Love Connections
Chapter Nine
Matthew wondered what the matter with him was. When he had left his apartment, it had been without hesitation. He knew what he wanted and that was the end of it… However, for the last two hours, he had been driving back and forth, changing his mind constantly. Every time he thought that he had made a decision, he would be pulled in another direction. More than once, he told himself that something was terribly wrong with him, yet he couldn't do anything against it. He even tried to orb up, thinking of asking advice from the Elders, even though he knew that they would disapprove of him. That was another of those decisions that he couldn't implement as another urge to go get her sent him back toward her house. At long last, he had simply stopped, determined to figure this out. Even now, sitting in the car not five minutes from her house, he still couldn't think clearly…
Nicholas had been watching the apartment with growing doubts. He had been so certain that his brother would come through… yet Matthew had not been back… Things were going so well otherwise… Jacob had come to him only an hour earlier with the news that his targets were in sight again. He was expecting those two obstacles to be out of the picture any time now, which would give him a window of opportunity. Maybe even the possibility to see her without his brother's help. Given his apparent failure on that part of the plan, he really hoped that Jacob would succeed…
Contrary to Jacob, he didn't worry about the archangel. The first time around, this one had not even recognized his presence. He felt that he most probably could fool him long enough. If only the whitelighters were destroyed… His patience was wearing off rapidly. He had waited so long already…
"It's been way too long, I really think that we should try to find them…" Piper uttered with a hint of anxiety.
"You might be right, but how are we going to do that?" Phoebe replied.
Piper lifted her eyebrows, unsure herself…
They were still pondering their options when Cole came back.
"Hey, where the hell were you? We were getting worried here…"
He smiled.
"For no reason…. I even have good news… The darklighter that worried Leo is gone for good this time. We took care of it."
"Oh well, that's good news then, but why aren't Leo and your father with you?"
"They had to report," he said with a quick glance toward the ceiling.
"I guess that it would be safe to go home now?"
"I don't see why not…"
Piper hesitated still.
"On the other hand, I'm not sleepy yet," she added. "Hey Phoebe, do you think that you could finish this story? It may even give time for Leo to come back…"
"Of course…"
Kissing his wife, Cole said:
"If you don't mind, I think that I will pass. Someone has to sleep tonight…"
"Ok…"
Then she went back to the couch, starting the story immediately.
"As I was saying, Clay was now determined to make Phoebe forget all about Cole…"
Cole interrupted:
"On second thought, I think that I'm going to stay up a little longer," he said as he came to sit by Phoebe. This one smiled, amused, but she didn't comment and continued…
***********
'Clay was quite certain that she believed his theory by now, but he was determined to stick around and make sure that she wouldn't change her mind again. He knew her… He mostly feared that she might just go and try to help the so-called lawyer out of his predicament if she thought that the soldiers had been right.
"You do believe me don't you, Phoebe? That's the only thing that makes sense. Those two were no spy material, believe me. You told me yourself what he thought of slavery. Were those the words of a man who'd want to free them?"
"You're probably right…"
For a moment, she had dared hoping that she had been wrong about Cole; that maybe he was the kind of man that she wanted in her life. But then, Clay's explanation made much more sense. After all, a vile person like this Nicholas would certainly not hesitate to lie in order to get his revenge. The coward way…
Even if Phoebe was ready to accept her friend's explanation, it was painful to see her hopes burst in this manner.
Clay felt bad for her, but on the other hand, he thought that it was the best way for her to put this man behind her. And of course, maybe she'd finally come back to him… When she leaned on him, he hoped that it was the sign that she was finally doing just that…
Phoebe's musings about Cole prevented her from worrying about the most immediate threat… However, her uncle and Piper were both seeing the real danger that had just knocked on their door.
Victor wished that he had known about the attack the day before, as the kid would be dead by now and none of this unpleasantness would be happening… The threat of an inquiry worried him for more reasons than one. Scrutiny might reveal his daughters and niece's true nature. This would be catastrophic. He thought that he could beat what he stood accused of easily enough. On the other hand, if the outside world found out about them, then nothing would prevent disaster to strike. Even after all those years, he was still uncomfortable with the fact that his daughters were witches and could easily imagine what other people would think. His now dead wife, Patricia, had not seen fit to tell him that she was a witch until after their second daughter was born. And she probably would have tried to keep it from him still, if it hadn't been for the fact that Piper had already started using her powers at this point. Victor had loved his wife very much, but he couldn't help resenting her for hiding what she was from him all those years. They had continued to live as husband and wife, but the truth about her always stood between them afterward. It wasn't until she died that he realized how much he had missed because of his stubbornness. He swore that he would always keep his daughters safe from the outside world from then on. And now, his younger daughter had suffered the worst of fate, and their very way of life was threatened. He was not so much worried about himself, as he was scared for his daughters…
Piper's worries mirrored his own, as she watched her father still pacing nervously. After her mother's death, she also had felt responsible for her family's safety. However, Paige had been hurt and she was helpless to comfort her. And now, this new threat might very well be the end of them…
Knowing that she couldn't do anything about the latter, she at least decided to try and do something about Paige. She got up abruptly and went to the stairs without a word. Her father barely noticed, still lost in somber thoughts.
