Robbed
The overnight stay in Salem went much too fast. Luke had been a young boy the last time he saw his aunt, and she looked older than he expected. She welcomed them warmly, however, and hated to see them leave early the next morning.
They made good time. The Belgians handled better than the mules had, and they set a better pace.
They started out with all three of them in the wagon. Then, Luke and his father took turns riding their horse in front of the wagon, while the other one drove. They only stopped to eat the lunch Gracie had packed for them and water the horses.
“Eat well,” Luke said. “It may be late before we reach Wilkesboro.”
“There’s enough left here that we can eat a snack,” Leah said.
The ride to Wilkesboro didn’t seem as far as the one from Charlotte to Salisbury had been, but it may have been farther. Luke had been out of sorts on the first one, and now he seemed happy and attentive. Leah still had a difficult time believing this amazing man had asked her to marry him. Granny Em would be just as pleased as Dr. Moretz, and Leah couldn’t wait to tell her.
All three of them were travel weary when they got to Wilkesboro, and it had grown so dark Leah wondered how Luke could see to drive. The days were getting shorter now. Leah could also tell the air had become cooler here than it’d been in Salisbury.
Luke pulled up to the inn and let them out before he went to stable the horses and wagon. Dr. Moretz got them two rooms. He and Luke would share one, and Leah would have one by herself. They took their things to the rooms and went to the dining area to order supper. Everything had been taken but vegetable soup with bread and cheese, so they ordered three.
Luke came in and joined them. “The stable owner acted very impressed with my horses. He offered me twice as much as I paid for them, but I want to keep them.”
“You’ll need them, since you sold the mules,” Leah agreed.
“Your mother, you, and I stayed here on our trip back to the mountains when you were just two,” Dr. Moretz said to Luke. “We were filled with happiness then. I’m so pleased you and Leah have found that with each other.”
“Granny Em has promised to tell me the family history when we are housebound this winter,” Leah said. “I can’t wait to hear it. I understand Luke’s mother was related to one of the braves who took Granny Em captive.”
“It’s quite a tale, but a long one.” Dr. Moretz nodded. “Well, I’m tired. Are you two ready to call it a night?”
“Yes, I want to leave by daylight,” Luke said, “so let’s get to bed and get some rest.”
Leah heard Luke knocking on her door to wake her before she realized she’d been asleep. She’d slept soundly.
She got dressed, packed, and they ate a breakfast of eggs, sausage, grits, and biscuits. Luke drank coffee, and Leah and Dr. Moretz had tea.
“I’ve already picked up our wagon and horses and brought them around,” Luke told them. “The stable owner said a man offered to buy the Belgians, but he told him I didn’t want to sell. There’s a lot of interest in those horses.”
They started off as soon as the sky had lightened enough to see. Leah pulled her shawl around her. Although she sat between Luke and Dr. Moretz, the morning air felt cold.
After leaving the town, they came around a curve to find three men on horseback blocking the road. Luke started to reach for his rifle, when one of the men drew his gun. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, mister,” he said. By then the other two had their rifles pointed.
“Keep your hands in sight and get down. The woman, too.” Leah’s heart started racing. Was this going to be a repeat of the incident at Deep Gap?
“Now, start walking toward Wilkesboro. We need the team and wagon more than you do right now.”
“If you’re going to take the Belgians and wagon,” Luke said. “Leave us the two saddle horses.”
“That makes sense, boss,” the youngest man said. “We don’t need the extra horses to feed.”
“We could sell them,” the third man said.
“We don’t have time for that,” the boss replied. “Besides, I’ve found if you only take what you need, there’s less chance of tripping up and getting caught. Get the saddle horses for them, Sam.”
“Let them get them themselves,” the third man said.
“You haven’t got the brain of a sparrow,” the boss told him. “I told Sam to untie the horses, because there could be a weapon back there somewhere.”
Sam untied the horses and brought them over. When Leah saw his blond hair sticking out from beneath his hat and looked into his blue eyes, something clicked.
“Don’t try to follow us, now,” the boss said. “That’ll be a sure-fire way to get shot.”
“I plan to head back to town,” Luke told him.
“Did you see the younger man, the good-looking one?” Leah asked when the men had left.
Luke gave her a piercing look. “What are you doing noticing how good-looking some other man is?”
Leah could have laughed, if Luke wasn’t so serious and upset. “They called him ‘Sam.’ I think he may be Sam Whitley. He fits the description Ivy gave. And, Luke Moretz, no man on earth is as good-looking as you. You’re good on the inside, too, and that’s even more important.”
Dr. Moretz did laugh at his son, and Luke gave a sheepish grin. “I’m going to ride quickly into Wilkesboro and get the sheriff,” Luke said. “I’ll tell him about Sam Whitley. Father, would you let Leah ride with you and go back to the inn? Go ahead and get two rooms. It looks like we are going to be delayed.”
