Love in 1865

Chapter Twenty-One

Sitting in a public jail cell has been far from preferred. I refused anything to eat or drink due to how poor the conditions are. David would check on me from time to time, but the inmates tended to keep to their own. I spent part of my time reflecting the past two years of my life, however nothing pointed me to killing my sister, Amaimai, or the McCallisters. I had only been in the cell for a day and a half, but it felt like an eternity. The main door to the cell room opened, and David appeared with Izaak and Natalina. "I will let you out of your cell to visit with your family, but you only have a few minutes." He unlocked the door and exited the room. Izaak wrapped me up into his arms and kissed me all over my face. "I have been trying to set bail and visit, but they will not allow bail until after you go before the judge; they just finally allowed me to have visits. How are you holding up?" I cradled Natty in my arms and sighed. "I honestly don't know. My mom is dead, and they are accusing me of killing her, my long dead sister, and people I haven't seen in a month! What are we going to do? What if they are able to prove I'm not innocent? I know I didn't kill me sister, the midwife said it was usual for women to die from complications of childbirth-" "Don't let their words screw with what you know- and you did not kill those people! I promise I will find us a way out of this, but we've got to trust each other okay?" I nodded and clung tightly to his chest. Time was almost up, and Natty was being fussy. I couldn't help but sing to her the song my father sang to me as a child. "Willow will you wipe your eyes? Willow straighten up, 'cause I do love you.... Willow when you cry, you mustn't scream so high the birds can hear. So weeping willow lend an ear, softly sing away your fears... my weeping willow." I kissed her forehead one last time before handing her to Izaak. David shuffled them out the door and then locked me into my cell. "Honestly Gwyn, I don't believe for one instant that you killed any of those people. Izaak has been waiting in the lobby with your adopted daughter for hours. She wouldn't stop fussing no matter how much Izaak interacted with her, and then with one touch, you soothed her. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but Lord Munkres is sure that he has enough evidence to hang your head on his wall." I leaned against the cell bars and sulked, it was about all I could do until they called for me to go before a judge.

A long time later, David came back into the room and unlocked my cell. Before he let me walk out, he came to my ear and whispered, "The evidence they have is circumstantial, but they will try to set the bail really high. The judge just became a father, so if you play with the role of a new mother, he may be more sympathetic." I nodded and followed him out into a grey carriage with massive locks on the back. It wasn't going to be a long drive, but I guess it was for protection purposes. When we got to the court and David let me out, the whole town seemed to be filing into the main building. It was nothing but chatter and noise in the main hall to the courtroom. All of these people I knew and recognized were going to be apart of the most embarrassing moment of my life. As I got to the stand, I could clearly see Cas' face and his lack of emotional expression. Thinking on it, he never even tried visiting me. The judge came in on time wearing a ridiculous white wig while harnessing the mallet. We all stood for the pledge and bowed our heads for the prayer before sitting once more. "Munkres vs. Gwyneira Highton, case 134 now in process." The judge took one look at me and scoffed, "You really want me to believe that this young girl is capable of killing her sister, mother, Mrs. McCallister, and strong Mr. McCallister? What would the accusing party suggest for bail?" Lord Munkres got to his feet and stiffly adjusted his coat. "The victim's defense suggests no bail on account of flighty instability." The judge then gestured to David who responded, "Sir, I suggest mercy on behalf of Miss Highton and her fiance. They just adopted a very small infant who needs a mother's care." The judge shifted in his chair and directed his attention to me. "Is this so, Miss Highton?" "Your Honour, Izaak and I found this child who was left to die on Christmas, and we nursed her to health. It was only fitting that we saw potential in her as our daughter. She's only nine days old, Sir." Lord Munkres rose from his seat and shrieked, "Objection!!!" The judge waved his hand before slamming the mallet three times. "I have denied your objection. I have decided to give her free bail. She is a mother Mr. Munkres, she has the right to be flighty and unstable when she can't raise her child without you chasing her around. I've seen your evidence, and I'm not compelled now that I've seen her. You have three months to find a witness before I toss this case." He slammed the mallet three more times before David took the chains of captivity off of me. He hardly took off the cuffs before I ran to Izaak and Natalina. Tears stung my eyes as I heard her cry and wiggle in my arms. I could hear the judge and David talking behind me, and I couldn't help but wonder what the evidence was. "Thank you for letting her go Charles, I had half a mind to set her loose and turn in my badge. I've known Miss Gwyn since she was ye high, and there is not a bad bone it that woman's body." "I hope you're right Dave, otherwise I just got suckered by a woman playing house to stay out of jail! It's moments like this when you see a happy family that you feel certain you did the right thing." As I looked around the room, the chatter began once more, but to my curious eyes, I noticed that Lord Munkres was talking with Cassian, and now I am left to wonder.