Phoebe saw her going, and decided that she needed some time alone of her own. The last two days had been very charged emotionally and being in the same room as her obviously distraught uncle didn't help her mood. She told Clay, who offered to accompany her upstairs.
Phoebe accepted reluctantly.
When they got to her room, he seemed reluctant to leave her, and she sensed that he worried about what she would do. At this point however, she had no idea herself. Doubts were still lingering in her mind… He finally took leave of her but only after taking her hand and kissing it a little too long for Phoebe's comfort. She suddenly felt the need to take it away, ill at ease with his touch. She saw that her gesture hurt him, but she couldn't bring herself to reassure him. All she wanted was to be left alone at the moment.
Clay tried to put on a good face, but the thought of her going to him still worried him immensely. After she got in her room and closed the door, his expression became somber and somewhat pensive. For a few minutes, he just stood there, thinking. Then an idea struck him; one that he believed might solve his problems…
He hurried downstairs and out of the house…
Piper had to insist with Corrine to be granted access to her sister's room, and she had pain to hide her irritation at the slave. However, she knew that the old woman was only doing what she thought best for Paige and she tried to put it aside. Finally she could see her sister and her heart sunk the moment she did. The poor girl had puffy eyes and her overall attitude gave Piper the impression that she had grown beyond her years all of a sudden. Gone was the carefree attitude, only to be replaced by a very serious expression. Paige hesitated a little longer, barely looking at Piper. Then, remembering how much her sister loved her, and cared about her, she went to Piper and buried her face in her shoulder, crying anew.
All Piper could say as she hugged her sister was:
"Oh Paige, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you."
Taking deep breaths, Paige managed to answer:
"It's not your fault, you warned me and I didn't listen…"
"I never imagined that this would happen…I don't know what to do to help you…"
Paige pulled away slightly:
"Just being here is fine. I was so afraid that you would resent me for what happened…"
Piper opened wide eyes.
"NO! He is the monster! You're not responsible for what he did…"
"Wasn't I? Maybe… Maybe I encouraged him somehow…"
"Paige, listen to me. Men like that don't need any encouragement. They are takers, monsters. You didn't do anything wrong…"
"I just wish that I could be as certain as you are…"
"You must. You're the victim…And I just wish that we could punish him as he so deserves…"
Paige seemed to notice that something else bothered her sister.
"Did something else happen?"
Piper hesitated to add to Paige's burden, but she still feared for her safety. After what he had done to them, she was afraid that he might come back and try to hurt her again.
"I'm afraid that he has not stopped at hurting you…"
Paige gasped, now terrified of what her sister could mean by this, and Piper continued.
"He has made accusations about our family and the lawyer that brought him here. He told soldiers that we were helping to free slaves…"
"Oh no…Father?"
"Don't worry, they didn't arrest him or anything, but they threatened to inquire in the matter shortly…"
Paige felt the tears coming back.
"It's all my fault…"
"I don't want you to blame yourself," Piper answered firmly. "He's the one that should be blamed for all of it…"
A heavy silence fell between them, as Paige contained her sobbing at great efforts. Then, Piper asked the question that was the most difficult for her.
"Paige, I know that it was Nicholas that hurt you but…The other men… Did they?"
"NO! Matthew helped me, and Mr. Fairbanks wasn't even there. I just met him as I was coming back home."
Piper couldn't help feeling relief at this.
"Ok sister, now I want you to stay close to us at all times. I'm afraid that he might be coming back for you…"
Paige couldn't help giving fearful looks around the room, as if she expected him to show up at any moment.
"Don't worry; I will never let this monster hurt you again…"
"But what about the soldiers?"
"Hopefully, it'll all get sorted out soon enough, and it's gonna be behind us…"
Piper wished that she were as confident about this as she led her sister to believe…
Clay had a kind of revelation on what he should do and right then, he was riding his horse very fast through the forest. He knew that it was a shortcut to town and that he had a very good chance to get there before the soldiers. The solution was simple enough, he thought, and hopefully would solve all his problems.
