Page 26 of Caught in Time
He stopped abruptly as if he’d said too much and then indicated that she should get moving.
“Real quick, if it pleases you, ma’am,” he finished, clearing his throat as though he was embarrassed for acting civil toward her.
By his constant chewing and spitting, she gathered he wasn’t accustomed to affecting a polite demeanor.
Charlotte tossed her long shawl over her shoulders and smoothed down her hair. Fortunately, she was dressed when the guard had burst through her cell door. She’d been awake since before dawn, an unpleasant sensation crawling all over her. A deepening fear ate at her mind that after today, she may be preparing for execution.
Spencer wasn’t there yet and that worried her. Earlier, she’d found out from the sympathetic guard that Major Abbott would be able to visit her in her cell for a few minutes before she left for the hearing. A lost sigh escaped her lips. She dreamed of running her hands over his broad chest wearing his Union blue and thrilling to his muscular arms gripping her tightly. She couldn’t show him how insatiable her passion was, but she could kiss him. Tease her tongue over his lips, whisper in his ear all the delicious things she wanted to do to him.
Afterward, who knew what her fate would be?
She could face whatever it was, knowing in her heart she’d proclaimed her love for him and told him the truth about how she had come from the future.
“Where is Major Abbott? Is he here?” she asked the guard.
“No questions, ma’am.”
The guard wouldn’t look at her.
Charlotte clasped her hands in front of her chest. Something was wrong.
“Why are you taking me to the courthouse now? Why the change in plans? Does it have to do with the Major? He has permission to see me, Sergeant, but I’ll be gone by the time he gets here!”
She glared at him.
That’s why you can’t look me in the eye.
The Sergeant wasn’t a bad sort, but he was a by-the-book soldier. Yet as she searched his face, she could see something had cracked his outer veneer because his eyes softened as he said, “Look here, ma’am, I don’t give the orders. I just follow them. Detective Bridgeman says I’m to collect you now. So, if it you’ll get your things and come with me...?”
Charlotte felt her heart skipping, her mind racing everywhere at once. For some reason Bridgeman didn’t want her to see Spencer before the trial.
“I’m ready.”
She grabbed her bag and walked down the two flights of stairs and into the cool, windy morning. Nearly six weeks after she was arrested for spying, she walked out of the Old Capitol Prison. Her heart was heavy, knowing the plump, short detective would be waiting for her, his gloved hand lighting up a cigar with a sulfur match.
“Good morning, Miss Liddell,” Bridgeman said, his eyes never leaving her as he puffed on his cigar.
“When does my hearing begin?” she asked him anxiously.
“There won’t be any hearing.”
“What?” Charlotte gasped.
“Yes, fortunately for you, the military commission has decided that the evidence given by Mrs. Eleanor Sherman was merely hearsay. Also, Major Abbot brought forth evidence of your impeccable character. Apparently, you saved many Union soldiers’ lives during your time as a nurse at the Marshall House hospital. Your case was thrown out of court,” he said, looking entirely humbled. He was embarrassed. Yet another femalespyhad eluded him.
A wave of relief shuddered through her. Lord, she had never expected this. She was free to go! All she wanted now was a joyful reunion with Spencer.
Just at that moment, Spencer appeared, and happiness washed over her. Her wish had come true.
“My darling, they have set me free. There will be no trial!”
“I know, my love. You have been acquitted and released. There will be no trial because the only evidence presented was hearsay. It is considered unreliable and inadmissible in court. The rules of evidence prohibit relying solely on hearsay because it cannot be cross-examined. It was decided that Eleanor Sherman intentionally misrepresented her statement about seeing you exiting her husband’s office.”
“All I have thought about since your interment in that prison is to be with you again,” Spencer told her with a blissful expression on his face. “I never stopped believing that we’d be together again.”
“Nor did I,” she replied
Then she clasped her arms around his neck and whispered how much she loved him. She caught the gleam in his eye, and it was wonderful.
