Tangled Betrayals Read online

  Henry was aware if Thomas thought something had happened to Mary, he’d return to England. So Henry planned to use Mary as bait and say she was fatally ill. When Thomas returned to find Mary alive and well, it would be then he would meet his fate. He would get word to Parker that Thomas had been killed in an accident.

  He knew Parker would come back to England to inquire on the demise of Thomas. Then, with Mary watching, he would eliminate Parker. Or better yet, with Parker watching, he would torture Mary until she begged for mercy. Henry was sure he would enjoy Parker’s reaction as Mary slipped slowly away to be with her mother and Thomas. He might even toy with Parker before he meets his death. Henry became giddy with the thought of what harm he would do to those who had betrayed him.

  No one had ever learned of his treachery upon deceiving Jane. He made her feel obligated to marry him. But her death had been unexpected and painful to watch. It was the one thing he couldn’t stop, a deadly epidemic that took the love of his life.

  The new Henry Ball was going to emerge in the next few weeks come hell or high water! He had to make sure Mary stayed in England.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  America 1830

  James was relieved the voyage back to America was uneventful. They’d arrived at his parent’s house in Baltimore, Clayton and Annabelle Parker, and would be staying a couple of nights before heading to their homes just outside of Baltimore.

  Annabelle Parker was a lovely and tall woman with beautiful salt and pepper hair that she wore pulled up and twisted in the back of her head, held together by beautiful gold combs. Her eyes twinkled with mischief when she smiled. She and Clayton had married young and had four children, James, Jacob, Luther and Lydia.

  Lydia had died when she was young. She had been mourned for a long time in the Parker home for when she passed; it seemed a light went out of everyone’s life. After Clayton felt too much time in mourning had been spent on Lydia, he reminded his family that death was a part of life and Lydia would always remain in their hearts, so to honor her, they should continue to live their life fully. Lydia would have wanted that. From that moment on Lydia was only mentioned on her birthday, Christmas and the date of her death, but always in a positive light.

  Clayton stood a good six foot-four with gray hair that he wore well trimmed around the neck. He had a very distinguished look about him with a smile that was given easily. He and Annabelle had many friends between them and were active in different charities and events in and around Baltimore.

  Clayton had taken over the Parker Shipping Company from his father, who had started the company when he first came to America with two ships. The Parker Shipping Company now had six.

  Neither of Clayton’s parents had siblings nor had the remainder of what was left of their families stayed in England. Now, both his parents and Annabelle’s had been gone for some time, buried in a cemetery close to Baltimore.

  James knew his parent’s home was large enough to accommodate all of them since his younger brothers, Luther and Jacob, had left for the Ohio Valley well over a year ago. That left their two empty bedrooms besides the one he had formerly used.

  *****

  “I knew the ladies were tired when they had little to offer in conversation when we arrived,” James told his mother. “Thomas was unusually quiet. A good nap will do them all good. Thank you for allowing us to stay. This saves Thomas and I an immediate return trip to Baltimore since the horse auction will be held the day after tomorrow. Once that’s over, Thomas and I agreed we would like to remain at home for a good long while. We’ve had enough travel for awhile.”

  “Oh, James, we’re thrilled to have you staying with us. It’s lovely to have a chance to visit with everyone instead of you running off to work, like usual, when we visit at your plantation. And speaking of running off to work, your father had to return to the shipping office to look over the manifest for the next ship to sail, but should be home by dinner. Why don’t you rest here in the parlor while I tend to things needed done for tonight.”

  *****

  Everyone was well rested when they sat to eat a fine dinner of roast, potatoes, carrots, bread and jam, and pie.

  “So tell me Anna, how much trouble did you have finding a wedding gown to your liking in such short time? I want to hear every single detail about your dress.” Annabelle asked while they passed the food for dinner.