He would warn the lawyer and his clerk about the soldiers and give them instructions to escape them, as he knew the surroundings much better than the soldiers did. Then, he would go to the soldiers and send them on their trail. This would launch them in pursuit and maybe even take their attention away from Phoebe's family. Hopefully, his collaboration would go a long way in convincing the soldiers that the Leighton had nothing to do with the lawyers and whatever they had done. He still wasn't too certain about the truth of the matter, but he knew that whatever it was, the lawyers would prefer to go rather than face the confederates' judgement. They were Yankees after all, and the war still raged… Spies were not usually given much chance to defend themselves under such circumstances. He was aware that if the lawyers were not guilty of the offenses they stood accused of, then what he was he was about to do was terrible. But his loyalties went to Phoebe and her family, not to strangers from the north, and particularly not those…
Cole and Matthew had thought of leaving the hotel the night before, as they feared that Nicholas would indeed betray them. However, the mission was not completed yet, and after a few hours of anxious wait, they had finally concluded that at least Matthew's brother had not sunk to this level of ignominy. Early that morning, they had set out to accomplish the last of their tasks. One last group of slaves, all convinced by them to flee their plantation, had been hiding a little ways out of town. They were nervous and afraid when the two men arrived but they reassured them that all was going according to plan. The group set out toward the rendezvous point and they left the former slaves with instructions as to who would come for them and how to be certain of it. Then, after a long day they were returning to the hotel, still very apprehensive on what they would find there…They had been tempted to simply go with the slaves and never come back, but they still thought possible to keep their cover. There were still many that needed help, and they hoped that in time, they could do the same for them.
Still, Cole didn't enter town right away, observing the comings and goings carefully before taking the risk. However, after an hour of this, he decided that no one had come for them and with sighs of relief he and Matthew directed their paces toward the hotel. There, they found a surprising visitor…
Clay was certain that he had almost an hour on the soldiers when he arrived in town. He went straight to the hotel, only to learn that the lawyers had left for an errand early that morning. He was upset about it, thinking that they might've run, but he decided to wait a little longer, just in case. He convinced the clerk to let him wait in their room. This one knew Clay very well and didn't need much convincing, as he trusted him implicitly. Clay found that if the lawyers had fled, then they had not brought much with them. Their baggage was still there, although obviously ready for departure. In itself, it wasn't much of an indication given what happened the day before. They must have been convinced by now that their business with Victor Leighton would not come to a positive conclusion. Still, he wondered what other business might have kept them out all day. He surmised that maybe the Leighton's plantation had not been their only prospect. Even now, he couldn't imagine those people as spies, or even less as good men trying to free slaves. In all honesty, Clay himself didn't believe much in Phoebe's ideals. He still thought that the South's economy would go awry if they were to let go of the slaves. In that instance, he actually had agreed with the lawyer, but he would never have told this to Phoebe. Thus, in the improbable case where those two were in fact what the soldiers had said, he had one more good reason to give them away… As the evening was advancing, he began to believe that they wouldn't come back, and was about to leave, when he heard steps coming toward the room. Someone was now trying the lock and realizing that the door was already opened, they paused outside of it. Clay took a deep breath, now not so sure about his plan… After a moment, the door began opening slowly and then Cole entered cautiously, gun in hand. He exclaimed in surprise at seeing who was there. Clay thought that he also saw some relief in their expression.
Still holding the gun toward Clay however, Cole questioned.
"What are you doing here?"
Clay held up his hand in sign of peace, while replying.
"I came to warn you… Soldiers are on their way as we speak to arrest you…"
Cole observed him curiously.
"And why would they?"
"It appears that your brother," he said looking toward Matthew, who was standing just a little ways behind and to the side of Cole, "has accused you of being spies for the North…"
"That's ridiculous," Cole said, but Clay now saw a little fear on their faces.
"Nevertheless, it's the truth…"
Cole became suspicious.
"Why would you want to help us?"
"You personally, I have no interest in helping. However, those accusations have the potential to put everyone in contact with you around here in trouble. I think that for Phoebe's sake and her family's, it would be better if you were long gone when the soldiers arrived."
Cole couldn't help wondering if there was any truth to this. He knew perfectly well that this man had personal reasons to want him gone. He had seen the way Clay looked at Phoebe and believed that he would want nothing less than to see him disappear.
Still very suspicious of the visitor, Cole thought that he might have a way to verify the information. He put on the most amiable face that he could under the circumstances and dropped the gun as he walked toward Clay:
"I supposed that we should thank you for your concerns," he said calmly. Then he extended his hand to shake his, which Clay took hesitantly.
'When the vision started, he knew right away that their worst fears had come true. A group of soldiers were running up the stairs, crashing down the doors and, guns at the ready, told them that they were under arrest. Matthew, out of fear, lifted his gun at this point, provoking the soldiers and then he fell under their fire, as well as Clay who got in the way. The sergeant had ordered to cease fire just as Cole was going to be shot as well, and then he got arrested.'
When the vision stopped, he looked at Clay with a very different expression.
"You're right, they are coming…"
"How do you know?"
"You just told me didn't you?'
Clay looked suspiciously at the man but nevertheless added:
"I have two horses ready for you in the stables behind the hotel. I'll give you indications for a trail that's not well known and should keep you safe from the soldiers…"
Cole was still very suspicious of Clay's motivations but what he had seen left him no choice but to do what the man said.
