Corn Silk Days Part 15

Lucinda heard the murmur of voices from the gallery. She replied, "Yes, it did."

Vance pressured on, "And why was that?"

Matthews jumped to his feet, "I object!"

The Judge said, "Mr. Vance, I do not think the reason for Mrs. Garrison's divorce has any relevance here."

Vance calmly replied, "Your honor, I am laying the foundation that Mrs. Garrison has been involved with men of violence in her past."

Judge Patterson paused thoughtfully before replying, "Overruled. Continue Mr. Vance."

"Thank you, your honor." Vance did not look directly at Lucinda as he asked, "Mrs. Garrison what was the reason for your divorce?"

"He was abusive."

His eyes returned to Lucinda. "Abusive? In what way? Did he desert you?"

"No. He beat me."

"He beat you? I see. It is somewhat unusual to obtain a divorce under circ.u.mstances-"

Irritated, Lucinda interrupted, "I said he beat me."

Vance nodded, and moved in closer to Lucinda and asked, "What did he do, Mrs. Garrison, shove you around?"

Lucinda fought to keep her emotions under control. She wanted to lash out at Vance for his inconsiderate questioning and she could see many eyes on her as those in the courtroom awaited her answer. She controlled her voice as she said, "Yes, he shoved me more than once, and shoved me hard enough that I fell. Then, Mr. Vance, he kicked me several times, hard enough that it killed my baby." Her voice rose a pitch, "I was with child and he killed our baby, killed it before it even had a chance to be born into this world!"

There was a gasp from the gallery, and Vance, caught off guard by her emotional response, nervously adjusted his wire rims.

She drew in a deep breath, exhaled, set her jaw, looked directly at Vance and said, "That is why I got my divorce, Mr. Vance."

Judge Patterson spoke up, "Mr. Vance you have pursed this subject far enough. Please move on with your questioning." Patterson leaned toward Lucinda and asked, "Are you all right to continue, Mrs. Garrison?"

Lucinda nodded, and answered quietly, "Yes, your honor."

Vance's lip curled up as he turned back to face Lucinda, his eyes seemingly lacking compa.s.sion. He said, "Mrs. Garrison, you say the defendant here, Benjamin Storm, is family to you. How long have you known him?"

Lucinda knew the question was coming and she felt her legs shaking again. She reached to steady her knees. "For quite some time," she said, knowing her answer would not satisfy the prosecutor.

"And how long may that be, Mrs. Garrison?"

"Several years, prior to my first marriage." Again, there was murmur throughout the galley and Lucinda caught the look of surprise on her mother-in-law Catherine's face. She would have some explaining to do later, that she knew. She glanced at Benjamin and his eyes were humorous, yet tender. She quickly diverted her eyes from his.

Vance had a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "I see," he said. "Is it not true that you have been romantically involved with Mr. Benjamin Storm?"

The courtroom was silent awaiting her answer and all she could hear was her own increased breathing. She had no choice except to tell the truth. "Yes, years ago, we were for a short time."

Vance's lip curled and he nearly broke into a grin. She glanced toward the jury but all faces were expressionless. She knew that answer did not sound good and could bring harm to Benjamin.

Vance moved around a bit, the plank flooring creaking beneath his feet. He said, "I see." He paused a moment longer before asking, "You claim, Mrs. Garrison, to have been attacked and raped by your young student, Thomas Karns. Is that correct?"

Lucinda straightened in her chair. "I don't claim, Mr. Vance. It is a fact. Thomas Karns brutally attacked and raped me."

Vance nodded. "I see." He turned toward the jury as he said, "Is it true that you encouraged his attention."

Matthews was on his feet, "Objection! Your honor, the prosecutor's line of questioning is out of order."

Judge Patterson said, "Sustained. Mr. Vance restate your question."

"Yes, your honor. Mrs. Garrison, is it possible your own actions may have encouraged the young man's attention?"

"No."

"I see. Did Thomas Karns often stay after school?"

"No, only occasionally, not often."

"Oh, I see. And why did he stay after?"

"At times he did extra credit work and would turn it in to me or pick up his graded papers or get new extra credit a.s.signments."

"That could not have taken place during the school day, Mrs. Garrison?"

"No, not usually. All of my other students were much younger than Thomas and I could not interrupt my usual curriculum to focus on his additional need for extra work. At times his extra work included college level."

"Then he was a bright student?"

"Yes, most of the time, but he could also be a problem student."

"I see. Problem because he would not complete work?"

"No, a problem because he often picked on the younger students and would disrupt the cla.s.s. I've had more than one meeting with his parents about his unruly behavior. They had been warned that one more incident and he would have to leave our school."

"Is it not a fact that you, Mrs. Garrison, enjoyed the company of this young boy in the long absence of your husband?"

"No, it is not a fact. He was my student and nothing more."

Vance spun around, facing the defense table and pointing his finger at Benjamin. "Is it not a fact, Mrs. Garrison, that you were romantically involved with Benjamin Storm and he found you in a compromising situation with the young man, Thomas Karns. And in a jealous rage Benjamin Storm went after Thomas Karns and beat him to death!"

Voices rose in the courtroom and Judge Patterson pounded his gavel several times until the spectators quieted.

The objection of Defense Attorney Matthews was lost in the outburst.

With the returned silence, Judge Patterson said, "Overruled. Please answer, Mrs. Garrison."

