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Rebecca Ann
Rebecca Ann
Rebecca Ann
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Rebecca Ann

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A historical Christian romance where you are taken on the journey of a young lady, Rebecca Ann who arrives from England, sick and in need of a hero. Deceit and abuse seem to be overwhelming Rebecca Ann until God sends her soul mate, Lone Wolf. His father was white and his mother Indian. He feels he doesn't belong anywhere until he holds Rebecca Ann in his arms. When Rebecca Ann is near death Lone Wolf takes her to his mother's village for help. Rebecca Ann survives only to remember the terror of giving birth to her son and him being taken from her. She goes in search to reclaim him alone and faces the madman who had left her for dead. When Lone Wolf realizes she is gone he goes in search of her and with the help of someone unexpected they find her son and finally become the family that God had planned all along. Many emotions will be exposed during this thrilling love story.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 9, 2014
ISBN9781311289346
Rebecca Ann
Author

Cheryl S. Kime

Cheryl Sanders Kime lives in North Carolina. She loves the country life and loves spending time with family and friends. She has been married 31 years to David, and has been blessed with four children, Jake, Daniel, and Kristian. Another son, Matthew, is in heaven. She works full-time at a local bank and is active at her local baptist church. When time allows she loves writing something that she hopes will put a smile in your heart and point you to something greater than anything this world can offer, Jesus Christ.

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the best books I have ever read and I have read thousands. You get all the emotions: sadness, happiness, anger and then the sweetness of true love. There is betrayal and suspense. There is a sweet unfolding love story that you know only God could have put in place. It is a story that you don't want to stop reading until you get to the end. Such a great book, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read more from this new author.

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Rebecca Ann - Cheryl S. Kime

REBECCA ANN

A journey of believing in what can be

Cheryl S. Kime

Smashwords Editions

Copyright © 2014 by Cheryl S. Kime

All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XIX

EPILOGUE

Acknowledgements

To say thank you seems so inadequate for all the encouragement and assistance I received from family and friends, but I would like to thank Patricia Hussy, Kaye Liner, Rhonda Myrick, Sue Barfield and Joyce Fritts who read my rough draft and encouraged me to keep going.

Thank you to Sue and her daughter Kim for spending hours typing the first readable copy and thank you Joyce for spending every Wednesday for 6 months helping me edit and rewrite because you thought it was worth reading. Thank you to my sisters Rhonda and Laura who would not let me forget that the book was not finished until it was published.

Thank you to my mother who has always let her children know she believed in them.

Thank you to my husband David who always encouraged me to go for my dreams.

Most important thank you God for blessing my life with all these wonderful people and giving me the ability to write a book that shows His Blessings.

CHAPTER I

There was no strength left in her weakened body to try and regain her balance, as she felt herself stumbling yet again. Too many days had passed in the last three and a half months since the ship had left port in England, when she’d been forced to go without food, sometimes because of sickness, sometimes because of Robert’s cruelty. Very seldom had she even been allowed to leave the small cabin that had become the place of almost nightly nightmares. The small room Robert had kept her locked up in was a part of the servant’s quarters far enough away from his own personal cabin so that there would be no chance for his wife or any of the other upstanding passengers to hear her screams when he came to her in the darkness of the night for his physical pleasures. At first she had fought him, but the lack of food had soon taken its toll, and in her weakened state, Robert easily took from her what she had always believed she would one day give the man she would love and marry. Now she felt she had nothing left to give any decent man. She believed as long as she drew a breath on this earth, she would feel the pain and the shame that she now bore. She felt dirty and knew there was no water to be found that would be pure enough to cleanse her soul.

As if Robert’s abuse had not been enough to deal with, she had been violently ill during the voyage. Molly and Max, servants who had worked in the same household that Rebecca Ann herself had been born into and had worked in since her own mother had died when she was only twelve, would bring her up on deck early in the mornings or late at night. At that time there would be no danger of any of the other passengers seeing her. To the world, Robert Drake appeared to be the perfect gentleman, completely devoted to his wife, Teresa, but Rebecca Ann knew better. Were it not for the fact that Teresa’s family held the purse strings, Robert would have left her but since his uncle chose to leave everything to a son whom he hadn’t seen in over seventeen years, Robert chose to marry the homely girl for the money that would come with her. Only there had been yet another catch that he had not counted on. Teresa’s father, Lord Alex, would only give them her fortune after she produced a male heir, thus keeping Robert in line longer than he had ever dreamed would have been necessary.