"Alright, give us a minute and we'll follow you…"
"I can only tell you where to go, I don't want to be caught with you. This wouldn't help Phoebe's family at all, nor me. I'm sure that you wouldn't want her to get into trouble?"
Cole sighed.
"Of course not… then just say your piece and be on your way, they're coming soon..."
Again, Clay wondered why he had changed his mind so quickly about his claim, but he wasn't about to question his good fortune too much. His plan seemed to be working.
While they gathered a few essentials, Clay explained the way to them, and then they left the room at the same time. It wasn't a moment too soon as the soldiers were already at the edge of town. Not bothering to pay for their last week stay, Cole and Matthew followed Clay until he indicated the stables to them and then he left in a hurry. The two men thought that they could hear a group of horses on the street in front of the hotel. They didn't lose any more time, mounting the horses and pushing them as much as they dared; they took the direction Clay had assured them would lead them to safety…
Cole was almost surprised to find the trail through the woods just as Clay had described, and he pressed on, still expecting the soldiers to be following them any time now…
Clay chose to wait a little longer to put the second part of his plan to work. He wanted the Yankees to put some distance between them and the soldiers. The longer the pursuit, the more chance that they wouldn't come back and bother Phoebe's family, or so he thought…
He saw them looking around town at first, and then they headed straight for the hotel, where many of them entered with guns at the ready. It took them only a few minutes to assert that the spies had run, and they came back out in frustration.
The soldiers began questioning people around about them…
Clay finally thought that it had been long enough and he ran to them, seemingly out of breath…
"Sergeant," he called to him, "I think that I saw them…"
The sergeant turned toward him immediately.
"Where?"
"I tried to follow them because they looked suspicious to me but I lost them… They were running toward the forest on horses."
The sergeant impatiently interrupted him:
"Show us where…"
Clay knew that he had better not procrastinate any longer and he indicated the trail to them. Soon, the whole troop was on Cole and Matthew's tracks and only then did Clay think it safe to go back toward the mansion…
Phoebe had tried to go to sleep, but as exhausted as she was, a million thoughts were crossing her mind. On the one hand, she believed that her friend must be right, but she couldn't help wishing that he wasn't. Then again, she was afraid that if he were wrong, then Cole would get arrested and even killed for what he supposedly did. This, more than any other of her worries, was what kept her awake.
Cole and Matthew had been pushing the horses for at least thirty minutes on the barely discernable trail. Cole constantly looked back, expecting pursuit at any moment. However, that wasn't the only thought that kept him looking back. Suddenly, he put the horse to a halt, and Matthew only realized it when he turned to look for their pursuers. Surprised, he stopped and walked the horse back toward Cole.
"Sir, what is it?"
Cole was hesitating and didn't answer right away. Then he turned to him resolutely.
"Go ahead; I want you to run as fast as you can…"
Matthew got a sinking feeling.
"What about you, sir?"
Cole looked intently at his companion.
"I have to go back, I'll cut through the woods; don't worry…" he added rapidly as he saw Matthew about to protest.
This one wouldn't be stopped.
"You can't do that, it's too dangerous…"
He knew exactly what Cole wanted to do and it scared him.
"I have no choice," Cole replied in a firm voice, "I can't leave here just now…"
"Sir this is stupid, you'll get caught…"
"Maybe it's worth the risk…"
Matthew gave one long last look at Cole, and then he turned his horse around as the lawyer cut through the woods as he told him he would. Matthew only went a few feet however, before he came back toward Cole and began following him.
Cole heard him and turned angrily.
"Save yourself," he almost screamed.
"You may have your reasons but I also have mine. And besides, you'll need someone to watch your back. We're in this together, remember."
Cole just gave him a very irritated look but didn't protest, as they both went deeper into the forest. After a while they thought they heard many horses far behind them, and they guessed that the soldiers were looking for them. However, the noise faded rapidly and they believed that the darkness had hidden their tracks.
They continued on in the direction of the Leighton's plantation.
*************************
"Not a very nice chap this Clay of yours," Cole said trying to sound casual…
He couldn't fool them however and Phoebe teased him.
"He was doing it out of love…"
"For you…huh, her…"
Phoebe gave him her most innocent look.
"Yes."
Cole knew that he shouldn't have continued this, but he didn't like the look on her face when she was talking about him… For some reason, he sensed that there was more to Clay than just this story. Of that he was almost certain, and besides, Leo had put doubts in his mind earlier.
Still trying to sound only half interested but not really succeeding, he asked:
"So, I gather that he was just someone from the past… Like not someone that you've known in this life?"
"Oh I know him. I haven't seen him in a while though, but I know him…"
"Hum, hum."
Piper and Paige almost burst out laughing, and he noticed their amused expression.
Cole finally decided not to insist on this subject, but promised himself that he would know more about this Clay of hers…
After a moment, he said instead:
"Ok then, what's next?"
Phoebe smiled knowingly.
"You're not sleepy?"