Prosecutor Vance returned his gaze to Lucinda.

She looked away from Vance and toward the judge. "The answer is no, your honor," she said.

Vance's lip twitched at the corner. He said slowly, "I see." Nodding his head, he added, "No further questions."

Over the next forty-five minutes, Lucinda answered questions from Defense Attorney, Jonathan Matthews, giving intimate details of her attack and rape.

Matthews introduced into evidence a medical report from Doctor Northland and asked Lucinda if she had previously read it.

"No, I have not," she replied.

Matthews continued, "Mrs. Garrison, please read this report now. When you finish I want you to tell this jury if you know it to be an accurate account of your injures."

She read the report over, handed it back to Matthews and answered, "Yes it is."

Matthews said, "Thank you. I have no further questions of this witness, your honor."

Judge Patterson dismissed Lucinda and announced a lunch break. As Lucinda left the witness stand she was almost dreading more what questions were awaiting her from family than the questioning she had just gone through on the witness stand.

Chapter Twenty-one: Lawrence Taylor.

Madeline was in her bedroom when she heard dogs barking outside, followed shortly by a commotion downstairs. As the loudness of the voices increased, her husband's among them, she walked down the hall to the head of the stairs. In the front foyer were several Confederate officers, including Lieutenant Edson. Close behind Edson an officer held Sadie by the arm.

She panicked and broke into a cold sweat. For a split second, William Edson's eyes caught hers. And in that moment, she read in those eyes that all was not well.

A captain, whom she did not recognize, was standing with Lawrence Taylor, and in deep conversation. Her husband's back was to her, but she saw anger displayed in the tenseness of her husband's body.

The front doors were standing open beyond the foyer and in the yard she saw Nicholas standing motionless, with slumped shoulders and deep concern on his face, with one of the dogs near.

At that moment her husband swung around to face her and she saw a look she had never before seen on his face.

Her heart sank.

His voice was loud, angry, and tense, "Madeline, get down here!"

All eyes were on her as she slowly descended the stairs. Sadie watched her, but not with fear but with a determination that seemed somewhat out of place to Madeline, considering what was apparently happening.

As she reached the last step, she took a deep breath and set her countenance with all the confidence she could muster.

The captain stepped toward her. He held a paper in his hand. "Mrs. Taylor, I am Captain Sylvester Southerland. We have arrested and retained your neighbor, Mrs. Montgomery, and your housemaid here." He turned and motioned toward Sadie, and then returned his gaze to Madeline. "They are being charged with aiding and abetting the enemy."

Lawrence was giving her a cold stare.

Southerland continued, "I have questions for you, Mrs. Taylor."

"Yes, what is it."

He held the paper up toward her. "Is this your handwriting, Mrs. Taylor?"

She knew there was no use in denying it. It was the letter she had written a short time ago. She answered calmly, "Yes, I believe it is."

Before Captain Southerland could say another word, Lawrence lunged toward her and grabbed her arms, shaking her. She had never seen that kind of anger in his eyes, ever. "How could you!" He was holding her arms tight and it hurt. "How long has this been going on?" he demanded.

"Let me go, Lawrence." She tried to move away but his grasp on both arms tightened, holding them close to her body.

His face was a mask of rage. "You b.i.t.c.h!"

Madeline pulled away, trying to break his grasp, but he would not give it up. "Let me go!"

About the time she saw Lawrence Taylor's right arm pull back in an attempt to hit her in the face, she caught the movement of Lieutenant Edson. "Mr. Taylor, stop that!" He moved swiftly forward and caught Taylor's arm.

Taylor barked, "Get your hands off me!"

"Not until you take your hands off your wife," Lieutenant Edson said firmly. "Let her go."

Taylor dropped his clasp on Madeline and said, "You d.a.m.n b.i.t.c.h!"

Captain Southerland moved to Taylor and put his arm around his shoulder and maneuvered him away from Madeline, all the while trying to calm him.

Lieutenant Edson was still standing close by Madeline. She felt terrible. He knew she had given his military information in that letter. She whispered, "I'm so sorry."

He was silent, his face not revealing any emotion.

Her heart ached for having deceived him. The pain she was feeling was not about the predicament she now found herself in, but for the bond of trust she had broken with William.

She loved him. But now she had destroyed something that was precious to her, to him, to them. He would never forgive her. In all probability, she would never see him again.

When Captain Southerland had calmed Taylor's rage, he returned his attention to Madeline. "Mrs. Taylor, you are under arrest and will be taken into our custody."

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

He said, "We will allow you ten minutes to go upstairs and pack a small bag of your things. You'll be going to Libby Prison in Richmond."

As Madeline started up the stairs, Captain Southerland addressed the officer holding Sadie, "Take the wench into the kitchen and gather up some food for the trip and put it in the wagon."

She stopped and turned to the captain and said, "Captain Southerland, would you be kind enough to allow Sadie to get a few of her clothing in her room off the kitchen?"

He nodded and said to his officer, "Do as the lady says."

"Thank you, Captain." She turned and continued up the stairs to her room. Her heart ached so much it covered any fear she should be feeling. It ached, it bled, and the intense pain was for the love she had destroyed.

His love.

Her love for William Edson would never die. It would be with her always and forevermore.

The last words Madeline heard from her husband as she walked out the door was, "If they don't hang you, b.i.t.c.h, don't ever plan on coming back here!"