To Follow Her Heart Read online

  When the ferry arrived at the other shore, Jeremy watched as Heather Flower took in the beach she had left so long ago. He knew the story the wampum told. It was tragic, and Benjamin and Dirk—though it was Dirk who won her hand—were both blessings to her at that time.

  Dirk helped her up on Miss Button before he climbed up himself. When the entire party had mounted, Jeremy swung onto Ink and fell in beside Barnabas. They would dine with Thomas James and stay the night as his guests, but any meeting to be put on the schedule would be discussed at breakfast. Jeremy prayed the decisions would be quick in coming and that he could get back to the life that awaited him in Southold. From the moment he’d been tossed into the ocean, he’d felt as if his life had come to a standstill. He was ready to begin living it again.

  17

  September 19, 1664

  Easthampton, Long Island

  Jeremy woke early and came down from his room to the parlor. Reverend James and Mr. Barnes, the schoolmaster, rose to greet him and offered him a chair by the fire. “I trust you slept well,” said the reverend.

  “Good morrow, gentlemen. Yes, indeed, very well.”

  “Mr. Barnes and I were just discussing the meeting you so desire.”

  “Yes?”

  Mr. Barnes lowered himself into a chair. His ruddy face was moist, and he took a handkerchief from his coat and wiped his brow, then his upper lip. “It seems it is very short notice and—”

  “It is, but of great import. The Court of the Three Men has the authority to call a meeting within a half hour. I hardly see the difficulty in that, given the gravity of the situation.” Jeremy adjusted his collar while he awaited their answer. He glanced toward the door. He needed a little support here. Where was everyone?

  “The fact is, we haven’t been under the jurisdiction of New Haven for years. Oh, they keep posturing like we are, but we don’t pay taxes—never have. They try to tell us to answer to the magistrates of Southold—to Barnabas, mind you—and we’ve never done that either. And there is not a freeman here who worries New Amsterdam shall be any different. Let them lay claim on us, but we do not send anyone to assembly in New Haven, and we will not send anyone to New Amsterdam.”

  Reverend James took his seat, and Jeremy followed in taking the chair they’d offered him. Mr. Barnes shifted in his and brought his hand to his temple. He looked ill. Or did he object to what Reverend James had said? Jeremy looked back at the reverend. “Do you mean to—”

  Everyone turned as Heather Flower and Dirk came down the staircase and made their entrance. The men stood.

  “Good morning.” Heather Flower, dressed in deerskin adorned with jingle shells and eagle feathers, bowed slightly to the group. A long wampum belt made of deep purple and creamy white shell beads crossed her dress. The belt was the one she’d made to tell the story of her life. Her bearing was regal as she walked to Reverend James. “Thank you for keeping us for the night, but I feel I need to continue to Montauk and my people. My husband will take me there today.”

  “Ah, we shall regret that you must take your leave, but most certainly do not without sharing a meal with us.” He nodded to a room with a long table already laden with several meat and egg dishes.

  “Nuk, yes. We will break our fast with you.” She fell in beside Dirk and followed Reverend James as he led the way with Mr. Barnes.

  Jeremy paused at the door to the dining room and waited as Barnabas joined the group. They allowed Nathaniel Sylvester, Reverend Youngs, and Reverend Hobart to file in. He watched as Reverend James sat at the head of the table and Barnabas sat at the far end. Heather Flower took a seat next to Mr. Barnes, and Dirk sat opposite her. He couldn’t help but notice the beet-red face of Barnes as he took his own seat. Beads of sweat dotted Barnes’s forehead. Was he uncomfortable with the north fork delegation being here, or was there something else wrong with him?

  Conversation was light as they ate, which suited Jeremy, and he supposed Barnes, as well. It gave them both a moment to plan their strategy. He found it surprising, in a way, that Dirk was willing to leave before the talks. But mayhap as a Dutchman he’d rather not engage in the conversations. He could add an interesting slant, however.

  Heather Flower put her hand on Mr. Barnes’s arm and leaned toward him. “Are you all right? You are not eating.”

