involvement as a spy,
including meeting Joshua and their turbulent relationship until they had
fallen in love. How she had nearly lost him and how unbearable it had
been, not knowing if he was alive or dead for three years. Then she
expanded upon how those three years had been a living nightmare. Not just
due to constant worry for Joshua’s safety, but never knowing from one day
to the next where their next meal would come from. She spoke of how they
had been raided countless times, all their food and valuables being taken
from them, and of the attack she sustained at the hands of her one time
friend, Thomas Hastings.
Leaning closer to her mother, to be certain Sarah was in fact asleep,
Elise cautiously raised her skirts and pantaloons. Seeing the jagged scar on
her thigh, Felicity and Miranda gasped.
Not really asleep, only pretending to be, Sarah wanted desperately to
see her daughter’s scar and ask Elise why she hadn’t shared her horrific
ordeal with them, but she refrained. Sarah realized her daughter was indeed
a woman, just as Michael had said to her many times. Certainly, Elise had
earned the right to keep secrets from her mother if she felt she must. So
instead, Sarah continued to lean on the window of the coach listening to the
chatter of these young women and pretend to sleep.
“Oh Elise, how could you have kept such a wound from your mother
and Mammy Tess? Surely you were in excruciating pain,” Miranda
whispered.
“I was indeed and believe me it wasn’t easy. However, how was I
supposed to explain that by my own foolish actions I was nearly raped, or
worse, could have been killed trying to help someone who I believed to be
a friend? Besides, if Thomas’ men accused me of ambushing them, the less
Mama and Michael knew the better. Don’t you see? By telling them, I
would be putting their lives in danger, too. No, I had gotten myself into that
pickle and I had to get myself out.”
Felicity smiled warmly at Elise, saying, “Well, it would appear you
have been through a lot. How did you ever handle it all?”
“Hope and a whole lot of praying,” Elise stated, sincerely.
“Hope,” Miranda whispered nostalgically. “Oh Elise, I remember the
day when you convinced me that hope was what was needed if we were to
carry on. How wonderful that you never wavered and kept believing,
despite everything you endured.”
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” Elise chuckled softly. “There were plenty of
times I nearly gave up. But it was Joshua’s love and Michael’s unselfish
devotion that kept me strong. Without Michael, I honestly don’t know if
Mama and I would have made it. I still can’t believe how he stayed with
us, when he could have lived in comfort. But he made a promise and he
followed through and I shall never forget what he sacrificed for both Mama
and me. Why, I couldn’t love him more if he were my real father,” Elise
exclaimed.
As Sarah pretended to sleep, a tear rolled down her cheek as she heard
her daughter speak of Michael with such endearment. At the same time,
Joshua looked at Michael, as the two of them listened to the women
chattering inside.
“Just in case I haven’t told you, Michael, thank you! If anything should
have happened to that woman, hell, I don’t know what might have become
of me.”
“We both did what we had to do. Hell, I had it easy compared to what
you went through. I had Sarah by my side everyday,” he replied humbly.
“I’m just glad it’s almost over.”
“The sooner we’re in New York, the sooner we’ll both breathe easier.”
From inside the coach, Felicity said softly, “Mr. Honeycutt seems like
a wonderful man. Truly, you have been blessed. Not only did you find a
father, but you also found the love of a wonderful man, who obviously
loves you completely. Yes, Elise. I would definitely say you have indeed
been one of the fortunate souls who will take with them something of value
out of all this madness.”
“And don’t you think I
including meeting Joshua and their turbulent relationship until they had
fallen in love. How she had nearly lost him and how unbearable it had
been, not knowing if he was alive or dead for three years. Then she
expanded upon how those three years had been a living nightmare. Not just
due to constant worry for Joshua’s safety, but never knowing from one day
to the next where their next meal would come from. She spoke of how they
had been raided countless times, all their food and valuables being taken
from them, and of the attack she sustained at the hands of her one time
friend, Thomas Hastings.
Leaning closer to her mother, to be certain Sarah was in fact asleep,
Elise cautiously raised her skirts and pantaloons. Seeing the jagged scar on
her thigh, Felicity and Miranda gasped.
Not really asleep, only pretending to be, Sarah wanted desperately to
see her daughter’s scar and ask Elise why she hadn’t shared her horrific
ordeal with them, but she refrained. Sarah realized her daughter was indeed
a woman, just as Michael had said to her many times. Certainly, Elise had
earned the right to keep secrets from her mother if she felt she must. So
instead, Sarah continued to lean on the window of the coach listening to the
chatter of these young women and pretend to sleep.
“Oh Elise, how could you have kept such a wound from your mother
and Mammy Tess? Surely you were in excruciating pain,” Miranda
whispered.
“I was indeed and believe me it wasn’t easy. However, how was I
supposed to explain that by my own foolish actions I was nearly raped, or
worse, could have been killed trying to help someone who I believed to be
a friend? Besides, if Thomas’ men accused me of ambushing them, the less
Mama and Michael knew the better. Don’t you see? By telling them, I
would be putting their lives in danger, too. No, I had gotten myself into that
pickle and I had to get myself out.”
Felicity smiled warmly at Elise, saying, “Well, it would appear you
have been through a lot. How did you ever handle it all?”
“Hope and a whole lot of praying,” Elise stated, sincerely.
“Hope,” Miranda whispered nostalgically. “Oh Elise, I remember the
day when you convinced me that hope was what was needed if we were to
carry on. How wonderful that you never wavered and kept believing,
despite everything you endured.”
“Oh, I didn’t say that.” Elise chuckled softly. “There were plenty of
times I nearly gave up. But it was Joshua’s love and Michael’s unselfish
devotion that kept me strong. Without Michael, I honestly don’t know if
Mama and I would have made it. I still can’t believe how he stayed with
us, when he could have lived in comfort. But he made a promise and he
followed through and I shall never forget what he sacrificed for both Mama
and me. Why, I couldn’t love him more if he were my real father,” Elise
exclaimed.
As Sarah pretended to sleep, a tear rolled down her cheek as she heard
her daughter speak of Michael with such endearment. At the same time,
Joshua looked at Michael, as the two of them listened to the women
chattering inside.
“Just in case I haven’t told you, Michael, thank you! If anything should
have happened to that woman, hell, I don’t know what might have become
of me.”
“We both did what we had to do. Hell, I had it easy compared to what
you went through. I had Sarah by my side everyday,” he replied humbly.
“I’m just glad it’s almost over.”
“The sooner we’re in New York, the sooner we’ll both breathe easier.”
From inside the coach, Felicity said softly, “Mr. Honeycutt seems like
a wonderful man. Truly, you have been blessed. Not only did you find a
father, but you also found the love of a wonderful man, who obviously
loves you completely. Yes, Elise. I would definitely say you have indeed
been one of the fortunate souls who will take with them something of value
out of all this madness.”
“And don’t you think I
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