“All right, but are you sure you won’t get jealous of me riding double with your fiancée?”
“I can see I’m not going to live that one down anytime soon,” Luke said, as he galloped off.
Leah’s dress pulled up above the ankle when Dr. Moretz put her on his horse and climbed up behind her. It wasn’t seemly, but it couldn’t be helped. Granny Em would say, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
They had traveled most of the way to Wilkesboro when the sheriff, two deputies, and Luke rode up. The sheriff must have loaned Luke a rifle, since his had been in the wagon. He slowed and called out, “I’m going with them.”
When she and Dr. Moretz got to the inn, they got two rooms again. She hoped the sheriff recovered the wagon and horses. All their things were in it. She sat down and prayed for a quick end to this, and that everyone would be safe.
“Do you want to try to catch a church service?” Dr. Moretz asked.
Leah looked down at her wrinkled everyday dress. The Lord would understand, whether or not anyone else did. “Yes, I think that would be good. Just let me wash my face and hands.”
They went to the Presbyterian Church. Leah remembered it from the first time they came to Wilkesboro. The pastor had seemed friendly and invited them to come anytime.
The small church had already filled. Dr. Moretz slipped into an empty space in the pew on the left side, and Leah found one on the right.
The pastor spoke on putting trust in the Lord for all things. Leah looked over at Dr. Moretz, and he smiled. They needed to hear this today. Leah made an effort not to let her mind wander to worry about Luke. Instead, she concentrated on what Reverend Pharr said.
“That’s what I needed,” she told Dr. Moretz at the end of the service. “I’m so glad we came.”
A couple of the better dressed women walked by Leah without speaking, but most of the women welcomed her. When she told them what had happened, they were understanding and said they would pray for the situation.
She and the doctor walked back to the inn and immediately went to dinner. The meal was good, and Leah felt more at peace after attending church. Dr. Moretz prayed for Luke’s speedy and safe return when he asked the blessing, and Leah kept praying her own silent prayers.
“I wish I had something to read,” Dr. Moretz said, when they’d finished.
“I know,” Leah said. “Even my Bible was in the wagon. I hope they’re able to recover everything.”
“I wonder why they needed the wagon and team so badly. Most thieves would want to be on horseback.”
“They must be hauling something heavy,” Leah said. “Maybe they’ve stolen some gold or something.”
Suppertime came, and Luke still had not returned. Leah went down with Dr. Moretz, but she ate little. What if something happened to Luke? What if he didn’t come back? No, she shouldn’t think such thoughts. She would pray him back unscathed.
By bedtime, Leah could do little but pace the floor. “Aren’t you worried?” she asked the doctor.
“I’m concerned, but my getting upset won’t help Luke. My medical bag is in the wagon, so I don’t have anything to give you to help you sleep.”
“I don’t want the effects that drugs would have anyway.”
“At least lie down and rest, even if you can’t sleep,” he told her. “Say your prayers, and that’s bound to help.”
Leah did as Dr. Moretz suggested. She prayed and prayed.
Suddenly she awoke to sounds coming from the hallway and Dr. Moretz’s room. She must have finally dozed. She’d stayed in her dress, so she went to see what was happening.
Luke sat in a chair with his shirt torn and his arm bloody. The deputy handed the doctor his medical bag. She rushed to Luke’s side.
“I’d better get back and check on the sheriff,” the deputy said.” We left him at the jail, since he’d been shot in the hand, and sent for Doctor Calloway.”
“Thank you,” Luke said to the deputy.
“How bad is it?” Leah asked as she gingerly started removing the bloody handkerchief.
“It’s just grazed,” Luke said, but he winced at her slightest touch.
She got the handkerchief off, poured some water into the basin, and began cleaning around the wound. It might be just grazed, but the bullet had taken a hunk out. At least it wasn’t still in there. She looked up and saw Dr. Moretz standing watching her. She backed off to give him room.
“No, that’s okay,” he told her. “You’re doing a good job. I could use your help in my practice. You remind me of my wife, and she was an excellent assistant.”
The doctor came forward and applied a tincture. “Where did you learn your doctoring skills, Leah?”
“I’ve read all the books I could find and listened to the slaves who knew medicinal herbs. Most of the time, I took care of the slaves on the plantation. I’ve had some experience.”
“I can tell.”
“She’s gentler than you, too,” Luke said to his father.
Leah had just finished Luke’s bandage when Dr. Moretz said, “I’m going down to the kitchen and see if I can find him anything to eat. He doesn’t seem to have lost too much blood, and the arm should heal nicely. It’ll be sore and painful for a while, though.” Dr. Moretz left the door open as he went out.
“Oh, Luke, I’ve been so worried. I’ve prayed and prayed.”
“Come here,” he said and patted the knee on his good side.