  “Fine, fine.” He poked at a mound of eggs, and as he lifted a spoonful to his mouth, it clattered to the floor.

  She leaned over and scooped up the mess as the maid hurried to help her.

  Jeremy stood. “Do you need to lie down? You don’t look well.”

  Mr. Barnes tossed his head. “Nay. I am fine. If everyone is finished, we should remove ourselves to the parlor, where we can bid Mr. Van Buren and his lovely wife goodbye.” He stood and walked out.

  Jeremy looked to the reverend, his brows raised.

  “As he said.” Reverend James stood and walked out, and Youngs and Hobart followed with Barnabas.

  After the farewells, Jeremy headed outside with Dirk and Heather Flower. He placed a hand on the bridle as Dirk swung up into the saddle, then bent to help Heather Flower. “I guess I thought you’d stay for the meeting. How long will you be?”

  Dirk shook his head. “I don’t know. A fortnight, perhaps.” He looked at Heather Flower, who nodded her head. Her dark eyes were serious, but a small, pouty smile played on her lips. She looked forward to this visit.

  “Sounds right.” Jeremy grinned at Heather Flower. “Your people will be glad to see you.”

  “Nuk. And I will be glad to be there.”

  He watched the sooty-black tail of Miss Button swish with each stride as they disappeared around the bend before he walked back to the house. As he entered, he heard a commotion in the parlor and quickened his pace.

  Mr. Barnes was on the floor, and all three reverends kneeled over him. Reverend Hobart unfastened his collar, and Barnabas worked at removing his boots.

  “What happened?” Jeremy rushed to their side.

  “He just keeled over. He’s burning up—has a fever.” Reverend Youngs looked up. “Can you see if there’s a doctor nearby?”

  He started for the door, but Reverend James called to him. “We haven’t a doctor. We shall have to do our best here. Let’s get him to bed.”

  The men gathered around him and carried him up the stairs.

  Nathaniel went to haul in some fresh water. The good reverends tended to Mr. Barnes while Jeremy paced, arms folded. They all had a bit of doctoring experience, as the reverends frequently tended the dying, and Jeremy, as a ship’s captain, was often the only one available to treat an ailment. He knew in his gut Mr. Barnes was a very ill man. He’d thought him lethargic the night before, but then everyone had been tired, had they not?

  After making the poor man as comfortable as possible, Reverend Hobart determined it best for the north fork party to return home, for which Jeremy and Barnabas were grateful. The likelihood of something good coming from their meeting seemed rather bleak regardless. They made haste on the return home, stopping overnight at Shelter Island. Grissell asked about Heather Flower, and Jeremy assured her that Heather Flower would be stopping by in a couple of weeks.

  As they led their horses onto the ferry, his thoughts turned to Patience and home. The ship had always been his home. That Southold was now home was a new thought. One that he prayed he could get used to.

  Patience awoke with a shiver and welcomed Mosh up to the bed. His fur was warm, and she hugged him close. The men would return today if the talks had been successful and not unnecessarily long. And Jeremy would be home.

  She swung out of bed and pulled on her robe. She laughed as Mosh tried to race her down the stairs. “Are you hungry, boy? Or are you just cold like me? Shall we poke at the fire and start it up? Yes, we shall.” She ruffled the fur between his ears with her fingers.

  She took the iron poker and urged the embers to life. A bucket of fresh water stood by the fireplace, and she heaved it up and poured it into the large pot.
After she gave Mosh some leftover venison from supper the night before, she pulled her robe about her and went to the window that overlooked her backyard.

  Her hand went to her cheek as she gazed at the beauty of the trees. She loved fall, for just when the flowers lost their radiance, the elms and oaks blazed in glorious golden yellows and fiery reds and oranges. She held her breath in awe until she sighed and turned to Mosh. “Do you want to go out, pup?” She followed him out so she could inhale the fresh air and give thanks for the day. When she could take the chill no longer, she went inside to dress.