"Not anymore…"
"All right then…"
Chapter Nine
Matthew wondered what the matter with him was. When he had left his apartment, it had been without hesitation. He knew what he wanted and that was the end of it… However, for the last two hours, he had been driving back and forth, changing his mind constantly. Every time he thought that he had made a decision, he would be pulled in another direction. More than once, he told himself that something was terribly wrong with him, yet he couldn't do anything against it. He even tried to orb up, thinking of asking advice from the Elders, even though he knew that they would disapprove of him. That was another of those decisions that he couldn't implement as another urge to go get her sent him back toward her house. At long last, he had simply stopped, determined to figure this out. Even now, sitting in the car not five minutes from her house, he still couldn't think clearly…
Nicholas had been watching the apartment with growing doubts. He had been so certain that his brother would come through… yet Matthew had not been back… Things were going so well otherwise… Jacob had come to him only an hour earlier with the news that his targets were in sight again. He was expecting those two obstacles to be out of the picture any time now, which would give him a window of opportunity. Maybe even the possibility to see her without his brother's help. Given his apparent failure on that part of the plan, he really hoped that Jacob would succeed…
Contrary to Jacob, he didn't worry about the archangel. The first time around, this one had not even recognized his presence. He felt that he most probably could fool him long enough. If only the whitelighters were destroyed… His patience was wearing off rapidly. He had waited so long already…
"It's been way too long, I really think that we should try to find them…" Piper uttered with a hint of anxiety.
"You might be right, but how are we going to do that?" Phoebe replied.
Piper lifted her eyebrows, unsure herself…
They were still pondering their options when Cole came back.
"Hey, where the hell were you? We were getting worried here…"
He smiled.
"For no reason…. I even have good news… The darklighter that worried Leo is gone for good this time. We took care of it."
"Oh well, that's good news then, but why aren't Leo and your father with you?"
"They had to report," he said with a quick glance toward the ceiling.
"I guess that it would be safe to go home now?"
"I don't see why not…"
Piper hesitated still.
"On the other hand, I'm not sleepy yet," she added. "Hey Phoebe, do you think that you could finish this story? It may even give time for Leo to come back…"
"Of course…"
Kissing his wife, Cole said:
"If you don't mind, I think that I will pass. Someone has to sleep tonight…"
"Ok…"
Then she went back to the couch, starting the story immediately.
"As I was saying, Clay was now determined to make Phoebe forget all about Cole…"
Cole interrupted:
"On second thought, I think that I'm going to stay up a little longer," he said as he came to sit by Phoebe. This one smiled, amused, but she didn't comment and continued…
***********
'Clay was quite certain that she believed his theory by now, but he was determined to stick around and make sure that she wouldn't change her mind again. He knew her… He mostly feared that she might just go and try to help the so-called lawyer out of his predicament if she thought that the soldiers had been right.
"You do believe me don't you, Phoebe? That's the only thing that makes sense. Those two were no spy material, believe me. You told me yourself what he thought of slavery. Were those the words of a man who'd want to free them?"
"You're probably right…"
For a moment, she had dared hoping that she had been wrong about Cole; that maybe he was the kind of man that she wanted in her life. But then, Clay's explanation made much more sense. After all, a vile person like this Nicholas would certainly not hesitate to lie in order to get his revenge. The coward way…
Even if Phoebe was ready to accept her friend's explanation, it was painful to see her hopes burst in this manner.
Clay felt bad for her, but on the other hand, he thought that it was the best way for her to put this man behind her. And of course, maybe she'd finally come back to him… When she leaned on him, he hoped that it was the sign that she was finally doing just that…
Phoebe's musings about Cole prevented her from worrying about the most immediate threat… However, her uncle and Piper were both seeing the real danger that had just knocked on their door.
Victor wished that he had known about the attack the day before, as the kid would be dead by now and none of this unpleasantness would be happening… The threat of an inquiry worried him for more reasons than one. Scrutiny might reveal his daughters and niece's true nature. This would be catastrophic. He thought that he could beat what he stood accused of easily enough. On the other hand, if the outside world found out about them, then nothing would prevent disaster to strike. Even after all those years, he was still uncomfortable with the fact that his daughters were witches and could easily imagine what other people would think. His now dead wife, Patricia, had not seen fit to tell him that she was a witch until after their second daughter was born. And she probably would have tried to keep it from him still, if it hadn't been for the fact that Piper had already started using her powers at this point. Victor had loved his wife very much, but he couldn't help resenting her for hiding what she was from him all those years. They had continued to live as husband and wife, but the truth about her always stood between them afterward. It wasn't until she died that he realized how much he had missed because of his stubbornness. He swore that he would always keep his daughters safe from the outside world from then on. And now, his younger daughter had suffered the worst of fate, and their very way of life was threatened. He was not so much worried about himself, as he was scared for his daughters…
Piper's worries mirrored his own, as she watched her father still pacing nervously. After her mother's death, she also had felt responsible for her family's safety. However, Paige had been hurt and she was helpless to comfort her. And now, this new threat might very well be the end of them…
Knowing that she couldn't do anything about the latter, she at least decided to try and do something about Paige. She got up abruptly and went to the stairs without a word. Her father barely noticed, still lost in somber thoughts.
