Chapter 24 #3
“Benjamin’s sleeping,” he said more sternly. “Unless you have actual proof of these accusations, I am going to ask you gentlemen to leave.”
“Oh, we most certainly have proof!” a familiar voice spat.
Clara watched Dr. John Wagner step forward, his scornful features twisting as he stopped directly before Josiah. “These letters,” he said, holding them up. “Whenever I assisted in Hoskin’s regimen, he was sometimes so horribly ill that he’d leave these out for anyone to see.”
Despite Josiah’s back facing her, Clara saw his spine stiffen. “How dare you go through my son’s belongings? Why, I could see to it that you—”
“Are hanged for treason!” John growled, thrusting the letters beneath the reverend’s nose. “These show precisely how your son was conspiring against the Crown! General Arnold’s been searching for spies and traitors, and once I heard of his intentions, I immediately knew who to add to his list!”
“These prove nothing!” Josiah hotly argued. “They are signed by someone named Apollo!”
“Apollo was your son’s moniker in college!” John thundered. “I have many colleagues who’d be willing to attest!”
The British officer leading the charge held up a hand, indicating silence. “Thank you, Doctor, that will be all,” he coolly said. To Josiah, he continued, “By order of the king, I hereby declare we are to make an arrest against your son, Captain Benjamin Hoskin of the Continental Army.”
“Insanity!” Josiah exclaimed. “My boy was discharged due to lameness!”
“And you have my condolences,” the officer replied, “but alas, he is not only lame, but a blackguard. The Crown doesn’t take kindly to traitors, Reverend.” He turned toward his men. “Seize them.”
The soldiers pushed their way into the house, and Clara gasped as two men overpowered Josiah and forced him to his knees.
“Benjamin!” Josiah shouted. “If you can hear me, you must run! Run!”
Spinning about, Clara took off down the hall in pursuit of Benjamin’s room.
Behind her, she could hear the sound of boots slapping heavily against the flooring, and a sob caught in her throat as she pushed open his bedroom door and burst over the threshold.
Benjamin was unsteadily rising from his bed, dressed in his nightclothes as he blinked the sleep from his eyes.
“Clara?” he croaked. “W-what…?”
“Come quickly,” she pleaded. “Your efforts have been discovered, and there are soldiers here to take you into custody.” Rushing to his side, she urgently tugged on his elbow. “Please…you must hurry! Do you think you can pull yourself through the window?”
Mouth open and eyes glassy with shock, Benjamin shook his head, then jerked once a group of soldiers filed in through the doorway.
“Stand down!” one of them shouted, to which Benjamin lifted his hands. Clara tried to remain by his side, but was jostled away once three soldiers restrained, searched, and wrenched Benjamin toward the hall.
“Don’t!” she cried. “Please, there is no need for such roughness!”
She stumbled after them, tears stinging her eyes as she reached for Benjamin’s elbow, but one of the soldiers harshly shoved her. She toppled and clipped her shoulder against the wall, her chest shivering with sobs as Benjamin was dragged to the front door.
Josiah begged and pleaded as they passed, but no man paid him any mind as he followed them outdoors. John, smug in playing his part, was the very last to approach the door, which was why Clara sought him with outstretched hands.
“John!” she called. “Dr. Wagner, please!” Racing to his side, she took his arm and peered up at him with bright, watery eyes. “You must tell them this was a mistake! It’s completely cruel and cowardly to attack a man in Ben’s condition!”
“You have no right to accuse anyone of being cowardly, Miss Boyd,” he hissed. “They might not know who ‘CB’ is, but I certainly do.”
She flinched, her mouth falling agape. “If you know, then why haven’t you reported me?”
“Because of leverage against Hoskin, just in case there are any complications with his execution,” he said, smiling wider still.
“I copied the letters so that they no longer have your name. Instead, the King’s Men are on the lookout for some made-up chit named Isabella Greene.
I’d suggest holding your tongue, lest you bring your family’s reputation into question. ”
Clara’s chin trembled. “You truly are a monster…how can you be so unfeeling, and all because of some ridiculous, trivial prank from years past?”
“You listen to me,” he snarled, leaning in close. “This is about doing what’s right for my country, for our king. I would’ve thought that as a loyalist, you would understand.”
“I understand plenty,” Clara sniped, her eyes sparkling with tears. “I may be loyal to our king at heart, but I make certain to never align myself with lobcocks.”
Side-stepping him, she rushed through the open door and out into the vengeful night, desperation welling within as she found Josiah standing there in mournful disbelief.
Coming up alongside him, she leaned into his flank and he wrapped an arm around her, both weeping as Benjamin’s shivering, submissive form was hauled into the back of a prisoner’s cart.