Son of the Revolution Read Online Free PDF Page B

saw that Seth lay slumped over Polly’s back.
    “James, come quickly. It’s Seth and he’s hurt.”
    James Larkin ran, catching his son as he slid from the saddle. “Get some water, Mary, and turn down the bed in the downstairs bedroom.” Looking at Caleb he asked, “can you give me a hand here, lad?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The two, working together, got Seth into the house and laid him on a four poster bed. His mother hurried in with a bowl of water and after gently bathing his face, pulled a quilt over the pale boy.
    “I’m going for the doctor, Mary.” James Larkin hurried away.
    Not knowing what else to do, Caleb found a chair in the large hallway and sat down.
    A few minutes later, he heard a noise from above and looked up, shocked to see a young girl on the landing who threw her leg over the wood banister. Her petticoats flying, she slid expertly down its length. Startled at seeing a stranger at the bottom, she flew off the end and landed squarely on the polished wood floor.
    She sat up and stared at Caleb until she found her tongue. “Who are you?”
    “I’m Private Fields, and you’re most likely Bossy Bess.” Instantly sorry, Caleb bit his lip.
    “Seth! He’s here or you wouldn’t know that horrible name.”
    “H-he’s hurt. Your mother is with him,” Seth told the girl and nodded toward the downstairs bedroom.
    “Oh, I must go to him. He’ll want to see me.” The girl rushed off, her silvery braids escaping from her lace cap as she bounded away.
    Once more, Caleb sat to wait. He gazed around. Seth’s description hadn’t done justice to this lovely home.
    The door opened and Seth’s father appeared followed by a stout man who Caleb decided must be the doctor.
    “Still here, private? Why don’t you go to the kitchen and tell cook to give you something. I think she probably has plenty set aside from our evening meal. It’s the first building next to the back gallery.”
    “Yes, sir.” Food smells from the recent meal had wafted through the house, teasing Caleb’s nose. Finding his way out, he encountered a woman who sat dozing before a small cooking fire. He stood in the open doorway and cleared his throat to get her attention.
    “Gracious! You startled me, young man.”
    Again, Caleb indentified himself and briefly explained what brought him here.
    “Well, then, you’ve both returned from the war, have you? I’m ever so sorry to hear of Master Seth’s injury. But, here, sit down and let me see if there’s not a bit of venison left. Oh, and if anyone needs to know, I’m Charity, of County Down, Ireland.”
    For the next twenty minutes, Caleb ate everything set before him. He finished the meal with a pudding of corn mush laced with molasses.
    “It’s good to see you eat so hearty, boy. Have you had a bad time of it?”
    “Not bad, ma’am, until yesterday when Seth got wounded.”
    “I can understand that. I helped to raise young Mr. Larkin. He’s like one of my own. I’ll go see him presently.”
    “Here you are. I thought perhaps you’d gone,” a new voice interrupted.
    Elizabeth plopped herself in a chair across from Caleb and to his amazement pursed her lips and started whistling. “Can you do that?” Her sea green eyes dared him.
    “I don’t feel like whistling right now. I just ate.” Not wanting to admit he had never mastered the art, Caleb took refuge in the weak excuse.
    The girl didn’t reply, but Caleb guessed she knew his secret, so he changed the subject.
    “What news of Seth?”
    “The doctor sewed his shoulder and said time will tell. For now, he must have lots of rest and nourishment. That means he must eat the kind of food that will help him regain his health.”
    “I know what it means.” Caleb recalled Seth’s words and silently agreed that Elizabeth could truly irritate a body.
    Mr. Larkin appeared at the kitchen door. Upon seeing Elizabeth, he exclaimed, “Daughter, are you bothering our guest?” He did not wait for an answer before he spoke