  “Finding the dress wasn’t as hard as I thought. I can’t wait for you to see it at our reception. The dress is absolutely lovely. It has a high neck and long tapered sleeves. There are pearls over the bodice and the bottom of the gown has the most beautiful lace layered over the skirt.

  “Some poor girl recently had her wedding called off. I felt bad for her misfortune. But when I saw the dress, I knew it was the right choice for me!”

  “Oh, Anna,” Annabelle sighed “I wish we could have been there. I’m sure you and Susannah looked beautiful! I think being married on the ship sounds so romantic.”

  Anna nodded in agreement. “James and Thomas did an amazing job transforming the ship for a wedding. Susannah and I arrived to a flower filled deck with the most gorgeous flowers I’ve ever seen. The crew was so cleaned up I hardly recognized them. I’m sure they were glad when we finished with our vows so they could put on their regular attire and get back to sailing the seas. We were all treated to a fine meal, followed by a beautiful wedding cake and plenty of ale.”

  “I was wondering Susannah, what your opinion of London was.” Annabelle inquired not wanting to leave Susannah out of the conversation. “I was only there once and that was many years ago. I’m sure London has changed since then. I’d been so worried one or both of you might get sea sick and not enjoy your visit once you reached land.”

  Susannah smiled. “We both did fine with the swaying of the ship. I loved the voyage and had no problems feeling ill. I thought while carrying a child, I might not fare well with the travel, but even with the few storms we encountered, I managed quite well.

  “London for the most part was lovely. Yet, parts of it actually smelled worse than Baltimore. But their shops were amazing. Anna and I shopped in so many stores I was exhausted by nightfall, wouldn’t you agree, Anna?”

  But before Anna answered, Susannah went on, “I bought several things with the idea that once I have the baby, the gowns will hopefully fit. I wasn’t able to try them on due to my condition. However, I’m sure mother could make any alterations needed.”

  “And let me say my wife made a beautiful bride. She took my breath away,” Thomas said, jumping in the conversation and giving Anna a wink and broad smile.

  “Thomas, just so you know, all brides are beautiful.” James added as he watched Susanna take another helping of chocolate cake. He smiled as she proceeded to lick her finger where she had managed to place it in the frosting.

  “I’m glad you made plenty of dessert, Mother, for Susannah is definitely eating for two.”

  “Why, James, you know how I love dessert. Besides, I’m hungry all the time. Maybe if I get enough to eat for dinner with this extra helping of cake, I won’t be searching the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning for something else to fill my stomach!”

  “Heaven help us, we only have two months until the baby is due and I think I may have to butcher a couple more steers when we get back to the plantation to keep my wife’s belly content.”

  “James Parker, you’re downright awful!”

  James was glad no one had mentioned either Mary or her father since they returned. He had asked his parents earlier not to mention their names. Even though he had told Susanna about his engagement to Mary, and she and Anna were aware Mary had married another, he didn’t want anything to disrupt this wonderful time they were having together.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Luther and Jacob Parker

  The next morning when everyone was seated at breakfast there was a terrible ruckus out in the foyer. James noticed Anna and Susannah were staring at one another yet not sayi
ng a word after they had obviously seen whatever or whoever had entered. With James back to the entry way, he had no idea what was going on. He needed to find out what had caused such a look of bewilderment on Susannah and Anna’s face.

  Once James stood and turned, he saw what the commotion was about and grinned widely as he was greeted by two of the worst looking men he was sure his wife and sister-in-law had ever laid eyes on. He even thought Thomas might be taken back by their appearance. He hugged each of his brothers tightly and stood back and held his nose.

  “My gosh! Couldn’t you have bathed before entering your family’s home? You smell as bad as the animals you trap!”

  James watched in delight as his mother ran into the arms of his brothers, Luther and Jacob. They hadn’t been home for well over a year. James knew his mother didn’t care that they smelled like dead animals nor did she care they were in need of a shave. And she overlooked the fact they were filthy beyond words. They were her youngest sons and nobody was going to prevent her from hugging them. They hadn’t been expected to return for at least another year.