She didn’t question him, but sat in his lap and put her head on his good shoulder. He hugged her tightly with one arm. He kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I needed this,” he said.
She didn’t get a chance to tell him she did, too, because they heard Dr. Moretz on the stairs, and she jumped up. She was sitting in the other chair when he came in.
“I didn’t realize it’s as late as it is,” the doctor said. “They’re going to start serving breakfast before too long. What do you say we go down? The hot water is ready for tea.”
“I’m ready,” Luke said. “I haven’t had anything to eat in almost twenty-four hours, and I’m famished.”
“Do you feel like telling us what happened, son?” Dr. Moretz asked when they’d sat down for breakfast. “I’m guessing you got the team and wagon back.”
“Yes, the wagon and team are at the stable, so we can leave in the morning.”
“We’ll see how you feel first,” Dr. Moretz said, “but tell us what happened.”
“They left a clear trail. It must have rained recently, and the Belgians’ hoof-prints, along with the wheel marks, stood out. We followed the trail to a cabin out in the wilds to the southwest. The sheriff sneaked down to see what was going on and found five men, who had a printing press they needed to move. They had a heavy-duty wagon and a team of six, but I’m sure they would’ve never got the heavy press very far up the mountain with those. We later discovered they planned to take it somewhere in the Stony Fork area, east of Boone. They didn’t really need our wagon, just the horses to go with theirs.”
“I guess they used the printing press to counterfeit bank notes,” Leah said.
“That’s right,” Luke said. “Since we were outnumbered, we decided to wait for an opportunity to jump them, and we ended up waiting for them to go to sleep. They left a guard out, but we thought he’d fallen asleep, too, so we went down. He must have been a light sleeper, because he woke up when we got near. He started shooting and woke the others. We were in a shootout but managed to rush them, anyway. I think some of them were confused and shot their own men. No one was killed, but some were wounded. I started using the barrel of my rifle, so a couple of them will wake up in jail with an awful headache. I got shot right before it all came to an end. The full moon gave some light, and the deputy found some lanterns, so we came back, although we had to go slowly in the dim light.”
“Do you want me to give you something for pain?” Dr. Moretz asked.
“Yes, when I go upstairs. I’m tiring fast, and I’d like to get a nap.”
They went upstairs, and Dr. Moretz went to help Luke into bed. He knocked on Leah’s door a few minutes later.
“I thought you might want to walk to the stable with me and help me get our travel bags.”
“Sure. I’d be glad to.”
They brought the bags back to the inn, and Leah freshened up. Then, she read her Bible and said prayers thanking God Luke wasn’t hurt worse.
Luke got up and ate lunch with them. He looked better, but his arm seemed to bother him.
“I want to go by the jail and see how things are going,” Luke said after they finished eating.
“I’ll go with you.” Dr. Moretz looked at Leah.
“That’s fine,” Leah said. “I’ll just go up and take a nap. I didn’t sleep long last night, and I’d like to be fresh in the morning, in case we leave early.”
Luke led the way to the jail. The deputy leaned back in a chair just outside the door and appeared asleep. He woke up when they came up and said the sheriff had gone home.
“How are things?” Luke asked.
“As well as can be expected, I guess. The sheriff will have to take it easy, until his hand heals, but at least they got his left one. None of the prisoners are bad off. It didn’t take long to patch them up.”
“What are you going to do about the printing press?” Luke asked.
“The sheriff’s going to see if he can get a crew to go get it. He thinks it might be good to have for evidence. It’s partially disassembled, anyway. It won’t be as hard to get here as it would have been to take it up the mountain.”
“Speaking of Boone, is one of the prisoners a young man by the name of Sam Whitley?”
“Yes, he is. He wanted us to send his father word of where he is. He said his father’s a preacher. Do you know him?”
“Not really. I’ve heard of him, and I went to one of his father’s services in Boone.”
“Do you want to talk with him?”
“I don’t think that would be wise, son,” Father said. “There might be repercussions. He could make things rough on the new bride and groom as they start their family.”
“You’re right.” Luke knew what his father didn’t want to say. He turned to the deputy. “We plan to leave in the morning. Thank the sheriff for me.”
“I’ll do that. You helped us catch them before they started the counterfeiting around here, so you helped us, too.” They shook hands.
Luke went back to the inn, took some more pain medicine, and went to bed. He woke up for supper. His arm throbbed with intense pain, but he wanted to hold off taking any more pain medication. He needed to stay up so he could sleep some tonight. After missing sleep last night, he had his schedule all mixed up.
“If you want to go shopping, I’ll give you some money,” he told Leah. “Staying in the inn all the time must be boring.”
“No, I don’t need anything. I have my Bible to read now.”
“You really do have a jewel, here,” his father said. “Imagine a woman who turns down shopping. Your mother was the only other one I knew who’d do such a thing.”