Phoebe saw her going, and decided that she needed some time alone of her own. The last two days had been very charged emotionally and being in the same room as her obviously distraught uncle didn't help her mood. She told Clay, who offered to accompany her upstairs.
Phoebe accepted reluctantly.
When they got to her room, he seemed reluctant to leave her, and she sensed that he worried about what she would do. At this point however, she had no idea herself. Doubts were still lingering in her mind… He finally took leave of her but only after taking her hand and kissing it a little too long for Phoebe's comfort. She suddenly felt the need to take it away, ill at ease with his touch. She saw that her gesture hurt him, but she couldn't bring herself to reassure him. All she wanted was to be left alone at the moment.
Clay tried to put on a good face, but the thought of her going to him still worried him immensely. After she got in her room and closed the door, his expression became somber and somewhat pensive. For a few minutes, he just stood there, thinking. Then an idea struck him; one that he believed might solve his problems…
He hurried downstairs and out of the house…
Piper had to insist with Corrine to be granted access to her sister's room, and she had pain to hide her irritation at the slave. However, she knew that the old woman was only doing what she thought best for Paige and she tried to put it aside. Finally she could see her sister and her heart sunk the moment she did. The poor girl had puffy eyes and her overall attitude gave Piper the impression that she had grown beyond her years all of a sudden. Gone was the carefree attitude, only to be replaced by a very serious expression. Paige hesitated a little longer, barely looking at Piper. Then, remembering how much her sister loved her, and cared about her, she went to Piper and buried her face in her shoulder, crying anew.
All Piper could say as she hugged her sister was:
"Oh Paige, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you."
Taking deep breaths, Paige managed to answer:
"It's not your fault, you warned me and I didn't listen…"
"I never imagined that this would happen…I don't know what to do to help you…"
Paige pulled away slightly:
"Just being here is fine. I was so afraid that you would resent me for what happened…"
Piper opened wide eyes.
"NO! He is the monster! You're not responsible for what he did…"
"Wasn't I? Maybe… Maybe I encouraged him somehow…"
"Paige, listen to me. Men like that don't need any encouragement. They are takers, monsters. You didn't do anything wrong…"
"I just wish that I could be as certain as you are…"
"You must. You're the victim…And I just wish that we could punish him as he so deserves…"
Paige seemed to notice that something else bothered her sister.
"Did something else happen?"
Piper hesitated to add to Paige's burden, but she still feared for her safety. After what he had done to them, she was afraid that he might come back and try to hurt her again.
"I'm afraid that he has not stopped at hurting you…"
Paige gasped, now terrified of what her sister could mean by this, and Piper continued.
"He has made accusations about our family and the lawyer that brought him here. He told soldiers that we were helping to free slaves…"
"Oh no…Father?"
"Don't worry, they didn't arrest him or anything, but they threatened to inquire in the matter shortly…"
Paige felt the tears coming back.
"It's all my fault…"
"I don't want you to blame yourself," Piper answered firmly. "He's the one that should be blamed for all of it…"
A heavy silence fell between them, as Paige contained her sobbing at great efforts. Then, Piper asked the question that was the most difficult for her.
"Paige, I know that it was Nicholas that hurt you but…The other men… Did they?"
"NO! Matthew helped me, and Mr. Fairbanks wasn't even there. I just met him as I was coming back home."
Piper couldn't help feeling relief at this.
"Ok sister, now I want you to stay close to us at all times. I'm afraid that he might be coming back for you…"
Paige couldn't help giving fearful looks around the room, as if she expected him to show up at any moment.
"Don't worry; I will never let this monster hurt you again…"
"But what about the soldiers?"
"Hopefully, it'll all get sorted out soon enough, and it's gonna be behind us…"
Piper wished that she were as confident about this as she led her sister to believe…
Clay had a kind of revelation on what he should do and right then, he was riding his horse very fast through the forest. He knew that it was a shortcut to town and that he had a very good chance to get there before the soldiers. The solution was simple enough, he thought, and hopefully would solve all his problems.
