Dillard Beach Mystery – 62

The river was running high as Rebekah and Ezra approached. She held her son back with some difficulty, so eager was he to dip in a toe, or better yet, jump in fully dressed.

“Can we go swimming, Mama?” he asked.

“Not today, Ezra. The weather is too cold for swimming. I am afraid you will have to wait until spring before you can swim in the river.”

“When is spring come, Mama?”

She looked at her son and had to smile at his eagerness.

“It will be a while. We still have to live through winter first.”

“And when does winter come?”

Rebekah glanced up at the bare trees that lined the riverbank. “Soon, Ezra. The trees are nearly empty of their leaves. We are in the season of autumn now with chilly mornings and early to bed nighttime. You remember I told you of the four seasons and how they change?”

Ezra nodded.

“It is now autumn when all the farmers gather in the food they have planted in their fields and tended all summer long. Autumn is the season of the great harvest. It is a time of celebration when all the people of the village come together in the town marketplace to sell their wares, just as they did in Hyannis. There is music and games to play and dancing to pipes and fiddles. Would you like to go?”

“Oh yes, Mama. Can we go now?” He tugged on his mother’s arm urging her to hurry up.

“I promise I will take you, Ezra when the time comes.”

“Can we go now?” He asked.

Rebekah laughed. “If we were to go today, Ezra, I fear you would find yourself standing in an empty field, and that would be a foolish thing, do you not think so?” Ezra nodded his head in agreement. “But do not worry, Ezra, I will find out from Charles or Emma on which day the marketplace opens, and I promise, we shall go that very day.”

Rebekah and her son spent the next several hours exploring the river bank and the fields beyond. She was in no great hurry to return to the trading post as both Emma and Charles were sure to be sorting products and rearranging furniture. Although she had promised to help, at this point she knew they needed to figure things out for themselves.

A small crowd of curious villagers were gathered about the front door of the post when they returned a few hours later. A tall figure, dressed in a long black coat trimmed in red with silver buttons, stood out from the crowd. Rebekah was instantly uneasy. Who was he? A town magistrate or constable? He looked to be an official of some rank. Her fears were confirmed when the man, spotting her on the edge of the crowd, began to approach.

“Madam, a word if you would be so kind.”

“What is it, sir?”

“Are you the midwife, known as Rebekah Rand, come from Hyannis?”

She pulled Ezra close. “I am.”

“I have received word from Hyannis that you are to be detained for questioning.”

“For what reason?”

“I cannot say, ma’am. I was not given any details. Only that if I were to encounter you here in Saybrook, that you should be taken to one side for questioning.