Now, there was yet one more thing that Rebecca Ann had finally come to acknowledge, to cause even more problems for her small frail body. She was sure she carried Robert’s child, but unlike her body, her heart already loved and drew strength from that knowledge. It would never matter to her how the child had been conceived or that the father was a man she would gladly kill rather than let him ever touch her again. No, she would give this child the same beautiful love she had known from her own mother, Anna. Like her, her child would not have a father, and like her mother, she would raise her child alone, without any regret that the child had been conceived in the first place. The only difference would be when it came time to answer the question the child would surely ask someday, Why don’t I have a father? Unlike her mother, she would not have the beautiful story of the boy who fell madly in love with a servant girl, and against all the wishes of his family, he chose to love her openly, refusing an arranged marriage to someone else considered to be suitable. No, her father had loved her mother very much, and he would have loved his child, if only he had lived to know of her existence. Her father had married her mother before he left for the New World. He told her he would find a place for them, where they could be happy, but he never returned. His ship had sunk at sea somewhere off the coast of the New World that had held their dreams. After that, her mother, now over eight months pregnant, had been reduced back to her servant status as a cook. That was when Molly had taken Anna and her unborn baby in her care. Molly had also been there for her when her mother had died six years ago, as she was with her now. Sadly, as she had found out on this voyage, there were some things that even Molly couldn’t fix. Her falling body was proof of that.

Arms closed around her, catching her before she crumpled to the ground. Just before she passed out completely, she thought she saw her mother with her arms outstretched, waiting for her to come to her. There was some sixth sense that told her she was safe now. Maybe God knew it was best for her and her baby if they joined her mother in heaven instead of trying to make a life in this New World alone. Yes, that must be it; her mother had come for her. Mama, Rebecca Ann whispered weakly, as she drifted into unconsciousness, taking by surprise the man who held her.

Stephen had barely taken his eyes off the girl he now held in his arms since he’d first seen her being helped onto the gangplank. His heart had dropped to his stomach when he had witnessed her attempt to stay on her feet coming off the ship. The girl would no doubt have fallen to her death had it not been for the elderly couple’s assistance. Pushing people out of his way, he reached her just as her legs seemed to completely give way beneath her, catching her and cradling her next to his heart. Even her dirty, ragged appearance could not hide her beauty that touched his soul. If he gave credit to his mother’s beliefs, the rightness he felt at this moment would tell him the Lone Wolf had at last found his lifelong mate. The problem was that he was the offspring of two entirely different worlds, and he didn’t know what he believed in. The white man’s world had been all he’d known for the first ten years of his life, but upon his father’s death, his mother had taken him to live with her people, the Shawnee. Although he had learned quickly the ways of his mother’s people, he was still his white father’s son. At age twenty, he had left the second home he’d known to make his own life. Now, seven years later, he had been no closer to belonging than he had been since his father’s death. Not until this moment, with this woman. No other woman, white or red, had made him feel what he now felt, although plenty had tried, each with their own special methods. The question now was, was he crazy?

Rebecca Ann searched for her mother, but she seemed to have disappeared. Still, there was someone there; she felt his comforting arms. Though her mind was still dazed, she realized she couldn’t see because her eyes were closed. With great effort, she opened them, to find herself looking into twin pools of dark blue, like an angry sky just before a storm. She was frozen, unable to break contact with the eyes that held her. Something was touched so deeply inside her that she couldn’t begin to understand it.

Looking into her eyes sealed his fate, although he still hadn’t quite acknowledged that fact. He did let the warmth of her eyes reach inside as he spoke with a tender humor, I’m afraid I’m not your mother.

No, you’re not, Rebecca Ann acknowledged with a weak bittersweet smile. She missed her mother more than ever, yet felt something very special for the man who now held her.

Standing with Rebecca Ann in his arms, Stephen’s smile faded as he thought what she must have been through to come to be in such a state. He looked at the older couple that had seemed to be with the girl. The man was looking around as if searching for someone, but the woman’s eyes were focused on him. Although Stephen saw concern in her eyes, she seemed to be trying to keep a smile from her lips. She knew. The older woman knew the effect that the woman in his arms was having on him, and she obviously approved. Did she not see that he was not a white man, at least not by what proper white men of this world considered being white?

The older man chose that moment to speak. Hurry; we must get her into the wagon before Robert notices we’ve stopped.