He would warn the lawyer and his clerk about the soldiers and give them instructions to escape them, as he knew the surroundings much better than the soldiers did. Then, he would go to the soldiers and send them on their trail. This would launch them in pursuit and maybe even take their attention away from Phoebe's family. Hopefully, his collaboration would go a long way in convincing the soldiers that the Leighton had nothing to do with the lawyers and whatever they had done. He still wasn't too certain about the truth of the matter, but he knew that whatever it was, the lawyers would prefer to go rather than face the confederates' judgement. They were Yankees after all, and the war still raged… Spies were not usually given much chance to defend themselves under such circumstances. He was aware that if the lawyers were not guilty of the offenses they stood accused of, then what he was he was about to do was terrible. But his loyalties went to Phoebe and her family, not to strangers from the north, and particularly not those…
Cole and Matthew had thought of leaving the hotel the night before, as they feared that Nicholas would indeed betray them. However, the mission was not completed yet, and after a few hours of anxious wait, they had finally concluded that at least Matthew's brother had not sunk to this level of ignominy. Early that morning, they had set out to accomplish the last of their tasks. One last group of slaves, all convinced by them to flee their plantation, had been hiding a little ways out of town. They were nervous and afraid when the two men arrived but they reassured them that all was going according to plan. The group set out toward the rendezvous point and they left the former slaves with instructions as to who would come for them and how to be certain of it. Then, after a long day they were returning to the hotel, still very apprehensive on what they would find there…They had been tempted to simply go with the slaves and never come back, but they still thought possible to keep their cover. There were still many that needed help, and they hoped that in time, they could do the same for them.
Still, Cole didn't enter town right away, observing the comings and goings carefully before taking the risk. However, after an hour of this, he decided that no one had come for them and with sighs of relief he and Matthew directed their paces toward the hotel. There, they found a surprising visitor…
Clay was certain that he had almost an hour on the soldiers when he arrived in town. He went straight to the hotel, only to learn that the lawyers had left for an errand early that morning. He was upset about it, thinking that they might've run, but he decided to wait a little longer, just in case. He convinced the clerk to let him wait in their room. This one knew Clay very well and didn't need much convincing, as he trusted him implicitly. Clay found that if the lawyers had fled, then they had not brought much with them. Their baggage was still there, although obviously ready for departure. In itself, it wasn't much of an indication given what happened the day before. They must have been convinced by now that their business with Victor Leighton would not come to a positive conclusion. Still, he wondered what other business might have kept them out all day. He surmised that maybe the Leighton's plantation had not been their only prospect. Even now, he couldn't imagine those people as spies, or even less as good men trying to free slaves. In all honesty, Clay himself didn't believe much in Phoebe's ideals. He still thought that the South's economy would go awry if they were to let go of the slaves. In that instance, he actually had agreed with the lawyer, but he would never have told this to Phoebe. Thus, in the improbable case where those two were in fact what the soldiers had said, he had one more good reason to give them away… As the evening was advancing, he began to believe that they wouldn't come back, and was about to leave, when he heard steps coming toward the room. Someone was now trying the lock and realizing that the door was already opened, they paused outside of it. Clay took a deep breath, now not so sure about his plan… After a moment, the door began opening slowly and then Cole entered cautiously, gun in hand. He exclaimed in surprise at seeing who was there. Clay thought that he also saw some relief in their expression.
Still holding the gun toward Clay however, Cole questioned.
"What are you doing here?"
Clay held up his hand in sign of peace, while replying.
"I came to warn you… Soldiers are on their way as we speak to arrest you…"
Cole observed him curiously.
"And why would they?"
"It appears that your brother," he said looking toward Matthew, who was standing just a little ways behind and to the side of Cole, "has accused you of being spies for the North…"
"That's ridiculous," Cole said, but Clay now saw a little fear on their faces.
"Nevertheless, it's the truth…"
Cole became suspicious.
"Why would you want to help us?"
"You personally, I have no interest in helping. However, those accusations have the potential to put everyone in contact with you around here in trouble. I think that for Phoebe's sake and her family's, it would be better if you were long gone when the soldiers arrived."
Cole couldn't help wondering if there was any truth to this. He knew perfectly well that this man had personal reasons to want him gone. He had seen the way Clay looked at Phoebe and believed that he would want nothing less than to see him disappear.
Still very suspicious of the visitor, Cole thought that he might have a way to verify the information. He put on the most amiable face that he could under the circumstances and dropped the gun as he walked toward Clay:
"I supposed that we should thank you for your concerns," he said calmly. Then he extended his hand to shake his, which Clay took hesitantly.
'When the vision started, he knew right away that their worst fears had come true. A group of soldiers were running up the stairs, crashing down the doors and, guns at the ready, told them that they were under arrest. Matthew, out of fear, lifted his gun at this point, provoking the soldiers and then he fell under their fire, as well as Clay who got in the way. The sergeant had ordered to cease fire just as Cole was going to be shot as well, and then he got arrested.'
When the vision stopped, he looked at Clay with a very different expression.
"You're right, they are coming…"
"How do you know?"
"You just told me didn't you?'
Clay looked suspiciously at the man but nevertheless added:
"I have two horses ready for you in the stables behind the hotel. I'll give you indications for a trail that's not well known and should keep you safe from the soldiers…"
Cole was still very suspicious of Clay's motivations but what he had seen left him no choice but to do what the man said.
