Corporal Banks’ frown deepened. “He sent me a message to let me know he was going to check on some suspicious activity. We were waiting for his return. What did he say about the cattle on your land?”
She glanced at the others in the room. She didn’t approve of spreading gossip, but she trusted that when Alexander cleared things up regarding his cattle, the three servants would keep whatever they heard tonight to themselves.
“He believed Señor Lopez to be the cattle thief the Union Army is searching for.” At the gasps in the room, she hastened to add, “But I told him he was absolutely incorrect. Alexander is not a thief. He pays me to lease my pastures.”
The corporal’s grave expression didn’t change. “What time did he leave Rose Hill?”
“It was after dark, but I’m not sure of the hour.”
“And you say he’d just come from looking at the herd?”
“Yes.”
Corporal Banks put his hat on, his face grim. “Ma’am, I didn’t want to alarm you, but we believe the colonel is in danger. His horse returned to Langford Manor a short time ago without him.” His gaze held hers. “There was blood on the saddle.”
Her own blood went cold.
Noises from outside drew their attention. The group moved outside to see dozens of mounted soldiers filling the yard. Corporal Banks drew up next to her.
“We’re forming a search party.”
“I be glad to help,” Moses said. “I get the wagon hitched”—he glanced at Natalie—“in case he too injured to ride.”
Fear clutched at her heart. Everyone flew into action while she stood rooted to the porch. Torches were lit, orders were given, and suddenly, the yard was emptied of soldiers. Harriet and Carolina returned to the kitchen to make sandwiches and more coffee. Even the new field workers, aroused by the commotion, volunteered to join in the search. Ruth’s tall husband, Wash, climbed up on the wagon seat beside Moses, and they followed the soldiers.
Standing alone, her arms wrapped around her waist, Natalie felt helpless. Clinging to the shred of hope that Corporal Banks was wrong and that Levi was safe, she went upstairs, peeking in on Samuel’s sleeping form on her way.
She closed the door to her room. Her bedcovers were a jumbled mess, but she didn’t tidy them. Instead, she went to the adjoining sitting room and settled on a chair. Though the sun would not rise for another hour or so, a faint lightening to the sky allowed her to make out silhouettes of furniture and small details in the shadowed room.
She closed her eyes. Was Levi badly injured? Did Alexander have something to do with it? She’d refused to believe it last night when Levi was here, but what if she was wrong? What if her obstinacy drove Levi to do something drastic and dangerous?
Tears sprang to her eyes. “Please keep him safe.” She sank to her knees, folded her arms on the seat of the chair, and rested her forehead on them. Her tears wet her skin.
“Father in heaven, forgive me for my stubbornness. I’ve been a selfish woman, always insisting I know best. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to Levi. You know where he is. Please, please, Father, let him be found … alive.”
Voices.
Levi gradually became aware of sounds in the distance, but his head was too foggy to focus on what they were saying. Was it Banks and his men looking for him? Should he alert them to his whereabouts?
Whoever it was continued to draw closer.
A faint yellow light bounced off the tree branches overhead, flickering and moving as it neared. He blinked. Not sunlight. Stars still twinkled in an inky sky beyond. Ah, torchlight. They had torches to aid them in the dark.
Thank God.
He didn’t know how long he’d lain here, but he was so weak, he must have lost a fair amount of blood. If he didn’t receive medical attention soon, he might not make it. He’d seen enough men bleed to death on the battlefields. Joining them was not a pleasant thought.
A pool of bright light touched the top of the fallen log. Levi took a breath to call to Banks when someone close by said something strange. He couldn’t understand the words. Had the knock on his head been worse than he thought? The man spoke again, and someone responded from a few paces away.
Levi’s body went cold.
They were speaking Spanish. Lopez’s men were upon him.
His heart hammered. Fresh warmth spread across the back of his shoulder. His own fear had caused the blood flow to increase. It didn’t matter, though. The moment they found him lying there, helpless as a newborn, they’d put a bullet in his head.
The men drew up next to the log. Levi could see the tops of their heads and the flickering flames of their torches. He knew the few branches he’d managed to cover himself with would not be enough to conceal him if they looked closely. The brass buttons on his coat, the white of his shirt. All would be revealed in the light.
One of the men studied the fallen tree. Levi could see the whites of the man’s eyes as he waved his torch over the log.
Levi squeezed his own eyes shut, his finger on the trigger of his revolver. He might be able to take down the one man, but what of the others? He didn’t stand a chance once they knew where he was hiding. This was not the end he wanted. He had so much life to live.
Oh, God! Please …
After several long moments, the men moved away. The voices faded until only the sounds of night remained.
Many minutes passed before Levi eased his eyes open. His body trembled as if