  It was a day filled with chores, but she was thankful for them, for they filled the moments until Jeremy would return. As she soaked a ham in water, she chopped squash and onions. She hummed as she worked and let her thoughts drift to her wedding dress. She and Jeremy could begin plans in earnest. She’d not let him put it off. On the morrow, after they talked, she would sit down with Mary and Lizzie.

  She heard a horse out front and rushed to the door. She swung it open before Jeremy could knock and threw herself into his arms. He swung her around, and the joy of his arms around her made happy tears escape from her clenched eyes. Mosh was barking circles around them, and they both laughed as Jeremy set her down.

  “Hey, boy, are you glad to see him, too?” Mosh licked her hand as she reached to pet him. She looked at Jeremy, and he bent to pat him on the head. “See, he’s glad to see you, too.”

  Jeremy led her into the kitchen. “It smells good in here.”

  “I’m not sure why. I think you are just saying that because you must be hungry. I’m only getting tomorrow’s dinner started. Mary invited us for a supper at her house. We didn’t know exactly when you would be back, but she thought Barnabas would want to have you and Reverend Youngs over tonight to discuss the meeting. Oh, and Reverend Hobart, too.” She saw his frown and looked away.

  “Very well. Barn didn’t mention having us come over tonight, but then nothing went as we’d hoped. There’s not anything to discuss, except that Mr. Barnes became ill. There’s not much point in going back. They aren’t interested in what we have to say.”

  “How interesting. Well, at least Heather Flower and Dirk have made their journey to Montauk. Do you know when they shall return?”

  “Within a fortnight.”

  “Mosh stays busy all day following me around, but in the evening, after we’ve had a bit of supper, I can tell he misses Heather Flower. He shall be happy to have her back. Me, too.”

  She sent Jeremy to her cellar for a crock of cream to take to Mary’s while she checked the water level over the ham. She hoisted the pail and added water until there was a full three inches covering the meat.

  “You should have waited and let me do that.” He set the crock down and took the empty pail from her, returning it to the corner beside the hearth.

  “I’m so used to doing things myself, and if you are here long enough, you shall discover there is plenty to do without following me around and helping me with my chores.”

  He chuckled as he went to retrieve her cloak from a peg next to the door. “While that may be true, I would say enjoy it whilst you can.” His green eyes twinkled as he helped her with her wrap.

  She tied a bonnet under her chin and flashed her own smile back at him. “I shan’t argue with that.”

  They left her cottage hand in hand, forgetting the crock on the table as Mosh dashed out ahead of them.

  As they walked along the village green, Patience noticed Joshua Hobart coming out of the meetinghouse. He didn’t notice them, but Jeremy obviously spotted him, for he swept her into his arms and drew her near for a kiss. Men. They would never admit to insecurity, but was this not just that? But he held her with such tenderness and his lips were so gentle on hers that her objections fell away and she returned his kiss like they were the only two people on the island. At last she pulled back and could feel the flush that crept across her cheeks. “Oh my. I shan’t argue with that either.”

  Her heart pattered the rest of the way to the Hortons’ front door. She had prayed so much for this, and now it was coming true. Soon she would be Jeremy’s wife, and how thankful she was she’d waited for God’s timing and not hers.

  18

  September 21, 1664

  Southold

  On Wednesday, the ladies gathered at Mary Horton’s house for their weekly prayer and sewing meeting. But today was not just any Wednesday meeting. Today they planned to work on Patience’s wedding dress. Heather Flower could sew on the beads when she returned, but the ladies had plenty to do until then.

  Mary’s daughters joined Anna, their sister-in-law, each Wednesday at her house to give their mother time with her friends. Anna enjoyed having them, and they found it quite a treat to be her guests.

  The night before, Barney had told Mary that Dirk intended to return to Flushing when he got back. He said Jeremy planned to go with him, at least for a time. Patience expressed her dismay, but Mary said they should go ahead with the gown. And perhaps that was for the best. If her dress was ready when he returned, he might like the idea of a wedding before he left again for Winter Harbor. After all, they had work to do, and Jeremy would cooperate if she had anything to do with it.