Stephen stood his ground, not about to let her go where no one cared for her. As if he had said them out loud, Rebecca Ann knew his thoughts. It warmed her heart, but that was as far as it could ever go. She would have to go to Robert’s home for now, or Molly and Max would pay a terrible price for her freedom. For now, she must bide her time until all three of them could get away and start a new life, or at least until they wouldn’t be held accountable for her escape. Besides, what would this stranger do once he had taken her away and found out about her condition? Or did he just plan on taking her around the corner and setting her on her feet with goodbye and good luck? No, for now, it was best to go with Molly and Max. At least Robert hadn’t bothered her in the last two weeks. Maybe that meant he’d finally tired of her. She prayed that was true, and besides, it would be a lot harder to hide what he had been doing in the house, where Teresa would have access to the whole place. He wouldn’t be able to hide her in some out of the way room, as he had on the ship.

Do you need to see a doctor? Stephen asked, tightening his arms around her protectively.

Never taking her eyes off his face, Rebecca Ann tried to assure him, I'm okay. My stomach just didn’t seem to agree with the voyage. Now that I’m on dry land again, I hope to regain my strength.

If she had been trying to convince him of something, she failed miserably. She laid her head against his shoulder; the few words she had spoken had taken all her energy, leaving none to even hold her head up. But what could he do? Of course, he could claim her now, following the ways of his mother’s people. Just simply walk off with the girl in his arms, claiming her as his. He could go to the Shawnee camp, where no one would question him. There was only one problem with that. He didn’t want to take her against her will. He wanted her to come and give herself to him willingly, so that meant he would do things the white man’s way.

Okay, Stephen whispered to the top of her head, thinking that once her hair was washed it would shimmer like spun gold in the moonlight. Max led the way to what was obviously a cargo wagon. There was the bench seat up front, but there was no way the girl in his arms could sit up on the bumpy ride ahead and yet he saw no place to lay her. Just as he was about to decide on letting his Indian blood have its way, Max pulled several blankets out of a box and laid them out. Still Stephen was reluctant to release her, fearing in doing so he would lose the fragile hold he had on her.

Molly seemed to be keen on what was going on inside his heart. His instinct proved right when she spoke, letting him know where he could find her again. We will be going to Blue Meadows, where Rebecca Ann will be working in Robert Drake’s household.

Finding out she was a servant wasn’t surprising, especially considering her state of dress. The question now was, did she want to remain so? What would be the price of her freedom, if she indeed wanted him as much as he wanted her? Regardless, he knew he’d find a way to pay the price. Rebecca Ann, as the older woman had called her, would be free to choose a life with him if she so desired it. I’ll come within two weeks, he told her, as he gently laid her down, bunching the blanket to make a kind of pillow for her head.

The look in her eyes worried him. It was like she already had resigned herself to the fact that there would be no future for them. He couldn’t let her leave thinking that way. I will come, he repeated within a hair’s breath of her lips, wanting to taste them to seal his words, but knowing now was not the time.

We need to hurry, Max said, pulling Molly toward the front of the wagon. I see Robert coming this way, and it would not be wise to let him see you mooning over his servant like that. It’s best left for another time.

Stephen stepped back from the wagon, but did not break eye contact with Rebecca Ann. He willed her to see in his eyes all he did not have time to say and prayed she would understand and believe in what she saw. He thought he saw moisture gather in her beautiful blue eyes. He wanted to just pick her up and disappear, but if she was indeed an indentured servant, he feared he’d only cause a price to be put upon her head.

Standing in the busy roadway, he watched the wagon pull out of sight. He willed himself to be patient, knowing he already had a good plan for buying Rebecca Ann’s freedom, if need be. The name Robert Drake was a name he had already heard. For the last month, he’d been busy breaking some of the best horses around for the very same man. His ability with horses was the one thing he had great confidence in, and was well known in the area for. Only a little over a month ago, John Tallmadge had approached him on Robert Drake’s behalf, saying that the man would pay top price for ten of his best horses. At that time, Stephen had been prepared to visit his mother, and would have normally turned the job down. For some unexplainable reason, he had accepted. Now, he wondered if someone with more power than a mere human had not in some way had a hand in his decision to do this one last job before he disappeared for the next six months or more. Whoever or whatever the cause, he was glad. Now, if things went the way he planned, when he went to visit his mother, he would not go alone.