  “Please, sit down with us while I have more breakfast prepared,” Annabelle said through tears. “Although, it appears you’ve been eating quite well as tight as your pants fit!” She added with a smile.

  James stepped back to take another look at his brothers. They were wearing tight fitting pants made out of tanned skins, deer he assumed. Their tops were made of the same skins and they pulled over their heads and then hung past their hips, but then the tops were pulled in at the waist with a leather belt that had been decorated with colorful beads. Fringe decorated the sides of the arms and legs of their clothing. James hadn’t seen anything like this attire before.

  James noticed they each carried a knife in a leather sheath attached to their waist. Looking past them to the foyer, he spotted two rifles with the longest barrels he’d ever seen.

  Nodding towards the rifles he asked, “Do they shoot accurately?”

  Luther, nearly as tall as James if not the same height, grinned and replied, “Aye, you can shoot a good two hundred or more yards and take down a deer or an Indian if need be.”

  “Luther, we’ll have no such talk about killing Indians in this house. Please, we have guests present!” Annabelle Parker rebuffed her son sternly but kindly.

  James knew his mother didn’t want to upset their guests with such gruesome talk. On any other occasion, his mother would be the first one asking for as much detail as the men. She’d grown up in a time where fighting Indians was a part of life and she was well aware of what transpired anytime you came up against them.

  James noticed that both Luther and Jacob had grown full beards and had filled out their frames since the last time he’d seen them. Jacob was an inch or so shorter than he. Luther pretty much matched him in height and build. Either one of them would be a force to be reckoned with if you should be foolish enough to cross them. James turned and grinned at his mother and noted nothing ever seemed to faze her, except bad manners.

  However, as James turned to glance at Susannah and Anna, he burst out laughing. They both still sat with their mouths gaped open. He guessed they’d never seen the likes of these two heathens.

  “Well now, brothers, I have some guests I’d like you to meet. However, I must say, I disagree with our mother about joining us for breakfast presently; I suggest you get cleaned up first while breakfast is being made. During that time, I can prepare my wife, her sister and new husband to meet you properly, once I have filled them in. And since we’ll be staying here two more nights, you two will have to share Jacob’s bedroom. I don’t think that should be a problem since you’ve traveled the past year together.

  “I guess we’d better do as we’re told if we want to meet those two lovely ladies adorning our table, Luther. One or two more nights being close should be acceptable.”

  James noticed both of his brothers were checking out Susannah and Anna.

  “I assume that one of you is Mary?” Jacob inquired.

  There was dead silence in the room. James was quick to respond, “No, things didn’t turn out for Mary and me. However, I’ve been most fortunate in finding another woman to take pity on me and become my wife. I must confess I’m a happy and contented man.”

  Jacob quietly whispered, “Forgive me, James, I spoke without thinking,” as the three men went out to the foyer to finish their conversation.

  James, at any other time would have been furious with his brother’s reckless comment, but he couldn’t help but notice how badly Jacob was feeling about his error. He’d no way of knowing what had happened with Mary.

  “Aye, Jacob, you’re good at speaking before you think. Honestly, James, if I weren’t with this rake to keep him out of trouble, who knows what might happen to him.”

  “I believe I’m the one keeping you in line, brother,” Jacob spat back.

  “Susannah will understand. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You two had better be on your best behavior, though, I warn you.” But then James added, “I know what you said was an honest mistake, Jacob. I was to have wed Mary. I’ll explain everything later.”

  “Thanks, James.”

  James shook his head and realized he may have to fend off some other stories as his two brothers were off to get cleaned up bantering back and forth as they went up the stairs. As he entered the dining room he could hear his father and mother trying to tell their guests more details about their adventurous younger sons.