"Alright, give us a minute and we'll follow you…"
"I can only tell you where to go, I don't want to be caught with you. This wouldn't help Phoebe's family at all, nor me. I'm sure that you wouldn't want her to get into trouble?"
Cole sighed.
"Of course not… then just say your piece and be on your way, they're coming soon..."
Again, Clay wondered why he had changed his mind so quickly about his claim, but he wasn't about to question his good fortune too much. His plan seemed to be working.
While they gathered a few essentials, Clay explained the way to them, and then they left the room at the same time. It wasn't a moment too soon as the soldiers were already at the edge of town. Not bothering to pay for their last week stay, Cole and Matthew followed Clay until he indicated the stables to them and then he left in a hurry. The two men thought that they could hear a group of horses on the street in front of the hotel. They didn't lose any more time, mounting the horses and pushing them as much as they dared; they took the direction Clay had assured them would lead them to safety…
Cole was almost surprised to find the trail through the woods just as Clay had described, and he pressed on, still expecting the soldiers to be following them any time now…
Clay chose to wait a little longer to put the second part of his plan to work. He wanted the Yankees to put some distance between them and the soldiers. The longer the pursuit, the more chance that they wouldn't come back and bother Phoebe's family, or so he thought…
He saw them looking around town at first, and then they headed straight for the hotel, where many of them entered with guns at the ready. It took them only a few minutes to assert that the spies had run, and they came back out in frustration.
The soldiers began questioning people around about them…
Clay finally thought that it had been long enough and he ran to them, seemingly out of breath…
"Sergeant," he called to him, "I think that I saw them…"
The sergeant turned toward him immediately.
"Where?"
"I tried to follow them because they looked suspicious to me but I lost them… They were running toward the forest on horses."
The sergeant impatiently interrupted him:
"Show us where…"
Clay knew that he had better not procrastinate any longer and he indicated the trail to them. Soon, the whole troop was on Cole and Matthew's tracks and only then did Clay think it safe to go back toward the mansion…
Phoebe had tried to go to sleep, but as exhausted as she was, a million thoughts were crossing her mind. On the one hand, she believed that her friend must be right, but she couldn't help wishing that he wasn't. Then again, she was afraid that if he were wrong, then Cole would get arrested and even killed for what he supposedly did. This, more than any other of her worries, was what kept her awake.
Cole and Matthew had been pushing the horses for at least thirty minutes on the barely discernable trail. Cole constantly looked back, expecting pursuit at any moment. However, that wasn't the only thought that kept him looking back. Suddenly, he put the horse to a halt, and Matthew only realized it when he turned to look for their pursuers. Surprised, he stopped and walked the horse back toward Cole.
"Sir, what is it?"
Cole was hesitating and didn't answer right away. Then he turned to him resolutely.
"Go ahead; I want you to run as fast as you can…"
Matthew got a sinking feeling.
"What about you, sir?"
Cole looked intently at his companion.
"I have to go back, I'll cut through the woods; don't worry…" he added rapidly as he saw Matthew about to protest.
This one wouldn't be stopped.
"You can't do that, it's too dangerous…"
He knew exactly what Cole wanted to do and it scared him.
"I have no choice," Cole replied in a firm voice, "I can't leave here just now…"
"Sir this is stupid, you'll get caught…"
"Maybe it's worth the risk…"
Matthew gave one long last look at Cole, and then he turned his horse around as the lawyer cut through the woods as he told him he would. Matthew only went a few feet however, before he came back toward Cole and began following him.
Cole heard him and turned angrily.
"Save yourself," he almost screamed.
"You may have your reasons but I also have mine. And besides, you'll need someone to watch your back. We're in this together, remember."
Cole just gave him a very irritated look but didn't protest, as they both went deeper into the forest. After a while they thought they heard many horses far behind them, and they guessed that the soldiers were looking for them. However, the noise faded rapidly and they believed that the darkness had hidden their tracks.
They continued on in the direction of the Leighton's plantation.
*************************
"Not a very nice chap this Clay of yours," Cole said trying to sound casual…
He couldn't fool them however and Phoebe teased him.
"He was doing it out of love…"
"For you…huh, her…"
Phoebe gave him her most innocent look.
"Yes."
Cole knew that he shouldn't have continued this, but he didn't like the look on her face when she was talking about him… For some reason, he sensed that there was more to Clay than just this story. Of that he was almost certain, and besides, Leo had put doubts in his mind earlier.
Still trying to sound only half interested but not really succeeding, he asked:
"So, I gather that he was just someone from the past… Like not someone that you've known in this life?"
"Oh I know him. I haven't seen him in a while though, but I know him…"
"Hum, hum."
Piper and Paige almost burst out laughing, and he noticed their amused expression.
Cole finally decided not to insist on this subject, but promised himself that he would know more about this Clay of hers…
After a moment, he said instead:
"Ok then, what's next?"
Phoebe smiled knowingly.
"You're not sleepy?"
"Not anymore…"
"All right then…"