“I don’t like that man,” Dawson whispered.
“What man?”
“The one on the other ship.”
“Shh.”Jonathan wrapped his arms a little tighter around the child.“You don’t have to worry about him anymore.He won’t ever bother you again.”
Dawson squirmed and looked up at Jonathan.“Will you keep us safe?”
“You mean protect you?”
Dawson nodded.
Jonathan leaned down and kissed Dawson’s forehead.“Yes, I’ll protect both you and your mother.”
Jonathan spent the rest of the night with one arm around Dawson and the other hand resting on Elizabeth.Something told him that all would be well.
Once the shipdocked at New Orleans, Jonathan wasted little time getting Elizabeth to the hospital.The doctor started working on her right away.
A messenger was sent to Four Oaks for Adam and Jewel.
When Adam arrived, he found Jonathan and a child who looked a lot like Jonathan sleeping in a chair.Adam nudged Jewel, who smiled at what she saw.
Adam shook Jonathan.“You look like you’ve had a long night,” he said as Jonathan jerked awake.
Jonathan’s jump woke Dawson.“Adam.Jewel,” Jonathan said, a little startled.“I’m glad you both are here.”He looked at Jewel and smiled.“I see you have changed since the last time I saw you.”
“Yes, I am a little smaller.”Jewel laughed and then asked, “Why are we at a hospital?”
Adam looked around.“And where is my sister?”
“The messenger didn’t tell you?”
“Only that both of you were at the hospital.”
Jonathan’s eyes burned from lack of sleep.The few moments in this hard chair were hardly enough.“Elizabeth was shot.The doctor is removing the bullet.”
“What happened?”Confused, Adam paced restlessly around the room.“I told you to find her a husband, not shoot her!”
Jonathan gave him a sarcastic look.His back ached between his shoulder blades, and his temper was short.“She was shot by Captain Lee.”
“Lee?”Jewel gasped.“He’s dead.He couldn’t have shot her.”
“Lee is dead now, because Jean killed him.Believe it or not, Lee survived the treasure hunt, then appeared in England and accused me of treason.It’s been a bloody mess.”
Dawson rubbed his eyes and yawned.Then he glanced curiously at the two strangers.His gaze followed Adam as he moved around the room.
“Look.”Jewel nudged her husband.“I bet Dawson sees Elizabeth in you since you’re twins.”
Adam’s attention turned to the child.“Hello, lad.I’m your Uncle Adam, and this is your Aunt Jewel.”
Dawson didn’t say anything, but his expressive face became somber as he absorbed what he’d been told.
Jewel held out her arms.“Do you want me to hold you for a little while?”
Dawson seemed to think about the offer.Finally, he went to Jewel.Jonathan rose and stretched, trying to rid himself of aches from too many nights with too little sleep.It would be a miracle if he ever got all the kinks out.
The doctor swept through the door.“That bullet was deep, but I got it,” he told the group.“She’ll be all right with a little rest.”
