.”
Catherine said, “Sweetheart, I know that didn’t happen.” Bow took another bite of the sandwich; and asked, “What do you mean you know that didn’t happen?” Catherine got up, walked over to a large dresser, pulled open one of the drawers, and pulled out a large brown envelope. Bow had a quizzical expression on his face when he saw the envelope. He asked, “What have you got there?”
Catherine laughed; and said, “Today, I was sitting out on the porch doing some sewing when I saw Sheriff Le Havre driving up in his carriage. When I went out to meet him, he had this large envelope in his hand. Bow, he had the biggest grin on his face. He said, “Catherine, I bet you cannot guess what I have here in my hand.” He told me the postmaster had come over to his office this morning with this envelope in hand saying that it had been mailed out of their office; but it did not have a proper address, so it was returned. Since it had been mailed by Peter Dunkirk, who had left the area and was in jail at Jennings, the postmaster felt it should be given to the sheriff. When Sheriff Le Havre opened the envelope, he found it was filled with bank drafts from the local bank.
Bow asked, “Have you added up the bank drafts?” Catherine smiled, “Of course I have added up the bank drafts. All the money he stole from the plantation accounts is here. There is more money here as well.” Bow threw back his head, and laughed loudly. Catherine placed her finger over her lips and said, “Bow, don’t be so loud or you will awaken Marguerite and Jean Baptiste.” Bow was practically rolling off his chair in laughter. He said, “Catherine, this man either has some of the worst luck in the world, or he’s not too smart.”
Bow explained to Catherine how Peter had managed to get himself caught; and thrown into jail at Jennings, because the wig he had used for a disguise had slipped. He told Catherine how he had gone into the jail disguised at Le Blanc’s old asthmatic Uncle Pete. “Catherine, now tell me, why would he have introduced himself as Uncle Pete? That sheriff knew about Peter Dunkirk for Sheriff Le Havre had wired him to be watching for him. Do you see what I mean when I say he has bad luck or he’s not too smart?” Catherine laughed softly; and said, “I would say it was probably a combination of bad luck and lack of smarts. Whatever his problem, it is certainly to our advantage.”
Bow told Catherine how arrogant Peter had been, and some of the comments he had made to Bow when he was trying to persuade him to tell him where the bank drafts were located. Bow said, “I wish I were standing before that cell now; I would flash these bank drafts in that snake’s face.”
Catherine said, “Let’s forget Peter. We have the funds to get the saw mill up and running once again. We’re going to be all right Bow. Tomorrow you can pay off the men who worked for Joshua, and we can get on with our life. You can go ahead with your import-export business for Marguerite’s father will be managing the saw mill. George has found a building where he can start up his silver business. He and Marguerite have a promising future. Bow, is this what you might call living a normal life?” He responded, “If it is, we are going to enjoy it my sweet.”
Bow thought about the decision he had made on the way home from Jennings. He would never have dreamed things would have turned around in such a way. Tomorrow was soon enough to think about his decision on the import-export business. The funds would be there now to begin a search for the steam powered ship. He would think about all that later when he wasn’t so tired. He looked at Catherine, who was removing her robe, and noticed her pregnancy was showing. Soon there would be a new addition to their family.
Catherine turned toward him at that moment, and smiled. Seeing the look of hunger in his eyes, she went to him. He reached out pulling her into his arms. She had never looked more beautiful to him. He bent his head, and placed his face against the small mound that was the child. She smiled as she felt the baby move in response to his touch.
The End…
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 