“Yes, of course. I’ll bring a tray downstairs for everyone to enjoy.” Cleta gave Theo a nudge toward the storeroom, where the trap door had remained open, and the door into the shop closed. “You go on down and see the men, Theo.”
Theo raced to the trap door and started down the steps.
As soon as his head disappeared from sight, Cleta closed the kitchen door, and then she helped Lucy unfasten the pins and ties holding her clothes in place. Lucy left her things in a heap on the floor and rushed up the stairs to her room, where she washed, changed into a clean dress, and combed her hair.
She returned to the kitchen just as Cleta filled a pitcher with cider. “Here, Mama. I can carry that.”
Cleta smiled and wiped her hands on a towel. “Give me your hands.”
Lucy held out her hands, and her mother dabbed a little rosewater on her wrists. “You want to smell nice for your young man.”
A blush warmed Lucy’s cheeks. “Branch isn’t exactly mine, Mama. He hasn’t made any declarations of love. Not yet.”
“I’m sure he will. Give him time, Luce. You might as well accept that when it comes to matters of the heart, most men will drag their feet until they can drag them no more, then they forge ahead with unexpected haste.”
Lucy laughed and picked up the pitcher of cider and a plate holding more of the molasses cakes. “Is that how Papa behaved when you fell in love?”
“He was worse, but I’ll share that story another day.” Cleta lifted a tray holding cups and napkins.
The women made their way down the steps. Lucy was surprised to see Theo sitting on Ward’s knee as he relayed every detail of the adventure. All four males looked to Lucy when she set the cider and cakes on the table that no longer held medical instruments or supplies.
Thomas was pale but awake, resting in the bed with bandages wrapped around his chest and side. Branch sat on the other bed, wearing one of her father’s shirts. For a man who’d been shot earlier in the day, he looked wonderful.
“Daughter, your brother has been filling our ears with your adventure across the river. Did your heart not fall down to nestle by your toes when the Redcoats surprised you on the riverbank?”
“It certainly did, Papa. I was frightened half witless, but I certainly couldn’t say, ‘Pardon me, we have a coded Rebel message to deliver. Please move out of our way.’ Could I?”
Branch and Thomas grinned, and Ward chuckled. “I suppose not. I’m so proud of both of you. Branch is most fortunate the buttons haven’t popped off my waistcoat and taken out an eye.”
Cleta set the tray of cups and napkins by the cider and began pouring the liquid. “I’m also proud of you both for being so brave. I wouldn’t have gotten as far as the riverbank, let alone all the way to the New Jersey shore.”
“Yes, you would.” Lucy settled an arm around her mother’s waist. “You’d do anything you needed to do, Mama, because that’s who you are.”
Cleta’s face turned pink, but she appeared pleased by Lucy’s praise as she passed around the cups of cider.
“To Lucy and Theo! Brave heroes are they!” Branch declared, lifting his cup in a toast.
“To our heroes!” the others echoed.
Lucy touched her cup to Theo’s before she winked at him and took a sip.
Thomas was clearly in need of rest, and so was Branch. Although Lucy longed to sit with Branch, she retreated to the kitchen with Theo. Her father and mother planned to take turns sitting up with Thomas in case he awakened and required assistance during the night, hopeful that Branch would rest.
Her mother offered to sit with Thomas, since Ward had been in the cellar all evening. With Cleta down in what Lucy thought of as the spy room, she took charge of her brother.
“Up to bed with you, Theo.” Lucy gave him a nudge toward the stairs, then quickly washed the dishes they had dirtied. She tucked Theo in, kissing his cheeks and whispering in his ear how brave and strong he had been, then brushed the hair from his forehead as he fell immediately asleep.
She returned downstairs and looked outside to see her father sitting on the bench in the garden, staring up at the night sky.
“Papa, may I sit with you?” Lucy asked softly as she stepped outside.
He motioned for her to join him, and she walked to the bench, sitting beside him. She felt as though she were a little girl again when he settled an arm around her shoulders, pulled her to his side, and kissed the top of her head.
“My dear daughter, the task we pressed upon you would have tried the nerves of a fully grown man, yet you and Theo accomplished it and returned home able to find humor in your adventures instead of dwelling on the terror. As I said before, I am so proud of you. Thank you for making the effort tonight, and for the work you’ve done over the past weeks. I didn’t feel at liberty to share anything with you about my own work, but I’m glad you now know. It hurt my heart each time I could seedisappointment in your eyes when you assumed I leaned too far toward the enemy.”
“I’m glad I could help. Can help. I shall endeavor to continue to do so in any way I may be useful, Papa. It’s how you and Mama raised us to be.”
Her father nodded and settled back against the bench. Lucy leaned her head on his shoulder, wondering when she had grown up, and her father had begun to grow old. Life changed so quickly, the years blending together. Would she blink and be sitting beside her own grown child on a starry night, sharing wisdom and dreams?