“I know. She’s a rare one,” Luke agreed with a smile.
After supper, they got together in the men’s room and had a family devotion. Luke had missed doing this. He endured his aching arm as long as he could, but once the devotion was over he finally took something for pain and went to sleep.
Luke had a rough night. Without the pain medication, he didn’t think he would have slept at all. He hoped resuming the trip wouldn’t make things worse, but he felt a strong need to get home. They ate breakfast and left at daybreak.
His father insisted he drive instead of Luke. “Using your arm too much could break open the wound and start it bleeding again.”
So, Luke sat on one side of Leah as they started off with his father on her other side. Luke would ride his chestnut a little later, but he needed to be near Leah for now. Finally, when the wagon ride became rougher, he got off to ride his horse.
“You go ride, too,” Leah told his father. “I can drive the team for a while.”
“You can handle a team of horses?” Luke asked. He didn’t know why that surprised him. What couldn’t she do?
“I can.” Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Can’t any good farmer’s wife?”
Leah drove until they started up the steeper incline. Then, she got out of the wagon and Father drove.
“Should I walk or ride?” Leah asked. “If I ride it won’t be side saddle, and too much of my limbs might show, but we’re family, aren’t we?” She waited for his answer.
“Sure, can you mount by yourself?”
“I can try, but it would be easier in pants instead of a dress.”
“Have you ever worn pants before?” Luke asked her. He knew she had an independent spirit about her.
“No. I haven’t dared, but I’ve wanted to.”
She tried to swing up into the saddle, but her skirts got in the way, and she fell back to the ground. She did manage to land on her feet.
“Wait there,” his father said. “Let me help you. We don’t need any broken bones on top of everything else.” He helped her into the saddle, and then resumed his place on the wagon seat.
Luke and Leah rode ahead, so they wouldn’t be behind the dust from the wagon. It felt good to have her riding beside him. He might have to think about getting her a horse of her own come spring.
He glanced over and saw her dress showing about twelve inches of leg and ankle. He looked away, but she must have noticed, because she said, “If anyone comes along, I’ll slide off and dismount.”
“That’s probably a good idea, since you’re so pretty.”
“I never knew you were such a flatterer. You must have some Irish ancestor, who kissed the Blarney Stone.”
“No. It’s the absolute truth, Leah Morgan. Besides, my ancestry is about all German on Father’s side.”
“Ah, now go on with you, Lukie, me boy,” she said in an exaggerated Irish accent. “Methinks I heard tell of an Irish grandfather on ye mutter’s side, I have.”
“Now, I see who’s full of the Irish ancestors.”
“I think Morgan may be more Welsh,” she said, “but I’m not sure about Mother’s family.”
“But, probably no American Indian?”
“No, but my children will have some. Does that count?”
Luke put back his head and laughed. “You’re quite the debater and tease all wrapped into one delightful package.”
“You two seem to be having way too much fun up there,” his father called out. They rode in comfortable silence for a while. Soon they topped the mountain and came to Deep Gap.
“The team pulled the wagon just fine without me getting down,” his father said.
“I thought they might,” Luke replied.
Dr. Moretz got out of the wagon, helped Leah dismount, and got on his horse.
Luke tied his chestnut to the back of the wagon and got in beside her. “You drive us to Boone,” he told her. “I’ll drive from there until we get to the steeper part on the mountain, and Father can take us on in home.”
“I can’t wait to see Granny Em and Patsy.”
“I’m eager to get back, too.”
This time, they only stopped in Boone long enough for Luke and Leah to change positions. Luke saw Reverend Whitley riding quickly east, and he wondered if he had headed to Wilkesboro to see about Sam.
“You know, you were right,” he told Leah. “The blond man who helped steal our horses and wagon was Sam Whitley.”
“I thought so. Did you see him when you went to the jail?”
“No, I considered it, but I decided it would be better if he didn’t know about Ivy or where she’s living now.”
“You don’t think he has a right to know about the baby?”
“I think he forfeited that right when he left Ivy stranded. Anything could have happened to her. Besides, I think he’s in quite a bit of trouble now. Do you think I should have told him?”
“I don’t know, but I trust your judgment. You have a strong sense of duty and responsibility. When Ivy ran away, most men would have washed their hands of her, but you didn’t. I can see how Sam might cause innumerable problems for Ivy and Lawrence. I think you probably did what’s best. If God wants Sam to know, the story will surface.”
“I didn’t lie about it. I just didn’t see Sam. I didn’t have long to consider it, and Father thought not telling Sam would be best.”
Luke’s arm was throbbing, but he found talking to Leah helped keep his mind off it. He would make it home, and then he would take some pain medicine and go to bed.
He drove to the place where they turned to go up the mountain to home, and then his father took over. Luke would ride his chestnut the rest of the way.