***

Two weeks, Stephen reminded himself later, when the feel and sight of Rebecca Ann could not be forgotten. Even while he was trying to stay on top of one of the wildest stallions he’d ever tried to break, she was on his mind. When he landed in the dust for the third time, he knew, for today anyway, he was hopelessly lost in the memory of her. Stephen knew he wouldn’t master this horse today. The huge black stallion wasn’t for Robert Blake anyway. No, this horse would be the horse he would ride as he proudly carried his bride into his mother’s camp. There was a respect he felt for this horse when he had first sighted him over two years ago. The horse had stood tall and proud among the dozen or so mares, and that feeling had grown even more since he had captured the animal. They were like kindred spirits, caught up in a world not of their own making, and fighting every step of the way to survive. The last thing Stephen ever wanted to do was break the stallion’s spirit, considering the horse would probably die if that were done. It seemed humorous that after all these years, he should feel closeness with this stallion and a woman he had barely knew, but that was exactly how he felt. Strangely, he found he was growing to like that feeling more and more.

Lost in his thoughts, Stephen jumped slightly as he felt hot air blow around his ear. The giant stallion stood over him, as he hadn’t bothered to get up from his last visit with the dirt in the corral. He could have been easy prey if the stallion had chosen to trample him, but like him, the horse seemed to acknowledge that there was something there to respect. Looking up at the stallion, he joked to the horse, I think for today, you win. The stallion raised his head, shaking it as if in complete understanding of Stephen's words, knowing that there would come a time when this human would not give up so easily.

***

Although the room wasn’t moving and it wasn’t quite as small as the cabin she had stayed in on the ship, Rebecca Ann still couldn’t rest. She had heard Robert come into the kitchen earlier looking for her, but bless Molly’s soul, she had managed to steer him away. Still, she knew that Molly couldn’t keep watch all night, and if Robert wanted to, he would come to her room during this very night. She had so hoped that he had given up any interest in her. Rebecca Ann knew that after the round she had listened to this afternoon, her hopes and prayers were not to be. If only she could avoid him for the next two weeks. But what if the stranger at the dock had already forgotten her? He had given his solemn word that he would come for her in two weeks, and Molly had already assured her that he did indeed know where to find her. What if he was at this very moment laughing at the girl he had given that word to, knowing he had no intentions of keeping it, knowing all the while, she would be holding on to it like it was her very breath of life. Earlier, Molly had clucked her tongue at her, told her to have some faith in the good Lord in heaven. She said the Lord had told her that there would be someone waiting for them when they docked in the New World, and that someone would love her with his very life, if necessary. Needless to say, when the ruggedly handsome man had come to her rescue, catching her as she was falling to the ground, Molly had immediately deemed him God’s answer. If only she could believe with the same confidence that Molly felt. Molly had the advantage of not being afraid of what this night could hold or all the other long nights in the next two weeks or longer, if the stranger did not come for her like he had said.

Hearing a noise, and feeling the fear spread through her body at the thought of Robert coming to force himself on her once again, she closed her eyes and prayed. She remembered the nights so long ago, when she had been little and her mother was still so young and beautiful. Rebecca Ann thought of the prayer her mother would pray each and every night for her little girl, that there would always be someone to love her. Anna wanted her daughter to know the same kind of love someday that her parents had known, even if it had only been for a brief time.

Praying, Rebecca Ann asked God for strength and the ability to make it through the next two weeks, no matter what happened. She prayed for the safety of her unborn child. She prayed that the spark of hope she had felt, looking into the stranger’s eyes today, had not been in vain. She also prayed that he would be true to his word and come for her, and that somehow he would understand about the child she carried. As she prayed, the lock on her door turned. Robert walked just inside the door. He wasn’t alone. There was a short round man by his side, with what looked like some sort of medicine bag in his hand.

Robert felt his greed soar as he stared at the girl he believed now carried his child that he hoped would be a son. Although if she wasn’t pregnant, it wasn’t as if he wouldn’t enjoy himself until he achieved the results he wanted. Since the doctor had already confirmed his wife’s pregnancy, it would work so much easier if the two women had their babies at the same time. It would make it more convincing if he had to switch another stillborn baby of his wife’s with the one he believed Rebecca to be carrying. Regardless, he was determined that this time he would have a son, and he would get his hands on Lord Alex’s money. He was tired of the measly allowance they had been given to date, all because they had not produced a male heir.

Rebecca Ann watched as Robert closed and locked the door behind the other man. If he was a doctor, why was he here in the middle of the night? Why did Robert have a satisfied grin on his face? A scream rose in her throat, knowing that something wasn’t right. Before any sound could be made, he was upon her, gagging her mouth. She fought, but it was useless, as the short man aided Robert in tying her hands. The smell of alcohol was strong on the other man’s breath, and his hand touched her. Tears that she had held at bay now flowed from her eyes as cold hands touched her. After what seemed like hours, but in reality was only a few minutes, the man’s cold hands left her body. It wasn’t until he spoke that she understood what had taken place. She’s pregnant all right, somewhere between two and a half and three months, I’d say.