  Mary glanced out the window. The day was cold, with heavy, dark clouds low in the sky. She stacked fresh logs over orange-hot embers. Blue-tipped flames sprang up and licked at the new wood with a crackle. The ladies scooted their chairs closer to the heat. Lizzie and Abbey cut cream brocade and pink French silk with silver scissors while Mary and Patience heated irons in the fire to smooth each cut section of the dress.

  At last they were ready to hold the pieces up to Patience before they began stitching. She stood with her arms out to her sides. “It feels like it could snow out, does it not?”

  Mary smiled. “I think so. Winter is early this year, but ’tis my favorite season.”

  Lizzie’s eyes flew open. “Why, it is not, Mary. You like to be out with the flowers and sunshine. Spring is your favorite.”

  Patience watched the two sisters, a grin playing on her lips. “And cannot Mary have more than one favorite season?”

  “Why, I think that is it. I have more than one favorite. Spring has so many choices, so many new and delightful things that one could do. But winter comes and there is really only one good choice.”

  “What is that?” Abbey leaned forward, eager to know.

  “To keep warm near a good fire. Preferably with a good book and a cup of peppermint tea. Or perhaps with friends like you.”

  “Very good, but my favorite is fall, and I’m sad to see it turn so soon.” Patience flapped her arms. “But you need to finish pinning. I can’t stand here like this forever.”

  Lizzie giggled. “So sorry. Here, let’s take it in a little here at the waist, just a snip. You can breathe, Patience, it is allowed. And Abbey, check the length on the sleeve.”

  When it was all pinned, Patience twirled about. “Do you think Jeremy will love this?”

  “Oh yes, he will. But I think he will love any gown that has you in it.” Mary smiled with satisfaction.

  “I cannot stand him being gone, you know. I think that when he first came back to Southold, the notion that he would be here from now on settled in on me. And yet all he does is go away.”

  Mary shook her head. “It is just the way Jeremy is, I’m afraid. Always finding something he must do. Always leaving. ’Tis his duty calling, he thinks. Always his duty. I should think you would be used to that by now.”

  She stood still while her friends carefully took the pins out. “That’s just it. I thought after all these years he’d finally come home to stay.”

  They all took their seats and began to stitch the pieces together. Mary stabbed her needle into the silk and pulled the thread through. “He has, Patience, truly. But it is a big adjustment for him, I think, and you need to give him a little time.”

  Patience put her work in her lap and bit her lower lip. After a moment, she looked up
with tears in her eyes. “I guess I just have to wonder—when will I be his priority? Why doesn’t he feel a sense of duty toward me?” She wiped at a tear. “There are times when I think he does, like when he first comes home after a long absence and he is very attentive to me. But then there is always something that calls him away, and I’m left with this feeling he will never truly put me first.”

  Lizzie frowned. “You should pray.”

  “Oh, I do. And I know that he should put God first. And he does. But I think God left room in there for a wife, before all those other duties.”

  Lizzie smoothed her piece before continuing her stitches. “Quite true. But Jeremy is an honorable man, and some of what troubles you so much is exactly why you love him in the first place. Mary is right. He’s settling down, but ’tis a big adjustment for him. Give him time. Have patience.”

  They erupted in giggles over her pun. “I think that is what my mother hoped for when she gave me that name, but I do recall trying hers many a time growing up.”

  Mary shook her head as she tsked. “Not just hers.” They sat giggling again, sewing needles hovering in midair.

  They sewed the rest of the afternoon, eventually setting their work aside for refreshments. Then Mary bid her friends goodbye and turned to revive the fire in the hearth. She’d meant what she’d said about winter. She loved friends and good books around the fire. But she was thankful, too, for her husband. Had she not prayed that Patience would find that kind of love, too? And Jeremy needed Patience just as much as she needed him. Perhaps he needed to be told.

  She threw on a cloak and marched out to the barn. The men were bent over Stargazer’s hoof, and Barney looked up as she approached. His mouth opened but then relaxed into a grin when she walked straight up to Jeremy.

  “Can we take a walk in the orchard?” She didn’t wait for an answer but heard Barney tell him to go as she left the barn. Barney and Jonathan could handle Stargazer.