  *****

  When Luther and Jacob returned to the table a short time later, they were each wearing a pair of James’s pants and also his shirts. They’d not shaved off their beards but they had trimmed them up considerably. They smelled much better and looked quite respectable, even with their long hair. It was now easy to tell they belonged to the Parker family.

  “I see you have helped yourself to my wardrobe. I suppose you’ll be buying some new clothes soon for I sure can’t afford to have you wearing the few things I own during your visit or I shall have nothing left to wear.”

  Luther and Jacob laughed without saying if they would or would not be buying new clothes. James could tell they were anxious for an introduction.

  “Jacob, Luther, may I present to you my lovely wife, Susannah Webb Parker. This is her sister Anna, and her husband, Thomas Ball. Thomas came to America a little over a year ago; in fact, just after the two of you left for Ohio, and had been working as a clerk for father until he started up a horse farm next to mine a few months ago.”

  Luther and Jacob took their turns kissing the cheeks of the ladies and shaking hands with Thomas. James was glad they made no indication that they recognized the name of Ball. He was certain they caught the name right away for he’d spoken often of Thomas and Mary, but they were polite enough to dismiss it, for now. He knew they would question him later when the subject could be spoken about in private. Maybe Jacob was starting to learn to think before he speaks, James thought.

  “Tell me, Susannah, what did you ever see in James? I wished you would have waited to marry a little longer. At least, until you could have met me, then your choice might have been different,” Luther said grinning at James.

  Susannah laughed. She loved the attention she was getting from her new brother-in-laws. “My, if I’d known I had two other Parker men to choose from who were also so dashing, I might have waited.”

  And so it went. Everyone enjoyed the easy barbs so freely given and James found that the morning passed quickly as the stories were told how James and Thomas had met the Webb sisters and the details of their marriages. The talk then turned to Luther and Jacob and they selectively told stories about their activities since they had last been home.

  James knew Luther and Jacob had omitted many details of their excursions so they did not offend the women. Otherwise, if they’d gotten too specific, they’d have to deal with their mother, who would take them to task without hesitation for disobeying her orders.

  Clayton sa
id very little during this time but listened intently. James knew his father always enjoyed their time together. What a wonderful surprise this morning had been. James was pleased Susannah appeared to like both of his brothers as he realized he’d never warned her about their constant teasing.

  It did surprise him his brothers seemed to be lacking some of their civilized manners since they’d left home. Being in the wilderness meant long periods of not seeing another person for days and there was no need for proper manners there.

  From their conversation, everyone knew that Luther and Jacob would be leaving soon to further their stakes of parcels of land purchased in Ohio. Jacob had also mentioned he’d made arrangements to buy a small trading post in Steubenville, Ohio. The original owner was going to Kansas once Jacob returned. He’d be purchasing or trading items made by the Indians, such as blankets, beads, and moccasins. Of course, he’d also buy all the furs he could, brought in by the trappers. There was a lot of money to be made from furs.

  James hoped Luther and Jacob would stay long enough to travel to his plantation and join in the reception he and Susannah were holding for Thomas and Anna next week.

  Once dinner ended, James had gotten quite a teasing from his brothers but only when they were alone and able to talk freely. The men had headed to the study to smoke as the women went to the parlor.

  “So big brother, I see you wasted no time in breeding your wife!” said Luther as he smirked and Jacob roared with laughter.

  James noticed his father and Thomas only shook their heads and smiled. At no time did either his father or Thomas come to his rescue or take his side in the friendly banter given. This was the only time the men could speak so crudely and get away with it.

  “No problem there. But you’d better be careful how you phrase that to my wife. She may be little, but she wields a large sword, if you get my drift.”

  Jacob smirked as Luther nodded. Jacob then asked the questions both he and Luther were anxious to hear the answer, “Tell me, James, what happened to Mary? And I apologize to you, Thomas, for speaking out of turn. I felt horrible for I assumed she was Mary. However, if I’d thought about it, James had said Mary was tall with brown eyes and brown hair.”