Good, good, she heard Robert reply, feeling, if not seeing, the wicked grin she knew he now wore. In her mind’s eye, she saw that grin just as she had each time he had taken her. Any foreseeable complications?

She’s awful small. Could be she might have a problem delivering the child if it has much size to it, the man returned.

Well, then, we’ll just have to make sure we’re there to help her along, won’t we? Robert sneered, running a finger along her cheek.

Old Doc watched as Robert touched the girl, his conscience gnawing away at him. He wasn't a strong man in either body or will. He had long ago let the power of liquor consume his life and now he was down to doing something as this to buy one more bottle to help him forget the past. Still, he did not want the girl to suffer any more than need be. I think it would be wise to let me examine the girl at least once a month. That way, I might be able to foresee any other problems that may arise.

Oh yes, we’ll have to keep this little lady as healthy as possible, considering she carries a child that could be worth a lot of money. Won’t we? Rebecca Ann felt those words spoken next her ear, and she silently sent another prayer heavenward. Hopefully, a month from now the stranger, who was no stranger to her heart, would have come and taken her away. How she prayed that Molly’s faith was sufficient.

Watching Rebecca, Robert felt his temper rise. Her eyes still remained closed as if she had found a way to keep him blocked out of her mind. He didn’t like that; he wanted to see her reaction to him when he touched her. Bending to whisper in her ear once more, he warned, I’ll be back in a few minutes. Don’t go anywhere without me, as if she could, locked in this room. He’d get a reaction out of her one way or another, he assured himself.

Ten, maybe fifteen minutes later, Robert returned. Did you miss me, Rebecca? He laughed, knowing she feared him, as he watched her eyes open wide. That’s what he had wanted to see earlier; it made him feel strong to see someone else acknowledge his power over them. I could take you now. Would you like that, Rebecca? Or would you prefer the good doctor to me?

He was taunting her; she knew that. If he were going to take her, he would have already done so. It had always been that way, never slow, always fast, and extremely painful to the point of being brutal. Somehow, if she could keep her reactions to him to herself, she didn’t think he’d get as much pleasure out of taking her body, and then maybe he would leave her alone.

You know, it’s a shame, Robert laughed, coming around the bed and sitting down at her side. Such a shame that you aren’t my wife instead of Teresa. Then we wouldn’t have to keep things between us such a secret. But alas, as it is, we’ll just have to keep on meeting in the dark of the night. I’m sure you can understand my position, can’t you, Rebecca?

Robert’s hand had been making a slow journey, while he had been talking. Still gagged and tied, she could do nothing but try to pretend she was somewhere else. Evidently her lack of response didn’t sit well with Robert. She realized this as his grip upon her throat tightened to the point of cutting off her oxygen. If it weren’t for her baby, she would gladly let him end her torture, but there was her baby. For that reason alone, she wanted to live. Opening her eyes for Robert to see, she knew would mean her surrender. Then he would know she acknowledged him and all he could do to her, if he so chose. Sure enough, as soon as he saw her eyes open and look at him, he laughed, believing he had won his battle of wills with her. The pressure of his hand then moved downward from her throat. Silently she prayed for strength to endure the horror she knew was coming.

***

The next three weeks passed in a blur. Due to sickness, Rebecca Ann stayed in bed most of that time. Molly was her sole company now, and then only when she could find time to spare between her duties. Even Robert left her alone, to ensure she didn’t miscarry the baby. So for three weeks, Rebecca Ann looked at the four walls of the small room where she slept. She was sure she would have lost her mind had it not been for the hopes and dreams she had, of once again looking into the dark blue eyes of the man who had stolen her heart. Each day she prayed that today might be the day he returned for her. But sadly, each day ended as the day before. She was sick, scared, and alone.

CHAPTER II

This had been the four longest weeks of Stephen’s life. Nothing had gone right, and he was bone weary. Thoughts of Rebecca Ann haunted him, keeping him from getting any decent sleep. What little sleep he did manage was mostly on hard ground, giving him aches and pains in places he had forgotten about. All this was because Robert Drake had changed his mind the day he had arrived in Virginia. Robert had decided that instead of the ten horses that he had originally asked for, he now wanted two dozen. At first, Stephen didn’t think of it as too much of a problem to add to the number of horses because he knew where to find another herd with some fine mares. For more than a week the herd eluded him. When he finally did find them, it took him another week to get them back to his place and break the horses.

Now, finally, the day had come when he was ready to deliver the twenty-four horses. The sun was barely breaking the horizon when Stephen

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